Hello!!

I was wondering if anyone has used the Doctors at the Baraitric Center in Beaumont, Texas??? I have an appointment to meet with them at the end of the week and wanted to hear some feed-back.....

I appreciate any information!!

Hi, was banded on Tues., May 20, 2008 at St. Elizabeth Bariatric Center in Beaumont, TX. These folks have the total package -- nutritionist, counselor, surgical nurses, surgeons, and support group. They worked with my insurance from my first appt. last Oct. 2007 until my insurance finally approved my band. Hurray! I can't say enough on how nice the center is (brand new, with extra-large everything) and how nice the entire staff are (always smiling -- that's a great sign). They made me comfortable; I am a HUGE chicken, and I was able to go through with surgery.

Prior to St. Elizabeth, I had visited two other surgeons in the Golden Triangle area who advertise on TV. One was a few years ago, and we had to pay $200 each to attend his seminar. The other was around the same time I went to St. Elizabeth's seminar; I heard the surgeon was a great person, but his office staff appeared to me to be a little low paid/on a shoestring. St. E's made me feel great.

It's almost a week since my band procedure. The pain/discomfort gets less every day, but on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being great pain, I'd say my paid at worst was a 2 or maybe a 3. So far, no problem sticking with the clear liquid/full liquid diets -- no urge to eat solid food.

Hi, was banded on Tues., May 20, 2008 at St. Elizabeth Bariatric Center in Beaumont, TX. These folks have the total package -- nutritionist, counselor, surgical nurses, surgeons, and support group. They worked with my insurance from my first appt. last Oct. 2007 until my insurance finally approved my band. Hurray! I can't say enough on how nice the center is (brand new, with extra-large everything) and how nice the entire staff are (always smiling -- that's a great sign). They made me comfortable; I am a HUGE chicken, and I was able to go through with surgery.

Prior to St. Elizabeth, I had visited two other surgeons in the Golden Triangle area who advertise on TV. One was a few years ago, and we had to pay $200 each to attend his seminar. The other was around the same time I went to St. Elizabeth's seminar; I heard the surgeon was a great person, but his office staff appeared to me to be a little low paid/on a shoestring. St. E's made me feel great.

It's almost a week since my band procedure. The pain/discomfort gets less every day, but on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being great pain, I'd say my paid at worst was a 2 or maybe a 3. So far, no problem sticking with the clear liquid/full liquid diets -- no urge to eat solid food.

I was wondering who your doctor was? I am currently looking into having the lap band since my insurance just approved it but i am having problems finding a doctor on my plan. i recently had surgery at st.elizabeth (gallbladder removed) and i had a wonderful experience. i had no clue they had this there. any info would be great. also, I am originally from Fannett also.

Hi, my surgeon was Dr. Kevin Dean. He did a great job on my surgery and has given me a great chance to have a healthy rest of my life ("normal" weight, here I come!). The center has 2 other surgeons, and they are all 3 very experienced (with many years) thoracic & laparoscopic surgeons.

I highly recommend you attend the next seminar at Christus SE TX Bariatric Center in Beaumont, TX. You'll love the staff and the atmosphere at the center from the start.

Here's the Web page:

CHRISTUS Hospital | Our Services | Bariatrics

The office is easy to find -- it's on Liberty Street, facing the Maury Meyers overpass bridge. Hwy 69, take Calder exit, turn like you're going to the front of St. Elizabeth Hospital; when you see the Church's chicken, turn down the street on the side of Church's. The Center is block or so back -- it's a pink colored 1 story building.

Go to the next seminar; give them a call and make an appointment; the rest of your life minus excess weight is waiting!

Tx Cat, I went for an initial consultation and loved the facility. Everyone was so nice and made me feel right at home. They curently working with my insurance because I was denied. My BMI is 41, however I have no other problems (yet). I have decided though, I will definitly use this facility upon approval.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing. I too live in Fannett!

Margoboo

I am so excited to find others who live in the area! I have attended the seminar at the Christus Bariatric Center and also had my consults with everyone except the surgeon. I also chose Dr. Dean. I should be scheduled in late July or early August. I am getting very nervous, because I have paid the initial fee and now I seem to be hearing about many people who have not been successful. I am terrified to do something to my body and not succeed! My eating habits are so out of control, I cannot imagine that I am capable of doing this. Good luck to all of you!

