lap-band

Anyone local have lap-band willing to talk about your experience? Cost, hospital, life adjustments, success, things you would do different.

I haven't had it done as of yet, but this is the one that I plan on doing. I was going to do the gastric bypass...had been approved but I just didn't feel right about doing it so I didn't. I feel with the lap band since it is adjustable it would be the "best" one for me.

I know that there is a doctor in Springfield at St.Johns hospital that does them and has for about 4-5 years and it is covered by medicaid...the lap band takes a little longer for the weight to come off compared to the other surgery, but that is ok if you ask me. I've requested some information via the mail about it, as soon as I get it if your interested I'd more than happy to share any info with you...

Dang, I thought this was going to be about a band of girls giving out a "lap-dance". My bad.

WS Gal wrote--I haven't had it done as of yet, but this is the one that I plan on doing.--
Thank you for your input. I also am checking into it and wanted some personal feedback not just the sales pitch. I have insurance but insurance refused as it is optional not Dr ordered. A few months ago I thought I saw an article about some local people who had the band done but no idea when or where I saw the article.
Again thanks for your input and hope all goes well for you.

WS Gal wrote:

I haven't had it done as of yet, but this is the one that I plan on doing. I was going to do the gastric bypass...had been approved but I just didn't feel right about doing it so I didn't. I feel with the lap band since it is adjustable it would be the "best" one for me.
I know that there is a doctor in Springfield at St.Johns hospital that does them and has for about 4-5 years and it is covered by medicaid...the lap band takes a little longer for the weight to come off compared to the other surgery, but that is ok if you ask me. I've requested some information via the mail about it, as soon as I get it if your interested I'd more than happy to share any info with you...

You say medicaid pays for the surgery? Why should my tax dollars pay for you to have a weight reduction procedure done? It's an elective surgery! My insurance does not pay for elective surgeries, so why does Medicaid?
You can walk around the block (several times) for free and my tax dollars won't be involved! I'd rather my tax dollars went to help a family get onto their feet not pay for lap band surgery which requires repeated trips to the doctor to have it adjusted as you deem necessary!
I've had medicaid in the past, but believe me, I DID NOT use it for an elective surgery!
In fact, I paid $151. per month (just like an insurance premium) for my daughter to have medicaid until she graduated high school. Mediacid didn't even pay for her to go to the dentist so why would they pay for an elective weight loss surgery? That's crazy! Walk around the block instead and save my tax dollars!

the article about the people that had this was in the wp quill. one of the women lives in pomona, her name is robin. and as to medicaid paying for this, id bet it is so these people can lose the weight to get back into the work force. if you have ins. you probly have a job already, some are way too overweight to even be able to get a job. wether it is their fault for over eating and being lazy or medical problems. i for one have med. probs and cant exercise, so i really watch what i eat and there is a great little pill out there that swells up once you take it and makes you feel full, at walmart and 20 dollars so is affordable.you might try it or something like that and work on your weight instead of looking for the easy way out,and i agree that ins. and medicaid should not be paying for these things. we all chose to eat fatty stuff or healthy stuff.and you cant say diets dont work, its not the foods fault you over eat.

i think some of the problems with surgeries like this is people always look for the easy way out. im not naturally skinny or naturally fat. i try to eat health, and sometimes i like junk food too.i have noticed most overweight people are just lazy, how many times do you see very overweight people at walmart in the electric cart riding around, isnt it obvious they are the ones that need to be walking through walmart? and how often do you see over weight people in the store buying soda and candy and junk? eat healthy and go to the store and just walk around for an hour if its too hot outside. that will help alot. health isnt given to us, we have to earn it.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Not all overweight people are that way because they are lazy. Those people you saw at Walmart may have medical problems far beyond their obesity. I am very overweight. I am what is referred to as "morbidly obese." Trust me, no one thinks it is any more morbid than I.

I have fought my weight problems for years. Once I started having lung problems and was put on steroids over and over, my weight problem became an even larger (no pun intended) problem. Walking and exercise are hard to do when you don't have the lung capacity to make it from one end of the house to the other at times.

I am not defending obesity by any means. I hate every day that I live with it.I'm just saying that unless you know all the details, it is hard to judge.

I know several who have had gastric bypass surgery and a few who have had the lap band surgery. I think they will tell you it was not the "easy" way by any means. It might be a faster way but is not easy.

One of the reasons that insurance companies and Medicaid and Medicare will pay for these surgeries is because in the long run, they save money. Most of these patients are able to get off of blood pressure medication, diabetes medication, cholesterol medication, etc.

Just to clarify: I never said anyone was overweight because they were lazy. I just don't think my tax dollars need to go for an elective surgery via medicaid. There are alternative ways for the medicaid recepient to lose weight besides this surgery. Walking is one of those methods. If you can't walk, get an exercise bike, place it in front of a chair and peddle away.

I don't know all the health related issues but I have been on steroids several times for pregnancy issues. I can tell you from personal experience after rounds with Brethine, Trebutaline, and a few other that I packed on the pounds like crazy. Those meds are commonly prescribed for breathing problems as well as xopenex (sp?) and a few others. Anyone taking those meds will ahve a hard time losing the weight no matter what they do! Sometimes its not nearly as simple as "walking" or peddling.
The OP didn't say they were out of work, nor did anyone else so if medicaid is paying for it its quite possible its their "tax dollars" at work as well. I would think it would make people more mad that their tax dollars are being spent the way they are in Washington, then by being spent to give a surgery that may very well save a life.
Thinking about it in broad terms "any" surgery is elective because you can choose whether or not you want to have it. As someone that has had 5 abdominal surgeries I can tell you they certainly aren't fun or easy.

