Food_vs_Life

Jacksonville North Florida Surgeons (904) 399-5678 twilliamsom@nflsurgeons.com The above surgery group was listed in the original post but I thought I would add the pricing information. When I called they said they will do the fills and revisions etc that are needed even if you got the Lap Band somewhere out of the country. The program fee is $350.00 and just $49.00 for each fill!

I just got a hold of a surgery group here in Jacksonville that will do the fills (even for those who had the surgery OOC). They have a program fee of 350.00 and it is just 49.00 for each fill! I am excited because I was thinking it would be more like $150.00 each fill. Either way I have a FSA set up that I plan on using for my aftercare. It has $900.00 in it.

Thanks for the response. That is exactly what I wanted to hear and what I had gathered from other post. It is exciting to know that I will probably have a surgery date come Monday : )

Thanks for making sure I was aware of that. I did not mention it but yes, I am calling around. I have already seen some post on here that list a doctor in my area that will do the fills but I am checking on everything today and tomorrow.

Hi All, I just got financing earlier this week to have Lap Band surgery and unfortunately it is not enough to cover having it done in my hometown Jacksonville, FL. However, I have read a lot about True Results and I am scheduled to have my first appointment (consultation) over the phone on Monday. I am pretty sure I will be headed to Houston, TX for the surgery since they already verified that they will not need to up the price due to my BMI. The doctor I was going to use here in Jacksonville said that instead of the $10,000 it would be 17,000 since they would not do my surgery in a surgery center vs hospital due to my BMI. I don't mind going to TX but obviously it would have been easier to do here and I would have 1 year follow up included in my price. Now I will also have to pay for the fills out of pocket. I am still just too excited to dwell on it and I believe that it is all happening this way for a reason. I am hopeful that when the scope is done it shows a hiatal hernia (sounds bad I know) since it would make a huge different in the self pay price. OKay... okay... so that is my background and here is my question. When do you generally set a surgery date with True Results. Most of what I have read seams to point towards the surgery date being set up the same day as your first visit/consultation. Was this true for any other self payers with True Results???

I am very excited. They just verified that my insurance will not cover the surgery (already knew this) looks like they will cover the hernia if I have one. I have my consultation over the phone Monday (since I live in Florida) and we will be able to go from there. I am praying that when I get the scope done it shows a hernia so that I can have the surgery done for the $5,500. It will be sooo much easier to afford and well worth the drive.

Thank you for all of the encouragement and tips! This morning was horrible and so I switched between my ice pack and a bag of frozen peas up until about an hour ago. With the ice cold compresses on my head it is not half bad. I am just thankful I do not work so I am at home and can do this to make myself comfortable. As of right now I am headache free which I did not expect. I definitely have NO plans of turning back now. The odd thing is that though I would love to drink some Diet Coke right now I am not truly desiring it like I normally would. I do think I will try some flavorings for my Water. Thanks again!!!

I am not banded yet but I think things will be moving along pretty quick now since I just got financing (self pay) for it through my credit union. Anyways, I am trying to change some things before hand and one is to stop drinking Diet Coke. I have drank Diet Coke since I was a child and it is literally the only things I drink. I never drink Water. My addiction is so bad that when my stomach is unsettled or I am throwing up, the only thing that can settle my stomach is a few sips of Diet Coke. If I were to drink water at that moment I would start throwing up again. I have half way attempted to stop drinking it before but did not last past the first day of headaches. Anyways, I am on day 3 right now and I just woke up from my sleep due to a horrible headache. It can only be described as a migraine. I have taken some meds and have an ice pack on my head. The ice pack helps quite a bit because you focus your mind on the ice cold ice pack touching your skin... somewhat anyways. NO ONE can tell me that Diet Coke is not addicting. I do not have kids of my own but I have two Nieces and Nephew that I take care of and live with me and I never let them have soda. I can tell you that my other niece who is 3 drinks it all the time and cries if she does not get it. I can't wait to be rid of this horrible habit. I also can't wait to save $$$$$ doing so : ) It is part of the financial justification for having the Lap Band done. I figure that I spend at least $60.00 a month on Diet Coke!!!! Well now that $60.00 will be going towards my $388.00 a month payment for Lap Band. Okay.. back to the original thought. What tips do you have?

