luv2bingo07

I have decided to go with Dr. Ortiz. I do not have a passport yet, and I also have to get financed with a co-signer. Should I get my passport ready or on the way before making final plans and scheduling LBS? Thank you for any and all replies in advance. :lost1.5lbs: Peace, Judy

Hi all, I just got off the phone with Dr. Romero, who is a doctor/surgeon with Dr. Huacuz and must be desperate for patients because he was offering me a great deal if I decided to have surgery with them. Well, that got blown out of the Water when he asked my weight. I said around 390. He said I should definitely not have the LBS because my BMI was too high and I was high risk for within a couple years would have erosion and have to have it removed and between that time be in need of frequent fills. :omg: PLEASE tell me this is bunk! PLEEEEEAASSSEEE! I was planning to go to Dr. Ortiz, but now I don't know what to do! :cry :huggie: I think I saw someone on here that had surgery with Dr. Ortiz and they weighed over 400 lbs. He suggested a Duodenal Switch...ewww! Judy

I have not been banded yet, but reading up alot about docs, problems, food, etc. I was reading some of the Protein posts here and was thinking, hmmm...I love chicken, but I read that that is difficult to pass. What if I kinda blenderize it with or puree it(yes, I am willing to eat it that way if necessary), to get the protein needed? When I started diets in the past...most recent a few years ago was Atkins, I had the book and was super strict with it and myself to a T along with what the book said. Well, I had to quit because it made me eat foods I usually or rarely ever eat, plus made me really constipated...:huggie: I love Starbucks, milk!, and chicken and cheese and rice(ok gotta leave that alone mostly). Peace all, Judy

I am also worried about problems with constipation. I have had problems with it for years and every once in a while, I will take Enulose-a prescribed syrup that put moisture into your colon and help you pass unwanted backups. Will I still be able to take that after surgery? Thanks, Judy

I thought burping is a good thing because it relieves pressure in your tummy? Not banded yet, but been reading alot. At least now I know what PBing is...LOL

I was just wondering if anyone has been banded in Mexico with Dr. Huacuz? I received several emails from his office explaining package prices with/without airfare and it sounds to me to be a great deal. I was originally going to go with Dr. Ortiz, but they both sound wonderful with care and all. :tired Thanks, Judy

Hey all, I was getting so excited about having my surgery done by Dr. Ortiz(nothing final yet), but now I got several emails from Dr. Haucuz and they charge only $7550 and it includes airfare, hotel, surgery, transportation to and from the San Diego airport, etc... The only part that made me a tad nervous, was that they said the day after surgery, Dr. Haucuz comes to pick you up and take you to a clinic in oldtown Tijuana to get a flouroscopy done. :nervous Has anyone had the whole experience with Dr. Huacuz. sounds like a great deal but rather different that some others. Peace, Judy

It is interesting about how these celebs really lost their major poundage, but I know that Star had GBP for sure. Roseanne even had it done, but didn't have much luck with it. Wynnona should consider something for sure. I don't believe Oprah had anything but diet and exercise, cuz every time you see her, sometimes she looks so slim, and other times she looks like she gained 5 or 10 pounds...lol I wonder about Delta Burke too from Designing Women...she slimmed down alot.

Hi all, I went to the Ready4Achange website and was saddened by finding out that Dr. Sanchez passed away. Now, I guess Dr. Zapata is taking over. Peace, Judy

Firstly is completely deciding which doctor/surgeon in Mexico...More leaning towards Dr. Ortiz. The other is I take several meds and use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. And finally, worried about constipation which unfortunately is a frequent problem, no thanks to my meds. So far Lori from Dr. Ortiz office sounded really super nice and also Shelby from Dr. Rodriguez's office. Jessie from Dr. Rumbaut's office called and was pushy and wanted me to set a date right then and there...grrr! That scared me...lol Peace, Judy

I think the view needs to go away all together...Star was a diva with a real nasty side to herself, and Rosie shoots off from her mouth every day. People need to look at themselves and not to others because of how bad they feel inside. There is my two cents...LOL

