Where are the Wi bandsters

sfeiner · January 7, 2008

Am I the only person from Wi? It sure is a gloomy day here today. I can see why every one would want to be somewhere else! I can actually hear thunder! Sharon

Robin Bird · January 8, 2008

Hi,

I'm from Marinette. It's STILL raining today. Don't get me wrong - I'm all about the snow going away - but it is depressing when it's this dreary. We had no thunder, but I think they had tornado warnings down by Madison, etc. Are you down that way? Take care!

Robin

GO PACKERS!!!!!!!

sfeiner · January 9, 2008

...<p>I live in Baraboo which is close to WI Dells...Somewhat northwest of Madison (about 50 min.) It actuallly hailed that day. But today the sun was out for awhile. I had my surgery in Madison Oct 28. How about you?</p>

Robin Bird · January 10, 2008

S,

I had my surgery Nov. 2 (my birthday) in Green Bay. I have lost about 40 pounds total since pre-op diet began. I have had one fill, which didn't seem to make much of a difference, if at all. I go for my next one Feb. 5th.

My kids would love it if we lived where you do - close to the Dells! We've only gone there 2 or 3 times and my kids are 11 and 8!

Have a great day!

Robin

vessa · January 15, 2008

Hi, i had my surgery quite a while back and my husband and I moved to Waupaca for him to start foundry work in October. So, my life is going well, and band is working great, slow weight loss, but works really well.

...this is a bit complicated, but i will post it as easily as I can. (I am confused from it a bit, you see).

I had my surgery ay mayo "super-duper everyone thinks is the greatest place ever" Clinic in Minnesota, becasue we lived there. We had to move really quickly for my husband to get his job out here.

I followed up with Mayo, and the nurse said, "sure I'll tell doctor and she will find you new doctor there..." no call.

So i looked into a few places, called around, and got the COLDEST SHOULDER EVER! From Neenah, Steven's Point, and a place in Appleton. Basically a speech on how their doctor REALLY dislikes seeing new patients that aren't theirs, and that I'm going to need money up front, and that I have to go to the introduction thing again, plus get the last 26 years of doctor visits in paperwork, etc, ETC!

Ok, here's more... I had a baby shortly after I got my band, so I spent 10 months without restriction (not in my doctor's favor, but I did good after, and baby was totally healthy - which is so much more important, duh).

So, here I got this brand new baby, I'm a stay at home mom, I understand and I am willing to work with doctor to follow good plan, but as far as "loads of cash and lots of free time" go, not me! AND moving to a new state, insurance didn't follow us to Eric's new job (except if we were willing to pay $850 a month - please!)So it finally kicks in in February. Mayo had a hard time understanding why not having insurance was was a problem, i could just pay for fill (and doctor visit and floro,and classes, and dietician, and other requirements of new doctor,etc. right?) and not feed my baby for a month, I suppose.

I begged Mayo to send me my paperwork in the mail so I could see doctor when I got husband's insurance (they said, "no problem", and never sent it) So I stopped bugging them, figured, screw it if i can find a doctor, I will have them send for it, Mayo can't mess with them.

Anyways, so so so sorry for the rant, it was all going so well, then i moved back to my hometown area, and I am treated suspiciously, as if I had my band done in some dark alley for $400, and have no idea what it's about or how it works (iv'e had it for almost two years now, 10 months of them with baby, lost over 50 pounds, did psych counceling, took 8 months of hard work to even get it!)

So, after trying around the area, I've decided, maybe try Dr. Kemmerling?

I don't know, I am scared stiff it will be like other offices (never even got to talk to doctors, just snooty nurses)and I know there are places in Milwaukee, but so far away, my husband works really hard to support us, and like I said, stay at home mom here, I will do what I have to, but please, I got priorities too, right?

Anyways, for anyone still reading this, PLEASE PLEASE understand, I am weeks away from having insurance, and almost too scared to call for a new band doctor and get same bad treatment, all I want is a doctor to help me stay on track. My band is working well, I've had 2 fills, I might not even need new fill for a while, but I really invested SO much into this, and I am freaking out that I will never get to see another doctor again.

