Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Am I Alone Here



Recommended Posts

Hello Everyone,

I am CJ. I am scheduled for surgery on DEC 1, 2009 with Dr.Iragou. Does anyone have any suggestions for me prior to surgery? Any support groups locally? Anyone have any issue's before or after surgery? Any issue's with insurance?

Thanks in advance,

CJ

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Incase anyone is still hanging around here from Delaware... I get banded on February 11th, 2011! I am from Dover, DE and my surgeon is also in Dover. For those looking for a surgeon in this area, his name is Dr. John Brebbia! He does the lapband only!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all. I'm trying to start a private Facebook page just for Bandsters. This way we are all local and we can communicate easily and maybe even work out or have face to face group meetings. The Facebook page is private so people will not know about your band if you don't want them to.

My email is Msyvonne1970@aol.com, Yvonne Brockington on Facebook. You should be able to find me that way and we can all connect.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am having lap band on May 20 can't weight.My weight has been a yo-yo hate it. Pray for me. Following Dr Wynn orders to the T. opitfast taste good.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Let me update everyone about CRIAS. I would never recommend this facility to anyone ever. I know several people who had issues similar to mine, they are a chop shop which focuses on making money only. They have a horrible 5 & 10 year patient performance which relates back to training your patients. I actually switched to a much better practice which I am 100% satisfied with. Should have started with them day 1.

CJ

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Omg they are STILL placing LapBands?!?!! Wow, I am shocked. Finally got mine out 2 yrs ago and left with permanent esophageal damage and scarring and now dental issues because of the LapBand induced reflux....wish I had gone with the bypass in 2006 and not let CHRIAS talk me into the crap-band that was my worst decision ever. Love my RNY.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I orig had a lap band which was placed by Crias, That was removed and I went RNY. Best decision I ever made. Funny thing Iragua and Wynn tried to talk me out of RNY said was not right for me. This was all 2 years ago and I have lost 150 lbs and kept it off. Again best decision.

Crias is a crap shop, they treat and retreat because thats what makes them money. If you enjoy no calls back from your doctor, extremelly long waits every appointment and a business model which doesn't put patient sucess first, Crias is your place.

I found a wonderful practice which specializes in beriatrics, in fact the doctor gives his cell phone number to each patiant to call anytime for any reason. Folow ups are always on time and the after care was amazing and still is. The program is setup completely different then CRIAS and nothing is left to guess work with them

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ironically Irgau is the one who told me same as you .... RNY was not a good option for me. I am soooooooo glad I switched practices, the surgical group who did my revision is about an hour away in NJ but the differences in the practices are unbelievable. Love my new surgeon ... he and his partner both said I should have had RNY and they would have never given me a band, especially with me being diabetic for 15+ years. The RNY caused metabolic changes that put my diabetes into remission. That's is just one of the many benefits from RNY.

I am glad you found a practice that sounds like it is really great and you got your revision done. Best of luck to you! :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Stacy,

Its all about informing others now. I am so glad you found a great practice, good to know its not only 1 good one out there. I think CRIAS, basically brings you back in for band, you come back after failing, get a Sleeve, then back again failing and then RNY, the whole time they make money, which is their business model.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • 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

      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

      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
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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

      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.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×