Great2BThin

Now it's becoming even more real. I just got home from the pulmonary screening and all went well there as well. He said I was in the lowest risk category, I liked that!! He couldn't believe how healthy I was outside of the weight. Music to my ears!! In light of that report, I postponed my cardio screening to next week after I see my surgeon to see if I really need it. He requires it at age 50 and I am 49 and holding!! Once you have the screenings done, have the consult appt. and are self pay, how quick is it usually to get a surgery date???

Thanks so much for putting that in there. It is a tool and one I plan to use to it's full advantage. I am self pay and to me that makes it all the more important that I do everything they tell me w/o trying to find ways around the band etc. I've already begun going to the gym as I figure the more in shape I can get now the more I can do later and hopefully the more that helps with my recovery as well. And for the first time in a long time I am thinking in terms of WHEN I lose the weight vs. IF I lose so I am starting to get the head into this as well, if that makes sense. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

Indigo Girl, As one who is just beginning the process (pulmon. screening today) I needed to see your post this morning!! Congrats!! I have tears in my eyes thinking one day that is going to be me!!

No, I believe the 6 months of a supervised diet is for insurance approval. My insurance has an exclusion for weight loss surgery and won't pay for it even if I did that. I will be self pay, so don't think I will need that. If so I have been going to WW for at least that long and can prove that.

I've been so antsy getting things going on having my surgery and today I finally feel like it's gonna be real. I went to my seminar on 4/26 and couldn't get in for a consult appt with the surgeon until 5/14. I scheduled all my screenings over a week ago and they are all happening this week. Today I had my pshych screening, she thinks I am a good candidate for surgery YEAH!!!! Tonight I am going to my first support group meeting. So it's beginning to feel real. I can't believe how nervous I was for the psych appt. I wonder what I will be like before surgery. LOL By the time this week is over I will have all my screenings done, hopefully! I go on vacation on May 16th and hope to have surgery anytime after that.

OUCH!! $20,000+ seems awfully high priced for lap band surgery. I am self pay as well, I do live in Denver and as a previous poster mentioned there is Dr. Kirschenbaum here that does it for $9900 I believe, there is another Dr. at www.redrocksbariatrics.com that is $9000 and a 3rd at www.coloradobariatrics.com that is $9900 or something. These could be US alternatives to you if that is what you decide. I am going to a different surgeon in Denver, however, and still the price is under $15,000. I'm not saying don't go to Mexico, I haven't even researched it myself so wouldn't even begin to have a valid opinion, but just offered these options as an alternative. Of the 3 mentioned under $10,000 I've only researched one. When I found my dr. I just knew he was the one for me and didn't pursue further. Good luck in your decision. In the end it is just that, your decision, you need to feel comfortable with it and not your family's or anyone else's. Make it, feel good about it, and go on from there.

Lois, Wow, what a story, that could've been scary. I had never heard of a parathyroid until a year ago and my dad through a blood test found out his calcium levels were out of whack and he had surgery to remove some of his parathyroid as well. Congrats on your progress and being healthy again!!!

Liteweight and Lapdancer, I stand corrected. I am glad for your responses and to find out my first impression (just over the phone with someone in the office who may have just been having a bad day and we are all entitled to 'em) was wrong. I certainly didn't mean to offend or anything and am glad for your great experiences. Going to 3 seminars in a week and of course surveying the internet all hours of the day and night gets overwhelming. But I am so grateful for all the research available out there. Hope there's no hard feelings, that was not my intent at all. We all have various needs and wants in surgeons and that's why there are so many out there. As LapDancer said, one of the benefits of being self pay is we can all research and pick where we are most comfortable instead of where we have to go. Thanks for enlightening me!

Makes total sense. I have United Health Care Choice Plus as well and was denied coverage. My husbands company puts in a bariatric surgery exclusion and there's pretty much no getting around it. :party:

As much as I hate insurance, I have to agree with the poster said it wasn't the insurance company but rather the employer. My next door neighbor has the same insurance company as me, United Healthcare. Her and her husband both had surgery (bypass). My insurance, again same one as theirs, has denied it as it's an 'exclusion' placed there by DH's employer. My neighbors had a great experience as well with their insurance paying and approving everything, no 6 mos supervised diet, etc.

