How do you get started?

Hi, This is my first time on the site and I am trying to get information on how to go about this whole process. I am interested in getting the lap band surgery. What do you do first? Call insurance, find a doc.? Thanks, I really appreciate any information. Thanks again, Amy

By the way I have United Heathcare insurance and would probably be traveling to the Jackson area to have the surgery.

hi Amy, I live within 10 min of the UMC hospital in Jackson. There are several other hospitals here that do rny and lap band. at UMC Dr. Salahme does it, and I think they do it at St. Dominicks, CMMC, and maybe even baptist...im not sure about baptisit tho....the two that are mainly used in Jackson is UMC, and CMMC. First you need to make an appointment with you Primary Care Physician (PCP) and get them to give you a referal to one of the Barieatric (sp) surgens in the area. im not fimiliar with the natchez area but they do this surgery in oxford.(im not sure if its close to you or not) but so some research on the different hospitals near you. just call them and ask for the barieatric clinic or department in that hospital. Then choose which one would be best for you. I am using Dr. Salahme at UMC in Jackson, and several others have used Dr. Cleveland at CMMC, and there are 2 great Dr. at the Oxford hospitals i have heard. Just do some reseach on the dr.'s themselves and depending on your personal preferences and feelings and traveling situation make you decision based on what YOU want!! If you need the numbers for the UMC hospital in Jackson please feel free to email me anytime and I will be more than glad to get them to you. God Bless, Angie Bea

Hey Amy!!! glad to meet you! Isn't River Oaks or River Region or River sumin'-er-nother in Vicksburg. They do bariatric surgery, but I don't know about lap band. Dr. Salamen at UMC does lap band and Dr. King (I think he's the one) does lap band. Also (Mr Doc Carrol as his wife, Mrs. Dr. Carroll is at st Dominic's too) Dr. Carroll at St. Dominic's. Best thing to do is call around to each place, find out when they have a support group meeting - and if the Dr attends. Go to the meetings (or call their clinics and speak to the folks there) and after you've looked them over go to your PCP and get a referral to the one you liked best. Also, just in case we missed a Doc, look under "find a doc" at the top of the page and it will help you out. Smoochers & Hugs:love Arlies

First thing I did was go to various suppoort group meetings and ask quesitons. I went to UMC and CMMC meetings for 2-3 months and by the process of elimination ended up with the CMMC bunch. Both are good. UMC has their main doctor off on personal leave so his people are being shifted to the other docs. I think I remember a support group getting together in McComb. Good luch Ralph