My wife had the Lapband a few years ago. She lost 100 lbs and has kept it off. Best money I ever spent. Insurance didn't cover it. I know others that have had it done. I only know of one that had to have it removed. Their body rejected it or some other complication. When I paid for my wife's Lapband it was about $18,000.00 Now it's down to less than $12,000.00. I would say that if you can get it done, do it. You're 50 now. It's only gonna get harder for you. Get it done now so you can enjoy your golden years and not have so many medical issues. Don't get me wrong. Exercise is great. But let's face it, if you consume too many calories in a day, you won't be able to exercise enough to lose weight. Your blood pressure will continue to be high due to the extra belly fat putting pressure on your kidneys. The Lapband surgery is minimally invasive. It's done Liproscopically. My wife was back to work after a long weekend off. She hasn't looked back. Same goes for many others that I know who have had it done. Even if insurance won't pay, come up with the money some how. Sooner rather than later. They will have to fix your acid reflux probably a hiatal hernia is causing that. They can fix that at the same time as the Lapband if it's not too big, otherwise they may have to fix it first, then go back in a month or two later and do the Lapband. Biggest lifesyle change is, you can't eat tough meats, most breads can be a challenge to consume, and you have to chew your food really well before you swallow. If you don't chew well, it will get hung up at the valve on top of your stomach and you will be uncomfortable until you throw up or it goes on down.
Good Luck,
David
My mother had the gasteric by-pass, ans my sister had the lapband... they each exoerienced the same or similar issues with the bodies rejection of certain foods, or hair fall out from not enough protein intake etc. One of the the issues that really struck me was how much they aged... Although they both lost over 100lbs each, they also look as though they took on 10 or more years. Either I am getting used to the way they look now, or their youth is starting to come back. Regardless, they would do it all over again if givin the option. They are fit, and are happier than they have been in a lifetime. I say lifetime, as we have all been faced with weight issues our whole lives, except for my mother, I have dealt with it the longest of my siblings. I happy to read of your positive experience with the lap band surgery, and I'm sure your wife is greatful to have that weight gone... it can only enrich your lives. As for the cost... my dad gets mad at me because I will go in debt for a house or a car, but unless insurance will cover my ill, I rarely shill the out-of-money for any medical procedure that will enriche my life... The flip side to that is, he is mad as heck that I am even considering thie procedure...
May I recommend a book that will help you? It is "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Dr. Fuhrman has been on Dr. Oz's show many times about weight loss. It is available at all booksellers or on-line. Dr. Fuhrman also has a web-site. Before you commit to surgery, please get and read this book. It may change your live.
Good luck.
Thank you, I jsut found out some financial news yesterday that may leave with just enough cash this week to afford the book... looking it up on Amazon now, thank you for the recomendation!
Too bad that the program though your work is so limited. You are going to need more than a stack of handouts.
I was hoping it would be more of a health coaching kind of thing and an ongoing program. I had a good friend go through such a coaching program through Kaiser, and my sister went through a coaching program through her employer-sponsored insurance too. And both did very well with it. In the case of my friend, she has kept almost all of the weight off for more than 10 years. My sister had good success for a few years, but she is out of the program now, and the weight has crept back on.
The coaches teach you things like what a healthy portion of food really is (many people would have trouble recognizing a true healthy portion). They teach you a few things about nutrition, give you tips about how to avoid pitfalls, tips about how to actually eat a meal at a healthy pace and in a healthy way. They analyze your current diet and help you make changes. They help you set realistic and attainable goals and give you a plan to get there. Typically you keep a food journal and also make notes about what worked and what didn't work. You typically would have check-ins with your coach either in person, or in group meetings, or by phone or email to go over the food journal and talk about what is working and what is not working and to make adjustments. The coaches help you identify triggers that can result in overeating and they offer new strategies to deal with the issues that come up to keep you on track. It's an ongoing process. They offer a lot of help and support, but another aspect is that fact that there is some accountability too that can be motivating. If all you have tried before has been do-it-yourself diets found in books, a coaching program is a completely different animal.
