SalOdyssey

Thank you. I am looking forward too it.

If you weren't nervous then I would be. Good luck. Funny you mention the whole peeing thing. I said the same to my girlfriend and brother. LOL Sal

Well another update; I saw my Surgeon Dr. Brathwiate and he said he will most likely operate in late september, october. He is waiting for the new hospital he is in to be certified by Medicare as a Center of Excellence. He said he should get the nod for it this summer as Medicare has already visited with him. All is looking good. He said to continue seeing the specialist he listed for me and to send him any and all reports. I cannot wait! ! ! Sal

I wish you the best. Sal

Good luck too you. Hope everything goes GREAT! ! ! Sal

In a recent update, my cardiologist cleared me for surgery. Sal

I watched and talked to a few different offices. Some doctors are now stitching the band itself into place. This virtually eliminated slippage. I believe the surgeon I am using also stitches it into place. Sal

Well let me update all of you as to where I stand as of today. I saw the Dr. Brathwaite at the end of October and went to his seminar during my visit to NY as well. I followed up with him at Christmas time when I was back in NY and he said to have all my doctors send my stuff to him. I go see him again in June during my next trip to NY and hopefully he will clear me for the rest of the tests I need to have done. Of his checklist for surgery I am about 80-85% done with everything. While in NY in June He wants me to attend 2 of his support group meetings. I am hoping to get some kind of date commitment from him on this trip also. Back when I saw him at Christmas he said late 2008 would be a great possibility. I am hoping to get something done this fall. Personally the sooner the better so I can get my life back on track and slim down. I am SICK of being a big guy. I want to walk the street and people not even recognize it is me. I will update you all again after the June appointment. Wish me luck! ! ! Sal

When I had jock itch a few years ago before I got really heavy the doctor said on days where I feel moist down in the belly fold to use this stuff called Zeasorb. It is a powder that contains a drying agent and the jock itch went away almost instantly because rashes need the moisture to survive and feed off of the powder eliminated the moisture therefore the rash went away. Sal

Anyone else want to chime in. Please my appointment is Thursday. Thanks, Sal

Bump Bump....

Dr. Collin Brathwaite in Smithtown. He does the surgery at St. Catherine's Hospital.

As I said in an earlier post I have my appointment with a bariatric lap band doctor in New York next week. What tests should I expect him to send me for? ALso what will they ask during the pysch. test? Any help would be great! ! :help::help::help: Sal

Florida rules for lap band surgery suck big a@@, especially if your a Medicare patient. I have already had a sleep study, so I guess that test is out of the way. I just wish my appointment was tomorrow, the wait is killing me, but well worth the wait. Sal

The doctors office just called to confirm my insurance info. I am so happy I could cry. Sal

Hi all, I have finally gotten some good news concerning my life and getting the lapband procedure done. Although my good news is minimal it is a big step for me in the right direction. I have known for a few months that my state of Florida has tighter restrictions of getting the lap band done. You have to do 18 months of doctor supervised diets, no if's and's or but's about it. I even confirmed this with Medicare directly along with several area Center's for Bariartic Excellences, all the hosptials have told me the same thing. Well onto my good news. After a lot of calling and explaining the story over and over I have found a doctor who is willing to give me an appointment to get into his office for the initial consultation and go to his seminar to only catch is I have to TRAVEL to my HOME state of NY. I got an appt coming up in Dr. Collin Brathwaites office in Smithtown, NY in October. I am so excited to finally get the ball rolling. The procedure will be done at Saint Catherines Hospital in Smithtown. I have family that I will stay with in Nassau County, NY. At the consult he will give me all the tests that I will have to have done when I return to Florida. After I get all the testing done I have to go back to him to submit to medicare for approval and set a surgery date. Can anyone tell me what type of tests I will need to have done. I have already had a sleep study. What other test will I need. I imagine blood work is one of the things I will have to have done. What else is there. Anyway I figured I would share some good news. Also apparently NY guidelines don't require any strict diet, so I imagine it will only be what the doctor requires. Hope to have more good news when I return from the visit in later October. Wish me luck! ! ! Sal :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

As I am sure some of you may know that Medicare has a 6 months exclusion from doing the surgery. In this 6 months they require doctor controlled diet. Well my question is has anyone on Medicare had the 6 months Dr. diet exclusions waived? And if you did what did you do to get it waived. All help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Sal

PLEASE HELP! ! !:help: :help: I recently discovered that the doctor I was going to use when medicare kicked in next month is no longer accepting medicare. He supposedly revoked his privlidges with them because they did not pay. Although that does not sound right to me, now I am left to find a good surgeon who can perform the lap band. Can anyone recommend a doctor in the Tampa Bay, New Tampa area? Please provide me with there address and your reviews of them if you would. Any help would be extremely appreciated. The Dr.'s name is Dr. Grossbard I found this out with a call to his office. Thanks, Sal

I Will. Happy New Year! ! Sal :party:

This Is Something I Want To Know. As I Qualify For Medicare In April. Gonna Call Them After The New Year To Find Out More Info. My Specific Question Is Does Medicare On Disability Cover The Lap Band??

Well No Good News On The Essay. I Guess I Have To Wait Till April For Medicare To Kick In. Hope They Don't Screw Me Over Also. One Can Only Pray. I Do Want To Thank The People Running The Essay Contest For The Opportunity To Even Write In. Sal

I Guess Me Being 650 Lbs Plus People Have A Different Attitude Towards Me. People Support Me Getting The Lap Band Because They Have Seen Me Really Try To Diet And It Not Work. I Guess There Will Always Be Skeptics Of Any Procedure. But The Decison To Have This Surgery Is Yours And Yours Alone. Good Luck. Sal :grouphug:

I Want To Let You All Know I Submitted My Essay That Sweethot Recommended I Do. I Also Want To Thank You All For This Site, There Is So Much Knowledge Here That No Doctor Can Give You. I Hope To Hear Good News From The Essay I Submitted. Everyone Keep Your Fingers Crossed. Sal

Thank You I Will Keep Everyone Updated As To What Happens. Sal

Thank You Everyone For Your Kind Words. I Will Be Sending In An Essay Please Say A Prayer. Thank You Sal :xena_banana: