faithmd

I truly hope so!

I have. I started trying to eat like a Bandster (not the portion size, though-can't do that yet, lol) in late January/early February. I had been reading on here for a long time before joining and was seeing lots and lots of people having real issues with the loss of food and folks being sort of shocked at the difference in how they had to eat post band. I decided i had better practice that now or I'd be one of them. I'm not one who likes to be forced into change, so I changed myself first. Tiny bites, eating with baby utensils, Protein first, then veggies, then carbs, gave up refined sugars and enriched flours, tracking every bite on fitday, stuff like that. I can't believe how nearly effortless it's been. I haven't felt deprived at all! I can guarantee if I'd have waited to change my eating habits until post-op I'd be crying in frustration. Thanks for noticing!

Mya, I'm going to post the quote from you from that other thread, I think you'll see why some folks are a little wary, your response on the other thread (which was quite helpful, BTW) does make is sound like you are much older than 18 ("looong long ago, in another life") and that *you* charged $75/hr. 05-02-2007, 06:51 PM #2PorkerChick Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Age: 18 Posts: 24 You should, like, go to your local gym and ask them. They most definately have a trainer on staff, and most of the would be DYING for a little side work. I used to be a trainer (looong loong ago, in another life) and I'd charge about $75 for the consultation, then about $30-$40 per hour/session afterwards Hope that helps Mya I'm not trying to be picky, I just wanted to point out why some people thought that sounded a bit odd. What 18yr old can honestly say "looong long ago, in another life?" Is there a gym that hires trainers under 18? Most gyms in my area won't even let folks in to work out unless they are 18 already. But anyway, I wanted to join the legions of folks urging you to reconsider your decision not only to have surgery, but to go to Betancourt. I would never poopoo your feelings about the weight you carry. My friend who is 115lbs is VERY upset about the 5lbs she wants to lose and she has joined Weight Watchers to lose it. Those 5lbs to her are probably as important as 150lbs are to me. But logically if you only have 20-30lbs to lose, surgery is NOT the answer, portion control, perhaps counseling and diet and exercise are the key. If you are set on having some sort of procedure, I urge you to consider the BIB gastric balloon. LapBand surgery will also leave you with five to six scars, that is a consideration with modeling (even though you are on the shorter side for runway work, that does not rule out print). Dr Joya in Puerto Vallarta does it, and I am sure there are many others out there, too. Here's a link to the page: http://www.drjoya.com/bib.html

The only person who can tell you what your insurance policy requires is your insurance company. Call them tomorrow and ask what their requirements are to cover Adjustable Gastric Banding. Then ask that they snail mail you those requirements so that you have them in hand.

I really need to pick two, Halloween is also my Wedding anniversary. So they're both my favorite day, followed closely by New Year's Eve which wasn't a choice.

Well, I'll be seeing a doc who has done about 50 bands and I'm pretty comfortable with the conversation I've had with him and his former patients, not to mention the reviews I've read of him by former patients, and have read some of the articles he's co-authored. Would I prefer to have a surgeon who has placed 250 bands? Probably, but at this time in my life I've fought to get my insurance to pay for this, and this is who they will pay for. One of the other doc's they pay for has placed tons of bands, but I don't like the less than stellar business practices of her office. I may be comfortable with her surgical skills, but I also have to have a good feel for the person behind the hands. I want a surgeon who will be honest with me. I like the reviews of the surgical practice I'm going with, and they have one of the very lowest mortality rates in the US for WLS. Only 2 deaths in well over 2,000 procedures (and they were early in the practice, were RNY patients and had some significant co-morbidities). In terms of going elsewhere, in my area I can only find one doc who will take care of someone else's band and she wants a RIDICULOUS amount of money up front (yep the same surgeon as above). I do not have the money to be flying back and forth to a surgeon for fills if I paid out of pocket for the band either in Denver or Mexico or Toronto, etc. According to Inamed (the makers of the LapBand system) they consider a surgeon who has placed 100 bands to be an "expert" and that surgeon is can be cleared to be a proctor for other surgeons and teach them to place the band. I agree with WasaBB about the knitting analogy and think it's a pretty good one. But on the other hand, I am comfortable with my chosen newer knitter. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Aceves and Dr. Rumbault placed their first and tenth and thirtieth bands at one time, too. That having been said, I personally would absolutely not be going to someone for the FIRST band in their program (which is why I'm not going to UM, they haven't placed one yet), nor would I likely go to someone for their tenth, but at about fifty, after some very pointed questions (that I know what the answers should be) were answered thoughtfully and very honestly, I'm comfortable. But that is just me. I've been in medicine for a looong time, I know what to ask. I get a good feel for slick surgeons, and for honest ones. The bottom line is you have to be comfortable.