I am so excited to find others who live in the area! I have attended the seminar at the Christus Bariatric Center and also had my consults with everyone except the surgeon. I also chose Dr. Dean. I should be scheduled in late July or early August. I am getting very nervous, because I have paid the initial fee and now I seem to be hearing about many people who have not been successful. I am terrified to do something to my body and not succeed! My eating habits are so out of control, I cannot imagine that I am capable of doing this. Good luck to all of you!

well have you had it done yet? I tried to use the doctors here in Beaumont but my insurance won't cover them. That really sucks. i really liked who I spoke with on the phone so I guess i will be using a houston doctor. I know for some people it may not work but at least you tried it and it came be removed. You could go back and have the gastric bypass. I wish you much luck and keep us posted on your journey. I would love to hear about it. Thanks and take care:smile:

Thanks for the response! I paid the initial fee of $1000, and they said I was covered 90/10. A few weeks later they called back and said I wasn't covered! They admit that it was their error, but they are not sure if they are going to refund our money. It happened to more than just me. It was something about their facility being new, etc. I am going to see Dr. Hahn tomorrow in Nederland. Part of me feels like it was a sign that I shouldn't do it, but I really want to feel better and conventional ways have yet to work for me. By the way I have United Healthcare and Dr. hahn and the hospital he uses is in my network. Hope to hear from you soon!

oh no you can't say that. i went throught the same thing here in beaumont. my insurance will only pay for in network and christus isn't in network. the doctor is but not the facility. that really sucks because i wanted to use them. they are local and convient. i am going to houston and using garth davis. he has a show on tlc called big medicine. i can't find a doctor here so that is what i have to do. i know lots of people who had to jump through loops to get this done so don't let it get you down. you learn and keep going. i keep saying i am having it done then i change my mind. i can't seem to loose the weight myself. i think this is the only way i will be able to loose it. so i will have my surgery next month (hopefully) started the process yesterday. will keep you posted. take care and think postitive. it will happen.

Thanks for the pep talk, I needed that! I started the process with Dr. Hahn today, he was very informative and kind. He met with me 1-1 for an hour! I just want it to be over! I have really been gaining....so I have got to get control and JUST DO IT! I wish you the best of luck, i watch BIG medicine and love the doctor, you will be in good hands!

well I have decided to look to see if Dr. Hahn was on my insurance as well. and guess what, he is? my appt with him is next wednesday. so we shall see. i am pretty happy right now since I don't have to go to houston. my only obstacle right now is the hospital, renissance hospital is not on my plan but the medical center of southeast texas is so i will have to talk to him about that. i will keep you updated. keep thinking positive.

Good Luck Wed., Who knows we could be banded at the same time!!

well i can't use that doctor. yesterday was my inital appt and everything was going great until they found out i had cobra right now. they don't accept cobra. i can't believe for the price i pay for cobra they won't accept it because they have been burned too many times. well that's not my fault. i was so mad. so it looks like i will be going to houston. if that doesn't work out, oh well, it wasn't meant to be. How is your progress going?

I am so sorry to hear that! I am waiting on the approval from my insurance co. I wish you the best. I have been watching the father, son team on BIG MEDICINE (Garth Davis). They are in Houston, also Dr. Spivak seems to have a good reputation. Keep me posted and I'll do the same!

Hi folks,

I too am from S.E. Texas and had my LB procedure done in May 07 by Dr. Spiegel who has an office in Port Neches and Houston. He is a top notch surgeon and his (yes his) hostpital in Houston was the finest I've ever seen.

That being said, that's where the boquets stop and the bricks start. He has terrible aftercare and just an awful staff (in Port Neches). The problem is that every person on his office staff are patients of his and have all done well with the lap band. Those folks make for great advertisment, but not always great employees.

There's good and bad news for Spiegel's local patients. The good news is he's now only open 1 day a week in Port Neches, so the "crumby" staff is gone bcause he brings people from Houston with him .............and the bad news is, he's now only open 1 day a week in Port Neches, so if you need anything and it's not on a Monday, you have to go to Houston.

His aftercare is so bad that I tried to switch to Christus St. E, but they wanted $1500 just to be part of their support group, so I thought I'd try it on my own for a while.

Anyway, I'm glad to run into some local folks on this forum and hope you all will do well.

Talk to yall soon,

Hammer:thumbup:

Edited August 18, 200817 yr by hammer1