Dragonwillow

From what they told me they were waiting for Dr. V to be back in the office this week, but he is going to be making professional referals for his patients to other local doctors. I believe he will be refering all of the lapband patients to Dr. Bauman. I've actually already scheduled a consult with Dr. Bauman and had the additional blood work done that his practice requires. Waiting on a call back from his nutritionist. (additional blood work was fe studies (iron), vit D 25 h, and b-12. I do know he charges a consult fee, but insurance reinburses that. The nutritionist from what I understand is once a month for a year and cost 500, which can be made in payments. You will have to go to Doctor V's office and sign a release so they can send your records there. You will most likely have to go seperately to the psychologist and ask to have your records fowarded. From what I understand there is another Doctor in charlotte that does the lapband too, but I couldn't find any thing on him when I did research....other than I did find that his practice is looking to hire a surgeon that specializes in baratric surgery. I don't know where Pinhurst is, but that doctor is listed on NC doctors on obesityhelp.com. I really wish more doctors would do the lapband, and this wouldn't be such a issue. I think if I had of wanted rny surgery...I would have already been done...thats sad. Melissa

Since I now have copies of all my evaulations I got to read what everyone said. Mixed reviews on that. LOL Not sure I liked what the nutritionist implied about my weight training, but hey the psychologist thought I was pretty well balanced, so my obsession about getting a surgery date wtih some doctor soon is most like a perfectly healthy thing. LOL I went to a meeting tonight with people I hadn't seen since May, boy were they shocked to see I had gained weight and not lost. Ah well...soon soon. Since you are not going to be there on the 24th angie you need to post a picture so when we meet in October we will know who to look for! Your weight loss numbers are great. Melissa

I still think I would ask to remove the gall bladder first and see how you feel after that. Leave all the Fluid out of your band for awhile give yourself a rest. It's awesome that you have lost 140lbs, that doesn't sound like it isn't working! And I would really resist the rny until they can tell you whats happening. Because if it continues after the rny its much harder to reverse, and then you are stuck with MAJOR surgery. I can't see how the band would keep pills from digesting...they need to find a reason for that before they go willy nilly taking things that they "think" might cause it...especially with no proof that anythign is amiss with your band. Of course I'm no doctor...lol, and I don't even have the band yet. But as hard as I'm fighting to get the darn thing, I'd fight even harder to keep it....especially with 140lbs lost...wow you go girl! Melissa

Hehehe I just asked you this in another thread! How funny. I think going to a nutritionist once a month can be nothing but good for my progress...but was worried how I would pay for it. Think I can manage the 100 a month, especially after surgery will be eating far less <grin>. Melissa

Angie, Dr. Baumans office said that the nutritionist might would do the fee in payments. Did you pay the full amount up front...or did you work out payments? Thats the only part I'm nervous about going to Dr. Bauman. I have all of my records and such from Dr. V now, so just waiting on my appointment with Dr. Bauman to see how things play out. Melissa

Doing research I couldn't find any info on Dr. Kuwanda other than his practice is looking to hire someone to specialize in baratric surgery. Dr Bauman has been in baratric surgery for years. He ONLY does baratric surgery so think I'll stick with him. The only thing that worries me about going to him is the additional cost out of pocket...but I don't doubt his medical ability and there is plenty of info about him from patients on the net already. Since Dr. V's office refered me to him, thats who at the moment I plan to go with. I could waste alot more time trying to find another surgeon and research him as much as I did dr. V and Dr. B. Melissa

The difference is Dr. Bauman requires his patients see a nutrionist once a month for a year. Dr. V Only had several visits every few months in his plan. I think Dr. B's plan sounds much better, its just I don't have that extra money right now. I have to go to Dr. V's office today to sign the release of my records and get them transfered to Dr. B's office. Melissa

Well ladies, got my insurance approval letter yesterday. Now all we are doing is waiting for a date. I hope dr. V's office calls soon. I think at this point...i just want a date...no matter what date so that I have an end in sight for the waiting. I'm trying to MAKE myself loose weight. Yesterday I did pretty good, only ate liquids till about 4 then had and apple. dinner was bad though. I ended up caving and eating with the family. Meatloaf and mashed taters. Sigh at least I passed on the ice cream the rest had. I'll try to do better today. Meeting my dad for coffee after my workout. His young gf left and he is all sad and moppy. Anyone know of any ladies 45-60ish range looking? LOL Melissa

Dr. Bauman, he is the only other local dr to do the lap band that I'm aware of. He is well thought of...the only reason I went with dr. V in the first place was because he was closer. Melissa

I may not, I'm switching surgeons...so not sure how smooth that will go and how much longer I will have to wait. I know the new surgeon does not require a liquid diet. The previous surgeon did..it was for two weeks. The new surgeon I believe requires this for a week after surgery. Good luck, Melissa

I say go for it....because the other option is not good. Especially if you were told why. Melissa

