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Hello all.... I'm back and lost 12 lbs this last month...... A total of 47 lbs to date!!! I'm so blown away!!! I was Talking to Dr. Hoffman and he told me he's been telling everyone 8:00 for Sat. March 22nd at the park!!! We better confirm this with everyone... I'd hate to leave someone out of the loop!! Yes, Malissa is so very nice....... I did get my application by fax and then faxed to her when it was completed. This also might be an option for you.

Hey your always welcome to any information I may have....... I have Independent Health and they had a few things to complete before I could start the real ball rolling. What I did was start getting them knocked off before my first appointment with Dr. Hoffman. I did have a hugh BMI of 64 and found I had sleep apnea during my check ups..... Once everythnig was together I was approved with-in three days of sending in the paper work which was awesome!! I ended up taking about 2 1/2 months to finish all requirments. It was waiting for appointments that made it longer. So book what you can now for the right doctors to get in the requirments for your insurance!! Check with empire first by phone or on-line to see what is required and speak to Lisa at Hoffman's office to see which doctor's he recommends etc....... Plus Lisa should know what most insurances require by other patients before you. If you need anything let me know I'll do what I can..... Also ask Lisa for the starting paperwork to fill out to get the process going with Buffalo General, You won't make this months seminar but you should for next month in April. Before you know it you'll be banded by summer time fun!! I see Dr. Hoffman today, I'm excited to see what I've lost since Feb. 5th. I still feel I don't need a fill after 11 weeks..... I went and picked up new clothes last night and I'm down from a lose 5X shirt to a fitting 2X I was so blown away.... But I did go down two cups sizes and four inches in a Bra..... Dang why do we woman always lose our TaTa's first.... Must be that soft squishy fat first!!! Dang it!! Also two sizes in jeans...... So I only got a couple of really good sale items to help get me feeling better!! Since I know I'll be giving these away by end of spring/summer.

I love Friendship Brand whipped cottage cheese..... I love the texture. I mix in cocoa powder and splenda or Cinnamon & splenda makes for nice desserty filling yummy treat.

Hello Juan1026 welcome to the Buffalo Losers….. LOL, LOL it’s wonderful you taking these first steps to bandster heaven. First if you want Dr. Hoffman give his secretary a call and get started @ 716 859-4024 she’s really great and can help get you started on you way!! I started getting all my requirements for my insurance done late Aug/07 before Dr. Hoffman arrived back in Buffalo…… I had it all done and could have had surgery in Nov. but opted for a late Dec. date. I liked having two weeks off for Christmas and New Years so I spent two weeks off from work. I could have gone back in one week to ten days. I was not in a lot of pain. I did have some the first night which was controlled by IV and the wonderful nursing staff @ Buffalo General. I was sent home with a script for the high powered stuff but I managed to only use liquid Extra strength Tylenol and it worked fine. I was more tired and sleepy more than anything. I had NO gas shoulder pain, NO port pain so I must credit Dr. Hoffman in that department of skill and patient care. I would do it all in a heart beat again, I was to thinking more into the after care and recovery before hand and it ended up I worried more than the actual difficulties I ended up having. Advise on surgery - I have really nice small (scares) tiny little reddish/brown what I call marks on my skin. Largest being 1 inch long (port) due to the fact I told the staff at my pre-op I have a sensitivity to steri strips and bandage adhesive. I ended up with medical glue to cover my incisions and that was a Hugh plus for any further problems, mess and scaring. steri Strips can pull, creates a rash or burns the skin. Takes a long time for them to slowly wear off the wound which creates little curly tags for catching on clothes etc…… making life harder. The scares are smaller and heals nicer with medical glue…….. Nice low profile smooth skin in the area.

Hey yes I do rememer you.... You had your boss with you..... Looking into him having the band correct?? I'm the one who lifted my shirt for him and had him check out my port etc..... Now I remember...LOL Funny how you can meet someone and ya never know how they'll impact your life later on down the line. Awesome we can meet on the 22nd at the Juice Bar 9:00 and we can make ourselfs Team Hoffamn, we could come up with a color band like a gang of "Losers" almost like color teams on the Biggest Loser show. I'm game also!!

Yes, it's ring is filled 360' all the way around. So you have a much better contour around the stomach. Plus they can add fill during the operation so the fit is perfect once you come out of the OR. He also stitches in the port so it won't filp ever on us. I've heard that this can happen if it's not anchored down. He was taught this when he was performing over 450 of his Lap-Bands in Long Island. He will be joining Children's Hospital soon in the Bariatric's for Children with weight problems. Wow what an honor that is for him to be asked to join. Your so good not getting Tim Hortons last night....... What great will power. Your on your way to the best you!! One less donut pound to burn off before your band. Cheers to you and your "WILL-POWER" it gets easier. Once you get the taste of the losing you'll never go back!!

