Hi. I have been researching the lapband. I have an appointment Nov. 22, to go to a seminar that is led by two doctors that do this surgery in Texarkana. I would appreciate any info on these doctors. Also what is a "fill" Is it something you have to go back for often? What are the serious risk of having a lapband, if any? Thanks .

Sugarbear,

I'm sorry but I don't know the doctors in Texarkana. I used Dr. Wellborn in Little Rock and I have had a great experience with him. I was banded on Nov. 18th and I so far have lost 15lbs in less than 1 week. Now, I know that this won't continue, I'm still on liquids and haven't had much of an appetite. My band is still very tight from the swelling due to the surgery. My experience with the lapband has been up and down. Mostly up!! The problems that I have had are due to the heartburn and gas pains. On Monday I did dry heave that evening and it really scared me, all of it was due to the severe heartburn. My husband called Dr. Wellborn's medical exchange @ 8:55pm and Dr. Wellborn called back in about 3 minutes. Now that is being taken care of. He told my husband to get my head elevated and give me some Pepcid AC and 2 tablespoons of Maalox. I was immediately better. Since then I have continued to take the Pepcid 2xs daily and Maalox 2xs daily and my heartburn and gas are so much better. Dr. Wellborn will see me on Dec. 12th for a checkup but he will not fill my band until 6 weeks post op. Fills are very important and a friend of mine that was banded in Feb. has had 4 fills so far and has lost 61 pounds and feels great. The fills are not very painful and they just go into the port that is implanted inside your abdoman with a needle and put some saline to fill the ring around the band so you'll have more restriction. This is because the band will adjust to your stomach and it needs to stay restricted some. Now, with the band you should only eat 8 tablespoons of food for each meal for as long as you have the band. With any surgery there are risks and your doctor will tell you about them when you go to the seminar. Make sure you choose a good doctor and get some info on him or her. The risks involved with the band are not near as serious as gastric bypass that's why I chose it, also it is done laproscopically and usually you do not even have to spend the night in the hospital. I have 4 bandaids on my belly where mine was done and my belly never did hurt, just the gas pains was all. Good luck and if you need anything just drop a line. Sunshine

Thank you for the info. We attended the seminar in Texarkana, 11/22. It was informative. The Doctors that do the surgery there are a married couple. They usually do it together, unless one is called away for emeregency surgery or something like that. I am wondering if there are some foods that you may never eat again such as steak and breads. Are you able to remain healthy on such little food intake per day? Thanks for helping me out.

Sugarbear

Sugarbear, I also live in the Texarkana area, and I am planning to go to the December 13th seminar. Just curious....do you think you will go through with the banding after attending and getting more information? I have read some horror stories on this website, and it has slowed my excitement about getting banded. Just wondering...

Wanabealoser, Yes I am considering it even more now that I attended the seminar. Ask questions about some of those horror stories. It would be good to write those down before you go. They answer questions at the end of the seminar. If they are too personal go up and ask them afterwards. I think there were more positive stories than bad. I still have questions but will ask the doctors when I have a consult. I have filled out the patient information page but haven't heard back from them yet. I am planning to talk to them soon after the first of the year. Have you heard much about the doctors. They seemed very professional and confident in what they do. Good luck what ever your decision is.

I know 2 people who have used them. One goes to my church--she was banded last year (Looks great!), and the other I work with--she was banded a couple weeks ago. All 3 of us work in the healthcare business, and no I have not heard any negative things about these docs. All 3 of us however, work at the "other" hospital, and not the one they operate in. I have just recently decided to check into this. I am sick of being obese and feeling much older than I am. I know several folks who have had the RNY procedure, and some of them are no longer with us. There seems to be some serious potential problems that go with that procedure, so I would never consider it, but the band seems to be a great (and much safer) alternative. I will certainly do my research before I commit to this, so I'll let you know if I uncover any skeletons.

