Considering Lap Band in Knoxville - any suggestiong

Hi I am new here and considering having the Lap Band Procedure done. I live in Knoxville and my name "Blondi Girl" probably makes me sound much younger than I am - I am 48 years old. Probably need a different name (it is one of my nicknames). :-$ Can anyone please give me any suggestions ? I am thinking of usind Dr. Boyce in Knoxville. Thanks in advance, Blondi

Dr. Colquitt in Maryville did my surgery 6 months ago. He's good, you attend the seminar, go online to register plus pay your registration fee of $200. When you get your consult, you pay the final $300 and that's it. Does Dr. Boyce still charge $3000 up front for his maintenence fee? I attended his seminar. I live on Social Security and there was no way I could afford that fee up front. I would have had to save all my SSD checks for 6 months, no rent, no utilities, nothing to pay that amount. I had to start looking else where, and after 11 denials, and getting leukemia, I was told by Dr. Colquitt in Maryville that he would do my surgery as long as he received a referral from my Oncologist. She was more then willing to do that after being on chemo pills for one month, my blood work was all back in normal range, so he did my surgery. I don't know what all Dr. Boyce requires his patients to do prior to surgery, but this much I know, most insurance companies require 3-6 month Dr. Supervised diet and monthly weigh-ins before you can even get approval from the insurance companies for the surgery. During that 6 month time frame you will be having tests done, getting referrals from all your Dr.'s and it must say medically necessary. If you have sleep apnea, you will need to have your PCP Dr. set up for you to be tested, if you need to see a heart or lung Dr. you will need clearance referral letters from them as well as all you medical records. Same if you have an hiatal hernia, you will need to have that checked and get a referral and records. You will be surprised how quickly the time will fly bye. You will see the Dr.'s psych for a psych evaluation to see if you are a good candidate, plus his nutrionist prior to surgery. So when you attend the seminar, take notes, ask questions, and when you meet with your surgeon for the first consult, write down the day before any and all questions you want to ask. I don't know about you, but I forget to ask something then I had to call the office several times for answers. See I am a blond 52 yr old, I've been on this board for over 2 years. I have found that to avoid getting a headache, I don't think after 5pm on Mondays, so I am the blond for the rest of the week. Keeps the headaches away. This is for real, my brain absorbs so much that it shuts down for 6 days. I'm always on this board, so if you have any questions, some one on here will try and answer it, or email me. I'm the only Kathy on the board. May God travel with you on your new journey. Always, Kathy

Hey Blondi, Welcome aboard! I can't offer you any information on any docs that far away from Memphis, but as a banded person, I just wanted to point you in the direction of the Lap Band Forum on here if you haven't been there yet. There are lots of people from all over the country there who have the band and someone there may have used your doc. Kathy seems to have the inside scoop about your doc, and I don't know if things have changed since she first looked at him or not. There are many qualified docs around your state so if his payment plan doesn't fit for you, please look around for another qualified surgeon in your area, or near you. HTH, Trisha

Hi Blondi I too am going for the lapband but I am having mine in Nashville in late October. I have heard many good things about Dr Boyce and you can also check out his profile under bariatric surgeons in the list on right side of this page always take a grain of salt with some things you hear on this chat board and check things out for yourself. good luck on your weight loss journey if you have any questions,call your surgeon's office and ask his staff, they can tell you what he requires and how things work This board is truly wonderful and everyone tries to help and support each other,it is not an easy decision for any of us . there is also a lapband forum that is great on here just click on all forums and you will see many different ones..and find out as much as you can .. sincerely Arianna

OPPS!!!! sorry blondi i just checked into Dr boyce under Bariatric surgeons and he is not listed so I typed in Dr Stephen Boyce Memphis in my home page box and his profile came right up!! good luck arianna

HAHA!! I meant Knoxville OMG! this board must be getting to me!!!! oh well tomorrow is another day...please forgive me ... Arianna