Alabama bandster

[Daisalana 33]

Where in Harvest? Is this the Harvest right outside of Huntsville? Didn't know of any docs out there..

And no, your stomach swells as much or as little as your body swells.. some people swell up and can't eat for weeks.. some don't swell too bad and it's fine. Don't worry

[JanetNBama 3]

I finally have a surgery date! December 31!! Did anyone have doubts and bad thoughts? I keep pushing those to the back because I cannot wait to have this surgery. What a way to ring in the New Year - 2008 here I come

[Daisalana 33]

Congrats! Come back when you're banded and let us know how it went :eek:

[swstacey1977 0]

Congrats to you! Hello everyone!I live in Montgomery. i was banded by Dr. Vincent Gardner at Cahaba Valley surgical center in Alabaster.

he is a great surgeon. couldn't stand the surgery coordinator , "let's just say she puts the ding in ding bat" but other than that, had no problems with them. i was banded the last week of November and have lost 13 pounds. hope to get my first fill next time i see him but i think he is

very consertive on the fills. i have the new AP band. well, good luck

to all the newbies out there and welcome to the site!.

[sharpei in process 0]

Hey,

I'm sharpei in wait, from Tuscaloosa,Al

I will have my band 02/08

Dr. Andrew DeWitt at Big Carraway in B'ham

He has done many LB surgeries with great success..

He is great.......

[ugagirl 0]

Hello all-I'm not from Alabama but I'm going to the seminar at Medical Center East on January 19th and I am very excited! I'm self-pay and most of the doctors in Atlanta, where I live, are a bit more pricey so I'm hoping to save some money by traveling a little west.

[heather113076 0]

Hi all! I am in Odenville-a little town about 30 miles east of Birmingham. I plan to get the band, pending approval from BCBS, in June/July 2008. I am currently doing the 6 month diet. I have my consultation with Dr. Schmitt on Jan 16. I am excited! :whoo:

[PeachesPJ 0]

Hello Group - Newbie here!!! I am PJ from Tuscaloosa and I am going to be banded on Jan 28th by Dr. Bilton of University Surgical Associates here in Tuscaloosa. He has been doing the RNY for years but next month will make 1 year that he has been doing the bands. He is great, very personable and has a great office staff. I have been looking into this for 13 months now. I have UHC and was approved right away when applied for in May 07. But, my wife was planning on it also and has BCBC/AL and had to do the 7 month thing. I wanted to wait and do together. Well she had her RNY done 12/26/07 and I now have to wait cause of work problems. Looking foward to it.

[JanetNBama 3]

Hi all,

Banded on Monday, December 31st and oh the pain the next day!! I had it in my mind that it would be pain free, where I got that - Don't ask!! It's Friday, and I'm much better now - but I do have soreness around my ribs today for some reason, and my stomach still hurts when I drink or eat. Not as bad today, but still there. Dr. Schmitt can't figure out what it is - he made me do the gastric swallow junk to see if my band has slipped or any problems swallowing and none were seen! I am just praying this is a part of the healing and I'll be ok in no time I get hungry FAST though -but a few sips of Protein drink/water/soup usually helps that. How's everyone else doing??

ALSO - how do I add a ticker??????

[MkUSmile78 0]

Hey everyone!

I haven't posted on here in a while so I just wanted to say Hi and see how everyone was doing? I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years!

Hey Janet, I hope you are feeling much better!!!

For those of you that don't know me, my name is Season, I was banded June 11, 2007, by Dr. Schmitt. My starting weight on the Friday before my surgery was 312 lbs and I am down to 216 lbs this morning. 4 more pounds to go until I hit my 100 pound mark!!!!!! I want to get down to around 180 lbs and see how I feel when I get there as to if I want to keep going (I am 6'1" tall, so I figured around 180lbs will be about right for me)

[MkUSmile78 0]

I finally cleaned out my closet Monday and got rid of 3 huge bags of clothes that are all way to big, It was really exciting!!! We took some pics of clothes that used to fit me, the skirt was actually tight on me. I just wanted to share these with you'll.

[JanetNBama 3]

I am SO proud of you, Season!! I THANK YOU for the support and all the questions you've answered for me - I know I have driven you CRAZY!

I feel MUCH MUCH better - the pain in my stomach is getting better - just the numbness in my legs that is stumping me now!! I hope that will go away too.

YOU LOOK INCREDIBLE - KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

[JanetNBama 3]

Hi all! I am in Odenville-a little town about 30 miles east of Birmingham. I plan to get the band, pending approval from BCBS, in June/July 2008. I am currently doing the 6 month diet. I have my consultation with Dr. Schmitt on Jan 16. I am excited! :whoo:

Hey Heather! I'm excited for you!! Email me if you have any questions - and look at SEASON's pictures! She's my inspiration! We all live pretty much within 25 miles of each other - we will have to get together soon!!

[Gwen 0]

: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!

Hi Tawnda! I was just looking around and spotted your msg from Oct. Did you ever select a dr and go through with your surgery? I'm just beginning to look around and not sure if I should use AL or GA dr's. I'm close to Opelika - actually in Lanett, about 20 miles up the interstate. Probably quicker to get to Atlanta for dr. I have Fed Gov BCBS, but I'm retired and I'm not sure if they now consider it BCBS of AL or what - need to call them. Those of you that have already had surgery, did your dr include the cost of fills with your surgical cost? And does doing without Water while eating prove to be a problem for you? That's my biggest worry. Thanks!

Gwen

[ConnieC 0]

Hey All..........

I was banded by Dr Lee Schmitt in Trussville 10/29/07. I'm from Dothan. Had to travel quite a ways. Lost 29.5 lbs so far, and am about to have my 3rd fill!!.

Good luck to all!!

Connie