Hello
i am now a friend. Don't think i ignored you, i don't get on that much anymore. I had a lap-band placed by dr schuricht at pa hospital last march. To date i have lost what you see below in 10 months. Not that it is easy but easier than doing it on my own without any tools. I like the band around my stomach. Let me see,
my initial consultation with dr schuricht was dec 4th 2008. That day is a meeting with the dr in a meeting room with other clients going to have surgery too. Dr s explains everything in detail to you over 3 hours. Also nutritionist and nurse practitioner there introducing themselves and answering all your questions. Then you will see the doctor privately in his office.he makes it a fun meeting.he is very nice man. After dr schuricht you will see the surgery scheduler and she gives you paperwork with everything you will need to know and when to do it, she tells you the insurance stuff.. My insurance(personal coice) said i had to see a nutritionist for 3 months(and try to lose weight,like i haven't tried this before lol) before i had surgery so dr schuricht's office set it all up for me and so my paperwork wasn't submitted to insurance till i was finished with those visits(i lost a pound). I had to set up appts with a psychiatrist, my primary (to write a letter stating why i needed this surgery),cardiologist,upper gi to see if everythg is normal, i already had a sleep dr so he had to write letter too sometimes you have to have sleep study.i had surgery march 23 2009. So in answer to your question it took me 14 weeks from my consultation to surgery day.
I will tell you it does seem overwhelming after you go home from the consultation but you are committed at this point and it works out.
Dr schuricht knows me as the open lap-band if you want to mention me. I started to bleed so he had to open me up but i was fine after(he also is very blunt so don't get your feelings hurt if he calls you fat etc). I was in recovery room after surgery and he comes in to see me and and tell me how surgery went, he said loudly that i had more belly fat then he thought that i had and it was more like "man fat". I just laugh at him.
Good luck!!! Let me know how you make out.