Recent Posts
Topic: hello all
Hi everyone. I had surgery on January 25th and have already surpassed my goal of 180 and currently sit at 172.. uping my calorie intake now to try and maintain the weight. yes im struggling to stay put.
Anyway i just wanted to invite everyone to www.DiscussWLS.com. Get a unique support here. Please join us for our weekly support chats in our chatroom on sundays at 7pm est. One can never have enough support outlets
For those that had surgery at geisinger like me, we have our own geisinger section in the social group area.. Many features are also available to our users al for free. :)
You can slso find us on twitter at www.twitter.com/discusswls
and
facebook at www.facebook.com/discusswls
Anyway i just wanted to invite everyone to www.DiscussWLS.com. Get a unique support here. Please join us for our weekly support chats in our chatroom on sundays at 7pm est. One can never have enough support outlets
For those that had surgery at geisinger like me, we have our own geisinger section in the social group area.. Many features are also available to our users al for free. :)
You can slso find us on twitter at www.twitter.com/discusswls
and
facebook at www.facebook.com/discusswls
Topic: RE: GWU hospital for surgery?
thanks for that! i really want to have it done at gwu. i want a place that has a very low mortalitly/morbidity rate. what is dr.brody like? dr. lin was very straight forward and business like, not a bad thing but not a warm personality.
xoxo Olivia 
HW: 428 August 2009
CW: 220 June2012
GW:175 September 2012?!
HW: 428 August 2009
CW: 220 June2012
GW:175 September 2012?!
Topic: RE: GWU hospital for surgery?
i am having rny @ GW- with dr. Brody-I can say is it is a gastric bypass center of excellence- only a small % of centers are rated this hight. I have only been up there about 2 times. they seems sharp.
no lost patients etc.-- I asked!
no lost patients etc.-- I asked!
Sassy Sally 
Topic: RE: Hi--I just want to introduce myself and meet y'all!
Hey Candace,
The band has been great. I had a bump in the road in Spring b/c my band had slipped. My fault entirely though. I knew my band was too tight but didn't want to loosen it b/c of the great weight loss I was seeing. I ate a peice of food that I didn't chew as well as I thought and it was stuck. It was really painful and I had to vomit it up and I knew at that moment I did some damage. The slip was fixed and I learned a BIG lesson the hard way! Listen to your band! Do not have it too full! The weight may come off easier, but in the long run you'll regret it.
I got the band put in May 2008 and lost 70 lbs before it slipped. I had it emptied in late March 2009 and then my revision surgery was late May 2009. I've been getting fills ever since to get me back up to where I needmy band to be and I'm finally at my sweet spot. I went up 25 lbs. from the time I had to have my band fixed and filled again. I'm finally back on track. The whole experience showed me that I truly made the best decision in my life to get the band put in. I now know that there's now way I would have been able to lose the weight without it. (I have the proof!)
Best of luck to you on your journey! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Kim
The band has been great. I had a bump in the road in Spring b/c my band had slipped. My fault entirely though. I knew my band was too tight but didn't want to loosen it b/c of the great weight loss I was seeing. I ate a peice of food that I didn't chew as well as I thought and it was stuck. It was really painful and I had to vomit it up and I knew at that moment I did some damage. The slip was fixed and I learned a BIG lesson the hard way! Listen to your band! Do not have it too full! The weight may come off easier, but in the long run you'll regret it.
I got the band put in May 2008 and lost 70 lbs before it slipped. I had it emptied in late March 2009 and then my revision surgery was late May 2009. I've been getting fills ever since to get me back up to where I needmy band to be and I'm finally at my sweet spot. I went up 25 lbs. from the time I had to have my band fixed and filled again. I'm finally back on track. The whole experience showed me that I truly made the best decision in my life to get the band put in. I now know that there's now way I would have been able to lose the weight without it. (I have the proof!)
Best of luck to you on your journey! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Kim
Topic: RE: Hi--I just want to introduce myself and meet y'all!
hi Kim!
I am moving towards getting a Realize Band through Dr. Anez in Reston, Va...it is similar to lap band...how how the band been for you? What have your results been like? How long since your surgery?