I'm also so excited....... I can't wait... Tue. won't come fast enough. I love that Dr. Hoffman uses the AP 10 & 14cc bands seems less fills are needed for restriction I won't need a fill again this coming appointment and this will be my second round allowed to be filled.... Awesome I tell ya. Oh I had my first PB yesterday..... Warning!! I was a little to brazin on eating a bite of Sushi at Wegman's last night. I thought hmm I could eat one of those!! Wrong cold sticky rice not good for me right now!! I took a small bite and Ba Da bing it sat right there stuck in my darn band.... Hurt like a mother... I ended up in the ladies room spitting it back up.... Learned my lesson quite quick... Stay on plan and don't chance anything like this outside your own home!! Live and learn!! I sure did!! But I still love my band even if Sushi is off limits!!

Hello all my Buffalo friends........ OMG Loraine your amazing and doing awesome.... I'm so very proud of you. What has your husband said so far? You must have been the woman Dr. Hoffman mentiond to me Wed. who also mentioned my name..... He came in my office for a visit before his next surgery case. We talked about the meetings in the park. He wanted the first one to be March 22 Sat. now that's the day before Easter and not sure of the weather. What do you think for that day? It will be the second day of spring!!! I'm up for anything everyone wants to do....... What a great doctor and over all wonderful person. He and his staff make this journey so much easier.... Did you end up getting a fill this week???? I'm going in Tue. March 4th and still don't need a fill..... I love this band 10cc AP I was down 35 lbs in 7 weeks now I have not weighed myself since my last appointment Feb. 5th so we shall see what I've done the past 4 weeks...... I can't wait to meet everyone!!! Lucie - Welcome....... My insurance covered everything so far but when I went into my file they ended up paying $17,646.55 and that was for everything (testing, studies, and other visits for my band) I only pay $15.00 co-pay for all my appointments and so far I'm about $150.00 out of pocket not bad so far that's $4.28 per pound so far and I've bought steak higer priced than that...LOL, LOL, LOL Just adding a little of my own humor. But really you could always seek pricing and make sure that it's not that high for self paying.

Also like this one....... Works great and much cheaper than the swim type ones that can run over $50. he has many colors to go with his swim trunks. They dry fast and he feels confident in them when he swims. They never weigh him down in the Water like a full cotton T can!!! Never sucks or hugs the body tightly. Big Mens Reversible Mesh Tank Top by Sport-Tek® | Bigmansland.com

Take a look at this one.... It;s like this in a way T500 Sport-Tek Reversible Mesh Tank: ClothingWarehouse.com offers Embroidery and Screen Printing services. Give us a call today.: Mens-Adult Polyester-Mesh-Two-Color-Reversible-Sleeveless-Tank-Tops

My suggestion is.... my brother swims in a tank top he got at the BIG/TALL shop that has all those little holes in it.... It's like a mesh. Almost like you can see through it, but not really that revealing. Do you know what I'm talking about?? It gave him coverage but drains and dries quickly..... That might be an option.......

Hey guys how are my Buffalo buddies doing? Loraine I was going to have my surgery on Nov.26th but decided to wait until Dec.17 so I would be off for the Holidays. I to have Independent Health and waited for the clear up. So tell me how your doing? Give stats if you want. Don't you just love Dr. Hoffman....... He really makes the process so easy and makes you feel he's the best doctor in the world..... He has it all wrapped up in one package.... Skill, bed side manor, and personal compasion for his patients. Hi BruBear - How are you and Hubby doing? I'm so happy your getting the process done. Buffalogirl312/BiggurlX - Glad to see your looking into Dr. Hoffman and getting the ball rolling. I just also wanted to mention Dr. Hoffman wants to start a "his only patient" meeting once a month for Lap-bandsters. We could meet at a park on Saturday mornings once the weather warms up....... We can all become each others supporters in this journey to get healthier. What all do you guys think....... He may mention it at your next appointment... I offered to help him with it once the ball starts rolling..... I'll talk to him more on 3/04/08 about it all...... (o: Cynthia

Yes, you can do it......... I'm now at 46 lbs lost @ 8 weeks....... I have to updaate my tracker..... I was able to get a fill on Feb. 5th but my doctor and I opted not to since I was losing very, very well and I have restriction and my own control over my eating at this point in the game plan...... I started out with a BMI of 64. My next appointment is 3/04/08 and I still feel good restriction and eating on plan. I'm not sure if a fill (my first) is even going to be needed yet!! I'm losing like crazy..... I'm almost three sizes smaller in pants and went from 5X to 4X's and they are starting to become way to big on me already. I had my surgery 12/17/07. Yup no Holiday gain that year for once in my life... LOL. It can be done and the results are amazing....... I LOVE MY BAND!!! Pick up your chin (my case triple) and belive in yourself and the band will work wonders for you. It works and I'm and all the other bansters here are proof it can be done when you work along with the band and your surgeon's requests. I thought how can I do this when food is such a HUGH part of my life. Eating all the time and thinking I'll go crazy with out it....... OMG it's just a complete turn around, I eat but far, far less and I don't feel a bit crazed that I can't eat large amounts at one sitting....... I feel free from the jail I walked into so many years a go........ I knew I was innocent I just didn't know how to prove it.......... But I now have!!

