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I agree, everyone will have a different experience within the same program. I never intended to dissuade someone from attending the Umass program. I also want clarify that I said It seemed like they expect me to loose 2 pounds a week like someone who was on South Beach. No one in the program ever mentioned South Beach. I said this because at the second of the 4 weekly required classes I lost 1/2 a pounds. The woman weighing me in said something like "I guess we'll take it" and when a woman weighed in and had lost 2 pounds the group leader said "Now this is what we want to see" I am also glad to hear that you were told your loss could be as little as 2 pounds. Again my experience has been different. When I called to book my last psychologist appointment. The woman on the phone who gave me an app date looked at my chart, saw I was down exactly 2 pounds from the intake with Dr G and said "Well you better make sure your weight is down by then" Congratulations on your banding at Umass and I'm glad to hear you would recommend it.

Last September, after much research and thought, I started the Lap band process at a local hospital. Umass in Worcester MA. I knew the process would be 6-12 months long (Umass said 6mos, Lapbandtalk members said 12 mos) and that they had done around 350 bands. It is also $350.00 in program fees (plus $250 for the nutritionist that my ins denied). In the end I decided on Umass because it was only 10 minutes from my home and I thought the convienence and ease of getting to appointments was worth the long wait. My problem now is that I am getting more and more frustrated with the way the program is run. Along with all the conflicting info, many of the people I speak with seem very negative to me. At first I was told I will need to loose weight before surgery. I thought, 2 week liquid diet, shrink liver, I can do that. Then after many variations on that I am now at the point where I need to loose weight just to meet the surgeon. The program is divided onto two parts. Part one is 2 seminars, medical doctor app, nutritionist app, psychologist app, 4- weekly classes, then back to the psychologist. If you have lost enough weight, the psychologist will write a "readiness letter" and then your file will be sent over to the surgery dept. It has taken me since last September to get to the last psychology/ readiness letter app, it is next week. When I called to book this app, the woman on the phone was giving me a hard time because my weight was only down a few pounds, after she booked the appointment she said "well you better make sure your weight is down by then". Needless to say, that womans voice has been repeating in my head every hour and I am pretty sure I have gained 2 pounds in the last week because of the stress I am putting on myself. That is when I started looking into other programs. The reason I am willing to go as far as surgery to loose weight is because I suck at dieting, but they will not even let me meet the surgeon until I prove I can diet! I am attending a seminar, at another program 1 hour away on Thursday. I have talked with the new office a few times and everyone is so nice. They are a 3 month program, then follow up appointments every 2 weeks. I am going to see how it goes at the seminar. The main consideration, besides all the money I already paid to Umass, and the long commute, is that I will need to change insurance if I want to join the new program. I am unsure if my new insurance will cover Lap band in a brand new client. Thanks for reading my long saga, any advice is welcome!

Thank you so much You are right, I am getting way ahead of myself. I was not told I need to loose a set number of pounds. It's just all this talk (from the nutritionist and psychologist) of 10% that has me freaked out. There is no way I can loose 10%. But I can loose a few pounds by Monday. So I am going to just focus, calm down, and be confident that I can do this. I will be talking to her about the phone comment. Can I ask, how have you found the after care? Are you happy with the fill schedule. Are the surgeon's office workers and staff helpful or nice? I hope that comment was a fluke, but I am still worried about more negative comments in the future. Thanks again for your reply.

Thanks for the posts. For now I am going to try and stop worrying about what might happen. The doctor did not tell me I need to lose a set number of pounds. But everyone else wants to see 10%. I tend to take everything said very seriously, but the way the info I get keeps changing I would not be surprised if I go Monday and they say I'm all set, moving on. I also decided that this would be a good time to try out my liquid nutritional supplements I got for pre and post surgery. I started yesterday, shake for Breakfast and lunch, then a reasonable dinner. Tonight is the seminar for the new program. I'll check it out, ask my questions, see how the drive is. I will also continue doing 2 shakes and a meal. Then when I go to the psychologist on Monday I will see how it goes. I will stop trying to borrow trouble. I can do this. I will get there. Can you tell I am working on being confident? :biggrin: Thanks again

Thanks for your post. I am so torn, I also feel like I should change programs. The new office seems so nice and positive, I am starting to think this will be more of a success factor that the short commute. But I can't stop wondering if I am just looking for an easier way, the "shorter line" syndrome. Or am I just banging my head on the wall trying to fit myself into this program that does not seen to fit! Thanks again and Congratulations on your success!

