future4me

hi everyone -- I shared my issue a week or so ago -- I'm in 5th month of the 6 month pre-op evaluation only to find out the surgeon supposedly doesn't do lap band anymore. After several attempts I was able to talk to the nurse today, she talked to the surgeon and it has been confirmed -- she doesn't do lapband now, only suggesting me to meet with another surgeon in the practice who hasn't done a solo lapband yet. I don't think this is an option for me! I feel truly like I was sold a bill of goods!!! I took the suggestion of a post from last week and checked a certified bariatric surgery website and found four in PA. The closest to me is a 2 1/2 hour drive, each way. I just don't know if this is going to be feasible for me knowing that most appointments will be during business hours and the amount of time I would need to take off work. I know I'm probably complaining too much and I'm sorry, but I just need to vent. I'm really upset about this.... In regards to the potential new location -- has anyone been to the bariatric center in danville, PA at the Geisinger facility? This is my new closest location and just wondered if anyone had anything positive to share. Thanks everyone for listening...

Pinnacle is good? I am near that location, but was told that the "after-care" was not the greatest. Would love to hear more if you don't mind since this would be a perfect location for me. Thanks so much!

Do you mind me asking what your experience has been with the pre-surgery 6 month evaluation with the Geisinger facility? I have only had experience to compare so I'm not sure if it's usual or unusual: nobody discussed with me which procedure I was interested in, I seemed to just be shuttled in every month for a nutritionist to flip through my food journal, never met a surgeon or anyone on their surgical staff. Hi, I am also in my 5th month of a 6 month program through Geisinger in Hazleton, PA. The surgery however will be performed in Danville, PA when that time comes. I was told there are two doctors that perform the laparoscopic band surgery (Realize Band) at Geisinger, Jon Gabrielsen, MD and Anthony Petrick, MD. I have yet to meet them. Here is some info on them: http://www1.geisinge...s.cfm?pid=64390 http://www1.geisinge....cfm?pid=105355 I am about and 1 hour and 25 minutes away from them. The place is gigantic. There are shuttle buses in the parking lot to get you to where you have to be. I had surgery there about a year and a half ago and stayed two nights. My son also had surgery there when he was a baby. Both times we had positive experiences. Hope this helps.

I'm in the 5th month of the 6th month insurance ordered pre-op nutrition counseling, etc. I went to a monthly appt yesterday and was told that the surgeon I preferred "now does very little to none" as far as lap band surgery. They said that she's doing more reversals/removals and doesn't have a lot of faith in lapband anymore. Has anyone had similar experiences? Not sure what to do. Where I'm going is a reputable place. ugh...

thank you everyone for your replies, suggestions and encouragement -- at this point, I just feel like I've been taken advantage of. Why wait until the month before a tentative surgery date to tell me you're not doing the lap band procedure??? I've been researching, prepping and hoping for a positive outcome for seven months and feel as though it was all a scam. I will start researching further...thanks again!

i have an appt to meet with the surgeon to discuss my options, but if she's a "no" I was told the only other surgeon in their practice is one who still needs to be proctored for several more surgeries before he can do it himself -- this is not an option for me! I checked in with another surgery location and was told by someone not affiliated with them that there follow-up is horrible -- feel like I'm running out of options....

Hello, I'm new to the website, but have an important question that I'm hoping someone can give some advice/personal experience. I'm about two months away from lapband surgery and went to a support group meeting last night at the hospital. I had my mind set on one particular surgeon and was told by a nurse that the surgeon has been shying away from lapband procedures lately due to issues with patients. She said that the surgeon has been concerned with patients who (a year after surgery) are requesting to have it removed -- not effective, etc. Has anyone had similar experiences? I was so excited about this and now seem a bit hesitant/confused. Thank you for your thoughts...

I'm in month 4 of the required 6 month nutrition monitoring before surgery. At this point, I still have not met a surgeon to talk about which surgery I'm interested in and what their thoughts were as far as what they recommend. Is this typical? Potentially, I could be having my surgery in 3 months and apparently will only meet with a surgeon after another successful weigh-in next month. Just curious if this is the typical set up for surgery. Just seems like it would be better to get these conversations covered earlier in the process...

Thank you everyone for your replies, I appreciate your thoughts/suggestions and makes me feel more empowered about what I want to do. I feel as though I'm making an educated decision about my weight loss and to then hear news like that, it was almost a "failure feeling" before starting. I really WANT this and feel committed to making it work, knowing that in the end, it's up to me. Once again, thank you!