LadyWinsAll

I think you are losing weight slowly and dealing with your real life challenges while you do so and fluctuations and loss of focus will occur. BUT, you are getting your focus back and resuming the downward weight loss trend. From my point of view, you're doing great and I am sending you three cheers.:tongue2:

Hi: I was going with Dr. Ren and I had been scheduled about six weeks after the nutritionist visit to see Dr. Ren. Fortunately, I was called from the office and they asked me if I wanted to move up the date and I could see Dr. Kurian on the same day as the nutritionist. In the interim I had gone to another seminar at NYU with a friend of mine and Dr. Kurian was the one who delivered the lecture and I was impressed. I was fine with changing from Dr. Ren to Dr. Kurian. Even with moving up my consult, I won't be banded until August 28th because of other issues that cropped up. Trite as it may read, what I'm trying to say is that this journey takes its own time. Some bits are fast and some bits have real life interruptions and then you just slow down. LOL!!! I am getting ready for my second round of liquid pre-op preparation. :whatchutalkingabout

Hi: You can get all your visits scheduled on the same day. They do try to do so if possible and yes, you have a longer wait for Drs. Fielding and Ren-Fielding. Nilsa is Dr. Kurian's patient coordinator and Asia is Dr. Ren's. Nilsa is extremely overworked but competent. Asia is sweet and helpful but she is new and not as seasoned as Nilsa. :whatchutalkingabout

Hi Everyone: I'm getting banded on August 28th and I have purchased Unjury to up my protein when I go on liquids. However I have a question to you. I am planning to order Isopure for the clear liquids phase after surgery. Does anyone recommend a particular flavour? I am leaning towards the passion fruit but I would like opinions from anyone who has used it. With the cost of the 12/case I don't want to be stuck with something I hate. Help!!:thumbup: Thanks In Advance

I think you have to choose a surgeon based on how good they are and then on compatibility. Thank goodness, those three are top class surgeons. Dr. Fielding cares, he truly cares and also he is banded so he comes at the procedure from a very personal perspective. I never met Dr. Ren-Fielding but one of the women at the seminar who had been banded by her was totally thrilled with her work and talked at length about how great she was. That being said, I went with Dr. Kurian. The first seminar I attended was with Dr. Fielding and I was convinced I would go with him but then I attended a second seminar as moral for support for another friend who was considering lap band and there was no going back. I just clicked with how Dr. Kurian dealt with everyone and how she answered questions. I have not regretted it because she has been so patient with answering all my questions and my two consults with her. I will be banded on August 28th and I feel confident I made the right decision.

I just saw this forum and I hope you don't mind me joining. I did a lot of research and decided on NYU because of the reputation and training of the three surgeons. I was first scheduled with Dr. Ren-Fielding but a spot on Dr. Kurian's calendar opened up 2 weeks earlier and I took it. I am extremely happy with Dr. Kurian. Now for the negatives, the office is small. I try to get a seat near the window and look out onto the river. However, am I the only one who wishes for a counter top at the receptionist's window so one can rest paper and jot numbers or information down? My first visit there had me close to walking out because one of the receptionists was so grumpy and rude. Now that I have been there a few more times I think it is her attitude, the other three front desk people I have interacted with and Tammy, when she fills in, have all been wonderful. I have not had problems with getting in touch with Nilsa or Monica, the surgical coordinator. I call early in the morning between 9 and 11 and they are usually picking up the phone at that time. In fact, it was only today that I could hear in her tone and her abrupt manner that Nilsa was stressed and annoyed with me when I rescheduled my surgery from July 31 to August 28. However, she talked to Dr. Kurian and confirmed the later date in August. I was probably taking up someone's minutes because I spoke with her 3 times today. (Sorry, guys!) Monica, the coordinator, is only at her desk in the morning. She has been amazing with me because somehow my lab results never got to my PCP and she faxed all the results to him immediately so he could do the medical clearance. Sigh! after all that effort, I still had to reschedule. My opinion is that I do like the walk in nature of their practice. This reassures me that if I have questions/problems and I consider them important enough to come in, the surgeons will see me even though I will have to wait. I will have to do liquids again from August 14 (Huge sigh!) but on the upside I have lost some weight in the last 12 days. My plan is to stick with liquids in the morning and up my cals slightly and try to remain lower carb until I go back to full liquids on Aug. 14. And this post was probably far longer than expected, LOL!!!

A lot of the negativity comes from fear. I believe that the non-supporters are afraid of how you will change as you lose weight and how their relationship will change as you change. For example if you and your sister are food buddies and both of you are overweight, she might be worried internally if you will look at her with disgust as you lose weight and she is still eating. She could also be envious that you are making a powerful decision to help yourself and she doesn't yet have that courage. However, the best thing is to come in here, vent, moan and get the support here. Trying to change people's minds only succeeds in making them more convinced that their opinion is correct.

My surgeon told me only 1/2 cup right after surgery.

I have Aetna insurance also. I will be banded on July 31. They did not cover the Psych eval nor the Nutritionist visit but they are covering the surgery in total and one overnight stay. I did my Eval on April 18, Nutritionist and Surgeon consult on June 30. All my paperwork was finally submitted on June 27. I was approved the following week. I could have had my surgery earlier but because of work conflicts I had to wait until July 31. On pre-op liquids with 4 days to go.

I'm not sure if you'll have to do the seminar again. The only advice I will give you is that you get the names of the people you talk to in the office. They have a large office staff and it's important to keep track of who's working on what for you. Dr. Kurian's patient coordinator is Nilsa, very experienced woman, and she has been very helpful through this process. Lap Banding is a Tool. I have two friends who have done it. One lost a fraction of the weight she needed to lose - because she did not change her eating choices, instead relied on the Band to be a cure for her obesity. My other friend has been banded for a year, She had over 100 pounds to lose and is about 50lbs from goal. She, too, is short and knew that she would lose weight slowly but she didn't want a more invasive surgery. She decided that she could either be more overweight or less overweight in the future and she didn't want the former option. Good luck on your journey and keep me posted.

I am single, 48 and no kids. I am in NY. I work at one of the universities in the city. I want to rediscover the person I used to be, fun loving and adventurous. I don't like the person I am right now - avoiding people and social events, disliking the tummy rolls and flab on my body, the lack of clothing choices that fit right and look sexy. So, I'm looking forward to my banding and beginning the second half of my life.:thumbup:

Go forth immediately to NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss. I did a huge amount of research and in a fit of overkill went to three seminars at different places to assist my decision. Drs. Christine Ren-Fielding, George Fielding and Marina Kurian at NYU are the best. They actually listen to you, and feel that the Lap Band is the best choice for most people, though they do all variants of gastric bypass. Between the three I think they have done over 8,000 bands. I have had wonderful people on my side there and cannot recommend Dr. Kurian enough. I started with them in March and I will be having surgery on July 31, 2008. Call them today and try another consult. I think you will be well pleased. Phone# 212-263-3166.