I had my surgery on 2/22/12 with Dr Schneider at Beth Isreal in Boston. He was fabulous! He spent his time answering all my questions before at my appointments pre-op, the morning of my surgery and afterwards. I have my post-op with him on 3/15. All the staff at BIMDC has been great throughout the entire process. I highly recommend BIMDC and Dr Schneider!!

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My PCP referred be to Dr. Schneider. However, BIDMC's Weight Loss Surgery Center just refused to schedule an initial assessment with me since by BMI is only 39.1 and have no known co-morbidities.

In case I qualify for the surgery in the future, can you please tell me exactly what the hour-long initial assessment and education entail? Is the physical exam as thorough as your annual physical with your PCP?

Thanks in advance for the info!

During the initial assessment and education meeting, you'll meet with the nurse and Dr H. The nurse will overload you with information on the process from then until surgery and the actual surgery. What to expect, the changes you'll have to make mentally, physically and in what you eat. I remember walking away with y head spinning! Then you'll meet with Dr H who will talk more about the different surgical options in greater detail. He will be the one to perform the "physical", but it was very basic. He'll check your stomach area to see if you have any scars from other surgeries or if he can feel any internal swelling, then he checked my wrists and ankles to make sure my circulation was good. The nurse also did an EKG and checks your vitals. For me that was it, but I am pretty healthy (outside being obese!) but at that point is when they decide if you'll need any additional tests.

If you have a close friend or family member that is "taking" the journey with you, this is a good appointment for them to attend with you if they are able, since they will really learn what is going on, and it's a second set of ears for you.

Good luck!! And feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

He will be the one to perform the "physical", but it was very basic. He'll check your stomach area to see if you have any scars from other surgeries or if he can feel any internal swelling, then he checked my wrists and ankles to make sure my circulation was good. The nurse also did an EKG and checks your vitals. For me that was it, but I am pretty healthy (outside being obese!) but at that point is when they decide if you'll need any additional tests.

Did they weigh you again and have you change into a hospital gown?

They weigh you every time you go in for any appointment, but it's the weight on that first appointment that they use as your starting weight and for insurance purposes. I never changed into a gown at any appointment, always just stayed in whatever I wore in that day.

I too had Dr. Schneider and I LOVE him!! I think he does a great job answering questions and working with you to make you feel comfortable. Do you go to the BIDMC support group?

I haven't been to the support group meetings yet. I keep hoping to get to one, but never remember until it's too late :/ Have you been to any?

I haven't been to one either- I live near the Wrentham outlets so it's a far drive for me. That's why I joined the forum.

I had my surgery on 4/10 with dr Andrews from the same practice! They are great there - it's easy to understand what is expected for you, and when I ran into some unexpected complications after surgery ( violent hives, presumably to the Protein drinks) Elaine and Michelle were fantastic and kept checking in with me. I am going to try and make it to the support group on Wednesday.

weight at start of pre surgery diet - 304/current weight 280/surgery 4/10, Follow up 5/1

Hello!

Could anyone please tell me what sort of time frame they have for getting the lap band surgeries done at Beth Israel? I mean the time starting from when you first meet your surgeon until the date of the surgery? I know that there are a ton of tests and appointments to get done in between those two times, but I was wondering if anyone has been able to do it in a shorter period of time (i.e. less than 2 months)? Any knowledge or help would be very much appreciated!!!!

Thank you!!!

I had my first appointment with the nurse and nutrition the end of September and could have had the surgery the last week of November, but needed to wait til February in order to get time off from work. I have extremely low iron so I spent 4 weeks of that time trying to bring my levels up high enough that they could operate, so if you are fairly healthy I can't see why it would take more than 2 months start to finish.

Thanks for letting me know tackingmeback! I sent in (faxed) the screening/qualification questionnaire that's on their webpage. I hope they call to make an appointment soon (that's how it works, right? that's what it says on their web page anyways...)

Do you mind telling me which doctor you used? And whether or not you liked your experience there? Anything you could share about it would be really great! Thank you!

It took me 4 months from faxing in my paperwork to laying on the surgical table. I was banded on December 7, 2011. It was a pretty smooth process and everyone there really seemed like that cared about me and my situation. I had Dr. Schneider and I have to say he was amazing and still is every time I see him. I like everyone in the practice (especially Elaine-she cracks me up!). My nutritionist (Michelle) is really helpful and always responds to emails I send with my (stupid) questions very quickly. All and all, I would highly suggest them!!

hi! thanks for the feedback! I faxed my paperwork in at the end of last week and got a call from them today. They got me an appointment with their social worker for this Thursday (the woman on the phone said something about it being their first appointment). I went on their site and saw that the process at Beth Israel (once they have approved your paperwork) starts with seeing a nurse and a medical doctor, at which point you discuss what needs to be done for the rest of the process.

I'm somewhat concerned because they scheduled me with a social worker first....should I be? Did this happen to any of you? I'm now a little confused about how the process works....Any input would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

They make you meet with the Social Worker first to see if you're stable emotionally/mentally for the surgery and then you meet with the nurse and Dr. H. Sometimes they do it all in one day, sometimes they break up the social worker appointment from the other two.

So no worries - you're on the right track

Oh....thank you so much for letting me know! That makes me feel a lot better Yay! Thanks again