Realwomen.co.nz

I know this is an age old discussion, but for me a new discussion with my doctor. Have been trying to lose weight but getting fed up with myself and felt that a "kick start" would help me along a bit. So asked the doc about Reductil. She said it was OK but that Gastric Banding done by laproscopic surgery was the most effective way to go. I did ask if it was subsidised. At this point she got quite judgemental saying that there were cancer patients desparate for surgery so why should obese people be entitled. Fair enough, but I don't expect to go to my doctor asking for help to have "judgement" added to my despair. My husband pointed out to me that I should have responsed that I too pay my taxes, yada yada (but I wasn't quick enough with this thought).

Anyway, my question is has anyone had gastric banding done, was it effective and most importantly what were the costs like here in NZ, bearing in mind that there appears to be ongoing treatment for getting the band adjusted, or infection etc.?????

Girls, your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Can you change your doctor HG? I think that was so cruel & uncalled for, & I would tell her so.

You are so right, you employ her to give advice/take care of your health,...not be judgmental & abuse you like that.

Please don't allow her attitude to erode your self esteem,...there are plenty of kind, understanding doctors out there, ...& we can shop around until we find one.

Gone are the days when we put doctors on pedestals,...now we choose one best suited to our needs, as in employing any professional or trades person! It is your right.

You may have to find one out of your area though. Good luck with it!

Hi Homebush Gal

I too am considering the lap band option but I have not discussed it woith my GP yet.

Your Gp was inappropriately judgemental. She is nothing but a hypocrite when she used cancer as an example. I wonder what she would have said to you if you had used smokers suffering from lung cancer as an excuse. I bet they are not expected to pay for cancer treatment yet they indulge in a past time which is well documented and proven to be the leading cause of lung and throat cancer and other illnesses such as emphysima etc. Its bloody hypocritical that smokers can seek publicly funded treatment. They are warned of the dangers on the packaging of cigarettes yet they still do it and get the health treatment they will inevitably require. Maybe if they wrote the warnings of the effects of obesity of the packets of potato chips and chocolate bikkies then maybe obesity treatments could then be funded?? A case of dumb and dumber?

Go figure....

Couldn't agree more. Obesity, true, is predominantly our own fault but cutting out food when it is a basic requirement of life is far harder than cutting out cigarettes (and I know as I used to smoke 40 a day and managed to give up - about 15 years now). Food is a tougher one to give up on. She was very quick to point out initially that banding would reduce diabetes if not completely alleviate it so in my mind I thought it was logical to ask if it was subsidised as surely treatment that can do that is treatment worthwhile having as it costs thousands each year to provide ongoing treatment for that condition alone, let alone other obesity related illnesses.

What I want to know is the costs tho'. Anyone out there who has an idea?

Google "lap Banding operation cost" in NZ and see what comes back

Hi HBG - as you probably know I have had a gastric bypass which is a different procedure but more effective (with obvious higher impacts as well), but anyway there are a couple of things I can tell you. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is a yahoo group that has a support and information network for NZers who have had banding done
Next, banding is the only type of weight loss surgery done in Christchurch so the GPs there tend to recommend it over other types. I am not entirely sure of the cost, from memory I think it was somewhere round 10k? My op cost about 15k and that included the costs of travel, family coming with me etc (obviously this wasn't all in the bills I paid, but I added it all up and that is the figure that is stuck in my head).
Someone I know in Oz had the band about 5 months ago and she has lost 15kg. To my mind that is not a breakthrough result given the cost, but I think it pays to speak or communicate with a lot of people who have had it done so you get a range of experiences.
The surgeon who did my surgery, David Schroeder, is absolutely fantastic. He makes follow up clinic visits to Chch and he des the most holistic work with people too. He also does the band, but best of all he can advise on whether surgery is best for you and what sort, rather than pushing his pet procedure. He's worth a trip or two to Hamilton

Professor at Royal Adelaide recently suggested this for my 17yo dtr, I was shocked because she eats so little, (she has the youngest onset Metabolic Syndrome he has ever seen) he recognised that she eats little, but said that for some reason this works for sufferers like her. They probably eat almost the same amount but spread it over a longer period. J is trying some other methods first, and is reluctant but she may keep the option open for later.

I have been thinking about this option for a while too & would like to know a few things too.
Is gastric bypass done in Christchurch?
Is the lapband as effective as gastric bypass surgery?

I have been feeling quite depressed lately as I just cant lose weight & feel so bad about myself, am dreading going to our bach & having to be on the beach. got my sisters graduation in 2 weeks & will feel huge.
I keep thinking when I lose weight I will do this or be able to wear that( which is too small for me now)
So maybe its time I did something.
Any advise would be be much appreciated. Would prefer to go to ChCH.