I'm seeing Dr. Margo in Deer River,Mn.He was trained by Dr. Horgan in Chicago,who was in on the ground floor of lapband in this country so I feel secure in his care.He requires alot of pretests...colonoscopy,manometry,esophageal endoscopy,psych report,etc.Has anyone else had this experience?I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere on the boards.I'm about in the middle of completing these procedures.

Thanks,Sonjia

Hi, I just read your message about your Dr. being in Deer River I was Born there. And lived in the Bemidji area for the first 23 years of my life. I am in Dallas TX now and just getting banded on this 11th so wont be home for thanksgiving but will be for christmas. I am a self pay due to a very bad insurance company and a low BMIjust 35 so I saved my money for a year adn am getting it done. I just had to get the cardio screne done and then I was good to go. I hope you pass all of those tests.

Hope to hear from you soon and good Luck is Dr. Goodall still in town he deliverd me.

thanks Renee

Hi~

Deer River must have grown since I was last through there! I lived in Northome till I was 5 and still have relatives there. Also had relatives in Deer River but they have been gone a long time. Interesting how you "meet" people from all over!

Emily

Hey you two!Renee,I did get your message but am still figuring out the board,so here I finally am.No,I don't think Deer River has changed much.It is still very tiny,but does have a very nice little hospital.Quite a bit of the facility is new.Dr. Margo is a surgeon in neardy Grand Rapids.I'm about 2 hrs from there so I don't really know anyone there.Gotta go.Will write more later.I only have one test left and I'm good to go!!!!!!!

Sonjia

I saw Dr Fortier in Morris for my banding. I had to have a referral by my regular physician, a referral from my Psychiatrist, a pre surgery physical exam which included basics plus a CBC and EKG and a chest xray. That was it.

Hey Sonjia! I got banded from Dr Margo, too! I was banded on June 16th,2005. I really love him, I think he does a great job. I know a couple of other people that work with me that are going to him, too. I live about 1 hour and 15 min away from there, so I don't really know anyone in Deer River either. But I love that they remember me each time I go there. Have you been to any of those monthly meetings?