Banded 6 weeks ago by Dr. Avila and wondering if there are others in the Pocatello area out there?

Cyndi - Can people not using you for fills attend the support group? If so, how much do you charge and what time of day is it?

My fills are still paid for until October, so I'll keep driving to I.F. for those, but don't go up for their support group meetings.

Thanks for the information Cyndi and I will try to make that April meeting as I have an appointment with you on the 10th. What time do you meet? I really think that the support group is kind of my "missing link" that could be very helpful to longer term success.

Absolutely anyone with lap bands or other obesity surgery may attend and definitely people come who I do not see as patients. It is free and from 6-7pm. the third thursday of the month. I am there as a banster not as "the care provider".

Thanks for the information and I am going to try to make that April meeting. I know of someone else here in town that has had the lap band surgery and she may start to come to the meetings as well.

Cyndi - Thanks for the info. That should fit my schedule easily, so you may just see me there. Have a good day.

Wow you are doing great with your weight loss and could share some of the tools you are using to do so well with everyone. Cyndi

Hi my name is Bradley Durham I was banded on December 8 2008. by Dr Anthony K Davis He is a great doctor but unfortunately the hospital experience at bannock county regional wasnt to great. My wife and I were kept over night because we were a late in the day surgery. I laid on an operating gurney all night because they couldn't find any more beds. When i came out of surgery they wheeled me into the room with my wife who also had surgery that day and took her Oxygen cannula off her and put it directly on to me without changing it. The room had no phone and only one O2 hook up and obviously only one bed. Later that night because it was impossible to sleep with nurses coming in loudly all night i walked around the hospital floor only to see room after room of empty beds. And the best part is that instead of the quoted rate for surgery they charged us double each. There were not patient advocates to help us with the billing issues just a whole lot of people who were covering their butts and didnt want to get in trouble. So here I am with a lap band and a bill double what was quoted to me and the worst experience I have ever had with anything in my life. I need a support group because i dont want anything to do with that hospital or its staff. Dont go to BCMH unless you want to pay out more than they promise.

Edited May 22, 200917 yr by bubbadurham
miss type

What time I came tonight and no one was there.

Bradley - Wow, what an awful experience for you. I'm not sure what I would have done - not paid without screaming & kicking at least! (That was Bingham County, by the way, not Bannock.)

The support group meets the third Thursday from 6 - 7pm at the sleep Institute at the corner of 15th & Center. Sorry we missed you.

Thanks for the correction I'm not trying to point fingers at the wrong people it was Bingham county memorial hospital

thank you