Eastern Shore vs. Baltimore

Hello there!  My question(s) is basically to get an opinion from members and "does this sound right"? I want to get Lap band surgery, should I stay here and go with our local Center of Excellence, or schlep to GBMC (which I love , I had my baby there, grew up 3 miles from there)? How much back and forth time is involved AFTER surgery? Is it mandatory? In Sailsbury, our bariatric option has a disclaimer added to the end of their information page which "requires" (MANDATORY in red letters), that you pay an additional 2500.00 dollars to belong to their gym and have the on-going meetings and support system. I am all for support, I know I will need it (hence my finding this great site in the 1st place), but as I wander the internet and peruse all the other groups performing these procedures, I have yet to see another one that "requires" this expense (which I sould add is not billable to insurance). I am not cheap, although it is a lot of money for anyone (maybe not Bill Gates, but he's skinny anyway), but I was just wondering if this is the status quo?  Anyhoo, I hope I have not repeated the same questions you guys have read 100 times before, but with a toddler, my time is somewhat limited and I just figured I'd cut to the chase!! (it's amazing she has "let" me type this long-- woohoo!)   Have a great day,  Alicia

Hey Alicia - Glad to see it worked!!! WOW!!!  $2500 is a LOT of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Most programs now charge an above and beyond fee, but that seems excessive to me, and actually, would've kept me from having the surgery, regardless of how badly I needed it. Go with your gut - it sounds like you already know what you want to do - you feel comfortable at GBMC, and even if you schlep, I'm close by, we can have lunch!!! Hope this helps! Tia

Thanks Tia!!   So, is it do-able? To start with GBMC, living here? This other place is literally 6 miles away....how much back and forth beforehand and afterward is there? It seems like the GBMC program is pretty comprehensive also, and it doesn't seem as though any program would give me a 'long distance' waiver (smile).... I guess I want to get my ducks in a row before I start with any one group, because I have trouble saying no to anyone, they can always 'sell' me. (and the 2500.00 is due at your 1st meeting and only 1/2 is refundable if you cancel , I think) <<<<<< DOES THAT SEEM RIGHT??? Unfortunately I am also one of those people that when I get a bad taste or think I am being taken advantage of, I hit the bricks.  I am also have trouble realizing the future...all I am focusing on is the nitty gritty of dealing with paperwork and red tape, docs, nurses, staff etc... I need help trying to see the whole pix.....   Thanks for taking the time---    lunch sounds TERRIFIC!!   Alicia

My Doctor's fee when he was at GBMC was $500.00. $2,500 is excessive and I would not do it. But I wish you the best making your decision. At first when I had surgery. I went to see my doctor 1 week post op then at 1 month then at 3 months, then at 6 months. I went at 9 months (I was expecting so he wanted to see me again) Thn you have your 1 year visit and then 6 months or a year after that. So only in the beginning it will be more often. Keep us posted on what you decide to do. Good luck!

I had my RNY with Delmarva Bariatric just over 4 years ago.   I can't remember now if the fee was $2500 or $1500 at the time (that was before the new offices and the gym were completed).   I faithfully trucked from Annapolis to Salisbury once a month to see Dr S for my follow ups and 2 times a month for group for the first year post op and then quarterly to see him but still 2 times a month for group for the 2nd year.  I would STILL be going to Salisbury twice a month for goup if the Saturday a.m. meetings had not been discontinued. You can go any place and have the surgery and that is definitely your choice, but you will not find any practice that has as structured a post op follow up program as Delmarva Bariatric.    Consider if you will travel to Baltimore even once a month at night for support group meetings and if you will see your surgeon for your follow up appointments or be shuffled off to a PA or a NP for your post op care. In the end it is not the $2500 , it is what are you comfortable with. Best wishes as your WLS journey continues. Hugs, Mo

When I was at one of my appointments at GBMC, there was a woman in the waiting room who was from Salisbury. So it can be done! Also, my aunt works with someone who lives in La Plata (Charles County I think) who had it done at GBMC.  She doesn't go to the support group there, but she did do the drive for all of her appointments. Beforehand, it will depend on what your insurance requires as to how many times you'll come pre-op.  My insurance required 6 months of supervised weight loss, so I guess I went for the info session, my first appointment, 6 nut visits and then 1 visit after that.  Total 9 visits, but that was over the course of Feb 2007-March 2008.  As for post-op, you have to come back a week after surgery.  Then a month after that.  Then I'm not sure, but I think it is 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months. Then yearly.  Not awful. You will need to do all of your pre-op testing with specialists, but they don't require you to go to their docs, but do give you listsings of docs they work with.  You can go to ones on the Eastern Shore, though. I think that the $2500 is excessive, and too much for me.  I paid $500 for GBMC's program, but I don't know if it is different now that Dr. Von Rueden is gone.

You may want to also investigate St. Agnes which is a little bit closer than GBMC.

Alicia:  I live in Dorchester County.  I originally contacted the lap band center in Salisbury and they didn't take my insurance.  I think this was god's way of sending me somewhere else.  Anyway, Dr. Kligman does a seminar here in Easton for the Roux En-Y surgery.  I found him very knowledgeable and matter-of-fact.  He has offices in Baltimore and Millersville.  Surgery will be performed at University of Maryland.  I feel completely and totally comfortable and have only gone to the office once since this whole thing started.  I will have to go at least one more time before the surgery, but really I don't think that's "too many" times.   I'm counting the days right now (surgery 5/20).  You have to do what makes you comfortable.  Don't settle, like you may be used to doing (I know I am).  There is more than one fish in the sea, as they say.  Enjoy the ride!

If you are going with the Band you may need to have more frequent visit with the Dr post op then the RNY:  that may be something to consider.  I don't know how frequent Banders get fills but I would suggest checking that out

I was gonna say the same thing as Darla. I don't know the fill/unfill if it's too tight schedule. Maybe look at the lap band group on OH and try to get a feel for how many trips are needed. Also take into account exactly what you get for the  2500 versus the cost of gas, tolls and things if something were to happen in the middle of the night etc.  Hope that helps- Hugs- Donna