Hi Everyone,   Does anyone know of any dr's in North Dakota or nearby states that takes patients for self pay gastric bypass? Thanks 

The psych evaluation was a piece of cake.  I was scared too.  I thought for sure they'd find something to disqualify me...LOL, don't know what, but it was scary. Once I got there I took a computerized test, it kind of seemed they were asking some of the questions in different ways.  It was really nothing I should have worried about.  Then I met with the doctor (psych), and she reviewed the test and said she would write a letter supporting surgery. Good luck to you.

hi danni: sounds like you are ready! my big preop thing to do today was get a pedicure lol. i tried to ask about the vagotomy on the main board once too. noone knew anything, a couple of people googled it and tried to be nice.  red haired jane who doesn't post here much anymore is the med student who answered me at quix along with the other post i gave you. here was her reply: Judi, don't pay for the article. I went and did a lookup in the various medical dictionaries and journals I have laying around. This procedure with GB is actually becoming more popular and in some cases docs do it and don't even tell the patients. I read that it is more common with a gastrectomy, so yes people who get VSG may already be walking around with their vagus nerve permanently cut. It does preven acid from coming up into the stomach and can prevent ulcers. I don't think it is a bad thing. I kinda wish I had one with all the ulcer problems I've had. The good thing is, you may be able to continue taking NSAIDS after surgery which can be a blessing! (googling around i had found an article about vagotomies and wls but it cost $47 and i didn't want to pay it!) jane also mentioned in another post to me that it could affect taste and smell, it hasn't affected my husband. Also, if you look at my friends list, Sue is on there. she also had dr howell and is over 1 year out. the thing about the vagotomy is you could always have it done later like mariella did if you had major ulcer problems. it is non-reversible. so, even tho i am doing it, since you have other issues you may not want to. dr howell seems like a straight shooter i'd talk to him about it during your one on one. the labs study is a LOT of questionnaires. i think they do them at 6 mos 12 mos and 18 mos and walking 1/4 mile. not a big deal but i was in a hurry the day they drew my blood and i had to wait because they ran out of vials they needed so many!  i think they'll probably draw it again at 12 mos. i figure it is one more incentive to keep me on track if they are using this study to determine who in the future should be approved. i bet you'll get scheduled on thursday since your insurance has already signed off, it should happen pretty quickly for you! good luck, let me know how it went, i should be home next saturday.  judi

Yay...your on your way now!!  Glad everything went ok, hope your healing is fast and pain free.  Take Care

Had surgery 6/21/07 at 9am and I'm home now...pretty sore but manageable, just getting around really slow. I will update more later God Bless, thank you for your thoughts and prayers