bandofhope

Yeah, CD!!! I am so glad all went well for you. Take care of yourself and Please, Please, Please.. tell us all about it when you are able. Those of us waiting for our turn are on pins and needles wanting to hear details. Congratulations, you did it! God Bless!

CD- I know you are nervous and I would be too, but, I believe all will be well with you during your surgery. Please let us know how everything went- I am on my last phase of BSBS requirements; sleep test and psyc evaluation and then I hope to get a date by the first of Jan. So, I will look forward to reading about your experience. God Bless you and enjoy the new life you are creating for yourself!

Hello Bama Folks.... I need help with answers to some questions! I have on more month to go with my BC/BS PPO six month doctor visits. I have my other requirements scheduled... (psych, sleep study, misc. test). I am getting excited and also nervous at the same time... I have actually started thinking that I don't need the surgery and I can do it on my on... Yes, I know- that is crazy!!! I guess it's presurgery nerves. At any rate, I hope some of you can answer the following questions for me: 1. I know I pay my insurance co-pay upfront, but... do I also pay the percent not covered by BC/BS or do they bill me? 2. If I have a terrible case of sleep apnea, will they not do my surgery? 3. I have an enlarged liver and the nurse at Dr. Scmitt's office said I needed to lose 40 pounds before the surgery. I have not.. will they not do the surgery until I lose the weight? 4. All I read about is Dr. Miles doing your banding surgeries... has anyone used Dr. Schmitt? Is there something with him I don't know about? I know I can contact the office on several of these questions, but,I wanted to ask "one of us" first. Thanks so much and I hoping for my first summer, in a very long time, of wearing shorts! Thanks so much and God Bless!

I put this on the regular forum but I wanted to especially ask you Alabama folks. I only have a few months to go and I will be getting a banding surgery date; I have a question. I do not lie on my back, ever, when I sleep because I choke and can't catch my breath... I sleep on my left side. But, when they do surgery I will be on my back. Did I read somewhere that I would be "tubed" with anesthesia to keep me breathing OK during surgery? If so, does this tubing take place after I am knocked out? This is worrying me to death! Thanks for helping this nervous ninny!

Jack, you kill me. I know you are a secret double agent lap band doctor or undercover nuclear cell surgeon. Your words of perfect wisdom spin our heads, taking away the very air we breathe. You leave us searching for your daily posts of motivating and professional words of wisdom. One of these days you will have to come clean and reveal your true career identity. Until then... we'll keep hanging on to your every word. Thanks, sir!

I only have a few months to go and I will be getting a banding surgery date; I have a question. I do not lie on my back, ever, when I sleep because I choke and can't catch my breath... I sleep on my left side. But, when they do surgery I will be on my back. Did I read somewhere that I would be "tubed" with anesthesia to keep me breathing OK during surgery? If so, does this tubing take place after I am knocked out? This is worrying me to death! Thanks for helping this nervous ninny!

Getting closer to my surgery and I have 2 questions: 1. Any suggestions on diet to shrink liver some for surgery. 2. I sleep on my left side ALWAYS.. can the port be placed on the right? Now.. wasn't that nice and quick? Thanks Alabama folks.. you're great!:sad:

OK newly banded people.. I'm working on my BCBS requirements and my fears are growing concerning the anestesia. I have never had surgery and I am scared to death! Could you give us waiting a summary of your surgery experience? Thanks so much!!!!!!

I am concerned with their professional status... their personal life is not my business. I have grown up in a small area and have known all of my doctors since I was a young girl or someone I knew has know them as I have grown older.. so, it is a new thing for me to go to a doctor that is not know by anyone I personally know.. that is why I asked. I appreciate everyone's comments.. thanks!

Hi Alabama People- I know this is going to be an odd question but I am trying to decide on Dr. Miles or Dr. Schmitt for surgery. Do you mind offering first-hand experiences with both? Thanks so much-

Hi folks, I think it's odd they decided to just offer the realize band. I heard it was not as good as the lap band because the "pillow" part that holds fluid is one big circle which because of its' design, has a greater chance of leaking due to pressure from being filled. The lap band has 5 or 5 "pillows" that are independent and encounted no stress when being filled. The circle formation closes better in other words. I don't know about these doctors sometimes. I wonder if they go with the company giving them the best "refund" for purchase at any given time. Somebody respond with a thought, please...