LOL......... Marshmellow, that reminds me of the old movie Ghost Busters......LOL, LOL, LOL I'm telling you it works and also your an inch shorter these days huh... Wow seems your shrinking a bit in your older age of 31...... LOL, LOL, LOL Flip that coin in your direction to make it happen... They ask how tall you are and they go by what you tell them you are............... All that swelling has gone down on the bottom of your feet these days.......... It was make sense!! (o:

That's awesome.... I'm covered for fills also. I do have to pay a $15.00 co-pay each time I go in.... Not bad if I say so myself!!! I can handle that payment........ I would be paying more for Weight Watchers...LOL, LOL, LOL I did Weight Watchers for years and lost 167 lbs. But ended up gaining it back twice...... The cost was close to $10. a week x 2 years that's close to $1,040.00 which in the long run was worth every penny for the weight I lost during that time..... Well here I am rampling a long..... I love my insurance it was an easy process when I got started, only took less than 4 months.... Yet again I'm a larger BMI than most out there asking for Lap-Band.......

LOL..... I'm all out for people and getting ewhat the insurance companies should do....... I think it's a load of crap when they nit pick at some for covering such a needed surgery. Please 1 point short of 40 BMI and they want to deny or challenge it.... Makes my blood boil at times..LOL BUt really sick some rolls of QTRs in there it really does work...LOL I just went throgh all my paper owrk on costs for my surgery and other pre-op testing etc.... It would have costed me $17,983.24 for my surgery. I ended up only paying a total of $135.00 which is my co-pays on all my appointment I went too........

Has anyone read this book - Life is Hard, Food is Easy by Linda Spangle?? Someone mentioned it but never read the book...... Just wanted to know if anyone has and insight... Thanks

They don't weight you skin naked..... Put a couple rolls of coins in your pant pockets and bra...... Let me tell ya it works for you skinner BMI people...It did for a friend of mine...LOL We have to do what we have to do in order to get insurance providers to jump and pay for our needs. Why gain it all to only have to fight to get it back off again!! Just my .02

WOW that's awesome......... I'm eight weeks post op and I'm now down 46.3....... I need to update my slider..... I hopped on the scale yesterday even when I said I wouldn't befor my next appointment with the doctor 3/04/08.... I just knew I was down a huge amount since 2/05/08.... My clothes are falling off me at this point, I feel great except being cold a lot... I have to wear a sweater every where I go!! LOL That's fine with me if that's my only issue.... I just love my band... It's the best thing I've ever done for myself!!!

LOL.... Okay.... You'll get a report all right!! LOL, LOL So how much weight have you lost all together? I'm new and I see you're two years plus out!!! Thanks

Thanks... Sounds great to me... I'm going tonight to pick it up..... Hmm, I'll post what I've found!!

No way... I was told by Dr. Hoffman this is forever....... The newer lap bands have come far beyond the older bands per say and we should be able to keep them forever so we can keep this fat off forever and ever. Did you have a good weekend??? How do like this coooooold snap???

I know what you so mean... In 2004/2005 I lost 167 pounds on Weight Watchers I owned every pound I lost...... I felt good and I did it by eating good and doing my treadmill everyday.... But the keeping it off was the real bite in the Azz........ I still had the large tummy inside and if I wanted I could eat large amounts of food...... That's just what I went back to doing.... eating by the bag full of chips, cookies, and other foods. Once I started I couldn't stop myself.... Now I have my ring of hope the band...... I know if I need it in the future I can get a fill... Right now I'm empty (no fill) and doing this with my will power and the bands reg tightness.... Some people don't have restriction 7-8 weeks post-op like I feel I do have so I feel lucky... Once some of the fat around my belly goes away then this may change...... Now I have the oppertunity to learn and teach myself what makes the best fuel for my body and what works. Once I get down to my last bit of weight I'll have what it takes to get there finally and forever be free of this weight......... I would love to meet up at any meeting/other oppertunity to get together and help answer question, show my port etc....... I might become part of the Lap Band support here at my hospital once they get the program started.... I was asked to speak to some of the doctor's who will be sending patients to Dr. Hoffman so they can understand the patients view on the surgery.

Hi FireDust Yes Dr. Hoffman is with Posner's group. What I would do is call Lisa today, right now 716 859-4024 and see what she needs to get you in for the seminar. The next one is March 6th and if you want I would be willing to meet you there once you have your seminar appointment. I'm not that far from Buffalo General and I know most of the staff and I could even have you meet Dr. Hoffman while we are there........

I mean look who could eat one good med sized meatball with 1/4 cup sauce for dinner and be happy...... That was me last night!! I made pasta homemade meatballs and sauce for my children last night. I wanted just a meatball and I was totally happy with it!!! My old self would have had four meatballs 1 1/2 to 2 cups pasta, garlic bread and I would have been stuffed. I made a huge pot of sauce with pork loin, meatballs, and chicken sausage two weekd a go and froze it in dinner size portions for my two kids and I and I have so many meals that is blows my mind what I used to consume in one darn meal.... I was a complete piggy before my band........ No wonder I became so large @ 411. Still blows my mind!!!