Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Under 200 lbs AND an official member of the Century Club!
Laura, CONGRATS that is great news & I am sure you feel great ! Keep up the good work !
Julie
Julie
Loser's visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success.
Mom I hope you rest in Peace knowing that you were loved and will be missed. Keep love alive in your
heart as I know I will. You are now an 
and I know you will be looking down on us from above......... I am OK.......
Mom I hope you rest in Peace knowing that you were loved and will be missed. Keep love alive in your
heart as I know I will. You are now an and I know you will be looking down on us from above......... I am OK.......
Topic: RE: Under 200 lbs AND an official member of the Century Club!
Thank you! You'll be there before you know it. Great avatar picture! Beautiful!
Laura 
Topic: RE: Can anyone give me feedback on Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki from GBMC?
Dr Liao did my surgery, and dr MO did a follow visit for me because dr liao had a family emergency. i didnt have an issue. dr liao is wonderful though! the whole GBMC is excellent! i have lost 131 and kept it off so far. follow the program and you will be fine!
Topic: RE: Biggest WOW moment yet
Super! That is a good feeling isn't it?? I have had similar experiences where I thought " I will never get through there" and what you do you know? I did! Keep up the great work!
Susan Hayes 
Topic: RE: Under 200 lbs AND an official member of the Century Club!
CONGRATS TO YOU!!!! That is quite an accomplishment! I can't wait to be under 200; 22 lbs to go! Keep up the good work!
Susan Hayes
Topic: Under 200 lbs AND an official member of the Century Club!
Hey all...good news!
ANNNNNNND....
ANNNNNNND....
Laura
Topic: RE: Can anyone give me feedback on Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki from GBMC?
Dr. Moein is awesome. He did my lap band 3 years ago and I still see him in follow up. My experience has been opposite of the poster who said he is business like and often late. I've always found him very warm and attentive. He always greets me and my husband with pleasantries, asks about my husband's business and if he's been anywhere fun lately (we own an architectural firm and work all over the country).
The thing that best relays how great he is (in my book) has nothing to do with my band. Back in March, he emergently admitted me to GBMC for something completely unrelated to my band, maintained primary responsibility and directed my treatment. He came to see me at all times of the day and night. After having had unexplained intermittent upper right quadrant pain for about a year, I had a severe attack that did not dissipate. Cholecystitis was immediately ruled out as my gallbladder had been removed in 1999, years before my band surgery. They did full panels on me and my liver enzymes were through the roof: 100 times normal. I had x-rays, a CT, MRI, MRI with contrast...nothing. I turned a beautiful shade of daffodil yellow. They tested me for hepatitis, etc. Then I developed acute pancreatitis on top of it. Once my enzymes started to decline, the obvious diagnosis was that I had had a stone blocking my common biliary duct which then backed up/blocked the pancreatic duct. (Just because your gallbladder is removed, doesn't mean you cannot have a stone remaining in the duct, or even form stones afterward. Didin't know that.) He arranged for the best gastroenterologist to review my case and see me. He concurred with Dr. Moein's thoughts and decided to do an ERCP to see what was going on. Sure enough, there was evidence of a stone having passed, and that I had a narrowed bile duct. The good thing about the instrument they use for the procedure is that if they find something in the scope, they have the tools on the scope to fix it. He made the appropriate cuts to widen the duct so that if I would develop another stone, it won't slice me all up on the way out. I have to tell you that it is the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life, and I've had some serious surgeries in my past. Anyway, Dr. Moein kept complete control of my admission, stay and discharge. I was in very competent, caring hands.
In the three plus years I've been seeing him, I've only had two instances of waiting more than 20 minutes to see him. One was when Dr. von Rueden left the practice and Dr. Moein suddenly had a lot more patients to see (many stayed with GBMC) with a decreased staff as some went with DVR. The other time he had car trouble in the morning and Adrienne in the office called me just as I was leaving for the appointment to ask me to come in two hours later than scheduled.
Finally, a good friend of mine just had lap band surgery with him on the 15th based on my experiences and recommendation. She and her husband love Dr. Moein.
