princessfrogee

It has been a while since I have been on the site. We moved out of state and one thing leads to another and now I am back doing research on the band. Needing to look in to where I can go in Alabama or Georgia for the banding and then for subsequent fills and care. We live near Auburn and very close to Columbus, GA. Atlanta isn't too far, but would really like to find something closer if possible. If I find a surgeon to do the surgery, even if it is a distance away, what are the chances of finding a Dr. closer by that would "take over" from there to do the fills??

Looking into banding. We moved to a new state for my husbands job, only the job hasn't happened yet. Long story, but we are pretty certain his insurance will cover most of the surgery, just no guarantees when the job will finally go through. He is VERY supportive for me in this and says that even if we have to use our savings we will. So at this time I do not know how to approach Dr.'s. I do not have a Dr. locally yet and frankly I am scared of being told what so many think and that is those that have surgery for weight loss are just too lazy to lose it on their own. What if you don't get support from the Dr. you must get a referral from in order to approach a Lap Band Dr.? Has anyone experienced this before? I know I shouldn't worry about something that hasn't happened and may not even happen, but want to be prepared. Also, if you are a self-pay, can you pretty much just go straight to a LapBand Dr. or clinic or do you still have to go through your family Dr.? Thanks in advance!

For those that have gone out of state or country for your bandings, how do you go about finding a Dr. for fills? Can you only get fills through the LapBand Dr's or clinics? Or are there other avenues you can go through?

Has anyone had any experience with the Advanced Wt. Loss Clinic(s)? I have noticed there are several throughout Alabama and am assuming they are one in the same, just different Dr.'s. If so, where and what Dr?

Thanks Betty, I will look in to him as well. Does anyone know if this port is much the same as one a chemo patient must have? My mother has a port and they give her a cream to rub over her port area to numb that spot before she has her port flushed out every other month. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any of that or is there a different needle used altogether and maybe it isn't as painful for fills/unfills as it is for the chemo??

:eek::help:We recently moved to Alabama and had started looking in to Lap Band a few years ago and am getting closer to being able to get it done. We live in Opelika, near Auburn and was wondering if anyone knew of any surgeons in this area that do the LB surgery? I have heard so much about Dr.'s Schmitt and Miles in Birmingham and may just consider going through them, but was curious how you go about getting fills once you have had the surgery? Do you have to continue going back to them or can/will your personal physician do that? Also was wondering when you are doing your weight yo-yo history do you just write that all down and they take your word for it? Or do you have to get documentation from each Dr. you have been to? We have moved three times in the past two years so I was just wondering if I needed to start now on rounding up that information. I also do not have a personal physician in Alabama as of yet and when I go to look for one, does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with a physician regarding the Lap Band? I know a lot of Dr's are very against any weight loss surgery and I do not want to have to deal with one more person with the, "Just diet and exercise and you will lose the weight" attitude. I know this is a lot of questions and will probably have more, but I guess this is the place to ask. Thanks in advance!

My aunt and I both did this diet. If you can deal with the very tight restrictions you will do well. It is a next to NO SALT, NO CARB diet. I lost 12 lbs. my first week. My aunt stayed on it for several months and lost like 60 lbs., but it became too much and she has now gained all of that back. I only lasted about two weeks. You feel full all of the time because you eat a lot, it is just VERY BLAND. You don't realise how much sodium is in our food that we don't even know about! Online there is the Biggest Loser Club diet that works so well also. You just have to have time to get on there to plan out your menu. It gives you lists to go by and you pick from the lists for your menu. They have pre-done menu's as well, but I found that I did not like half of what they chose so I did my own. As with any diet, as long as you "go by their rules" it works, but it is hard to keep off. Weight Watchers always works great for me as long as I stick with it, but it is really hard to keep up with my diet and five kids and husband. Hope that helps.

My family is looking to move to the Georgia/Alabama area soon. My husband will be a civillian working at Ft. Benning. We know his insurance will be BCBS. I am hoping it will be the federal so it may make it easier to get the surgery. I have read your posts and am surprised at how many different doctors are doing this surgery in Alabama, but most seem to be fairly new at this. The names most mentioned seem to be Dr. Miles and Dr. Schmitt. Do they have a direct website to look in to?

Though not completely new to this site, I started researching the labpand about 8 mos. ago and it all came to a screaching halt when we found out my husbands insurance intentionally left this coverage out of their plan. :huytsao There is a chance he will be switching jobs (also we will be moving near Ft. Benning, GA) and we are told that the insurance is the top plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield so we have hopes that it will be covered. I struggle with low blood sugar and although recent tests claim to be normal, I regularly have the instant shakes, etc. if I wait too long to eat or don't eat enough protein. I had my gaul bladder removed in 1995 and have since had trouble eating fresh fruits and veggies and certain foods that upset my stomach. After having the bouts with the upset stomach I really have the low blood sugar issue. The blood tests my Dr. just recently did was supposed to show three months worth of glucose ups/downs, but the results show normal??? I don't understand how with the problems that I have. She also did cholesterol and thyroid as well. All were normal. Anyway, my point I am trying to get to is whether or not anyone else has had problems with blood sugar pre LB and how did that affect the recovery weeks post LB? I know eventually with the weight loss the blood sugar should get better, but being on limited diet right after surgery causes concern for my blood sugar issues. Also, I was leaning towards LB over gastric BP mainly due to wanting to lose the weight slowly to avoid as much extra saggy baggy elephant skin as I can. That and LB tends to be covered by more insurances than GBP. I was reading where one person had lost like 27 lbs. in one week. That is a lot to lose in one week! What has been everyone elses' experiences with the saggy baggies? Also could you include your starting ht/wt/age/date of LB surgery, because I know that makes a difference as well. Also, if anyone is from the Columbus, GA or Phenix City, AL area that has had the lap band I would love to chat about local Drs., etc. Thanks! Tawnda

Have been looking in to lap band surgery. Still not sure if insurance will cover it yet. We just moved to a new state and don't know a soul to find out about recommended Dr.'s/surgeons etc. Have done some research on the internet where they mention the possibility of complications with the surgery. The only complications I have heard of is possible slippage and leakage. Has anyone had these complications that could tell what symptoms you would have to know if these were occurring? Also, I know that some Dr.'s sew a flap of skin around the band to prevent slippage. Does anyone know why some would and some would not do this? If our insurance does not cover this, does anyone have suggestions on how to go about paying for this surgery without going deep into debt? Any help would be great!

Hello! I am new to Pennsylvania. Just moved to Central area. I have been researching the possibilities of Lap Band surgery. Still uncertain if insurance will cover and have no clue as to where to begin looking for credible doctors with experience in Lap Band. I have been overweight most of my life. I am 5'11" and 302 lbs. (Down from just under 400, but still too heavy) Currently my BMI is 42 so I am really needing to get on the ball finding information. More than likely I will need a referral from my physician if my insurance will cover the procedure. Does anyone have any information or opinions regarding how to go about dealing with all of that? OR if insurance will not cover it, what are the best options out there for helping to pay for this without going broke or deep into dept? Also I have heard of procedures that some Dr.'s sew a flap of skin around the band to prevent slippage and others do not. Does anyone know why some do and some don't? Also, I always read that some complications can occur. What complications can come with Lap Band? I know one that was mentioned was leakage. What symptoms do you have to know if you have leakage? Also erosion was one I read about, but again, how do you know? What are the symptoms? Any help at all would be great! Thanks!