Question

Has anyone been to St. Alexius NewStart in the St Louis area?  Are they good and have u had good results from goin there?  I think I had a friend who went there cause she had the lap band done and she has the medical card(IL) and she didn't have to do the 6 months of supervised visits with them and the site was they don't make u did if you have the medical card or medicare.  She went over a couple of times then had the surgery.  

Thanks
Vickie

I'm not faviliar with St. Alaxius.  I had my surgery in Kansas City.  I know it sounds great not to have to wait 6 months, but really, you need that time to start getting adjusted to all the changes you will experience after surgery.

I did a 3 month diet and exercise plan and thought it was crazy.  I had dieted for 35 years and it never worked so why do another 3 months.  But, during that time, I learned to eat slower and chew, chew, chew. 

I had RNY.  I work with someone that had the band and she had to prep at all.  She lost 80 lbs. then quit following the rules of the surgery and gained most of her weight back.

Good luck to you.  Hope you find the care you need.

Usually it is an insurance requirement not the bariatric practice. In other words your policy may require it and mine might not. If you both have the same insurance coverage then the requirement will be the same no matter where you have the surgery. Unless there is a medical reason such as fatty liver condition or something like that involved. Then the surgeon might require a longer liquid diet to reduce the size of your liver.
Hope this helps explain the process a little better and good luck with your surgery,
Connie

I am going through the New Start program and my insurance (Aetna) requires a three month Doctor supervised diet. My father in law went through New Start with Medicare and did not have to do one.
Depends on Insurance.

Vickie~ I had RNY on May 3 of this year, my daughter's MIL had the lap band about 3 weeks before that. I went through steps before surgery and had to do the diets and learning all the rules before surgery. My daughter's MIL went to her 1st appointment, and about 2 weeks later was scheduled for her surgery. She only had to do liquid before surgery and didn't have to do any kind of psych evaluations or classes or anything like that. She has only lost 4 or 5 pounds and swears she is following the rules, but then when I asked if she was getting her proteins, and vitamins and such she says she just can't stand them. Her sons wife had lapband at the same place, was approve very quickly because of her insurance, and the same situation as the other. They thought this was a quick fix and it's not working for them. They have both seen me several times since surgery and I think the are getting that the tool they were given requires them to work for the weight loss.

My advice to you is to make sure which surgery you want. Once you have a surgery it is sometimes harder to get a revision. I took two years to make up my mind and when I did it was the right choice for me. Which ever one you choose you have to do your part or it won't work.

I think the DR.s doing quick surgeries should be investigated. 

Jeanie Rae your post reminds me of another very important part of WLS that is often overlooked. After surgery care is just as important as the surgery itself. So please be mindful to ask what after care the bariatric practice offers BEFORE you select your surgeon. There will be a million questions afterwards that you will need answers to and reassurances. And if your surgeon does not offer a structured after care program as in support group meetings, followup Psych appointments and medical staff to answer your questions then success is far more difficult than if they do. I know we have a couple of practices here in the KC Metro area that think spending their money on TV advertising is more important than offering good after care.... in my opinion they could not be more wrong. That tells me they are in it for the money and not the right reasons.
Just another thought I wanted to share with those in the beginning of their journey,
Connie
PS; Jeanie Rae you have done such a wonderful job I hope you know how proud we all are of you!