Any TN bandsters out there?

I am getting very excited my banding date is quickly approaching (Mon. Oct 2) Yeah!! Has anyone had lap band surgery with Dr. Boyce?

Susan, I am not having lap band but I jus tgot approved for my surgery today and will hopefully have the rny before the end of the year. How far out were they scheduling when you scheduled yours?

When I was approved and scheduled they were about one month out on doing appts. I chose to have mine about one and half month later because I am using my vacation for my surgery.

Hi susan I am being banded on Oct 19. so we will be about 21/2 half weeks apart. There is a lap band forum on here, just click on forums at top of page and then go to surgery type forums , then lap band ... you will love this forum.. they talk about things that bandsters have problems with the good and the bad lol.. Congratulations on your up coming surgery!!! good luck and dont forget to post on the lap band forum about your upcoming surgery there is tons of support there for you.. sending angels to watch over you please post when you get home from surgery and let us know who you are doing ...Arianna

Susan, Good luck on your upcoming surgery. I am a patient of Dr. Boyces too. You'll be in good hands. He is a very skilled surgeon. He still has a lot to learn about the after care of lap-band. He has trouble finding my port. I think I am just his problem child. I am self pay so I am always looking for someone that can do the fill cheaper. I have been attending a lap-band support group in knoxville. It's the third thursday of every month at the O'connor senior center. It starts at 6:30 The group leader has lost 200 pounds. One guy has lost somewhere around 300. There are patients from different local Docs. Maybe I'll see you there sometime soon. Have a speedy recovery!! Best wishes, Amy

Hi Amy, was just wondering how you are doing on your fills?? how many have you had ? do you feel good restriction after your fill each time? Do you discuss the fills at your support group? how much weight have you lost? how much does your Dr charge for a fill? I read where your insurance does not pay for weight loss surgery so of course they will not pay for any fills and that of naturally makes you hestitant to get more fills.. which may be why you are losing slower . Have you called for any surgeons in your area to check on the experience and also the cost of fills and if they would accept you for fills? I read your profile and it does not sound like your Dr is well experienced with the lap band or the fills But I do know he is a very good surgeon I am having my lap band in nashvile oct 19 I mostly stay on the lap band forum where we all discuss all these things , Anyway good luck to you and I hope you find a good reasonable Dr to give your proper fills

Ya know I sort of got the impression from Dr. Boyce that he isn't totally in love with the lap band for some reason. My husband went in with the thought of no way was he doing rny and he definitely wanted the lap band. After talking to Dr. Boyce he had completely changed his mind. First and foremost because our insurance won't cover lap band unless the patient doesn't qualify for rny and secondly because we just got the feeling that dr. boyce greatly prefers the rny. Did anyone else feel this way? sorry for the postjack susan. maybe i should have started a new thread.

I have heard other people say that about Dr. Boyce. I personally didnt experience it. He said I was a great canidate for either surgery. So he really didn't try to influence my decision at all. He said since my bmi (42) was on the low side either surgery would be good. I know his staff is geared more toward RNY. Which they do a lot more of those than the band. I guess it's just what they are used to. Has your husband had surgery yet? Amy

Well if a Dr is not well experienced in lap band he naturally will try and persuade you into RNY But hey ,if your inurance does not cover lap band you do not have much of a choice anyway the lap band is getting more and more popular everyday but the fills are quite tricky .. is it too much?/ is it too littlle?? did they get it in the port correctly? and also the food requirements are a little different RNYS cost quite a bit more than lap bands surgery also... but if they are going to charge 600.00 for a fill that should make up some if the difference

I have had three fills. I only felt good restriction after the first fill. We do discuss fills at the support groups I have attended. I have lost 55 pounds. Dr. Boyce charges 200 for fills and the surgery center charges 400, which totals $600. I do believe this is one of the reasons I am losing slower. I want to make sure that I really need one before I go. Just think if they got me too tight! I would have to spend another 600 to get unfilled. I do have savings for fills, but $1200 is more than I want to spend at one time. I am going to a support group in Maryville this Thursday. Hopefully I will get to meet one of the docs there and find out if they would take me on as a patient. Dr. Boyce is still fairly new at doing lap-band. I believe I was his 13th patient. Lucky 13 He really is a great surgeon. My gallbladder is probally going to have to come out and he will be the one that ask my doc to send me to. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. That is the day after my 27th b-day. This is the first time I have visited the TN page. I normally stay on the lap-band board too. Thanks for the good wishes, Amy