Today I am going to a seminar to learn more about lap-banding. I hope I learn something that will help me make this decision. At least it will get me dressed and out of the house. Yesterday I never got out of my jammies. Sometimes I have enough abdominal pain that it is very uncomfortable to wear clothing. And somedays I just don’t care. 
Posted by: adamswife | September 8, 2007
It’s Saturday
Posted in Diabetes, Life After Diabetes
Hey Eve! How did it go? Any thoughts or info you want to share?
By: Zazzy on September 8, 2007
at 9:23 pm
It was very informative! I think the lap-banding could really work. At our hospital they have a whole program you have to go through that both precedes and follows up after the surgery for a minimum of one year. The call it the “New U” program. It includes visits with a psychologist and an exercise physiologist. My insurance will not pay for the lap-band, only for the bypass surgery. I don’t think bypass is a good choice for me – too many problems such as mal-absorption that I already deal with. They refer to the lap-band as a ‘tool’ to help you lose weight. And, you have to pay your co-pay before you have the surgery. I figure I would need to show up at the hospital with about $5,000.00 before I could have the surgery. I’ve been thinking I could spend that $5,000.00 at, say, $100.00 a month to see a psychologist and an exercise guru instead of having the surgery. I would be without the ‘tool’ to aid in hunger control, but I really think I could make it work. I’ve been having so much depression that I have made a special appointment to talk with my doctor about anti-depressant meds anyway. I firmly believe counseling should be part of that treatment. And my insurance will help cover the counseling for depression. I may ask the doctor for orders for physical therapy for “general conditioning” – this would get me started on an exercise program set up by a trained professional that I could then continue for $35.00 per month using their equipment, but without the constant oversight of a therapist. Once again the insurance would cover the initial therapy. So, I think I will take another stab at weight-loss without surgical intervention. I was doing the PT before and losing weight, but had to quit because of tight finances. If I think of this as spending my 5,000 New U dollars on the part of the program that appeals to me most and thus avoiding the surgery, it seems like a real bargain. Even if I have to pay full membership at a gym, $5,000 will keep me going for a few years. Does this sound reasonable to you? I think it’s a good plan, but my brain isn’t working at top efficiency lately and I could be all wrong about this.
By: adamswife on September 9, 2007
at 7:18 am
“I’ve been thinking I could spend that $5,000.00 at,say,$100.00 a month to see a psychologist and an
exercise guru instead of having the surgery.”
Eve,have you ever considered visiting a neuropsychiatrist instead of a psychologist ? They are covered by insurance
here,psychologists are not.
By: schnuckiputz on September 9, 2007
at 11:48 am
I think it sounds like a good plan. I’m all in favor of the shrink too – I think they can really help sort out some of the underlying issues.
Around here, Schnucki, psychaitrists pretty much just prescribe meds. Fortunately most insurance covers psychology. Did you ever get final approval Eve?
By: Zazzy on September 9, 2007
at 3:24 pm
TriCare will only cover gastric bypass – not a surgery I want to consider, especially after seeing the graphics yesterday. If I could get coverage for the lap-band, I might consider that. However, we’re right back to the nearly $5,000 up front. I figure by the time I could save up that much, if I ever could, it would be way to late for the surgery.
By: adamswife on September 9, 2007
at 3:51 pm
“I’m all in favor of the shrink too – I think they can really help sort out some of the underlying issues.”
Zazzy,I agree !!!
There is quite a difference between a shrink and a neuropsychiatrist too.A shrink only asks questions and listens to you,he doesn’t touch you at all.The other one gives you a complete check up,including blood work etc.Neuropsychiatry is quite a different ball game,I think.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropsychiatry
By: schnuckiputz on September 9, 2007
at 6:33 pm