Has anyone had any experience with any MDs in Rochester NY? I am scheduled for their information session with Dr. O'Malley and Dr. Moss. Any experience or suggestions?

I am really hoping that insurance covers the lapband. I cannot afford it out of pocket. I am at the 40 BMI but I don't have any other issues, yet. I do have back, hip and joint pain but nothing that is arthritis. My BP and cholesterol levels are fine. I have no diabetes issues either.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

gilta

welcome to the journey. I'm 37, and started out at 265, my first official appt was at 256. I'm currently down to 242 as of last wednesday. I'm pre op. But should be banded sometime in September. I'm so excited. I'm ready for the tool. The trick is knowing how to use the tool.

My dietician helped with teaching my kids to eat properly. They're 11 yrs and twin 2 yr olds... all boys. One of the twins is overweight, and my other two are where they should be size wise. But I learned so much from her. Truth be told, you will get so much information from the person, you probably will not remember it all. They don't mind being called and asked a question. I love my dietician. (leah Usher). She is awesome.

MY pcp wasn't real impresssed when I told him I was going this way. But having had all the tests, and all, and finding that he really screwed up, he's eating those words. Now he's in a rush for me to have the band.

Teri

wow, what a letter, packed with questions, and realizations and guilt and everything in between. Welcome!!! I think in AA thats what they call the first step! I am less than 2 weeks post op and already, even after 2 weeks of liquids and major surgery I would not change a thing. Only regret is that this was not available to me in my 30's. I am now 52 and Thank God it's available now. This is a life changing TOOL that will help you get to a healthy weight. If your dr. doesn't agree, change Dr's! The older you get, the faster the co-morbidity issues come up.

The one thing my lap band group was adament about was smoking, they will not treat you if you are a smoker, they feel it does nothing but hinder recovery. I quit a year and a half ago, and never regret doing so. I used a "magic Pill" called Chantix, that from day one was a miracle for myself and my husband. We both were 30+ year smokers, we have both quit and never looked back. I did gain weight, but that weight gain was what brought me to the lap band surgery in the first place. If I were still a smoker I wouldn't have felt I needed to loose weight, that 25 lbs I gained put me over the edge and I felt I needed help to loose. (does that make sense??)

Where in upstate NY are you? I am in the Rochester area....are you close to me?

I wish you luck, I hope you make that first phone call and get the ball rolling, keep up that determination and all else will fall into place.

Carol

Dr. Cerabona does some office hours in Duchess, I think. I can't gush enough about him and his practice--the insurance folks are AMAZINGLY helpful, the dieticians are great, the PA is super-responsive, and their pre-op info and testing is so much more thorough than the other docs I saw. Definitely worth the trip, IMHO--hell, I flew from los angeles!

Are you talking about Dr Cerabona from WMC? Where in Dutchess does he have hours? I almost went to him. I live in upper Westchester, NY. I decided on NYU-You flew to Westchester from Ca- not NYCity? I would think LA would have great Drs to choose from. Anyway, don't mean to have too many personal questions! Glad that you are happy and doing well! I was banded 7/7 an doing well.

thanks all!!! not far from rochester....i'm a 315er...lol...i am determined!!!! i need to do this!!! not a want a need!!!! i have so many questions...hopefully i can ask them at the seminar....writing them all down... thanks again...i'm on my way!!!!

My seminar was so packed full with people I didn't get but one question answered. That was something to do with hospital stays. My hospital can do it as outpatient surgery now. Although I believe my insurance requires an overnight stay, and because I have a hiatal hernia, I'll be in over night anyway.

teri

Teri -

I did not really sleep in the overnight stay, but it gave me a chance to get started on the walking. I walked every 1/2 hour and according to the note by the nurses station, I walked a mile and 1/2 that night!

Good luck on your journey

Gilta

Anyone going to the support group for Dr D this week?

I should hear later this week when my surgery is. I'm so excited.

Teri

Anyone going to the support group for Dr D this week?

Are you talking about the support group for the practice at Westchester Medical Center? The one at 19 Bradhurst? I will probably be there. I asked and I can attend even though I didn't have the surgery with them. Has anyone gone to that group before? Does it start at 5:00 or 6:00 I got two different times quoted to me an need to find out.

Thanks!

My meetings are the third thursday of the month and first tuesday of the month. The thursday meetings are post op lapbands (we're actually required to go to one pre op), and the tuesday meetings are general wls meetings. I love the tuesday meetings, and after school starts I'll enjoy the thursdays I'm sure.

Teri

It's the support group meetings at RGH in the Weiner room .... gotta love that name.... next one is wed. at 6pm.

Do you know if anyone can go to that support group at RGH or does your surgery have to be done by Dr. D. Mine was done at Highland but I live much closer to RGH and I am not even sure if Highland has a support group. Thanks!

I think it's Dr D's support group only. Don't know. Call 922-link and ask about Dr Dibeneditto's support group.

Thanks so much, I will do that. I appreciate your help.

To hnladue - I may be going to the September support group with Dr. D. I was surprised they want us to attend BEFORE we have surgery.

To Barbie 1978, Gilta and Carol also - I just met with Dr. DiBenedetto last week for the first time. It was a total chance. I had my information session on 8/13 with Dr. Gandhi the new doctor. I liked him. I liked him so much that I decided to go with him, however, because he is so new (July) he is not credentialed yet with my insurance company. I called the office back and decided it would probably be best if I went with Dr. DiBenedetto so I did. I had a 10/01 appointment. They called me back the same day and said they had a cancellation for 8/20!!!!! WOW was I excited! It went well. I like Dr. D. very much. The support staff in the office I felt was over-the-top wonderful. The only thing that threw me a bit was he said I may want to consider the gastric bypass over the banding due to my family history and my binge eating. He said we would explore that more on my second visit. Now I am confused and perplexed. I have all of my other appointments scheduled; sleep study, nutrition, psych all in September! Now I have to get losing weight. I found out my cousin is also going through all of this at the same time as I am in Corning or Elmira. Just had a family reunion and 2 more cousins had the bypass and one has lost over 100 pounds, one 160 in the last one year. For a gal who was not considering bypass, this sounds very positive!!!!

To Carol - HOW ARE YOU DOING POSTOP???? I thought for sure I would have heard how you were doing by now. It's been, what, about 3 weeks?

Thank you all for your support in helping me make a decision, especially regarding Dr. DiBennedetto. I feel at home there; very comfortable all the way around. No matter what decision I make, I feel I am making it in the very best place. Actually, I feel more like I am going forward for sure, but the whole bypass idea has thrown me off. Did any of you have that recommended to you instead of the LapBand and what did you decide?