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You all rock............. I love these success stories!!! I would love to see before and after pics!! It's so awesome!! I want to get there when I celebrate 1 year, 2 year and 3 years on my band wagon also!!

Now take that $260.00 you just saved yourself by not needing that doctor's appointment and save it for new smaller clothes!! Best to you..... Awesome, I'm so excited for you!!

Yes he does. All three require over night stay at BGH in Buffalo after Banding!! You have your swallow test done the next day and after the results you get to go home that afternoon!! He only performs surgery on Mondays!!

He would be under General Surgery I believe!! Here is his Web-Site information this might also help you!! He also is a gastrointestinal diseases specialist. Good luck, let us know what you find!! Buffalo General Hospital - News: Hometown surgeon joins BGH

Yes, you must ask for Dr. Hoffman or you will go into the lotto of the three doctors. What they do is after the seminar you attend they pick 1. goes to Posner, 2. goes to Forbes and 3. goes to Hoffman... and the number starts over again so every third person on the list goes to Dr. Hoffman....Anyone who wants Dr. Hoffman should let me know by private message with your name and other information and I have a contact @ BGH where I can send your information so that they can make it a priority for you to be seen by Dr. Hoffman from the very start. SO if your gun ho on seeing him you must make it your priority to note that choice. You as the patient have the right ot choose you doctor no matter WHAT noone on the staff can tell you other wise... YOU MUST VOICE YOUR CHOICE when making your first appointment after the seminar has been attended!!!! Or even mention when checking into the seminar... Can't hurt!! HI Loraine - Honey you hot mama... Man your looking fabs when I saw you Tue. I'm so proud of us... Even the Boss man is looking so good and healthy!! Man can you belive it's taking two months out to see our Dr. Hoffman??? Weird huh or he's getting that popular!!

You get the referral form from your doctor, they have a sample or a form your doctor can fill out in the BGH packet. I can find one I have if you have a fax #. Also you need an Independent referral in place for Dr. Hoffman, Posner, Forbes and BGH (called a facility referral) they need all three doctors in place. This is due to if there ever was an emergency and the other two doctors were on call and needed to treat you. Because you can request one doctor (Hoffman) over the other two and still get him for your surgery. This covers all the doctors in the clinic to treat you and the Insurance will cover your expences.

Hello, I can list the things I was told to get before being seen. Here they are right from Barb's list. 1. Primary care physician referral letter ( they have one in the packet that your doc fills out) I can fax you one if you need it? 2. Your latest history and physical. 3. All lab work including thyroid testing. I would make sure they test for TSH, why my insurance wanted that too... Just a heads up, can't hurt!! 4. A list of medical conditions past & present. 5. All diagnostic testing records (egd, abdominal ct, x-rays, cardiac, sleep study and any other studies ordered by your primary. ( I saw Dr. Anthony Freundel @ pulmonary group liked him too.... Fast appointments) 631-8863 Williamsville area. Just tell them what your there for and they know what you should need for this type of surgery!! 6. List of current medications. 7. Referral's for Alan posner, Lael Forbes, Aaron Hoffman, and Buffalo General (this is called a facility referral. They must be in place before your first appointment in the clinic. 8. All patients will need a psychological evauation as required by the insurance companies. (I saw Dr. Ron Lelito, nice guy I liked him) 632-4942 Williamsville area. Also again tell him why your there he knows what you need. That's all I have for now in requards to testing required..... Also I have copies of the the Patient packet they mail you before you can start anything in the clinic!! If anyone wants a copy I can fax it... BUT YOU DO HAVE TO CONTACT BGH TO REGISTER YOURSELF. They then will mail you a copy, but you would have it in advance to get some of the work done!! Also I faxed all my items to BGH to make things go faster. I have that fax number too.... Welcome all to the best adventure of your life as what I call a fattie going skinny!! LOL

What Health coverage do you have? It only cost me $15.00 Co-pay. Wow $200.00 cash seems high!! But you must have a different plan!!

Oh and one more thing.... I stress this point. IF YOU WANT DR. HOFFMAN MAKE IT KNOW AT THE SEMINAR THAT YOU WANT HIM!! This will help take time off your wait. Since I've noticed a pattern of calls being made to make appointments and they have been choosing the Doctor if they have no solid request for one. This way they can call you with the appointment time for you to see him the first time a round after the seminar.

