I live in Kansas, reasearching banding NOW WHAT?

[TracyinKS 7]

I live in Leavenworth KS... (KC METRO) what is my first step...

whos the best local doctor? Where do I find the nearest seminar?

How much do I have to pay (cash payer)?

How much are fills locally?

How long will I need to be off work post op?

How do I tell my better half that I am thinking of having the lap band?

HELP:help:

[Wheetsin 714]

Hi, most of your questions are very subjective -- you seem to be looking for concrete answers in an area that has very few. Hopefully this will help a little.

whos the best local doctor? This is too subjective to answer, really. Most people tend to think that their surgeon is the best surgeon. OH has a great surgeon search resource, with patient testimonials. Start researching -- you can access it here.

Where do I find the nearest seminar? I would suggest you not necessarily focus on nearest, but rather the seminar for the surgeons you want to consider, so this will come after your research. Any surgeon worth their license will require you to go to their seminar, not a seminar. Most surgeons have contact info or their own website, so once you pick a few, arrange to go to their seminars and see what you think. First impressions are important.

How much do I have to pay (cash payer)? Depends on the surgeon and "package?. You can ask this when you go to your seminars.

How much are fills locally? Depends on the surgeon and "package". You can ask this when you go to your seminars.

How long will I need to be off work post op? Depends on you, how you recover, if you experience complications, etc. I missed 3 days of work, some people miss 6 weeks.

How do I tell my better half that I am thinking of having the lap band? Again - really up to you. You're the only one who knows how your better half will best receive information, what their initial responses are likely to be, and if you expect conflict - how to best address it. All our better halves are very different, so unfortunately there is no "This is how you do it" answer.

[TracyinKS 7]

thanks wheets! Yes my questions were subjective kind of like talking to myself in an empty office.. (boss is gone today) LOL

I've been doing some research and I did find a list of KS doctors on OH...

The "better" half is going to be a problem.. he says he's supportive, but really he is not... that is another issue all together...

anyway... thanks for all the answers, and congrats on your sucess....

[lisah25 3]

The "better" half is going to be a problem.. he says he's supportive, but really he is not... that is another issue all together...

What does he do that let's you know he's not really supportive? I bet there is a lot of wisdom here to help you with that.

[ofps 1]

Wow, I can't believe it, there really is someone here in KANSAS on here! Was beginning to think no one was except the 'thread' of Hoehn. (no pun intended)

My DH was really supportive before surgery, says he is now, but........ok there's issues.

I was just banded on June 15. Returned to work the next day for several hours (office work) until I got my stuff done. Then again on Monday as usual. I've read others needing more time to recouperate. I think it depends on your surgeon and the procedure done. Mine went smooth (or so my surgeon said).

I'm sure there are good surgeons in KC, but I went to Tallgrass in Topeka. They have a great package for cash pay, very personal physicians, and good nurses. Everything runs smooth. Dr even tends to linger in the room until he is sure he has answered your questions and concerns fully. (Never had a Dr do that) My surgeon was Brent Steward, but there are 4 at the clinic, one a female.They also have seminars on Saturdays.

ofps

[ofps 1]

Here's the link and web site for Tallgrass if your interested. www.empowereddoctor.com/doctor_index_377.html

ofps

[Fat2Phat 0]

Hey Tracy,

I live in the Topeka area... I had my banding done a the Tallgrass Surgery Center. Dr. Brent Steward was my surgeon and he is great. He has a wonderful bedside manner and answers all of your questions for you. I will give you a more direct link to the Tallgrass surgery center, and I can also give you the email address to one of the bariatric coordinators so you can get more answers. Feel free to email me and I will give you the email address as well as any other information you want.

http://www.tallgrasstopeka.com

[Andy Liz 0]

I'm in nearby Missouri and plan on being banded by Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey in August. They refer to Dr. Malley in Kansas City for follow up and fills - I think he's on the Kansas side. I've heard good things about him and that he is more than happy to take over Dr. Rumbaut's patients.

