Requirements and such

June 14, 2005

I've recently started looking into this figured the quickest way to find out what I want is to ask.

How over-wieght must you be, for a doctor to consider you for Lapband.

My wife is terribly depressed, and her wieght has been a major reason. She comes from a large family and she was always the small one. When we first met she was 5'2" 125-130 pounds. She is now approaching the 200 mark if she hasn't already reached it. She's to afraid to get on a scale. She is very small boned, her ring size is 4 even now. If she gets a metal band watch, she has to remove all links in the watch except one for it to fit. I've gained 70 pounds myself since we met, but I'm 6'2" and hide it very well (I'm currently 245). I'm kind of broad-shouldered and my wieght is evenly distributed, whereas her's is mainly thighs, hips, butt, and belly.

She doesn't have thyroid problems or anything, even when we tried walking 2 miles everyday for 6 months, and we were not eating sweets, and had our carb count around 40 a day. Her family has had a history of Diabetes and mine has a history of heart problems (related to colesterol). She is 28 and I am 30.

She thinks she's not at the wieght yet to be considered a candidate. I'm afraid if she waits too long she will be considerably more over-wieght and if she gets diabetes early it could make surgery more difficult.

So from what I've written does anyone think that either my wife or even myself are candidates for Lapband?

Also While you have the band in place are their restrictions to how strenous the activity you can do? Some times I may do heavy lifting. What about dangers of things pushing onto your stomach say moving a table and it pushing on you?

And one last question, Whats a port?

Marimaru · June 14, 2005

Hey there,

At 5'2" and say 200 lbs, your wife's BMI is 36. Generally speaking, for the Band to be placed, you need to have a BMI of 35-39 with co-morbidities, or 40+ with or without co-morbitities. This is usually an insurance stipulation, and there have been people who were self pay and had the surgery with a 35-39 BMI with no co-morbidities. Your BMI is about 31, and I'm not sure I've heard of someone being banded that low, but probably out of the States would be your best bet for that.

"While you have the band in place" the band is designed to be there for life. After abot 6 weeks you should be able to go back to whatever you did preband (except eat as much ).

The band is adjustable, and this is done without further surgery. The port is attached to the band with tubing, and is placed closer to your skin so that it can be accessed with a needle so that Saline can be put in or taken ot easily. If you look at the 'logo' image for LapBandTalk in the upper left of the page, there is a picture of a band. The piece in the middle is the port, and the other end is the band that goes around the stomach. There's a thread around here where they talk about it being an adjustable zip tie My port is on my waistline to the left, but there's many different places where doctors put the thing during surgery.

Hope this helps.

June 14, 2005

Hey thanks for the quick response. Yah I'm not concerned for myself. I'm over-wieght but its nothing major, and I don't stress about it. My wife seems to just barely fit in the co-morbidities catagory. I guess I need to find out what BCBS policy is for this type of surgery and/or find out if this is doable. Out of pocket really isn't an option, it would take us a two years to save 5000 dollars, plus we are trying for a baby, so we will probably wait until after the baby is born and on the bottle/cereal. My insurance is pretty good and with the extra wieght from the pregnancy my wife just might be pushed into a higher BMI range. Her mother said she gained 30 pounds with each child. So its likely My wife will gain at least 20 more pounds with in the next 2 years

La_madam · June 14, 2005

Dabbler, call BCBS and ask if they cover it. I have BC of CA and 14 moths ago they did not cover the band regardless of co-morbitities or not. Thins may havechanged I know BC is joining the ranks of other insurance carriers andcovering it in other states now. It is worth the phone call. Best of luck to your wife.

I went to Mexico and paid out of pocket for 2/3 of it and financed 2000 of it, it was worth every penny,14 motnhs later I am down 93 lbs with only a few more lbs to go. Went from a size 22 to a 10 currently. The band is the best thing I have EVER done! You can have a baby with the band also just so you know. I had band buddie who was banded the same day as I was and 4 months after surgery she became pregnant and now has a beautiful healthy baby. Many others here have also had healthy babies with their bands still in tact, just not filled