Hi I haven't been banded yet, I just found out about it about 4 months ago from my sister who is a nurse and she was telling me how several of the nurses in their hospital were going to Mexico and getting banded. Apparently they are really showing great success and getting healthier by the day.

AT first I was sceptical to the entire thing-anything dealing with surgery scares me, but after some research and yes, lurking on this site, I have decided this is the tool I have been looking for.

I weigh 240 (5'6") and I suffer from PCOS. I have seen doctors, hypnotherapists, done Rapid Eye Therapy and tapping, I have seen naturopath's and psychologists and I continue to gain. Because I have PCOS losing weight is very very hard and every doctor I have discussed this with tells me that I'm just not trying hard enough. True i'm no gym rat, but I do get in several hours of exercise weekly and I have a two year old, a husband, a dog, a house and a job...so I don't do ALOT of sitting even when i'm not working out..

I really feel I need some help and I think the band is the tool that will help me cut my calories down and reduce binge eating...I realize it won't fix my head, but after all the therapy I have went through (they keep releasing me as healed) I have just come to realize that I just enjoy eating. Like anything else if you do it long enough you develop new habits...this is what I need to help me develop healthier habits by eating smaller portions and on those "bored" days find other ways to entertain myself.

I have double insurance, but I don't think I qualify to get this covered, but I have an appointment tomorrow for a seminar and figure I can ask these questions there...

My goal is to get down to 135 (I haven't been there since 19) so I can keep up with my daughter and ensure that I will be here to see my grandchildren someday.

I went to Mexico and Dr. Zapata is wonderful. There are several good ones there. I lost 50 pounds the first 6 months and just love my band. Good luck with your decision.

Yes Mexico will be my second option, I figured I would give the insurance a good try (I have both Cigna and BCBS) but i'm below the 40 BMI and I doubt they'll just get out the checkbook and say "go for it" LOL

It's alot of money and i'm concerned about where to go for fills and if I have it done in Mexico will my insurance then cover me for anything that may happen after it's done?? (ie: erosion, slippage etc) either way, i'm going to do it one way or the other, I just need to figure out the highs and lows, but I am soooo excited I can't wait to get started.

Congrats on making the decision! I am getting banded 4/17/07 (hopefully, we'll see how my pre-op visit goes). I was just barely on the cusp to qualify as BMI 40, but my surgeon 'rounded up' for me, from 39.9 to 40. If you aren't at 40, you can still usually be covered if you have a 'co-morbidity' that is due to or exacerbated by having excess weight. From your history, it sounds like you've definitely tried enough doctor-prescribed methods to convince them. I have BCBS, and they approved me, even though the only doctor regimens I've had were, "eat healthier, get more exercise."

Good luck!