I am from Southern Il and I am hoping to meet others in my area that are getting or have the band. I would love to talk to anyone as well. I am 3 months into my diet with the Dr. and have had all my tests done. I am hoping and praying all goes smoothly with the process.

Michele

Hello,

I'm from Southern Illinois. I rarely come to this section, because everyone seems to be from up north.

I am in my third month of 6 month pcp surpervised diet. I have had most of my tests and am scheduled for my endo later this month.

How are things going for you? Who is your doctor?

Deb

Fantastic! Someone else from So. IL. I am going to Dr. Alex Argotte in Paducah KY. It is the same distance there as it is to St. Louis. A lot less traffic and hassle getting to the clinic and hospital. I live near Carbondale. My surgeon is suppose to start doing surgeries in Marion starting this month. I wont have to drive down to Paducah to see him then. I do like the drive to Paducah though. I like Lourdes Hospital too. He has a really nice surgery suite set up there. He comes highly recommended.

How about you? Where are you? Who is your surgeon? Thanks for replying. I look forward to hearing from you.

Michele

Hello,

I am using Dr. Argotte as well. He is actually going to be working out of Herrin Hospital. I can't wait until he gets moved, because it will be easier for me to take off work, becuase of the much shorter drive. I live in Sesser so by the time my appt is over it takes me almost two hours to get home.

Yes he does come highly recommended. The only complaints I've seen are due to his large number of pre-op tests he requires. This to me is not a negative since I want him to be as safe as possible. I ended up taking two vacation days and had tests galore done. I was glad I could have my tests done in Herrin even though he was there yet.

How far along in the journey are you? Have you had many of your tests yet?

Deb

Wow...we have a lot in common. Yes you are right...It is Herrin and not Marion. I don't know why I was saying Marion. I had all my tests done at Herrin. I had to have the EGD at Lourdes medical complex next to the hospital though. I just had it done last Friday. That was the last of my tests that had to be done. Yes he does order a lot of tests, but as a nurse I can see some of the reasonings why they are ordered. Are you going to have the vena cava filter placed? I am. He will put it in 3 days prior to surgery. I worked with enough surgeons to know what happens with clots. Scares the crap out of me. My first PCP appt. Was Oct. 13th and as you know Dr. Argotte says "that is day 0 of your 6 months." I figured the 13th of April will be my 6 month finally for my diet. If there are no problems with my insurance(...so far everything is according to insurance reqs) Dr. Argotte said it usuallly takes a week for the approval and then I can have my band the following week. So I guess the end of April or the beginning of May.

I live in Ava. My husband is actually doing some contract work at Sesser right now.

We are so close to one another. When is your next appt? Mine is Monday at 2:15 for my EGD follow up. What are your stats? What insurance do you have/ I am sorry...I am just excited to know someone else going through this. I have friends of have done the RNY, but no one for the band. Here is my email addy. michelecotton@verizon.net

Talk to you soon.

Michele :biggrin:

I too live in Southern IL and drive to Paducah to see Dr. Argotte. I know of a few others as well. Is the Herrin office just a satelite office for him? Or is he leaving Paducah? I have an Appt to see him in Paducah and I wonder if I can see him in Herrin. I will call tomorrow and see if they are scheduling Appt yet.

I too live in Southern IL and drive to Paducah to see Dr. Argotte. I know of a few others as well. Is the Herrin office just a satelite office for him? Or is he leaving Paducah? I have an Appt to see him in Paducah and I wonder if I can see him in Herrin. I will call tomorrow and see if they are scheduling Appt yet.

He will only be in Paducah 1 day a week. That is what he told me last Monday. I will see him in Herrin Feb. 5th.

The bariatric program directors name is Heather and she is super nice. Just give them a call.

This is cool. There are others in So. IL too. How far are you into getting your band?

Yes I'm from Centralia and I would like to chat with other lapband people from southern IL. I'm checking into getting one I have a meeting over at Fairview Ht on the 27th for st alexis but I would like to know more about the surgeon from ky who is coming to Herrin. If u could email me that would be great csd642002@yahoo.com Thank U newme09 :thumbdown:

Edited January 12, 200917 yr by newme09

I am done with all my testing and my 6 months for my insurance. I am awaiting ins approval. I am sooo excited!! I did call yesterday and got an appt in Herrin for next week. She called me back and said I have to get all my records from Paducah. I guess this Herrin office is not assosiated with Paducah. I hope I don't have any trouble with that!!

I hope all goes great with getting your records transferred. I have to get mine transferred too. My next appt is Feb 5 in Herrin. What insurance company do you have? I am hoping I only have to do 6 consecutive visits (what my insurance people said) so that would put me at March with being done with my supv. diet. If I have to do 6 full months then it is 7 visits and that puts me in April. I know the time passes by quickly, but I like others cant wait to get this done.

Let me know how things are going with you. You can email me at michelecotton@verizon.net. I don't have anyone else that I know that has done the band. I do know 4-5 that have had the RNY. Are you anywhere close to me?

I'm from Marion, had the LB May 7th with Dr. Argotte. Looking forward to him now being in Herrin!

He will only be in Paducah 1 day a week. That is what he told me last Monday. I will see him in Herrin Feb. 5th.

The bariatric program directors name is Heather and she is super nice. Just give them a call.

This is cool. There are others in So. IL too. How far are you into getting your band?

My appt is Feb 5th also at 3:25pm. Maybe I'll see you there.

My appt is Feb 5th also at 3:25pm. Maybe I'll see you there.

Hi Mely

My appt is at 2:30. I would love to stick around and get a chance to meet and talk with you. If not mabey we can meet up sometime.

This is really nice having people close to talk to about the band. I have been talking with a few people from So Il that are getting bands by Dr. A too. One of them is from Marion as well.

Your pic looks great. I have questions to ask. Lol...I am sorry.

I look forward to talking.

Michele

Sure.....I would love to meet you......if you can stick around that would be great. Or we can do coffee sometime.

Great....I will stick around. Mabey we can do coffee sometime as well.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Michele

Great....I will stick around. Mabey we can do coffee sometime as well.

I look forward to meeting with you.

Michele

Sounds good. I sent you my personal contact info in a provate message.