hey guys

So after much convincing, my family and friends are all behind me and excited and im starting the (long and tedious i suspect) journey of getting the lapband. Im going to a seminar at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, FL this Thursday, and im feeling a little lost....

I will (hopfully) be going through my insurance (Aetna) which i have already contacted and they have told me what i need to do in order to qualify. However what i am interested in, is what questions i should ask at the seminar, and also qhat questions i should ask the bariatric surgeon that i will inevitably be visiting soon....

I am having a full metabolic panel done Friday, so hopefully that will shed a bit of light on how my body is doing...its just that, with as much i read, i still feel really lost, like i dont know how to proceed... any direction on what to do next, and also what i should ask at this seminar would be really helpful!

Thanks!

Nicole:paranoid

The seminar will be very informative and should cover the basics of the lap-band, how the procedure is done, what to expect, etc. As much as people stress that the band is a tool, I have to stress as well. Just keep in mind that you'll still have to "diet" and watch what you eat - the band is a great tool to control hunger, but it doesn't control what you put into your body. (just a little band coaching there

things that I asked my doctor:

how many lap bands has the surgeon done

how many cases with complications - what kind of complications - how were they resolved

mortality rate (scary, but it's true)

average weight loss of his patients (don't focus on how long - just his success rates)

What kind of support does the doctor offer

Are fills included in his program

What is the surgeons process (i.e. psych, preop diets, etc)

What's post-care (i.e. post surgery diets, post-visits, etc)

How many patients are currently in his practice

these are the kinds of questions I asked. I had mine done back in mid-October. I don't have restriction yet but am 20 lbs down and looking forward to being restricted! It is work - I do have to watch what I eat and right now I'm hungry too often (i.e. not restricted). But glad I made the decision I did.

** Ask some questions about the band you are getting. It amazes me the number of people who seem to have no clue how much their band holds or anything about its workings

** Ask what his fill philosophy is. How soon can you get the first fill, and if it doesn't "take" what are his requirements for a return visit (period of time). If you are self-pay, how much are the fills going to cost and do any free ones come with it (my first year is free). Does he use a flouroscope? Is he the one who does the fills alone, or does his office staff do it too?

I also asked how many unfills my doctor has done, since he doesn't typically use fluoroscopy. And I asked him how he decides when to do a fill. There are different philosophies out there about these matters and it's good to find a doctor who is a good match.

Be sure to take notes for when a comment sparks another question. I hate it when I forget to ask something because I didn't remember it until later!

Good luck!