mini_me

i don't know much about the insurance part of it, but dr. spivak banded me yesterday, and i have 38 bmi, and absolutely great health. i didn't have to have any pre-op testing. i told him i wanted to lose the weight to improve my quality of life. he said ok, asked a few questions, and told me to schedule it...and here i am one day into bandland, hurting a little:faint: , but very glad i followed through with this!!!:clap2:

have you spoke directly to Dr. Spivak? Sometimes the folks handling the administrative functions in the office do not accurately portray a doctors true intentions. I would ask to speak directly with him. He is a wonderful man, wonderful surgeon. It would be really unfortunate for you miss out on a wonderful experience with him. btw, i have heard nothing about Dr. Ferrari. Is 5000 your co-pay? I am self pay and the fee i had to pay Dr. Spivak was 5800, then 9200 to the surgicenter. good luck, i hope it all works itself out!!!

hello, were you banded at the surgicenter or at herman? if you were at the surgicenter, then surely we saw each other. Dr. spivak did my band also.:clap2:

hey eileen, i knew you would be ok. your words applied to my experience yesterday also. i think you and i were in a very similar emotional state. my doc was running later due to overbooking at another hospital, so i wanst wheeled in to the OR until about 1130, but we left for home at about 330. i too am very sore. best wishes for a speedy recovery!! believe it or not, when they wheeled me into the OR, and the room started spinning due to the general anest, i believe my last thought was of how you were doing. good luck and we can chat more in a day or two.

Thank you so much. I am pretty sore, but luckily, no gas pain so far!! I will keep LBT posted on my progress. Has anyone heard from Leenerbups??

Well, friends, I finally had my band place yesterday about 1130 am. Dr. Spivak was running late. I was supposed to be in the operating room at 830 am. Nevertheless, I was indeed banded yesterday. I am quite sore, but luckily, knock on wood, no gas pains. Thanks to everyone for the support. I will be back to visit you all when I am feeling better. I think i need another nap:notagree !

ya'll dont forget about Leenerbups. she is slated to arrive at her surgery center in the morning at 5:30. i have chatted off and on with her this weekend, but i haven't seen her on here tonite. if you see her, wish her luck. she is really special!! and thanks to all of you wishing us well!! you all have been great!

Welcome and congrats!! I, too, am going to be banded tomorrow. If, when you need us, we will be here! This is a great group of folks!!

1. $15,ooo ($5,800 for the Surgeon and his assistants, $9,200 to the Surgery Center. 2. Fills and office visits covered for a year, if you lose 50% of your excess body weight, the the second year is also covered. Fills after that are $200. 3. Dr. Spivak, Houston, surgery performed at the Physicians SurgiCenter of Houston. 4. Scheduled for Monday, March 13th. I will let you how it goes. Good Luck to you!

Here I sit, 12 midnight. It is Saturday night, sunday morning. I will be banded on Monday!! I cannot believe it has actually arrived! I am going to do clear liquids tomorrow. My sister in law took some pics of my booty today...LOL...she is crazy. She had to put it on extra wide angle view. i will have to post them for before/after...lol. Anyone reading, wish me luck. I am really starting to get butterflies.

Here I sit, 12 midnight. It is Saturday night, sunday morning. I will be banded on Monday!! I cannot believe it has actually arrived! I am going to do clear liquids tomorrow. My sister in law took some pics of my booty today...LOL...she is crazy. She had to put it on extra wide angle view. i will have to post them for before/after...lol. Anyone reading, wish me luck. I am really starting to get butterflies.

What she said on the Thanks to everyone...I am so glad I found this little community!!!

hey girl, I understand your concern. My Pre-op nurse said as long as i had not gained 6-7 pounds we would be ok. Something about newly gained fat goes to the abdomen. Just take a Water pill or two over the weekend, then make sure and tell them "Oh man, I sure I am glad I didn't plan on wearing my rings today. I bet I wouldn't even be able to get them on..." Then make fun of you toes, "Wow, look how swollen my toes even are...gosh I retain SOoooOOOoooOOOoo much water during that time of the month...":heh: Trust me sister...I bet that that doctor is gonna see that $15 grand before he is going to see a couple of pounds. Its gonna be fine...stop fretting, ( then again, as soon as you calm down, I will be freaking out!) ((((((HUGS))))))