I saw Dr. Ron Lelito and BGH will accept him for your needs. Here is his Web-page. Nice guy....... You won't be disappointed. Call his office right away and get in to see him!! 632-4942 Dr. Ron Lelito Do you need any other information? Let me know!! Cynthia

Hello all.... It's me Cynthia here!!! OMG Nicki I knew you could do it!!! The winner of the big bucks......... 8lbs since March 22 your one rocken chick......... Sorry I've been a bummer these past days/week etc... Sick the weekend before and work is a complete swamp..... I'm going to really try and make it Sat. @ the park.... Still in the middle of Home remoldeling and Sat. maybe filled with workers..... Yikes!!! I know stop all the excuses...... Shoot being a single mom of two my weekends get so darn booked up.......Ex-hubby still lives in Hawaii so it's just me for them. Need to really start making me first but I'm getting there... Workin on that one as I'm losing!!! LOL,LOL,LOL So on to other things....... I'd love to get a social outting going to meet up some evening, just us getting together to sit talk and really get the group on a friendship level and relax and talk more about our success, struggles and over all love of the band etc...... Anyone have a preference on which week/weekend night, times or anything to help so we don't leave anyone out. Maybe suggestions of a place or event?? Dinner, coffee bar, Bar/bar or somethnig that everyone feels comfortable with..... Just trying to feel the crowd out on this....... Sally I sent you a private message........ You should be getting a call soon for your appointment, Maryetta will call you!!

Loraine, How are you..... I missed you guys as well... Out sick with the flu for a few days...Much better today... Hoping the kids won't get it!! So going to see our buddy Hoffman today!! I go back next week the 8th for my first fill!! I can tell I need one at this stage. Do you have any fills yet??? Let me know how it goes etc........ Did you have a lot of people show up Sat. WHat a nice day too.... I did get a call from Lisa Friday on my cell and she left your information. Sorry I was a bit to sick over the weekend to think about using the information. I'd love to get a social Calendar going for the spring/Summer for some fun also!!! Whatcha think??

Bloomerific your in the right place..... Welcome to the best journey of your life...... I'm in the same boat as you weighing in at over #400. Your not alone and yes the other doctor's will try and push the Bypass..... Not our buddy Dr. Hoffman if you walk in wanting the Band he'll educate you on that and help you understand how wonderful this tool is for weight loss........ We all have been on many diets in our life time and just fill out the three year diet history as such, the plan dates, weight lost, weight gained back etc....... Sometimes memory is tough so fill it in as to what you need it to be!!! I love my band and the good doctor helping me reach my goals to become the healthy slimmer person I know I'm going to be!!! Dr. Hoffman knows his stuff when it comes to the band and is here for us to make it happen. Meet him and you'll know he's the doc for you!! No detail, no question, no medical procedure will go past him without his full attention and good hearted concern. So jump on the band wagon we'll take ya for the best ride of your life............. Cynthia

Be a stripper for one night....... Just to show off my new body!! LOL,LOL,LOL Have men hoop and Hallar not Gag and make comments.... Something that's way, way out there!! LOL,LOL,LOL Not something I'd ever do, but the option would be nice to have!!

Oh and I wanted to also say.... I know I'm a very large fat person.... I know why I'm big..... I ate way with to many fatty, carb filled foods with out regard to portion sizes. I agree some have no Idea how to feed and keep a good balance on there children. I don't just put our obese problems on companies and the issues stated below.... We all have a choice and we need to educate a new vast population of parents... We all have distorted ideas of what a healthy eating plan is outside being educated to the newest plan out there. I mean look at how the Food Piramid has now been changed in the past few years!! Alarming!!

