Hello from Boston!

[sandals51 0]

Hi,I'm sooo glad to find MA people who are on this journey! I live on Cape Cod,and my PCP gave me Dr.Vernon's name at Brigham&Women's Hosp. I see Gigin that you are dealing with her. I am at the beginning of this whole process. How long did it take to get an app't with Dr.Vernon,from the seminar to surgery date,how long was that? I realize it's individual,but really want to get started!! I plan to call her office Mon.morning. Thanks!!

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi Allison:

I checked my calender from last year. My appointments worked like this:

3/29/07 - informational seminar

4/17/07 - 1st appointment with Dr. Adam Glasgow

4/18/07 - blood work

4/25/07 - appointment with ENT - precurser to sleep apnea test for me

5/9/07 - barium swallow - showed I had hiatal hernia

5/12/07 - Dr. Newman - psych evaluation

5/17/07 - Nutrition appointment

6/6/07 - sleep study

6/27/07 - follow up with ENT - discussed sleep test

7/13/07 - second appt. with Dr. Adam Glasgow

7/18/07 - pre-op at Caritas Norwood Hospital

7/26/07 - surgery

8/6/07 - post surgical appointment with Dr. G.

Approx. one year after seminar I am down 119 pounds! Yippee.

As far as dieting before the surgery, I think they usually want you to go on liquids for ten days prior to surgery. This will give you a quick loss that shrinks the liver to get it out of their way during surgery. Once you're approved, I wouldn't worry about bmi anymore. Just do what the doctors say to do pre-op.

My BMI was 50.7 to start (ewwwww), and I was so ready to stop being so heavy so I took off quite a bit before surgery (38 pounds).

If you have more questions, just let me know. If you want to speak to me, just send me a pm and I'll give you my phone number.

Good luck with your appointments next week.

I am on alot of the threads. I've become hooked on lapbandtalk. I don't have anyone close to me that has gone through this so I come here and browse alot.

Take care.

Sue

Edited April 12, 2008 by Sue Magoo
hit enter key too early...

[Sue Magoo 71]

Mamaof3:

How you feeling? I remember your surgery was this past Tuesday. I hope you are feeling well. I think they have a good program over at Norwood Hospital. The nursing staff was very attentive to me when I was having nausea issues after banding.

I hope you are well.

Sue

[gingin 0]

Hi,I'm sooo glad to find MA people who are on this journey! I live on Cape Cod,and my PCP gave me Dr.Vernon's name at Brigham&Women's Hosp. I see Gigin that you are dealing with her. I am at the beginning of this whole process. How long did it take to get an app't with Dr.Vernon,from the seminar to surgery date,how long was that? I realize it's individual,but really want to get started!! I plan to call her office Mon.morning. Thanks!!

hey sandals51:cool2:

i too, am near the beginning of the whole thing...i attended my seminar on 3/25/08 and made my appointment the next day and got one for 4/28/08. She does her consults on fridays at faulkner hospital and mondays at the brigham.

at the seminar i actually asked her (she was the presenter that day ) "best case scenario, how long from the initial consult to the operating table?". she said the fastest the has ever completed the whole process was about a month (that person had no co-morbidities, easy insurance, and was able to get all her other appointments i.e. dietitian & psych, very quickly). she said for most people it is an 8-10 week process.

i really liked her...she wasn't like super friendly or personal or anything, but she was nice enough, and i have heard (i could be wrong) that dr. robertson, her partner, doesnt have much bedside manner, and that dr. lautz, her other partner, takes forever to get a consult with him but that they are both very good too.

as a female i just always prefer a lady doctor, personally. i know that i would never be truly comfortable if i was seeing a male...thats just me though.

i am seeing my pcp on monday for my physical and letter of medical necessity. when you go in for your consult you have to bring in all relevant medicals, your completed health history form (they will mail it to you), and a letter of medical necessity from your pcp stating "your diagnosis (obesity), any co-morbities you may have (diabetes, blood pressure, apnea, cholesterol, etc.), and that you've been overweight for at least 5 years".

i am starting to get excited, things are really happening now. i can hardly wait to get on the way to really losing this weight. i am lucky in the fact that i dont have any co-morbidities other than insulin resistance related to PCOS, and i have BCBS of MA for insurance so i am hoping to have my surgery sometime in june (might be wishful thinking...but i am staying positive).

good luck...i will keep you posted on my progress w/dr. vernon, and congrats on your decision :biggrin:

gingin