Sooverit!

Good point Bamaga I wasn't thinking it getting surgery In Mexico would be considering a tax write off> thanks!

I am still pre banded but from what I've read here in the past year, having trouble swollowing is a sympton of maybe being a bit too tight. have you called your follow up doc yet...?, Can you drink okay? You have to stay hydrated as you prob know..:bolt:

Hi Talley: Thanks so much for sharing your encouraging words. i'm thinking of bribing my neice to take a trip with me to Colorado. So glad to hear you are doing so well. I just ate a huge I mean huge bag of kettle pop corn...geez i was doing so well. Eating healthy for the past month. Now I am pmsing and that is danger for me. I am so afraid of being Type II diabetic....I was so hungry at dinnner and wasn't hungry during the day...seems like I always make up for it. I'm tninking of starting a poll to see if the band helps with binge or addictive eating patterns....anywho feeeling defeating right now:sad: take care,

Wow...i seem to hit one road block after another on this year long journey to get banded. Just received an e-mail from Dr. K's office saying I can not be along for the 24 hours after surgery. I guess he does out patient proceedres only? My husband is a busy man and can not fly to Colorado with me. MX is at least a hospital stay and hotel with others getting lap band.

I know it's already been 2 years for you guys and I'm assuming everyone is doing well ergo no complaints! Good to see.. I'm thinking of heading to Dr. K as well. Having surgury in NY is 2x the price. Except for out patient which they're doing now at NYU med center which is $14,500 !

Dear Tally: I just e-mailed Dr. Kirchenbaum's office and asked how many LB proceedures he has performed. Did you like the hospital as well? I am just too chicken to go to Mexico especially since i'm sure I'll be doing this solo. My BMI is "only" a 36/37 but have cholesterol and back issues ..hope I'm a candidate for surgery there!? thanks again !!

Hi Tally: So your sugeon was Dr. Kirshenbaum (I have heard positive feedback about him here) in Colorado? and their fee is $9,990? This is very resonable and less of hassel than going to Mexico! I've always wanted to visit Colorado. I will look for their web site. thanks

Hi Hallen: I've decided not to go for a loan after all and cash out a CD I had to take out anyway because the bank was going under! I'm looking out of state. For me I can have the surgery for half the price as here in NY if I find a experienced surgeon. The big deciding factor tho Hallen is in is finding a follow up/fill doctor that is convenient to your home. My regular PCP is training to be a fill doc with FillUSA so there is a light at the end of this tunnel!

Thanks susan....I am lucky too in that my regular Primary Care Physician who I like has been training to be a Fill Doctor for FillsUSA I think it's call and they have a good reputation so I hear. After what's been happening to the banks/economy recently I need to find a good experienced out of state doctor. I live in New York and the prices are outrages here!:confused: thanks

For those self-payers how many of you had to go out of state for cost reasons?

Hi Maggie: Do you have CIGNA by any chance ...they stated to me also 3x in a letter that Lap Band was experimental...grr I'm gonna experiment on them when I cancel my policy!! I'm looking to go out of state now...but not brave enough for MX...thinking Ohio...13,000 there...

Are you drinking plenty of water with your fiber...you probably are but just checking. I read that eating fiber without water really causes problems with drying up the old pipes and lots of water and fruit help with this.

Congratulations on your decision Barb~ Wonderful Peggy directed me to Dr. Curry and I was very impressed with their responsiveness and professional web site. 12,000 this is a great price esp. with 2 years of fills! It's almost the same prices as going to Mexico! this is great news! thanks and best to you!

Sorry I forgot to mention that my Regular Primary Care physician is training to be a Fill Do with Fill Centers USA. So fills won't be a problem if I go out of state. thanks Michigan I may just take your name and add a 2. I like your idea!

Hi Michigan, Did someone recommend to you a Detroit Doctor? I had been thinking of this route also but don't know where to start ..there are 50 states and I'm getting tired of all this actually. Thanks for the tip ...I will look into this area.

