Hi, I live in Israel and have just started looking into doing this surgery. I am looking for anyone who has had this procedure done in Israel. Kupat Holim Meuhedet is telling me that there is only one doctor from Beer Sheva from Soroka Hospital who does it. Any information you have about procedure here and criteria for qualifying for approval would be helpful.

Thanks!:eek:

Hi,

I also live in Israel, am a member of Meuchedet and have made an appointment to have the preliminary tests done at Ichilov. I am told I will be given a psychiatric exam, x-rays of my esophagus and stomach and an endocrinology exam to determine if I am eligible.

Thanks,

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

So happy to hear someone close to home who is going to do this procedure too!! Meuhedet told me first to see an internal doctor, psychologist, dietician and the surgeons who will do the procedure. So far I have seen the internist, dietician, and the psychologist. The psychologist's job is to make sure that a person who wants to do this surgery is stable and is doing it for the right reasons and that people dont have unrealistic expectations. My next step is to meet with the surgeons in Tel HaShomer who do the laproscopy surgery. I am nervous and excited. I would love to follow up with you on your progress. Please get back to me and let me know how you proceed. Who are the doctors who do the surgery in Ichilov?

Tal:smile2:

I only started this process a few days ago. I am not sure who the doctor's are yet. I am going to ask a friend of mine who works at Ichilov if she can find out the names.

I am also nervous and excited. It would be great to keep up with each other's progress.

I now have an initial appointment set for Sept. 1 at Ichilov. I still don't know the doctor's name.

How is your's proceeding?

Great that you are proceeding. How did you make the appointment - through Kupat Holim or through Ichilov? I saw Dr. Scott at my Meuhedet Branch who is an Internist working in Tel HaShomer. He referred me to his team in Tel Hashomer who do this procedure. My appointment is for next week. Why is your appointment so far away? Do you want to take it slow or are they booked up so much?

How did you get the pre surgery appoint to show up in pink at the bottom of your messages?

That was the earliest appointment available. I would have preferred to have an earlier appointment. My internist recommended I do this at Ichilov.

The date is part of my signature.

Hi Swisskaese,

I saw the doctor in Tel Hashomer and he said that the lap band helps to make the person feel uncomfortable if they eat too much and the biggest enemy is head hunger. Head hunger he said is the feeling a person would feel if they ate a ton of lettuce - he would feel full but not satisfied and want to eat more. Still, I prefer the lap over the gastric sleeve or bypass because it is safer. What about you have you been to a "deciding" or "educating" appointment yet? Now I just have one question - what is the difference between the "lapband" and the "realize band" Do you know?

My first appointment is the beginning of September, so I have a little over a month to go.

Have you had all of the tests yet?

I have never heard of the Realize band, but I did find the website and it seems that it is a lapband that includes some sort of online support. For more information, click here.

I will not ever consider gastric bypass surgery. I have heard a few too many horror stories about that surgery. I know that this is not going to be a walk in the park, but I really want to do this. For me, this is my last resort to prevent more serious health risks.

Edited July 23, 200818 yr by Swisskaese

I agree with you - willingly mutilating the stomach and that there is no going back is so scary.

I saw a psychologist and dietitian.Then my internist referred me to the specialist in Tel Hashomer. I thought I was going to schedule, but the appointment turned out to be an educational one. And he had to tell me all the options and all the facts. Now I have to make another appointment to make it official, I guess. Then I suppose there will be tests.

What tests need to be done - have they told you?

At my appointment, all the people waiting had done either the sleeve or the bypass. No one had the band. I was surprised at that, really.

I was reading about the realize band here in the support group - one person complained about the filling and I wanted to make sure that there is not a major difference between the two - also to find out what they use here in Israel.

That is interesting that everyone one had had the gastric bypass. I will ask the doctor which bands they use.

My GP told me that besides talking to a surgeon, nutritionist and a psychiatrist, that they will do an xray of my stomach and esophagus to make sure that I don't have any obstructions. I had my annual checkup at the beginning of the year, so I can show them the results from that. I am not sure if they will test anything else.

Hi Moriah,

Have you been approved yet?

Hope all is well.

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

How did your September appointment go and what did they tell you? I went to my appointment like I told you before and now I want to see my doctor again to confirm that I am doing the surgery. But I have to wait until Nov 11. That is the first available appointment. I wanted to be waiting for the surgery already. It is taking time. How are you doing - Is your surgery scheduled? Have you done any other tests? I am happy to hear from you.Tal:smile2:

I met the endochronologist at Ichilov and he looked over my medical history, asked questions and looked over my blood work from five months ago. He said I was an excellent candidate for the lapband and wrote a prescription for more tests.

I am doing a blood test, 24 hour urine test, an ultrasound, an x-ray of my esophagus and the psych exam.

After I have completed all of those, then I go back to Ichilov, have another meeting with the endochronologist and if he approves everything, I go and speak to the surgeon on the same day to discuss the procedure and set up an appointment for the surgery.

Hi there,

My name is Susan. I live in CA and was banded in Mexicali, Mexico 10/08. I am within 7-8 pounds of goal.

I am making Aliyah in October and wondered about band maintenance in Israel. Is it easy to get fills and do they do them with fluoroscopy?

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Hi Susan,

I was going to have the lap band and began tests etc. in Tel Hashomer Hospital. The doctor was very nice but he said that he didnt like the lap band and preferred doing the full gastric procedure. After his explanations, I had second thoughts and didnt go through with the surgery.

Then I started a new job after being so long at home, and was mortified at how much weight I had gained - but....I really wanted this job. So I began to walk twice a day to and from work for 1/2 hour each and slowly reduced my food intake. Now, after 2 years I went down from 250 lbs to my current weight 195. I look and feel much better but I really want to lose more. It is so hard - but I feel that having a surgery was not really conquering my problem with food - I realize that food for me is totally connected to my emotions and if I am sad, depressed or bored I eat. I lose track of everything.

I wish you well with your lapband - I am sorry I couldnt be of more assistance to you. Also, I am so excited for you to be making aliya! I also made aliya so if you have any questions about that too - I would be happy to help you

Take Care - Tal