Hi everyone. I have my first "new patient" meeting tomorrow 2/21/08. It is at Orange Coast Memorial, Dr. Peter LePorte in Fountain Valley, CA. Can anyone enlighten me as to what I might expect. It is a 3-1/2 hr. meeting. I'm getting anxious.

Olga

It is an informational meeting as a group on gastric bypass and Lapband. You will also go over insurance stuff with an insurance specialist who will tell you your next steps in order to get approved. You will then take a fairly long (I can't remember how many questions, about 250?) psych test. Then you will be weighed and photographed. It is really rather simple, and only the beginning.

Good luck, and message me if you have any more questions!

Hi Grammy, I had my band installed on Oct. 16 at Fountain Valley Hospital by Dr. Ali who works with Dr. Laport. Its the best thing I've ever done. I am 69 years old, most likely the oldest on this board. I have lost about 50 lbs. no problems at all. I could have gone home immediately after the short surgery but since I'm a Medicare patient had to stay in the hospital 1 night. Never had any pain whatsoever.

I would highly recomend Dr. Ali, he is absolutely wonderful, very caring, answers any dumb questions you might have. I have had only 1 fill and he doesn't think I need another one right now.

Just came back from a 7 day cruise and was able to eat a little bit of just about everything and still lost a pound or 2.

Good luck to you.

Jill

Costa Mesa

Thanks Angelic 1 and Jilly.

The meeting was just as you had described it. After yesterday's meeting, I have changed my mind and decided to have the bypass afterall. I had no idea that usually the "day of" or up to 2 weeks time, diabetes can be reversed. To think about the complications of diabetes. They now do the bypass laproscopically and with the fact that Orange Coast has been deemed "Center of Excellence", I feel that things are going to be ok, either way. Thank you for all the information that has been available here, keep up the good work! I only hope that I can find a website like this for the bypass. God Bless!

Olga

Best of luck to you!