Hi again, I was wondering what happens if you take medications for GERD, diabetes, etc. when you are supposed to have surgery or after? I take several meds every day. Can you still take them after surgery, or have to wait some time to take them? I hope you don't have to dissolve them to be able to take them...ummm...yuck! LOL Peace, Judy

I have found a couple websites for Mexico banding and there are two doctors that seem to be very qualified and sound really familiar from all the posts I have read in the past. I was just wondering if someone could tell me their experiences with either of them. The reason why I ask is I want to submit my info to them for more information about their services. Thanks all. Peace, Judy

Hello all, I found a website that includes hotel, airfare, hospital, etc etc...in Monterey Mexico and the cost is $7900. My question is, I noticed that they have financing if you can't pay the total up front...So has anyone done this? Gotten financed I mean. Thanks, Judy

I mentioned to my friend about wanting to make a goal for the new year and become a bandster. She told me that a girl from her work was all out determined to get banded and had the money to go to Mexico to get it done. Well, she was told that she had a heart murmur and they didn't want to do the surgery. She insisted on having it done cuz she said that she never had heart problems before. Well, they started to go ahead with it, and she was prepped and about to fall asleep, when the head doctor rushed in and said, no way! we are not going to do this surgery until she is fully evaluated from her doctor. They told the woman that they would cover her airfare if and when she was given the ok to have the surgery. I am still waiting to here how things went with her because my friend told me she was heading back about a week ago to have the surgery. My friend is quite concerned about her because she did not go through the complete process before having the surgery. So, does this mean that if you self pay to have the surgery in Mexico, you don't have to go through all the steps before getting banded? That is what it sounded like to me. No pre-qualifying tests etc...? That can be dangerous I would think. Peace, Judy

I have been researching this site and reading alot about insurance and exclusions(which my company has), pertaining to WLS. One of the posts I read was that someone had gotten their own insurance through Mutual of Omaha and got approved. That sounds so promising, but is it the thing I should consider to avoid appealing and other hoops to jump through. I started taking growth hormone shots over a month ago and at first my insurance said no way. It was only covered for children. Well, my endo said it was very weird that the insurance called her and said no, then a few minutes later called again and said yes...what is up with that? lol I was thinking or hoping they would do the same thing for the Lap Band surgery, but then since it is an exclusion, probably not. Thanks for any and all replies. I made the mistake and told my mom about thinking of trying again for this surgery, and she didn't like the idea and tried to talk me out of it, saying that I am just not active enough, but I am usually fairly active when off from work running errands...so not much support there. :think I am not saying another word to anybody until I get the final go ahead! darnit! LOL Judy

Hey all, I have been reading alot of posts since I am once again seriously considering trying to get banded. One post I read was about smoking. Some say they quit for two month or even two weeks before their surgery and that confused me because being a smoker, I was told by the idiot psychiatrist that the surgeon would require me to have not smoked for a year to be considered for banding. That sounded really way out there to me. I will quit if it means I can be banded, but not to wait a whole year! That's absurd. hugs, Judy

Hi all, It has been a couple years since I posted about becoming and starting the process to be banded. Never happened because of several reasons, which the worst of it is my insurance had a definite exclusion for any kind of weight loss surgery or help for that matter. :angry Another problem was that I was in the process at the point of having to see the psychiatrist and pardon my french or whatever, but she was a biotch. Did not like her at all. Anyways, I also found out that my pituitary tumor came back, so had to deal with another surgery for that. Well, here I am again and am considering it again, but the same situation is bothering me. The insurance exclusion, etc. My credit is so horrific, that there is no way in heckimagosh that I would get a loan. I guess I could use some kind of encouragement here. My doctors are always talking about that it would benefit me big time to get this surgery, but the insurance if tough. Hugs to all, Judy

Greetings all, If you read my last post title "Flipped out Angry :(", then maybe you can help me with the problems I may be facing trying to get approved for the Band surgery. I have read about people filing appeals and most eventually getting approved for the surgery, but I just don't know where to go from here. It's like what I found out about my insurance is written in steel and I really feel blocked and lost. Please help me get started on what I should do next. :cry Thanks so much! Judy

