pronetus

I just wanted to give a heads up to the folks in Northern Virginia /So Md that Dr Robert Pinnar split from his son Eric. They used to have a practice together. Eric (son), sold his half of the practice to a big corporation and has moved to an office next door. Robert, stayed on his own and kept his long time PA Paul Marino (fill guy). Paul rocks! Both are good doc's. I am a patient of Dr. Robert who is in his 60's. OUTSTANDING SERVICE, great people and after care. I highly recommend him. The procedure at Reston hospital was fantastic. I stayed overnight and my 2 nurses were top notch and very caring. Before Dr. Robert Pinnar did not take insurance and all was submited after the fact. I found out today that he now is in-network for BCBS, so cha-ching I just saved approx. 5K! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM AND HIS STAFF! Excellent all around care to include nutritionist and physical therapist. I can't say enough good things. Link below. Pinnar Surgical Associates, Ltd.

"I feel I will grieve the loss of my overeating and I will either A) Eat bad stuff and sabotage myself or Become a severely depressed skinny person." Better to grieve the loss of food then have your loved one's grieve your loss! With the band, you know that your food habits are "terminally ill", so you can prepare for the grieving now. Accept the loss and open yourself to the new experience of living. The band is not a golden bullet. It doesn't do all the work. But it helps level the playing field of losing weight. You mind is the strongest weapon, and you have the capacity to contol it. Depression is much easier to manage with exercise, helaty living and meds if necesary. And if all that doesn't work, you will at least be a damn good looking severely depressed skinny person! Food is a Siren: She will love us unconditionally, comfort us, make us feel better, never judges us, and is there 24/7. All she asks in return is our health, vitality, self-esteem, submissiveness, will, and money. Sounds more like a Pimp to me! Don't be food's Ho!

Today is day 5. Off Pain meds as of yesterday. Still a little bloated feeling. Soar diaphram. It still hurts a little to take a deep breath. I have had no gas pains so far. It hurts to burp. I was able to walk 3 miles today, 1.5 in the morning 1.5 in aft. I am glad I decided to take 2 weeks sick leave off. Hang in there guys!

Anyone else gain weight for the first 2-3 days postop? I am thinking it is water retention. Is this common? Was 282 day of surgery Tues today Thurs I am 286. I know i shouldn't be stepping on the scale, but it is impossible not to be curioous.

Everything went well. Pain averaged between 5-8. I am walking around today, feel remakably well. pain 3-5 today. Only thing that sucked was the foley catheter last nite! OWWWWWWW. If I ever meet Foley I'm kicking his ass! Feel like I have ghoneria! Flashbacks of Thailand! Up and walking, slowly sipping liquids. Got my 64 0z down today. No nauseas, no shoulder pain yet! Life is on track. I am excited. Hang in there guys. Don't let the pain start hurting to take meds. Stay in front of it. if you start feeling pain in the hospital take meds right away otherwise you will be trying to catch up. More later..... Good Luck on the journey everyone. Highest: 296 Preop: 292 Surgery: 282

Everything went well. Pain averaged between 5-8. I am walking around today, feel remakably well. pain 4-6. Only thing that sucked was the foley catheter last nite! OWWWWWWW. Feel like I have ghoneria! Up and walking, slowly sipping liquids. Got my 64 0z down today. No nauseas, no shoulder pain yet! Life is on track. I am excited. Hang in there guys. Don't let the pain hurt to take meds. Stay in front of it. if you start feeling pain in the hospital take meds right away otherwise you will be trying to catch up. More later..... Good Luck on the journey everyone.

Welcome Bud, I too am like you Highest 295 5'8". I postponed surgery until Aug 8th in order to get the new AP band. Nutritionist and Psychologist think I can make the 155 mark. Personally If I get under 200, I'll be stoked. Exercising will be much easier under 225. I have heard that motivated men can lose a good 80-90 lbs the first 6 months with moderate exercise and following the rules. I am like you, my body reacts well to a modified Atkins. I just need that band there to help keep me from the occasional rebound in order to get the motivation back on track. I am ready to get this journey going, because my current weight is controlling me. It sucks. Time to start living. I was always into atheletics, but have weighed more then 220 since I was 18, so anything in the <199 range is gravy in my book. Let's keep in touch. Get 'er done!

Get an attorney, he'll settle before it goes to lawsuit, use the funds to cover all medical expenses to date, plus whatever you anticipate for the next year. Even if he wants to fight it, it is likely that his insurance company would prefer to settle!. 50-150k is chump change int he malpractice world. Just a thought

Postponed my June 15 date for early Aug. Just goat a call from my doc, who said that the new ones definitley are improved. Can't wait for AUg to get here.

Ok broithers, here is a question. Has anyone had very good success and think about negotiating the price of you fills with your Doc in exchange for Speaking engagements at the Doc's informational seminars? I am thinking that if I document everything well, with pics etc. I am a sexy guy, why not go to my doc after and say, Hey, I'll come speak once a month and help get you new clients if you hook a brother up with some free or cheap fills. Why the heck not. My Doc doesn't accept insurance and I did hear the admin staff about his partner and how he was always pressing form them to get better educated to sell the services better. I can be pretty damn charming at times and a heartfelt TRUE success stroy could hook them up with some clients. I figure 1-2 new clients a year should equate into free fills for a year! Just a thought. Win Win situation! I think. It's not a paid endorsement, just discounted or free service. Does that make me a bad person. FYI his session was OK but not great. I do corporate presentations and sales for a living. I would knock em dead with a 30 min slide show and story! Just a thought. Anyone try it?

