Help

First of all I am new to this board and I would like to thank everyone for being nice and welcomming me in.  Ok, let me get to my question here!  I am stuck between doctors right now.  I am trying to get this lapbanding through my insurance and it has been such a hassle.  I have found two doctors that do the banding that will take my insurance.  Dr Overcash and Dr Kris(an associate of Dr Grossbard).  I want your opinion as to who is better.  Or better yet do you know any one else that will take UHC for lapbanding. Thanks in advance for your reponses!

Hi!! I have UHC and my surgeon was Dr. Jawad. He did my band, my revision and my husbands band. Don't know if you want to travel to Ocala, but he is one of the BEST!!! If you're interested let me know, I can get you the phone numbers!! Good luck, Jo Ann

I agree Dr. Jawad is an excellent surgeon.  I had RNY, but I know he does the band also.  Good luck in your search.

There are several in the Tampa Bay area. Of course I'd recommend Dr. Rehnke or Dr. Jesse at the Palms of Pasadena in St.Petersburg but there's also others. Check the OH Board above for Florida Surgeon's and the Insurance Board under UHC for a Listing of what Surgeon's take them.

HI Eli - I read a bit of your profile and it states you are a high risk patient cause of a blood disorder. If that is the case I would recommend Dr. Overcash. OC is highly qualified in handling high risk cases and I've known a couple in which have had the RNY surgery have been successful. That would be Adrian who was 585 with congestive heart failure and not sure he'd make it to insurance approval - let alone the surgery.  Well not only did he make it through the surgery but now 6 months later and almost 300lbs at a weight loss with OC is a total new man plus his wife had the surgery the same day!! And she has lost over 250 lbs herself. I mention his case cause he was high risk even though any type of surgery is risky - the high risk can come with the patient's medical condition which he had. I would set up  on appt with OC and see what he recommends because it all depends on what weight loss amount you are looking to have. Is it alot or alittle. The band is not for someone who wants to lose over 100 lbs. That is not a guess that is something I know. I will say a co-worker had the band and I had the RNY and I've had more successful weight loss than she did. She only loss about 53 lbs. But that's not to say everyone is like that. Check the lapband forum and check out and see for yourself how many people end up switching to another procedure. Is it worth it to you? You may still want the band. Good luck and if you have any questions let me know. Hugs

Thanks for all your help everyone. I do need to lose only about 100lbs.  That would satisfy me and my doctors. I have an appt with Dr. Overcash on the 29th.  I already went to my hematologist at MD Anderson and he gave me the meds that I would need to take when I have the surgery.  I just have not taken the prescription to a pharmacy yet because it is really expensive and I do not want it to go bad before the surgery.  I am trying to get this all done soon but I was not expecting this to be such a tedious process.