[neelyohara]

It's always good to share info, so this is what I received from VHI:

Thank you for contacting Vhi Healthcare. I would like to apologise for the delay in our response.

I note from our records that you are currently insured on First Plan Plus Level 2. On joining VHI Healthcare you had a 5 year waiting period for pre-existing conditions. This waiting period will cease on <snip>.

Any condition or symptoms of this condition that your consultant deems was present prior to joining VHI Healthcare will not be covered until after this date.

The Gastric procedures are listed in our schedule of benefits as procedure codes 178/179/181 or 182. These procedures require prior approval from our medical department and can be carried out in one of our approved hospitals or treatment centres.

Your Consultant has access to the terms and conditions of these procedures and must submit a report to our medical department for prior approval. The medical review team will assess the medical necessity of this procedure based on the information provided and contact you with a decision.

However this procedure is not available to members on our lifestage choices and are restricted to members on Plans A-E and options:
http://www.vhi.ie/info/core.jsp

If you change your cover and you receive treatment during the following two years* for a medical condition which, in the opinion of our medical director, you already had prior to the date of change, we will only pay the benefits of the lower plan.

*Five years for those aged 65 years or over, or 52 weeks for maternity or pregnancy related conditions.

When determining whether a medical condition pre-exists a policy upgrade it is important to note that it is the date of onset of the condition that is considered rather than the date upon which the member becomes aware of the condition,as medical conditions may be present for some time before giving rise to symptoms or being diagnosed.

As with all insurance companies, Terms and Conditions apply. Please refer to your Rules Booklet.

Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Note the bold. I like how they started by stating my policy type then near the end, after sending a long and complicated email, they tell me my policy isn't covered!

In my case it's not a matter of getting cover, it's trying to find the best package/medical team and the most competitive price.

[Bigmix]

Originally Posted by neelyohara

It's always good to share info, so this is what I received from VHI:



Note the bold. I like how they started by stating my policy type then near the end, after sending a long and complicated email, they tell me my policy isn't covered!

In my case it's not a matter of getting cover, it's trying to find the best package/medical team and the most competitive price.

I know i was lucky with who I dealt with in Quinnhealth, if i had got it done in Ireland they would only have covered half of the 12000 euro bill. b4 i knew i would get the op covered by Quinn, I was the same as yourself looking 4 the best package/ medical team with a good price. Chris deBruyne was recomended 2 me by someone I met on holiday, (She lost 11 stone in less than a Year) I done a lot of research on him and others but was very impressed with what people said about him (especially on this forum) all in all the op flights and fills at the clinic costs about 5000 euro.
I'm only speakin 4 myself but having gone thru it all it's worth every penny.
if u want 2 get a better picture of Chris DeBruyne go 2 one of his clinics 4 a consultation and b4 and after u see his assisstant ( he is rareley there) sit and talk 2 people in the waiting room who've had the operation you'll get all the information u'l need. They're always willing 2 share they're experiences and it was after talking to them convinced me 2 have the op,
Best of luck with what u decide and let us know how u get on
Mick

[tbh]

folks - I'll say it again. We don't allow email addresses, website addresses or recommendations of any practitioners on boards, and certainly not in this thread. In the interests of the greater good, I've been trying to turn a blind eye to this, but there's only so much turning I can do.

IF you want to rec. someone, do so over PM.

once more:

PLEASE, do not publish email addresses, websites, or names of any company or person providing this proceedure. Mods will not be obligated to issue any more warnings, and if the practise continues, the thread will be closed.

[neelyohara]

To the mods I completely understand your frustration with the issue of names/companies being mentioned, unfortunately when people are discussing the subject it's not so much the pros and cons.... it's that they are trying to gather information on packages and doctors.

For those who have gone through the procedure the discussion is usually based on who you went to, who is doing your fills, how much they cost, etc.

I'm not disputing the forum charter or actions/decisions by mods... I'm really just offering a reason why this thread keeps throwing up red flags.

Is it worth putting together a list of websites/forums people have found interesting for sourcing information? I'm not referring to surgeons or clinics business websites but actual support forums that specifically deal with this area.

(and tbh... is mentioning VHI a forum no-no? I didn't think so as I've found them through-out boards.ie but now I'm not so sure!)

[tbh]

Hi neely, no problems with links to other forums, it's individual names that cause an issue for two reasons - one, we attract a load of spamming and two, we don't negative reviews of practitioners and so for balance, positive either. Thanks for your understanding

[hunnybee2small]

Originally Posted by tbh

I appreciate you asking, but I'd also appreciate it if you didn't post links - thanks Patti.

