Just posted in the "Where are the Michigan People" thread, but wanted to say Hi to everyone here anyway. So HI, and I'm really looking forward to talking and sharing info with everyone here! :eek:

Ogre: Sice you are in Detroit area, Call Henry Ford Hospital "Bariatric center" That's who did all my work, and they are great.

Dr's. are Jeffrey Genaw, "mine" and a Dr. Carlin Chief, and assistant chief.

Since ypu have relocated, they might help you. If not there is always the DMC they are a fill sight from what I have read. They should be able to help. Try Fords though.

If accepted you won't be dissapointed. Shirley...

Thank you Shirley... I now have an appointment with another recommended doc nearer to my side of town. But if I'm not happy with what he says, I will check into your choices. I've grown very particular about doctors and am tired of taking all the nonsense they can dish out, so I shop for docs as I would a new car -- it's an even MORE important selection!

I hope you are doing well and get as much success as possible from this procedure; as I'm sure you've discovered, making this work depends only 20% on the operation itself, and 80% on US!

Any chance anyone out there who had their procedure done by Dr. Deol can tell me how long the whole process took from your first visit with her to the day you had surgery? I just came back from my pcp, who was not supportive of this. He said it would take more than a year for this whole thing. I told him whether I had his support or not, I was going ahead with it.

Brace up james... some can get it done in a couple months, but most take 6 months to two years or more. I didn't have Dr. Deol (she didn't accept my insurance:mad:) but I needed 10 months from the time I got my insurance all lined up. I had thought that once I had the costs covered, I'd be set in a month or two, but the doctors set up one condition after another leading to great delays. I know many (or most) were for my own safety, but I was suffering in many ways while they seemed unconcerned about getting me 'on the table'. I feel they were being overly risk averse. My only advice would be to do as much as you can (tests, pre-treatments etc) as fast as you can --- and keep pushing them to schedule you!!

Good luck mate!! :heh: Be tough!

If you don't mind me asking, what kinds of " conditions" did they place on you? It seems that if your insurance covered you, and had all your other appts. fulfilled, what else is there? maybe I am naive to this?

It's a bit complicated to get into here james.... and it will be different for you no doubt.

The docs insisted that a wound on my ankle be totally healed; ditto with some stomach wounds (these were all small sores... very small but hard to heal); they required a colonoscopy which took an unusual amount of time to get done; they changed procedures midstream and eventually changed back -- I had to get a new surgeon for each one; they wanted me to get my BP down even though it wasn't very high; et al et al. My feeling at the time was that they didn't want to operate until I was in PERFECT health... in which case I of course wouldn't need this surgery in the first place.

Anyway, you may have different issues, or none at all. For me it seemed like nobody told me up front about all this stuff and it was one delay after another. Make a list... ask them hard and for sure, "what do I have to do? tell me EVERYTHING I have to do!"

This is gonna be work james..... don't kid yourself. I think the only reason I am having success right now is that I don't want to go through this medical cr*p ever again!! Sorry to be so cynical.:angry

Good luck again..... keep after it!!

thanks for the " heads up". I will take your suggestions and ask her up front what I have to have done to get this going. Any other help, ideas, thoughts or recomondations are welcome. Thanks again, good luck to you, keep up the great job!

With my Doctor it could have been a one month thing. I saw him on Dec18 and I could have been in surgery on Jan 23. I chose to wait until the 6th of Feb due to a vacation planned in Jan. I had to see a psychologist and get an upper GI done. Also my insurance required I be on a one year medically supervised diet. My insurance was a bit lient with that as I had seen my Dr. 5 times that year more to discuss wieght loss and follow up on my progress but it was enough to be covered. Granted I did not have much that needed to be done but I am also only 26 so other than the obesity I am in pretty good health. You may have different things you need to get done.

Hello fellow MI banders. I was banded August 1st by Dr. Farhan of Hurley in Flint... Loving it!! I live in Jackson... nice to meet all of you!

I have read where more people are told that they have to have a 1 year medically surpervised diet with a doctor. I am not too worried about that, I have been seeing mine for the last 2 years on a good 3 month interval. He put me on Fastin ( phentermine). At first, I lost weight but after about 3 months it all wears off and of course, I gained it all back pluse more. What kind of insurance do you have? I am hoping that BC/BS will cover mine... but prepared to pay if I have to.

What part of MI are you from?

I am in Southeastern Michigan and I have BCBS. every 3 months for two years would definitly qualify you according my my insurance.

James: Shirley here. You should call bcbs, and have the procedure code handy, "get that from the surgeon's office" and they will tell you if your employer has chosen to cover this procedure or not. If it is covered, and you have been going to the Dr. month after month, and getting weighed.

"that's the key" You shouldn't have a problem at all. I had to go for 1 year, and if I went to a different Dr., for what ever they sent me in for.

I just made sure that I got weighed, That's what counts. If you have seen the commercials about Henry Fords. They are fantastic. Iv'e lost 142Lbs.

since the last time I was weighed 01/24/07 I still have a long way to go,

but rite now I am recovering from a total knee replacement, and he say's I might even gain a few pounds, but don't worry about it. When my activitey picks up, and I get a fill, he say's my weight will nose dive....

I can get with that...

Rick: my Dr. was also against this, he claims it's to dangerous! Right!!!

Now he admits he was wrong, and he is teling people about me, and H.F.H.. Go figure... Shirley...

My PCP was totally against surgery. Yet, she was on me constantly about my weight. Had me try every drug in the book, little did she know she was actually helping me! lol... I switches Drs after the band, that witch can bite me now!

Boo Boo Kitty: Isn't it something the way some of these Dr.'s are a** holes!!! I ended up changeing Doc's too in the long run. They are all for this surgery. Shirley...

I totally agree, what is the freaking difference what kind of medical help you get?? Drugs with unknown long term side effects are better? Pleaseeeee... Ugh! Lol..she is in the same building as my new Dr and she saw me once and asked why she hasn't been seeing me. I told her it wa because she was rude, bull headed and refused to listen to her paitents. That felt so good!

I'll bet it did!!!!!

Ogre WOW Way to go on your weight lose!!!! You are doing AWESOME!!!!