Brandy~

Many people travel to get their bands done. I wasn't willing to travel out of fear that I would need immediate assistance and I wouldnt be able to receive it. Theres a few things to consider if you want to travel far. First of all make sure you find a doctor that is close by to do your fills/unfills... This is gonna be one of the most important parts of the journey if you want to be successful with the band. If you have to travel for hours on end to get an unfill you will be in alot of pain. The second is alot of doctors aren't willing to do the after care if they didn't perform the surgery... definetly something to think about. The surgeon in my area will not do aftercare if it's not his patient... This is one of the reasons I chose to use the clinic I did. I am sure that if she has a doctor at her facility and she is a world renouned surgeon she expects the same out of them. I do not think that the fact that their population not being obese would really detour anyone from using him as a surgeon... Most surgeons in the US and Mexico are general surgeons who specialize in LB or Laproscopic surgery... Meaning my surgeon might do a couple hernia surgeries today, a bowel surgery tomorrow, and then on Monday perform LB on a couple people. I think the skill is that he is able to perform multiple surgeries with the skills. I think the more they know like that the more beneficial the doctor is to you. I took about 7 months to choose my surgeon and I think I made the right choice. I understand where you're coming from when you say the culture is much different.... Some cultures are very easily offended by questioning their skill. But if this is the case with someone who is about to perform a surgery on you then you really might want to look at more surgeons. Please becareful when choosing someone only because of the number of surgeries they have done. You do not want to end up with an asssembly line surgeon. Oh I am so sorry for the long post.

I do not know Dr Kum Cheng Kiong but I did a search about the doctor... Turns up tons of articles, seminars, classes , and surgeries that he has performed. I would say its safe to assume that this is a well established doctor. Maybe go in and meet with him and see how his 'bedside' manner is?

Congrats! Hope your healing process goes well and fast.

Mine works at the Bariatric center... But thats not all he does. He has another office that deals with other types of laproscopic surgeries.

My doctor didn't specifically recommend it but hinted that it would be a good idea.... I have short term disability that I could take too but I think I would pull my hair out lol

I would just go to the doctor or dermatologist. I am sure that it's probably just some type of yeast or something simple tho.

That is awesome! Oh I have a question if you dont mind :wink_smile: I submit to insurance today and have a 10 day wait for an answer. But how far is he normally booked up? I mean I wonder when my pre op appt wtih surgeon will be and how far out they are already scheduled for surgeries.

Brandy from Eugene checking in :wink_smile: I am using the Sacred heart bariatric center... Dr. Umbach/Dr. Yarbrough.

I researched a few places in Oregon and then decided to go with Dr. Umbach at the Bariatric center in Eugene. After beginning my journey at this center Dr. Umbach left the practice or will before my surgery :confused: Today is my final 6 month required appt from insurance so I hope to have my surgery scheduled for May! :wink_smile:

Good luck this morning with your surgery :wink_smile:

I have my last of the 6 appts today! Hooray! I have been told at each appt they use the weight from the intial consultation. I am sure they would open themselves up to some type of lawsuit if they told you to lose weight then denied you for losing it :thumbup:

They use the weight that your doctor took during your initial consultation.

I quit smoking 13 months ago... It was the best thing I ever did. I cannot stand the smell of the cigs or people that smoke. I won't even patron a place that allows smoking. I cannot even believe those things are legal now... They have got to be like trying to quit heroine or something (I have never done drugs) I had some fierce withdrawls... There were times I couldn't stand myself I wanted to jump out of my own body and run away. With all the stop smoking aids on the market I can't believe that anyone would still smoke.... what makes me the most upset is I was killing people around me with second hand smoke not just myself

Thats a huge task! You and I did the same thing kind of... mine was slightly slower than you though haha. I quit smoking, quit caffeine, changed how I eat, and gave up wine. We must both be crazy but in the long run its gonna be for the best! Good luck on all that is to come

Well most of the insurance companies that cover the LB cover BMI over 40 or BMI under 40 with 2 comorbities. Plus the benefit to the 6 month weight loss for me anyway is that my surgeon submits the request for pre op using the weight from my first meeting with him.

2 weeks if you're all liquid then it's alot faster than that. Depends on what you have to lose.

Good luck tomorrow I will probably have my TOM during the surgery time too since they are making me quit all the meds that regulate my cycle before surgery

WOW COngrats! I apply for pre auth from insurance tomorrow after last dietitian appt I cannot wait!

Beer and a band sound like perfect combo for a PB episode. Bleh.. empty calories grab a crystal light :thumbup:

Hooray and congrats on the dates! I haven't had that test and I haven't heard my doctor mention me having to have it before my surgery.

I initially was thinking I was going to have to do self pay and was considering Mexico. This is the thing that stopped me.. I am way too worried that something could have went wrong while I was in another country :crying:

seminar fill out packet for surgeon Surgeon initial Eval attended 6 meetings with dietitian to fulfull insurance requirement Nutrition and phsyc eval Waiting on Insurance approval then have preop appt with surgeon.

Thankfully I am not a huge fan of soda. I would drink maybe 1-2 a day. However, since I started on this journey I started carrying water/crystal light with me at all times so I never have a reason to get or order a soda. When I am out to dinner I use the crystal light to go packs.

that awesome Just go to the tickerfactory.com make your ticker... they will give you a code to copy and then just go to edit signature and paste the code in there.

I know its rough... I am trying a trial run of it right now I am on day 3 of replacing 2 meals with protein shakes and then I eat a pretty plain chicken breast meal at the end of the night with a veggie (plain :tongue_smilie: ) I don't have to do it but I know it's not hurting me to get in the swing of things. I only have 6 days till I request for insurance to give me pre authorization so I am gearing up for it. I would love to walk into surgery with the scale already headed in the downward motion!