Made appt. for my 1st consult! (& More questions!)

Thanks again to everyone for all the info in response to my first post. Well, I currently have an initial appt with Dr. Ryder for Julyu 13! That same night, I'm going to Dr. Pohl's monthly information seminar. I want to get all of the info I can, and also see who I "click" with. At the Roye/Ryder/Harrington office they pretty much hinted that I'd get in the earliest with Ryder, so that's who I scheduled with. Three weeks away--wow, that's quick! I've been reading some back posts from all of you. I'm probably getting WAY ahead of myself here (hell, I KNOW I am!) but reading about a couple of the pre-op tests has sort of freaked me out and I'm already worried. Mainly, the one for the Esophagus. Does everyone have to do this? Which doctor's? Because I'll tell you right now, NO ONE is sticking a damn tube through my nose to my stomach. It just isn't happening. I've had an endoscopy and _that_ was fine (b/c I was out on those twilight drugs). Does the endoscopy measure/test something different than the other one? The nurse at the doc's office said I have insurance that approves the surgery and, since I've got a BMI around 50 (doG, that's embarrassing to say) I figure I'll get approved but I'm already worrying about getting held up b/c of this damn test. Grrr, I hate worrying! Also, does everyone need the sleep test? My hubby has sleep apnea (and uses a CPAP) so I'm pretty familiar with it (and we're both pretty sure I don't have it). It's just that the idea of sleeping in some lab room hooked up to stuff with someone watching sort of freaks me out. lol So what are all of the tests, anyway? I know nutritionist, pysch eval (I have anxiety--hope that doesn't hurt me), EKG...what else? And can I schedule these with my own docs (like my PCP) or do I need to use their rec'd docs? Thanks all! Trace

Congrats on getting an appointment. I am exicted for you. You are on your way. I don't know how Dr Ryder's office is, but Dr. Pohl gives you a list of people you can go to for your testing. I haven't had anything done other than being on a diet. I am sorry I can't help more there. I am curious now to see if Dr. Ryder's office can get me around having the diet for my insurance. LOL Best of luck! Jamice aka Killer_Dimples :waves:

Oh Trace, What insurance do you have? I know some are faster at approving than others.

Hi Jamice, I've got Blue Cross Healthmate Coast-to-Coast. Which do you have? Do some require the diet to try and 'get out' of doing the surgery (like, if we lose by dieting we don't need it)? I'm sure most of us are diet experts! Trace

You should have no problem with your insurance. I have Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. It looks like I am the only one on the board these days that has it. I do think they do the diet thing to try to discourage people form the surgery. I think in the long run surgery is the best. Oh do you have the address for the website for Dr. Ryder? I did it a long time ago and I can't change it and I never called their office because they didn't do LapBand and now they do I am thinking I might one to meet with her and see if I like her. Maybe I should just call and tell them I just changed my surgery choice. How was calling the office? I have never done it. I went to their month metting and that's how I got the info the first time. Thanks, Jamice aka Killer_Dimples

Hi Jamice, Sure, here is the web address! https://usasurg.remedymd.com/ As for calling, you can call the main number (553-8310) which is for _all_ of the docs there, OR you can call Dr. Ryder's office directly at 553-8303. If you call, I would _definitely_ call her office directly. The woman who answers the main number (the 8310 one) was rather short with me. It wasn't _what_ she said, it was _how_ she said it. It was one of those calls where you feel like (a) you're being rushed, (b) the person won't say anything unless you ask a direct question, and (c) like they're annoyed to have to be on the phone with you. I can't say this is true of ALL the people who answer this number but the same woman answered yesterday (and said she'd call me back and didn't) and then today. I ended up getting switched to Dr. Ryder's secretary and she was _very_ nice (and confirmed that she was pretty sure Ryder was getting people in way before Roye). I still may call Dr, Roye's office back and see what his earliest appt is just b/c I know he's done more of the surgeries. But, all the feedback on Ryder seems to be positive. Trace

Trace, I called before I read this. I think I know who you are talking about. She told me she will have my profile pulled and a nurse will call me back. Also I was trying to explain that it's older and the reason why I didn't call right away and I want the LapBand not that ones I had listed then. She was like just tell them when the nurse calls you back. I think I will just call Dr. Ryder's office direct. It won't hurt to look at another surgeon for me. Thanks! Jamice

I just called her office directly. I am waiting for a call back after they get my info Somethinks have changed on there registration I did back in March. I hope that doesn't affect anything. Back in March I didn't want the LapBand, and now I realllllly do. Thank you again for your help! Jamice aka Killer_Dimples

Hi! I had surgery with Dr. Ryder and she does not require the enoscopy, however Pohl does require it. hope this helps!!

Thanks, Kristen!