Hi, everyone

I am a newbie. I just wanted to come and post my story. I am still in the begining phase, I have an appointment schedule for this tuesday to meet with the surgeon and nutrionist to proceed to the next step. The plan is for me to have hernia surgery and lap band done at the same time. When I first went to the doctor in feb of this year I was 395 lbs and the doctor said I needed to get my BMI down. I have been working out on my own and trying to change my eating habits. I weighed last week and I was at 332 lbs, so I hope everything goes smooth with the doctor and I can proceed with the surgery. How long is the process to lead up to the surgery? I hope it isn't long, I really would like to have the surgery in the next couple of months.

It depends on your ins if you have any or if you're self pay also on the Doctor , sounds like you are doing good so far , just keep doing what you're doing in the mean time so the Doctor knows that you will follow the rules and instructions , also read & write down any questions you want to ask the Doctor or if you go to any meetings , so you will be prepared on what wls you choose for your self , good luck for me it only took about a month for approval, some people it takes longer.

How long the process takes depends on your insurance and the requirements needed to have surgery. Some insurances just require a psych evaluation. .nutrition evaluation and labs. Others require a 6 month supervised weight loss before surgery. You just need to talk to your insurance company and go from there. Also it is good to write down any questions you have for the surgeon. It is better to go prepared so that way all your questions get answered. @@JazzyJeff May I ask why you chose the lap band? I haven't had my surgery yet but I am going to have the sleeve. I'm just waiting for my insurance approval. Also your weight loss so far is awesome. Salute to you.

As everyone else stated, it has everything to do with your insurance company, their requirements, and how fast they move. Keep doing what you are doing, because you are doing a GREAT job!

hey @@beautysleeve559,

I know with my insurance I dont have to wait 6 months, because blue cross blue shield just made a change to their policy.

I chose lap band because I do not know much about the sleeve. I read a little bit about it in a pamplet I got from the doctor. In that pamplet its was mainly talking about the advantages of the lap band. I think with the sleeve they have to remove some of your stomach, and it said that the lap band has a higher success rate. Whats some advantages of the sleeve? Why did you choose the sleeve over lap band?

Edited August 24, 201412 yr by JazzyJeff

thanks @@CherieRyde @Debbie3sons I will write down some questions today and get them ready for my doctor. I know insurance companies can be a pain but I will have to call them and demand answer from them too.lol

Edited August 24, 201412 yr by JazzyJeff

Before you consider the sleeve, I'd first make sure that you don't have any allergies to metals. ANY metals. I do, and that knocked me out of the sleeve and into the band. Reason being, they use metal staples to close the stomach once it's been cut to size. The sleeve is what they used to call "Stomach Stapling".

Edited August 24, 201412 yr by CherieRyde

@@JazzyJeff chose the sleeve because I feel like it would fit me better as far as the amount of weight I am trying to lose and also keep off. With the sleeve they cut about 80-85% of your stomach out and create a new pouch. And I also chose the sleeve because my surgeon told me that with the lap band it often slides, or there are ways to get around it to gain the weight back. Which I assume can also be done with the sleeve. And also I have friends who have had the lap band and had it removed after loosing a lot of weight and they gained it back. But on a positive note the lap band is reversible so you are able to take it out or get it revised when ever you want. That's cool you don't have to do a 6 month supervised diet. I didn't either. I just needed to do the psych evaluation. .nutrition eval and labs.

I know I have to do a psych evaluation, i think a nutrition evaluation too, but I am not sure what else. I will have to ask on tuesday. They did tell me with the lap band it is reverseable but unless you are having problems with the lap band it stay on forever. When I go to the doctor I will ask about the sleeve to see if my doctor thinks that will be a better option. Thanks for the info on the sleeve.

Oh by the way I forgot to say that I also chose.the band because it is reversible , so if anything happend it could be repaired or taken out & I didn't want my insides to be rerouted , I also have family members who have had good & bad results from different weight loss surgeries, and I love not being a 100 lbs over weight by the time I hit MY goal it will be a 150lbs I have lost when ever that may be but at least I can move now.

Hey Jeff, I was sleeved just a little over two weeks ago and I feel Fantastic! I chose the Sleeve because it has a much faster recovery rate and its a one time deal. I did not want go thru the Red Tape Paper Shuffle again to have the lap band reversed if it was not an effective tool for me, not only that But I would of had to accumulate sick time again!, put in for FMLA again!, you know where I'm going with this right !. I would advise you to do all the research you can inside and out on any procedure that you choose, and talk to people who have had all procedures. Anyway I salute you in making this awesome change, and I'm here for yah Bra. Get Back At Me.

@@taylorj7 thanks for the info about the sleeve. I haven't read much info on the sleeve and I haven't talked to anyone who has had the sleeve.