mini_me

hey sister! i am self pay also. Dr. spivak in houston charges 15K. on friday, yesterday, i scheduled my surgery. his rep gave me an itemized bill. the 15k covers everything. any pre-op testing is additional, but he just gives you a list of tests, and you take it to your pcp and he/she orders the tests. insurance should cover it. i am healthy, just overweight. so fortunately, he did not order any pre-op tests. the fills and office visits are covered for a year in this fee. in my research up to this point, i have found this fee to be competitive. in comparison to going to Mexico, well, i decided that if i can come up with $10k, then i can come up with $15k. sure enough, we came up with the full amount. i am sure you could invest 5k going to mexico for fills pretty quick. i am definitly not knocking anyone's choice of going to mexico, i am just relaying what i have considered and decided upon. whatever you decide, good luck!

anyone wanting to chat, go to the chatroom.

well, i went today, and he does not need any pre-op tests. he asked several questions, and i told him that i really did not have any problems, i just cant seem to lose the weight. he said well, then ok. go schedule your date and give us a call the monday before your date for further instructions. wow! it was so easy! i can-not weight, i mean wait.

:clap2: yyyiiiiiiiiiiipppppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee, I am scheduled for March 13, that is a Monday. I am sure it will be a beautiful, sunny day. And here is what I will do from now until the pre-op diet starts... eat each large meal like it is the last do the happy dance jump like a maniac recite the pledge of allegiance kiss my husband, who is providing the funds get on lapbandtalk.com and tell all of my new friends. talk about it to my husband until he reaches the brink of insanity. say a prayer to thank God order some pizza, thick crust BEFORE PICS.....FUN!!!!!!!!!! NOW, SMILE BIG... AND A SIDEVIEW.... AND LETS SEE THAT HONKY TONK BOODONKADUNK! OH, YEAH, Sister! That's some junk if I ever saw... call my friends and tell them talk to myself in the mirror practice drinking so much water that i puke Dr. Spivak, i am not worthy!! I have the best doctor WoooooOOOooooo HoooOOOOooOOOOoooooo! go to the movies and eat popcorn, one last time ponder taking up fencing daydream about a thin me smile for no apparent reason still smiling This is what it is like when the world loves me! daydream some more make note of the water displacement level in the bathtub, after i get in i bet laundry is even fun when your thin maybe i will take up llama-backriding wwwoooOOOooooOOOhooOOOoooOOOOoooo get my old size 5 cheerleading uniform out and imagine wearing it, on my waist, not my thigh. HAVE A PARTY!!!!!!! HUG,LOVE,SQUEEZE & KISS DH FOR PAYING $15K

:clap2: yyyiiiiiiiiiiipppppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee, I am scheduled for March 13, that is a Monday. I am sure it will be a beautiful, sunny day. And here is what I will do from now until the pre-op diet starts... eat each large meal like it is the last do the happy dance jump like a maniac recite the pledge of allegiance kiss my husband, who is providing the funds get on lapbandtalk.com and tell all of my new friends. talk about it to my husband until he reaches the brink of insanity. say a prayer to thank God order some pizza, thick crust BEFORE PICS.....FUN!!!!!!!!!! NOW, SMILE BIG... AND A SIDEVIEW.... AND LETS SEE THAT HONKY TONK BOODONKADUNK! OH, YEAH, Sister! That's some junk if I ever saw... call my friends and tell them talk to myself in the mirror practice drinking so much water that i puke Dr. Spivak, i am not worthy!! I have the best doctor WoooooOOOooooo HoooOOOOooOOOOoooooo! go to the movies and eat popcorn, one last time ponder taking up fencing daydream about a thin me smile for no apparent reason still smiling This is what it is like when the world loves me! daydream some more make note of the water displacement level in the bathtub, after i get in i bet laundry is even fun when your thin maybe i will take up llama-backriding wwwoooOOOooooOOOhooOOOoooOOOOoooo get my old size 5 cheerleading uniform out and imagine wearing it, on my waist, not my thigh. HAVE A PARTY!!!!!!! HUG,LOVE,SQUEEZE & KISS DH FOR PAYING $15K

