Hello to all,

I have recently gotten my refferal to see Dr Tony Keireth for a lap band, i am living in Karratha WA and have not heard from his office for my first appiontment.... Hopefully it is soon i cant stop stuffing my face i think i have replaced food with my sex life lol (or lack there of a sex life) I guess it is partly my fault and partly my partners fault... i cant wait to loose some weight so i can be the sex kitten i used to be lol... Mostly want the surgery becouse i am pre diabete who knows probly full blown diabetic now, i need to go have some more blood test oneday next week..... How long has it taken anyone from the first doctors visit for a refferal to actually have the surgery done.. i got medibank private a year ago to assist with the costs anyone know how much it actually does cost etc any feed back would be greatly appreciate ...

Anyway i cant wait to hear back from anybody about there stories.

THankyou for reading H x x x

Hi and welcome. As far as how long it takes from the referral to surgery date, that depends. If you have insurance, most of them require you jump through several hoops. If you are private pay, things go much quicker. I was private pay and had my surgery about three weeks after my initial visit with my surgeon.

my experience with insurance was good. i found out in novemeber that my employer was going to start covering WLS starting jan1. so from november to feb 3rd, the day I got my band, i completed all the testing. even through the holidays i had an ultrasound of the gallbladder, an EGD,my psychological testing, a seminar, and met with the surgeon,dietician,etc. I was busy, but I was determined to get it done ASAP. good luck but push the office to help you complete your steps quickly instead of dragging it out.peggy

From the time I was approved by insurance to the day of my surgery was 16 days.

Each surgeon requires many different thing. Some require the preop liquid diet and others do not. Mine didn't require it so all my weight loss so far is post band.

Good luck!

Welcome! This is the best decision you have made, it was for me anyway. I decided in Dec 2008 that this is what I wanted to do. Insurance approved in less than two weeks. I saw DR WETTER for the first time on 22 Dec 2008 and between that date and my visit in Jan I did all the pre testing with the shrink and nutritionist. I was banded on 10 Feb 2009. I am so excited about this journey and the changes that I am going through. I am still having trouble with drinking enough water and not drinking with my meals, but I am working on that. My insurance paid for the whole thing except for $250 which I had to pay the hospital. I even had a private room! Be sure you ask lots of questions and search here for any you may have. The people here are the best! They have always given me great advise and are there to support you. Glad to have you joining us!