Hi everybody,

I just got banded 5/2/06 and I am moving to New Orleans 7/15/06. I was a self-pay patient in Kansas City. My fills are free for the first year in KC, so obviously if I can do that I'd like to. My first fill is next week, so hopefully I should be able to have 2-3 before I move, just to get a head start (especially because I have the VG Band).

However, I am looking for an alternate doctor in the New Orleans/neighboring area for fills when I can't see my regular surgeon. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

So anyway, there's that, and also HELLO! I'm excited to be moving to your fair state.

JoAnn - a few of us from the New Orleans area meet informally about once a week. You're more than welcome to join us. Keep in mind though, we are a mixture of lap band and RNY people.

If you check out the Louisiana board on obesityhelp.com you'll find threads about meetings, etc.

I believe there is an official OH chapter meeting this Thursday in Baton Rouge. Again, there will be both lap band and RNY people there but you're sure to find the support you need.

Good luck!

Thanks Tricia, I'll checkout obesityhelp.com

Hi all, I'm Aimee (warmmorningsun) in Baton Rouge, LA; I was banded 6/7/06; I'm at a standstill on weight loss

Would love to meet up with others. I've attended the OH meeting in BR and my doc's (Drake Bellanger) support meetings but there' mostly RNY patients. Please let me know if you guys decide to get together I can drive to you - it would be nice to meet with others who had the band as well!

Hi all of you LA bandsters!

My name is Connie & I was just banded on 8/30/06 & I am 3 days out. I think this is the really difficult part b/c I really want some food!

My dr is Dr. Warden he's in the group with Dr. Lavin - he did the surgery in Slidell at the new Southern Surgical Hospital, but I go to the Covington office for visits. I also had Hiatal Hernia done at the same time. The actual procedure only took 40 minutes of the dr's time which I thought was pretty fast. Anyway, I am planning to attend the support group on 9/11 at the Southern Surgical Hospital, I hear they are pretty good.

Are any of you guys meeting anywhere else? I'd love to meet you all!

hi - been lookin for others from La. I am from central la. and there are several ladies from my area. glad to see others just to be able to compare notes with.

Hi, I Did Make It Here From Georgia. Actually I've Been Here Since July 20th Or So. I Have Just Been Trying To Unpack And Get Settled. I Haven't Been Having Time To Post. I Am Only Down 21 Pounds But I Have'nt Had A Fill Yet. I Have Been Researching Doctor Drake Bellanger In Baton Rouge. Anyone Here Had A Fill By Him Yet. If So Please Relate Your Experience. He Does Blind Fills And Since I Have Never Been Filled Before, I Am Scared. If Any Of His Patients Care To Tell Me What You Thought Of Him, I Would Be Happy To Hear From You. (by The Way I Had My Surgery Done In Mexico).

On Another Note I Am Currently Losing My hair, Not Sure If Anything I Am Doing Is Working Yet.

Did Any Of You Girls Get Together Yet? If So Where Did You Guys Meet, I Hope I Can Come Out To Play Soon. I Would Love To Talk And Meet With Ya'll One Day Soon.

HI ALL AGAIN, NO ONE HAS POSTED HERE SINCE I LAST POSTED. I JUST WANT TO CONGRADS ALL IN THE AREA WHO ARE NEWLY BANDED. I HOPE YOUR MAKING IT THROUGH THE NEXT STAGES OKAY.

I WANTED TO ASK IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF A DOCTOR VERLOTT. IF SO PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE. I AM IN NEED OF A FILL, AND I AM STILL RESEARCHING DOTORS. I THINK I AM GOING TO GO WITH DR LAVINS GROUP, SINCE HIS GROUP IS THE MOST WELL KNOWN AMONG THIS SMALL GROUP.

MY HAIR SEEMS TO BE DOING BETTER, I THINK. IT IS JUST QUITE THIN IN THE FRONT AND AROUND THE EARS. BUT I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE BIOTIN DAILY AND I INCREASED MY PROTEIN INTAKE. i COULDN'T FIND THE NIOXIN SHAMPOOS AT MY LOCAL SALLYS, BUT I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE HAIRDRESSER ONCE A WEEK AND SHE HAS BEEN GIVING ME A RECONSTRUCTIVE HAIR TREATMENT (WHICH IS NOTHING BUT A STRENGTHNING CONDITIONER), SO I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS WORKING PACIFICALLY. I AM JUST GLAD THAT IT LET UP SOME.

I too will be going to Surgical Specialists of Louisiana.

I am seeing Dr. French. I know a few people who went here. Good Luck to all!

Hey I'm From Shreveport Hope To Be Banded In Early March.. Was Wondering If Anyone Is From Shreveport???

Hi to all of you. I am about 30 miles from the New Orleans Area. Closer to Houma. I had my surgery www.whyweight.com with Dr. French. It would really be nice to stay in-touch with all of you. We may run into each one day.

Hi to all of you. I am about 30 miles from the New Orleans Area. Closer to Houma. I had my surgery www.whyweight.com with Dr. French. It would really be nice to stay in-touch with all of you. We may run into each one day.

Hi,

I am having my surgery March 15 at the same place as you with Michael Thomas. As pointers appreciated to make my day smooth? I am a nervous ninny!!

Hey everyone! Another fellow Louisiana inhabitant here. I'm actually right outside of Baton Rouge in a growing town called Denham Springs. That's right - home of the future Bass Pro Shop! Pft.

Anywho, I've recently started doing a bit of research about the lap-band procedure, and as it turns out, www.lapband.com only recommends one doctor that's also on my insurance. His name is Karl Leblanc. Anyone heard of him?

I spoke with his secretary yesterday and she's going to start looking up information on my insurance to see how my insurance would work with it.

Hope to hear from more of you soon.

Hi, I'm also researching hospitals that do the surgery and are a Center of Excellence. I'm on Medicare disability and I just found out the Oschner's Hopital in N.O. is a Center of Excellence. I have to go to their Seminar Mar. 8 and then they will schedule an appt. Have been talking to the Surgery Center in Houma, LA but they do not know when they will be a Center of Excellence. I don't want to keep putting it off. I want to do it now, since I decided. Does anybody know someone that has had Lapband surgery at Oschners???

Hi, I'm also researching hospitals that do the surgery and are a Center of Excellence. I'm on Medicare disability and I just found out the Oschner's Hopital in N.O. is a Center of Excellence. I have to go to their Seminar Mar. 8 and then they will schedule an appt. Have been talking to the Surgery Center in Houma, LA but they do not know when they will be a Center of Excellence. I don't want to keep putting it off. I want to do it now, since I decided. Does anybody know someone that has had Lapband surgery at Oschners???

I don't know anyone who had it at Oschners but I had mine at Southern Surgical in Slidell, it was very nice and clean. A friend of mind had hers at Omega Hospital, I heard it was realy nice. Good Luck to you!

Hey everyone! Another fellow Louisiana inhabitant here. I'm actually right outside of Baton Rouge in a growing town called Denham Springs. That's right - home of the future Bass Pro Shop! Pft.

Anywho, I've recently started doing a bit of research about the lap-band procedure, and as it turns out, www.lapband.com only recommends one doctor that's also on my insurance. His name is Karl Leblanc. Anyone heard of him?

I spoke with his secretary yesterday and she's going to start looking up information on my insurance to see how my insurance would work with it.

Hope to hear from more of you soon. :eek:

Hi nice to meet you but, Sorry I never heard of him. Where is he located?