Just got a call from My Doc, I postponed surgery to wait for the band. He went to the big Bariatric convention and attended a couple of seminars on the new band. In his phone message he stated that the new band really looked good, and that it did look like it had some definite benefits over the original. He did not elaborate. I will hopefully find out tomorrow. I may be getting the AP band next month! He did say that the AP band feels softer and smoother to the touch. The 360 degree ring definitely has to be an improvement over the old one and possibly (speculation) help with the reduction of long term erosion. Heck if they are the latest and greatest why not ask for them 360 deg is better then 270 any day of the week. I also liked the idea of easier release in the case of repositioning or removal. I am in my late 30's so the chances of having this thing removed in the next 15-20 years has got to be 50/50, so why not get one that is easier to take out. More to come........

I just had my pre-op consult and postponed my June 15 date to wait for the new AP band. My Doc, says that the overall feel of the device is softer, more Fluid design. He said if he were gettig a band he'd wait an extra month or so to have the latest and improved version. Basically he told me that the AP band is easier to losen and reposition in case of Slippage. It's a little easier to remove as well. He likes the idea of the 360 degree silicone band vice 280, more uniform restriction and it eliminates another possible cause for erosion since nothing hard is touching the stomach. Since i am in my late 30's and may have this thing in a while, i figured that the AP option may be woth waiting for. I am still on my pre-op diet and losing just in case they get these in the hospital sooner rather then later. I've been fat for 20+ years 2 more months won't make a difference.

Hey Guys, Here is a real specific question. Once you get the band and drop the weight get in shape, etc can you damage your stomach with strong exertion like carrying a casualty IE dragging someone from a burning building, buddy carry etc? Anyone have any experience wearring concealable armor and doing a lot of running and jumping chasing bad guys etc? Just curious. Could impact my job down the road. We do a lot of training on occasion and i am worried that repeated body carry/drag drills woudl tear something. Little help?

Hi Folks, I am in Northern VA and have BCBS FEP plan 105. I just received a statement from BCBS Anthem from some initial labwork with my primary care Dr. The Bill was $340 for EKG and lipid blood profile. the reason for non-coverage was that BCBS does not cover treatment for Obesity. Huh? I have a Barium swallow set up for net week. I am afraid I'd have to eat that cost. Can anyone provide any help or guidance on this? Thanks

Dr's Pinnar in Reston, VA have very good reputations and good post care. Their Insurance specialist Jill and her husband are bandsters. They dont take INS, but you can file afterwards, BCBS FEB will have a 5-7k out of pocket expense. Actually not too bad given the fact that max OOP for in network is total 4k per year. Just a thought. Good luck

Well I went to the seminar last Thurs, Found out there was a cancellation and I got a surgical consult for this Mon. I understand that there is a battery of tests that I need to do prior. I am shooting for a surgery date circa mid-late June. After seeing the brother above drop 30lbs on the 4 week Optifast, I am thinking about trying to tough that out and do 4 weeks as well. Dayum! We'll see how the Mon Apt turns out. The Docs and staff seem really great. They said they shoot for an average weight loss of 1-3 lbs a week, closer to 3 if you are a guy and dedicate to exercise and watch your carbs. I am actually getting stoked. Insurance said it would be approved, but the Doc is out of network, so my out of pocket will be 4-6k. Heck in network would be 2-3, and these guys are around the conner from my house and have excellent follow on support. Their insurance specialist had the procedure done and has lost 100+ lbs. I plan to document everything, weekly photos, measurments food intake, exercise, etc. I know reading the boards I like to try to get as much info, and estimate how much I lose if i do what Bob did etc, so hopefully I can help someone out in the future. My goal is 189 with an eventual goal of 158 (currently 292). When is was a Jr in highschool I missed the regional wrestling tournament because I was 1/8th of a lb over 189. I had another hour to lose the weight before the final weigh-in I was running in sweats and actually ran out of steam. I was so tired. I actually felt myself QUIT and I have been fighting that demon for the past 20 years. I know i didn't make it because I was starving myself and dieting incorrectly, but I am not the type of person who quits anything! I went on to make 1st team all-state football my Sr year, played D-3 ball, graduate school, sucessfull business career, family the whole 9 yards. Complete over achiever, but I have never been able to beat that deamon of quitting on myself. It was the worst feeling of my life and I have felt inadequate and like a piece of shite ever since. When I finally decided to do this, I felt like a quitter as well, until I realized that if I didn't do this, I was quitting on myself and more important my family. I won't let that happen again. Screw the ego. I am going to beat this demon and get to the goal. I am just excited that something like the band is out there to help me get it done. Heck if MLB players could uses titanium bats to improve performance don't you think they would? I don't see Tiger Woods using persimin woods! I view the band like a new set of graphite shafts, every little yard helps! to be continued........................

Outfreakingstanding! 75 lbs, Quick question for you. How much exercise have you been doing? Cardio and/or weights? I am trying to guage what my routine should be. Congrats

Hi Gents, I am currently exploring the Band option and am very interested in how Men do on the program over the first 12 months. I just hit my all time high of 292/ BMI 44 and realized thet at 38 I needed to do something for myself and family. I have always been involved in athletics, football wrestling etc, but feel that my weight has gotten aways form me, and I need some help to get me back into the range in order to get healthy and work out more. Could one of you very helpfull and Knowledgeable kind sirs throw up a poll to track Male progress over the first year? I would be forever greatful. If i do indeed go down this route, I hope to document every step of the way, (pics too). This website is a fantastic resource and has been a great help in providing information. I am hoping to make it to about 175-185lbs in a year. I anticipate aerobic exercise 5 days a week for 45-60 min (i have a good excercise bike at home (currently doubles as a coat rack) and then eventually get into weight traning (machine) 3 time a week. please let me know if this tracks with what you all do. Thanks again!