Thanks so much for your feedback!!
Candace
I am moving towards getting a Realize Band through Dr. Anez in Reston, Va...it is similar to lap band...how how the band been for you? What have your results been like? How long since your surgery?
Thanks so much for your feedback!!
Candace
Topic: RE: Hi--I just want to introduce myself and meet y'all!
My name is Candace, I'm not only new to this board--I'm new to DC. :)
I moved out here form Idaho in Feb; I'm a full-time Mom to an awesome 5-year old boy.
I'm super-curious about how to get started with this weightloss surgery? I finally reached the point in the last few months that I realized this weight isn't ever going to come off without surgery. I have done The Zone, South Beach, Body Bugg, Weigh****chers, Six Week BodyMakeover, phentermine...you name it. I might drop 30lbs, but it comes back with backup.
All the different methods of surgery--in addition to finding a doctor and going through the hoops for the insurance--just feels so overwelming to me. Can someone please help a girl out and shed some light on where to start?
Who are the doctors worth seeing?
What are the "best" surgery options? What goes in to picking one technique over another? And what are the "mini" and the "sleave"?
I am 259/5'8" sz 20-22/2x-3x...
Does anyone know if surgery is effective if you have PCOS?
I'm looking forward to meeting y'all and learning about the options here...Something tells me DC/Virginia is a much better place to have surgery than Idaho would have been..:)
Thanks!
C
Hi Candace,
I was in your same place. Mom of 2 kids, let myself go, tried every diet out there including meds, etc... I truly understand where you are! :-) I chose to have a LapBand am so grateful for it!
I chose to go to Dr. Brian Long at Sibley Memorial Hospital in DC. LOVE HIM and his staff!!!!! He has a team of people... nutritionist, pschiatrist, trainer, office staff and a nurse who are all incredible and help tremedously in the journey. In fact, my friend also had surgery through him and 2 of her other friends from work had theirs through his as well. They all had RNY.
You should start by attending an information seminar. They will tell you everything you need to know and you'll meet other in the same place as you. You should search different hospitals in the area and get a good feeling of what they offer in terms of not only surgery, but support. Sibley has a wonderful support system (as well as other hospitals in the area).
Congratulations on taking the first step.. it's a big one! :-)
Kim
On July 26, 2009 at 11:44 AM Pacific Time, CandaceHasCurves wrote:
Hi everyone!My name is Candace, I'm not only new to this board--I'm new to DC. :)
I moved out here form Idaho in Feb; I'm a full-time Mom to an awesome 5-year old boy.
I'm super-curious about how to get started with this weightloss surgery? I finally reached the point in the last few months that I realized this weight isn't ever going to come off without surgery. I have done The Zone, South Beach, Body Bugg, Weigh****chers, Six Week BodyMakeover, phentermine...you name it. I might drop 30lbs, but it comes back with backup.
All the different methods of surgery--in addition to finding a doctor and going through the hoops for the insurance--just feels so overwelming to me. Can someone please help a girl out and shed some light on where to start?
Who are the doctors worth seeing?
What are the "best" surgery options? What goes in to picking one technique over another? And what are the "mini" and the "sleave"?
I am 259/5'8" sz 20-22/2x-3x...
Does anyone know if surgery is effective if you have PCOS?
I'm looking forward to meeting y'all and learning about the options here...Something tells me DC/Virginia is a much better place to have surgery than Idaho would have been..:)
Thanks!
C
I was in your same place. Mom of 2 kids, let myself go, tried every diet out there including meds, etc... I truly understand where you are! :-) I chose to have a LapBand am so grateful for it!
I chose to go to Dr. Brian Long at Sibley Memorial Hospital in DC. LOVE HIM and his staff!!!!! He has a team of people... nutritionist, pschiatrist, trainer, office staff and a nurse who are all incredible and help tremedously in the journey. In fact, my friend also had surgery through him and 2 of her other friends from work had theirs through his as well. They all had RNY.
