Hello everyone,

I found this site a few days ago and have spent hours reading this forum - fascinating!

I really want to have the lap band procedure but my insurance doesn't cover it and as a single mom, there is no way I can afford it. I did apply though with several medical finance companies and was denied. I'm not sure that this will ever become a reality, but I can hope & pray.

I do have some questions that hopefully aren't old -

I'm 5'8 and 280 pounds and other than being overweight and I quite healthy. But, at 41, I'm sure at this rate that could change easily. I've been overweight by 10-15 pounds most of my life but once I hit 22-23ish, I've ballooned up every year. I was 230 when I got pregnant 7 years ago and just never recovered from that either.

My biggest question is, if I don't have time to exercise much now, if I don't eat like I'm supposed to, don't take care of myself, HOW will I do it once I'm banded (thinking positively)??? I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic.

When I read posts about how much people are exercising, that you're on a liquid diet for four weeks, you eat very minimal amounts, HOW will that happen when I don't do it now?

If I just did all those things now why get banded?

I hope others had these same questions and I don't look crazy!

I have Premera Blue Cross insurance if anyone has any tips for that. I did print a bunch of stuff of the dr's website (Kevin Montgomery) that outlines how to call your ins. company and ask the right questions.

Thank you!

I don't think your questions are silly at all We all had to sit back and put it into perspective, ask ourselves these questions. I actually think it's normal to wonder this, but to be honest, until you have a band you just won't understand how the mental adjustments happen.

You and I started out really close to the same... I was 41 last year when I had my surgery at 306lbs. Other than a recent diagnosis of osteoarthritis in my knee I was pretty darn healthy. I wondered if I should just try to do the 'LapBand' rules on my own and see if I could drop a few pounds but then I realized that I had already tried that about a million times, lost 1/2 a million pounds and regained all of them !!!

Getting the band isn't just about eating smaller amounts and exercising, it is about making the decision to try to live a healthier life, and in this case, teach your children to live healthier too. You can involve your kids in the shopping and cooking, learning how to pick healthy Snacks instead of junk, altho I am a believer that kids need treats now and then too

As for exercise, I didn't really start doing it until I had lost 50 or more #'s. Really, it just wasn't comfortable and hurt too much. It's easier now, altho really all I do for the most part is walk, but as the weight comes off you'll find that you actually *want* to make the time to go for a walk, or head to the park with the kids, or go bike riding with them.... As it becomes physically easier it becomes mentally more appealing.

I am Canadian so I didn't have to deal with the insurance stuff...I was self-pay. Call Dr. Montgomery's office and talk to the insurance person that they have on staff, they may be able to help you. As well, if you use Yahoo groups there is one called 'BandsterInsurance' and they can offer lots of tips in talking to the insurance people.

As a last note I have to say you have picked an excellent surgeon. I had my surgery done at his clinic as well, altho Dr. M. wasn't my surgeon, the entire staff there is *awesome* and they are always willing to answer any and all questions you might have.

Feel free to contact me if you would like

Patricia

11/16/06

Dr. Watkins

306/209/175ish

Surgery/Today/Goal

I had a lot of the same questions before being banded. What I didn't get, and I don't think you can until you experience it, is that the band is a tool that makes it possible to do the things we need to.

I loved the staff at NWWLS, and Dr. Montgomery is great. Call the office and ask to talk to their insurance person.