I am new to this site and noticed you are from Oklahoma. How did you like Dr. Gorospe? Any other input on Oklahoma doctors would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Johna, I'm happy with Dr. Gorospe. However, I do feel he caters a bit more to Gastric Bypass. The support meetings are mainly Gastric Bypass. However, he is one of the best in bariactric surgeries.

He is asking me to be in his calendar for next year, so he is hoping to have more lapband patients I think. I think he is finally seeing how successful lapband patients can be and it is encouraging him to advertise more.

My gastoral intestine doctor recommended Dr. G to me because I had some other issues that Dr. G would need to fix, like a very large hiatal hernia, and dr. G was one of the first to use the baloon method to fix the hernia, is is very good at it. Also his assistant in surgery, Dr. Kirk is absolutely wonderful.

I've heard Dr. Fisher is wonderful too, he is out of Surgical & Associates.

I suggest you go to the seminar with Dr. Gorospe & Dr. Fisher and decide which one you like the best. Ask questoins!

Feel free to PM or email me anytime with any questions.

I also have several friends who used Dr. G, one had lap-band, went from 300 to 170, the other three had gastric bypass - and all are quite successful!

The one thing I don't like - the office visits are almost always 2 hours long. But, he sits down and spends time with you, he makes sure all your questions are answered.

I haven't had my first fill yet, so not sure what to expect. I go 3/1 to his assistant, Dr. Pond, who will go over my eating, my test, etc. Then if he feels I need a fill, he will notify the hospital (which is right next to their office) and they will call me to schedule a fill. All their fills are done flouro, which I prefer. I think Dr. Kirk will do the fills.

Dr. Kirk has also opened up a practice to assist those who had WLS and gaining weight, not losing etc. So they have a lot of support.

Thank you so much for your response. I have been researching the lap band since early December and it really seems like something that will work for me. I am going to the educational meeting for Dr. Fisher/Dr. Katsis this Monday and am really excited! I read on Dr. G's site that it could take up to 4 months to get a surgery date after your insurance approves it. I had hoped it wouldn't take that long. I will go to Dr. G's meeting on March 3rd. I also have UHC and they are supposed to pay for 90% if I qualify. I have a BMI of 39.5 so I hope that won't be a problem. (This is the first time in my life I wish I weighed more! Ha!) If you don't mind, how much have you had to pay out of pocket? Your weight loss is so inspiring, especially since you haven't had a fill yet. Sorry so long, I'm just really excited to find someone from OK that has had the procedure. Thanks again!

Johna,

Let me tell you a little about my process.

I attended my fist meeting 11/13/06 (the seminar with Dr. G), they called me the following Tuesday - the meeting was on a Saturday. I made my appointment for 11/22/07 - this is where they weigh you and I had to pay $200 for the "processing fee". This fee is not covered by insurance and it is non refundable.

They submitted my paperwork to UHC and told me it would take 30 days to find out. Well, I soon found out 12/07/06 that I was approved. I have the similar insurance as you, I have UHC/Choice plus 90/10, with a maximum out of pocket of $1,000.

The doctors office called me around 12/10/06 to find out when I wanted the surgery, They could get me in that month, however, I chose to wait until January because I was getting more money added onto my flexable spending account, and wanted to use that money so I wouldn't have to pay anything out of pocket. So I am the one that chose 1/18/07.

The process was very fast for me.

I started making all my appointments for the first of January - you can read more in my journal if you like - my journal link is at the bottom of my signature - under my ticker. I list everything I've had to pay out of pocket, my appointments I had to attend etc.

I do like Dr. G and his experience, his bedside manner is not the best, but his knowledge is superb. I've herd Dr. Fisher's bedside manner and his nurse are awesome, so whoever you chose, you can't go wrong.

I am going to PM you some advice on your BMI.