Hi everyone, Long time lurker, first time poster. My insurance covers the lap band surgery at UT Mist and I was wondering what's the word on them.

1/3/13 I've had initial consultation with Dr Richard Englehardt. Weight 290lbs, recommends losing 14lbs before banding. It went well, but his staff kinda worries me.

1/15/13 The dietician I met appeared to be a more meat for the grinder personality. Callous comes to mind. How much do patients rely on dietician after band?

1/23/13 i've had psych consult, apparently I'm a good for procedure. But I have to have an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) for insurance reasons. Should I be concerned that I've called their office twice and left messages and no one returns my call?

I understand it may take 3-6 months before banding but is there a reason to delay EGD? Any advice or comments would be appreciated Mamoo

I actually changed both surgeons and procedures. I originally was supposed to get Gastric Bypass, went through the entire process, but ended up canceling at the last minute. I then found a different surgeon for Lap Band.

My first piece of advice is to follow your instincts. If you're not comfortable with the staff, I would very seriously consider looking for a new surgeon. The truth is, the staff is just as involved in your aftercare as the surgeon. Sometimes even more. If you're not confident in them, I'd look into other options.

The dietician is, in my opinion, absolutely crucial. A good dietician should take the time to help you establish food guidelines specific to your lifestyle and needs. They should show you exactly how to eat, what portions you should be eating, and explain why it's all important. If you aren't comfortable and confident with the dietician I'd consider a different one because they're so important for your journey.

If you do decide to change surgeons, I would do it sooner than later. There is a time limit on all those tests you've already done to be considered valid so you would want your records transferred as soon as possible. Changing doctors may delay your surgery a little, but it's better to have a delayed surgery with a surgeon and staff you're comfortable with than a sooner surgery without the confidence in your physician support.

Best wishes to you.

Ha, Mis73! I also was approved for Gastric, changed my mind at the last minute, and then found my band doctor! Fortunately they are part of the same center, so he just went over to GB office and picked up my file with all my preop and psych veal and everything.

I don't have a dietician, but probably because I was self-pay. I do think it is important to like the staff, and I know my doc's staff warmed up to me more after I got over the crankiness of the liquid diet and quitting smoking. I was not very patient or pleasant during that time. :-)

My doctor's office had 2 nutritionist the first 1 I didn't like the second 1 I got along much better with.

Regarding your test. I would call and ask specifically for the nurse practitioner with whom you're going to work. I would ask is there a reason you should wait to take this test. If there's no reason to wait I would ask they schedule it right away. Find out will she schedule it or do you schedule it. I find doctors offices to be like any other business if you don't set expectations and find out who is going to do a task it will go

Undone.

If once you've established a relationship with the nurse practitioner and they don't return call then you have a problem. Consider did they not return a call the same day or was it the next day or the day after? A nurse may not consider a call from a pre op patient urgent.

I will say that your relationship with the nursing staff is very important. My doctor does not do fills they are done by the nurse practitioner. I really really really like my nurse practitioner. I like my surgeon and I got what I wanted from him an excellent surgery but I don't know if he really would succeed doing feels all day. I don't think you would say that was his calling.

I didn't change, but I want to echo the importance of the staff. I have seen my surgeon 3 times, and if everything goes well I may not see him again for months. But my LB nurse is the one who does my classes and fills. On our pre-op visit she gave me her cell phone and told me to call it 24X7 if I ever have a problem or concern. She said if there was a problem, we wouldn't have to wait for normal business hours, but either she or the Dr. would meet us at the office when ever it was needed. You have no idea how much better that made my wife and I feel.