Does anyone know if Dr. Kemmerling is..., you know, do you understand what I am asking? Decent? Will he understand this? Or treat me like crap because I had the "nerve" to move to a new state with my husband and daughter? I have already entertained the thought of "i might not ever get to see another fill doctor again...terrifying!" So I ask, what now? It's over just because I moved? I have a new baby, my first, my only, the stress of this can really be overwhelming, and the last thing I expected was trouble finding a new doctor...HELP? any suggestions...???

Feeling hurt by the system, but trying to stay positive.

vessa · January 15, 2008

p.s. GO PACKERS IS RIGHT WHOO HOO!!!!

Robin Bird · January 15, 2008

Vessa,

Congratulations on the baby! Dr. Kemmerling did my surgery. He is not overly friendly, but is professional and competent. I don't know if he takes on patients whom he did not band, but it's worth a try. His office people are very nice, and his bariatric coordinator (Mary Elliston) is great. So, it's worth a call to them to find out. Good luck to you and let me know what they say.

Robin

sfeiner · January 19, 2008

Hi Vessa, Baby is darling! (I'm assuming that's her picture in your avator) I like my Dr.s at UW hosp in Madison but I don't know how far you are from there. People come from Ill. to go there. My biggest problem with them is getting a real live person on the clinic phone. The number is 608-265-7090 if you want to try.

Mistahbue · January 20, 2008

New to the board - my surgery date is Tuesday 1/22

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hoping for snow tonight and all this week.

Sorry folks, not a Pack fan but I do believe they are gonna win tonight. No way Eli can pull this kind of upset off. I would say I'd eat my hat if he did but I'm on pre-op liquids and besides I need my hat to keep my head warm!!!!

Surgery is a Fort Atkinson,

Dr Marc Erickson

Mistahbue · January 21, 2008

In response to Vessa

I am using Dr. Marc Erikson at Fort Atkinson - not sure where you live but this might be too far.

You probably need ALL that medical information from mayo - and honestly it would be BEST if your Band surgeon's office reached out to some of the Lap-Band providers here.

Reason I say that is that I have your problem - kinda sorta. I travel 100% for my job - so I had to prove to Dr. that I was committed to seeing him on my one morning a week at home, trying to find a Lap_Band provider in the state where I am currently working - in the event that I need emergency type care due to the band.

Had the SAME response - in this case I am living and working 4 1/2 days a week in Baton Rouge LA - I couldn't get a return phone call. Did manage to get an email telling me nope - they weren't gonna commit to seeing me... yadda yadda

Dr. Erickson's office then took up the effort - they had to explain to the LA surgeon's what was needed, had to send medical records, etc...

So it sounds like you never got the records from Mayo - with that in your hand it might be easier...

Best of luck!

Congrats on the baby!

Robin Bird · January 21, 2008

Mistah,

Best of luck on your surgery tomorrow! Thanks for the good wishes for the Packers - I guess it just wasn't enough. They could have won last night's game easily, but they just couldn't get it together. I have a friend that was at the game. I haven't talked to him yet, so I don't know if he lost any extremities to frostbite!

Good luck and let us know how things went!

Robin

whosyadaddy · January 23, 2008

Two Rivers here.

Mistahbue · January 24, 2008

Well 2 days post surgery and holy moley I feel like I've been beaten with a baseball bat! Not excuiating pain - just the feeling of being exercise sore times 100 - does that make any sense.

I ended up staying overnight in hospital - some nausea after first attempts at clear liquid and my BP kept tanking - got the BEST treatment ever at Fort Atkinson Hospital. I love those people!

I'm paranoid about my port - always afraid when I attempt to rollover that I'm going to yank something lose - I guess that's just initial after surgery jitters.

Okay - dumb question - at no point since surgery have I felt 'full' - but I've had the feeling of just not feeling like eating anymore - is this normal after surgery?