LAP-BAND SEMINAR!!! --

I interviewed 5 or 6 surgeons before deciding on mine..... and office staff was definitely something I factored into the decision.

The staff at one of the offices I visited seemed really rude for no reason.... and even though I liked the doctor.... the crappy staff was the reason I opted to go with someone else.

If I had been considering seeing the surgeon in the OP.... this thread would have been enough to steer me away.

Just sayin'.

She was being really rude on the MB yesterday.

Staff DO make a huge difference and especially with banding.  You will be getting aftercare  for the rest of your life.  When people are rude banded folks procrastinate getting fills and aftercare because they don't want to be abused when they go to the office.

If they act like this before you even go to a seminar can you imagine aftercare  with this place??  HAHA!!!  No way!

Im sorry you saw that thread before I could delete it -- Not sure who the person was but one of my posts conflited with hers and she got very upset --- I did report it --- Hopefully it will be resolved quickly. Id really like suggestions for what patients realy want to discuss in support groups.... I know what I wanted to discuss... choosing the right foods., learning how to measure and how to cook...   Since Im 9 yrs post I may have different ideas than someone who isnt as far out as me....  Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

All,
There are many people who work in our WLS business that have NOT had any surgery; yet we put our trust in them.  Why?   Because we assume they have had specialized training and that they definitely know more than we do.  Darcie has had countless hours of lapband training. 

I have met very few Bariatric surgeon's who have had weight loss;  yet they sell a surgery.  I have had 2 kinds of weight loss surgeries and yet I share information on all types of procedures to everyone.  Am I an expert?  Not if being an expert means one has to have had every type of procedure that they talk about.  But, having workedi n the field for 6 years and being very active in support groups for almost 8 years; I think I have a few pieces of info that can help others from time to time.  Some use it.  Some don't.

People are inspired by a weight loss!  Millions tune in each Tuesday evening to get their 2 hour dose of inspiration from the Biggest Loser!  They haven't had our surgeries of chocie but they share our determination to be healthy and succeed!  ..... Darcie is inspiring!  Period!  Why does it matter whether she's had a lapband or an Rny?  Kudos to her for being at goal weight NINE years post-op from her surgery.  I'd say we ALL have a lot we could learn from her!!!!  Some day the newbies on this site will realize just how impressive that really is!  Losing happens...maintaining is the real work!

As for someone on this thread saying that she likes docs who do ALL types of surgeries; well good for her.  But, many people want to go to a "specialist"; someone who does hundreds and hundreds of one thing is going to be pretty darn good at it!!!!  Someone who does several things will have a broader perspective but won't have nearly as much time and experience into one piece of the curriculum!  .So the good & the bad of both options.....And the same person stirring this pot on this site implies that she doesn't sell any surgery.  Bologna!  WE all sell a surgery when we give our personal testimonial of someone or something that we are passionate about!

I feel badly that people had to pop out of the wood work to lynch someone who was offering a FREE support group (note those are usually AFTER someone has had surgery so she wouldn't benefit from it at all!)....and was sharing her story....which is something done by thousands on this support site!

I think we should all calm down.  O.H. allows everyone to advertise support groups that are open to everyone.  It's not breaking any of their rules.  If someone is honest (and the accused was very honest about being an Rny working in a lapband environemtn) then O.H. has always applauded the sharing of experiences that inspire!

Use your delete button freely if you don't like something someone is saying.  I'm sure my posts are deleted on a regular basis by the masses!  But, one person may be moved by one thing on one day.  That's the thing!

How bout we all be the warm Arizonans that we should be?

If someone crawls out from under a rock to attack someone then consider the source. 

Support groups tonight:

AZ Grads of WlS:  5:30 at Phx St Lukes (all welcome)
Banner GATEWAY AT 6:00 PM (all welcome)  -  Dr. Mazaheri, plastic surgeon is presenting

Hugggzzz,

I appreciate you wanting to defend your friend, nothing wrong with that.  But we do disagree about support groups not being a place to sell surgery.  MANY people go to a support group of a specific doctor or a specific procedure and they are sold right then and there.  Sadly, not because of the doctor's skill but because they really like the "staff" that are present.  You know that better than I.

