lonestar

This happened to me too. I had surgery in Austin TX. They wanted $3500 up front. I told them I will pay the day after surgery. The day I was dismissed I could have walked out without paying, because nobody asked. I however went to their cashier and paid $2500. They accepted it and I went home. Months later when the final bill came (36.000), my insurance company only paid the hospital the contracted rate, which was so much lower and that made my part lower too. I even got $1090 back!!!. So try to give them something, but not the full amount, because your insurance will never pay what the hospital bill you. They have negotiated rates. By the way it took me months before I got the refund. Good luck.

Hello, Hope you are doing well. Kind of hard to stay away from all the goodies during this season, but at the end it is worthed. I am off 2410 and had my surgery 27 July 07. I am losing very slow, but I am OK with it. Perhaps we can meet. I know there is a support group here somewhere, for all WL surgery patients. Take care.

Welcom aboard Jennifer. I am from Harker Heights/Belton area in Texas, about 1 hour north of Austin. Had my surgery done in Austin with Dr S Ganta. He is just wonderful. Anybody else from the Killeen, Copperas Cove, Temple, Belton area? Lets get together.

I dont know if he takes BCBS, but try Dr Ganta in Austin. He is wonderful and fantastic. Phone is 512-257-2425. You wont be sorry. Let me know. Lonestar.

Laura did you got my email and message about Dr. Ganta?

Hi Laura. Here I am. Was banded by Dr Ganta on 23 jul 07 in Seton Hospital. I can honestly say, that I had the best care. Dr Ganta is a soft spoken, friendly, serious and informative person. His office assistant "Joy" runs the office like clock work and is also very friendly. At Seton Hospital I got all my pre ops with the help of Linda Martin, who is the coordinator and she so far has called me three times at home to see how I was doing. I really feel very comfortable with Dr Ganta. The 2 fills were painless, but I do not have a restriction yet. I also did not have to do the liquid diet pre op, but just a diet with less food. I could have gone to Scott and White hospital, which much closer to me, but after I went to Dr Ganta's seminar, I felt connected. Just sit a little up front, because his speaks kind of soft. If you want to know more about him, you can email me at melati2000@yahoo.com. Hope this information will help you a little. Take care. Yvette.

Wow Walter what a way to go. 72 years young. Welcome to our bandwagon. I do admire you. Let us know how yu are doing. I bet we can learn a lot from you. Keep on trucking. Yvette.

I was banded in Austin Seton Hospital by Dr. Ganta on the 23th Jul 07. He is a wonderful doctor.

I am 63 and had my band since 23 Jul. I have a VG band and trying to stick to my diet. (it's hard) First fill is 7 Sep. I hope I will have some restriction. I have lost very little, but that's OK.

I heard that Scott and White in Temple will do it. They told me that it cost $96.00. That's what I heard. Good luck.

I was banded 23 jul in Austin. I was 62 and just had my 63th birthday yesterday. My surgeon was not supprise about my age when I asked him if I was too old to have wls. He had done several my age. The surgery was'nt too bad. A little sore, but most of that was gone after 8 days. It is a little tough now, because my band has not been filled yet (healing stage)and so they say, you are in bandster hell. Although many bandster have lost a lot right after surgery, so it all depends. Best thing for us oldies is to start walking as soon as you can after the wls. After 7th Sep (my first fill) I will be going to Curves. They say we oldies will loose a little slower, but we will get there and hopefully no more joint pain, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and swollen ankles etc.etc. We need to do what is best for US and I think you have the right attitude so you go girl!!! Welcome and good luck. Yvette.

Wow that's wonderful. So there is hope for me after all. Thank you so much for your update. Lonestar.

Thanks for your info. You are doing great and very wise to save that first fill when you really need it.

Just wondering. How many bandsters are losing a lot of weight without having a fill at all. I know there are some and I think that is wonderful.Do you feel restricted already, what size band do you have. I would also like to know about VG bandsters who lost without fills. I have a VG band and no fills yet, but need a lot of will power to stick to the diet and losing weight is very slow. Thanks.

Hello, I looked into the german internet and in Frankfurt seems to be the best surgeon.Here is the address: Krankenhaus Sachsenhausen Center for Bariatric Surgery Surgical Department, Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery Head: Prof. Dr. R. Weiner Schulstraße 31 60594 Frankfurt Germany Phone: #49-69-6605-1199 or 1133 Fax: #49-69-6605-1510 or 1530 e-mail: rweiner@khs-ffm.de Good luck.