CherieLynne

I asked my surgeon about the difference between lap band and sleeve and he said "none". I'd go with whatever your surgeon is most familiar with. I'm now at the beginning of "wait" mode to see if I get insurance approval. If I don't, I'll self-pay, but I'm pretty sure they'll cover it. I really feel for the peeps who have to jump through endless hoops -- a zillion tests, months of dieting, et. ect. before they can get approval. I'm so ready to do this. In my experience there is no such thing as a stable weight. You're either dieting and it's going down sooooo slowly, or you're not dieting which means you are either slowly or quickly putting on weight. Anyone else like that??

LOL But if you do it in Mexico who does your aftercare here?

So happy for you and not having to jump through hoops! Woo-hoo! How long did it take and what is your insurance? What tests did you have to have before you submitted to your insurance?

Great! Our own little support group. All my paperwork is going in tomorrow. All I had to do was blood, EKG, psych and nutritionist. No swallow the barium, no sleep test, no stress test...How about you guys?

Lets start our own January 2010 thread and help each other through this. You guys in?

We are the same age and getting banded in the same month, so how about we become cheerleaders for each other and lap band buddies? It also sounds like we have about the same amount of weight to lose. I have rheumatoid arthritis, so we both have other diseases to deal with. I don't know about you, but for me there is no such thing as a stable weight. left on my own, whatever i weight now will only go in one direction, and if i lose weight, I will regain it again. your diabetes and high blood pressure could very well GO AWAY COMPLETELY by doing this. and many people can still eat the foods they like after banding, just a lot less of it. Shall we bond?

All my info is going into Blue Cross tomorrow, my surgeon expects a quick turn around (I've got great insurance) so I'm planning to schedule for January 2010. I'd love to stay in touch with you!! Cherie

Thank you for sharing and responding! I have been attending a RA group for the last few years, and I am by far the most overweight, & no one there has been heavy & lost to say if how much/if there is relief that comes with weight loss. Of course, all of my Dr.s are supportive of the lap band surgery. I am just wondering how much relief (if any) one might feel after loosing some weight.

I have been heavy so long (really packed it on after onset of RA b/c I could no longer move much) I can't remember what its like to move without pain and fat getting in the way. I am not asking for 100% of my old self back. Just would like 50%.

I am scheduled for surgery April 30th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 29 days away!

I know your post is old, Scarlett, which is exactly why I'm writing to you! I have serious RA (enbrel, methotrexate, prednisone, etc.) and have appts. later this month to decide on a doctor for my lap band. I'd love to know how your journey has gone since you were banded. I am determined to do this. Thanks in advance.

I don't live in the L.A. area so I'm flying in late Sept for appts. with Dr. Feitz and Dr. Davtyan, both of whom came highly recommended. I'm not doing the band locally because I have rheumatoid arthritis and wasn't happy with the expertise of the local docs doing lap bands on people like me who take immunosuppressants. So my question is...I wouldn't be back in LA until the actual surgery. Can I do all my tests/psych eval/dietician locally (Salt Lake City) and then have them send the results to whichever physician I decide to go with?

Hi, I just made an apt with him as well for this coming tuesday. I know of two people who have been banded by him. Said he was good. Has even been banded himself. I also heard he charges around $17000.00:scared2:

I havr an appt. to meet with him in Sept. What pre-op tests did he require?

I know no one has posted here in a while, idk if I ever have, but I thought it might be nice to talk to other Utah bandsters. I live in Sugarhouse and work in Murray. Anyone out there?

Just reading through posts and saw yours...I live in The Avenues -- moved back to SLC from L.A. in June. My husband and I are TV/film writers/novelists. I haven't been banded yet and in fact am just starting my research so I'd appreciate wisdom from someone who has already walked the walk. How did you start your journey? I don't have a general practitioner doc here yet -- is that where I need to begin? I do have an excellent rheumatologist --I have R.A. -- at University of Utah. But enough about me. How's your journey going? Thanks for listening. Cherie:redface:

Hello Utah! I just moved to SLC from L.A. and want to go to a seminar on the lapband followed by the road to lapband surgery. Do you recommend Dr. Aldredge? Any other doctors? I have serious rheumatoid arthritis so I do have some concerns re the meds I take and how that would work with the surgery. Thanks in advance, all!--Cherie

Hello-Hello--

I recently moved to SLC from L.A. and would like to have the lapband surgery done here. I have serious rhematoid arthritis for which I take lotsa meds so I'm sure I'll need to coordinate many docs and many things to make this happen. I AM determined to make this happen. I am about 80 - 100 pounds from where I'd like to be. I would so appreciate friendship, support, advice, doc recommendations, ect. ect. from anyone in this area. And thanks in advance!--Cherie:thumbup:

LAP BAND SEMINAR -- Can anyone recommend a good lap band informational seminar in Salt Lake City for someone (me!) looking into getting banded? Thanks so much.

