Dr. Van Wagner - dr.wagner

[nicole 1 0]

Hi, dr.wagner is set to do my lapban surgery in early june... I am sooooo stoked to get my approval on 5-14-09 (just 3 days prior to my 30th b-day)... What a wonderful birthday gift. Who could ask for a better birthday gift than a new start to life...dr.wagner is great and very educational...the staff at the office alway has a warm smile and ready to answer any questions you may have.... Great dr. And office staff....

[LindaD 3]

Dr. Wagner did mine exactly 1 week ago.

I really could not have been more pleased with him and his staff. They were so kind and supportive throughout the whole way through - diligent in their follow up and never dropped the ball at all.

Yes, there was a program fee and I was happy to pay it for the additional attention I got all through the process.

I look forward to being under Dr. Wagner's care for the rest of my journey with my band.

I highly recommend Dr. Wagner and his wonderful office staff.

[Thewall26 0]

Hello all, I just finished my 6 month supervised diet today, and have everything else done. So I am hoping to get my approval SOON, I am still very nervous, and excited. I will keep everyone posted.

[Thewall26 0]

Just got My Surgery Date :thumbup: July 9th. Woooo Hoooooo

[nicole 1 0]

congrats on your surgery date... surgery is such a breeze compared to the one week diet prior.. if you can make it though that the rest is smooth sailing.. if you plan on going to st.alexius hosp. the staff is amazing.. good luck with your up coming surgery... it is soooooo worth the wait..

[Thewall26 0]

Thansk for the reply Nicole, Yes, I am having it done at St. Alexius. Yeah the diet thing is pretty tough but I have stuck with it. Bad thing is its a all clear liquid diet, not protien or anything.

[meg0880 0]

Dr. Wagner is awesome! If you ever have a problem or need an adjustment his office is more than accomodating!!! I would recommend him to anyone considering lapband.

[LindaD 3]

I know I've told my story elsewhere on this board, but I had spent about 9 months pursuing lap band surgery with a different surgeon. I didn't even get to MEET him until I jumped through a bunch of hoops (all the blood work, physical therapist appointment, psychologist, nutritionist, etc.). When I first went in, although I had registered to attend their seminar, they didn't have me on the list and it seemed that not having me on the list was a concern for some reason. Ultimately, they put me in the room with the group of people waiting for the seminar and the speaker (surgeon? someone else?) never showed up - they left us for 2 hours before apologizing and sending us home. Ultimately, at the end of all this, insurance denied me because we hadn't done all the things required, even though I had asked and expected them to help me understand all that and meet the requriements and they ASSURED me it was all in hand.

I'm merely typing all that out to show what a FIASCO it was. The surgeon's office was so ineffective, and that cannot help but reflect on the surgeon in my opinion.

Dr. Wagner himself was very genuine, came across professional and knowledgeable and passed all the other tests - his surgery statistics, center of excellence for bariatric surgeries, etc.

And the quality of care from his whole office was outstanding. They obviously all believe in putting the patient first. They knew my name, checked in with me regularly, kept me updated on the status of everything - where the insurance approval process was, what paperwork they received or didn't receive form other specialists, etc. etc.

It was outstanding patient care even if I wasn't contrasting it with the fiasco of my first experience.

[CAMIE03 0]

ok I am really thinking about getting this procedure done. I have done all the yo yo diets over the past couple of years. if anyone can give me the pros and cons I would really appreciate it.

[Thewall26 0]

ok I am really thinking about getting this procedure done. I have done all the yo yo diets over the past couple of years. if anyone can give me the pros and cons I would really appreciate it.

Hello Camie,

Welcoome to lapband talk. I was banded by Dr. Wagner on July 2nd, and I would not change it for anything. Here are some things that I have liked about geting the band. I also could not have picked a better Dr. to do my surgery.

PRO's -

1. I am at a weight now that I have not been in 13 years

2. I have better control over how much I eat can eat

3. I am currently off 8 medications since being banded

I can honestly say that I dont have any CON's I use the band the way it was intended - as a TOOL. I still eat what I want just A LOT LESS. Now granted that may change as I get adjustments, but that is where I am now.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I wish you luck on whatever you chose.

[CAMIE03 0]

Hello Camie,

Welcoome to LAP-BAND® talk. I was banded by Dr. Wagner on July 2nd, and I would not change it for anything. Here are some things that I have liked about geting the band. I also could not have picked a better Dr. to do my surgery.

PRO's -

1. I am at a weight now that I have not been in 13 years

2. I have better control over how much I eat can eat

3. I am currently off 8 medications since being banded

I can honestly say that I dont have any CON's I use the band the way it was intended - as a TOOL. I still eat what I want just A LOT LESS. Now granted that may change as I get adjustments, but that is where I am now.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I wish you luck on whatever you chose.

Thank you so much for the quick response. I am really nervous. my husband is not 100% ok with me getting this done. he is nervous something might hapen. i keep trying to convince him that something worse might happen if i dont get it done. any advice on how to lean him in my direction? also I am a big whopping 340 lbs. How fast does the weight come off? Is there a lot of excess hanging skin? if you dont want to answer then i understand. I am nervous my self i dont want to put my self through something if its not going to work. A cousin of mine got it done. He does not stick to the Diet. He is losing weight but I am assuming not as much as he could be. How strict is the diet after wards? is it managable and were your family and friends supportive? also I am trying to have a Baby I feel like if I lose some weight it might increase my chances. I know I am asking a lot but just fill me in if you can. thank you

camille

[Thewall26 0]

No worries, ASK AWAY its the only way you are going to get the answers you need. My wife was not supportive of it at first. but I told her I was geting it done no matter what. :tongue2: I mean I understood where she was coming from but I also wanted to be around in 10 -15 years.

I was 380+ pounds when I started, and I had to do a 6 month supervised diet first. During that time I lost 30 pounds, and since my Pre op diet which started 2 weeks prior to surgery I have lost 50+ pounds. I do not have any reall excess skin hanging of, but my stomach is still not the prettiest

Remember the band is only a tool you will still have try and eat the right things, but at the same time do not deprive yourself of anything either. I think the hardest part of the surgery was the 2 weeks following. Even that wasnt too bad. As far as your husband, that is honestly all up to him. I would just tell him that you will need his support and tell him that you are doing this for "us" weather it will help with the baby, love life, other health issues, whatever.

I can tell you my wife is totally behind me now which is great and she was extremely scared at first. not only for the surgery aspect, but we had a friend that got it done, and she ended up getting a divorace after she lost her weight, due to all the attention she ws getting from other guys. I mean it does happen, so he could be scared for that reason too. Maybe show him this web site, and all the information that is out there.

[Thewall26 0]

The diet really is not that bad. The first week following surgery is Clear Liquids only, week two is full liquids which was things like protien shakes, pudding, milk, ect....... week 3 was mushie type foods like egg salad, eggs, oatmeal, grits, ect..... week 4 I started incorperating more solid food. I could not have bread or red meat till week 8 so that was a little tough, but now I have everything, just a whole lot less.

[CAMIE03 0]

well the diet does seem that bad. Im sure it is my Husbands insecurites on why he doesnt want me to get it done. He says that he loves me for who I am. Im sure he does but I am uncomfortable with who i am. you have been so helpful thank you. if i come up with more questions i will be sure to ask you. you have been a great help. thanks

camille

[Thewall26 0]

You are very welcome. Keep in touch with how things go.