Has anyone had this done in Massachusetts?

I was banded on 2/4/08 at Lahey Clinic in Burlington. I think they're tops and I had a great experience there. I highly recommend them.

Hello, I would say that it was less than a week for them to get back to me I remember thinking it was fast. You should call they are very friendly and did not make me feel like a pest. Good Luck!

Hey Julie, I live in Boston road area of Springfield right now near eastfield mall. What part of Texas are you in? I am from there and moved here when I was a teen, San Antonio, still have lots of family there. I grew up in Chicopee here through high school and stuff. Anyhow Good luck to all!

Thread Starter  

I called the office and got an appointment with Dr. Fiallo in a couple of weeks. They have been so busy, they were behind in calling the people back. The only problem now is my insurance is going to require me to go through 6 months of an "I can change" program. I don't want to wait 6 months. Then, if I'm understanding what the web-site is saying, they won't approve it unless your BMI is over 40, mine is 39.5 or something. Unless, you have diabetes, hypertension or sleep apenea - none of which I have but my weight is causing me to have other problems. I'll find out more when I go for my appointment - it's just SO frustrating. I'm also from Springfield by the way.

You're BMI only has to be 40 at your original appointment. I was at 39. Then I ate everything in site before my first appointment. I was 41. (this was only 10lbs so I'm guessing 5 would have brought me to 40) Then I had my appointment, went on their very strict diet and lost back the weight in 3 weeks. I can't afford the surgery, had not other problems and needed to be at 40. Good Luck

I had mine done @ Emerson by Dr. Jiser. I had a very good experience with the whole team there and agree with you that their strict program is really the best way to get the results we're all looking for. I lost 25lbs before surgery and have lost another 20lbs since my surgery on 12/26. Perhaps I'll see you at the monthly support group meeting!

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Linda Lu



Banded 12/26/07 Emerson Hospital Concord, MA Dr. Jiser

Thread Starter  

jaylow -

So you never had the surgery? It would be bad for me to gain 10 pounds for my doctor's appt because I have to wear a uniform to work and it would be too tight for me.

Don't worry about having to go through the "I Can Change," program. Even though it's 6-months, I was self-pay and it took me 6 months just to go to all the required support groups, doctor appointments, lose the weight they wanted me to lose before surgery, etc. Six months is nothing compared with having a lifetime of struggling with weight. Do the program! If you're BMI is only one shred short of the required 40, find out if that's your BMI now, or your BMI after the "I Can Change," program. If it's after the "I Can Change," program, then don't follow the program. Attend the sessions, but don't do the diet. Gain, don't lose. That should put you over the top. Where there's a will, there's a way!

b.

HI, I agree you should go through the steps, I started in may, my insurance covered it and I still took about 6 months just to complete all the steps. Flies by! Good luck!

Thread Starter  

I guess I'm just getting impatient to get this started. Also, I need to look at what is a good time for me to be taking off work to get the surgery done. This is the time of year that if I need to take time off, it's now. Otherwise, if I have to wait 6 months, I have to wait until late August, early September.

five pounds might do it for you. I'm planning on having the surgery but am still in the pre op stage. Good Luck

Hi, Great to hear from another Dr. Jiser patient. How long from your original appointment did they schedule you for surgery? I have lostg 14lbs so far. I have not had my 4 week follow up yet. It is this Wednesday. I have already lost the required weight but am wondering how much longer till they schedule me. Everyone else I have met at Concord had the bypass. So glad to hear from a bandster. You have done magnificent and our a great inspiration to me. I will be at the next meeting.

Great job with your weight loss jaylow! When I went for my follow up at 4 weeks, I too had lost the required weight and they went ahead and booked me for the surgery (which was almost a month later). Yes there are a lot of bypass people and I've questioned whether maybe I should have gone that route, but for me it was just too invasive with the rerouting, the malabsorption, etc. I can be a really good dieter when I want to be, so I'm hopeful that I can work with the band as a tool to get results. Let me rephrase that...I KNOW I can work with the band and get results!! :)

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Linda Lu



Banded 12/26/07 Emerson Hospital Concord, MA Dr. Jiser

I went to last months meeting and it seemed to me that all the bypass people were discussing how everything comes up on them. I want to eat like a regular person but in small amounts. I think if if was bypass or nothing I would not do it. I hope you feel you made the correct decision. This just seems like a healthier more natural way of life. Thanks so much for writing back. It really brings me peace.

I'm using Dr. Randall. He has 2 offices. One in Natick at Leonard Morse Hospital and the other is in Medford at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. I think he's great but I guess we all must feel that way about our docs. or else we wouldn't put our lives in their hands