Once people lose the weight, what are they going to do to keep it off??? I lifestyle change is required or it will pop right back on. They can begin now by sticking to the produce side of the grocery store.

lady di, i may be wrong here but at some point i think i read on here you said that you smoke also? if im wrong, sorry. not that im accusing or blaming your problems on anything, but i have a family member, that is morbidly obese,on O2, asthma, bad back etc...and she couldnt walk anywhere cause of all this. after almost 25yrs she finally quit smoking, and after a few months the breathing got so much better she got off the O2, and lots of the meds including steroids, and finally was able to walk some, and losts lots of weight, she never was a unhealthy eater, it was just the combination of everything that she ended up in the health she was. but now she is in so much better shape and health. i am NOT saying you are in this situation, but thought you could relate, as i dont know you at all. but we all know that you dont just wake up one day and find you in this situation, it is all very gradual, and by the time you relize it, it is usually too late to have a quik fix.and when steroids are involved, you cant do alot to avoid the weight gain. and then it is a choice of breathing or exercise. if it was me, i would do whatever i had to do to get healthier, even it was just baby steps at first. and if medicaid will pay for someone to be able to change there life and be able to live longer, then why not? in the long run it will be so much cheaper then all the meds and drs and possibly kids growing up w/o a parent. i think that is a worthwhile place for my tax dollars. at least these people are trying to do something about their situation. my taxes go for some pretty bad things, this i think is a good thing for my money to go to. and again, sorry if i am wrong bout the smoking thing Lady Di. dont mean to offend if i did.i hear your a lovely lady. and by the way, there are too many skinny ladies out there, more should have some meat on there bones.

Yes I am a smoker........I have not had a cigarette in 21 weeks. I am like an alcoholic. Once you are an alcoholic, you are always an alcoholic....you just have stopped drinking. I have stopped smoking. With God's help and what little will power I have left, I hope I never smoke another cigarette. I started smoking at the age of 12 and I will be 60 on Sunday. Every time I see a young person light up a cigarette, I want to smack them! Trust me. I know what the consequences are and I know how hard it is to give up.

When I started smoking, no one had an idea of what it led to. Who ever thought of lung damage, or cancer, or whatever? Certainly not me and my cousins who thought those flip-top Marlboro boxes were the neatest thing invented since sliced bread!

Now, on the other hand, my mother had COPD just like me and smoked one cigarette in her life! She was, however, married to different chain smokers. She, like me, worked in restaurants and bars all her life. They told us that was a lot of the cause of our lung problems. I have always been a heavy cleaner with bleach and ammonia products. I worked in a shoe factory for 13 years around leather, cleaners, sprays and glue. In other words, I did practically everything possible to cause my COPD. I still feel like smoking was the major cause.

Now, to get back on the original topic...... I also feel like the money is well spent if it helps these people become healthy and able to work. My sister had gastric bypass surgery and no longer has diabetes. Her life has done a complete turn around since she had her surgery. I am so proud of her. She lost over 260 lbs.

And no, just my op, you did not offend me in the least! Thanks for your input.

I meant to say my mother was married to two different chain smokers. Sorry.

I know 2 people who have had the gastric bypass, one is alive and the other is dead. I know 1 person that has had the lapband and since he has lost some weight he has turned into a real a$$hole. I do know that with both surgies you can't have carbonated drinks ever.

My sister and my niece have both had gastric bypass and both drink carbonated beverages. The only thing the doctor told my sister never to eat again was coconut.

I stopped smoking 26 years ago and I still would love to have a cigarette. It's like a drug and very hard to stop. Believe me after what it's like to stop I will never start up again. My husband and I stopped cold turkey together and didn't get a divorce. lol Di believe me stay with it cuz it is worth it. I have asthma now and can't be around it but my breathing after I stopped inproved soooo much and I could taste food again. Which isn't good!!! Chew lots of gum!!

Back to the lap-band. I agree we shouldn't pay for this being done UNLESS it is medical. I know of some people that young enough and had no problems with exercising and was just to lazy to even try. Now those are the ones that should not have it done. I also know a doctor in Springfield that will do a boob job and charge to medicade because of the weight lose. Now this isn't right. He has done 4 that I know of. To many people that really do have problems can't get things done because of this. It's the system.

Walking the streets of Willow or the aisles of our stores, I would venture to guess that 80% of our population is overweight, and 70% could be labeled morbidly obese. I am one of those who is overweight and I wish I wasn't. I struggle everyday to keep from falling into the "morbid" statistical range.

I smoked when I was younger - even smoked through four pregnancies (drank, too). I am thankful that all of my children were born healthy but must also admit that all four of them smoke today. I quit smoking a long time ago I wish they would, too.

Like Lady Di, I started smoking when I was a kid. Cigarette smokers were everywhere. My dad smoked; everybody in the movies smoked; there were ads for cigarettes on city buses, magazine covers, in newspapers - and (get this) even on the free book covers we were given in school.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) back in 2000, smoking was the biggest cause of death - 435,000 people died. 18.1% of everyone who died in that year died of a smoking related disease.

Obesity (bad diet and no exercise) was the cause of 400,000 deaths. People who smoke and are obese don't have a chance!

I knew a lady here in Mtn. Grove that had the gastric bypass done. She lost so much weight, but she just kept losing it. She died about 5 years after having it done. She was about 35 - 40 yrs old. Sad.

I have smoked for about 40 years and now have COPD. I am currently trying to quit. I am overweight, but not obese. I am so scared about gaining weight. I have gone from 3 packs a day down to less than 1 pack and plan to be completely quit by the 18th if the good Lord helps me. lol.

But when my husband quit several years ago he gained about 90 lbs. If I gain that much I will explode..
SO I dont know which is worse..can't breath because of smoking or cant breath because you are so fat.