Hello CherieLynne,

My mom has been to a couple free seminars, she also has RA and is on alot of meds. She hasn't been banded yot due to some other health issues. I can find out more about the seminars and let you know, better yet, I'll try to get her on the forum so she can share her own experiences.

HELLO AGAIN AFTER A LONG TIME... CherieLynne here. I have indeed moved back to SLC and now want to go to an into seminar. What has been your mom's progress? I'd appreciate hearing from her. She can answer me here or email me directly at: authorchik@aol.com. Thanks so much.

Wake up, I'm here!

I'm a writer (novelist, TV, film, theatre) who moved back to SLC from L.A. in January. I did some preliminary research into lapband surgery before I moved, but decided to wait to go to an intro meeting and then pursue it further here. So...who are you and where are you in this process? Look forward to hearing from you...and anyone else dealing with all of this in the SLC area.

CherieLynne

Hi, I am just getting started. Haven't had my Dr. consult yet. Will have that this week. haven't even figured out how to navigate this site.

Jeansthings

Looks like you and I are the newbies, so perhaps we can help each other through this process. I'm moving back to Salt Lake mid January and plan to go to a seminar soon after that. We'll be living in The Avenues. You?

:sad:Anyone have any idea what percentage of banders experience slippage or other bad complications? I mean, what are the odds, assuming one follows the doctors orders...

I was 57. I needed the band because after I hit menopause I kept gaining and gaining. I weighed 195 lbs the morning I was banded. Ten months later I weighed 147 and looked oh so much better! And although I have always eaten healthily, I began to eat even better than I had before I was banded. The operation was easy to recover from and having the band has been an altogether positive experience for me. It is great to be able to wear nice clothes again.

I'll be 57 or 58 by the time I have it done, and my experience is just like yours...menopause kicked me into weight-gain overdrive. I'm thrilled to hear it was easy going for you. Do you mind if I ask where you had it done, and what your experience was before/during operation? Thanks so much in advance.

I am moving from Washington to SLC in a few weeks and I need some suggestions on a doctor to follow-up with. I have had my band since August and I am doing well, but I am worried about going down there and not having a doctor to follow up with in case of emergencies.

I am also looking for an apartment to rent. It is so frustrating trying to find a place, because thy all look nice on the internet, but then I hear that the area, management, etc is bad. Any suggestions? I am going to be working at Primary Childrens, so it would be nice to have less than a 30 min commute to work. I am also a 27 year old female living alone. I would like to live close to other young single adults who have high standards. Any help would really be appreciated.

Just happened to see this old post of yours. We are about to move back to SLC and we will live once again in The Avenues -- a great -- and my fave -- neighborhood. Did you end up finding a good doc in SLC? I'm just beginning my journey with the lb and plan to attend a seminar after we move there in January.

Hello CherieLynne,

My mom has been to a couple free seminars, she also has RA and is on alot of meds. She hasn't been banded yot due to some other health issues. I can find out more about the seminars and let you know, better yet, I'll try to get her on the forum so she can share her own experiences.

Thanks Dave, I'd love to hear from your mom. She's in Salt Lake City and going through this process, too?

Hi -- I haven't been banded yet, am newly looking into it, but I have rheumatoid arthritis for which I take many drugs -- prednisone, enbril, methotrexate, etc. and I'm concerned about being asked to go off my drugs, too. There is a thread regarding this. Put in key word "arthritis" and it should come up. Evidently this differs from doctor to doc. Some doctors did not make patient give up drugs.

Hi, I am just getting started. Haven't had my Dr. consult yet. Will have that this week. haven't even figured out how to navigate this site.

Jeansthings

I'm just getting started, too. Where in Utah are you located? Perhaps we can support each other through this.

Hello All- I live in Los Angeles but about to move back to Salt Lake City. Anyone know if they do banding at University of Utah Med Center? Also anyone have experience with having rheumatoid arthritis with lots of meds and how that affects getting banded? And finally, can anyone recommend a free seminar on banding for me to attend to start my journey? Thanks in advance!

I live in Van Nuys, and though I'm not banded yet, I love the idea of a group for bandsters, and if we were welcome, though of us who are waiting to be banded.

Hi Debbie - I live in Tarzana and I'm also in the still-looking-into-banding stage. I'd be thrilled to have a buddy with whom to go through this journey. You can email me at: authorchik@aol.com