rwensley

In preparation for my first fill I have been searching for a doctor to take on my needs. I had the band placed in Detroit, MI via the brokers Belite. The doctors with Dean Health Care in Madison, WI, 1 hour south from where I live, would only see me if I went through their weight management courses. These are 90 days long at a cost of $7,000 to $9,000! Then I can start the fills at a cost of $550 per visit. I am self pay and find these prices way out of line. So I started calling around to doctors in the surrounding areas and found that the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI will take on my case. They require an upper GI for the initial visit and the fills are $330 for each visit. Marshfield is 2 hours north but it is a nice drive in the country. For anyone looking to use a broker such as Belite, you may want to check this out first with your local clinics to make sure they are not displeased you went else where for the procedure. Ron

Greetings, I am still in week one post op and I am having no problem what so ever with the liquid diet. I am planning down the road for weeks 3 & 4 and beyond. My post op diet instructions were to eat 800 to 1000 calories per day from now on and that 50% of my body weight in grams (ie 310 pounds = 310 grams or 50% is 155 grams) needs to be Protein each day. I am having a difficult time figuring out how to get 155 grams of protein AND stay under 1000 calories per day. Any suggestions? Ron Wensley

Hi. I was banded on 17 May 11. Prior to starting the preop diet 5 May 11, my weight was 340 pounds. Today 20 May 11 my weight is 312 pounds. I have had very little physical pain from the procedure. It is only painful when I change positions from sitting to standing to laying down. I had no gas pains post op. The only time it was painful was when my darling bride hit me in the stomach without thinking. That was tough but I managed to survive. I am having no problems with the post op diet. No hunger pains, headaches or the like. We shall see what develops.