Tufts New England Medical Center

[Diva]

Tufts New England Medical Center (NEMC)
Boston, Massachusetts

Link to the Obesity Control Center (OCC):
http://www.obesityconsult.org/html/s...ce_surgery.htm

As of October 2006 they have 0% erosion rate.

[Berry]

HI,

I'm looking to get my lapband at NEMC as well. I actually just sent in my paperwork and waiting to hear back. I'm sure this will be a long process but well worth it! When did you get your surgery? How long did it take you to get your surgery date? How was the hospital, were they nice - did you have any problems?? How many classes were you required to take?

Sorry for all the questions!!

Sherri from Plymouth

[Berry]

HI,

I'm looking to get my lapband at NEMC as well. I actually just sent in my paperwork and waiting to hear back. I'm sure this will be a long process but well worth it! When did you get your surgery? How long did it take you to get your surgery date? How was the hospital, were they nice - did you have any problems?? How many classes were you required to take?

Sorry for all the questions!!

Sherri from Plymouth

[Diva]

Hi and welcome to B2G!
I'm from the Boston area & I did a lot of research. The really, really great thing is that there a few hospitals in the area that are terrific, so unlike some others you have a lot of choices. When I tell you about NEMC I am not saying the other hospitals aren't as good it was just my choice.
That said, they have 0% erosion rate. They have a state of the art operating room completely devoted to laproscopic weight loss surgery. The 3 surgeons are top notch. The head surgeon (Shikora) has been on various media outlets and is considered an expert.
All 3 are great. They all do both lapband and bypass.
Google the surgeons names you will see that they are well respected in the field.

It is a total program which from beginning to end will take you about 3 or so months. It is required you complete a behavior modification program (about 8 weeks once a week) and see an exercise specialist who designs a program for just you and only you. The nutritionists are very good.

They are very into keeping you into the program for the rest of your life, they stress that you are not in this alone.

There is a lot of support there, a lot.
My surgery was August 4th and I've lost almost 40 pounds. I am fine taking it at a good solid pace. I was in surgery at 7:30 am and home (I live about 20 minutes away) by 2:30. Some pain but not too bad (they give you percocets!).

I do eat almost anything except bread (sometimes toast), white meat chicken/turkey and for some odd reason tuna salad. The band is fickle so you never know. I eat small amounts and do not drink while eating. I have never PB'd but I know it is just a matter of time. LOL!

Fills are easy, they have a fill clinic every Friday which any of the surgeons or physicians assistant can give you your fill or you can see your own surgeon on his particular day.

My only problem is the nutritionists really stress diet foods which is fine and good in the beginning but I don't agree with it in the long term. I am not living on diet food forever, I got the band so I wouldn't eat in the quantity I was eating. I do watch carbs and calories but I don't stay strict. I need to be selective to get the protein and nutrients I need while eating in small amounts but I don't live on non-fat everything.

Thats it for now. No matter what group you choose in the Boston area you will be happy. Ask any questions you need!

[Berry]

Hey Diva,

Does Tufts offer the Behavior modification classes during the day or is it just at night? Since I live an hour and a half away from the hospital I wonder if they would let me take double classes if they offered them back to back???

Thanks,
Sherri

[Diva]

Hi,

Yes the behavior mod groups are both held in the day and the night.

I don't think they will let you take more than one at a time since they are in sequence. You are with the same psychologist and patients the whole time.

They have open forums held once a month at night. You might want to attend one of those, check the schedule on the web page.

They may be able to help you with the distance problem since they have patients from all over the world. But I haven't a clue how they work it!

[Laurel86]

Another option if you are from the Boston area is Dr. Sheldon Randall from Medford. He works out of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He is the sweetest guy and has never had any problems in the 1,000's of people he has banded! Look him up! He and his team are great! =)

[Shauna3221]

I am seeing Dr. Daniel B Jones out of Beth Israel in Boston, MA. The team there so far is amazing. If you go onto their website you can print an aplication and fax it in. It takes a while for someone to get back to you, but once they do, man does the process move! It also depends on your insurance as well. I need to stretch 3 visits into 6 months because of my insurance policy, but that's ok. The more time for me to get to know them and vice versa!!

[Lady Lap Band]

I have heard that Tufts is good...I had mine done at Lahey Clinic in Burlington....they have a wonderful team of doctors and nurse practitioners that will make you feel like family!

[fish]

A set back to gettiing banded
I am getting my pre-op testing done and today I had an Upper Inoscopy. The results don't sound great. They found some ulcers, pollops, a small Hiadal herna and erosion in the Esophagus. They took a number of bioposy and I will get the results tuesday.
Does anyone know if this is a deal breaker in getting banded.
Fish