I'm still working out the details but I was wondering - if you want to disclose this information - what your out of pocket was for your surgery. I'm a self pay and elected to go to Mexico because of the savings. I hadn't heard of the doctor several of you used and was thinking that if the airfare keeps going up it might be cheaper to have the surgery closer to home.

As far as telling your significant other - depending on what the issues are, I think if you do your research first, decide for yourself what you're going to do, take responsiblity for the procedure and whatever outcomes may occur and just present it without excessive emotion and with lots of confidence he'll just assume he can't do anything to change your mind and he'll play nice and be supportive....? Good luck, I know these things are difficult, but if it's what you truely want to do, don't let nay sayers keep you from it.

[Fat2Phat 0]

Hey ofps,

I am sorry I misread your msg to me because you said that you went to Dr. Stewart, which is another one of the doctors there. I think it is cool that you and I were there within day and had the same procedure and the same doctor. I am shocked that you went to work the day after though, because I have been home for 2 weeks until all of the soreness subsided. But hey, everyone is different. I know I took some of it off just to be off from work. A mini vacation if you will. I'm doing great though. We should keep in touch and keep up with our progress. I can always share with you what happens in the support meetings. Sorry for my misunderstanding. I was also a cash pay. Darn insurance doesn't pay for that anymore.

I will try to pop on here later and if anything you and I will fill up this board!

[MidniteLady 0]

I was self pay at Tallgrass. My surgeon is Dr Dunshee. I paid about $11,000. I get a year of follow up for that price. At the time I had my surgery, there was only $100-200 difference between Rumbaut and Tallgrass.

With the price of airfare and the price of paying for fills by Dr Malley, I decided to have surgery closer to home. I tell you, though, if I had opted to have surgery in Mexico, Dr Rumbaut would be the doc. I hear Dr Malley's price may be changing for self pay. You may want to check on that as well.

As for how to approach your spouse, it's best to get all your research together and sit down with him and discuss it. I would do it before you went to the seminar. Then take him to the seminar with you, encourage him to ask questions, voice his concerns. Make him a part of this road to health for you and he will be more inclined to Celebrate your success with you.

Good Luck...

<snip>what your out of pocket was for your surgery. I'm a self pay and elected to go to Mexico because of the savings. I hadn't heard of the doctor several of you used and was thinking that if the airfare keeps going up it might be cheaper to have the surgery closer to home.<snip>

[Machele 0]

I live in the KC metro area as well. I talked to Dr. Malley's office about 2 weeks ago and their self-pay is $16,500. I have finally settled on a surgeon in the Denver area who only charges $9950 with 6 months of post-op care. SW flies direct from KCI to Denver for $125 round trip... In saving $7K, I figured that I could pay for some air fare...

[Fat2Phat 0]

Machele,

Maybe you should consider Tallgrass Surgery in Topeka. They charge 10550. But that is a year of post-op care. Plus it is more local. It would only be a couple of hundred more than you would pay going to Denver (including trips). But in the long run you will save when it comes to the other 6 months of post-op care/fills.

Just a thought

Heather

[2bthinagn 3]

Machele,

Maybe you should consider Tallgrass Surgery in Topeka. They charge 10550. But that is a year of post-op care. Plus it is more local. It would only be a couple of hundred more than you would pay going to Denver (including trips). But in the long run you will save when it comes to the other 6 months of post-op care/fills.

Just a thought

Heather

hkimber...did you use Tallgrass? If so,how was your experience? I am considering them.

[2bthinagn 3]

hkimber I jumped in with a question before I read all the posts you had made about Tallgrass.

[Fat2Phat 0]

I did have my surgery at Tallgrass. I highly recommend them. My surgeon was Dr. Brent Steward. He has done other surgeries on me as well. I have lost about 76lbs so far. They are easy to work with. I had no complications. If you want to talk more about my experiences, please feel free to msg me and I will go into further detail. Or we can exchange numbers and we can talk about it