Terri
The thing that best relays how great he is (in my book) has nothing to do with my band. Back in March, he emergently admitted me to GBMC for something completely unrelated to my band, maintained primary responsibility and directed my treatment. He came to see me at all times of the day and night. After having had unexplained intermittent upper right quadrant pain for about a year, I had a severe attack that did not dissipate. Cholecystitis was immediately ruled out as my gallbladder had been removed in 1999, years before my band surgery. They did full panels on me and my liver enzymes were through the roof: 100 times normal. I had x-rays, a CT, MRI, MRI with contrast...nothing. I turned a beautiful shade of daffodil yellow. They tested me for hepatitis, etc. Then I developed acute pancreatitis on top of it. Once my enzymes started to decline, the obvious diagnosis was that I had had a stone blocking my common biliary duct which then backed up/blocked the pancreatic duct. (Just because your gallbladder is removed, doesn't mean you cannot have a stone remaining in the duct, or even form stones afterward. Didin't know that.) He arranged for the best gastroenterologist to review my case and see me. He concurred with Dr. Moein's thoughts and decided to do an ERCP to see what was going on. Sure enough, there was evidence of a stone having passed, and that I had a narrowed bile duct. The good thing about the instrument they use for the procedure is that if they find something in the scope, they have the tools on the scope to fix it. He made the appropriate cuts to widen the duct so that if I would develop another stone, it won't slice me all up on the way out. I have to tell you that it is the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life, and I've had some serious surgeries in my past. Anyway, Dr. Moein kept complete control of my admission, stay and discharge. I was in very competent, caring hands.
In the three plus years I've been seeing him, I've only had two instances of waiting more than 20 minutes to see him. One was when Dr. von Rueden left the practice and Dr. Moein suddenly had a lot more patients to see (many stayed with GBMC) with a decreased staff as some went with DVR. The other time he had car trouble in the morning and Adrienne in the office called me just as I was leaving for the appointment to ask me to come in two hours later than scheduled.
Finally, a good friend of mine just had lap band surgery with him on the 15th based on my experiences and recommendation. She and her husband love Dr. Moein.
Terri
LBL/BL 12/11/09; BL Revision, Quad Bleph 07/16/10. Larry H. Lickstein, M.D., F.A.C.S.
It's not how fast you go, but that you're moving in the right direction!
Topic: RE: Can anyone give me feedback on Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki from GBMC?
I have nothing but great things to say about Dr. Moein, as he was my surgeon. I had surgery in March 2008 and I've lost about 124 lbs. and have kept it off to date. Follow the program, and you'll have great success.
I had a great experience with GBMC and all of their staff (well except for the 1st shift nurse after my surgery who I could barely understand and I wasn't up and walking as much initially as I should've been - that's really my ONLY complaint [if you can call it one] about my entire experience, from start to finish).
Yes, Dr. Moein may come across as "all business" but having a "touchy/feely" surgeon wasn't a priority to me. I wanted someone who was a leader in the field of RNY gastic bypass, knew what they were doing, and someone I could relate to. I first started the surgery process with Dr. Von Reuden (who later moved to St. Agnes before my date of surgery) and I was given the choice to follow him to his new practice, or stay behind and have surgery at GBMC with Dr. Moein. I lived in Towson at the time, and location was a big deal to me. I didn't want to have to drive 40+ minutes for my appointments and follow-ups, so I chose to have surgery with Dr. Moein and stay at GBMC. In my opinion, I made the better choice staying at GBMC and going with Dr. Moein because I never felt a "connection" with Dr. Von R. To me, he was older (so I couldn't relate - I was 25 at the time of surgery), he seemed very "hands off" in trying to suggest whether or not go to with RNY or lap-band (I was a candidate for either), and was just a little awkward. Dr. Moein was younger so I could relate to him better, was very sharp, and was honest in helping me choose to have RNY vs. lap-band. It came down to the fact that I didn't want to wait 2+ years to get to goal weight, and let alone figure out if my goal weight was even obtainable with lap-band. I reached goal with RNY within about a year or so, and was VERY pleased with my results.
Yes, Dr. Moein's office is busy and sometimes appointments can be backed up. I know this after a few years being post-op and going for appointments, so I just schedule mine for the end of the day and I can swing by after work, and then head home and not return to work. It works for me. But really, most doctor's office are backed up anymore - too many patients and not enough time in the day. Most doctor's don't have 20+ minutes to sit and chat with patients after the reason for their visit is accomplished... but many patients feel the need to just chat it up. My opinion is "get in and get out" and let the doctors continue with their day. If you are a person who forgets to ask questions, WRITE THEM DOWN AND COME PREPARED. You aren't the only patient of the day! But I work in the healthcare field, so perhaps I'm a little biased here. :)
I've spoken at a few of Dr. Moein's informational seminars as a success story patient of his. I'm honest with the audience and am very open to answer any questions. Most people are intimidated by me and at first glance don't believe I was every morbidly obese or had a weight problem. It's not until I show my before & after pictures that anyone truly believes my story. I now weigh 134lbs. and am 5' 5" in height and appear very normal. Would I do RNY again? Absolutely. Do I have any regrets? Yes, I wish I had been raised to not see food as an emotional coping device. I wish I would've always ate smaller meals and been more physically active as a child, so I wouldn't have all this flabby leftover skin that my insurance won't pay for me to have removed. :) But I can deal with that in time.
