Hi Everybody, I'm now awaiting insurance approval for Lap-Band WLS at Deaconess Weight Loss Solutions in Evansville. I've been through their six month presurgery program and the LOMN will be faxed to the insurance company tomorrow. 

At Deaconess the six month program is under the care of Dr. Koehler, so I've not seen  a surgeon yet. There are two surgeons at Deaconess that do the surgery, Dr. Burry and Dr. Haughn. I would like to have the straight and narrow on both, the good and bad, as far as the Lap-Band surgery goes. I would like to have this information before my next meeting, just after approval. I'm not digging for dirt, but as Joe Friday would say, "Just the facts Mam". I know that this is probably the biggest decision I will make as far as my health goes for the rest of my life and I want it to be the correct one.

Thank You,
Jerry B 

Jerry,  I didn't have my surgery in Evansville so I don't know much about the docs there.  I do have the lap band however and absolutely love it.  Make sure you visit the lap band forum here too.  It's very informative.  I think it is important to be educated going into this procedure.  You need to know that you will not feel much difference at first.  The band works as it is filled which takes awhile.  Some people have some restriction from the beginning,but most take 3-5 adjustments before they reach good restriction.   There is more "dieting" in the beginning with the band and people sometimes get frustrated early on when they don't know this going into it.  Having said that, I am 6 months out and have lost 84 lbs.  I haven't had any complications at all and it has been the best thing I've done for myself.  I only wish I had done it years ago.

Jerry-
I had my lap band at St Mary's with Dr. Haughn.  He has been very good.  He even called the hospital twice to check on me after I was out of surgery.  I have had 5 fills and he is awesome at that.  Some people will talk about their horror stories of being stuck multiple times for a fill, well he just sticks the needle right in there like he sees thru the skin.  I also like the fact that he removes the saline each time you get a fill to be sure there is no leaking.  Not all the surgeons do that.  The only issue that I have had with him is that it is hard to get an appointment, and this may be because he is only at St Marys Bariatric Center 2 days a month.  I'm not sure what his schedule is like with Deaconess, so that might be worth looking into.
I was banded 5/08 and so far I am down 110#s, that includes 34# preop diet.

Good Luck and feel free to message me anytime with questions.
Sherie

Sherie,Thank You soooo very much. That's exactly what I hoped I would hear. Actually, it's what I thought I'd hear. I just needed to hear it from somebody first hand.

I went to your page and  read it, very, very impressive. Great looking family and my how you have changed. You really look good.

Thanks again for replying. I only hope all goes as well for me as it has for you.


Jerry 

Jerry,

You might want to check with DWLS, but when I was getting ready for my surgery, I was told that Dr. Haughn did the lapbands and Dr. Burry mostly did gastric bypass.  That may have changed, I am not sure. 
I really like Dr. Haughn.

Pam

That is true, but not exclusively. I just wanted all the knowledge I could get about both. I guess it's part of the mental preparedness I'm going through. You know me, I have a tendency to research things to death (bad choice of words- ha?)