Hi there! I was just banded by Dr. Karen MacKenzie in Visalia, Ca. She is awesome, and she and her staff worked really hard with me to get my insurance in order. I got a referral no problem, but it seems that the hospital we chose was not on their approved list for this procedure, so they wanted it in writing that Blue Cross would indeed pay the claim.

Anyway, my surgery took about 50 minutes, and other than having issues with nausea from the anesthesia for the first week [this happened with another surgery I had several years ago as well], everything's been going very well.

I have lost 20 pounds as of yesterday, and 2 sizes! My friends are all fighting over my old clothes.:smile:

I go for my first fill June 11th, but I'm doing good without it, I don't get hungry very often and still limit my meals to 6 ounces at the most. I did find a really great protein drink, Isopure [look for the one that says Zero Carb, there's no sugar], and that's usually my breakfast to make sure I am taking in enough protein every day. The Cookies & Cream is tasty!

Well, I'll stop for now, just wanted everyone to know how great my doc is!!! If you are in the Fresno/Visalia area and looking for a lapband doctor, she's the one for you.

Hi there! I was just banded by Dr. Karen MacKenzie in Visalia, Ca. She is awesome, and she and her staff worked really hard with me to get my insurance in order. I got a referral no problem, but it seems that the hospital we chose was not on their approved list for this procedure, so they wanted it in writing that Blue Cross would indeed pay the claim.

Anyway, my surgery took about 50 minutes, and other than having issues with nausea from the anesthesia for the first week [this happened with another surgery I had several years ago as well], everything's been going very well.

I have lost 20 pounds as of yesterday, and 2 sizes! My friends are all fighting over my old clothes.:smile:

I go for my first fill June 11th, but I'm doing good without it, I don't get hungry very often and still limit my meals to 6 ounces at the most. I did find a really great Protein drink, Isopure [look for the one that says Zero Carb, there's no sugar], and that's usually my breakfast to make sure I am taking in enough protein every day. The Cookies & Cream is tasty!

Well, I'll stop for now, just wanted everyone to know how great my doc is!!! If you are in the Fresno/Visalia area and looking for a lapband doctor, she's the one for you.

Congratulations. Glad you are doing well. Thanks for letting us know how things went.

Welcome and congratulations on your success!

Lauree08, what hospital did you choose?

Edited August 26, 200818 yr by runma126

Lauree08, what hospital did you choose?

I went with Kaweah Delta, they were the only facility contracted for my HMO. She also does the surgery at Cypress Surgical center, which is supposed to be good, and I think now she is credentialed at Tulare Community Hospital as well. But everyone at KDDH was very nice, and I had to work closely with several people in the insurance billing dept, and they were all very helpful.

You know, they charged over $10,000 for the use of the surgical room - the surgery only took 40 minutes - thank goodness I didn't have to pay that!:thumbup: