Hello All,

This Maine group looks pretty dead, but I thought I'd see if anyone has any thoughts on the staff and doctors of the Bariatric Center of MaineGeneral in Augusta. I'd love to hear them! Thanks!

Hello Convexnomore, I just had my surgery a month ago at Maine General in Augusta. Everything went great with my surgery and everyone that was involded with my surgery from the very beginning till the surgery itself was great. Hope all goes well for you, if you need to know anything more don't hesitate to ask me.

Thanks

Hi,

I had my surgery several years years ago. I am curious why the Social Worker is gone and Dr. Morand left. I did okay until insurance ran out. I did not lose weight.

Curious how your experience was or have you had any procedure done yet? Maine General - no problem.

I do wish there were some supports and maybe there are, but I do not know of any.

Forreste

Thanks for your responses! It's good to know there are other people out there in my area.

JDA--Good luck with your results! I'm glad to hear your good review.

Forrest--I haven't had my procedure yet--I'm working on completing all of the appointments that go beforehand. Also, there are tons of support group meetings--you should give them a call for the schedule.

Thanks again, guys!

Hi! I'm from Maine and looking to get banded at Me General. I just attended my first info seminar, and have seen my PCP for referral to the Bariatric center. I will call Monday for my first appt w/ the surgeon. From what I've heard, it's approx. 4-6 months from first appt to banding.

What pre op diet did you need to be on, and for how long? I've seen everything from 2 weeks pre op to no preop diet at all on this site.

Good luck on your banding!

If you go to Me general's website, you can look at their calendar, or call the Bariatric center for a schedule. The schedule they handed out at a meeting the other night looks like there are 2 meetings a week, as well as 1 excersize class taught by Nate. Don't give up! Were you "reversed" or do you still have your band? You can still go for fills and try again!

Me General and another Bariatric center in the area merged about 2 years ago. That may answer your questions as to why things arent as they were when you were banded. They also now refer Psyc evals out to K valley Psyc I think they said.

Hope this helps

hi everyone, I have just been approved by my doctor and she is setting up an appointment with Dr. Renee Wolff. Do any of you know her?

Hi there, I am going through Maine General. I have had all of my nutrition appts, my psych, and I am waiting on them to bring my case to team, then insurance. My surgeon is Dr.Trieu. He is wonderful, as are the staff at the bariatric center:) Best of luck to you, glad to see fellow Mainers here!

Kerri

Kerri, Glad to see all of your "ducks are in line"! When did you begin all of your appts? The other post, it sounded like you had just attended the seminar not too long ago! I have my nutritionist appt this Tuesday, but I couldn't get into psyc until 3/14. Did you find this timespan true for you? Dr Trieu was at the seminar I attended, and it seems like he is a very nice Dr. I have Dr McKee. He just began seeing pt's on Fridays. I called on Wednesday, and they gave me a Friday appt!! The office staff is very nice, and it seems like it's a well oiled machine.

Best of luck to you, and I hope to hear about your experinces as they happen!!

Sarah

The appointments do seem to take forever. After my first nutrition appt, (I had Krista) my next one was scheduled 6 weeks from that, then from my second appt. my next was 4 weeks, which was last Friday:)! My psych took about a month to get in which originally was in November but, due to a family illness, I had to cancel and reschedule for January..ugghh.. That appt was January 5, but the Bariatric Center still hasn't gotten the results (although the Doc said I was all set as far as he was concerned:) yay!! I am now waiting on them to send my case to "Team", then (hopefully) insurance approval, then Nate x2, then final consult.. Wheww.. lol

I attended the seminar in July, so I have surely been on the slow path! Which seminar did you go to, and which nutritionist did you have?

Best of luck to you, and it would be great to keep in touch!

:)Kerri

p.s. sorry for rambling lol I can't tell you how psyched I am to find someone that's going through Maine General, I've been waiting since September!!:wink2:

hi i was banded on 1/30/08 and had Dr Wolf. I was at 305 a week in a half i was at 294 the day of surgery and today i am at 289

Hi auntie jo 25, I haven't heard from Dr. Wolff's office yet about an appointment . Hope to hear from them soon. Thanks for your reply. Sallie

HI - I was just banded on Feb 13 in Augusta. I was VERY nervous for the surgery, but everything went well and I was home the same day. Dr. Trieu was wonderful and from my experience with the Bariatric Center in Augusta, the staff is great too. It is a LONG process. I started in April of 2007 and was finally approved in January. I did have to reschedule a couple of appointments, which set me back a month or two. Now, three days out, I do have some discomfort, tightness in my abdomen. It is difficult to get up and down, but it is getting better. It is difficult getting much liquids down right now. But overall, I feel okay. I know that each day will get better. Gotta LOVE the liquid diet! I have already lost a few pounds, (water weight of course) but am so excited to finally have had the surgery and am on my way to better health.

The support groups in Augusta & Waterville are helpful, I recommend that you attend if you can.

Any recent lap-bands out there from Maine that can offer support or advice for a newbie? I could use some!

Banded and recovering,

Hello,

Dr. Trieu did my surgery on January 14, 2008. Everything has gone very well for me thus far. Maine General is not my preferred hospital, but I was pleased with my experience at the hospital. All of the staff at the bariatric center have been wonderful. Good luck to everyone.

Congrats Chi Chi and Jenw on your surgery!!:cheers2: I still have 3-4 until surgery..:ohmy: Glad to see some more Maine General patients on here! Best of luck to you both, and surely keep us updated.. :)Kerri

Any Mainers out there?? How is everyone doing? I am just *patiently* waiting to get a date.. Are you still out there Sarah? Just wanted to check in with everyone, hope all is well:)