Hi Everyone! This is my very first post! I am receiving a band in 2/2 weeks by Dr. Forbes. I have started this process last september and it is finally nearing surgery date! I am wondering what other experiences people have had with this doctor and Buffalo General. I have gotten such a run around from Malissa and the people there, it's actually ridiculous! I have complied WITH all requirements, but getting people to communicate with me AND EVEN CALL ME BACK is actually a little scary. It makes me wonder if I will be left out to dry post -op. Let me know PLEASE!

Hi Everyone! This is my very first post! I am receiving a band in 2/2 weeks by Dr. Forbes. I have started this process last september and it is finally nearing surgery date! I am wondering what other experiences people have had with this doctor and Buffalo General. I have gotten such a run around from Malissa and the people there, it's actually ridiculous! I have complied WITH all requirements, but getting people to communicate with me AND EVEN CALL ME BACK is actually a little scary. It makes me wonder if I will be left out to dry post -op. Let me know PLEASE!

HI, Sorry I can't help you but I was so excited to see your post as I to am in the same program and have been looking for someone from Buffalo. It was a little frustrating to see how long you have been in the process! I started in March and my first appointment is June 24th but I have every issue that I know of already taken care of including the required 5% weight loss. Have you been to the LapBand support group at the hospital yet? That is where you may be able to ask questions and see results. I hope someone answers this post who can help you feel better. I have an online friend who started the process at the same time and she is very frustrated with the office and their losing things and not answering the phone etc. I asked several health care professionals for a referral including my gyn who had GBS and Dr. Forbes comes highly recommended. I don't know if we pick a surgeon or are assigned one but I was thinking of asking for Forbes. Its a woman thing. I thought they were all nice and helpful at the seminar. Good Luck and I hope to hear from you again. If you need someone locally to talk to we can exchange email addresses.

thanks for the reply! I like Dr Forbes, but have only met her 1 time. She was nice and I felt comfortable with her. I see how much everyone on this site loves Dr. Hoffman though, and so I wish I would've requested him. I didn't even know you could request a certain doc. They just assigned me to her...I too hope someone else posts here!

hi all

i did have dr.hoffman who was great, but i heard dr. forbes is good also. when you are finally banded it will be worth all the bs. the nurses at buffalo general weregreat- and i am a nurse so that is a compliment. hang in there it will be worth it in the long run

That is good to hear! Did Hoffman follow up with you after the surgery? what was that process like? Like I mentioned, for some reason, I feel like I will be left out to dry as soon as this is over....am I wrong?

you see the doctor 1 week after surgery and then at the 6 wk point. then the next visit is 6-8 wks out. plus dr hoffman has a walking group that meets every sat at the juicery in delaware park to walk. its open to all. we meet at 8am. some are other docs patients and some havent even had surgery yet. its hoffman's little support group

I think you are fine with any of the three doctors. If I had not met Dr. Hoffman first I would have been fine with the other two. I have seen Dr. Posner talk with his patients when I have been there and he seems very concerned and interested. I also liked Dr. Forbes when I met her at the seminar. Again, if I had not met Dr. Hoffman, I probably would have went with a woman.

Because most patients do not know any of the three they usually assign patients randomly to the surgeons. I think you would do fine with any of them.

Val is right though, you should come to walk with the post surgical group. It helps a lot.

Next Wednesday June 19 I think is the lap band support group, and I know at least 3 of us walkers are going, so please join us.

Also, the process is long, you just need to get used to it. It takes 6 months or so, like it or not. Getting everything done in advance does not seem to help.

I do not think you will be left out to dry by any of the three doctors. They emphasized at the seminar that you can expect a 3 year relationship if not longer.

this is great info, and what a great idea to walk at Delaware Park! How many people usually attend? How far do you walk? And it's not just for Hoffman patients Right? :-)

We walk the park twice, it is almost 2 miles each time around. Some quit after 1 time around. There are at least three people and sometimes 5, 6, 7 or so. It changes regularly, but there are usually 3-4 core people that go every week.

We have another of Forbes patients that is pretty regular. And by the way she is happy with having had Dr. Forbes, just FYI.

Hope to see you, look for Judy, Val, Loraine, Christa, Nicki, sometimes Dr. Hoffman. 8 am, juicery, Delaware Park.

HI, Sorry I can't help you but I was so excited to see your post as I to am in the same program and have been looking for someone from Buffalo. It was a little frustrating to see how long you have been in the process! I started in March and my first appointment is June 24th but I have every issue that I know of already taken care of including the required 5% weight loss. Have you been to the LapBand support group at the hospital yet? That is where you may be able to ask questions and see results. I hope someone answers this post who can help you feel better. I have an online friend who started the process at the same time and she is very frustrated with the office and their losing things and not answering the phone etc. I asked several health care professionals for a referral including my gyn who had GBS and Dr. Forbes comes highly recommended. I don't know if we pick a surgeon or are assigned one but I was thinking of asking for Forbes. Its a woman thing. I thought they were all nice and helpful at the seminar. Good Luck and I hope to hear from you again. If you need someone locally to talk to we can exchange email addresses.

Linda, you need to lose 5% starting from your initial visit, not the seminar. They have to weigh you and then you lose 5% after that. Just not sure if you knew that.

Judy, at the seminar they told us we could come in and get weighed (without an appointment) so I did and got the weight, BMI etc. Our seminar was May 1st and the first appointment isn't until June 24th so this way we got a head start on the weight loss. I haven't had my first appointment yet but I was thinking of asking for Dr. Forbes since she is a woman but you guys sure talk up Dr. Hoffman as being wonderful. I was on the GBS forum for local people and my friend told me Hoffman doesn't have the track record that Posner and Forbes do but maybe that is just for GBS. I trust all your opinions.

I am getting banded by Dr Hoffman on the 23rd. Nervous and excited. Good luck to you on your journey.

I am getting banded by Dr Hoffman on the 23rd. Nervous and excited. Good luck to you on your journey.

Brubear, that is so exciting. How is your husband doing? That is good--it did not scare you off seeing him go through it. So maybe it is not so bad after all. Tell me it is worth the wait so I can quit complaining.

Judy, at the seminar they told us we could come in and get weighed (without an appointment) so I did and got the weight, BMI etc. Our seminar was May 1st and the first appointment isn't until June 24th so this way we got a head start on the weight loss. I haven't had my first appointment yet but I was thinking of asking for Dr. Forbes since she is a woman but you guys sure talk up Dr. Hoffman as being wonderful. I was on the GBS forum for local people and my friend told me Hoffman doesn't have the track record that Posner and Forbes do but maybe that is just for GBS. I trust all your opinions.

Linda, you would do well with any of them I am sure. Good luck, let us know how your 3 hour goes. We have heard so much about Dr. Hoffman, it would be nice to hear about one of the others, LOL.

Judy...have you gotten the band yet? or in the process?