I've recieved close to 10 phone calls and or emails regarding the 'process' that we've gone through to have the Lap-Band Surgery. So, I'm going to try to give the best scenario or at least what our scenario has been like.
- First, if you have medical insurance, call your insurance company and ask if your plan covers bariatric procedures. Then you'll know if you have to self pay or not.
- Find a surgeon who's with a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence, board certified etc.
- I would strongly encourage every body considering Bariatric Surgery (Gastric Bypass or Lap-Band) to attend a Seminar. They are usually free and open to the public and very informative.
- Once you've decided on a surgeon, make a consultation appointment to discuss the procedure and determine if you are an eligible candidate.
- Our doctor did an assessment including our entire medical history both family and individual; a diet history, how many, how long and which ones that we'd done or failed :-); as well as discussing any weight related health problems we might've had, ie; reflux or sleep apnea etc.
- Once our insurance had processed our request for the procedure, they required that we have a physician supervised weight loss program for a minimum of 6 months as well as a psychological evaluation. ( I said all that's going to tell you is I'm fat and crazy!!) Haha...All that simply involved was talking to a psychologist and taking a personality test as well as another assessment test. It took a couple of hours so be prepared. We used the psychologist that our surgeon referred us too so that he'd be familiar with the bariatric surgery process etc and knew what our Insurance company would be needing.
- Once all of this has been completed, go back to your surgeon for a re evaluation to ensure that you have completed everything. They will send the needed information from your doctor and psychologist to the insurance company. Once you're pre approved they'll schedule your pre-op appointment with a nutritionalist, the doctor and the hospital.
- Pre-Op for Brian included blood work, an EKG, and a Chest x-ray as well as an appointment with a nutritionalist from the Bariatric Center. She gave us everything we need to know for each week post surgery as you're learning what and how to eat.
- We are required as well to do Sugar Busters Diet for a minimum of 3 weeks prior to surgery to help shrink the liver.
- We were given 3 prescriptions we were required to have filled prior to surgery. One pill for anti nausea the morning of surgery. DO NOT wait until the day before to have this one filled. A lot of pharmacy's do not have it regularly stocked. The second was Lortab Elixir for pain. You can not take big pills after surgery because they can get hung up by the band so it's best to use Children's Ibuprofen or Children's Tylenol or the prescribed liquid pain medication. The third script was more anti nausea medication after surgery. Brian hasn't used any of this and hasn't used the Lortab since 1 day after surgery. It's been great.
- Beyond the above mentioned items, it comes down to whether or not you're ready to do this for you! Are you willing to separate yourself from food? From all of the attachments to food? From day 1 our surgeons and nutritionalists and even their office staff have stressed to us that the Lap-Band is a TOOL. It's not a quick fix. It can be mistreated and abused and thus be ineffective if not used properly. People can fail to lose wait as well as gain wait back. It's crucial to realize that the Band cannot control WHAT you put in your mouth but it will and does control HOW MUCH you put in! Your body will send it right back up if it's too much or too big. So far we have not experienced this however he's still on smoothie's and soup!!
Please feel free to share this link with anyone you know that may be considering bariatric surgery. Feel free to ask my anything and forward them our information if they have questions! Good luck!!