I will be a self pay patient and am in the prescreening process now. I find the original post to be rather condensending to those that have to self pay. More like a have vs the have nots. An insured person can have complications just as easy as a self pay. All insurance varies as to what they'll pay for. Since the OP wasn't self pay, I am unsure of the motive of posting all that was for. I am going to give it the benefit of the doubt and believe that it was for education. But seriously, don't you think if I am going to shell out thousands of $$$$ I am not going to do the research? I am going to a dr. in Denver that is more expensive than a few others (there is one here that people fly to from all over the US and another one that only charge $9900). I am purposely going to one that I feel comfortable with his experience, his follow up care if complications, etc. In fact this dr. has had one of the other 2 docs refer people to him. Also as another poster mentioned the dr. can't discriminate in the quality of care you receive whether or not you have insurance coverage. It's not only self pays that have complications. The thought of possibly having one scares me to death, but the thought of remaining morbidly obese scares me even more. I believe the reward outweighs the risk.

Uh-Oh, that doesn't sound good, BGrand. Hope everything is okay.

That seminar was awesome, I was so impressed with everyone. At first I was put off a little by the sheer volume of it, over 200+ people, the big screens, etc. Thought it was going to be sortta dog and pony show, but once it started and everyone talked it confirmed my thoughts of going with him (my PCP and my neighbor had both highly recommended him already). I've called the office a few times and they are so responsive. I have my 1st appt with him on May 14th which right now seems like so far away. But I already had my blooddrawn yesterday, have my psych and pulmon. next week so hopefully I am set after that. Lana called from his office and told me about her support group at the Northglenn Library so I am going to that on Tues. evening. Also signed up for the preop nutrition class, someone I talked to in the office (can't remember who a Cindy maybe?) told me it was okay to go before my 1st consult with Dr. S. I am self pay so am hoping the surgery will be soon after. The only thing I might need after my consult is the cardio stress test. I am 49 and holding but my 50th bday is May 17th, they told me to see if he would require it at my consult. (the papers said if you were 50+) Good luck to you. Maybe we'll be surgery partners, in that they will be about the same time.

Do the Gas-X Strips really help with this type of gas? I never would have thought they would and it's good to know. The gas pains are what scare me the most. Well that and I hate getting general anesthsia, DH says I have control issues.

I'm sorry Bikini, that was me. I am sure he is a very qualified Dr. I just didn't have a good experience with the staff and seminar and was very disappointed he wasn't at the seminar. Likewise, as everyone is different, I am sure their needs and desires in a surgeon are all different as well. I hope you get your approval soon! Wish I had Kaiser paying for mine. My insurance won't pay so I am self pay. OUCH!!

Also Dr.'s Brown & Metz at Denver Bariatric Surgery | Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute are $9900, includes 3 mos after care and fills. Surgery at Presbreterian/St. Lukes Hospital.

I didn't mean to sound as if Dr. Brown/Metz weren't good. But I was put off by the seminar and not getting to meet them. And just basically the way everything was done. And like they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression. But if I were going there, I think I'd want Dr. Brown since he is much more experienced. Good luck to you. I never though of being self pay as being lucky but I guess it does give you a little more freedom to go where you want, etc. But I am going to have to get a job after to pay it off. I thought of getting a job with insurance that did since my husbands doesn't. But then I figured I'd have to work at least 6 mos to have coverage, then I might as well get the surgery now and work 6 mos after to pay it off.

Hi Bikini, I couldn't tell you how I felt about Dr.s Brown or Metz because they didn't even come to their seminars. That put me off a lot. When I went to Dr. Johnell's he comes out and meets you and answers questions and talks a bit, Dr. Snyder gave his whole presentation (2 hours) and these guys can't even poke their heads in and say hi? The other thing that put me off was getting to the seminar in the first place. When I called to register, they said no need, just be there at 11am at '3PPW' conference room. They said it would be above the parking garage. So in I pull into the first parking garage unbeknownst to me there are like 3 garages. There was no offices over it, so I was immediately lost. I asked a hospital employee, they were clueless but said to take the walkway over to the connecting building and there would be a directory. As I was walking over I noticed a sign that said "Physicians Pavillion East" so a light bulb clicked, I bet PPW is "Physcians Pavillions West" but where the heck was it? On the directory however I saw "Colorado Bariatrics" in suite 404. I knew they'd know so I went there. I walked in and the receptionist was chomping on her gum on a personal phone call. She looked up and said into the phone, 'just a second there's a patient here' in a real bothered tone. I asked where I was to go for the seminar and she gave me directions. I had to cross the street/driveway and go to the 3rd floor where there would be a sign to the conference room on the 3rd floor. Off I go, get to the 3rd floor, no sign about the seminar at all. Did find the conference room however, and there was another gal waiting. I asked her if she was there for it and she was. There was nothing in the room indicating we were in the right place. THe board that was in the room had some scribbling on it about 'placenta delivery'. LOL About 5 min. AFTER 11 a young gal walks in, apologizes for being late and proceeds to set up at that point. In the meantime more folks showed up all as confused about if they were in the right place. Now the gal presenting the presentation was pretty knowledgeable and very nice. She however, had no idea as to cost, how many lap bands either dr. had done, 2 questions I was concerned with. Afterwards she offered to walk everyone over to the office (where I had been to get directions) to get our insurance, cost questions etc. answered. However, we still would not get to meet the dr.'s until we actually set up appts. We arrive and no one was at the desk, she had to go into like 2 or 3 offices to find someone to come out and address us. Finally the office manager came out and all she was interested in was getting our insurance cards to verify if we had coverage. I explained I was self pay and then she did give the costs. This place was much cheaper than Dr. Snyder where I decided to go but I just didn't feel good about it. Price might be more of a consideration if it wasn't my body, life, and surgery we were talking. But considering this was surgery, I wanted to feel more at ease and just didn't. I don't mean to bash this place too much and may just have hit it on an off day, but after the previous 2 seminars I had been to, they were much more impressive, I met the dr.'s and got all my questions answered. I figured if they weren't good at giving info and answering questions before surgery, what would they be like after. Dr. Johnell's office took 3 days to return a phone call. So that essentially crossed them off my list. Dr. Snyder's office has been awesome to deal with. Now I can't wait to get the surgery over with. Good luck in your decision. If you do go to Dr. Brown/Metz try and get Dr. Brown, did find out Dr. Metz is new and has only done about 40 lap bands. Editing to add: I have United Healthcare but my husbands employer excludes Bariatric procedures so not covered. I will be doing self pay.