Thank you so much Alexandra and Penni for your replies. I live in Oregon and the company I work for has Regence Life and Health BC/BS insurance. This is what the Exclusion says in my benefits booklet: Treatment For Obesity Or Weight Control Surgery or treatment (including any later complications), even if you or your enrolled dependent has other medical conditions related to or caused by obesity. Specifically excluded are: gastric stapling or bypass procedures, weight loss programs, counseling, hypnosis, biofeedback, neurolinguistic programming, guided imagery, and other forms of relaxation training as well as subliminal suggestion used to modify eating behavior. That's all it says. Nothing about gastric banding specifically, but it pretty much seems to cover any and all obesity surgeries. My health is getting really bad and I know truly for a fact that it can get better with help. I am a smoker and it is either help with weight loss and then quit smoking or nothing. I quit smoking for about 4 months once, gained almost 30 pounds and started smoking again because of stress. Yes, please pray for me and I believe something will happen with this for the better! :-) Hugs to you both, Judy

Hello all, I hope this is not good bye to this wonderful site, but I called my insurance today and found out that any surgery or treatment for obesity is a strict exclusion!. I didn't know whether or not to punch a whole in the wall or my company presidents face! I cannot believe that we were all told several months ago that our insurance policy had been changed or revised and that there are soooooo many freakin exclusions in it that SHOULD NOT be there! I do not know what to do now. :cry I was so excited to become a bandster with everyone, but it looks like it may not happen and I can go find a nice high bridge. Just overdramatizing. Don't worry, I know that won't solve anything. I am just beside myself with anger and being so upset I could punch someone. Really, I am in no way a violent person, but this was a horrible end to a lousy day anyway. My credit absolutely sucks and so a loan is seriously out of the question. I have no rich relatives either. LOL So, needless to say, any help, advice, encouragement, etc. would be sooo appreciated. So sorry for venting like this. Judy

Hello all and thanks to everyone who replied to my introduction post. I have been mulling through all kinds of questions that will probably be answered on my journey to being banded, but thought I would go ahead and ask a few now. First is: From all the research I have done, I have read that one of the liquids you should not drink is milkshakes. One, because they have too much sugar, and two, they are heavier to go down to and through the stomach. Is this true? Maybe you water them down or something? Second is: I have read also that you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day or more to not get dehydrated. Well, water is filling so how is that possible? lol Third: Probably the biggest question on my mind is can you drink milk? Nonfat of course. I Looooovvvvveee milk, and I reaaaallyyy do not want to give it up completely. Fourth: When it comes to mushy foods, I was thinking of a mushy type of food that my mom would feed us when we were little and that was mashed bananas and cottage cheese. lol Would that be too much or ok? Finally? Through my research I read that after having a Lap Band placed, then the vitamin needs can be met my just simple taking a disolved or crushed Flintstone vitamin once a day and you are good to go. Ok, I think I covered everything. Thanks to everyone who reads and replies to this message in advance. Judy p.s. Just in case anyone is curious, I am 6'1, and weigh 396 lbs.

Hello everyone, I am a total newbie to this board and am so glad I found it. I have not only researched the Lap Band surgery, but everything else that goes with it. One of the requirements is that I was required to attend an Informational Seminar about both weight loss surgeries. We were given an application at the end of the seminar and I filled it out and sent it so the insurance approval and so on can be done. I only went through with this whole step by step deal because I knew that the Band would be the answer to my miserable heavy and uncomfortable life. Also, my PCP said I have great insurance and she said they would cover the surgery. I know I will have many questions along the way, and I know you all here will help answer them since most of you are pros on this subject. :laugh Ok first question. Does anyone know if Lymphedema can be lessened or cured with weight loss from such a surgery? The swelling from that condition(I refuse to say disease), is so much weighing me down and making me miserable. Well, that is it for now, so thanks to all that read my post and reply. Sincerely, Judy