YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Best of luck to you, Kat!!! I don't think you'll have trouble with residents, especially if they are working with such a precise surgeon. Trust in their ability and skill -- they too have to learn. Nancy

That sounds like good insurance. And she probably does know something. My mom got a letter in the mail stating that BC/BS would no longer be covering weight loss surgery. Insurance companys are starting to do that. Which is unfair but what can we do. I'm pretty lucky with mine too all I have to pay is the thirty dollar copay to the doctors. Some of the doctors are not in our network but the insurance still covers it because my test and everything has been done in the hospital that is in the network. But I will have to pay two hundred to the hospital for the surgery but that is much better that paying for the surgery. I hope everything goes well for you. Tina

Kat, I don't know if you have a PCP as of yet. But, mine is with Ochsner in Kenner on Driftwood. Dr. Rebecca Davis (504-443-9500). She is terrific. I have been her patient since 3/2000. She wrote a great letter for me and gave me the referral for the surgical consult (my referral was originally with Dr. Lavin but I wanted the DS so I ended up with Warden). After that, she wrote another letter for the medical clearance to have surgery. I'm not sure whether Dr. Davis is accepting new patients are not but it's worth a shot. I think you would be quite pleased with her. Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda, that's just what I needed to know... now I can go look and see if she's on my list hopefully she's got a OCF Main Campus office too and hopefully she'll give me referral to the doc I want

Good luck Kat, it sounds like you're well on your way.

I am so excited for you....you go girl!!!!!!!! Tama

Hey Kat, My name is Dee and I had Lap Band surgery on 2/14/05 with Dr. Kennedy who is assistant to Dr. Richardson. I LOVE Dr. Kennedy, she is so caring and knowledgable about Lap Band. My boss had RNY on Monday 7-18-05 with Dr. Kennedy and she is doing wonderful. Her staff is great although Deanna has moved to another position and is no longer in their office. Dr. Kennedy and her staff has never made me feel uncomfortable about anything. The surgery at Ochsner was also a great experience. The only problem is that I am located about 60 miles away and can't make all of the support group meetings. Good Luck and Congrats on the good news!!!!! Dee

Yep I know where Gonzales is, I was just past there today (at Blue Bayou) and going back tommorrow... I'm "hooked on waterslides"