You should start by attending an information seminar. They will tell you everything you need to know and you'll meet other in the same place as you. You should search different hospitals in the area and get a good feeling of what they offer in terms of not only surgery, but support. Sibley has a wonderful support system (as well as other hospitals in the area).
Congratulations on taking the first step.. it's a big one! :-)
Kim
Topic: GWU hospital for surgery?
has anyone been to dr. Paul Lin at the george washington univ hospital? i had a consultation with him about 2 years ago. Or any of the doctors at the johns hopkins hospital?
or can anyone give me a name of a really good doctor for RNY?!?! i am confident that next year my surgery will happen! i want to know my options for good doctors.
Also, i would really love to meet someone in real life who has had the surgery. i live near columbia MD.
or can anyone give me a name of a really good doctor for RNY?!?! i am confident that next year my surgery will happen! i want to know my options for good doctors.
Also, i would really love to meet someone in real life who has had the surgery. i live near columbia MD.
xoxo Olivia
HW: 428 August 2009
CW: 220 June2012
GW:175 September 2012?!
HW: 428 August 2009
CW: 220 June2012
GW:175 September 2012?!
Topic: RE: Question for Federal employees
I have federal BCBS too. Some Doctors do require that you sit through a meeting/seminar first. If your BMI is 40 or above, you shouldn't have any problem getting approved. You will need to see about 4-5 specialist; pulmologist, cardiologist, pysch, endoscopy...
If you have Fed. BCBS PPO, you shouldn't need a referral from your PCP, unless the surgeon just wants to see your medical history and to make sure your PCP agrees, but its not required.
And with Dr. Lin, I was considering using him as well for my revision. I was allowed to schedule an appt. with him, but it was after the date for the seminar.
If you have Fed. BCBS PPO, you shouldn't need a referral from your PCP, unless the surgeon just wants to see your medical history and to make sure your PCP agrees, but its not required.
And with Dr. Lin, I was considering using him as well for my revision. I was allowed to schedule an appt. with him, but it was after the date for the seminar.
Topic: Question for Federal employees
Hello All,
I am in the process getting approved for WLS. I tried this before back in 2006, but then I got pregnant....fast forward to now. Okay, so I called my insurance which is BCBS, and they explained that in order for appoval I all needed was information from my surgeon, and I assumed that was because I had changed to a better insurance company. Last time, I saw Dr. Paul Lin, and I was really comfortable with him, and I called this morning to see if I could get an appointment, and the intake lady told me a thousand things I needed to do, and all this other stuff that I was told I wouldn't need. She told me I needed a pych eval, and referral from my PCP, and all this other stuff, which the actual insurance told me I didn't need. She told me I'd have to go to a class before I could see Dr. Lin, and before they could check my insurance, which I think is backwards.
I was wondering if any other Federal employees with BCBS PPO had these problems. If not, fine, I'll leave it alone and go through the motions, however I just want to make sure I'm not doing unnecessary work.
Thanks in advance!
I am in the process getting approved for WLS. I tried this before back in 2006, but then I got pregnant....fast forward to now. Okay, so I called my insurance which is BCBS, and they explained that in order for appoval I all needed was information from my surgeon, and I assumed that was because I had changed to a better insurance company. Last time, I saw Dr. Paul Lin, and I was really comfortable with him, and I called this morning to see if I could get an appointment, and the intake lady told me a thousand things I needed to do, and all this other stuff that I was told I wouldn't need. She told me I needed a pych eval, and referral from my PCP, and all this other stuff, which the actual insurance told me I didn't need. She told me I'd have to go to a class before I could see Dr. Lin, and before they could check my insurance, which I think is backwards.
I was wondering if any other Federal employees with BCBS PPO had these problems. If not, fine, I'll leave it alone and go through the motions, however I just want to make sure I'm not doing unnecessary work.
Thanks in advance!
(deactivated member)
on 8/23/09 7:42 am - Woodbridge, VA
on 8/23/09 7:42 am - Woodbridge, VA
Topic: RE: To any intersted pre-ops living within driving distance of Baltimore, MD
They are still looking for pre-op patients!
I sent you a PM :)
I sent you a PM :)
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