Oh, sorry it was postponed Indigo but I guess that's the way that goes. My friend's daughter is a child actress and has appeared on major criminal investigative type shows. What they go through with cancellations and delays in shooting, it a wonder anyone get on the other side of the camera~ Oh and what a racket between the insurance companies and hospitals! We pay for all this! That's another tread though. Have a good day,

Hey Marie: Just got off the phone with Melissa at NYU Med. Center and she quoted me $7,600 for hospital stay but that is for a Out Patient lap band proceedure. the cost for one night hospital stay is $12,000. Now I have more to think about! I would have to have someone with me for outpatient and I'm almost thinking a stay at a NYC 4 star hotel near the hospital would cost $400 and up but much less than a hospital stay. So she quoted: Surgery: $8,000 Anesthisia: 1,721 Hospital stay pre negotiated: 12,000 Total with stay: TOTAL 1 night hospital stay: $21,721 OUT PATIENT: $17,321 Clearly this was a billing mistake Marie or you had major complications during surgery!:rolleyes2:

Hi Indigo and thank you for your thoughtful reply as well. A few months ago I was convinced I wanted to go to Mexico for surgery with Dr. Rumbaut and have the adventure as well. However, I started reading warnings from people here and it sort of made me chicken out and just spend the money on myself. From what I've read though, the care seems to be superior to here in the states. I tell ya Indigo I've been working on this for a year. I see folks that get covered and do it in a week. I think it's me though when we purchased our second home I became a Realtor and looked at houses for 3 years before I found this one and decided it was right. I guess I'm not the risk taker I always thought I was! Hope your photo shoot went well...I need to look on your site for your posting! I'm sure you nailed it! best to you,

[sIZE="4"]WOW Maria: I am sitting here with my mouth dropped open! $60,000!!! When I got through to NYU a woman there quoted me $8,000 for surgery $2,000 discount out of pocket) [/size]$1,700 for Anesthesia and $7,000 for hospital stay at NYU overnight. She did say though "now don't quote me because the regular person isn't here". When I went to the seminar with Dr. Ren she quoted said it will cost "around" $21,000. Not for anything but if we got a bill for $60,000 that could very well be grounds for divorce around here. My husband work on Wall Street and things are VERY shaky! I found money in CDs I could us for surgery but only around $20 grand not 60!! I WILL get their quote in writting. Life is unfair - A difference of 20 pounds has caused me to disqualify for insurance coverage. That is the reward I get for killing my self at the gym 3 times a week! Go figure!

Hi Michelle and eveyone: My name is Marg and I am pre banded also and at the financing stage. Dr. Fielding is top notch and I plan to have surgery with him. I wonder if he is aware of the state of his administration!! I've used to deal with a young woman named Johanna Rodriguez who was super woman and surgical coordinator. I think she got burnt out and left in May since then it's a joke. It's a shame because they have a sterling rep as docs but that can't be held up if they office is a mess. When I was trying to get something from them in June Walter at Obesity law . com called Dr. Fielding himself as he is a friend and the earth moved for one day. I'm thinking of forwarding this to him so he can make Dr. Fielding more aware. Would anyone here mind if I did that?

Hi Maria: Congratulations on getting banded! I am in the pre banded stage so I haven't been to a meeting yet but would like to although I think there is an type error on the site because it looks like they have two post banded meeting but no pre banded. It looks an erorr. Good luck tonight! Pls tell us how it went!

Hi NYUers: First background, I met with Dr. Fielding in April and he made me feel like I'd be nuts NOT to get a lap band. I felt so confident and relaxed with him and wanted to chat with him all day. He is a star! Since then I've obedientlly jumped through every hoop Cigna asked for and eventually was told in three separate letters (3 appeals) that the LB is not covered because it is considered in the "experimental" stage. Wow one long experiement huh. I used Obesitylaw.com they were great and did all they could for me. Question: My next step is paying out of pocket and or getting financing. Has anyone paid out of pocket here? Are the prices the same for a self payer? Has anyone gotten a bill and know how much exactely the total cost is an how long it takes to get financing. I'm worried with the frightening state of financial institutions right now that I'll be denied a loan but I'm counting on Allergan to have enough of their own funds to lend? I'm having trouble getting through to NYU at this time. THanks!

Whoooo! Congrats!!!!!!!!!

Hi Ms Little: I'm reading your post sitting here feeling very stuffed. Lately as I get older it doesn't take much to make me feel really stuffed and uncomfortable and it's not that I'm eating less and getting smaller it just takes so much less for to make me overweight! I will remember your words when I go to get my loan ugg.

Hey Spealex...Congratulations! on getting banded and starting off with a such great attitude! It's people like you that make me know this is a good choice. Keep up posted! Windy: I am hoping that after I'm banded I will be doing what you all are doing ? I am hoping that my family members will start to feel this way about food also. I am wondering if it rubs off on them. I have a 12 yr old daughter that eats too much and I wonder if my bad habits rubbed off on her. Or is it genetic as she has a huge appetite like her mom and is a not a petite girl. Time will tell I guess.