Demi79

Hi Everyone, I'm still searching for a surgeon and I've narrowed it down to either Dr Turnquest or Dr Richard Collier. Other than expierence, after surgery support for fills and questions on new eating lifestyle is VERY important to me. Dr Turnquest seemed very down to earth and easy to talk to during his seminar. He answered all our questions and made sure we understood how HUGE of an effort on our part this would be and that this isn't an easy way out. I liked that he cared enough to be honest. All of my doctors are affiliated with Northwest Medical Hospital and so is Dr Turnquest. Dr Collier's presentation was very informative and his Surgicenter sounds wonderful. It's a whole center just for patients that have the lapband surgery. And I've heard plenty of good things about him and his staff. Dr Collier is affiliated with Woodlands Memorial Hospital. How do I choose?

Hi All, My corporate benefits dept replied to me today....our company plan contract does not include the surgery under any circumstances. I'm SO disappointed but not ready to give up yet. I just don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions?

Haloep I was also diagnosed with NASH. Plus Type 2 Diabetes...etc. I was all ready to go up against Aetna for approval but I've recently been told that it's my employer that put this on the plan exclusion list. I feel like I have hit a brick wall going 250mph now. I have emailed my corporate benefits dept and am waiting to see what they say I can do from here, if anything? =(

Do you think you might need an adjustment on your band? I haven't been banded yet.......BUT I SURE DO LOVE ME SOME CHICKEN! I couldn't put that on the list. So sad!

Hi Everyone! I am searching for bansters who have gone to LapBand Texas with Dr Collier. On 1/26/06 I visited his seminar in The Woodlands. I myself live off of I-45 and Airtex. I am very much anxious to have this surgery but don't know what surgeon to use yet? I have heard several good things about Dr Spivak and Dr Spiegal but I am drawn to LapBand Texas because they only do LapBand and nothing else (so they say during seminar). My doctors want me to consult with surgeons that are affiliated with NWMedical because they are but I want full attention to specialist only involved with lapband. And I have so many questions on what I'm supposed to eat also? I'm 27yrs old and single.....I don't have to cook for anyone but myself so I don't usually. The only diet I was ever successful with was on Atkins. I did great and now I just can't get back on track. I know I am qualified to have the surgery but I have to convince Aetna that I am. I'm stuck and don't know what to do? I have a primary doc, diabetes doc and liver doc. I've done blood test after blood test and even a liver biopsy. I thought all these test were going to help my docs build a nice case to write my referrel letters to my ins co then they told me that they don't do that. So that's why I have to find a surgeon but now I'm feeling a little rushed (me rushing myself not my docs rushing me). Had they told me this months ago while doing all these test I could've already had a surgeon lined up or at least consulted with a few. I just feel very behind schedule now. I hear all the cases where it took months and even years to get ins apprvl but then I hear really good cases were it was a week or two later and they had a wls date. MaryB...how was Dr Collier and his staff did they help? I'm just full of worries just to get apprvl but no worries to the surgery part. I'm just REALLY REALLY READY TO START AN IMPROVED LIFESTYLE!!!

I'm a thriving banster who would love to meet some real bansters and join the fun. I've not gotten apprvl from my ins co yet or even picked a surgeon but baby steps is what I'm given right now since all my docs don't seem to be as informed about the lapband than they are about gastric bypass. Please msg me back or email me at dltorres@sbcglobal.net with more information. I'm in the 1960 & I-45 area and can't wait to hear from you!

Slow down, examine, explore, decide. That's my strategy and when I use it, it works. I love that way of thinking about it before giving into the temptation. Thank you!

I'm starting to feel a little discouraged today(315lbs)...maybe that's not the right way to describe it? I was anxious to hear my docs tell me today that they'll start writing my referrel letters and send them to my ins co today after receiving news from my liver biopsy procedure on 3/27/06 (yes, what a way to spend my bday). I have NASH, the only way I can describe it is "fatty liver." They act like I shouldn't be alarmed by it, said to just take 400mg of Vitamin E and come back in 2 months and that WLS will prevent it from getting worse. Okayyyy! I'm ALL for it...been on board since attending a lapband seminar on 1/26/05 with Lapband Texas, AIGB. So now what? Well my diabetes doc was ill today (after waiting 2hrs you'd think they would've metioned this so I could resch, yeah right)! The physician asst referred me to call a Dr Leggett for WLS consult and gave me a 4wk supply of Actos for my type 2 diabetes to add to another prescription I've taken since Oct 05. Now headed to my primary doc appt for answers on who gets the ball rolling with the ins co? All he had to say was sch a consult with a Dr Leggett and Dr Turnquest for WLS consults they will be the ones to work with the ins co. Why didn't they tell me this 2mos ago. I've had LapBand Texas in mind to do my WLS all along...Dr Collier and Dr Wilkenfeld. I will give them a call tomorrow and see if I can't get this "bowling" ball rollin before my next appts in 2months. Wish me luck! =)

I'm starting to feel a little discouraged today(315lbs)...maybe that's not the right way to describe it? I was anxious to hear my docs tell me today that they'll start writing my referrel letters and send them to my ins co today after receiving news from my liver biopsy procedure on 3/27/06 (yes, what a way to spend my bday). I have NASH, the only way I can describe it is "fatty liver." They act like I shouldn't be alarmed by it, said to just take 400mg of Vitamin E and come back in 2 months and that WLS will prevent it from getting worse. Okayyyy! I'm ALL for it...been on board since attending a lapband seminar on 1/26/05 with Lapband Texas, AIGB. So now what? Well my diabetes doc was ill today (after waiting 2hrs you'd think they would've metioned this so I could resch, yeah right)! The physician asst referred me to call a Dr Leggett for WLS consult and gave me a 4wk supply of Actos for my type 2 diabetes to add to another prescription I've taken since Oct 05. Now headed to my primary doc appt for answers on who gets the ball rolling with the ins co? All he had to say was sch a consult with a Dr Leggett and Dr Turnquest for WLS consults they will be the ones to work with the ins co. Why didn't they tell me this 2mos ago. I've had LapBand Texas in mind to do my WLS all along...Dr Collier and Dr Wilkenfeld. I will give them a call tomorrow and see if I can't get this "bowling" ball rollin before my next appts in 2months. Wish me luck! =)