Hi there, I am new here and am hoping to be banded soon. I just attended 3 different seminars: Dr. Johnell's, Dr. Snyder's, and Dr. Browns/Metz's. I have chosen Dr. Snyder and have my consultation appt on May 14th. Also have my psych. and pulmonary screening appts next week on the 6th and 8th. I will be self pay so I hope surgery won't be too long after that. Looking forward to meeting other Coloradans here.

Thanks for the response Kathy. The seminar was awesome. It pretty much sealed my decision to go with him and your response rather comfirms that. Dr. Snyder had his assistant there with him today, was that your son? How long ago since your surgery? My ex next door neighbors both had bypass with him as well and I just emailed them in Atlanta and they had nothing but good to say as well.

Great Thread Steph, I am currently researching Dr.'s and this thread will be very helpful. There's gotta be more Coloradoans, come on, let's hear about your surgeon!

Well I just got home from Dr. Snyders Info seminar and I think I found my surgeon. I left feeling so informed, the dr. seems very professional yet personable as well. Am probably having to do self pay and that's a little scary, however, after surgery I am going to find myself a job and pay it off. I am currently more or less retired and can easily find some type of part time job for a while. He's a little more pricey but also does lots of preop testing to be sure you are healthy are ready for surgery which appealed to me. However, i am still going to go to one more seminar tomorrow (dr. Brown) and keep the Dr. K appt on May 9th. I just got the impression from talking to Dr. K's office it was a little more assembly line-ish, but I could have a very wrong first impression so will check it out still.

Thanks for the replies. Kayleighsmommy - that is a dr. I've not heard of yet here in Denver, one more for me to research now. Nurse - I called and talked to Natalie today. I have a consult with Dr. K on May 9th. She said there was no charge (normally $75) because I called asking for a information seminar. She seemed nice and answered all my questions thus far. Didn't you need to go in before any preop testing? I know the seminar I went to on Tues. made you have several pro op tests, but it was also more expensive. Oh I am confused!! :crying:

Anyone have any info on these Dr.s? I went to Dr. Johnells info session on Tues. am going to Dr. Snyder's on Sat. and Dr. Brown's on Monday. Has anyone used any of these guys? What did you like? not like? Also, just found out from reading these boards about Dr. Kirschenbaum and seems lots of folks come here from all over for him. But what concerned me there is that there's no info sessions, or center of excellence rating, but he does sound cheaper. Not that price should be the only consideration when it comes to surgery but it sure would be a benefit! I'll more than likely have to selfpay.

Hi, I am new here and considering lapband surgery. I love having found this board it has been so informative. I have just begun to research my options. My question is how did you pick your dr? I have signed up for 3 info sessions with different offices here in Denver. I hadn't heard of Dr. Kirschenbaum until reading these boards and that is one I hadn't considered. However, he doesn't do info sessions I take it. Also, he doesn't have the Center of Excellence rating on his website. How important is this? If I have to self pay he seems the cheapest, but then again when it comes to surgery I don't necessarily only want to be ruled by price. I went to Dr. Johnell's info session on Tues. in Lafayette however the surgery would be in Greeley. I am going to Dr. Snyder's on Saturday at the Cherry Creek hotel, and to Dr. Brown's on Monday. Any info on any of these dr.'s? Thanks.