Hello??!! How did I miss this thread??!!:clap2: OK, lemme break it down for ya'll. We got us a range of champs this time around. Chris is gonna be my fav for the Kelly Clarkson fans. He is POP for 2006--he reminds me of Nickleback, fuel, omigosh, I could go on. If he would have shown up on the radio singin' twinkle twinkle little star, I would have cranked it up and JAMMED!! He is awesome, and a family man! His wife and kids must be so proud. I hope he goes all the way. The Pickler girl? Well, I can see the appeal, but I think that there is a lot more to her story than the, oh poor pitiful me and my inmate daddy. Not to knock her, I mean, capitalize where you can. (and i am sure she will...) I have worked in a prison my whole adult life, side by side with male offenders. There are a whole heck of a lot of folks out there that make it past such circumstances as hers. I do not necessarily feel that this should be a pity point. And what about the "oh my, i'm a mink..." "oh, what? a minks..." MINXdlkjasd;lkfjd ahhhh!! Just sing and look cute, stop talking already.....(gosh that got mean and i did not mean for it to be...:confused: , maybe i am just jealous cuz DH said her name outloud in his sleep:angry ) Ok, Paris and the other young girl with long curly hair, they are going to do really well with the r&b, mariah crowd. They both have talent, and Paris's energy is adorable. Ace, I just don't know, as time goes by...YES, he definitley should be on a HUGE underwear billboard...:eek: Taylor, I LOVE him, he is great. He makes me feel great about the world. What an underdog standing in line for auditions. Who would have thought that he had such talent! I think he will be a big adult contemporary artist....capturing the Clay Aiken fans. MANDISA!!!! I think that she will likely be, at the least, top 2 or 3, if she doesnt win. SHE IS AWESOME!! She is genuine, and lovable! WOW, when she sings, I get goose bumps. And she's a big girl like us! We need to stand with her....VOTE REPEATEDLY FOR MANDISA....REDIAL REDIAL REDIAL REDIAL REDIAL.... Dear God, Please let me have a nice dream about Chris tonite...

I will definitly be up and thinking about you!! I doubt I will get much sleep Sunday night. Best of Luck to US!!!

OK...I was really impressed as I read about the penis removal procedure, thinking, WOW, this thing is so HUGE that it gives him back pain? AHHHHHHH? I am so disappointed...:tired

Monday morning at 8:30...

OMIGOD!!! Dr. Speigel? I cannot say that surprises me. I was actually scheduled to be banded with him, and I called and cancelled because I could not find anyone who had anything positive to say about him. I am so sorry he didn't take better aftercare of you. I am going to wish a migraine headache on him...a migraine that occurs each time he fails to care... :mad: :mad: :angry :devious :devious And I DON'T feel bad about it!!!! :angel: Sister, I am sending you all of the spare positive energy I can muster!!:wave:

We are all thinking of you...

Kelly, I do not believe we have chatted, but I am so moved by your courage. You really seem to have your emotions in check. Thank you for sharing this with us. You are really an inspiration. Don't leave us. We will always need you, and we will always be here for you. Roni

Thanks Friends!! I will probably be sleepless, wishing I had the earliest time available. The folks on this board are really great! I cant wait to rejoin the family as a real time bandster, not a wannabe!!

Pre-Op Nurse called me today. I am scheduled for surgery Monday at 8:30 am. I have to be there at 7:30 am. :faint: Nerves!!!!! Leenerbups, How are you doing? What time are you scheduled!!

Thanks sister!!

HELLO and WELCOME!!! I am north of Houston, and I, too, am being banded by Dr. Spivak. I am on the countdown...5 more sleeps:notagree !!! What was your pre-op bmi? if you don't mind me asking.:phanvan It seems like,and I may be wrong about this, but it seems like weight loss rate has a great deal to do with your starting condition. The more you need to lose, the more you lose in the beginning. ((I could be way off, so do not crucify me if i am wrong:peep: ))

....uh, yea, happy about cottage cheese...weird....its our new life, sister!!! YELL IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS... "I ATE COTTAGE CHEEEEEEEEEEEEZ!!!!!!!"