I have to go into the office on friday to do the hpylori retest and was thinking I'd take my letter then and ask. Hehe I should tell him he should do me and diane the same day...that way we can walk the halls together. Hey and why not make it a threesome, star too. Melissa

Ah concord mills, my kids favorite mall. Well the 14 year olds favorite mall. The 5 year old is torn between concord mills and southpark mall. Southpark has a libbylou....which Karah is a HUGE fan of. I think we are meeting twice in September...once with other baratric patients at presby...(all types of baratric patients there) and then once with out smaller lap band group. We are meeting at a resturant for lunch on one of the Saturdays in September (its all in the other thread). We had alot of fun at the last one. Melissa

I have a 5 year old and 14 year old, both girls. And there are a couple more with little ones too. So anytime you just want to go hang out at mikey d's playground at the mall or something give a holler, you might get some of us willing to take you up on it. Melissa

OH no! NOVEMBER....crud it might be january or Feb for me. I'm so sick of my life being on hold. I'm trying not to volunteer for stuff in the fall because I don't know when surgery will be. URGH. Okay done venting. Congrats Diane on getting a new date. Know you are bummed about the September date, be will all hang with you to the new date and beyond. Melissa

Welcome, I'm in the process of getting a surgery date now. Basically waiting for insurance approval and a date. I'm with Dr. Vollinger. I think Bondgirl went with Dr. Bauman though and she could give you more surgeon specific info. You should check out some of the other NC threads and come to some of our get togethers. They are fun. Melissa

I'm sure we could arrange a meeting for those that can come while you are here Parvati. We have only been planning one month ahead at the moment, for our informal meetings. The meeting at the bariatric center though I think are the 3rd tuesday of the month or something like that. Someone better organized than me can confirm that though, but I think Angela said there wouldn't be one of those meetings in December. Melissa

I didn't vote for Bush myself, and have found fault with many of his policies, so I won't be defending him here. He in my opinion didn't act as I would expect my leader to act. He did not immediatly postpone the rest of his vacation or immediatly start reaching out to the people and making sure the necessary military got into place. Maybe he isn't the person that actually physically does these things, but he is the figure head that most americans look to when things happen. I do not deny the president a vacation, but part of the position of president is being always on duty...always on call. I am so sadden that in the United States of America it takes four days to get food and Water dropped to people in a disaster area. There is NO excuse for this. I too at first fussed, why didn't these people leave....if you listen to some of their stories, you find out some of them did try to leave, but couldn't. I have sat huddled on my couch watching as babies and children are sitting in trash and filth. It looks like another country not the USA. I've seen the looters. I think what should have happen is military should have been in place the day after and distributing any salvagable food and waters from shops while being in place to stop looters of other stuff. Its not like these shops are going to able to salvage any of that food anyway. Maybe I think too simply. What about all the people that did evacuate like they were told. They are being turned away from some shelters. I know if I had to evacuate right now from my home, I could not afford to stay more than a week in a hotel and take care of all the needs of my family with the money that sits in my bank right now. And I don't even consider myself poor....just average. Now think of people that barely have enough money to feed their families from week to week. How are they suppouse to stay anywhere without money. These people had the choice of going to the shelter, where they couldn't lug all the food or supplies that might have on hand, or stay in a home that they know, with supplies that they may have there. I hope I never have to make the decision myself. I personally am gathering school supplies and clothes for when the evacuees end up here. Thats all I can do at the moment. Melissa

I haven't taken my pictures off of the camera yet...but planning on doing some ebay postings soon, so need to get the camara cleared. So will upload them to our server today and then try to post. Melissa

lunch is better for me, Soccer starts next week...so that is 9am - 10 am. But if breakfast is good for everyone else I can see everyone in October (soccer will be over after the 8th...only a 4 week clinic thing...thank goodness) Melissa

Well I have finished all my stuff and now just waiting on insurance approval. Doc agrees that I"m not crazy. LOL I still have to get retested for hpylori bacteria, but I'm not really worried about it. Looking foward to seeing everyone Saturday, and 11:30 sounds right to me. Melissa

I think maybe we should try and go ahead and set up a date at our meeting on the 27th. As the group gets bigger it will get harder and harder to make dates everyone can get to. But if someone misses one meeting they can always go to the next. And even if we set up formal meetings with dr v that doesn't mean we can't meet in less formal meetups on our own from time to time too. Melissa

Congrats on your approval. I hope I'm just as lucky in a couple of weeks. It's kinda of funny. I was so anxious and wanting to hurry things up, and it seemed the more I wanted to hurry things up, the slower things got. Not that I'm not still wanting to have the surgery as soon as possible, but I have certainly relaxed about it. For the first time in months it hasn't been constantly on my mind....does that mean I'm ready and things will start moving now LOL. Melissa

Congrats! I'm so excited for you. Life has been a bit hetic around here lately and I haven't gotten in to read and post. Will see everyone on the 27th! Melissa

I'll be there. Melissa