La_madam

Ryan there are several doctors who if you have a BMI over 50 will ask you to lose weight prior to surgery. It makes it easier to place the band when someone has a BMI over 50 losing weight reduces fat around the liver and makes it easier for band placement. Most docs will have you do a low carb or liquid diet 2-3 weeks prior to surgery. It is true..there was a man who had surgery with my doctor whop had a BMI over 50 and had to do 3 weeks of liquid protein drinks and a very low carb diet prior to surgery...so when you see your doc get clarification or plan on starting this process 2-3 weeks prior to surgery but it is true I'm sorry to tell you. ( I have heard of it more with men then women however)

I used Dr. Ortiz in TJ on April 6th 2004 and paid 8995.00 for an all inclusive package ( hotel, hospital, doc fees and room & board for hubby and transportation to and from San Diego to TJ) Dr. Ortiz's web site www.obesitycontrolcenter.com The only out of pocket expense I have now is $100 for my fills and 10$ to and from to take a taxi to his office and gas for thedrive down to Tj

Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs Lisa: 5/5/04 -- 51 lbs Becky 6/03/04 -- 53 lbs Denice: 8/12/04--20 lbs Leatha 05/29/03 - 67lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Total Loss= 287.75

Marie That sounds absolutely delicious. My kids love brocolli/Cheese and cornbread, my god they will be in their heaven with the mall mixed together. I just printed outthe recipe to take to thegrocery store to make for dinner tomorrow night! Thanks for sharing it..I will let you know how it works out for us

Have you considered having your surgery done in Mexico? I had mine done there. Many docs there offer financing through very reputible U.S. comapnies. I wanted this surgery so bad I paid for it but did finance 2000 of it. With your health problems you can try and fight it with your insurance company, it may work. There are several women here who fought and appealed their insurance comapnies and did get the surgery but it does take time. I personally did not want to wait or fight with my insurance company and I'm so glad I did it like I did ...5 months later down 50 lbs. I'd still be fighting for approval probably. Best of Luck to you...I hope it all works out for you:)

Way to go Darcy! Congrats on the weight loss

Monday 9/13 215.25 1.25 lbs . Starting my period yesterday so I'm bbloated and retaining Water ...So here's to next week! .25 of a lb from the 50 lb mark...Damm Period UGGHH!! Hope all of you have success! Have a Great Monday

Lindsay do you have any health problems related to you being over weight. Like high blood pressure , sleep apnea, arthritis, heart problems because if you did then maybe it would not be elective surgery. http://www.lap-band.com/about.html The site above may help you to answersome questions and maybe help you find a surgeon in your area and help with insurance questions. There are a few women here from Canada..I'm sure they will respond to your post and many others who have knowledge on insurance issues. I was a self pay becasue my insurance does not cover the band (yet) and I had not health problems related to me being overweight. I went to Mexico to have my surgery and paind 8995.00 for an all inclusive package. Good Luck you you..

http://www.lap-band.com/about.html Check out this site..it will tell you a little about the lap band and the fill procedure just click on Learn about Lap Band at the top of the page..as far as time off from work..well that varies..I took 2 weeks off not becasue I did not feel good but I run a restaraunt and I was not sure how I was going to be able to handle being around food so newly post op and only being on liquids. I felt great the day after surgery and actually went shopping in TJ 1 day post op. I expereinced a little gas and swelling discomfort for a week or so but that it normal post op. A fill is basically when they go in and adjust your band with saline to restrict the ammount of food you can eat. Every ones fill level is different, there is no set guide. Some will reach goal with no fills others with 1-2 fills and others may need 3-5 fills. I have had 2 fills so far and I am 5 months post op. I have lost 50 pounds and I am halfway to goal and do not plan on getting anotherfill anytime soon. this fill level is working great for me. . The band is the greatest thing I have ever done for myself. This site is so full of useful and helpful info. Everyone here is so supportive and knowledgeable. If you keep coming here, reading and posting you will sure to get all the answers you need! Good Luck to you with your decision..

My 2 cents I was very sensitive for about 2 weeks after surgery. I think it was the anasthesia and the lack of food..but I remember it very well. I took everything that was said to me the wrong way. My poor hubby during those 2 weeks...so it could be just all of that..Or as I always tell my kids "its not what you say...it's how you say it". Maybe her intentions were good but it was how she said it that offended you.

http://www.lap-band.com/ Click on Surgeon locator at the top of the page This is the Inamed site for you to locate a surgeon that could possibly do follow up care in your area. A bit of good advice..make sure you have follow up care arranged before surgery. Alot of surgoens will not take on Mexican patientsfor follow up. I have seen this happen many times Good Luck to you and your wife

Monday is good for me..just call me

I'm arriving ealry Friday morning . My flight arrives at 9:05 am..I plan to take a cab to the hotel it is very close to the airport.probably a 5-6$ cab ride If there is not enough vehicles to transport to dinner we can all share a couple of cabs...and probably have to do the same thing to get to lisa's house on Saturday.. Who is flying and who is driving?

AMEN Leatha!! Thats exactly what an NSV is all about. Good for you on signing up for C&W dance

Delarla that sounds great to me..Friday at 5:00 on the 8th and the food & price are fine with me also

Congrats Andrea... Glad to hear everything went well and you are home safe..

Sounds great to me Penni..but preferrably not during hurricane season LOL..I will start saving now!

WOW!! Incerdible! You look awesome...

I'm 5'7 and weigh 216 I am currently wearing Xlarge tops and pants I am wearing 16-18

Yes Lisa..do anything and everything you can to keep your mind off of the food..stay far away from the kitchen...CALL ME when you have the urge..talking on the phone will get your mind off of it....This is a bad demon we fight every day..we all know this but you have done so well to sabbatoge yourself now. Dont give in to the food demon! CALL ME I will talk you out of it

Lisa once you get your port back and get good restriction it will be very different trust me..

I always thought PBing was caused from too much restriction. If you take too big of a bite and do not chew it properley and dont eat it slow, it is almost like feeling like you are backing up..I have only PBed twice once with my first fill and once with this current fill. Lisa you may not have proper restriction..becasue with this fill I have there is no way I can eat past the golf ball feeling..if I put a pringle in my mouth to push the chicken through I would be sure to PB..NO DOUBT! PBINg I did not think had anything to do with stretching your pouch..the only times I have PBed was when I took too big of a bite and did not chew it properely or ate too fast, it had nothing to do with the total ammount of food I consumed. My first PB was 1 single bite of a triscuit..my 2nd PB was on sushi ( rice) and it was only like my 3rd bite ..this is jut my thoughts on PBing I could be so wrong!

Vera where are you fyling in from? My flight arrives at 9:05 am from Orange County...We will be arriving at the same time basically...

Damn do we all have PMS right now? Looking ahead to the calendar looks like I will be on my damn period for Vegas YUCK

The tiniest bit if fill removed (like .2cc's or even .1cc's) can make the biggest difference and still give you restriction