:amen: :clap2:yyyiiiiiiiiiiipppppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I am scheduled for March 13, that is a Monday. I am sure it will be a beautiful, sunny day. :hungry: eat each large meal like it is the last :dance: do the happy dance :target: jump like a maniac :usa2: recite the pledge of allegiance :Yawn: kiss my husband, who is providing the funds :typing: get on lapbandtalk.com and tell all of my new friends. :blah: talk about it to my husband until he reaches the brink of insanity. :pray2: say a prayer to thank God :amen: :angel: :pizza: order some pizza, thick crust :camera: BEFORE PICS.....FUN!!!!!!!!!! :photo: NOW, SMILE :photo: AND SIDE.... :photo: AND LETS SEE THAT HONKY TONK BOODONKADUNK :phone: call my friends and tell them :blabla: talk to myself in the mirror :spit:practice drinking so much Water that i puke :hail: Dr. Spivak, i am not worthy!! :first: I have the best doctor :rofl: WoooooOOOooooo HoooOOOOooOOOOoooooo! :popcorn: go to the movies and eat popcorn, one last time :fencing:ponder taking up fencing :couch2: daydream about a thin me :cheeky smile for no apparent reason :nod: still smiling :humble: imagine how it will feel when i am such a knockout that i have fans who adore me! :couch2: daydream some more :bathbaby: make note of the water displacement level in the bathtub, after i get in :washing: i bet laundry is even fun when your thin :llama: maybe i will take up llama-backriding :bowl: wwwoooOOOooooOOOhooOOOoooOOOOoooo :cheer2: get my old size 5 cheerleading uniform out and imagine wearing it, on my waist, not my thigh. HAVE A PARTY!!!!!!! :Banane08: :Banane51: :grouphug: :Banane09: :Banane41: :Banane52: :Banane28: :Banane17: :mad: :Banane27: :smash: :Banane57: :Banane34: :Banane45: :target: :Banane25: :Banane36: :target: :target: :target: :Banane43: :mad: :Banane54: :Banane42: :bananajump: :Banane56: :Banane59:HUG,LOVE,SQUEEZE & KISS DH FOR PAYING $15K:Banane59: :Banane56:

:help: does anyone know what types of pre-op testing dr. spivak will want before scheduling the surgery? i am self-paying the 15K dollar fee, and the lady at the office said that the pre-op testing will likely be covered by my insurance, even though my insurance will not cover the surgery.:target: i was in the chatroom last night and noticed a recurring theme of excessive bills for pre-op testing :paranoid . i need to lose 80 lbs, and i have no co-morbidities.:nervous if anyone can offer advice...i would appreciate it!:crazy:

Zoloft is a permanent part of my routine. Before the tubaligation, if i forgot my birthcontrol pills, i remembered my Zoloft!! The sex drive trade off is balanced by the level of sanity that the little pill establishes. i SWEAR by this medication, and for me, there are no ill side effects. i never had much of a sex drive anyway. So I say, pop that Zoloft daily!!

DH, is that you?

:funscale: "Baby, you know I really want to have this surgery." :fish2: "Yeah, but $15,000? I could get a boat with that much money." " :angry " *******Three months later**************************** :cheer2: "Baby, you know I really want to have this surgery." :fish2: "Yeah, but $15,000? I could get--" :doh: "I know, a boat. But baby, I could get 20 extra years of life with that $15,000.... :hurt " *******************OK, a few months later************* :couch2: "Hey hon, I arranged reservations for a seminar for us to learn about the Lap-Band procedure." :fish2: "Really? When is it?" :couch2: "Saturday." :fish2: "Oh, I was going to go fishing." " " :juggle: :fish2: "I will go to the seminar, but I really worry about a surgery to make you lose weight." :tired "Will you be going with me, or do I need to ask my mom to go?" :ban: "Baby, I love you, and if this will make you happy, then of course I will go." **************After the seminar, before the fishing trip********* :yield: "WOW, that is really not what I expected. This procedure could really improve your life." :sleep "It would improve OUR LIVES!" :sleep "That's no lie! If the momma ain't happy, ain't noone happy." " :clap2: " **************After Christmas, before income tax refund******** :Yawn: "I think I am going to make an appointment for a surgical consult. By my calculation, we should get about $10,000 back on income tax. We could swing this this year." :hat: "Well, let's look at it." " " :whoo: ************************Today, January 31, 2006*********** :dance: "Hey, are you still going to the appointment with the doctor? It is friday at 12:30." :cool: "Yes, I am off work that day." hmm, he really is doing this. my hubby is the best...THE BEST I SAY!! hmm, wonder if i can break him off a little love tonite... :mad: :D :D :Banane56: :Banane56:

