Dr. Ronnie Keith - Lap Band in Norman Oklahoma

[okiegirl79 1]

Hey there! I was wondering if anyone has been banded by Dr. Keith or Dr. Nelson in Norman. I live a little East of Tulsa but they are the only ones in the state that my insurance will cover. I am attending the seminar on 7/29/09 and am hoping to be banded by October!

[smittledoggies 0]

I haven't been banded by him, but I attended his seminar today!...I hope to be banded by October too! That would be awesome. If you ever want to chat let me know :wink:

[okiegirl79 1]

Hey! How did the seminar go? I am still waiting to hear from them to schedule my first pre-op appointment. They said it cna take two weeks for them to contact the insurance and I am hoping to move this along! My last visit for my 6 month requirement with my pcp is the first of September and the insurance told me to go ahead and fullfill all of the requirements from OWLA. I was hoping to have it all done by my last pcp appointment so we can send it all in to insurance. Who are you choosing to do the surgery? Do you have a preference of lap band vs. Realize Band?

Okay...enough questions! :wink2:

[Less2Luv 0]

I was banded by Dr. Keith in March 2003. I really like him. I had band errosion and had to have emergency surgery in January of this year so I had it almost 6 years. I had successful weight loss and am contemplating having the band replaced. Good luck and if you have any questions I will be glad to answer what I can.

Renee

[okiegirl79 1]

Hi there Renee! Wow, band erosion...that is one of the things that scares me about getting a band. How did you know that happend? Did Dr. Keith find that? Is it easy to do it again after that has happend? I have not quite decided yest if I want Dr. Keith or Nelson. They sure are slow about calling me to come in for an initial consult. I have already met my insurance requirements and have been waiting for them to call me since the seminar on 7/29. I am just anxious I guess....but let's go already!

[smittledoggies 0]

yeah...you know the whole process seems kind of weird to me...It's my understanding that they won't schedule you for an initial consult until your insurance has approved the procedure...which I don't understand...from what most people are saying on the forums they went ahead with their surgeon consult,psych and nutrition and other pre op requirements while waiting for approval...is it just his office that does it this way...I think things would go a lot faster if you get it all done then just wait for the ok. It's not like you need a referral for the psych or nutrition because they don't bill insurance *irritating*...so you have to wait for the approval...then do all the appointments...I have yet to read of this happening at another office. I called my insurance this morning to check on my referral and they haven't even received the request yet. At the seminar they said they put it through right away...so I don't know...maybe I'm just impatient...I guess I'm lucky that my insurance does not require the 6mo diet or anything like that...much like you, I am just eager to get the ball rolling and get it done already...before I have time to chicken out ...okiegirl, I would love to chat with you...it would be nice to not have to feel like I'm going through this alone so if you send me a private message we can exchange phone numbers or something so we have someone to vent our frustrations (and fears) to

[Less2Luv 0]

No Dr. Keith did not find it. I began being really sick back in Nov 08. Every afternoon I began throwing up air, very painful, very debilitating. FINALLY in January my regular physician sent me in for an upper GI. Thats when they found it. They immediately called Dr. Keith and he seen me just a few hours later. He said he has never seen anything like it. Its just one of those things, and it had to be me. Thats ok, saves someone else from suffering. I have not dealt with Dr. Nelson much, she did see me in the hospital when I had the band removed after Dr. Keith left town. She was very nice and very sympathetic. Dr. Keith is still my favorite though even with everything that happened.

[okiegirl79 1]

Wow...I am so sorry that you had to go thru that! How long to you have to have your band off after something like that? I guess it doesn't matter which doctor I have. I went to a support group meeting (mandatoy) on Saturday. Now I am just waiting for my initial consult....keep me posted on how you are doing!

[Less2Luv 0]

Dr. Keith said about 6 months. I have an appt with him this coming Weds and I will know then what all I have to go thru to get it replaced. I have been debating on doing it or not and I really think I need to do it. I am not good at loosing on my own. I like food tooo much.

[okiegirl79 1]

Well good luck with that! I finally had my psych/diet consults last week now I am waiting on insurance for the rest. Hopefully next week we will be ready to roll!

Hope all goes well, let me know how your appointment goes!

[Myndkandi 7]

Getting banded by Dr keith sept 17th 2012. Have seen Dr keith maybe 5 min total this whole process. He is good tho: he's helping me get this done. Started the process 4 mos ago. Had to do physical therapy, psych, 3 month diet, and sleep study (<- scam). The psych was 150, 3 month diet 65 first visit, 45 each additional, and those don't bill to ins. Even tho my ins covers 100% psych. I have had feelings occassionally that they are just here to make $ but don't care bc its ME who has to do all the work post op to lose the weight. If he's who ur ins covers: he's perfect. Will update post op.

[Myndkandi 7]

Met w Dr winter bathe, his pa. Shell be attending/helping on the surgery. Friendly enough! Still, another 2 min appt I'm getting billed for that was unneccessary. But I'm still happy!

[Myndkandi 7]

Ok, forgot to tell in the last posts, but DON'T let him make u do the sleep study. Oklahoma sleep institute is a scam. The nurses at Dr keiths will tell u everyone has to do it, but that's not true, I've heard ppl talking and a nurse said not everyone has to do it. My ins didn't require it. I reckon its when u fill out the sleep questionairre in office: lie unless u know u have bad sleep apnea. The scam is no matter how long u have the machine, they're gonna bill u AND ur insurance full price. I got mine just so I could have surgery and have had it less than two weeks.

[LadyOphelia1988 21]

Dr Keith and PA Winter Bathe banded me on March 27th. Yes! I had to do a sleep study too, but I had sleeping issues. Or thought I did. He is a fantastic doctor and really listens to his patients. I am so glad I found him.