Hi, i just called my insurance and they said im cover if i want to get a lap band. He said talk to my primary doctor and go on from there. My question is to u guys is how long of a process and doctor visit and which doctors i need to see before getting approved? Do u need to wait 5-6months to prepare or can u just go on and get the surgery. How long did it take for some of u for operation and did it really hurt that much? From the scale of 1-5 pain meter. How long is the healing process? Im male 32 yrs old 345lbs and i just found out i have diabites. i did try to hit the gym for the last 2 years but only lost 10lbs the most. I've been big for 22 years and its time.

It took me 9 months from start to surgery- almost to the day. Approved hospital (not dr)issues. Turned out for the best. I LOVE the group that did my surgery and I got to the gym and met a great group of women in the meantime that have been a great source of support and keep me going there everyday. I love the YMCA... such a nice "normal" group.. not full of the hotbod's in the matching tards that look at you ascance when you sweat!

I was in and out of the hospital in 5 hours from surgery. I was out of work 2 full weeks and 1 week of 1/2 days. Most of the last week was to aclimate to the long days... I have a 2.5-3 hr. commute round trip each day.

I think I needed the full 2 weeks off... I was tired a lot... took awhile for the anethesia to work out of me.. better part of the 1st week... but you're considerably younger.

I feel great. I am down a total of 47# with pre and post op wt. loss and lots and lots of inches.... my 16w jeans I can pull off without unzipping them... and I was in 20 and 22w at the time of surgery. I often have long plateau's that can be frustrating but my jeans cont. to get looser during those times so I know I am losing inches and that helps. The one thing I did not do pre op and keep up on , which I regret, is taking measurments. That would be my suggestion... get your measurements too to review when you hit plateaus... which you surely will.

good luck! Remember... everything happens for a reason and in it's own time... just takes awhile to see why. I remember being so frustrated by the waits and delays of surgery that it reduced me to tears several times. It's a process.