Please do your homework as you would for any important event in life. Make sure you can committ to the lifestyle change, vitamin routine, protein shakes, etc. It's really worth it for a happier, healthier you. :)
Good luck!
I had a great experience with GBMC and all of their staff (well except for the 1st shift nurse after my surgery who I could barely understand and I wasn't up and walking as much initially as I should've been - that's really my ONLY complaint [if you can call it one] about my entire experience, from start to finish).
Yes, Dr. Moein may come across as "all business" but having a "touchy/feely" surgeon wasn't a priority to me. I wanted someone who was a leader in the field of RNY gastic bypass, knew what they were doing, and someone I could relate to. I first started the surgery process with Dr. Von Reuden (who later moved to St. Agnes before my date of surgery) and I was given the choice to follow him to his new practice, or stay behind and have surgery at GBMC with Dr. Moein. I lived in Towson at the time, and location was a big deal to me. I didn't want to have to drive 40+ minutes for my appointments and follow-ups, so I chose to have surgery with Dr. Moein and stay at GBMC. In my opinion, I made the better choice staying at GBMC and going with Dr. Moein because I never felt a "connection" with Dr. Von R. To me, he was older (so I couldn't relate - I was 25 at the time of surgery), he seemed very "hands off" in trying to suggest whether or not go to with RNY or lap-band (I was a candidate for either), and was just a little awkward. Dr. Moein was younger so I could relate to him better, was very sharp, and was honest in helping me choose to have RNY vs. lap-band. It came down to the fact that I didn't want to wait 2+ years to get to goal weight, and let alone figure out if my goal weight was even obtainable with lap-band. I reached goal with RNY within about a year or so, and was VERY pleased with my results.
Yes, Dr. Moein's office is busy and sometimes appointments can be backed up. I know this after a few years being post-op and going for appointments, so I just schedule mine for the end of the day and I can swing by after work, and then head home and not return to work. It works for me. But really, most doctor's office are backed up anymore - too many patients and not enough time in the day. Most doctor's don't have 20+ minutes to sit and chat with patients after the reason for their visit is accomplished... but many patients feel the need to just chat it up. My opinion is "get in and get out" and let the doctors continue with their day. If you are a person who forgets to ask questions, WRITE THEM DOWN AND COME PREPARED. You aren't the only patient of the day! But I work in the healthcare field, so perhaps I'm a little biased here. :)
I've spoken at a few of Dr. Moein's informational seminars as a success story patient of his. I'm honest with the audience and am very open to answer any questions. Most people are intimidated by me and at first glance don't believe I was every morbidly obese or had a weight problem. It's not until I show my before & after pictures that anyone truly believes my story. I now weigh 134lbs. and am 5' 5" in height and appear very normal. Would I do RNY again? Absolutely. Do I have any regrets? Yes, I wish I had been raised to not see food as an emotional coping device. I wish I would've always ate smaller meals and been more physically active as a child, so I wouldn't have all this flabby leftover skin that my insurance won't pay for me to have removed. :) But I can deal with that in time.
Please do your homework as you would for any important event in life. Make sure you can committ to the lifestyle change, vitamin routine, protein shakes, etc. It's really worth it for a happier, healthier you. :)
Good luck!
Topic: RE: Biggest WOW moment yet
congrats Tom!
i had something similar the other day in a parking lot... a car had parked very very close to my drivers door and i could only open it a tiny bit... I said... I'll never make it... and poof I did! amazing....
i had something similar the other day in a parking lot... a car had parked very very close to my drivers door and i could only open it a tiny bit... I said... I'll never make it... and poof I did! amazing....
Nessa
Ticker is from Day of Surgery.. weight goal is personal preference as I've MET my doctor's goal
--
HG/SW/CW/GW
286/253/150/151
Ticker is from Day of Surgery.. weight goal is personal preference as I've MET my doctor's goal
--
HG/SW/CW/GW
286/253/150/151
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