Hello I am Robbie and I am from TN. I have talked to my Doctor and she has sent my paperwork to my insurance, she said it shouldn't be a problem to get the Lap Band cause I am 5'1" and weigh 263 lbs. My BMI is 49.7. She said it would take about 6 mths, and that i would have to go to nashville about 4 times before the surgery.

When do they fill the band for the first time, and do you lose weight before they fill it? I am excited and scared too. any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi Michelle! Welcome! I had surgery at Baptist, but know where Centennial is , go there with my husband alot, his doc is there ( not lap band) at the sports med complex where they treat the Titans, havent seen one there yet but always looking!! Good luck with your surgery , it will be worth every dime in my opinion.

Hi. I'm Michelle from LaVergne. My doctor is Dr. Olsen at Centennial Medical Center. My surgery is set for July 18th at 9AM. I'm self pay because my insurance won't cover it. Total for surgery $14,500.

Hi, Michelle! Dr. Olsen was going to be my surgeon. His office had even submitted all my stuff for insurance approval, but my insurance company told me that they wouldn't cover the surgery if I had it with him. Apparently, they only cover two bariatric surgeons in Tennessee, Dr. Boyce in Knoxville and Dr. McGrath-Weaver in Memphis. I wound up going with Dr. Weaver because she seemed much more experiences with banding.

Hi,

I'm from Winchester, TN, and am scheduled for LapBand surgery in Huntsville, AL, on July 18th. I was originally scheduled for Gastric Bypass because my insurance refused to pay for LapBand, but I got a letter from the insurance company on July 2nd saying they would now pay for LapBand. Even though LapBand seems to be safer than Bypass surgery, I am still a little apprehensive. Hope all goes well because my husband doesn't want me to have either.........he is afraid of complications, even death. (We had a friend who died from gastric bypass.) However, some of my health problems will eventually kill me or render me helpless if I don't do something about my weight. I'm out on a limb here. I just hope I have no complications, for his sake!

Thanks for listening.

TenGal

Hi Tengal! Welcome! My husband is from Fayetteville(right next to you), but we live in Columbia now. I have been banded since Dec ,06 and my health issues have improved immensly. I no longer have high blood pressure and I had severe asthma and it is almost non existant now, have problems every now and then but nothing like before. I can walk alot farther and actually enjoy it. It is not easy, but it is so worth it. I would do it again.

Hi Tengal,

I too am apprehensive as I am on coumadin and have had one Dr. tell me I shouldn't have it done because of my age and the coumadin. I've had 2 DVTs and certainly don't want another.

I hope you will do great and I expect you will. Good luck and God Bless!!!!!!!

Tengal, I know what you mean, I am so scared of surgery, but need it so bad, I hope everything goes well for you, and i will keep you in my prayers. Let us know how you do.

I can understand the fear. I don't think I'd believe anyone who said they weren't scared of surgery. I'm scared too, but I'm more scared of what my life will continue to be like if I don't have the surgery.

Hang in there.

Go to your control panel (the link is at the top of the page, "UserCP"). There is a link called "Edit Signature" on the left side of your control panel. When you created your ticker, the site should have given you several different codes that you could use on different sites. Just enter one of those in the signature box. I think you may also be able to copy and paste your ticker, also, but I'm not sure.

Laurend,

Thank you, I finally got my ticker to going. I've been trying for weeks to get that thing done. I'm kind of dumb with things like that too. Hope you are doing great after your surgery.

Laurend,

I think you meant this reply for someone else other than me, TenGal.

Hi Michelle,

I'm Carolyn,I'm scheduled for surgery on the 16th with Dr. Olsen and I'm from Crossville. I'm scheduled for pre-op testing in the 11th.

Good luck and God Bless

Laurend,

I think you meant this reply for someone else other than me, TenGal.

Sorry Laurend, I told you I wasn't too adept at this. Anyhow, you have been a great help in the past and Thanks

Hi, I'm Amanda and I'm new here. I am from Knoxville, TN. I am currently doing my preop stage. I have to lose 12 lbs and get all my preop testing before I get a surgery date. I go back on July 16 to weigh in.

Hi,

I'm Laura, from the Murfreesobor area. My surgen was Dr. Eckles,( Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists) great guy. I am a little past 2 months since being banded. I had my first fill 7 weeks out. I have a appointment for my second fill on July 16th. Good to see so many from TN.

HI Laura! Welcome!!

Hi everyone. I'm actually from Bowling Green, KY, but as you know it's right on the border and I'm going to Dr. Lynch at Baptist. Has anyone used him? I'm scheduled for surgery on 7/30/07 - and I can't wait. I start my liquid diet 7/16/07. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. I noticed a lot of you have done really well - I'm SO EXCITED!!