Hi,

I am going to my first consultation tomorrow, and am meeting with Dr. Laker. Has anybody gone through this doctor?

Dr. Laker is with The Great Lakes Weight Loss Center, and any info on this place would be greatly appreciated. I am self pay and was wondering if I have to go through the same process that ins. patients go through? Is it typically shorter for self pay?

I am really looking forward to tomorrows appointment. I'm nervous, but excited.

Thanks

***Update***

I met with Dr. Laker and he is very friendly. He spent a lot of time with my wife and I. He answered all of my questions, the good the bad, and the ugly.

I am no longer nervous, and now very excited. I will be banded on August 25th. I am looking forward to like with the band. Great Lakes was very thorough, and really takes the time needed to make you comfortable with the proces.

Pars

Before you go to surgery please read my story and if you want to know about other people who are now in horrible health some blind, some bedridden, others no longer can work or take care of their families, we ALL have one thing in common THE LAP BAND.

Dr. Laker installed my Lap Band July 16, 2007, he never warned me of any possible side effects, below is my story. Lap Band installed 07, vomiting and pain began immediately thought it was normal. Started going to Doctors and hospitals nothing found, then the diarrhea started, again Doctors and hospitals, colonoscopy and endoscopy 01/2012 (date of discovery) found lap band had eroded into my stomach. Lap Band removed 01/2012, very ill, still pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Constant vomiting caused a hernia so another surgery to repair hernia 11/2012. Still pain, vomiting diarrhea continually going to Doctors and hospitals, specialist does another endoscopy 07/08/2013 and finds major problems where my stomach was repaired, sends me to a surgeon immediately because he was so worried, saw surgeon within two days on 07/10/2013. Surgeon did his own endoscopy 07/22/2013, told me the lap band did a number on my stomach and he could not do the repair said I needed to see him in his office 07/26/2013 so he can go over alternatives with me. I am still vomiting and have diarrhea more times a day than I can count and the pain is severe. My Surgeon is a Bariatric Specialist and he no longer does Lap Band Surgery because of the damage Lap Bands do. He would make a great witness on my behalf. I go nowhere except to Doctors and Hospitals, when I do I take a bag that consists of trash bags, paper towels, baby wipes, Water and a change of clothes. I vomit and have blasting diarrhea EVERY TIME I eat anything. I am single but cannot date; my boyfriend broke up with me because he could no longer handle my illness. My life has changed so much. Sometimes I crawl from the bed to the toilet several times a day, sometimes I make it sometimes not. I have vomited and had diarrhea while in the car and in the presents of others. A couple of months ago I was so sick that I was on a gurney at the hospital the vomiting and diarrhea would not stop and a hospital employee made the comment "disgusting she crapped all over herself". The pain is like having hundreds of hot knives cutting into my stomach. I have so many scars it is embarrassing, I will never be able to take my clothes off in front of anyone again. This is a small list of what I have been through and there are others just like me and some are worse like losing their eye sight. I have all of my documentation along with pictures to back up my story. I feel the Doctor was negligent because he never warned me of these possible side effects and the danger. The Lap Band was defective because it eroded into my stomach. My life will never be the same and my health will never be restored. I should have been warned so that I could make a decision based on the facts. « Show less

Events

1. 07/28/2013 - Was told that another surgery was needed, stomach is like sewing cottage cheese
   
   
2. 07/23/2013 - Endoscopy
   
   
3. 07/18/2013 - Endoscopy
   
   
4. 11/10/2012 - Hernia Surgery (from vomiting and diarrhea)
   
   
5. 01/25/2012 - Lap Band Removed
   
   
6. 01/19/2012 - Colonoscopy and endoscopy (date of Discovery)
   
   
7. 07/16/2007 - Lap Band installed
   

Update, I have been so ill I have not been able to go to DR. to schedule next surgery.

Last week my mother tried to get me to the DR, but she had to stop the car on the freeway, pull me out of the car, sit me down against the car because I was too weak to get out on my own, I vomited and had dirrhea right there in front of other drivers.

I don't want to discourage anyone either, but I just spent seven weeks in the hospital after having my band out. And while I am grateful to be alive, I was a self pay bander with medical insurance with WLS exclusions. Something to think about before taking the plunge. I am so sorry you are so ill. I hope you have some good news soon and you will be in my prayers.