Terriann

I was actually referred to Dr. Quioco in Rocky Mount. He only does the gastric bypass and after speaking with a few other doctors and doing some research, I have decided to do the bypass rather than the band. For me, I think it is best. Several agreed and all referred me to Quioco, and I have heard nothing but good things about his experience. I have already had my consultation, had my visit with a shrink, and am awaiting insurance approval from Anthem. Anthem requires you to have 2 health problems related to your weight and be over a certain BMI. I can't remember what the exact starting point is to be approved but mine was 53. I was thinking it was like 40 and over or something. I also have high blood pressure and Gerd. My doctor also is requesting I loose 20 lbs before my surgery date is set, I have a fatty liver and it will help to shrink it. Good luck to everyone!

I had my consultation with Dr. Quioco and he only does the bypass. I have been told by several different doctors that I should get the bypass vs. the lapband b/c I need to loose so much weight. Also mentioned that the lapband is temp. and the bypass is permanant and since I've been overweight my entire life that I need something permanant. Anyone been told that? :confused2:

I have a consultation with a Dr. Quioco in Roanoke, VA anyone else have used this dr? :tongue2:

ok - I went to the gastroenterology doc in Salem and he is recommending me to Dr. Quioco in Salem/Roanoke. I go for a consultation June 12th. Anyone have any experience with Dr. Quioco? Anyways, I'm told he is very good at the weight loss surgery and takes less time than Lucktong? He said if he thought I needed more physicic stuff done he would send me to Lucktong, he takes more time in that area? And he also thougth I would do best with the bypass rather than the band?? I don't know why he is saying this when last year he thought I would do good with the band?? I wonder what changed his mind. He said that the band is temp and I need something permanant, since I have been overweight my whole life. But he is not the expert in that area, I guess I will see what Dr. Quioco has to say. I'm excited either way to take these steps to become healthier. I wonder what the consultation will consist of??

Thanks for the info weirdling I went to the siminar on Wed. night the 28th but it was canceled and I failed to be aware of it so I am attending next week. I'm just getting a head start on stuff. I talked to someone that was at that 27th support meeting though, she said there seemed to be more people complaining about the Roanoke office then in Radford and that the Roanoke office did not seem to have as good of after care?? I'm trying to decide if I should go to the doc in Roanoke or in Radford, the Radford offices are so much closer for me. The only other thing i have done is that I added the weight loss surgery to my health insurace - luckily it renewed this month or I would have to wait until the next renewal in 1 year...yikes. Next Friday I will be talking to my doc about the lap band and getting recommended for it, so I guess that is my next step and I plan on attending the support meeting next month to hear from patients that already have it. I guess I need to try and loose as much weight as I can before hand. It just never stays off.... :thumbup: Good luck with all your scheduling and tests, hopefully youll get a date soon. I will be doing all of that soon I hope. I hear of some people just taking 1-2 months to get a surgery date and some are into 6 months of running around and still no date, I wonder why some take more time? Also, I see on this website of several great motivators that have lost on average 10 lbs per month totaling over 100 lbs lost in a year and some bearly loosing 5 lbs per month. Does that depend on the kind of foods you eat and excersize you do? Or is there something else preventing some to not loose as much?

Thanks JRT and Huggie I will go to Tues. meeting also so I will be ahead of the game before I meet with a doc. Huggie Bear - No, I have not made an appt. with Tammy yet. I am still waiting on my next appt. with a doctor in Salem that was checking out my liver where it was enlarged and causing pain in my upper right side. I will meet with him on June 6th and he said if I have not been successfull in loosing any weight since he saw me last Aug. he would recommend me to a weight loss dr. and I would be a good candidate for the lap band. But I think he will probably recommend me to one in Roanoke. I would rather not make the longer drive, Radford would be closer but I want a good doc with lots of experience and good stats. I wonder if the classes I'm attending in Radford will count good with the docs in Raonoke too? So many decisions......:confused2:

I actually registered to the class on Wed. the 28th, its the communtiy ed class also in the montgomery room that is for people who are interested in weight loss surgery and can get info about it versus on the 27th is more a support group for those who are planning on it or already has it. how is the phsy. evaluation - what questions are asked? that one makes me nervous.

what is discussed at the monthly meetings at radford? I'm in Floyd and that would be closer for me than roanoke too!:biggrin2: btw - I just called my insurance and I luckily just made the yearly renewal deadline to add weight loss surgery to my policy...yipee. Maybe thats a sign I'm on the right path.

Alisa - Thanks for all the great info, that was so nice of you to share. Now that I'm ready to do the band I hate to think I have to wait another 6 months for the surgery. But I think I really need it to keep the weight off long term. I never can loose no more than 25-30 lbs before it all comes back and then some and I'm having so many health issues knocking at my door. Did Dr. Lucktong require a certain weight loss before surgery? Also, how long did you do the liquid diet? I've heard good things of him, does he just specialize in weight loss surgery? Huggie Bear - Does Dr Bissel have allot experience in the Lap Band and is he located at Montgomery Hos? How long did it take for you to get a surgery date from your first meeting? Sorry yall for all the ?'s I'm just in research mode to help me make a decision, so far I'm very inspired by this site.:wink2:

I think you have to be recommended by your family doc or another doc. I had an enlarged liver and saw Dr. Bern at Valley Gastroenterology in Salem and he said he would recommend me to a doc in Roanoke for a possible band but I did not get a name. I go back to Bern on June 6th. I heard there is a doc at Radford too. Where are you located? I will keep you posted.

Hey ALISA - I noticed we are the same starting weight and I live not far from Roanoke. I'm just getting started, what were your first steps of getting the band? First doc visit ect.. Thanks Weird - Going to a meeting to get more info sounds like what I need ot do. What is discussed at the meetings and how many people are normally there?

Hey - I'm in the NRV (Floyd County) area and after a visit with my liver doc in Roanoke last year was told I have an enlarged liver and he commented that I may be a canidate for the Lap Band and would recomend me to one. I also have hight blood pressure, pre-diabetes, acid reflux, heel spurs and so on due to my weight. I'm due back in June and was suppose to have lost some weight, I did but it came back and then some. What are the first steps to start this process? I have Anthem Blue Cross insurance and have been told they are good for covering this but I need to call to make sure I guess. I'm really leaning towards the band, need to loose 150-180 lbs and do not seem to think I can do it alone nor keep it off.