I need help feel like giving up.

I have a surgent but he's only done a couple of surgery and i really need someone with more experience.I WEIGH 470 LBS. MY SURGENT WANTS TO GIVE ME THE (LAP-BAND, I don't want that my BM is at 69 and I need to find aother doctor that will accept my medicaid and medipass.The only one that I know of here in Olando is doctor Wiljon Beltre,and he says I'm to big for the gastric by pass my .So I need to know if anyone know of a doctor that will take medicaid and I dont have to travel so far. I have done all my paper work and all my test Im going in the hospital on the 8th of may because I was on meds for ulcers now Im going so that the doctor can see if they are gone,but I need a new doctor that will do my surgery :-(

This is a tough one. Medicaid is not widely taken in FL by WLS surgeons. I didn't even know Dr. Beltre is taking it. I wish I could help, maybe someone else will know. I hope you get some good news soon. Don't give up! Amy

Give up? Give up? Seriously???? No one gets to give up....please, I was 430lbs when I had my lap-band and am down to 391lbs -but- my port flipped and now I have to have another surgery...so No, you are absolutely not going to give up...Please call the group at CelebrationHealth Florida hospital Drs Marema and Kim - they will do a consult and advise you for what is best...call 407-303-4504 and Jen or Leslie will get you to someone who can help!!! Keep in mind the RNY is very dangerous surgery so if the doc you spoke to has only done a few...be afraid, be very afraid - Seriously, call on Monday. They are very nice and helpful and when you finally get to see one of the docs they will tell you definatively whether or not you're a good candidate for the RNY. I'm pretty happy with my lap-band and I made the choice as I have other medical issues so I didn't want to add to them....keep the faith girl and let Beltre operate on a skinner person...go where you'll be treated for the size you are ....

Shelley how do you know if your port has flipped? I still get pain when I bend over and try to sleep on my sides at times. I also worry so much about the band slipping since I was a cash patient. I had surgery on Apr 4th and so far have lost 20 lbs. I have not had my first fill yet and I feel absolutely no restrictions and have been using complete willpower so far. Is this usual untill the fills?

Michelle: Not sure why you are still having pain...I had none whatsoever. You will find out about your port on the first "flouroscopy" fill. You and the doctor have a clear view of your pouch and the port. My situation is hopefully the exception not the rule. I still have very little restrictions as I was only able to do 2 fills and then the doctor could no longer access my port. Maybe that's why I had no pain - my port was "free" from the beginning! LOL Anyhoo, cross your fingers for me, I go back for the 2nd surgery May 14th. Are you in the Orlando area? Will you be attending the OH seminar this Saturday? If so don't forget to register online $20.00 only for the day and $35.00 at the door. While I'm totally disappointed that Jackie Guerra won't be there -and- I have no interest in Yoga - Christ girl, If I could bend, I'd be there - I'm going to network with other people like myself....take care and let the doc know about that pain now! Who did your surgery?????

Shelley I am in Fort walton Beach and am new to this site and don't know much about it so no I won't be attendind but perhaps in the future. I don't know anyone with a lap band so I joined so that I could talk to others about their experiences...it always helps to know someone that has gone thru what you have....Thanks

Hi Annette, Well, Dr. Beltre hasn't done too many of these surgeries yet, and he is not yet with the ASBS, either. As Shelley wrote, call US Bariatric Orlando (I am the patient concierge at USB). 407-303-4504. With a BMI of 69, you are right to be looking at the Roux-en Y gastric bypass or duodenal switch procedure. We have an agreement with United Healthcare's medicaid product so that it covers 100% of hospital, surgery, anesthesia and psych eval - also the first year of regular office visits with your surgeon. Not too shabby. If you decide that UHC medicaid is a good choice for you, call Medicaid and ask them to help you switch. Also, it requires a 6-month supervised diet (but again, having $23k completely covered is, IMHO, worth it). We have info sessions online (on demand) and also every Wednesday night at 6PM. I am at every one so be sure to stop by and say hello. I can also offer you a free decision-making consult if you feel comfortable with us. HTH, Kristen

I just saw Dr. Beltre and he has done 60+ lap RNY while training and another 30+ since. He said he had done even more of the other surgeries. And I did see him listed on the ASBS site. Whether there is are various levels of certification - I don't know. And he does take medicaid - I heard it in the office. His wife is in the same office (she is a general practicioner) and offers to work with patients having to lose weight before the surgery (so said his nurses). This information is what I found out while researching and meeting him. (I asked him for all his statistics and history :) ) He works out of Celebration which is also an ASBS center of excellence. But am new to this process... but your organization sounds like a wonderful supportive center and a great deal. I am still not familiar with what Celebration has to offer.

Annette- Have you considered the DS? A recent study found the DS was the best surgery for those with higher BMI's. I would be happy to send you a copy of the full article if you will send me a PM with your email address. I had the DS last July and I could not be happier. With the DS there is very little risk of dumping syndrome, you can still take NSAIDs, and because there is no stoma there is very little risk of developing marginal ulcers. One of the most important things to me was that I would have a fully functional stomach (albeit much smaller) instead of a pouch with all of that blind stomach still producing digestive juices and gherlin . Also there was a more natural connection to the intestines that preserved the pyloric valve. I am able to eat a great variety of foods, I can drink with my meals and I have no bathroom issues. In nine months I have 80% EWL. As of this morning I have lost 123lbs. Which surgery you have is a very personal matter and one that deserves due consideration. So do your homework and research all of your options. Red Duodenal Switch Provides Superior Weight Loss in the Super-Obese (BMI >=50kg/m2) Compared With Gastric Bypass: Prachand, Vivek N. MD; DaVee, Roy T. BS; Alverdy,John C. MD, University of Chicago. The main focus of this report is the comparison of weight loss outcomes following DS and RYGB. The authors demonstrate that DS provides a significant advantage over RYGB when comparing weight loss, percentage of excess body weight lost, decrease in BMI, and likelihood of achieving at least 50% excess body weight loss.

Thank you very.my e-mail [email protected]) Im really having a bad night can't sleep my legs are feeling so bad. But another day just need to get buy. thank again its nice to talk to someone. bye bye.:-(