I frankly liked the logo of the band itself. For those who were coming here doing their first research on the band, it helped to see what it looks like.

Here's a link to the band info: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=15216 It does sound like you might have reflux symptoms, but to be sure you should ask your doctor.

Hello dweck and welcome! I can't find any threads specifically about Dr. Ren, but if you click on the Search link on the tool bar near the top of the page, then type in Ren and click the radio button (the circle) next to Show Posts, you'll find a few about her. You also might want to go to www.obesityhelp.com and search for her, they have a lot of info about surgeons there.

I start mine the 17th...I'm looking forward to it...not! I have Better than Boullion in four flavors in my cupboard in anticipation...

Hello again, for your ticker just go to www.tickerfactory.com and follow the directions, it's very easy. You'll also find more info here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16218 I live near A2 and work at UM so Hurley is not at all my local hospital, either. I haven't honestly heard much wonderful about the hospital stay itself. But I have heard great things about the surgeons. I have my pre-admission testing on Wednesday the 10th but I haven't gotten my info packet yet, so I can't order my diet... I'm just a little nervous I'll be cutting it close to my surgery date. How did you feel with the staples? Have any problems at all?

I love the packets of True Lemon and True Orange. I haven't tried the True Lime yet. They are basically dried lemon, lime or orange flavors, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners. They come in regular (which are about 40 pkts per box for $3.99) and Plus which gives you 100% Vitamin C and they are (I think) 16 pkts for $2.99. Each packet flavors 10-16oz of water.

Hello and welcome mamajeanne! I am being banded by Dr. Wagner at Hurley on May 31st. There's a few of us Hurley folks around. Welcome to LBT and congrats on your weight loss!!!

Thanks, Trystelle!

There are plenty of bandsters who have never had a fill and are losing weight just fine. Some folks just find that the restriction from the band alone is what they need. Talk it over with your doctor and see what you come up with together.

GREAT thread!! I'll be chiming in if that's okay. I just did some yardwork for the past 20 mins, raking and loading/unloading the wheelbarrow.

Losingjusme, I LOVE your weight: 310.625 I thought I was the only one who did that. Heck, if the scale says .475, that's what I'm putting down!

Congrats on your approval! It sounds like you will be having lots of wonderful things happening in your life, it's wonderful things are turning around and looking up.

Good luck to you and to your husband! Have you considered the sleeve gastrectomy? Is that an option with Nutcracker's Esophagus? If you don't know anything about it, obesityhelp.com has a nice section about it.

It doesn't look like it would hurt at all. It sort of reminds me of those rubber things people who do a lot of paperwork put on their thumbs to flip pages. It looks like it is a very soft flexible silcone-ish long cup-type material with little plastic ribs of hooks about an inch or inch and a half long running up and down the inside of it, not around it. So it should be easily collapsible. I'll go get the photo and post it if I can.

I'm now checking out Calorieking.com Everytime I search for nutrition information on something I had in a restaurant (assuming the restaurant doesn't have nutrition info in the store on on their site-like Outback and Don Pablos don't), the first hit is ALWAYS CalorieKing. They've got TONS of info there. I haven't gotten too deep into it yet, but I'll post back when I've explored it more.

I bought some blood meal last week

Here's a link to the Canadian Forum thread about this new skin, they seem to agree about wanting to move the ads back to the right, and about the girl. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=34458

I agree that Sprint/Nextel is by far the WORST for customer service! I'd put Commiecrap (I mean Comcast) next.

:faint: :thumbs_up: :omg: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :eek :Banane43: :opps2: