georgebals

If my memory is correct Dr. Fox hosted my 1st weight loss seminar. I flew Fairbanks, Alaska to Sea-Tac about 10 years ago. I talked with him at clinic in Tacoma and attended seminar at an Auburn Hospital. They had a tie in, for self pays in Monterrey, Mexico. Everything was positive. I can't remember if lap-band was allowed in U.S. then. I do remember Dr. Fox feeling my small finger bone & saying after surgery I would weigh 160 pounds & have a 32 inch waist. I lost my insurance & job. Didn't get back to Auburn. I quit smoking & lots of other fun stuff. Got rotator cuff & spine fusion operations out of the way. Banded 1/15/08. Dr Soong, Las Vegas, Nevada. 117 pounds lost. Thanks for info on forums & Thanks Dr. Fox for introducing me to weight loss. In 10 years the band become very popular. I'm glad I waited till I was ready. Like I said all my contacts were positive. At the time it was the best weight loss clinic & closest to Alaska. Good luck all. hasta Pronto, George P.S. Since band I have quit bread, pasta,morphine,potatoes & a bunch of other fun stuff.:cool:

Cograts from Sin City. Banded 1/15/08 in Las Vegas, Nevada. If I had problems that some on this thread do. I would move into my clinic till these issues were resolved. HeatherO with Realize Band #you can register at RealizemySuccess.com, for your own weight loss program, its fun. Elle lost my Super Obese & Morbid handles, never-never to return there. 4th of July turned 55 y/o. I Have lost over #117 pounds. My Doctors Soong & Atkinson are better than Lance Burton. I also want to thank A real long list of Doctors,P.As, nurses & shamen in Nevada, Alaska,Washington, Belize & Mexico. I have not had a fill yet. It's a hard job but I got to do it!!! Losing Large in Vegas & Loving It! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I had my band from Surgical Weight Control Center. Dr.Soong & Dr. Atkinson did the very good deed. On 1/15/08. I just got a new bill. I'm on Social Security Disability. My understanding is that there are 3 different basic prices. For me it was-medicare pays 80%. I had payed $1.025.00. plus to pay pre-op blood work. With regular insurance, I think it was a $750 to North Vista Hospital. Self pay is least expensive. Also you don't have to stay overnite. North Vista Hospital bills for SWCC. This new bill is less than $500. There are other bills. Make sure you are ready for the fastest changes in your life. Learn, read & attend meetings. Get it in your head you will skip down the hall after surgery.Sounds like you have a great Sister. I do to. For me & also most people I Talk to this is the best thing in our lives. I have the best support groups, SWCC, a shrink group, my sister & the Monte Carlo Poker Room. Wish you the very best of luck. The Band is your new full time job. Sorry I don't have exact $$$ figures. It will be different for each person. So will your weight loss. Down over #117 pounds in less than 6 short months. It's work & a struggle every day but well worth it. I've had a bunch of surgerys. Spine Fusion here in town, where you try to stand post-op. It's easy with less weight. Pain goes down. You will find it's all in your head. Hasta Pronto, George

Tex, Read this book. Go to every weight loss meeting you can. Talk with by-pass people too! Remember your band is site specific (your clinic vs my clinic). I think 75%-90% of this weight loss is in my head. Go into surgery with the correct mindset. The only part of the band that is negative for me, is listening to people that give up. The band will give you many chances. I now like what I see in the mirror. The best thing in my fast changing life. Banded 1/15/08, Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong Pre-op #352 Super Obese, 4th of July, 55th birthday I weighed 237 pounds. 115 pounds lost. Get your head right before surgery. Losing Large in Vegas & Loving it! Hasta Pronto, George

I hope you meant Sunday. I'll try to be there. The book is the very best, you will enjoy it. My favorite line is "Weight Loss is not Rocket Science" Keeping it simple. Hasta Pronto, George :thumbup:

Mary, It's $20 for the"Weighty Matters Group Meeting" 1st Wednesday of each month. e-mail is ksegura637@hotmail.com Address is 9402 W.Lake Mead Blvd. Dr. Segura invited me to a group meeting before my Band. It helped me a lot pre-op, to know where my head has to be. The group meeting at her office is much more intense then the SWCC meetings. Less people. I find I learn much more. We've improved on Dr. Fisher's rules or steps. We go where we can't go at SWCC (time). We have had 3-5 people at group. For me 75% of this is in my head. Am trying to re-program my brain. Hope this helps. Hasta Pronto, George

Howdy, I'm George. I go to group meetings at SWCC twice a month Lap Band w/Brain Grace PA-C 2nd Wednesday & Dr.Soong's 4th Tuesday. Also for $20 I attend Dr. Segura's Weighty Matters Group on 1st Wednesday of month,228-3306. This group includes everybody (bypass). Your going to be 3 times more successfull at weight loss by attending groups. Band 1/15/08, Lost 117 pounds. N.V. Hospital. Am looking forward to meeting all. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbs_up:

