nc_longhorn

Hi, Has anyone out there used Dr. Mitchell at the Pinehurst Surgical Clinic? Thanks! Susie

I'm pre-band, and my dr keeps pressing the RNY surgery on me, saying that I won't have good results at my very large size with the lapband. I'm 330 and have a BMI of over 50. I don't want the RNY, but I could use some words of support from lap-banders who started at over 300 and feel like it was a good choice. Thanks!

I was banded by Dr. Pryor in December 2007. I like her a lot. I think there are problems with Duke (overbooking, etc), but I've been happy with my medical care. I had some problems after my surgery, and they were very responsive. Good luck!

Actually, "support staff" may not be the right term. The people who deal with the insurance (Beth and Brandy), are incredible. They were just wonderful to work with, and know EVERYTHING about getting appointments and approvals. The nurse and nutritionist are great, as well as the docs. The folks that I had problems with are the schedulers. I've been there when 12 people (no exaggeration) were scheduled for the exact same time with Dr. Pryor. I've also tried to make appts and the schedulers don't know what a "fill" is, and have to go find out, etc. It may be Duke's policy to overbook, but I've been to other Duke clinics, and never had this kind of problem. Anyway, I'm 100% happy with my medical care, but I feel like there is some lack of consideration for the patients' time. Many of us also have important jobs and lots of responsibility, and I don't get the feeling that this is fully appreciated. I've found them to be very supportive of my decision to have lapband, but the other writer is correct, for some reason, the info sessions are very Pro-Bypass. I have no idea why that is. Good luck to you!

Hi Katie, I have 3 yr old twins, and they can walk, but I agree, the restriction is just impossible. I was banded on Dec 5. My son weighs 42 lbs, and my daughter weighs 32. I spent one night in the hospital, and one night on my mom's sofa so that I could get through the worst of the pain. After that, I just did the best that I could. I don't have to lift them constantly, but there are numerous times each day that they fall down and get hurt, or they can't get up onto the toilet, or they're standing in the tub waiting to be lifted out, etc. Anyway, I have healed more slowly than the other folks who were in my cohort at Duke, but I've lost just as much weight. Just be as careful as you can. I'd bring an umbrella stroller inside for the room-to-room toting that you'll be doing all day. Good luck! Susie

After 2.5 years of fighting my insurance company, I am all set and having my surgery tomorrow at Duke! I'm worried about the post-op diet, feeling like I'm starving to death. Any thoughts? Thanks!

I had mine done at Duke four weeks ago. I have been very happy with Dr. Aurora Pryor. The support staff there can be a little frustrating at times, but the nutritionist and medical staff are really great.

No, it's post op only. I think I lost a lot because I started at a higher weight than many folks do. It has slowed down now. I lost 23 of those pounds in the first week, and 2-3 pounds each week since.

I'm from Raleigh and have three kids (ages 6, 3, and 3), a husband of 14 years, and a yappy poodle who just moved in. I was banded 4 weeks ago, and it's going pretty well. I still have some pain on the right side, but I think I'm just healing slowly due to the kids. My doctor is running tests, but I doubt she'll find anything. Are there monthly get togethers in the Triangle area? Thanks!

I actually was so dizzy for the first five days that I went to see my surgeon on the sixth day. She ran a bunch of tests and said it looked like caffeine withdrawel. She said I could have a little if I go easy. I'm an unsweetened ice tea drinker, so I just went back to it. I've been great ever since. Good luck to you!

You were all right! I did not starve. I'm still having some pain, but I've lost 31 pounds, so I'm really thrilled. Best to all of you!

I keep having lots of pain on my right side, whenever I get out of a chair or bend or twist. My doc thinks it's gallbladder, but I'm not sure because it seems lower than that. Anyone else have something similar?

Thanks for your replies! I did have the ultrasound, and I'm waiting to hear the results.

I was 348 and 5'7". I had surgery 2 weeks ago, and I'm down 26 pounds. I lost 23 of those pounds in the first week. How often do other folks weigh themselves? I love the idea of a super sized forum!

