St. Louis People

[Chris61 0]

It sure has been quite on here for a while. I guess everyone must be loosing and doing well. Iam down to 177 from my high of 250. Was a the doctor a week a ago and he says that I did not need a fill since Iam well and need not to come back for another 4-6 months. The wife is doing ok but is having some problems. She goes in this week to have her gall bladder checked. Dr. Minkin says that about 35-45% of his people that have not had there gall bladder out before surgery will have it taken out sometime after having the band due to the weight loss. So will know more in the next couple of weeks. Well it's about that time of the year again to start thinking about what you want to do for next year. I can say that out of the list we had made we did keep up with one item and that was to loose weight all year long. SO us us that is a great NSV and enjoying it. Well I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and Christams.

Chris

[iamsuzen 0]

My husband and I are going to have the surgery together on January 28th. any insight from the other husband wife teams?

[Chris61 0]

I hope that everyone had a Great Christmas and Happy New Year. My wife and I can say that we did meet on of the goals for 2008 it was to loose weight.

Welcome to the Imsuzen and good luck with things. I have replyed to your e-mail. If you have any questions just ask. There is a lot of information on this board and we will help you out.

Chris

[Thewall26 0]

Hello everyone, I am thinking of having the lap band done, and will be self Pay is there anyone that has done this lately with Dr. Wagner, and could you tell me about what the cost is. Thanks

[rch3877 0]

My husband and I are going to have the surgery together on January 28th. any insight from the other husband wife teams?

Wife and I both had L-Band on 7 May. (Dr. Minkin) Everything is going great.

1. Wife had pain longer then I did.

2. Men loose weight faster then women.

3. You will most likely loose inches first then start loosing weight, so take pictures before and also take measurements.

4. Everything goes better when done as a team. I can tell you and you probably know that if 1 goes on a diet and the other does not it is not as easy as when you both do. So both doing the L-Band at the same time is GREAT.

5. Have someone drive you home.

6. I sugest you start walking as soon as you can, the day after I got out of the hospital I walked to the end of the block and back and I thing it helped a lot.

7. I hit my sweet spot a lot faster then she did, she has had 2 fills more then I.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

[mackmom2 0]

Just wanted to say Hello to everyone. I live a few hours from the St. Louis area. I had my surgery in St. Louis with Dr. Follwell. He is at the St. Alexius Hospital Newstart Program. My surgery date was 12-9-08. I would love to talk with all of you. You can email me at mackrell@mcmo.net

[jolynwhit 0]

Hello everyone, I am thinking of having the lap band done, and will be self Pay is there anyone that has done this lately with Dr. Wagner, and could you tell me about what the cost is. Thanks

Hi There!

I just ran across your post, and I was just banded on 12/19/08 by Dr. Wagner at the Outpatient Center. I was also self pay, and I guess I spent about $15,000 total, but that included everything, even a years worth of fills.

So far, I have lost almost 30 lbs, and I am feeling great. I go for my first fill on 1/29, so I will let you know how it goes.

Dr. Wagner was really great, and so far I HIGHLY recommend the surgery.

Good Luck and keep us all in the loop!

[Thewall26 0]

Thanks for the info, I am actually going to the seminar tomorrow morning so I am pretty excited and nervous at the same time. I have also found out that my insurance compny will pay for it as long as it is medically nessesary. Which it is. Anyway I will keep everyone posted as to what is going on.

Thanks

Gary

[abigbadsexy1 0]

Hi

im looking forward to getting banded.current wt 317,getting bs from insurance and no real support from dr minkins office

[Chris61 0]

What kind of BS are you getting from the insurance company? I feel that Minkins office does pretty good with the insurance companies. We had some problems with our insurance and so I just worked through the back door and worked with Minkins office and we got approval. If you have any questions just ask. We are here to help each other.

Chris

[abigbadsexy1 0]

Hi chris,

let me tell you how my story began went to first meeting in april 08,all test completed by august. Insurance co uhc stated i need to take 3 month dr surpervised wt lost plan before approval. Dr minkins said since i go to my dr every 6 wks that should be suitable. Didnt hear from dr minkins office so call office late sep 08.nurse wouldnt present to in surance company because didnt have proper wt hx. Got wt hx in,no word from office call back 3 wks later ask did they hear from insur said wouldnt sumit because need 3 mnt plan. After another 2 weeks mid to late novem. Finaly sent to insurce gave me run (said if i didnt get 2003 wt sent in by 4 that day will reject)got 2003 wt in on time denied it because i didnt do dr supervise wt loss.now late dec dr minkins office call

for me to do dr supervised wt loss.have new ins blue cross. Informed me to send cards in to see what guide line were needed,dec31 as of 1-31-09 no word from office.

[Chris61 0]

Insurance companies are just amazing. We love them and hate them. You will get approved. It just takes a little longer.

Chris

[abigbadsexy1 0]

hi chris

i hope so i hope this be my year

[Thewall26 0]

Well it has been a little over a week since I went to the seminar, and I am almost done with all the pre insurance stuff.

I have my dietician eval last Friday, pysch eval today, and meet with Dr. Wagner tomorrow. After that my PCP is going to write his letter for the Physicians supervised weight loss over the past couple years. I am also going to go to the dietician for the next 6 months as a just in case. So we will see.

Getting excited and nervous at the same time. I will keep everyone informed.

[jolynwhit 0]

I am so glad things are running along smoothly for you!

I just had my first band fill on Tuesday, and it was super easy. I didn't feel any pain, just a tiny pinch when the needle went in. It hurts worse than that when they draw your blood.

So far, this has been a total godsend. Hopefully it all goes as well for you! Just keep us posted!