Should I switch programs? Looking for advice..

[mich 74]

Last September, after much research and thought, I started the Lap band process at a local hospital. Umass in Worcester MA. I knew the process would be 6-12 months long (Umass said 6mos, Lapbandtalk members said 12 mos) and that they had done around 350 bands. It is also $350.00 in program fees (plus $250 for the nutritionist that my ins denied). In the end I decided on Umass because it was only 10 minutes from my home and I thought the convienence and ease of getting to appointments was worth the long wait.

My problem now is that I am getting more and more frustrated with the way the program is run. Along with all the conflicting info, many of the people I speak with seem very negative to me. At first I was told I will need to loose weight before surgery. I thought, 2 week liquid diet, shrink liver, I can do that. Then after many variations on that I am now at the point where I need to loose weight just to meet the surgeon.

The program is divided onto two parts. Part one is 2 seminars, medical doctor app, nutritionist app, psychologist app, 4- weekly classes, then back to the psychologist. If you have lost enough weight, the psychologist will write a "readiness letter" and then your file will be sent over to the surgery dept.

It has taken me since last September to get to the last psychology/ readiness letter app, it is next week. When I called to book this app, the woman on the phone was giving me a hard time because my weight was only down a few pounds, after she booked the appointment she said "well you better make sure your weight is down by then". Needless to say, that womans voice has been repeating in my head every hour and I am pretty sure I have gained 2 pounds in the last week because of the stress I am putting on myself.

That is when I started looking into other programs. The reason I am willing to go as far as surgery to loose weight is because I suck at dieting, but they will not even let me meet the surgeon until I prove I can diet!

I am attending a seminar, at another program 1 hour away on Thursday. I have talked with the new office a few times and everyone is so nice. They are a 3 month program, then follow up appointments every 2 weeks. I am going to see how it goes at the seminar. The main consideration, besides all the money I already paid to Umass, and the long commute, is that I will need to change insurance if I want to join the new program. I am unsure if my new insurance will cover Lap band in a brand new client.

Thanks for reading my long saga, any advice is welcome!

[abbyduvic 1]

Sounds like you need to get into the second program. I don't understand these people; if it was easy to loose weight, we would not have considered Lapband in the first place. I was a self pay so I didn't have to jump through alot of hoops in the end. I did go through 5 months of stuff with Cigna trying to get approved. I was turned down after about $400 worth of test and 5 meetings with a theripist.

Once that was all done and I decided to pay for the surgery myself, it was clear sailing. I'm thrilled I had it done. I'm 5 weeks post op and I've lost 18 lbs. Feeling really good.

Good luck and keep posting.

Abby

[mich 74]

Thanks for your post. I am so torn, I also feel like I should change programs. The new office seems so nice and positive, I am starting to think this will be more of a success factor that the short commute. But I can't stop wondering if I am just looking for an easier way, the "shorter line" syndrome. Or am I just banging my head on the wall trying to fit myself into this program that does not seen to fit!

Thanks again and Congratulations on your success!

[Daisalana 33]

I agree, I would look into another program. I don't diet well, my will power is for crap. If I could just diet for a while and lose the weight, I would not have had WLS. So, I don't get those programs.

I know some people have to lose weight to have a safe surgery, and if that's the case I don't have any advice.

[mandyjo 1]

This is a major deal. You really have to feel confident in the whole process. If you are questioning anything review your opions. Sometimes the best things are not the easiest to get to.

I also think there needs to be a standard for all wls. There seems to be too many variables in each state and hospital.

[MacMadame 81]

Personally, I think nice people are important in this surgery because there is so much after care. :frown: I was very happy with the support staff at my surgeon's office and annoyed that I may have to switch to another surgeon because of insurance.

But if you do decide to stick with the program that already has your money, couldn't you just do your 2-week liquid Protein diet that you were planning to do right before surgery now and then it would make the shrink happy?