Hey guys, just thought I would let you know about my experience thus far. I was banded October 10 of this year. II was a little uncomfortablefor a few days after my surgery. It was nothing that I couldnt take Tylenol for and live through. The hardest part for me I must say was the gas pain in the shoulder from the surgery. This does pass quickly. I was also really wanting solid foods much sooner than my doctor wanted me to start on them. I have had one fill since my surgery and my experience was that I had to start all over again in my food eating process. I had to do liquids for a few days longer than the nurse instructed. Everything went well though. So far, I have lost 35 lbs and I feel great. I already have more energy and I need it to chase around my eight month old! I have me regrets! This is working for me and I think has more than likely saved my life! Good luck in your journey. If you have any questions I will be happy to talk to you about my experience!

Leigh Ann, after surgery are any foods forbidden? Not just right after surgery, I mean forever? Do you ever resume eating normally, just smaller portions?

There are a few foods that I have been told not to eat. One thing that is on the top of the list is carbonated drinks. I miss my diet cokes! I am not missing the inches I have lost off of my body though! Also, foods that normally give you gas are not a good idea. I was told to steer clear of brocolli and cauliflower, they are real gassy. I have had brocolli in a healthy choice meal and it was ok. I have basically been able to eat anything I want. I just have to be careful still about tough, dry meats, they cause me a little discomfort. I have not been brave enough to try carbonated drinks. I have seen on some websites where people are evenrually able to have a soda. I just havent been brave enough. I have read on this website alot of different things people are eating. I think the farther you get from your surgery the easier it is to eat different things. The thing I would stress to you is if you decide to do this, what ever you eat, chew chew chew. That will make your life alot easier! I am also finding out that different doctors will tell you different things as far as what to try and what not to try. My guess would be that you can have basically whatever you want except the sodas. That seems to be a universal no-no. Start out slow everyone reacts differently to different foods. I hope that this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you Leigh Ann. One other thing...do you know why they do not do the lapband at St. Michaels Hopital? It is only done at Wadley in Texarkana.

I am not from your area so I cant help you with that information. I am from New Mexico and had my surgery done in El Paso, TX. Sorry about that!

Sugerbear:

I am going to be sure and ask this question when I go to the seminar. I can get a discount for services that I receive at a CHRISTUS facility, so I may have to go to another CHRISTUS facility (other than Texarkana) to have the procedure if I decide to go through with it. My insurance does not cover this procedure, so I will be a self-pay. So every opportunity to save a little will help. I will let you know what I find out. I can also check tomorrow to see if these 2 docs are on staff at St. Michaels.

I am curious to know why, as popular as this procedure has become, that it isn't done at St. Michaels ? I am also wondering if you will ever be able to eat "normal" again after being banded. I know much smaller portions, but I am talking about being restricted from eating many foods that you may have eaten before surgery. I should have asked at the seminar but didn't think of it at the moment. My insurance doesn't use Wadley, just St. Michaels, I mentioned it to the doctor, and he said they have ran into that before and worked it out, with the insurance company, I guess. I wasn't sure about that answer from him. I should have ask him to clarify it better. There were many people wanting to ask questions, I didn't want to hog to much time from him. He mentioned that the company that makes the band is particular about who performs the services with the band. Anyway thanks for the info and any other you come up with.

:phanvan Haven't been here in a while. Still considering surgery but have now found out my insurance is going to pay very little for the surgery. I am going to write a letter to them along with a letter of medical necessity. Hope that will help. They make me sick sometimes, after what we pay for it and then they want to pay practically nothing! I am wondering how much difference there is in cost between the doctors especially if they know you are self pay or nearly self pay?

I am also wondering how Penni is since she had to have her band removed?

With regards to Wadley vs. St Michael's, we have seen that insurance companies that cover St Michael's and not Wadley will provide out of network coverage for the Lap Band at Wadley. Dr. Keilin and I are on active staff at St Michael's as well as Wadley, but St Michael's does not offer the Lap Band.

We have had a significant number of patients who have insurance that generally covers St Michaels only; they have the Lap Band covered at Wadley without any difficulties since the insurance company understands that the Lap Band is not an available procedure at St Michael's

Thank you for the reply. My insurance coverage for the procedure is very limited. Then on top of that the coverage would be less because it would be out- of-network. I am planning to get a letter of medical necessity for my husband and myself. We are both considering the lap band and have attended your seminar. When we get the letter they will be sent to our insurance along with a letter from me. I hope our insurance will consider this surgery more seriously than they obviously do now.