My name Kelley I am form alabama and was banaded 11-2-06 by Dr. Black in Anniston. I Have lost 12 lbs so far. Would like to talk to other people in my area.

Hi Kit Kat,

I just read your post. BCBS (PEEHIP) will pay for the band now. You still have to complete a 7 mo. weight loss program. The best thing for you to do is to call your inc. co. and ask them. There is a whole page of things to do, It isn't bad though.

Nancy:clap2:

Nancy,

Wow, I'm glad to hear that! It is too late for me. I was a private pay on May 31, 2007 at Trinity hops. in B'ham with Dr. Touliatos. While there have been absolutely no problems, if there had, it would have been quite expensive. Still in all, I am so glad that I did it when I did. I was disappointed that PEEHIP would have paid for the more extensive bypass, but not the easier Lapband procedure.

Betty

:eek::help:We recently moved to Alabama and had started looking in to Lap Band a few years ago and am getting closer to being able to get it done. We live in Opelika, near Auburn and was wondering if anyone knew of any surgeons in this area that do the LB surgery?

I have heard so much about Dr.'s Schmitt and Miles in Birmingham and may just consider going through them, but was curious how you go about getting fills once you have had the surgery? Do you have to continue going back to them or can/will your personal physician do that?

Also was wondering when you are doing your weight yo-yo history do you just write that all down and they take your word for it? Or do you have to get documentation from each Dr. you have been to? We have moved three times in the past two years so I was just wondering if I needed to start now on rounding up that information.

I also do not have a personal physician in Alabama as of yet and when I go to look for one, does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with a physician regarding the Lap Band? I know a lot of Dr's are very against any weight loss surgery and I do not want to have to deal with one more person with the, "Just diet and exercise and you will lose the weight" attitude.

I know this is a lot of questions and will probably have more, but I guess this is the place to ask. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone. I live in Florence. I should be getting banded before the end of 2007 by Dr. Schmitt at Medical Center East in Birmingham. I have been to the seminar and have my initial Dr. appointment on Oct. 30th.

Tawanda,

I was banded in May by Dr. John Touliatos with Advanced Surgeons in B'ham at Trinity Hosp. I had known three people, who had Dr. T and had no problems. In their seminar(all groups have one) I learned that Trinity is the ONLY hosp. in Alabama that has been given the "Center of Excellence" label for bariatric surgery. That helped me decide where to have surgery. The group is wonderful. In fact, my husband needs hernia surgery and was referred to them by his Dr. AT Medical Center East. That says a lot about Dr. T. Good luck with your decision.

Betty

Thanks Betty, I will look in to him as well.

Does anyone know if this port is much the same as one a chemo patient must have? My mother has a port and they give her a cream to rub over her port area to numb that spot before she has her port flushed out every other month. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any of that or is there a different needle used altogether and maybe it isn't as painful for fills/unfills as it is for the chemo??

I was banded by Dr. Freeman in Anniston. It's pretty close to Auburn, and I love him!

Thanks Betty, I will look in to him as well.

Does anyone know if this port is much the same as one a chemo patient must have? My mother has a port and they give her a cream to rub over her port area to numb that spot before she has her port flushed out every other month. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any of that or is there a different needle used altogether and maybe it isn't as painful for fills/unfills as it is for the chemo??

God, I hope not. I had chemo and the port that I had hurt really badly for the first two weeks. Of course, it had to tap into a main artery, though.

Thanks Betty, I will look in to him as well.

Does anyone know if this port is much the same as one a chemo patient must have? My mother has a port and they give her a cream to rub over her port area to numb that spot before she has her port flushed out every other month. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any of that or is there a different needle used altogether and maybe it isn't as painful for fills/unfills as it is for the chemo??

the port's not the same, but it's the same theory (my mom had one put in for her chemo also). they've offered me something to numb the spot, but i never use it. it doesn't take that long and although it's not something i'd like to endure on a long time basis, short term, i'd have to say it doesn't hurt that much. there's an initial prick and then you feel a pushing sensation and then, they're done! it doesn't take me more than 5 minutes to get mine, not counting the time i take to talk to the nurse. i don't think i have a very high pain threshold, so i'd have to say, it wasn't bad. certainly worth the benefits though! :clap2:

Deperately seeking........

I had to switch my name on here because lapbandtalk wouldn't recognize my screenname or password. I'm looking for a friend that had her lap band in October....LOTTIE?? Where are you???

By the way - I used to be Janie3867. I'm in Birmingham, just finished my 6 month BCBS wait and I'm just waiting to hear if they approve me so I can schedule my surgery...........this has been the longest 6 months of my LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How's everyone doing????

:):help:We recently moved to Alabama and had started looking in to Lap Band a few years ago and am getting closer to being able to get it done. We live in Opelika, near Auburn and was wondering if anyone knew of any surgeons in this area that do the LB surgery?

I have heard so much about Dr.'s Schmitt and Miles in Birmingham and may just consider going through them, but was curious how you go about getting fills once you have had the surgery? Do you have to continue going back to them or can/will your personal physician do that?

Also was wondering when you are doing your weight yo-yo history do you just write that all down and they take your word for it? Or do you have to get documentation from each Dr. you have been to? We have moved three times in the past two years so I was just wondering if I needed to start now on rounding up that information.

I also do not have a personal physician in Alabama as of yet and when I go to look for one, does anyone have any ideas on how to deal with a physician regarding the Lap Band? I know a lot of Dr's are very against any weight loss surgery and I do not want to have to deal with one more person with the, "Just diet and exercise and you will lose the weight" attitude.

I know this is a lot of questions and will probably have more, but I guess this is the place to ask. Thanks in advance!

Hey - not sure if you're referring to the 6 month BCBS wait. If so, you have to get one piece of documentation as proof from the past 3 years of your weight. Dr. Schmidtt and Miles will allow you to use 2007 (Early 2007) if you need. I would suggest to start getting one from each year (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) just in case if you can. IF you don't happen to have proof, they will allow you to send in pictures to proof that you were overweight, and Naomi will be able to put a date to the picture (taking your word for it). At first, we couldn't find a weight for me for 2005 so I sent pictures, but my doctor found ONE - guess all those years of "refusing to weigh" due to embarrassment almost bit me in the butt......another reason I hate being fat! Could have hindered me to get this SURGERY of all things if we couldn't find proof.

Anyway - ask away - I just completed my 6 months - waiting for approval and a surgery date. Best of luck! :clap2:

I'm doing great, how bout ya'll?

I've just gotten my band and am confused. It seems as if this is going TOO easily. I can already tolerate 4 oz of liquid at a time. Is that too much; am I screwing this up?

Where in Harvest? Is this the Harvest right outside of Huntsville? Didn't know of any docs out there..

And no, your stomach swells as much or as little as your body swells.. some people swell up and can't eat for weeks.. some don't swell too bad and it's fine. Don't worry