maryomalley

Anyone know a good surgweon in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area. Cleveland Clinic or memorial Hospital?

Thanks for the post about CIGNA. I am in month 4 of the weight loss requirement and am not sure that my BMI has been 35 or higher for 24 months. I hate that they can just change the rules whenever they want. I guess I need to talk to my Primary Doc and the surgeon. Anyone else had any luck with this?

Juli- Your progress is nothing short of amazing! You are an inspirations. I have 3 more months to go. What was the hardest part for you in your journey? I think mine is going to be more mental than physical, but guess I will find out. Mary

Cheri- I'm still here. I am neither skinny or particularly happy yet, so don't give up on this site. I have my surgery in September, so I need the input and advice you have. Mary

Hi! I have been reading in this forum and thinkng for about 4 months and had decided lap band was the way to go for me. Then I saw my doctor and he recommended the bypass. So I read about that and thought "maybe?" I am in month 4 of the pre op and cannot seem to make up my mind. It seems like lap band is so hard with fills, getting food stuck and only 2 pounds a week average loss, but the rerouting of my insides doesn't sound appealing either, nor the dumping syndrome. How did everyone decide what was right?? Is the sliming, food getting stuck, slow weigth loss that hard? Has anyone had friends or others who had the bypass, and are they having a hard time? I really need to figure this out and need your help. How did you decide ??

Thanks for your input. I am usually decisive, but there seems to be so much conflicting information. I wonder if bypass people have to watch what they eat as much and if they have as many problems. I know that banding is the best for my body, but would hate to have it fail and then have to do the bypass route. Can you evwentually eat almost whatever you want to eat after banding--not amounts, but types of foods?

Congratulations on getting approval, and you are so lucky to have such a supportive partner. It will be a life changing experience for both of you and I am so happy that you both will be together throughout the journey. I hope I will be as lucky.

Penney you have really been through a lot and still have your sense of humor. Good for you. Best info you could have given to us is to not try to lift heavy weights or fiddle with the port if it turns. We can all learn from your experience. Keep it up! Mary :ohmy:

I am so sorry to hear about your problem, but you have the right attitude. Just keep going . You CAN do it, as can we all. Good luck. I am sure those pounds will come off now. Mary

Why did you choose lap band over bypass? I went to the doctor and he suggested bypass instead of lab band because I had diabetes and sleep apnea. My BMI is 36.5 I am worried about possible complications with bypass, but if there is a medical reason, I would do it. I think rapid weight loss was his reason to do the bypass. I think I have the option of chosing either. I need your input , those of you who had the choice and why you chose one over the other. Thanks:confused_smile:

Good luck on your visit. I will be interested in what you find out. Happy Easter to you too. I am wearing a bunny pin at work today:laugh:. Mary

Heavy jacket, keys, wallet, big lunch--you made me smile:biggrin2:. All of it good advice. I bought weights to put on my ankles if it comes to that, but really don't want to. Behavior Modification, huh? I have a huge packet to fill out for the psychiatrist with lots of tricky questions-- Do I answer honestly or say what they want to hear? I am really going to follow everything they say, but I hope I don't get "kicked off the island" for one of my answers. There are so many hoops to jump through. I have my second PC visit tomorrow and have to remember for her to put down on her records all the things that they require. Wish me luck.:biggrin: Mary

Thanks for the words of encouragement and welcome. I am just so glad that there is a community here to help in the process. I know I will need all the advice and help I can get. It is a huge decison for me and I don't want to do it alone .:biggrin: Mary

This is terrific! I am so glad to have a group of GLBT supporters. I am just starting the process and am in month 2 of the 6 month waiting period-ugh! I have CIGNA and I know they are really hard to deal with, so I am doing all I can to keep in their guidelines. My BMI is 36 so I am treading the thin line of following their rules, but not dropping too much weight before the surgery so I disqualify. My partner and I are both going to be banded and I know this will pose its own special challenges, but I hope we can motivate each other. Anyone else deal with CIGNA? What responses have you had from friends? I am trying to decide what ( if anything) to tell people. The eating out thing with others is what I am worrying about already. Let me hear from you!:biggrin:

Thanks to all of you who have responded. I am now convinced that Lap Band is the way I want to go. I am now in month 2 of the 6 month waiting perid and time is going soooo slow. I am trying to keep my BMI close to 36 and also trying to exercise but not drop below my 35. The surgeon. said he would count my BMI from the first visit, but I don't know if I drop below that on my primary visits whether or not they will disqualify me. I feel so fat and am really motivated now. The success stories I hear from you all are so inspiring. Thanks so much.:biggrin: Mary

Cathychatts- Thanks so much for the info on cigna and the link. Do you know what kind of "behavioral interventions" they are talking about? I have Cigna and am on the second month of PC visits and do not want to miss something I should be doing. Thanks. Mary

Kat- Great reasons and you are right. With the advances in weight loss options coming ,it would be nice to have the ability to explore te "miracle cure" if and when it does come. I hope it is flavored chocolate! Mary

Congratulations!! Way to go! Mary

Thanks so much to you who have responded. I am of the "old school" that thinks the doctor knows best, but I guess we are all responsible in the end for the decisions we make and you all have strengthened my resolve to have the lap band. My instincts told me that was the way to go, but I just needed to have you all reaffirm my decision. A quick question-What is "sliming? It sounds gross!

The surgeon was the one who suggested it. I was just so surprised that he suggested the other procedure that I just half listened to why he preferred the bypass.

Hi Diane- I live in Weston and just went to the orientation last week for lap band surgery. I went to see the doctor and he suggested the bypass surgery instead, so now I am researching my options. I would love to hear from you and how you are doing. Did the doctor suggest the bypass to you? Mary

:confused2: Has anyone used the Bariatric Department at Cleveland Clinic? My doctor is recommending it, but I have heard that it takes them a long time to work through insurance? Anyone have somei nfo on that?

No. I went to the seminar in Pembroke Pines. It was a doctor Michael Choi- not a MD, but a DO. Did Drs. Cohen and Bass help you through the insurance maze and was their office staff helpful as well? Mary

Thanks so much! I went to the seminar at Memorial in Pembroke Pines, but wasn't impressed. I will call! mary

Well, it sounds like the Cleveland Clinic is hard to work with. Has anyone had a good (or bad )experience with Memotial Hospital in Ft. lauderdale?:confused2: