vericks

Make sure and call his financial office and have them get you a detailed cost analysis for all the costs of the surgery, including doctors cost, hospital cost, technicians cost, etc., plus all the test you have to have before with the various doctors to get approved for surgery. This is very important. There are always hidden costs!

Jessica I thought it was just me, but I had a similar experience with Lisa. Like you, I love Dr. Enochs, but I am concerned over his PA's. Dr. Enochs did a great job with the surgery, however I never see him either. Once the surgery and first year or two are up, it's always with the PA''s. That is okay, if the PA's are considerate and concerned. If they would truly listen to what you are saying, instead of relying on that new fandangled scanning machine of theirs! I don't know, maybe their hands are tied. I was going to switch over to Brett, the PA, whom I have not met, however, after hearing your comments, I am thinking now that it won't make any difference.Why this dramatic change, where is the love? It's been over 5 years since I have had my lap band. I went in to get a fill, which I rarely have requested. I wasn't losing weight, but gaining. I assumed I would be met with concern and kindness. I also assumed I would get a fill. I was scanned on their new machine and watched the flow and restriction, where upon I was told I was plenty restricted. I told them I wasn't, that I was gaining, and that I hadn't had that issue the previous years on lapband. I also informed them I could eat more and that I was hungrier, than previous times. I left with no fill. I left with feelings of "not another failure." The re-gaining had never occurred during the earlier lap band years. I waited a month, went back and said there had been no change. I was still re-gaining. I had to get forceful and say that I would speak to Dr. Enoch. Lisa then relented and gave me a small amount of fill . Lisa suggested, in a firm tone, that I needed to exercise and cut back on my eating. As she pointed to my head, she referred that perhaps my problem was "in my head." Needless to say, I left upset and downhearted. I didn't pay all this money for the lap band, not including all the pain and time, to have comments like that said to me. To have a PA think "it's all in my head!" Do you know how many years fat people have had to endure that statement! I still haven't lost the weight, even after trying to cut back on my eating and regular exercise, with the Rex Center. I signed up for the Weight and Nutrition program. I am still losing and gaining those 4 or 5 pounds. When a PA says" well maybe you should decide if you can be happy with losing 50 pounds" (that has been my weight loss) instead of realizing that I have at least 50-70 pounds more I need to lose, it shows little compassion or concern. Why one, who is a medical professional, couldn't understand the frustration, is beyond me. You would think dealing with lap-band patients day in and out, the PA would see a need or change for the patient, who is trying and has tried for years to lose weight. I am happy I have lost 50 pounds, however, I am not happy about re-gaining pounds. I have worked hard to maintain that lost. Tthat was suppose to be one of the purposes of the lapband, to restrict from re-gaining. From the beginning, I was told that one of the advantages of the lapband was that if you did start to regain, you could always tighten the band. I have a large band that isn't even half used (well maybe a little over half). So why put in such a large band if you are not expecting to increase the restriction, especially when the patient is obviously gaining? Sometimes a machine doesn't detect what a person knows and feels when there is a change (or in this case, NO Change) with the body. Perhaps the staff should reconsider their approach with their patients, especially their long-term patients, we all will be long-term eventually. If complaints, better yet, disappointments continue like these, surely it can not be good for business. We own our own business and if I treat my customers in such a manner, I don't think my customers would last long. Enochs, as a surgeon, is great, professional, cordial, and likeable. I would highly recommend him for the surgery, however, I wish he would listen to his patients concerns, when it comes to dealing with the PA's and the fills for the band. I don't know what's happened to his Physician Assistants? Vericks I'll be at his seminar on August 12th! :wink2:

Brittny88 I did set up a consult and got a list of all the prerequisites they had prepared. You will have to see a few specialists. If you have made a definite decision, it's best to get started on the pre-requisites right away. It takes some time to get into all the specialists. I started out initially with the Duke weight center and was very disappointed, then I found Dr. Enochs and was very pleased. Just get appointments set up as quickly as possible, they have recommendations of specialists they deal with, who know the routine. Dr. Enochs has a support group that meets every month, you might want to consider attending one of their meetings. They have the information of when and where. It's held at Rex Hospital. Vickie (Hey I am in Morrisville, Mebane is not too far!)

Yes, most of us can identify with the love and comfort of food. We have all been there, and probably will always struggle, however, for me the lapband has lessened that desire, especially with the amount. I am a slow loser but a consistent loser. I was unsure, scared, hesitant, desperate, and the feelings go on and on. However, I wanted to feel healthy and be able to get some kind of control over this weight issue. I had tried so many different things. The lapband has helped me personally to get a better perspective on my eating habits. Does the lapband take away my desires, control my weight gain, stop my bad habits, no…however the band gives me incentive to keep trying, to not feel like a constant failure, to limit my amount, to shrink to a weight that lessens my hunger, to improve my health, etc. Is the lapband a cure all, NO, but it's a tool. As for me it's been a successful tool. It's taken me almost two years to lose 75 pounds and I need to lose at least 40 more, but I see the possibility now, something I had totally given up on. So go into this as informed and realistically as possible. Find a good surgeon, mine was Dr. Enoch and he was great for me. We, who relate to you totally, wish you the best in your decision and your weight lost. Initially the band took a good month to feel truly feel good. The first week was a bit tough but manageable, each week after better and better. Prepare to lose slowly, but I feel that losing this way has been more long term in the end. So far continue to lose a pound at a time, sometime, 1/4 or 1/2 in a month, but it's better than continually gaining. Keep Smiling Vickie from Morrisville, NC

I can understand that getting tired of being tired. Since my lapband, I have found my energy level has defintily increased. I can walk a flight of stairs without feeling like I am going to stop breathing or have a hear attack. I admit my weight loss has been a slow process, about 70 to 75 pounds in two years. I am almost below the 200 pound on scale, would like to lose 40 more pounds once I hit that mark. Hope all goes well in your decision with the lap band, lapband was the right decision for me, but everyone has to come to that confirmation themselves. Good luck and welcome! Vickie

Sorry, it's been awhile, life seems to always be busy. It's been almost two years since my surgery and although weight lost has been slow, it remains consistent. I have lost about 70 to 75 pounds. I still want to lose about 40 more pounds but I focus on the day by day stuff and realize that I take on things better a day at a time. My health has greatly improved and my clothes size have dropped from a size 26 to a size 18 to 20 (I wear my clothes lose). I have been ever so happy with the lap band results, however I did get a downer today when I went to apply for new health insurance and they told me I would be put in a high risk tier (level) for my monthly payments, due to the lapband surgery. I don't understand this, does anyone else share this experience. First you get dinged for the obesity factor and now for the correction. I ask the agent why the high risk classification? He said that it's because the surgery is an unknown and they don't know what the longterm repercutions will be. Does this seem a fair factor in determining our insurance rates? When did we start rating on the factor of what might be an outcome. I explained that I have no complications from my lapband surgery, which by the way, would be corrective if I ever did. I also explained the improvement of my health with the surgery. He said there was nothing he could do, that's the decision of the insurance ratings board. So what do we do from here? It truly doesn't seem fair. I mean can insurance increase their rates if they just think you are a possible candidate of cancer or any other illness? I think not! So why us? I thought ratings should be based on facts, not perceptions or predictions? Anyone know of any fair insurance plans? Sorry just had to get this frustration out! Now, back to my weight success. I am a slow loser and being a senior might also have a bit of factor, older can be harder. I am increasing my exercise and that has seemed to help significantly, however I have picked of a couple of courses at school and it's taking it's toll on my time to committ to exercise. So there it is, I am alive, increasing in health and in attitude, and continue to say that lapband was the best decision for me personally. Hope all of you are being successful in your endeavors and God Bless! Oh hang in their slow losers, it can keep on happening!

I've been out two years from surgery now. I recommend Dr. Enochs, highly. I had minimal pain and few if any issues. He is a competent and kind doctor.

What's NSV stand for?

I support the definitions and the nominee. As a slow loser, at just one more fill until my band is at it's quota, we need positive support and continual encouragement. From one turtle to another!

I had my surgery with Dr. Enochs, now going on a year. He was a wonderful surgeon and I enjoy his staff, especially since he has moved back to Cary. I've lost 55 pounds and hope to lose 70 to 80 more. Yes, its a slow process, however it is a process that continues to work a pound at a time. The scale is going in the right direction! Thanks for all the feedback on Dr. Enochs, for me it was the right decision. vickie

Great idea!:clap2: Vinesqueen has such a positive attitude. We all need encouragement and comradship. I am chanting the LBTSL mantra at this very moment. Everyone, we can do this and this is not a race! Thanks Vickie (the ultra slow loser) Banded July 2006 3.0 cc's total 34 pounds down and fluctuating up and down 2 pounds. Hoping for a progressive 2007/2008 year. 280/246

Wow, that's encouraging, it gets so frustrating when my scales continually go up and down with a pound or two, however as of yet I have lost at least a pound or two per check up (about month or month half apart). Thanks for the encouragement. How do you get committed to sticking to the right things to eat. Do I need to join a Weight Watchers type plan? vericks

Thanks so much for that wonderful encouragement. It helps to hear someone else say that slow is okay and maintaining is a strength. Like you, I Yo-Yo'd all the time, never maintaining. Hurrah for us banders and let's keep on keeping on!