Thanks Darnell.  I have talked with several people who are out as long as you and the average weight regain has been 10-15% - nothing higher.  Best wishes with your RNY.

No but there is a Dr Hardgroder in Louisina.

My husbands insurance has declared ALL weight loss surgery as cosmetic and has denied everything.  I have support from my family doc. and 2 heart specialist, but they said it doesn't matter.  What steps can I take next to get them to cover it.    Connie-OHIO

I dont know about all of this but I have to say I kinda agree with both sides. I have been researching wls for awhile now and want to have it done before my next birthday. I am really leaning toward the MGB. But even though I am fairly sure that I want the MGB I am a little suspicious of Dr. R and the whole clos net thing.

I may be just a dumb country girl but the way clos net is ran and trying to research the MGB objectively as I have been trying to do I found that some of it just doesnt pass the smell test. I dont understand why I cant get truly unbiased medical opinions on the MGB. You can on almost all of the other surgeries. Not only that but when you go to clos net you cant ever find even one unsatisfied customer. Well I live in America and people here ***** if even the foam on their skinny latta's arent thick enough, so that seems especially odd to me. Its not that I dont believe that MGB is the better of all the wls, its just that I wonder why they are trying so hard to keep any negatives out. If the surgery is good then it will sell itself.  I just hate that all I can get about this surgery is either its perfect wonderful no problems here or the other side is this surgery is performed by the devil and you'll die in 7 days. I mean I just want to be able to get the real deal no bull**** and I'd like it to be informed. I also would like to talk to people who have had the surgery, besides names that Dr.R lists for you to contact. I want someone who isnt affliated with him gaining more patients but someone who has actually had the surgery. Thats why I come here.
But here either few if any mgb'ers come to post or the only time you see an mgb'er post is if they are defending  Dr. R or correcting someone's information given, or if someone says they had a negative experience during the surgery then a couple mgb'ers go "huh thats weird, I've never even had a hiccup and everyone I know whose had the surgery is complication free. Are u sure u had the MGB? Did u stick to all ur post op? Huh thats wierd." That to me is all very fishy. I know the RNY and others dont have this sort of thing. I mean they talk about everything. Good, Bad, Ugly, Funny and inbetween.

The only thing thats nearly talked me out of the MGB has been the people who have had it and sing its praise. Its all very scripted feeling to me, maybe its not scripted but it feels that way. And I was always taught if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is. I honestly wish I could just find some unbiased negative stuff  on the MGB, then I would feel more comfortable like I was getting the whole story not just a part of it. Dont get me wrong I'm 99% sure this is the surgery I am going to get, all said I still find myself liking what facts I do have about it best. So I am not trying to talk anyone out of it or say its bad, b/c that would be stupid when I want the darn thing myself. I'm just trying to be honest and want you all to know how things are perceived here on the outside looking in.

 As for the orginal poster to this I think its all kinda not important in the grand scheme of things. Changing your mind is allowed as far as I know, even in Canada I hear (thats a joke.) But really your post did lil to help me decide anything about the surgery or Dr. R, all I was able to decide is that the world has a lot of people with a lot of syndromes. I think it either has to be a fad or I'm just really not very special since I dont have some kinda something going on emotionally or mentally that gives me an excuse to behave however I like and still have people try to feel sorry for me at the same time. Now dont get me wrong I know there are people in the world that really do have TRUE emotional or mental problems that cant be helped I just dont think there are as many as claim to be. If spoiled brat is a syndrome though I may be able to claim that one and feel like I am special too, like you:)

Scott,

I can't answer your questions about doctors in Japan, but the follow-up visits may be done by your doctor where you live.  I live in Georgia and have just faxed my test results to CLOS at different times as requested.  SO, that part of the requirement should not be a problem for you.  By the way, I am pretty much pleased with my results.  Although I did not reach my goal weight, I lost from 392 to 205.

Sandy in GA