Kevin Y.
I have struggled with my weight all my life. I was age 12 when I went on my first diet, and I have been on thousands more since. I was always heavy, but I didn't get huge until college. I gained about 100lbs my freshman year. About 8 years ago my wife mentioned the WLS to me I was totally against it, there was no way i was going to do surgery. I mean I had always been able to lose weight when I went on a diet so why get cut on. Of coarse the problem was I could never keep the weight off. So as you can see from my story below I decided about three years ago to have the surgery. On Aug 27th of 2008 I was finally able to get it done.
I had always planned to the RNY, but after the seminar I decided on the Lap-Band. I chose the Lap-Band because it wasn't the quality of the food I ate but the quantity. I never was a big snacker, but when I set down for a meal it was always a large meal. So I thought something that could reduce my meal size would do the trick. Also i really like the fact that the Lap-Band could be adjusted at anytime. If 10 years from now I start to gain weight and get it adjusted to control my weight. Of coarse the trade off is the initial weight loss is slower than the RNY.
WOW! this has been one heck of a ride, I started trying to get approved for the surgery (Gastric By-Pass) back in 2005. Every time I would get close my company would change insurance providers. I first started with United Health Care got my 6 month diet done and was ready to go then BAM! my company changes to Cigna. Cigna made it almost impossible,I had to start the 6 month diet over. OK I thought I would just have to suck it up and do it. Got to end of my 6 month diet and the bariatric center I was using closed up shop. So I found a new surgeon and continued on well I finished my 6 month diet just enough time for my company to change back to United Health Care. However this time our plan provide absolutely no treatment for obesity so I gave up. The next year we changed again to Great West Insurance (yes another provider). So I thought well should I try again, I decided to give it one more shot. This time I went to Dayton Bariatric Center, and OMG they were extremely helpful. I went to the informational session and at that session I decided to go with the Lap-Band instead of the By-Pass. Even though I am so large and the Lap-band takes longer to lose the weight. Something just told me it was the correct way to go. With the help of the doctors office I got the ball rolling again. Yes another 6 month doctor supervised diet. I finished the 6 month diet in July 08 and had the surgery Aug 27th 08. I am so thankful to the doctors and staff of the Dayton Bariatric Center without their help and support, I don't think I would have ever gotten approved. Trust me I tried with 2 other Bariatric groups in the past and even though they said "We will help you with insurance approval" once I got my first denial letter they had nothing else for me. Well I keep you updated on my progress.