You might want double-check with your benefits department or your insurance company to ask if your plan offers case management or any other programs to help. Sometimes this kind of thing is not really a publicized or promoted part of your plan, but may still be available. If not, you might want to check with the local hospitals to see if they offer any coaching programs, even if it is not covered by your insurance. Maybe ask your personal doctor if he knows of any weight loss coaching programs he can recommend. I don't have any experience with commercial for-profit programs, but there are plenty of those out there as well, and maybe those would be an option.
And don't be too discouraged about your weigh in today. For one thing, there may be a discrepancy between the scale in your work nurse's office and the one you had your initial weigh in on. Also, it is normal for weight to fluctuate by several pounds day to day or even during the course of a single day. If you really want to track your weight and have good consistent measurements, what I do is to weigh myself first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything, right after taking a pee, and stark naked. Even so, I can get a couple pounds of fluctuation day to day. Another thing about the appetite suppressant is that it is not likely to work on it's own. So if you are not combining it with a real effort to cut back calories, it probably hasn't done much to help you, but I doubt you've really gained weight while taking it.
Some things have changed since I first started to seek out a foolproof weight loss plan of attack... lets work backwards from 6Am (CST) this morning: So my wife calls me this morning; as I have stated, she is not happy with my considering surgery as an option to lose weight, and she informs me that we received our electric bill yesterday of $450+ and the car insurance of $350+. This is a problem because my Monday appointment with the Bariatric Wellness Institute here in Huntsville, AL is charging me $150 for the first consult (not covered by ins.) plus $175 to set me up with a dietician - Alabama wants me to exhaust all weight loss options over a 6-month period so a dietician is appointed to help... This is giving my wife and a littl bit of breathing room as I have to call the clinic to reschedule for a later date.
Still working backwards, after I picked up my daughter from school, on our ride home I asked her what she wanted for supper.. she says 'mac-n-cheese' or some such, and I told her that I thought I would eat just a salad tonight... Out of the blue she says and i quote; "...have a small salad...(pause)... I don't want you to have the surgery" She tells me that her and mom had talked yesterday morning about what I am considering, and she says that she did not want me going through the same issues that my mom, her grandmother, and my sister, her aunt, went through... She did not want me throwing up and being in pain, and she did not want me getting my stomach cut out. She says and I have to quote her again; "...if the surgery makes you eat less to lose weight, then why don't you just eat less, and not have the surgery...?" I love the innoecent minds of our youth... the speak from untainted hearts, and they speak their minds... there is no confusion in what they mean.
My son, while watching "Fail Army" videos on youtube, just watched a fat guy on a scooter do a horendous faceplant, and while laughing from the gut he turns to me and says; "at least your not that fat..." thanks son! I sat and watched the rest of the Fail Army video...these are great for a good laugh at someone elses expense... he finally said that he supported what ever I decided, but he wished I would get the surgery either.
As for the company nurse... she stated the truth; I cannot help you if you do not help me help you. She could not tell me what to do, but could pass along the handouts that outlined what I needed to eat healthier etc. When I sit down and think about it... I do not eat anything that does not come out of a box; and plastic wrap; and that could be fixed in a microwave or oven in 30-minutes or less. It finally dawned on me what the nurse told me... shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh fruits & veggies are, select the fresh meat etc. and only shop the center isles for seasonings etc. She said it would be expensive at first, but eating fresher and healthier will come at a cost one way or another, whether I have the surgery or not...
What my daughter and the company nurse say really makes a lot of sense... surgery or not, I will need to eat better, and eat less in order to lose weight. I must ponder this, as my mom just texted me and says that she would pay for me to keep the appointment this Monday... Some days I feel like a "Push-me Pull-me" Some of you may get that term...