jetti

I just wanted to post my experience so far...I attened a seminar on Wednesday night for Dr. Abkin and Dr. Bertha and let me tell you I was impressed. First off it was held at a local hotel meeting room so there was space for about 100 or so attendees. Now most of the seminar was a repeat for me as I have in the past year been to 2 other info seminars and I have been researching lap band for over a year but none the less I was impressed. Marco the OR nurse the first spoke was very informative and answered all questions. They also had 2 guest speakers that have already had surgery and while I was disappointed that neither had the lap band they were also very informative for those people looking to do gastric bypass. The next person to speak was Josephine who is the insurance whiz. She answered a bunch of questions and gave lots of info regarding which insurances require what and all that good info. And then finally the doctors came up to speak. Dr. Abkin, Dr. Bertha as well as Dr. Garrison are very informative and open to all question and after the "formal" part of the seminar was over they stayed an answered individual questions if you had any. And THEN when you walked out of the main room there were tables set up so you can go ahead and make your consult appointment with one of the surgeons and also make appointments for a nutisionist and a psychiatrist (sp?). You also walk out with the paper work to get your lab work done and a form for your PCP to fill out. They basically have everything right there for you and I couldn't ask for anything more!!!! Everyone involved was more then helpful and willing to answer any question that you may have!! The previous 2 seminars I attended was held in the doctor's waiting room and you were basically sitting on the person next to you as the doctor just stood in front speaking about all the general info. They would tell you what was required as for as other test but I feel you were left to your own to sort it all out. Now I know we are all adults and should be able to handle making out own appointments but with something like this some people dont know where to start. Even though the previous 2 seminars were smaller groups I didnt feel a connection with the doctors I felt more as if I was just another #. That is the main reason why I was looking for another doctor and I am glad I came across Dr. Bertha and Dr. Abkin with a little help for the LBT group - THANKS!!! I have my consult on 10/17 with Dr. Bertha and I can't wait!!!!! I just wanted to share my experience with everyone and maybe help fellow NJ folks with finding a doctor!! :clap2:

I was told the insurance company MUST respond within 30. I am hoping that is true because I hope to have all my paper work submitted soon and get and answer quickly

My best friend is now living in Poland and before she moved we were both researching having lap band surgery. well I am still on my way but she has stopped because of the move and getting a job and all of the good "life" stuff. Since I have been talking with her everyday about what I am doing she is starting to really think about it again. So I have been trying to search on the internet for any info on lap band surgeons in Poland and I have had a hard time finding anything. Does anyone know of any international websites that help find info in Poland - Warsaw - or in Europe? Any info that is given would be greatly appreciated...THANKS!!! :help:

right now I hear lots of my coworkers talking and LOTS of tap tap tapping on the keyboard but as soon as I grap my Ipod out of my bag I will listen to Aventura

Congrats on your AMAZING summer and may it continue into an all out AMAZING year for you!!! Quick question for you - Did you have your rebanding done by the same doctor? I am going to an info seminar with Dr Abkin/Dr Bertha on the 26th and any info provided would be great

I was also debating about doing it the end of this year or the beginning of next year but not because of the holiday reasons - I am debating on when to go on vacation and I dont want the surgery to conflict with going away - anywho i finally made the my mind up that as long as i am approved i will have the surgery as soon as I can. I want to get it done and be on my way to the new me as soon as possible and also for me my insurance deductible starts over the beginning of the year so I would rather do it before then.

Kat Nothing gets me moving like Spanish music does!!! I have been to 2 concerts this year by my favorite group - Aventura - and I didnt sit down the entire time! Even drove down to Virginia with a friend to see them!!

ok I feel like the outsider...I LOVE Spanish music...Aventura is my fav as well as Don Omar, Wisen y Yandel, RKM & ken -Y, Monchie & Alexandra plus a bunch of others. I also like R&B and rap plus a mix of some "pop" alternative.

hi everyone! hope you all had a great long weekend! I was mostly lazy on sunday and monday after working all week at both jobs I took the 2 days off as a mini vacation the only thing I did was went to play mini golf - my new obssesion and I baked some chocolate chip Cookies yesterday and then I spent the rest of the day trying to force myself not to eat any and I did not succeed - I had about 4 and let me tell you 1 of my cookies is the size of 2!! I am super jealous of all you ladies that will be going to Disney. I went for the first time a few years ago and I was like a kid in a candy store...I LOVE IT!!!! i can wait to go back again!!! have a great tuesday everyone!

patty I am glad to here everything with your mom turned out great!!! Also glad that no one was hurt in the earthquake. thats one positive about NJ we dont get any earthquakes!! hope everyone had a great weekend and labor day!

Hi I have flown from NJ to cali recently (7 hour flight) and yes the seat belt was barely able to click but that was the worst of the flight. just make sure you have some music and or magazines and books to try and keep yourself occupied. Just keep reminding yourself what is going to be on the other side of the flight - a new you! good luck on your adventure and just keep thinking that you are getting closer and closer to your band!

2) I have never been into drinking or drugs. 3) My idea of a good Friday night has always been putting on comfy PJs and cuddling up with a great book (what a dork). 6) I am the only one that colors in my son's Coloring Books! these look like they could have been part of my own list. I love to color!!

