Tucson Lap-Band
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Thinking about having lap-band surgery?
Take the following steps:
- Do your homework: Read everything about gastric banding that you can.
- Learn what it can and can't do for you.
- Gain an understanding of how you'll have to eat for the rest of your life.
- Research Tucson Lap-Band Surgeons.
- Attend a Lap-Band Seminar in Tucson.
- Find a good Bariatric Dietitian.
- Find Local Support Groups.
- Stock your bookshelf with Must Have Books.
Gastric Lap-Band Surgeons in Tucson
If you're looking for a surgeon in the Old Pueblo, you want one who has been doing gastric banding for awhile...and doing it quite often!
Studies show that the more often a surgeon performs a particular surgery, the better the average outcome.
Search the term Tucson Lap-Band Surgeons:
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Interview Your Potential Surgeon.
Finding the name of a lap-band surgeon is only the beginning. Let the interrogation begin!
Ask a prospective surgeon (or his/her office staff):
- How many surgeries he's performed
- How long he's been performing the surgery
- Where he performs the surgery
Ask where you'll be getting your gastric lap-band fills performed, and also what will happen if you move?! Will your surgeon help you find someone to get your fills in a new hometown?
Get a feel for the office staff as well, since you're likely to be seeing more of them than you will of your surgeon. Do they make you feel cared for...or do they make you feel like a number?
Another thing you should do is check out your Tucson lap-band surgeon's record. In Arizona, you can do a search at the Arizona Medical Board's site.
Now, many surgeons offer free seminars to prospective patients. I do recommend attending these, but I also recommend taking them with a grain of salt!
You'll get some valuable information, but remember that surgeons offer these seminars because they want your business!
Attend the seminar with the same mindset you would if someone were trying to sell you something. Shop around and attend a few seminars to see what your options are.
Try searching the term, tucson lap band surgery seminars:
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Remember, gastric band surgery is not magic! You're going to require lifestyle changes and getting the right nutrition in the right (smaller!) proportions to be successful and healthy.
Surgeons may know surgery, but dietitians know food. Even if your insurance doesn't pay for it or require it, visiting with a dietitian is important.
Having a good bariatric dietitian who's familiar with the ins and outs of the diet after lap-band surgery to support you and motivate you might be just what you need to keep you on track or to get you "back on track" when you stray.
There's good news for Tucson gatric band patients...I'm located in Tucson!
Meet Tucson Lap-Band Dietitian, Suzette Kroll, RD
I've provided lots of gastric lap-band diet information here on this website, but if you'd like more personalized recommendations, menu suggestions, and/or ongoing support, simply contact me to set up an appointment. I look forward to meeting and working with you!
I provide:
- Pre-surgery nutrition assessments
- Post-surgery nutrition counseling
- Menu Suggestions
- Balanced Meal Planning
- Help with stalled weight loss and/or weight gain
- Ongoing support, encouragement, and accountability
- Grocery Shopping Tours
TUCSON LAP-BAND (LIVE) SUPPORT GROUPS
Tucson Bandsters
Meets one Saturday per month, 10-11:30 am
Location: Wilmot Library OR UMC Cafeteria
All gastric lap-band patients welcome...whether you've already had your surgery or are only considering it.
Contact Becky Holcomb at becky38@yahoo.com for more information.
2009 Schedule:
January 10, 2009: Guest Speaker, Suzette Kroll, RD: A Balanced Gastric Lap-Band Diet
February 14, 2009: Guest Speaker, Rhonda Zwelling, personal trainer: Goal Setting
March 14, 2009 Guest Speaker, Suzette Kroll, RD: Planning Quick Meals
April 11, 2009
May 9, 2009
June 13, 2009
July 11, 2009
August 8, 2009
September 12, 2009
October 10, 2009
November 14, 2009
December 12, 2009
Carondelet Support Group
Meets one Tuesday Evening per month, 6:30-8:30pm and one Saturday per month 10am-12 pm at St Joseph's Hospital Auditorium
ALL types of weight loss surgery patients welcome...gastric bypass, gastric lap-band, and gastric sleeve
Tuesday Evening - 6:30-8:30pm
St. Joseph's Hospital Auditorium
April 7, 2009: Paying it Forward
May 5, 2009: Measuring Your Progress
June 2, 2009: The Dangers of Dehydration
July 7, 2009: Slaying Your Dragons
Saturday - 10am to Noon
St. Joseph's Hospital Auditorium
March 28, 2009: Paying it Forward
April 25, 2009: Measuring Your Progress
May 30, 2009: The Dangers of Dehydration
June 27, 2009: Slaying Your Dragons
TMC Bariatric Support Group
A support group for bariatric post-op patients and their families. An educational session with guest speaker is offered, along with time for interaction and relationship building.
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm
In the Health Resources Center
TMC Healthy Living Connections
El Dorado Campus
1401 N. Wilmot Rd., Tucson, AZ 85715
Northwest Medical Center
- 3rd Monday of the month
- 7-8:30 PM (new attendees should come at 6:30 PM)
- Northwest Medical Center: 6200 N LaCholla Blvd
- Classrooms A-D
- Classrooms are off the main lobby behind the cafeteria
- New attendees meet in Classroom D at 6:30 PM
Eastside
- 1st Tuesday of the month
- 7-8:30 PM
- Evangelical Covenant Church: 551 N. Camino Seco (between Broadway and Speedway, on the West side of the street)
- New attendees meet at 6:30
TUCSON LAP-BAND (ONLINE) SUPPORT GROUPS
Yahoo Support Group: Tucson Bandsters
If you can't make it to a live meeting, this Tucson lap-band online support group provides information, support and encouragment to pre and post surgery gastric band patients via the internet waves.
Yahoo Support Group: TUSWLS
This Tucson-based group also provides information, support, and encouragement, but to ALL types of weight loss surgery patients...gastric band, gastric bypass, and gastric sleeve.
This is a close-knit group with multiple monthly meetings and pot luck/clothing exchanges. All are welcome regardless of surgeon or stage in the process!
Topics of discussion include (but aren't limited to): insurance coverage, exercise, nutrition, pre-op and post-op updates.
Start Your Own Online Gastric Lap-Band Blog for Support
The Gastric Band Companion: 3 Month Food and Exercise Journal, written by Tucson Dietitian, Suzette Kroll, RD.
Record keeping is one of the most successful behavioral techniques for weight loss and maintenance. The best way NOT to lose weight is NOT to pay attention!
The Gastric Band Companion is designed specifically for gastric lap-band patients and helps you use your surgery to lose the weight you want by helping monitor diet and exercise.
Read more on why/how to keep a lap band food journal.
A must have for any post gastric band kitchen! Stay on track by keeping your taste buds excited!
Do You Know of Other Tucson Lap-Band Resources?
My goal is to provide an all inclusive list of gastric band resources in Tucson.
If you know of a resource...a meeting, a good book, a clothing exchange, etc. in Tucson that I've missed, please add it here.
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