Lapband in the DC Area

[teacherchick 0]

Tina,

When I went to the seminar, the lap band patients saw a doctor named Mozzawe(not spelled correctly) that apparently works our of Dr. Afram's D,C office. I did see on their website that Dr. Afram does mostly gastric bypass but he will not be doing my surgery. I had never hear of Dr. Brody. Do you have a link to a website? Thanks!!! How are things going since your surgery? I hope to get mine mid June. I go on the 23rd for my psych/nutrition appt. Did Dr. Brody do all of your other test or did you have them done elsewhere?

Teacherchick

[mumof2boys 71]

I have never heard of that other doctor. I have talked to a number of people who have had their surgery with Dr. Brody and everyone was pleased. You might want to check him out. As far as all of the pre-surgery testing...you have to complete that before even making an appointment with him. You call his office and his secretary sends out a packet of information. Once you fill out the information and get all of your clearances from the doctors, you call back and make your appointment. I think that really helped me with getting my insurance approval right away. The office was great. So...you already went to the seminar at GW? Was it held in a conference room on the 5th floor? Well...let me know how things go with that doctor. Good luck to you!

Tina

[teacherchick 0]

My seminar was held at Dr. Afram's office. The seminar was on the Friday before last and I got my insurance approval this past Thursday. I spoke with the surgeon on the day I had my seminar and he gave me a list of test I neede to get done. I do my psych eval and nutrition assement on the 23rd. I guess Dr. Afram just does the surgery at GW and is not a part of the dr's at GW, don't know. Anyway, I just wanted to know how the testing was done, you went through your PCP?

[mumof2boys 71]

Oh...I got it now. You will probably also have to attend a seminar at the hospital that is mandatory. It's basically a "What to expect during your hospital stay" type of thing. It was pretty beneficial. Anyway...the tests that I did were all prior to my appointment with the surgeon. My insurance didn't require a psych. test, but my doctor did so I got a referral from my PCP and went and had it done. It was no biggie. Good luck to you! Good news on the approval.

Tina

[chimboree26 24]

Hello Chimboree26,

I haven't had the lapband surgery as of yet. Far as I know you need to do a pre-op diet to shrink your liver. Dr. Rickford in DC told me I would have to do a pre-op diet for one week so you are good; just for oneday WoW.

I spoke with BJ yesterday and she goes to Dr. Halmi & Dr. Tran, she loves them also. BJ has BCBS and so do I but I think every doctor has its own requirements. Dr. Rickford ask for a lot, talking to BJ you are going to Love them, you are in good hands.

BCBS is fast so you should be getting banded very soon, please keep me informed. Let us know how your doing.

Oh! I live in Suitland, MD not to far from you around a 30 minute drive.

Pamela

I'm waiting for insurance approval right now...I am soooo antsy. I am ready to do this!!! I'm sure Carefirst/BCBS is sick of hearing from me. I keep calling and checking to see if I've been approved, yet.

Like BJ said, we'll have to get together. I think it's a great idea! I certainly will keep ya'll posted.

[chimboree26 24]

Yay! Another Halmi/Tran patient. Do you think we should all be asking for referral fees from our docs when we recommend them? :rolleyes

My 6 week follow up is Friday. Please keep your fingers crossed that they give me a fill, and don't make me wait until 8 weeks post-op.

Pamela is just in Suitland!!?! We are gonna have to get all of us locals together for dinner and beverages soon!

BJ :clap2:

Hahaha!!! I think you're right about the referral fees. They certainly are getting a lot of business & free advertisement, huh???

How did your follow-up go?

We really should plan a get-together. I will be glad to help out.

[ja9va 0]

Hello Pam,Tina and others.

I have been away from posting for a few days, surprised to get an email saying, " we noticed you haven't posted in a while, we miss you!". I have been busy with work.

How are you all doing with your surgery approval? As I told you all earlier, I am going to Richmond, St. Mary's Hospital, Dr. Batista. I have only met him at an orientation seminar months ago. I see him on the 21st of May for my surgery June 7. I am getting nervous and I am hoping I am making the right choice. I have my list of questions for him that I started from reading posts on here. I called my insurance, Federal BCBS to try and asses what my out of pocket will be, it is sketchy. I am nervous about this. And the cost of fills that I did not think of. I think I will have less if I am inpatient, which sounds crazy! I may stay overnight due to the distance from here, my surgery is planned for 1 PM? any thoughts on this from those of you recently banded? I need to look at my materials to see when there is a support group for me to attend to get pumped again!

Pam, have you been to Potomac Hospital to their support group? did I miss it for May already? Maybe we can meet there, that would be cool. do you live in Maryland? How did you select them?

For those of you going through the process, I was approved for my surgery a little less than 2 mths ago, once you are approved, you may have to wait for an opening. that is what happened to me. I was a bit disappointed. I even asked if someone cancelled to bump me up..LOL, of course no one has!

hope to hear from you, good luck, Janine

[Pamela Yvonne 0]

Hello Janine,

Congrats on your surgery date:clap2: I hope I will be next in the month of June.

I have not been to Potomac Hospital support group, I didn't know they had one. I will find out the dates and let you know I will certainly go because I need some support. In the meantime my support is you all (lapbandtalk.com).

Janine I live in suitland, md and I go to Providence Hospital to see Dr. Rickford for the Lapband procedure. I am in my last stage before the surgery, I have to do the sleep study and hopefully I will have my surgery date also.

I look forward to hearing from you and YES we all need to get together and talk.

