Hi there,

I've switched doctors, and I'm now going to Duke. Does anyone have any experience with them? I was really impressed with their orientation session.

I'm in Raleigh.

Thanks!

I live in Concord, I just wanted to say hello and welcome. If you are ever down towards the Charlotte area we have a small group that meets once a month and most of us have different Drs so the experenice is different for everyone and we all at different stages. So jump in any of the threads and ask any questions we will be here for support.

Welcome!!!!

I had researched for months and went to Duke for the initial workup but pulled out. They are real big on bypass but have little experience with lap-band. Dr. McMahon who did do the lapband had only done about 30 procedures over a 3 year period and had greater than 10% failure rate I was told. Dr. McMahon just left Duke and Dr. deMarie who came from Virginia is not a big fan of lapband. I checked him out with 2 other lapband docs who said he presented at an obesity conference on how lapband DIDN'T WORK! I was also concerned that the docs don't get involved with the fills at all - they are done by a nurse (and cost $450 each). I am still getting bills from my initial consult which ended up costing over $2000 including blood work and psych. evaluation. The psych person was actually concerned that as a busy mom of 3 I wouldn't be able to focus enough on dieting and might want to delay the procedure until a later year. (don't think I could wait at this weight!)

While Duke is only 15 minutes from my home, I ended up looking all over and narrowed it down to NYC and TJ before settling on Dr. Ortiz in TJ. His experience in doing this procedure over 2000 times convinced me. It was worth the trip and I was banded in July and have lost 23 pounds already. He has written the book on lapband (you can order it on his site obesitycontrolcenter.com). Don't discount Mexico. I was amazed that almost all patients I met there were US nurses or wives of US doctors who were referred to Ortiz for his expertise.

Hi - I live in Greensboro. Good luck!! I heard Duke was difficult to deal with. However, insurance is always that way.

Claudia

band date 10/6

Hi,

I just moved to Greensboro from Seattle, and had my lapband at Northwest Weight Loss Surgery in Washington state on November 17, 2005. What kind of support groups, get-togethers, etc. are going on in GSO? Any recommendations for fills in this area?

Thanks,

Linda M.

Hi,

Do you know if Ortiz's clinic accepts American insurance?

Thanks,

Susie