Hi guys, I can see your point about why we shouldnt be recommending different clinics etc but the main reason we come on here is to get the advice and support that we need!! This site is very restricted!!

[hunnybee2small]

Originally Posted by seat32

Hi everyone. I'm 2 days post-op lap-band and feeling good now the gas pains have passed. I've been a serial dieter all my life and have 6 stone to lose. I don't know how many times I've said "this is it, I'm going to lose this weight" - I tend to give up and revert to bad habits if I don't lose or even gain weight - and I know the band will be the push I need on those days. I know it's not going to be easy! Just wanted to pass on this tip to anyone considering the op: search YouTube for "wls" - there are loads of vlogs there of people who have had it done and their experiences - both good & bad.

Hi everyone! I am 30 yrs old and have struggled all my life with my weight, I have done every diet known to man and only had success with Reductil, when I lost 3 and a half stone ( I am currently 14 stone and want to be 10) but piled it all back on again. When I wanted to go back on the reductil i found out it was taken off the market... So now I am seriously considering A Gastric Band. I have made enquiries to many clinics I have found advertised on the net.. Some are abroad and others are in Ireland. I have found that if you get treated abroad the hospitals in Ireland are very reluctant to treat you afterwards if you have any complications. I got a reply back from one clinic based in dublin , they rang me this morning. My BMI is 31 and she said that normally they require a bmi of 35, but she would consult the doctor and call me back. She suggested the gastric balloon, which is a non surgical procedure. I am not interested in this as I want this device in for life and the balloon is only in for six months. I also recieved a reply from a clinic in dublin that brings you abroad to Budapest for the procedure. They quoted 4950e all included (flights accom etc) and claimed that they bands are superior as they do not slip?! The clinic in dublin has quoted 7950e and seem to very professional.
I am wondering how i will adjust after the operation as I am a complete foodie, love to cook and entertain and would like to know exactly how normal of a life I will be able to enjoy after the procedure. I have suffered from major depression all my life because of my weight and cannot let anymore of my life slip by without being the person I want to be. I would be so happy to get any information or help from anyone who has been through this procedure, either in Ireland or abroad. Many thanks folks!!

[seat32]

hunnybee2small

I just did a big long "quick reply", hit the submit button and nothing happened and now all that text is gone. D'oh!

The short version then...
Life after banding is pretty much the same as life before banding except that meal sizes are much smaller, chewing time is greatly increased and there is no drinking allowed with or for 1 hour after meals. No foods are off-limits so there should be no problems entertaining - you might just be the last one to finish eating and you can't have wine/coffee during/after dinner. Read through the forums (I posted links on pg12) where UK and US people talk about everything and anything band-related or PM me if you like.

[tbh]

Originally Posted by hunnybee2small

Hi guys, I can see your point about why we shouldnt be recommending different clinics etc but the main reason we come on here is to get the advice and support that we need!! This site is very restricted!!

this isn't the only site on the internet it's either discuss it this way, or not at all - that's not a threat, it's just the reality. We could get in a lot of trouble - if one person "I went here and it was bad", we get legal letters straight away. I assure you, we're doing as much as we're comfortable with.

[mandypoo89]

Hi, im 20 years old and im getting a gastric band placed in brussels on 29/06/2010.

i decided to get the band because my best friend has it and lost 7 1/2 stone in 18 months my aunt also got it done in january and already has 3 stone gone. i have seen the proof that it works! but you have to work with it, its not a quick fix its a tool to keep you on track.

Ive been struggling with my weight since i was 6 years old and have yo-yo dieted all through my teens. with every diet i would lose weight for a couple months then lose motivation and put it all back on PLUS MORE!!! I have a BMI of 50, and am 5,8 so im doing this to put an end to my yo yo diet rollercoaster and end this battle with weight once and for all!

id love to chat with people who have the band or are getting one so we can share experiences, any helpful tips or words of encouragement are welcome!!

xxxxxxxxxxx

[seat32]

Originally Posted by mandypoo89

Hi, im 20 years old and im getting a gastric band placed in brussels on 29/06/2010.

i decided to get the band because my best friend has it and lost 7 1/2 stone in 18 months my aunt also got it done in january and already has 3 stone gone. i have seen the proof that it works! but you have to work with it, its not a quick fix its a tool to keep you on track.

