Hi everyone!

I am beginning to think about getting the lap band. I'm frustrated with being overweight and want to be "normal". I plan on going to an information session this Wed. 4/1/09 with a local doctor. What types of questions should I ask? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Hi Eeyore! Welcome! I just finished up my six months of supervised dieting (lost a whole eight pounds! Yeehaw!) and am about to have my stuff submitted to insurance. My initial consult with my PCP was sort of nerve wracking...but once I asked her about lapband she was very supportive. I think it helps if you go in very informed about the process...I knew I had to do six months of supervised dieting, I knew I had to get a mental health check, and meet with a nutritionist, and so on. Just make sure you are clear on what your insurance requires and if your plan covers bariatric surgery in the first place too. My doctor and therapist were both very impressed with the amount of research I had done, and that I had realistic expectations of how the lapband works. I personally didn't have a lot of questions for my doctor, since I had researched everything beforehand...I just more asked her if she would be supportive of it and do my weight checks every month for insurance. She was wonderful and would try and write as much detail down as possible at each of my weight checks, and she wouldn't make me feel rushed.

It's been a long process...but it honestly gave me time to really reflect on all of it (and I decided to go to therapy the whole time too...even though I didn't have to), and I still feel more determined than ever that this is the right path for me. I also proved to myself that I could stick to something...I committed to the six months of Weight Watchers and going to the doctor every month, going to the surgeon consultation, the five hour nutrition class, the therapy sessions. There's been so much to do, and some of it has been a pain in the butt...but I am so excited now that I could be actually getting this surgery in the next couple of months. I've tried to be "extra" thorough jumping through all of insurance's hoops so that I will get approved right away. We'll see! I'm hoping to get my stuff sent off for approval in the next week or so!

So....long story NOT short...research the surgery, research your insurance requirements, and get started ASAP! Good luck!

When I went to my first informational session, the doctor was very eager an interested in my situation...until he discovered that my insurance doesn't cover weight loss surgery. I became very discouraged until I did some research on self-pay options. I found a different doctor, local, that made it very easy and somewhat affordable...$9950. I am telling you this just in case you find that your insurance won't pay. Don't give up. There are ways to do it.