Congratulations!!!:thumbup: Wishing you fast healing! I am really feeling down about this whole Umass process and would love some advice is you can spare it. My psychologist/ readiness letter appointment is next week (Monday). I am only down a few pounds since my initial intake appointment in November. When the woman on the phone gave the appointment last week she said "Well you better make sure your weight is down by then" Her negative words are spinning through my head every hour and I have not lost an ounce since that call, not surprising really, the reason I am willing to have surgery is because of my 20 year diet failure. Anyway, I am frustrated because I know it's important to loose weight before surgery to shrink your liver and make the operation safer. I know I can do this with a liquid diet before surgery. But It seems like they will not let me move on and meet the surgeon until I loose weight. I could do liquids now and be down by Monday, but I worry it will only be a short term loss and that I will be back to normal when I do meet the Dr. and then it will look like I gained! Any advice is welcome... I am also considering switching programs and posted about that in the main forum. But I would love to hear from you folks who have been or are going through Umass. Thank You.

KathrynRose, I just realised we were in the same September seminars. It's nice to get more info on how long this process actually is. I was starting to worry I would not get banded until September! But 6 weeks (if it's still the case) from surgery consult sounds great. Also good luck on becoming a foster parent!

Hi! It's so great to find people going through the Umass program. amm.imperial, congratulations on your surgery, glad your feeling well. Kathrynrose congrats on your surgery date. I was in the March classes and I was the only bandster there. It was depressing at times, people would talk about a friend or who ever who had to do a conversion to bypass because the band "does not work". This was all said in the first 2 weeks. At the time no one had said what surgery they wanted. Then on week 3 the leader asked each one of us what we were going for so she could give out the correct papers, and I was the only one who said Band. I missed the last class and I'm doing a make-up class tomorrow. Maybe this group will have other Bandsters. I did not know the surgery's were at Memorial? I also didn't know that they were doing the Realize band. Things I have wondered about, but had yet to ask. Do you know where you will go for fills yet?

Thanks for posting this. I am going through the UMASS program and I'm not enjoying it at all. It seems they expect me to be able to diet well and loose weight at a rate of 2lbs a week! And If I can not prove that I can do this than I'm not a good canditate for Surgery. They talk and talk about how this is a lifestyle change, but want me to drop weight like I was on South Beach. Anyway, I am over halfway through and I really wanted to work with Umass because I live in Worcester and I'm happy not to have to commute an hour to Boston or Norwood. We'll see... Good luck to you and I'm glad you are happy with Dr. Glasgow.

Hi all, I am at the beginning of what I'm told will be a 6 month process to get a band. I have done the required group meetings and my first appointment is the end of November. It looks like I will have to wait until April 08 for the band. Anyone else have a long wait? This is miserable!! I seem to have decided that I can go ahead and eat whatever! I have gained more weight in the last month. At this rate I will be 30 pounds heavier before I even start! I can not possible have this 'last meal syndrome' for 6 months!! I am now the biggest I have ever been and I am miserable! I need to pull myself together and start now! Even if I lost 20 pounds by April I would still be over a 40 BMI and would qualify. And then how nice would it be to have a head start. I seem to be stuck in this weird waiting and eating zone. I would love any advice on how to make it through this long wait. Thanks!!

Thanks so much! This site has been so wonderful. I have been lurking for months and have learned so much. Redtulips. I totally agree about not waisting this time. I also have been thinking that any weight lost now would stay away after lap band. And you are so right that the food I am eating now is making me feel lousy. I hope that posting and thinking about this will get me moving in the right direction. My first appointment will be the end of this month. I hope after this it will start to feel real. Maybe that will get me going. Sherilynn, I will be enjoying the holidays! :hungry: Hopefully with in reason, but I do know next year will be much different. My big problem now, is that I want it now!! That whole instant gratification thing. Thanks all for the support!

I don't know what happened to the last post? Weird? Congrats!!!

