Anyone have the lap band and question on surgeons in RI :-s

Hi everyone, I have been looking into surgery and cannot opt for bypass due to medical conditions. Has anyone here had that lap band?? If so could you recommend your doctor//or know of any to avoid?? Any assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!!! Thanks, Nin

I just had lap band surgery with Dr. Dieter Phol this past Wednesday. It has been a great experience and I would recommed him and his office to anyone. I have not complaints. I would be happy to answer more specific questions if you have them. Please e-mail me. Take care and good luck, Norma

Hi Nin: I have to agree with the previous poster........in my opinion, Dr. Pohl is the surgeon to have for anyone who's elected to have the lap band. I went to him last year, but changed my mind on the type of surgery I wanted and have since then, selected a different surgeon. But if I were going to have the lap band, I would go to Dr. Pohl. I think he has the most experience, of all the surgeons, with that particular surgery. This is only my opinion. If I were you, I would do all of my research and background checks on any surgeon that you select. We can offer opinions here, but all in all, it's your body and your life. Best of luck to you.......... Shel

Just keep in mind that with Dr. Pohl you have to go to his seminar, its mandatory then it's at the least a six month wait to see him for your first visit if not more. Then it's another 4-6 to get all you're testing done. And that's IF he doesn't tell you to try losing with a nutritionist for six months first then come back, which he did to me. Or tell you to loose 100 pounds THEN come back like he told my hubby. If my hubby could lose 100 pounds on his own he wouldn't need WLS that's kind of a no brainer.. Anyhow when I left his office I decided I was calling Dr. Roye's office to see what my options were. Now in the time he has told me to see a nutritionist I have completed all my testing with Dr. Roye and have a surgery date of June 27th! And my hubby, he was so depressed and thought this surgery wasn't going to be an option for him after that visit with Dr. Pohl. Now he's got his appointment with Dr. Roye April 19th and according to my husbands PCP he'll have no problems with Dr. Roye. How does she know? Her brother had WLS surgery with Dr. Roye so she's had first hand experience with him as a doctor and as a patients family member. I am in no way bashing Dr. Pohl just telling you my experience with him. For some Dr. Pohl may be wonderful as my sister-in-law had surgery with him and loves him. But for every good experience there is a bad and I just wanted to give you a heads up on the road you "MAY" be venturing down. Good Luck On Your Journey!! NaDene

Hi Kristen I had RNY with Dr. Pohl 2 years ago..wonderful, wonderful man! My husband had Lap band with Dr. Pohl last July and has since lost 90 pounds. He also has had a great experience with Dr. Pohl. He did have to go to his 1 1/2 hour seminar, but left with a wealth of information. It took him 4 months to see Dr. Pohl the first time. While waiting for his first appointment he got most of his pre-op testing completed. I don't know if it is the same now as it was last year, but at the seminar he gave my husband a packet that explained everything and a list of the pre-op appointments he could have done while waiting for the first consult with him. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have! Good luck with your journey! Lisa p.s. neither my husband nor I had to be on a supervised diet before-hand, again could have changed since then.

Although I posted earlier I wanted to add a couple of things about Dr. Pohl. I went to his seminar (free) and learned a lot. He encouraged everyone that was in attendance that if they wanted to move things along they could start all the testing prior to your appointment with him, which is what I did. He mentioned that he only requires a 6mos diet from patients with insurance that require it, so I did not have to worry about that as my company does not. He came to my pre-op room before surgery, sat down spoke and joked with my husband and I until I was ready to go. Then he gave his pager # to my husband in case we ever need it. I had a question a couple of days after I got home and called his office and he got back to me right away and answered all my questions. He's a very caring man and I could not recommend him more highly. I am currently one week post op and have lost 18lb. since the pre-op diet. Good luck with your choice. Norma

Hi Norma, I dunno, Maybe I caught him on a bad day or something because I have BCBS HealthMate Coast to Coast and I was aproved first shot with Dr. Roye yet Dr. Phole told me to come back in six months After seeing a nutrisinost for six months. And this was AFTER i had already begun some of my pre-op testing and paided co-pays for things. He really kicked me in the teeth that day....