Hello! I am new here, and haven't a clue as to what to do. Anyway, I am planning on having the lap band surgery done. I will be having it done by Dr. Argotte. Anyone had it done by him?

Hi Douglas,

I live near Paducah Kentucky. Where are you from? It's weird to see anyone on here from Kentucky. I've only seen one other one. I had my surgery in Mexico. I went to Dr. Argotee and he had only done a handful on the bands and I was just to nervous for that and lost 2 people that I know of off hand with the bypass. Do you live close by?

Welcome to LBT and best of luck to you. I've been banded 3 months this week and have lost 50 pounds so it's going pretty good would just like to loose a little bit faster, but wouldn't we all.

Nice to meet you.

Hello mysherrijo! I just replied to your other post. I do live in Paducah, out here in Lone Oak. I attended the seminar with Dr. Argotte and I have my appointment with him on Wednesday this week. I would love to hear more.

Welcome Douglas! This site is a great resource for pre and post-op information. Make sure you ask lots of questions. I look forward to hearing more about your journey!

Thank you JDru! I am hoping that things will go smoothly. After a few phone calls, I just found out that my insurance doesn't cover weight loss surgeries. Now I have to try to appeal that, and see what happens. That's the first sumbling block for me.

I'm sure you would be fine with him. He had just lost a couple of patients with the bypass, one from leak, she worked there at Loureds with my daughter and she had 3 small children. She walked out to her mailbox and killed over right there. He had knicked a hole in her stomach. Then one more died while my daughter worked there but I don't know the reasons. I went there for consult and he had only did like 30 bands and it just scared me. I had BC/BS Anthem insurance but I went ahead and self payed with Dr. Sanchez in Mexico because he had done more than anyone and trained many of the US Doctors so I felt more at ease with him, and he was fabulous.

I am sure that by now Dr. Argotee has probably done more and you would be fine, I sure don't want to scare you off of someone you decided on. JUst check him out real well. Patricia W. and her sister and her sister's husband were all going to him for the bypass and they own a grocery store right past ours and after they've been talking to me and seeing how well things have gone they are now scheduled with Dr. Sanchez in Mexico, all three of them on Oct. 31. You just have to feel good about your own decision. Good luck and pm me if you have any questions, I would be proud to answer what I know.

I do appreciate the info mysherrijo. You have given me lots to think about. I am still looking forward to it, I just know what to ask, and what to look for. I have heard about 2 deaths. I have a couple friends who are nurses at Lourdes, and I have heard through them. The one girl had a clot go to her heart. But thanx alot, and I hope to talk with you more through this whole thing.

Your more than welcome,

That's why I didn't want to try to talk you out of him because accidents do happen, you'll do fine with him. It's weird how we're only about 30 minutes apart.

I notie under your name, my Dad played Banjo with Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt years ago at the Opry. Our whole family is all about music.

Are you looking to having surgery pretty quick?

I didn't use my insurance either, they are a pain in the butt.

Would you mind me asking about how you paid for it without insurance? Did you get financing? What kind of loan was it? How much are the payments? I'm just trying to be prepared for everything. I am hoping to have the surgery done pretty soon, but I dont' want to go very far to get it done.

That is kewl that your dad played with them. My whole family is about music as well. Piano is my main instrument, and I also sing, or at least try to sing.

Well, today in about 3 hours I am having my initial appointment with Dr. Argotte. I hope all goes well. I'm a little nervous but not too bad.

Thanx again for all of your support.

So how are you doing JDru? Are you ready for your surgery? Any new developments? Keep us informed.

I am from Lexington, KY. I had my surgery July 25th in TJ with Dr. Ortiz. I am having all my follow ups with Dr. Trace Curry in Cincinnati Ohio---I believe Sherrijo is also seeing him for her follow ups' too. He is very nice and puts the patients first. I have had 4 fills (5+2+1.5+1) at $150 each, and am already up to 9.5 cc's because I have not had any restriction until this last 1cc. fill & was gaining. He even has Saturday visits once a month---which is way cool. The ball is finally starting to roll! I finally have restriction and am losing weight---more importantly, I finally feel full and want to eat less!!! I have only lost 12 lbs but since I didn't have any restriction, it was like normal until a couple of weeks ago. I have actually experienced my first pb!!! CAn you say gross? ON a freakin' 1/2 of a Bagel of all things! Yuk! I am low BMI with hypothyroidism, so I know I will be a slow loser, but at least it's starting to work---I was getting worried that I had spent $10K for nothing! Good Luck!!!

Hey everyone. I had my initial meeting with the Dr. today. So far it went great! I can't believe it. I have 10 of the tests scheduled for the next few weeks, starting tomorrow morning. Even though the insurance won't cover it, I'm excited.

By the way, mysherrijo, please tell me what you think. Is he going too fast? Should I be concerned. Please know that I value your opinion, but I will still go with my heart, so please be open and honest with me. *smile*

No, I think your fine, in my opinion. He's done lots and lots of bypass and he's an otherwise great surgeon. My daughter has been at lourdes for several years and she feels comfortable with him and she said the same thing today about the woman she worked with and the blood clot. She also said he had someone scheduled for the bypass yesterday and was preping her and didn't like her ekg and did further tests and they had to cancel her surgery and now have her scheduled for heart surgery on Friday so that there tells me is is cautious.

Just ask him any questions you have beforehand and you can ask anything on here, everyone is very knowledgable and sweet. I'll be glad to help you anyway I can. PM me with any questions.

I am getting exctied for my surgery! I've actually had some problems with anemia (they can't seem to locate the source of the bleeding in my GI tract) so I've postponed the surgery twice. Today I had to swallow a pill that had a camera in it and the images were transmitted to a monitor I wore around my waist. Anyway, if I get ok results from that I'm still on for surgery next week!

Sorry to hear your stumbling blocks Jessica. Hopefully the camera will help out. Check out my journal to hear the rest of what is happening. My first meeting with the dr. was today, and things are on the way, and I'm excited!!!! Keep in touch!

Hi there:

I've been reading the post on Dr Argotte. I have been seeing him and so far have done most all of the pre-op requirements (still waiting on the head-shrink consult and dietary visit, and EGD). Other than that, I think I'm a go......

Two friends of mine had surgery with Argotte and really liked him. They seem to be doing well.

Not sure when mine will be, but I think they are hurrying to get me in before the end of the year. I have Federal BCBS and they seem to think approval will come quickly. I'm not so sure. I live about 45 min north of Paducah in Marion, IL.