Marebeth

Hi Dana I just started to UC Davis on my journey to lapband surgery in a few months. I have nothing but praise for any doctor at UCD, they are the greatest plus they are a teaching hospital. You would probably have to be referred by your primary care phys. I will be having lapband and they are requiring me to have a lower and upper GI because of IBS. I would think in your case and I'm not a doc but they should be able to see where the lapband is based on a ctscan better than an upper GI. Just my own opinion tough. I saw that Dr. Machado's website and they have Mercy listed on Medicare's approved hospital and doctor list but her office said they don't accept Medicare. Fine....UC Davis is very professional....every experience we have had with them has been great. My sis in law had a bowel blockage, not from gb or lapband, but a major blockage and they did surgery to find out the problem and her blood pressure bottomed out and she almost died. They saved her but she was in trauma ICU for 7 weeks and ended up on a colostomy bag. Again, none of this was due to GB or lapband....she just never followed up after diverticulitus and told she had a blockage (stupid!) The doctors that operated on her were wonderful....they all take time to explain everything and want you to feel comfortable. Let me know how it goes. Marebeth Marebeth

Hi Stacie, I just went to my first appt. with UC Davis Center on Friday, Sept 21st. I went to the orientation more than 2 weeks earlier. Dr. Fuller said I wouldn't qualify for gastric bypass but I was a candidate for lap band. He said he hasn't done as many lapbands because they are strong believers that GB is the best way for permanent weightloss based on studies. I was sooooo glad that he said he wanted to do the lapband because I that's what I wanted. I was trying to figure out how I was going to have to convince them that I only wanted lap band. I started this process back in July with a referral from my primary care doc. Filled out the paperwork really quick, got my EKG and chest xray and took it with me to the first appointment. Also I had my regular obgyn check up earlier this year with pap, breast exam and mammogram. I am really glad because that is one of their requirements. As soon as I got home I called every doctor's office to get my records faxed to UCD. I still have one record left to get faxed. They want me to get a colonoscopy and upper GI because I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome about 7 years ago. Not going to be fun but if that's what it takes I will do it, PLUS I will find out if all is well. From what I experienced it seems like they won't even make you an appt. unless they will take your insurance. I heard 2 people at orientation and met one at my appt. that went through everything with another clinic just to find out that their insurance turned them down. Another thing they will make you do is lose 10% of your current weight and start keeping a food diary to show them you can do it. I have been going through an insurance approved weight loss management class for 2 weeks and I have lost 16 lbs. so far and UCD is counting that towards my 10%. I have been keeping a food diary, Water intake, pedometer count and exercise journal. All this is what they want us to do after surgery. I am excited! Sounds like we are going through all this about the same time. Hope you get your appointment soon! They put me on a 6 month or sooner surgery date, tentative for March 10, 2008. They said I don't have but 3 tests to do and that I will probably get the date moved up much sooner. I hope so! It all depends on when I can get these GI's -yuk! Not looking forward to those. You can email me personally at dicrostudio@yahoo. com - just removed the space after the dot. Marebeth