I have 2 moments that are not quite embarrassing but they were very hurtful. 1. while vacationing in Spain with my best friend - we are both big girls - we were just walking around the city enjoying ourselves on a night out. we were walking up the street and there was a group of guys standing outside of a little bar staring at us as we were walking and as we came up to them and walked passed one guys says out loud "you know, you can find something special in any women except those 2" none of his friends said anything and he didnt say anything else but what he had said was enough. once we turned the corner we both just stopped to catch our breathes because it felt like someone had kicked us in the chest. we continued on with our night but it did put a little damper on it. 2. another vacation with the same friend this time to DR we were once again minding our own business laying on the beach in our covering 2 piece suits and these 2 guys walking down the beach made the usual beached whale comment. I was just so baffled by this. I mean what were we doing that was bothering them so much?? the best part of both of these incidents is that the people that made the comments were American and all of the locals in both locations had no problems with us what so ever! in fact they could not get enough of us!!!

I would love to be able to go to college but currently I work 2 jobs just to pay bills and make ends meet so attending school right not is not realistic but I truely hope that this is just a temp "excuse" and I will one day be able to make this one dream come to life. Sounds corny I know but every since I was about 5 I wanted to be a teacher for young children and that just grew as I got older

hmmm... 1. I make the best chocolate chips Cookies 2. I am a dork and have a crush on a friend and no one knows 3. No one will watch Aladdin with me because I repeat EVERY word 4. I don't smoke or drink - never have never will 5. I am paranoid of being in a car accident - I have been in a few and it still continues to mess with my mind 6. I still miss my first love who broke my heart 7. I always wanted to be a teacher but messed up by not going to college and i regret it almost everyday 8. I love kids but I am afraid that I will never find the right relationship and I will never have kids 9. I LOVE to laugh 10. the only books I have ever reread our the sisterhood of the traveling pants books and I cant wait to read them again most of those are things that nobody knows about

this has got to be the thing that freaks me out the most. I am not banded yet and I think I can handle the change of diet and all of that but to me my hair is the one thing I have going for me right now. I always had short hair and right now it is sitting at my lower back and I am trying to brace myself to have to cut it once I get banded and it starts to fall out. My hair is the ONE thing that I get compliments on so its going to be very hard to lose it. but hopefully once i lose some weight I can be known for something else besides my hair

does anyone know if there is a time frame that you should wait from after banding to flying out of the country? I am not sure when I will be banded yet but I am hoping before the end of the year and I am also looking to take a vacation to visit a friend out of the country possibly in January.

Good luck with your surgery and don't worry about the flight. 2 hours is a short flight and you will be back on the ground before you even know it. You will probably be preoccupied with a million things on your mind that you wont even realize whats going on

I have many embarrassing fat moments but my most recent sticks out and I am glad that I can laugh about it. I went to a carnival with my neighbor, her daughter and the daughters friend. The daughter doesnt like rides so I was going on a few with her friend...well we went to go on one of those rides that spins you around and around on your side and all the good stuff. I kinda knew that I was in trouble while we were waiting to get on the ride when I saw a younger but bigger boy have to get off the ride - but of course I thought i'll be fine. so I walk to get in the seat and it is sitting at my lower back so I had to hop up to get into it...YEAH RIGHT lots of luck with that one. so the guy sitting next to me who was a worker gets out of his seat and proceeds to hoist me up by my left leg and I finally make it into the seat after scraping my entire butt and tail bone with the thing that goes in between your legs. then the harness comes down and I close it - or what I thought was closing it. the ride worker comes over and tries to close it and of course I was not surpirse when it didnt close he then tells me I cant stay on the ride. Ok now I have to jump off and then do the walk of shame back to the front of the ride to retreve my flip flops in front of everyone and then walk back to the exit. at least that was the only ride that I got kicked off of!!

so thankful that NJ doesnt require putting the weight down!! i would definitely lie

hi I had my gallbladder out when I was 17 - not due to band issue - and I remember being sore and not being able to cough or laugh for a few days but other then that i felt good. I am hoping when I get banded i will feel the same way

Angelica I also have BC/BS NJ and I am currently trying to go through all the steps to get approved to be banded. I call then insurance company today and they told me that I have to have pre authorization and any requirement would be given to my dr at that time. I do know that most insurance companies require 6 months of a doctor supervised weight loss plan, an MRI of neck and back and a phyc evaluation. I am sure there are more things but those are the only ones I know of right now. I have tried to get most of this done before I pick a surgeon and go for a consult in hopes that I can try to be "ahead" of the game. As for as I know they do not require you do have any other health issues besides the high BMI. Good luck with your approval and your surgery and if you get any other info on BC/BS NJ please post it.

I have in the past year been to 2 info seminars just trying to get as much info and research about the procedure and doctors. Well I am looking to make an appointment with a doctor that I have not attended a seminar for and I was wondering with they will require me to attend their seminar? I work 2 jobs so its not easy for me to request off to go to the seminars and all the doctors appointments so any info would be great. BTW the doctor that I want to make an appoinment with is Dr. Abkin or Dr. Bertha. Any info on those doctors would be appreciated as well. thanks!!!

ok I am a little confused...I have been reading alot of threads about people get fills at different fill centers and I was wondering what the reason for this is? I understand if you have your band done outside the US what the need for a fill center would be but why would you go to one if you had the surgery in the US? Wouldn't the surgeon do the fills? Also concerned if insurance will cover the fills. do they generally cover fills if they cover the surgery?

Jeez ladies all this talk about going to Disney and swimming is get me depressed!! I had a long weekend working my part time job and my feet are rebelling against my 280lb body!!!! I would give anything to kick back and relax by the pool and dream the pain away but anywho...I hope you all are having a great weekend. by the way where is everyone from? I have already heard that not everyone is from NJ I was just wondering