cartermc

Hi everyone, Well, I was on this board about a year ago and now I'm back, so, I'll reintroduce myself. I live in TN and am a single "mom" to my two dogs and a cat. I have been overweight all my life but really never thought about it until I joined the Army in 1995 and had to lose weight to join. While in the Army I maintained a weight around 135lbs but was still overweight by their standards and had to be "taped" at every weigh in. I'm now at the heaviest I've ever been and having severe sleep apnea (have a sleep study scheduled in two days) and not I've seemed to have developed acid reflux. I did research on the lap band (the procedure I want to get) a year ago but thought I could work through my eating issues but here I am a year later and heavier than last year. I'm going to a seminar in July and I'm making my sister go. My sister will be supportive and although my mom doesn't think I should get it, she too will be supportive once its done. I look forward to learning a lot on the board and asking questions. I'd like to speak or email anyone that had their surgery done in Nashville. Good luck to everyone. Melinda

Well, good luck to you and keep us posted on how it goes. My only concern is my mom telling her relatives. I'm not fond of them and really don't associate with them at all and they are very negative. I'll have to cross that bridge when and if the time comes but express to my mom that I'll be very upset with her if she blabs it to the whole town. Which doctor are you using at Babtist? Melinda

Thank you very much for the advice. I've read the post about some people not wanting to tell people. I suppose I'll feel it out as I get more into the weeds with this whole thing. I'm pretty much an alpha personality and usually don't let what others think matter too much. However, since this is a new situation that will carry alot of emotion, I'm sure, I'll take a day by day approach. My mom will be the one helping my post op and taking care of my furkids, so she has to know. Melinda

Well, I've got the info from both hospitals. I think in the end my decision will be made by the seminar and how I feel or the vibe I get from the doctors and also if the insurance has any say. I think my insurance covers all the doctors so that shouldn't be an issue. Right now I'm leaning towards the one that cost $14,400. I think the lifetime routine follow ups, dietician, exercise guy and the psychology support makes it a very good deal. Of course, the only down is that the fills cost $200. Yes, I feel at the moment, I would use the execise person. Hey a free personal trainer..how often do you get that. I'll update once I've gone to the seminars. Melinda

Laurend, That's my Ragdoll cat Harley! She's the queen of the house. :woot: Have a good day. Melinda

Hi, After the first year of being banded, how often do you see your surgeon for follow ups? Is once every six months to a year? Thanks, Melinda

Thanks for the info. Have a great weekend. Melinda

Hi all, My question is for those that have been banded for at least one year. How often did you have to have your band readjusted after the one year mark? I'm trying to chose between two hospitals which both have qualified surgeons but the after care program seems to be the big thing. The one that people seem to like that has lifetime follow up does not include fills and they cost $250 per fill. Where the other hospital includes one year of follow up in their program and it includes fills for one year and then after that its $125 per fill. What do you think? Thanks, Melinda

Wheetsin, I'm not sure on the shrink for the one that includes the free fills. Just like anything there are the people that have used both places and they sing praises for both. Right now I'm getting all my insurance info and sleep study done and then I'll go to both places to their seminars and "feel" it out. You are right that the vibe will be a big part for me. Thanks, Melinda

See...this is why I love this forum! You presented me with a question I hadn't thought of to ask. So, I called the hospital that offers the one yr free. So, it is one year free follow up that includes the following: 1. fills/ unfills - and after one year its $150 2. routine visits 3. dietician - after one year if I need this it will cost me 4. no exercise person So, the questions becomes does anyone really use the exercise person? If I were honest with myself, I feel I'd use the dietician more than I'd use the exercise person and I'd probably only use the dietician until I felt comfortable with the band and how different things effect me and my weight loss. Does that make sense? Anymore questions you think I should consider? Melinda

Hi all, I am currently researching my WLS options. I am leaning HEAVILY towards lapband because my BMI is at the lower end (37) and I think the other options are very drastic for the BMI I am at. I already know for the most part I will not be able to use my insurance because of my BMI. I'd like to hear from the other people here that have had there surgery here i TN. I would be going to Nashville and would either go to Baptist or Centennial for the surgery. Thank you and I look forward to speaking with you all. Melinda

Rosgirl, Thanks for the info. Right now I'm trying to see if I can get all my info together, such as med records, and things needed for insurance before I get to far in the process. Good luck to you and I wish you much success. Melinda

It's going to be hard to choose. They both have nice staff that answered my questions quickly. Well, the one thing I found out about the lifetime follow up is for the dietician, exercise person, doctor visits that don't involve the fill, and after care programs such as support groups. I did talk to the dietician this AM and she had some good things to say. What do you think?

OK...I got a quote from someone that was a self pay from the second hospital I'm considering. Their cost is arounds $14,000 and includes lifetime follow up but then she said I'd have to pay $250 per fill. So, to me if I have to pay for fills then that wouldn't seem to be lifetime follow up. I'm still trying to get ahold of the hospital directly to ask.

That's cool. I LOVE AZ. I lived there for a while and had my AIT at Ft. Huachua and went to Mexico a couple of times. Well, we'll see what happens. Here is the link to the one doctor I'm looking at and he's been doing alot in the WLS area here in the Nashville area for quite sometime. SpawMD.com Melinda

I would think it would be less expensive in Mexico. Do you have to pay for all your follow up, such as fills and things? Oh well, I'm still researching and we'll see what happens. I'm sure it would also be less expensive if I went to some sort of weight loss center instead of a hospital to have the surgery done. I'll keep you posted. Melinda

I am just now researching the cost. I will have go self pay if I go through with the surgery. I've only got one quote so far from one of the two I'm researching. I was quoted $16,100 and that includes the hospital stay, surgical fee, anesthesia and one year of follow ups to include fills. After that all readjustments cost $125. Melinda