Hi, Do you know if Ortiz's clinic accepts American insurance? Thanks, Susie

Hi there, I've switched doctors, and I'm now going to Duke. Does anyone have any experience with them? I was really impressed with their orientation session. I'm in Raleigh. Thanks!

Hi, I'm in such despair. I started at Dr. Mitchell's over a year and a half ago, and switched to Duke because of the distance to travel (I live in Raleigh), and b/c they were pressuring me to have the RNY. Well, now I've been at Duke for over a year, paying for all of the tests again when I can in, then AGAIN after they lost my file for three months and the test results "expired." Plus, even though I told them that I was switching to them because they supposedly are happy to do the lap-band, they are pressuring me to have the RNY. Now, they are saying that my thyroid is too high (though it's 3.9, and under 5.5 is supposed to be okay.) I really don't think that anyone wants to give me the lap-band since my insurance will pay for either. Is there a higher profit margin on the RNY? I've done everything they've asked, and I'm no closer. Does anyone know of a Dr in NC who will do the lap-band without giving me incredible bs about the RNY being better? I really need help. Thanks!

I'm waiting on my surgery date. I believe that my dr's office lost my file, because they kept telling me that I was in physician's review, then they called to ask if I'd changed my mind. All of this after they'd told me to quit calling to check on my status. I had all of my tests done in the fall. Now I have to do them again because some of them have "expired." I'm really tired of waiting. It's funny, because I changed drs because my first one gave me the same kind of runaround. I think they don't like doing lapbands when you're insurance will pay for either (like mine will). S

There's also www.junonia.com. Great clothes.

I'm getting ready to have the band done, and I was wondering if your doctors were telling you to eat basically only protein? My doctor is using the same diet as for the Roux-N-Y patients, and that surprised me. From what I've read, I thought I could eat vegetables, and tiny bits of other things. Thanks for your help!!

Hi, I'm down with bronchitis. I'm going to miss it this time. Have fun! Susie

Hi, My doctor required the psych eval, and I've already had it. They told me they needed to weed out people who were not mentally well enough to follow the post-op directions. I sort of failed the exam. The dr said that I needed counseling to learn how to stop being an emotional eater. So, now I have to have this counseling before I can proceed. The fee for this evaluation was $200. $100 for the session, and $100 for the written note to the bariatric surgeon. As you can imagine, my insurance is not going to pay anyone $100 for a note to my doctor. To a certain extent, I believe that some of these hurdles are to gauge whether the patient is "committed" and "invested" in the surgery. Though I feel that much of it is just jumping through hoops, I've resigned myself to the fact that this is the only way that I can get there, so I smile and forge ahead! Good luck to you! S

Hi, My doctor required the psych eval, and I've already had it. They told me they needed to weed out people who were not mentally well enough to follow the post-op directions. I sort of failed the exam. The dr said that I needed counseling to learn how to stop being an emotional eater. So, now I have to have this counseling before I can proceed. The fee for this evaluation was $200. $100 for the session, and $100 for the written note to the bariatric surgeon. As you can imagine, my insurance is not going to pay anyone $100 for a note to my doctor. To a certain extent, I believe that some of these hurdles are to gauge whether the patient is "committed" and "invested" in the surgery. Though I feel that much of it is just jumping through hoops, I've resigned myself to the fact that this is the only way that I can get there, so I smile and forge ahead! Good luck to you! S

I'm going to get my band at the end of the summer, because I'll be in TX during the summer for grad school. I've done everything else, except the counseling for emotional eating, which I start next week. My doctor seems to have a really strict protocol. Anyway, I'm a 38-yr old married Southern girl with 3 kids. My oldest girl is 4 yrs, and I have twin six month old babies - a boy and a girl. My primary occupation is grad student, and I teach part-time at the local university. I live in Raleigh, August - May, and in Austin, TX, in June and July.

Hey, I'm in Ausitn in the summers, at UT. I'll be in the Tarrytown neighborhood. Susie