St. Vincent Weight loss Clinic -- Billing's MT

Hi.. I am very impressed so far with the whole process of going for the WLS here. I attended the seminar - which is something you *have* to attend before you can schedule an appt. with the WLS nurse to talk about the surgery to see if you are a candidate. You meet one or both of the surgeons at this seminar and watch an informative slide show. Then you can schedule an appointment with the nurse, who has had WLS herself (and she looks amazing!). St. V's weight loss clinic will make you (((If you want WLS surgery bad enough))) attend three classes to learn things like, eating after surgery and ways to prepare yourself for it and ways to get ready for surgery beforehand. Or having a fitness evaluation done. Or seeing the nutritionist. You also must attend support group meetings where you will meet people who have had the surgery years ago, or just a week ago. Those meetings are good! It is nice to talk to people who are just out of surgery IRL to see how they are feeling. Everyone at the support group meeting I went to who had just had the surgery were in very good spirits and healthy! You also must quit smoking and begin some sort of excercising pre op to make your body healthy enough to handle the surgery and give yourself some strength beforehand to deal with everything that happens and that you need to do after the fact. They want you to lose weight beforehand, but if you absolutley cannot they will not turn you away. This really is a good thing going here in Billing's and I just wanted to refer ppl to it. I think you will be happy with the place!

Amy, Nice to see someone else from Montana posting. I'm glad you had a good experience. The only suggestion I have for you is to be sure your surgeon is experienced. I was under the impression that the clinic in Billings is pretty new and the sugeons haven't performed too many RNYs. I had mine done in Great Falls by someone who's done them for many years. Just my 2 cnets. Anyway, best of luck to you. You're smart to be doing this while your BMI is on the lower side. Your chances of losing nearly all your excess weight are excellent. By the way, why wait until after April (I read your profile)? By a couple of months out you'll feel absolutely wonderful. Linn

Hi Linn, Thanks for the reply! I thought maybe this part of obesityhelp.com land was dead! I am ok with the surgeons here. I cannot remember exactly how long the older surgeon has been doing it, but there are two and they both go into the surgery to assist each other, which makes me feel alot better! Plus I don't want to have to travel for check ups and all that jazz. I like it right in my city. There is a nice support community here in Billings for post ops and I am looking forward to getting to know a lot of these ppl. The clinic is very knowledgeable in the whole WLS field and they make you stick to your guns and guide you through the process. I am thankful they are making me attend the classes - I've learned things I did not know just from surfing around the net and I thought I knew it all. =) I am going to wait till after April, I still have a support group and another class to attend before they will submit to insurance for me and once that happens well, I need to give notice at work and everything. It looks like I will go to two U2 concerts in Denver feeling fat icky and bloated and hopefully another one in the fall in NYC feelin like I've lost a few pounds. =) Thanks for replying! Sincerely, Amy mcB