Bertha / Abkin in Morristown NJ

[Alexandra 55]

I'd love to hear from and maybe get together with anyone who's a patient of either of these doctors. Dr. Nicholas Bertha was involved in the FDA trials so he's been doing banding for a relatively long time. But I've only found a couple of other patients of theirs--there MUST be more! Where are all the Jersey people?

[tangerine 44]

Jersey person here, but not a patient of Drs. Abkin or Bertha! I have heard that they are wonderful though. I'm from south Jersey and at the time I started looking into banding, no doctors near me were performing the surgery (Dr. Borao in Monmouth County is doing it now), so it was easier for me to get to NYC than it was for me to get to Morristown.

Are you close enough to their office to pop into one of their support groups? You should be able to find some local bandsters that way!

[Alexandra 55]

I'll know more about their support groups after my pre-surgery appointment next week. But when I attended their WLS seminar last year, it was clear that the VAST majority of the people seeking surgery were there for the RNY. (The hospital runs a huge obesity clinic with several doctors attached. Only Bertha and Abkin do the band, so far.)

I must admit I was shocked at the number of people at this seminar. There must have been more than 300. I wonder what that group looks like now, a year later, and whether the more recent seminars have more people seeking the band?

[Guest JerseyGirl]

Hi .... I'm from Jersey too.... I work in Morristown but live in Wayne and I am seeking a doctor with Lap-band experience. Alexandra I would love to know more about your doctor. My other concern is insurance. I'm currently under Blue Cross Blue Shield hmo which from what I've noticed isn't good.

Thanks!

Karen

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Jersey girl!

I have good news for you. I know for a fact that Horizon BCBS does cover the band for people who qualify. It's not an automatic denial like it is with Aetna and Amerihealth.

Drs. Nicholas Bertha and Alexander Abkin have done lots of lapbands, and Bertha was involved in the FDA trials way back when. I don't know offhand if they participate in Horizon's HMO network, but it would be easy enough to find out.

[Sonia 0]

Hello,

I am new to the forum, and am researching the lap band. I have been looking for doctors and Dr. Abkin has come up. I noticed that you were a patient of his and would just like some input.

Thanks!!

Sonia

[Newbandster 0]

Hi Sonia, I am a new patient of Dr. Abkin/Dr. Bertha. Actually Dr. Goldstein did my surgery on Monday 11/29. Have you been banded already?

[Alexandra 55]

Hi Sonia,

Nice to meet you! Feel free to fire away with your questions. Dr. Abkin's practice has several banding doctors there, and though he was my surgeon I've seen Dr. Bertha on many more occasions. Dr. Goldstein, too, more than once. It's really a group operation.

Have you been to their orientation session? That's the first step if you're considering their practice.

Newbandster, how are you feeling? That was pretty recent, are you back to yourself yet?

[Sonia 0]

Hi,

No, I haven't been banded yet. I am currently in the research phase. I was researching doctors and trying to find a good one that is also on my insurance, and Dr. Abkin's name came up. How are you feeling?

[Sonia 0]

Hi Alexandra,

How do I find out about the meetings? I definitely would like to go to one. And I only have about a million questions to ask you, but I promise I will pace myself. LOL

Sonia

[Sonia 0]

I do have one question now that I found Dr. Abkin's website. I was reading about insurance approval, and it specifically mentions providing proof of being in a program. I was in WW a few years ago, and Jenny Craig twice many years before then. But I don't have any of the paperwork. Does that mean I ahven't got a chance for approval? Also, it mentions starting a supervised diet NOW before the surgery. Now if I do that, and I lose weight (which I always do, I jsut have a problem with keeping it off) then won't they deny me? Maybe I have been getting myself psyched about this for no reason. I may have to go on diets for the enxt twp years, and then somehow prove to the insurance companies that they really don't work? How do the insurance companies decide? Sorry if I am going on and on, but as I know you can relate to, now that I have perhaps found the one tool that I think can work for me, I am thinking that I may have to starve myself for the next 2 years to prove to the insurance companies that I deserve this. Oh well.

Thanks for your response, and sorry for the long post.

Sonia

[Alexandra 55]

Unfortunately I'm a little pressed for time at the moment, but I can tell you this much. The information the doctors have on the site is general info for all insurance. Each carrier is different and has different requirements for proving the medical necessity of surgery. A history of attempts at weight loss is usually required, but in my case that was a written history without any actual "proof." So whatever your carrier says is what goes, for them.

Have you seen a primary-care doctor yet, and been actually diagnosed with severe (or "morbid") obesity? That's pretty much a must, and if you go now for a physical (which will DEFINITELY be required no matter what) tell your doc that you want to start immediately on a supervised diet plan. The doctor will probably hand you a printed diet and say call us in a month.

Most carriers require some type of doctor-supervised weight loss attempt in the last two years, but it might only have to be six months long. So get started NOW and before you know it the time will have passed. Start by calling your primary care doctor and getting that physical, your diagnosis, and your diet plan.

[Sonia 0]

Thanks, Alexandra. I appreciate your response. I gotta tell you, I relate to you since you started at about what I am now. I am 5'11" and about 350, so when I see your numbers I feel hope.

Thanks!!

Sonia

[Alexandra 55]

...when I see your numbers I feel hope.

Wow, that really moves me! I remember saying the exact same thing to bandsters when I was investigating banding, too. I can't believe someone is saying to to me!!

It takes patience and perseverance. Happily, those are the qualities that make for successful bandsters, so *getting* the band is good practice for *having* a band!!

BTW, I forgot to mention about the meetings. Abkin/Bertha have a monthly BANDSTERS-ONLY support group that meets on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. There won't be one in December, I'm sorry to say, but we understand.

Hope to see you in January!!

[Newbandster 0]

Alex, Please keep me posted on that January meeting. I am a patient of Abkin and Bertha but I live all the way in South Jersey. I do work in North Jersey though so maybe it will be a night that I can come. I'm not quite back to myself yet. I'm still extremely sore in my stomach area where the stiches are on the left side. I'm assuming that is where the port is. I still can't bend down to tye my shoes yet. I think the toughest part of this is keeping my stomach from growling so much. It keeps me up at night and I still can't sleep comfortable as it is because of the soreness. I actually tried a little bit of pudding today and it wasn't bad. In some of the books that I received on the post op diet before the surgery. They said that you can have pudding in Phase II of the diet. I don't know. I just try to keep the edge off and it's extremely tough. Any suggestions? I can't wait unitl next week when I can go to mushies. I think I will be so much more satisfied. I find this support group so very helpful.

Sonia,

What insurance do you have? Any weight loss attempts should be listed on your application. Not only ww or Jenny Craig. Have you ever taken diet pills to lose weight? I did and I named every one I ever took. How about the gym? That's an attempt too. Slim Fast anyone? Dexatrim? any of those over the counter medications for weight loss. Put your thinking cap on and as you think of them write them down. Any assistance, I can provide please don't hesitate to contact me as it is ALL still very fresh in my head.

Sorry for the long thread. I guess I got a little carried away!