I have my very first Dr.'s appointment coming up on July 10th at 10:30 Am for a consultation with Dr. Bell. They told me that I had to carry a record of what my weight has been like for the past five years.

They tell me that Medicaid is now paying for this surgery. I'm wondering if they pay for all of it and if they also pay for all the visits where I will be having to have the fills done. I am sure that we will go over all of that when I go for my very first appointment in July.

Right now, because I am both over joyed that medicaid is now paying for it, along with being nervous because I know it is a reality now... Do any of you know of any questions I should be asking my Dr. when I go to see him for the first time ?

Before Medicaid started paying for it I could think of tons of things to ask a Dr. But now its like my brain is on overload from all the happiness and excitment that I have about this.

thanks for reading & I really hope to hear from someone.

BlueRose

Congratulations on starting your journey! IMHO, I think I'd ask the following:

- how many bariatric surgeries he/she's done?
- if exercise, nutrition, & mental support is available in house?
- protocols for pre & post op dieting?
- in or out patient hospital stay?

I'm sure there are others, but they slip my mind at the moment. Poking around here may help bring questions to mind too.

Thank you so much. I will be sure to put these down on my list, which I am in the process of making right now.

I just had my first appt with Dr Johnson, who is in Dr Bell's office. I am very excited about that they have brought the Lap Band to our community.

Do you have your surgery date yet?

no, not as of yet. sorry :( right now I am kind of down in the dumps

can anyone give me any information of a dr in nc that accepts nc medicaid for the lapp band? any information will be useful thanks! you can e-mail me here or my private e-mail ladypedwards@yahoo.com

Hi,

Have you received a reply as of yet? If not I can tell you that Dr. Bell is doing mine in December. Him and Dr. Johnson at Carteret Surgical both take Medicaid.

Medicaid does require you to have a six month diet with visits to a Dr. Just wanted to let you know that.

Check with your gyn. I didn't go to the regular doc much, but had those records for every year.




Here are the questions that I had written down for my dr.
What do you use to close the incisions? Mine uses Dermabond glue.
Will I get a heparin, or another anticoagulant shot?
What do you use for post-op pain management while I am at the hospital?
What will you give me for post-op pain management after discharge?
Can I have that prescription now (this was my pre-op appt) so that I can fill it before surgery?
Do I take my regular meds the day of surgery?
When do I see you again?
When do you generally do the first fill?
Do you fill under flouroscopy?
How soon can I have sex? (for me, 1 week at least and then as tolerated)
How soon can I shower?
When can I hit the treadmill again?
When can I do weight machines again?
How soon can I drive?
In the last two years, how many "open" procedures have you had to do? (I should have asked this earlier...but he had zero so it didn't really matter)
How should my caregiver contact you after surgery if there are any problems?

Hope this helps!