Congratulations!! <img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/clap2.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Clap2" smilieid="217" class="inlineimg" /><br /> <br /> Sounds wonderful, something for me to look foreword to.

Thank you for the info. Smyly, congrats on the weight loss! I am sorry to hear the program wait is so long. I was also looking into the Boston hospitals, they seem to have much shorter waits. I know this is a big step and a major decision. I'm not trying to rush it, but 3-5 months sounds much better than 7-10 months!! The first Umass seminar I will need to attend is this Thursday. I am going to start there and see how it goes. I really would like to do this in Worcester, it would be so much easier to get to appointments and I think there would be a lot less stress involved if I did not have to drive into Boston. Child care for an hour appointment in Worcester, or 3 hours with commute time to and from Boston. Easy to see why it might be worth it to wait for the later date. Do you go to the hospital for the fills? How often do they do it in the Umass program? Thank you!!

This site is amazing, I have learned so much by reading all your wonderful and candid threads and posts. I am not banded yet and my biggest fear is that it will not work. I read on the Lap Band site that people who crave sweets do not do as well as others. I have had a major sweet tooth my whole life. I am now 34 years old and 240 (at 5'3"). I have never been a successful dieter, the most I ever lost was 10 pounds, the longest I stuck with anything a week or two. Untill I went no white sugar/flour and attended OA meetings. Then I was able to loose 30 but could not keep up the super strict food plan and regained the lost weight. My question is can anyone here relate? Would you say you are a sweets lover and did the band work or not work for you? Did anyone have a habit of grazing (eating a little every hour sometimes) and were you able to be successfull with the band? I think my bigest change would be that I would have to stop the grazing habit. Set eating times, 3 meals- one snack type of thing. Anyway, any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

Thank you so much for all the replies!! I'm so nervous that I am just doomed to be fat forever, but I keep trying new things. Will the lap band be another failed attempt? I hope not! But I suppose, whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you are always right.

Thanks, I have GIC Plus plan and BIDMC is in network but I was assuming the doctors were also, I will remember to check. So BIDMC worked with you to meet the outpatient requirement and discharged you in 23 hours? Good to know. I did call my insurance and was told weight loss surgery is paid for on a case by case approval basis. I printed out the info form (7 pages, wow!) and will start working on that. Another question, I rarely drive into Boston (I'm in Worcester) the traffic makes me nervous. How difficult is the commute/ parking? I'm hoping my husband will drive in with me for the info meeting, for the meeting and also to make the drive easier. Thanks again!

One more question, I plan to attend their information meeting on September 13. How long of a process is it? Is hoping for a February 08 surgury date realistic?

Hello everyone, I have been looking into Lap Band at BIDMC and have a few questions. What is the best way to start? I have a physical appointment with my primary in October. Should I talk with her first? I have a PPO insurance and do not need a referal. Does BIDMC require you to attend the information seminar before meeting with a doctor? Or should I just mail in the form and wait for a call? Also do they handle the insurance approvial or does my primary put in for that? I guess I could just call them but I was wondering how much my primary needs to be involved and if I should talk with her first. Also I noticed on the BIDMC site that one of the requirements for sugury was documented failed attempt to lose weight in a medical weight loss program? What would this be? I have seen a nutritionist in the past on suggestion by my primary. Would this count? Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

Momto1, sorry to hear about your removal. Good luck with your decision. I have learned so much on this site and continue to learn. That's very interesting about a new band that might not need to be removed for slip, thanks for the info.

Thanks for the info!

I was wondering, if insurance paid for your band do they pay for the fills? Thanks

Hi, I'm glad to find this thread, I have been searching for info about the Umass program. I live in Worcester and it would be so easy to have it done local. I am glad to hear you all like the doctors and staff. I have not started the process yet but will be going to the required meetings in September. After that how long would you say the process was? I am hoping to possibly have it done in Jan 08. Thank you

I have not worked up the courage to watch the video yet, but I have seen a few episodes of Big Medicine where they do lapbands. Not sure if that counts. Why do you suggest it? Just curious, I was planning to watch it soon.

Hello, I am in a similar situation. Although I have only been looking into Lap band for a month or two. I feel a strong pull to do this, but I am still nervous. I am 243 pounds and 5'3", also morbidly obese. Good luck