Discussion forums are SO awesome and I'm thrilled to have found this one! My husband and I are just beginning our journey towards banding. He is 51 with a BMI of 50+ and I am 35 with a BMI of 43. We are excited about the possibilities of the band but overwhelmed by how to get things moving. We both attended Dr. Speigel's seminar and are scheduled for Dr. Spivak's next week.

We are covered by an HMO that will pay for the procedure if medically necessary. They do require a 6 month weight loss plan attempt, mental health check up and nutritional counseling. So, do you get your PCP to start writing out referrals to all of them including your surgeon? Or does the surgeon coordinate any of that?

Also, I could very well slip below a 40 BMI on a 6 month diet, so then are you not covered for the procedure?

Oh, one more....are there any couples out there that have both been banded at or around the same time?

Thanks in advance!

Welcome Dustmouse. I'm glad you found us. That's so cool that you're both thinking of getting banded.

You may want to start a separate thread in the General Lapband Discussion area about banded couples. I know there are banded couples who belong to LBT but I don't know if they've done it at the same time.

Good luck and keep posting.

The lapband doctor's usually handle everything. My insurance just had be document a 6 month plan. I didn't really have to do another one. You might not have to either. I'm sure you've done all the standard weight loss plans, like Weight Watchers, South Beach, etc. Both Spiegel and Spivak are good.

Good luck on your journey. There are several couples on here that have both been banded.