:funscale: "Baby, you know I really want to have this surgery." :fish2: "Yeah, but $15,000? I could get a boat with that much money." " :angry " *******Three months later**************************** :cheer2: "Baby, you know I really want to have this surgery." :fish2: "Yeah, but $15,000? I could get--" :doh: "I know, a boat. But baby, I could get 20 extra years of life with that $15,000.... :hurt " *******************OK, a few months later************* :couch2: "Hey hon, I arranged reservations for a seminar for us to learn about the Lap-Band procedure." :fish2: "Really? When is it?" :couch2: "Saturday." :fish2: "Oh, I was going to go fishing." " " :juggle: :fish2: "I will go to the seminar, but I really worry about a surgery to make you lose weight." :tired "Will you be going with me, or do I need to ask my mom to go?" :ban: "Baby, I love you, and if this will make you happy, then of course I will go." **************After the seminar, before the fishing trip********* :yield: "WOW, that is really not what I expected. This procedure could really improve your life." :sleep "It would improve OUR LIVES!" :sleep "That's no lie! If the momma ain't happy, ain't noone happy." " :clap2: " **************After Christmas, before income tax refund******** :Yawn: "I think I am going to make an appointment for a surgical consult. By my calculation, we should get about $10,000 back on income tax. We could swing this this year." :hat: "Well, let's look at it." " " :whoo: ************************Today, January 31, 2006*********** :dance: "Hey, are you still going to the appointment with the doctor? It is friday at 12:30." :cool: "Yes, I am off work that day." hmm, he really is doing this. my hubby is the best...THE BEST I SAY!! hmm, wonder if i can break him off a little love tonite... :nanahump::Banane56: :nanahump: :Banane56: :nanahump: :Banane56: :nanahump: :Banane56: :nanahump: :Banane56: :nanahump:

Thanks! i am work now, but i will check that out tonite at home. gotta inspect it at home, and make sure the content wont upset the bosses.

ummm, i meet with the surgeon friday. he is getting my income tax and then we get to schedule the deed. BUTT, i mean, but, i will be saving my super-queen-sized-mega-tugboat-rope THONG for my NSV pic...tee hee. YOU WILL BE SEEING LESS OF ME THIS SUMMER!!!

congrats on the 250!!! thanks for the suggestions on questions.

I am not sure what the difference is, but let me know when you find out.

Thank you so much for answering. I feel like such an ameteur, and I really want to build a foundation for a support system. I have chosen to only let my closest friends and closest family members in on this choice I have made. I am not sure why I am so secretive about it. I am definitly not ashamed of this decision. I guess I just do not feel like I am ready to defend my choice to people who may not agree. I also do not want people to try to talk me out of it. So many people who have not studied this matter seem to immediately associate my choice with the more drastic GBS. Did any of you have those kinds of feelings? I have told 4 of my closest friends, my oldest son...he is only 12, but he is a strong source of support for me, my husband and my mom and dad. My 3 brothers will know in time, but I think I will wait until they see my happier, healthier, and thinner. I am I wrong for feeling this way?!

I am 5'3" and right now i am tipping the scales at 205ish. I have the absolute swellest hubby:cool: in the world! He has presented me with the 15 g's needed for the surgery. I went to one of Dr. Spiegel's seminars, but after researching doctors in the houston area, I have decided to go with Dr. Spivak. My consult is Saturday, February 4, 2006. I will definitly be completing the appropriate paperwork and getting that cashier's check from the bank, ASAP. Anyone have any good advice for me?:help: I also want to track my progress with pics, measurements, weight loss totals, etc. Is this the best place to do this?? Any advice welcome!:clap2: