Seeking fellow Mr. and Mrs. Trahan patients and patient wannabee's for an online support group here.

Are you interested?

According to his profile here only 17 members identify him as their surgeon. Only 3 registered within the last year. You might have better luck trying to organize this through his office.

Hello, I have attend the WLS Seminar at Martha Jefferson in Sept'11 and have sent in my paperwork and waiting to hear from Dr. Trahan's office. I have two friends who have had WLS and both have had great success. One went with Gastric By-pass, other went with Lap-Band, and both had Dr. Trahan(Mr) as their surgeon. My insurance company with pay for the surgery 100% but I believe there is a 6-month waiting period.

I am trying to do all of my homework before I have my initial meeting and still cannot figure out which would be best for me. I hope that with you all help, I will figure out which would suit me the best. My PCP is supportivein this since I have high blood pressure and asthma and she believes that I will be able to stop taking the high blood pressure medicine after surgery. My family is supportive as well; my husband would prefer me to have the lap band because he is very concern with the compilations with the bypass.

I am looking forward to taking this new journey and hopethat we all become great friends, thanks for taking the time to hear my story.

:rolleyes:

My surgeon is Dr. Michael Trahan at Martha Jefferson Hospital. I went to his seminar in December and had our first one-on-one in January. His staff was friendly and helpful and I was comfortable with him. I knew before I met with him that I wanted the LapBand. I'd been thinking this over for a long time and after seeing the success that a woman I work with has had, I knew I needed to stop procrastinating. My insurance is Anthem BC/BS through the state and I'm required to wait a year, which started on February 1, 2012. I've visited the nutritionist and the counselor. I also joined WW online and have regular phone sessions with Value Options, as required by the insurance. The year is actually going quickly, just not quickly enough. I'm ready to do this.

I have been to the learning session in march 2012 at Martha Jefferson and had my first visit with Dr. Trahan (mr.) may 2012 my insurance requires 6 month supervised diet so I am working on that along with dietitian, mental health and labs. I would love to be in online group with other that are Dr. Trahan's patients.

I have been to the learning session in march 2012 at Martha Jefferson and had my first visit with Dr. Trahan (mr.) may 2012 my insurance requires 6 month supervised diet so I am working on that along with dietitian' date=' mental health and labs. I would love to be in online group with other that are Dr. Trahan's patients.[/quote']

Welcome Beckysue. It sounds like you will be banded before me, My year won't be up until February 2013. I haven't seen any sign of other patients of Dr. Trehan that are current but I'd be happy to also be in a support group. Have you had your first visit with the dietitian and counselor yet? I had both appointments in April, on the same day and was very pleased. What insurance do you have? I'm with Trigon BC/BS.

Welcome Beckysue. It sounds like you will be banded before me' date=' My year won't be up until February 2013. I haven't seen any sign of other patients of Dr. Trehan that are current but I'd be happy to also be in a support group. Have you had your first visit with the dietitian and counselor yet? I had both appointments in April, on the same day and was very pleased. What insurance do you have? I'm with Trigon BC/BS.[/quote']

Sorry, insurance is Anthem.

I am currently working on scheduling dietitian and mental health. I have aetna I work at UVA. If all goes well I should be able to have surgery in October 2012.

I'm at Longwood U. down in Farmville. I just assumed all the state universities used the same insurance. Live and learn.

I saw Susan Kaufman for the counseling visit. She is very pleasant and the hour went by quickly. I also liked Dianne Vitt, the nutritionist.

I am working now to make mental health appt. with Christy Riebeling and am waiting for a call back from the nutritionist. I go Friday to primary dr. For my first visit for six month supervised weight loss and to start doing required blood work, EKG and whatever else they ask for it's like a second job

I haven't been asked for bloodwork yet. Is that from the doctor? It seems like a 6 month wait is much more reasonable than a year.

Dr. Trahan sent my primary dr. a letter requesting blood work, EKG and over all health check. I would be so frustrated if I had to wait a year. I have already done almost a year of weight watchers and that won't count as my supervised weight loss

Dr. Trahan sent my primary dr. a letter requesting blood work' date=' EKG and over all health check. I would be so frustrated if I had to wait a year. I have already done almost a year of weight watchers and that won't count as my supervised weight loss [/quote']

I've done WW off and on for years and look forward to never paying them again. I do have an appointment with my PCP in July, so I can check with him them about any tests that are needed. lol. I'm not good with waiting.

Bonnie

I am working now to make mental health appt. with Christy Riebeling and am waiting for a call back from the nutritionist. I go Friday to primary dr. For my first visit for six month supervised weight loss and to start doing required blood work' date=' EKG and whatever else they ask for it's like a second job <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Becky, have you had your appointments with the nutritionist and the counselor yet? I hope you're well. Your six months should fly by.

I had my appt. with PCP on Friday Dr. Trahan's office sent him a letter with all the required test he needed to do on me, and detailed information on what he needs to include in his notes for the insurance to cover the surgery. I. Go Tuesday for a blood test testing everything He also needs to do a EKG and I needed to have a mammogram. I have appt. with Rita Smith the nutritionist for the first viisit and Christy for metal health evaluation on June 14th. Also Dr. Trahan's nurse said I need to keep detailed records of what I eat on myfitnesspal.com and try not to go over 1400 calories a day and exercise at least 30 min. 3 to 5 times a week. I have to print that off from myfitnesspal every time I go to PCP and give it to him to put in his records.

Do you have specific requirements you have to do in this year you had to wait for surgery?

I had my appt. with PCP on Friday Dr. Trahan's office sent him a letter with all the required test he needed to do on me, and detailed information on what he needs to include in his notes for the insurance to cover the surgery. I. Go Tuesday for a blood test testing everything He also needs to do a EKG and I needed to have a mammogram. I have appt. with Rita Smith the nutritionist for the first viisit and Christy for metal health evaluation on June 14th. Also Dr. Trahan's nurse said I need to keep detailed records of what I eat on myfitnesspal.com and try not to go over 1400 calories a day and exercise at least 30 min. 3 to 5 times a week. I have to print that off from myfitnesspal every time I go to PCP and give it to him to put in his records.

Do you have specific requirements you have to do in this year you had to wait for surgery?

Beckysue, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Anthem's requirements for my year were to join a weight loss program for a year. I choose Weight Watchers online. I only have to show the invoice where I paid to join. (I get half that back from the insurance.) I have to talk to the Life Coach counselor twice a month for a year. I'm thru the first 6 months. It's gone faster then I thought it would.

I'm going to wait till January to finish up my lab work and EKG for Trehan. I've done everything else. My mammogram is in 2 weeks.

I hope things are going smoothly there.