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Hello to all

slctx

By slctx, in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

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slctx    0

slctx
Posted

Hi, I am researching the lapband, AGAIN!!! Anyone have any reccomendations for Houston docs? I just found out that my insurance (Aetna) has now started paying for the band. So I am hoping that when I get brave enough to go through with surg., they will pay for it. I want the surg and really need it. (BMI around 45 with diabetes) but I am terrified of anesthesia. Any suggestions on how to get over it?

All info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sherri (aka chicken "BIG") :(

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AnotherMe    0

AnotherMe
Posted

Sherri,

Welcome to LBT! I'm in Houston and had surgery 10/10/05 with Dr Hadar Spivak.. http://www.lap-surgery.net/ In my opinion, he's a great Doctor. Best advice I can give is to attend a seminar, schedule an office visit, and ask specific questions relating to the anesthesia. Honestly, I didn't know when they put me under. Prior to leaving the pre-op area they gave me something thru the IV in my hand, and I was out. Next thing I knew, I was awake and groggy - definitely knew something had happened because I could feel the soreness in my abdomen.

I was self pay, I hope your insurance covers the procedure for you. Make sure you ask any doc you see if they are in network for Atena. Otherwise, your portion will be more and you want to be prepared for that.

I have a friend who was banded by Dr EriK Wilson http://utsurg.uth.tmc.edu/faculty/wilson.htm and she's had great success.

I've also heard great things about Dr Matthew St Laurent http://www.lapbandsolutions.com/aboutdoc.html

We're lucky in that we have many skilled, qualified surgeons to choose from. Continue to do your research and keep coming back to LBT for support!

All the best,

Karla

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slctx    0

slctx
Posted

Thanks for the info and encouragement. I think I am going to call for an appointment this week. I am continuing to research this and so far, I think the lapband is the best option for me. I am also discussing this with my family and getting GREAT support from them.

Thanks again and have a wonderful day!:D

Sherri

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size8beauty    0

size8beauty
Posted

I had my band 3/8/2006. Dr Felix Spiegel did my surgery. He conducts seminars/consults 2x a week & every other Saturday. He accepts most insurances, his # is 713-960-0003

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cl_tx_42    0

cl_tx_42
Posted

I found this message board a great place to hear what everyone has to say about their doctors. You may want to search "doctor houston" or go to this link http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=13246&highlight=houston+doctor

Everyone has their own personal preference so read up there are lots of choices.

I picked Dr. St. Laurent - who so far I've been happy with and after attending his seminar I like the way he follows up with his patients and its not after you have the surgery you never see him again...he requires that you go to see him once a month, you also see a nutrionist and they have a personal trainer as well. But, like I said do your research or maybe go to a couple of different seminars. I was going to go to Dr. Spiegel's seminar but they wanted my insurance co-pay just to attend the seminar.

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Bmarsh    0

Bmarsh
Posted

Dr Richard Wilkenfeld in Conroe Texas also does Lap Bands at Physcians Surgery Center in Houston as well as Conroe Regional Medical Center. Seminars are free they also have support group. His office # is 936-756-3133

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Go To Topic Listing Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals

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    • Aunty Mamo

      Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
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    • ChunkCat

      ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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