I have a hugh issue with anyone coming in and trying to take any child away from the parents for an issue of weight that does not warrent it!! I have a child that is 10 (girl) who is 25 pounds over weight. She was placed on a medication that increases this gain. We all know with the way we have become in this world we have factors that help our children become fatter..... Medications, mass production of food, portion sizes, chemicals, and long and behold video games..... No wonder our children are so lazy and large.... I was a child of the seventies and we had no video games, mass production of so called snack packs and other foods our children see today. We played outside and were very active. We ate three square meals and a snack....... I think they better focus more on companies with bullshit in there products. The FDA/USDA should create better restrictions for our FAT nation and the safety of our children. We may not feed these things to them, talk till we're blue about how we need to avoid them in our life.....But they will go and eat them at a friends house, school or some other place. I think they have so much junk in some products it becomes addictive. Sitmulates our taste, alters our emotions and other chemical balance.... Maybe I'm wrong but it sure seems that way with certain things I've eaten and my children. What are your feelings on this?????

Great job all.... Yea I'm willing to meet up anytime..... I know once we got walking around the park it was harder to chat about our bands in detail. I did enjoy getting the walk in..... But, as you all know I'm a bigger bander and it's much easier on my treadmill at home (it seems) walking. Once I drop more weight and get my pace up to snuff I'll be able to keep up with everyone and talk more while doing it!! I enjoyed being part of the group and everyone looks fab and it's so wonderful having others share the same thing I'm going through the great, the good and the sometimes bad. Some eveings during the summer we could meet out for some drinks, outside coffee bar etc.... Nothing full of calories...... LOL, LOL, LOL

Peaches... Yes 8:00 am and we all mentioned the Juice Bar as a location to meet. I don't have a real firm grip of where that is exactly. I'm going to send you a private message with my cell number so you can call me if you go and we can meet up.... I'd hate to miss anyone that shows up for the fun!! Cynthia

Peaches I hear you loud and clear....... Since the past week with Easter coming up I to have been eating a few chocolate candies before bed time when my band is not so tight!! I've been slapping my hand and trying to pull myself back from distruction. other wise I'm doing good without any fills yet!! I'm at the point where I belive I'm now needing a fill to give me the control I had back two weeks a go. I know you had Dr. Forbes at Buffalo General but were starting a meeting outside at Delaware park once a month on Sat. with Dr. Hoffman. We meet the first time this Sat. at 8:00 to walk and talk etc..... Your welcome to join in on the fun. Let's talk, support, etc each other. Cynthia

That's awesome!!! So many new to be bandsters I love it!! So we meet this Sat. 3/22/08 at Delaware Park. We mentioned the Juice Bar as a spot to meet @ 8:00am I'm not sure the exact location of this place. Directions would be wonderful so we all know and we won't have anyone left behind!!!

Hi all I'm back after being sick since last Thursday!! I have a really bad cold/flu thing!! My first this fall/winter and it's got a good hold on me!! No fill yet for me!! But, I have noticed I'm eating more food (size portion) and the holiday is coming and I find myself having to really fight off the urge for candy (Chocolate) and so far I'm still in the game plan. I may need to call sooner and see about a fill!! I still have restriction but not so sure if I can make the 6 week plan we made for my next visit!! I just would hate to fall to flat on my face if this slight increase in the amout at each meal will make a huge difference. I sill have my will power going for me as well..... I'm excited for our soon to be bandsters and I wish you can make April for your seminar. I hate that you have to wait so long!!

Juan1026 - Hey yeah my BMI was a hugh factor in me me getting approved for surgery. They like to see 40 or above but would consider 35 with other factors like addressed above. I was 411 and since my BMI was over 60 they (not Hoffman) recommend Bypass over Lap-band. Dr. Hoffman was really in my corner and was right there by my side helping me to believe in the band and that I should not stray from my decision that I made before coming in to see him. I had lost weight on Weight Watchers prior twice (over 150 each time) I knew I could lose just couldn't keep it off for long periods of time.

NO I'm working that day....... I'm not all that up on this new meeting for new patients. What time and where is it??? Would you like for me to come? I sure can sneak away and spend some time with you guys!!! I don't mind at all...... I'm all out for supporting anyone in this wonderful world of banding!!! Let me know and I could meet you there!!

Thanks...... Hey I hear your a good loser too!! LOL, LOL what's your total so far??? How's the boss doing? I know I'm looking fowards to seeing everyone that day.

Thanks..... I was so happy at my weigh in!!! I just love it!! Yes you can join us for the 22nd at the park....... Will you be seeing Dr. Hoffman again before we meet at the park? I'm so peped up with how good I feel and how this is so working for me at this point!! Thanks for the book info!!