vickyd

Congrats Vicky!!! He is a great doctor, not to mention not bad to look at too...lol!! He is very patient and very easy to talk to if you have questions. Amber the PA is very nice too, she will be the one doing the fills after your first follow up appointment after surgery :cursing: Good Luck, I'm here if you ever have any questions or you can email me at kboudreaux@cox.net

LOL...Definately not bad to look at...one lady at the seminar asked me if I thought all of the doctors in the practice were as good looking as he is...

My appointment next week is with Amber...they said that for lap-band patients they normally have them meet with her first but Dr. Wooldridge is the one who will do the surgery.

Thanks for the email address...I will definately take you up on it!

Hey everyone! I'm from the New Orleans area too! I was banded on Nov 5, 2009 by Dr. James Wooldridge at Ochsner.....love, love, loved him and the hospital staff. He is so nice :cursing: Good luck to everyone!

I attended the seminar yesterday. I went in planning to have Dr. Richardson do my surgery and came out determined that Dr. Wooldridge do it. He was so nice and took as much time as everyone needed to get questions answered. I was 100% decided on the surgery when I went in and 200% decided when I left after talking to him!

My 1st appointment is August 3rd...hopefully, I can get this done before the end of the year!

My husband is extremely supportive in my decision to be banded. I attended my seminar today and he just called and said that he couldn't wait to hear all about it. Since I have chosen not to tell anyone else about the surgery, his support is so important!!

MissNursette - how did you like Dr. Wooldridge. I have decided on using Dr. Richardson's group but not sure which Dr. I have heard that Dr. Richardson doesn't have much of a bed-side manner...how about Dr. Wooldridge? Is he more personable?

I go to the seminar tomorrow. What should I expect during the seminar?

I am hoping to get banded by the end of the year and the only person I will be telling is my husband. Deep down I think my family will be very supportive, but they can also be extremely pushy (well-meaning, but pushy). I figure that I will be dealing with enough changes in my life without having to deal with questions about how much I have lost every time I talk to them.

If anyone comes out and asks me if I had surgery, I don't think I will lie about it but I am just not going to volunteer the information...

That's great....who's the doctor? I'm very happy with my band, but please know that its work. Good luck and feel free to ask any quesions.

I'm not sure who the surgeon will be for me...the seminar is with Dr. William Richardson's group. I have heard that he i an excellent surgeon (but not much of a bed side manner)...what hospital did you use for your surgery?

I'm in Metairie...not banded yet, but attending the informational seminar at Oschner tomorrow with the hopes of getting banded before the end of the year...

I'm right where you are...at the beginning. Definately contact your insurance first to see if you need a referral (my insurance doesn't require one but I have to use a doctor in their network) after that, call the Dr. My Dr's office won't even allow you to make an appointment for a consultation until you have attended an informational seminar (I am scheduled to attend one next week and then I can make my appointment).

These sort of reactions is exactly why I have chosen not to tell anyone that I am even considering it, much less actually plan to do it as soon as I can get everything in place. My DH tries to understand, and will certainly honor my wishes, but he says eventually people will figure it out. I wouldn't lie about it if someone flat out asked me, but I just don't want to make it public yet...it is a very personal decision and I don't need (or want) the pressure of people constantly asking how much weight I have lost or judging me if they think it is too slow or too fast...

Hi! I'm Vicky from New Orleans and I am just starting my Lap Band adventure...

I had decided several years ago that I wanted to have Lap Band surgery, but at that time my insurance did not cover it. Fast forward 3 years (after DH was laid off, going without insurance because COBRA was too expensive, being laid off myself and then both of us finally finding wonderful jobs)...a couple of weeks ago, we were watching TV and an ad for Lap Band surgery came on where they were talking about a lot of insurance companies covering it. My DH looked at me and said, "Are you sure our insurance doesn't cover it?". My only answer is that I just assumed that it wasn't covered based on the research I had done with our previous insurance...but it got me thinking...

The next morning, I called my insurance company (United Health Care) and was told that they do cover 90% of the cost of the surgery as long as I meet some requirements (which I do) and I use a surgeon and hospital on their plan...no problem :scared2:

After a lot of research, I have chosen Dr. William Richardson at Oschner Medical Center and have made arrangements to attend the Informational Seminar on July 27th. After I attend the seminar, I can schedule my first appointment.

I can't wait!!! :smile: