OK, I know I'm not the only Missouri person searching for surgery. I was surprised to get on here and find that no one has ever posted here.

I would like to start a rapport with other Missourians looking into, scheduled to have, or already had lap band surgery. If you're willing to post, I'd love to hear from you!

Have a great night

Billie Branham

Am considering lap-band as it is less invasive, but have plenty of questions. I am near St. Louis, MO and am looking for a reputable surgeon. I also am concerned with insurance, I am double covered thru GHP (Coventry) and am wondering if anyone has this insurance and whether it was paid. Thanks for any answers, it is greatly appreciated. Also, if there are any seminars that are available.:help:

Hey coolbrez84, I posted an answer to your question on the other Hello Missouri thread for you.

I reccommend Dr. James Pitt in Columbia, MO...... I was just banded on March 12th and feel terriffic. I have this over abundance of energy and cannot believe how well I have felt ever since the surgery. No pain, no gas, just pure excitement ready to start this new venture and I have lost 5 pounds since Mondays's surgery. I feel great. His staff is excellent they will work you through to get approved, pre-op, surgery and then afterwards. Terriffice people.

I am in Jefferson City, is there anyone close to me??

HI i am right outside of St. louis MO and I went through Depaul weightloss center and it was great! Everyone was awesome and the doctor actually came up with the arthroscopic way of banding. He has done over 4000 bands and I have no idea how many bypasses. They have a web site its www.depaulweightloss.com hope this helps!

What Is Arthoscopic?

sorry i meant arthroscopic and it is where they use several small openings vs having one huge opening

Ok That Is The Same As Laproscopic Then!!1 That Is What I Had.. I Have 5 Small Holes... Healing Good Now.. One Was Larger Than The Others I Guess That Is Where They Went With The Actuall Lapband Piece... Port Is Under That Hole.......... Oh Yes Much Better Than Being Opened Up... Actually I Told My Surgeon That If Something Would Not Work Out Doing It Laproscopically, Then Stop, I Did Not Want To Be Opened Up. Good Thing Everything Went Well.!!!

thats what it is laproscopic not arthroscopic....sorry got my knee surgery confused with my banding...lol Sharon I think we got banded close to the same date, I am doing good too, I am ready for my first fill though. I get hunger pains so bad right now but I am still losing :eek: I was 240 on feb 23 when I was banded and I am down to 226. It is going slower but when I get my fill I assume it will speed up again. Is your big port hole close to your belly button? Mine is right next to it and i was just curious. Anyway, good luck with yours and we will have to keep each other updated:)

Yes.... I Was Banded On March 12th.... Just Last Monday... In February Before Surgery I Was Up To 228... Surgery Day I Weighed 218. I Am Getting Depressed.... By Saturday Morning.. 5 Day Post Op I Had Lost 5.4 Pounds Sunday Gained Back .6 Monday An Additional 1 Pound... Today I Think It Was Another 1 Pound..... What Is GOING On??? I Have Not Eaten Much... I Have Been Much More Active Than Before... Even Walked Over 8 Miles On Sunday And This Really Makes Me Mad.

My Port Is Just To The Upper Right Of My Belly Button. Did You Have Any Pains Or Anything? I Have Not. I Feel My Muscle Strain Around The Port Area For Being Overly Active And Going Right Back To Work Etc....

Yes, Lets Keep In Touch And Up To Date... I Would Like That Very Much.. So You Are In St Louis Right??? I Am In Jefferson City... What Is Your Goal ? I Am Shooting For 150 But If I Get More Loss That Would Be Great Too. So Have You Had A Fill Yet? I Think My Surgeon Said After 6 Weeks... I Actually Go For My 1st Pre Op Appt Thursday..with The Nutritionist...

I have not had a fill yet but mine should be on the 30th of this month. I can't wait I was 240 on the day of surgery and have been stuck at 228 since the last couple weeks. I have been doing everything they ask and I am also getting frustrated. I also have horrible hunger pains all of the time and i dont have a lot of restriction. I am hoping all will change after my fill. So I understand your frustration, but hang in there it just takes time :mad: I also went back to work too soon and had the pains around my port area, but I dont have any pain anymore and have been hitting the gym hard. I just got a call they moved my fill to the 27th yay! I will let you know how it goes. TTYL

I Am Getting Depressed.... By Saturday Morning.. 5 Day Post Op I Had Lost 5.4 Pounds Sunday Gained Back .6 Monday An Additional 1 Pound... Today I Think It Was Another 1 Pound..... What Is GOING On??? I Have Not Eaten Much... I Have Been Much More Active Than Before... Even Walked Over 8 Miles On Sunday And This Really Makes Me Mad.

Sharon I don't think you are doing anything wrong. The first 6 weeks are when your body is healing so not losing anything or actually gaining a little is normal. The band is designed to work better with fills so after those start and they get you to where you need to be, things will change. Don't get discouraged, it's completely normal. I'm glad to hear that you are doing well.

Sharon,

Your stats are similar to mine, I have yet to be banded, but just starting the process. What was your starting BMI? And were you a self pay or insurance?

bmi i think it was right around 40 bmi.... i had insurance that pays 90%... my banding was on march 12th. i am still feeling so good and have an abundance of energy, but after all the walking i am doing and how little i honestly am eating... i am restricting myself.... cannot see why teh weight is sneaking back on... i know the first 6 weeks is for healing, but this is not fair when you work so hard and then the scale goes the other direction. my post op appt with nutritionist is tomorrow... dr not til next week....

OK, I know I'm not the only Missouri person searching for surgery. I was surprised to get on here and find that no one has ever posted here.

I would like to start a rapport with other Missourians looking into, scheduled to have, or already had lap band surgery. If you're willing to post, I'd love to hear from you!

Have a great night

Billie Branham

Billie: I've already searched and found. The Weightloss Center at DePaul Hospitaql in St. Louis it just wonderful! So much support from staff. I went to their support group and was very please with what I heard and saw. It's a mixed group rny and bandies. Dr. De La Torre and Dr. Scott are at the top of the line as far as I'm concerned. Dr. De La Torre is published, has over 400 patents for laposcoptic insturments and was one of the doctors used for the medical trials for lapbands in the US for approval. He has and office in Columbia, MO and is a professor there at Columbia.

I was just approved last week and got my durgery dat of April 13th. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Wishing you well in your search.

Jennifer:Banane35:

Sharon: Sounds like you are doing things well. I would suggest that you not worry about weighing every day. Are bodies go up and down from day to day. I would say weigh only at the doctor. Take time to make the changes you need. Just a thought.

Chris

Pre - St. Louis

Well I Was Suprised When I Went In To See The Nutritionist... I Went In The Afternoon After Eating Lunch And So Depressed... The Dr. Scale Said Less Than Mine At Hom Ehad Been Saying... Shocker!!! I Came Home Immediately And Re-weighed.. An Dmine Was Lower Too... The Pounds That Were Sneaking Back On Disappeared.. Now I Can Say That I Am Down 6 Pounds From Last Monday.. Whatever!!! I Am Going Stir Crazy Over This.... I Have Had No Complications, I Now Get Hiccups If I Eat Too Much Or Drink Too Fast.. So I Know For Sure To Stop Right Then... I Have Really Been Doing My Own Restricting, Since I Do Not Feel Restriction.. I Know I Have Done Great... I Have To Stop Beating Myself Up Over This...