I agree. We are on here to help each other and give support; if you have heard something it is helpful to let us know. Although lap band surgery is considered minimal surgery, it is still surgery, none the less. I asked this specific question because I intially thought I would use Schmitt, but after reading comments made on here by patients over the past months, I am beginning to wonder if I should use Miles. Your honest opinion would be very helpful. Thanks so much!

Hi Horsetrainer... good luck on getting an answer to your question. I too asked for responses from people who have had a lap band for five years or more and unless I read my responses incorrectly, I had no five year responses. I found this very disheartening and it flew a red flag of concern up. I am completing my requirements for BCBS of Alabama and I keep wanting to good long term stories and which I have yet to read about. I hope it is a case of me missing them because I want lapband surgery because I believe it is a necessary tool to help me extend my life. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Good Luck!:smile:

Jason... I'm so happy for you! I am glad everything went well. I am two months away from completing my BCBS requirements, Dr. Schmitt is my surgeon. It helps take the concerns away when I hear stories from you and others on this site. Congratulations and enjoy your new journey.

Hey y'all... where did everyone go? When I first began coming to this website there were a ton of folks on here talking about the world of banding... not now. Have you all gone to a new website? Please let me know.. I'm lonely!! :thumbdown:

Hi y'all... I know most of us have seen lap band videos many times but, I wanted to share this one I discovered on our Australian friends' forum. Just a new testamony to hear about the good 'ol band.Click on the link below (medical marvel) and enjoy! Medical Marvel

thanks to you all for these truthful posts... we need more of this to assist us in informed decisions concerning our health- honestly, this makes me want to have bypass or sleeve surgery instead of going to the misery of hoping the band will work- i know there are risks involved in those surgeries but, it seems I am reading more and more negatives on lapbanding as the weeks go by- I was sold on the band due to less risks but that seems to be fading from my opinion- Thanks Again For Posting Your Stories------God Bless!

Hi Rae, I'm working on my BC/BS requirements for surgery with Dr. Schmitt. I'd love to hear all about your surgery and how things are going for you now. Congratulations!

A prayer for healing..

Grace... I feel for you and I feel for myself as well-- I've got lots coming my way when I get banded. Keep the real people info coming our way, we love it!:thumbup:

Good Point!..I didn't take into considertion that folks with no problems would have very little desire to patronize this website. I did go to the June group support meeting at St. Vincent's. I enjoyed it very much, except for the lady that kept talking and wouldn't sit down...HA! Anyway, it's summertime and it's hot and my mind is wandering with question after question concerning my lap band surgery. I had been on such a high and ready to go get it and now my mind is putting the brakes on a little. This to shall pass in no time adn I'll be full speed ahead and ready to put the band on. Thanks for the the advise...I'll be banded before you know it!

Hi Alabama Bandsters... I was just wondering the longest anyone has been banded with no problems.. and if you don't mind, who was your surgeon? I am working on my six month requirements for BC/BS so I don't have any statistics to offer. For those of you who do.. thanks for your information.

Hi Di, I did post to the general board at the same time I posted Alabama- unfortunately I have only had four responses to my question. I find this is rather disturbing and don't quite know how I feel about it. Thanks for your input and good luck with your band!

I thought it was a good question too, but, I am kinda surprised that no one from Alabama has replied. Although Jack is great and has wonderful comments, he is not a Bama man... so, this is not a good indicator for people banded in Alabama. I'll give it more than one day for comments... so, if you are from Alabama and you have had no problems, please add your time line to this thread and we can get an idea of the length of time you can actually have a band with no complications. Please note that "complications" does not include gas/burping and normal pouch symptoms. I'm counting anything that required surgery or special treatment which prohibited the normal function/benefit of the band. Thanks, y'all!!

Hi Bandsters... :smile2:I was just wondering the longest anyone has been banded with no problems.. and if you don't mind, who was your surgeon? I am working on my six month requirements for BC/BS so I don't have any statistics to offer. For those of you who do.. thanks for your information.