[mich 74]

Thanks for the posts. For now I am going to try and stop worrying about what might happen. The doctor did not tell me I need to lose a set number of pounds. But everyone else wants to see 10%. I tend to take everything said very seriously, but the way the info I get keeps changing I would not be surprised if I go Monday and they say I'm all set, moving on.

I also decided that this would be a good time to try out my liquid nutritional supplements I got for pre and post surgery. I started yesterday, shake for Breakfast and lunch, then a reasonable dinner.

Tonight is the seminar for the new program. I'll check it out, ask my questions, see how the drive is. I will also continue doing 2 shakes and a meal. Then when I go to the psychologist on Monday I will see how it goes. I will stop trying to borrow trouble.

I can do this. I will get there. Can you tell I am working on being confident? :biggrin:

Thanks again

[Mom2_4 0]

I can only speak from my own experience, which was the complete opposite of yours. My clinic did all preop testing, psych, nutritional, etc in 2 office visits. They took about 3-4 each but after that I was good to go. The only hoop I had to jump through was getting my medical clearance from my PCP and getting my records sent to them.

The process you have described sounds very long and tedious. I would check in to some others, even if it means you have to do more traveling, seems like the program you are on isn't very organized. I can only imagine how long it would take you to get a surgery date with everything else taking so long.

Best of luck to you!!

[nomadem 1]

Howdy neighbor, all I can do is tell you is that you need to feel comfortable and supported to be the most successful.

When I was pre-op I had a fun filled weekend and was pre TOM so when I went to surgeons to fill out my pre-op paper work I had gained weight! I thought for sure I would be denied, but I wasn’t. I knew I could lose those extra TOM pounds I was giving a second appointment, and at that time I did weigh in less.

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>

Being they have only done 350 bands at UMass and you are so close to so many great hospitals and programs you might want to considering at least checking out another program to see how you feel

[kathystrick 3]

I think you should feel comfortable with everyone you deal with through this process, especially at the doctor's office. You will be having a LOT of contact with those people and if you are going to get stressed everytime you have to go to the office, I can see where that could be mentally detrimental and effect your weight loss.

I would start checking into the other program. Good luck and let us know how things go!

[hollyberries 2]

Thanks for your post. I am so torn, I also feel like I should change programs. The new office seems so nice and positive, I am starting to think this will be more of a success factor that the short commute. But I can't stop wondering if I am just looking for an easier way, the "shorter line" syndrome. Or am I just banging my head on the wall trying to fit myself into this program that does not seen to fit!

Thanks again and Congratulations on your success! :biggrin:

Mich-

Heck no! This is the best thing that you can do for yourself. IMO, the person on the phone was rude to you and it is unacceptable. I am so tired of people treating other people with such disdain. She could have been nicer to you. I just think they don't think when they reply. She should have said something like, "It looks like you haven't lost as much weight as we would have expected...is there something that we can help you with?" Just stating it a different way takes the sting out. Gosh, I am so mad about this because you have gone through so much to get where you are and golly if you could lose weight on your own you wouldn't be having surgery. I bet the doctor would be nicer but they have to start thinking about who they put on the front desk.

I don't know what to say or what kind of advice to give you. I can say that the support here is awesome so get it here. Best wishes!

By the way, I go to Brigham & Women's and have Dr. Lautz. He is hurried all the time but very good at what he does. He performs over 200+ WLS a year (I think). Eileen the Administrative Assistant was a hoot...very busy and kind of brash but good at what she does. I see them about every 4 to 6 weeks and I feel comfortable with everyone. I don't go to the support groups because they are to far but I find that I get alot of support from here.

Cindy

Edited May 8, 2008 by hollyberries

[aimee 0]

Feeling comfortable with the program you go with is so important! I was banded through the Weight Management Center at Lowell General and really like the people and the process was really pretty easy. Where is the 2nd program. Lowell is only about 45 min away, I know because I went to grad school in Worcester when I worked in Lowell!

Good luck.

Aimee

[three sixty six 1]

I agree - switch if you can. I sure would if I could. An hour is not that far away.

Good luck!