We used to have a Phoenix lunch, actually ... we still do kinda I just haven't put it together lately.  We would go to lunch monthly.  There were always newbies there considering surgery.  We had people from many different doctors and they had the opportunity to ask questions about lots of doctors and yes, most of them were Mexican. (GASP)  But a support group is every bit as much as a seminar when it comes to newbies.

Regarding a doctor doing several procedures vs. just one, we disagree.  Doctors can be capable of doing 4 procedures and being very experienced and skilled in all of them.  If someone goes to a band mill the surgeon does not usually spend time talking about other options.  It would be like a Toyota dealer talking someone into going to a Honda dealer and giving them the business instead.  It's not going to happen.  Your doctor is an example of this very behavior.  I would suspect most who are unable to do all the procedures would be.  There is great value in not being pushed to one procedure vs. another because the doctor is better at surgery type A vs. surgery type B.  It should be all about what is right for that patient vs. pushing them into something that might not be the best.  What about these 400# people being banded?  We all know 99.9% of them will never come close to goal let alone maintain it but the band mills are banding them anyway.  I guess it's good business, they get to do the revision in a few years,  But I digress.

I see far more value in going to a surgeon that is experienced and skilled in all 4 major WLS types vs. just one.  Otherwise it would be a bit like saying one doctor specializes in appendectomies and another in Tonsils.  Doctors can do them both quite well.

I believe you missed the point about selling surgery.  Darcie is suggesting that since I show people how to research their surgeon in MX (or the US, it works for both) that I was somehow benefiting from this.  If I did that I would need to give out more info about myself but I don't and I won't.  I have posted much personal information about my weight loss journey and I look at this like an AA meeting.  I get to keep my contact info personal.  That is a far cry from this being a business and earning a profit from "working" the boards which is exactly what she was doing.  Using support boards to sell people bands.  She's had no interest in OH since 2005 but now that she's selling bands she suddenly wants to be helpful and supportive to OHers.  Bah... Nobody is going to buy that one.

Darcie was completely and totally inappropriate and the way she represents a surgical center and doctors.  She was out of line and I can't believe they will approve of these posts.  She has a responsibility to behave in a professional manner when posting with their link at the bottom of each post.  I feel quite comfortable this will be dealt with well.

How does having Lap RNY make you a specialist in LAP-BAND? Your weight loss came from a different surgery.   I don't really care just makes me say hummmmmmmmmm.

Want to see something interesting?

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4055163/HARASSMENT/

I agree with your post, btw.  I believe this is why it just states she has WLS, not RNY.  There are issues to banding that are verrry unique to ... banding.

Darcie has worked with over a thousand lap band patients - she has done many support groups, and she has written a cook book.
So, overall she has pretty good credentials.
There are some common themes to all weight loss operations- and some unique differences. Just because a person had one does not mean they are not an expert in another. Her expertise comes from  years of experience, interaction, teaching, and so forth. If experience came just from having an operation - well -- surgeons wouldn't be experts.

That's not the point.  The point is that she is showing a photo of a successful RNY patient on a band website and not disclosing that she is not banded, she is bypassed.  To read that website would lead one to believe she is banded and banding does not provide the same weight loss results as bypass.  It is unprofessional and deceptive.  Not to mention some of her on line behaviors.

I'm thrilled you like her cooking as you explained in another post, that's wonderful.  That does not make her the least bit professional.

I have not seen the website- but the same changes in lifestyle are used for all weight loss patients. I saw the ad in Phoenix magazine where she shows a successful lap band patient and how she helped her.
Regarding same weight loss as bypass-- yes- long term data is clear - it does -- 3 year data has P value that is insignificant, and five year data is the same.

I am not here to defend her - but just the data