Ive been struggling with my weight since i was 6 years old and have yo-yo dieted all through my teens. with every diet i would lose weight for a couple months then lose motivation and put it all back on PLUS MORE!!! I have a BMI of 50, and am 5,8 so im doing this to put an end to my yo yo diet rollercoaster and end this battle with weight once and for all!

id love to chat with people who have the band or are getting one so we can share experiences, any helpful tips or words of encouragement are welcome!!

xxxxxxxxxxx

You sound like you know exactly what you're getting yourself into - the band is a tool and you still have to do the work to lose the weight. I just wish I'd had the guts to do it at 20 instead of wasting years thinking I could do it on my own. Whenever I lose motivation now, the band keeps me right on track and I'm losing the weight slowly but surely.

I think one of the biggest benefits is that it's helping me to break my bad food habits - like snacking all evening - so I know that once I reach my goal weight, I'll find it easier to maintain it. Unlike the crash diets I used to go on where I'd lose weight fast by being on a super-strict VLCD (very low calorie diet) and then pile it all back on again once I started eating "normally".

I'm sure your friend, your aunt and your surgery provider will be able to answer your questions - feel free to bounce 'em off me too if you like!

Good luck with the preparation for the Op - I was on a "milk diet" for 2 weeks beforehand (to reduce the fat stores around the liver) and even though it was one of the strictest diets I'd ever been on, I found it easy because I knew it was to make the Op easier/safer so I didn't find it too hard to stick to.

Let us know how you get on with it all anyway!

[neelyohara]

Originally Posted by seat32

I just wish I'd had the guts to do it at 20 instead of wasting years thinking I could do it on my own.

I'm sure your friend, your aunt and your surgery provider will be able to answer your questions - feel free to bounce 'em off me too if you like!

I was on a "milk diet" for 2 weeks beforehand (to reduce the fat stores around the liver) and even though it was one of the strictest diets I'd ever been on, I found it easy because I knew it was to make the Op easier/safer so I didn't find it too hard to stick to.

@Mandy We're both getting an op on the same day! You sound like you're in the right headspace and no doubt it will be a huge sucess for you.

I'm 28 and I'm doing it for the very reason Seat mentions - I don't want to find myself in the same (or very possibly worse) condition in ten years time.

I decided I didn't want a band, I did have worries about slippage and the ongoing maintenance and cost of fills. I didn't want to go down the route of bypass as it mainly works by mal-absorption.
I finally decided on a sleeve gastrectomy as it has the benefit of a bypass (small stomach, although not as small as a bypass) BUT it removes the portion of your stomach that produces the hormone that triggers appetite.

I'm currently on the pre-op liver diet. I'm finding it hard because I've had nearly a year of 'sod it all to hell then' coupled with some depression at the moment - long story short I want some sugar! I'm heading off to the Czech Republic at the end of the month.

My op will cost €7500 in total. That's flights, hotel, pre-op tests (ekg, endo, blood, ultrasound....) hospital, operation, post-op tests, 2 years nutition/psychological support post-op. It also factors in insurance and it was the only company that gave, what I consider, an adequate recovery time in hospital.

Anyway - op is at the end of this month, I'm keeping it quiet work wise. I've loads of annual leave to take so I'm going 'on holiday' for three weeks.

When I come back and I'm losing weight I'll just complain that they are over-working me

[StormWarrior]

My sister got a gastric band about 18 months ago. She had always been very overweight, even as a child, and by the time she was about 22 years old she weighed about 23 stone. She tried weight watchers and many other diets repeatedly but always failed. She spent £20 on chinese takeaway every night. Eventually the doctor told her that if she didn't lose weight she'd be dead by the time she was 30. She took out a bank loan and got a gastric band.

At frist she could only drink small amounts of liquid, but soon she could eat again. She did not change her eating habits and continues to eat lots of junk food. However, because of the gastric band she can't eat quite as much as before, so over the past approximately 18 months, she has lost about 6 stone. She continues to lose weight. Because she overeats and does other things she was told not to, such as drinking at the wrong times, she frequently complains that the band is causing her discomfort. She has been back to have it tightened a few times. It has definitely been worth it though, she'd never have lost any weight without it. Make sure that you get a gastric band from a hospital that comes with lifetime after-care, that's very important.

[Prettyfireworks]

I have a consultation tomorrow in the Beaumont private clinic. No idea what to expect, anyone got any tips for me? Its for the Gastric Bypass, after talking it over with my GP I decided this was the best one for me.

I will post tomorrow evening to say how I got and stuffs! x

[SupaDupaFly]

Originally Posted by Prettyfireworks

I have a consultation tomorrow in the Beaumont private clinic. No idea what to expect, anyone got any tips for me? Its for the Gastric Bypass, after talking it over with my GP I decided this was the best one for me.

I will post tomorrow evening to say how I got and stuffs! x

Good luck!!!mine is on Tuesday. Hope it goes well xxx