I am not banded yet but probably in the next month or two for sure. I am self pay and already have approval from my bank but trying to find the right doctor. I would love to add you and we can learn together. I created a Facebook page for my lap band journey .... Kimberly FoodvsLife is my name on Facebook.

He said that he gives all of his patients his personal cell phone # and asks that they call anytime they feel the need to ask a question directly to him or have problems with his office. He said that if we ever feel the need to go to the ER do to an issue with the Lap Band to call him first no matter the hour etc. He said that he feels confident in doing that because his phone does not ring off the hook since he takes care of his patients and has few complications etc. I am not even a patient yet and I have his cell # ... Maybe it would not mean much to some but for me that is a huge calming factor to me that I can talk directly to the doctor if I am fearful there is something wrong with me.

Hi Ladies! I am in the process of trying to use Dr. Baptista! I went to the seminar and he really did seem knowledgeable honest, and kind. I am self pay and just got approval for financing yesterday through my credit union and unfortunately it was not quite enough for Dr. Baptista's fee but his office is trying to work something out and I should hear from them today. I am praying they can make it work for me!

Thanks for the info Steph.... If I can't get the doc here to do it for the $10,000 then I will definitely contact the doctors in Tampa. I have 30 days to find and pay a doctor before I have to reapply for my loan.

@Readyforthin... Where are you having your surgery done at? It does suck to have to pay but I am just so happy to have the financing to do it.

Instyle98... I am aware of all the follow ups that will be needed and that is a concern. That is also why I am trying to get the surgery done by a local surgeon. However, I am still in the planning stages and I am calling around to see who will do my fills etc. I am pretty confident I will find someone. I have $1,000 set up for fills in my FSA which I believe will more then cover any fills I need for the year. I am still working it all out though and I will definitely make an educated decision. I will have to go through your cost later tonight. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Thanks for the advise! I will check with the doctor/hospital to see if they can do that. I don't mind paying for it ... just that I can't come up with the extra money without a loan.

I am BEYOND excited to find out today that I was approved by my credit union for a loan in the amount of $11,725! The surgeon that I wanted in Jacksonville, FL charges $14,000 so I knew that meant I would need to find another surgeon. Anyways, http://weightlossjax.com/ offers the surgery for $10,000 but when I called to ask about it she said that with my BMI I would have to have the surgery in the hospital which would drive the cost up to $15,000. I am just really bummed. I asked if it is cut and dry and no exceptions on the BMI. I asked this because though my BMI is high other then that I have no other health problems at all. My sugar is on the low end, normal BP, all of my blood work is always right in the margins of where it should be. I have even had an EKG before and everything was fine with that. She said she was going to have someone else in the office call me to see what could be done if anything. Praying that they can do it in the surgery center. The only other hope that I have is True Results in TX. I have contacted them and I am hoping that they can perform the surgery for the lower cost even with my high BMI. I am 5'3 and weigh 360lbs which would put me right near 60 for a BMI I believe. Anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?

I am BEYOND excited to find out today that I was approved by my credit union for a loan in the amount of $11,725! The surgeon that I wanted in Jacksonville, FL charges $14,000 so I knew that meant I would need to find another surgeon. Anyways, http://weightlossjax.com/ offers the surgery for $10,000 but when I called to ask about it she said that with my BMI I would have to have the surgery in the hospital which would drive the cost up to $15,000. I am just really bummed. I asked if it is cut and dry and no exceptions on the BMI. I asked this because though my BMI is high other then that I have no other health problems at all. My sugar is on the low end, normal BP, all of my blood work is always right in the margins of where it should be. I have even had an EKG before and everything was fine with that. She said she was going to have someone else in the office call me to see what could be done if anything. Praying that they can do it in the surgery center. The only other hope that I have is True Results in TX. I have contacted them and I am hoping that they can perform the surgery for the lower cost even with my high BMI. I am 5'3 and weigh 360lbs which would put me right near 60 for a BMI I believe. Anyone else run into this problem? Any suggestions?

I am so glad that I found this post! I am also going to be self pay and I would not have a problem traveling to TX for that price!. I already suspect that I have a hernia so I am going to call on Monday to see if they would accept me doings the test here in Florida where I live and then scheduling surgery with them. HOPE SO... keeping my fingers crossed.