Pamela

[ja9va 0]

Pam,

Are you having your surgery at Washington hospital or Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge, VA? Maybe I am confused about it. I think it woudl be a long drive for you from Suitland to attend support meetings at Potomac? I am having my surgery in Richmond which is about 60 minutes from my home. Potomac is only 20 minutes. But i know 3 people who went to the same doctor in Richmond and they have been doing the surgery longer than the doctors at Potomac. The surgery center at St. Mary's Hospital has been in place for a while. But I thought since Potomac was closer, i could hit their support groups.

I will be in touch. yesterday at work was so busy I forgot to look at the folder to see the day and time, it is only one day a month. I am thinking I missed it!

Janine

[Pamela Yvonne 0]

Hey Janine,

That is o.k. I am having my surgery at Providence Hospital soon I hope. I wish you the best and keep in touch.

Hopefully we all can get together and meet one another.:nervous

Pamela

[ja9va 0]

Pam, BJ and Chimoboree( others too!)

I was a bit confused with who went where! I correct myself that BJ went to Dr. Tran who is now at Potomac and Chimoboree is going there, right? The hospital does have a support group, have you gone? I missed it this month. I have been using this site as my support group for now. But we should meet there sometime.

BJ it sounds like you are doing great! I read some preopt tests and one being a blood gass, wich when I had one before they could nto get an artery and I almost fainted! I hate the whole vein thing too, I don't have good ones! I probalby worry more about that then the surgery itself..lol.

BJ did you stay over night? What insurance did you have? I have federal bcbs and it may be cheaper for me if I get to be inpatient? what do you think? I really don't want to have to pay a lot of pocket if I can help it. what about your fills, are they covered? I have those questions on mylist for the doctor.

I don't know if you read my son is getting married on July 7, I know I will be on mushed food, but do you think I drink any wine at it?? I know not important, but it would be nice.

well, good luck to Pam and Chimborie getting through the process!

[chimboree26 24]

Pam, BJ and Chimoboree( others too!)

I was a bit confused with who went where! I correct myself that BJ went to Dr. Tran who is now at Potomac and Chimoboree is going there, right? The hospital does have a support group, have you gone? I missed it this month. I have been using this site as my support group for now. But we should meet there sometime.

BJ it sounds like you are doing great! I read some preopt tests and one being a blood gass, wich when I had one before they could nto get an artery and I almost fainted! I hate the whole vein thing too, I don't have good ones! I probalby worry more about that then the surgery itself..lol.

BJ did you stay over night? What insurance did you have? I have federal bcbs and it may be cheaper for me if I get to be inpatient? what do you think? I really don't want to have to pay a lot of pocket if I can help it. what about your fills, are they covered? I have those questions on mylist for the doctor.

I don't know if you read my son is getting married on July 7, I know I will be on mushed food, but do you think I drink any wine at it?? I know not important, but it would be nice.

well, good luck to Pam and Chimborie getting through the process!

Yes, you're right. I'm going to Dr. Halmi/Dr. Tran at Potomac Hospital. So far, they and their staff have been great. I thought I would be bothering the staff with my regular calls to see if I'd been approved yet...but nope. They were very nice and seemed like they understand that we're anxious and just wanna know. I will certainly keep ya'll posted!!!

[bjlang68 1]

I have been so busy, I feel like I'm missing all the girl chat!

After getting a 1 cc fill on the 4th of may, I still have no restriction. That's okay, though. I have convinced myself that good things do indeed come to those who wait!

BCBS Federal insurance covered almost everything. I had a $100 co-pay for the hospital, overnight stay, and that was it! I DID just have to pay $250 for my first fill. The office is unclear if we can get reimbursement, or if they can bill for it. The office is supposed to send me a claim form, so I can try to get my money back. I'll keep you posted.

I DID have my surgery with Halmi/Tran - but, I had it out of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. I had been going to the Fairfax office. My first visit to the Woodbridge office was last Friday, for my fill.

I THINK I covered everything! LOL I'll try to be better about getting on here. I know I still owe Tina and Pamela an email. I'm a bad band buddy! Please forgive me!

BJ

[ja9va 0]

BJ

Thanks. I think if you stay over night the cost is less, which makes no sense. You only have a copay. I may be unclear about this and hope to clear it up when I go to see the doctor. I did call the business office yesterday to ask about the fill costs. The different amounts learned from here have been extensive. She told me that they learned that if the fills are done in the doctor's office, they are covered by Fed bcbs. They have changed their procedure to do that, his office is attached to the hosptial. She also tossed in the person who does the fills is very good. So, that made me feel better too.

I told my 18 year old yesterday, I wanted to wait to tell him. He was not happy, asked if I could die, which made me worry if I am doing the right thing. But I told him it is like any surgery, but the risk is minimul. I keep thinking to my self, I had my tubes tied and it was laprascopic, and elected, simmilar to what I am doing. I explained to him why I am. He was so cute, "you are fine the way you are". But I told him that I don't feel fine. Then when I talked to the doctors office yesterday she made me feel excited again! this site helps too. Only bandsters can understand to the fullist!

Janine

[ja9va 0]

Hello Metro DC Area gang,

My husband finally watched the mandated video, Emmi and now has a list of questions for the doctor next week. He feels there are to many risks, that now he is getting me worried. I don't know what to do, but I am hoping next week talking to the specialist and being there two days of appointments will get me pumped!

Did any of you think aobut the life commitment of never eating the same way? I know I need to do this so I can have this tool to help me eat differently for life, but it is also the finality of it that is a big step. I am getting all these questions popping up in my mind and need to focus more on the goal, which I have been working on now for 4 months, the surgery. June 7, it is around the corner and I want it yesterday to stop the madness! Does that make any sense to any of you post bandsters?

Janine