My self, I could not lose the weight & keep it off on my own. It took about ten years from 1st seminar to being banded. First other surgerys. Then stopping morphine, booze, smoking & working. I've read its 95% against you to lose the weight & keep it off on your own. Thats not good odds. " Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" Buy this book at Borders because it has= Everything You Need to Know Before & After Surgery to lose Weight Successfully. It's new. It covers your (our) concerns in detail. Some rules I follow are for (from) my Las Vegas SWCC clinic only. Each Doctor & bander is different. I have given up the following= carbonation, bread, pasta & soup. More to give up later. 4oz. a meal, 3X a day is enough for me. Build a large support group, make it a lean group. Three Times Better Weight Loss with Groups. Me 2X a month at clinic, 1 at shrinks & trying to join a city wide group. I was banded on 1/15/08. I had a prime rib dinner & all the fixings on 1/14/08.The last supper! I'm down 120 pounds. Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson preformed this operation. Dr.Soong's friend hurt his back doing my spine fusion surgery. Half the parts stuffed in from front, roll 352 pounds over carefully & install more parts. Best move I've made. No fills. My G.P. Doctor told me to have Bypass operation as band is to slow. He is a band man now. Hast pronto, George

"Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band" Everything You Need to Know Before & After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully. Sold at Borders. I'm 3/4 into book, It's Great. I will bring it to 1st lunch I can attend. Wish you all the best of health. Hasta Pronto, George

Thanks For web address of cafe. Can make an August meeting for sure. I might be tied up a little around lunch at Monte Carlo. Will Know for sure Saturday afternoon. Do I ask to be seated with the Most Beautiful Woman of Las Vegas? Down 115 pounds, lost morbid handle last week. banded 1/15/08. Dr Soong & Dr Atkinson. Love losing large in Vegas. No fills. Hasta Pronto, George

I would enjoy meeting other banders in town. can people from the wild west side come ( the other Doctors office) will try to make it. web address does not connect--may-be a phone # of cafe? :thumbs_up:Hasta Pronto, George - will look for it today

Dear Beans, I was living in Alaska & attended my 1st weight loss seminar at Tacoma , Washington. This clinic was tied in to a Hospital in Monterrey. I thought about Mexico. This was about 10 years ago. I have owned property on both coasts of Mexico. Now I rent an apartment in Las Vegas, Nevada. Still own a fishing shack in Belize. I would not have band installed in Mexico unless I planned on living there. Or there was an agreement between Mexico & stateside clinic. My friend got a band in Tj. She could not find a place to give her a fill without $3,000.00. I had to get some other operations (spine fusion,rotator cuffs,&) before getting banded. Buy this book, Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. You can get it at Borders. For me the band is the best thing ever. Social Security Disability payed for most of my band. I was banded on 1/15/08. Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson did the deed well. #115 pounds Lost!!! No fills. I am going to give myself about a year or 2 here, Then head south bound again. The most changes are in my head & making good choices. What ever you do, I wish you the best of Luck. Losing Large in Vegas & Loving it. Hasta Pronto, George :thumbup:

Get this book Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. It's at Borders. I'm half through & the best I've read. No mis-information. Each person is different, so are results. You will get out of it (the band) more than you put into it. Prepare to change your life. I have lost my morbid obeisty handle last week & am never going back. Hope you lose lots of pounds & blood pressure. My side effects from being banded on 1/15/08 are all positive. Down 115 pounds. From 4xl to 1x. For me it's mostly in my mind. The band is the best tool you can find. Hope this helps. Hasta Pronto, George

Howdy, I did my 6 months plus & was banded 1/15/08. A book I'm reading is Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. By R. Sewell & L. Rohrbough. Borders has it. It is really good. I went to group & shrink meetings pre-op. They helped me get my head where it needed to be. Your 3 times more successful at weight loss attending meetings. This is my 5th operation. Spine Fusion, ankle & shoulders. I know to start walking A.S.A.P. Pre-op is a great time to start building a support system. It took me about 10 years from 1st seminar to band. I needed that time to break old habits. I think over 75% of weight loss is in my head. This book is telling me my body chemistry will start to change at 9 months for the better. Good Luck & Really Large Weight Losses from Las Vegas!!! Hasta Pronto, George:teeth_smile:

Hi Anita, I also was banded on Jan. 15th 2008. Down 114 pounds. No fills. I am trying (will) to find out the % of successful no fillers. I think we are lucky. Just using band as a tool. Hasta Pronto, George

If you can put a $$ value on 10 or 20 more years of quality life, yes. I would be very careful about a lap-band surgery in Mexico. It is very hard to get follow (fills) up work done in another country. If I lived in Mexico I would have surgery there. Pre-op go to meetings at your local clinic. Psychologist meetings are even better. Know in your head that your going to really work at new your new full time job. Lap-banders can tell you all about problems they have & how to resolve them. Know your ready & go for it. Hasta Pronto, George Will your family support you?:grouphug:

Dear Love, You are right. It is your lap-band & your body. I'm 5 months out, no fills. I use my band as a tool. My G.P. Doctor told me to get a gastric bypass, surgery. I said no. He is now on the band wagon now. 1 P.A. told me to get a fill. 2 Doctors. & 2 P.A.s told me I do not need one. I'm down 112 pounds. It feels great. I will get a fill when & if I need one. I will not get on an assembly line for a fill. Your hard work will pay off. I asked last week "% of people without a fill?" I will ask my Dr. next visit. Good Luck, George:thumbup:

Hi! Could someone tell me the percentage % of Lap-banders without a fill? Thank You. George

I also have not had a fill. Band 1/15/08, lost 111 pounds. I hope to go as long as you. Loving the losses here in Las Vegas. Good Luck & Keep up the hard work North Carolina, George

Thanks for quick reply. I'm 5 months out & do not want or need a fill. I was wondering % only? I have read somewhere that some people get no adjustment. May all your losses be in pounds & inches

I posted my Hello in the wrong place so here goes. Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson installed my lapband on 1/15/08 at North Vista Hospital in Las Vegas. This was an easy operation compared to my spine fusion. I have lost 111 pounds so far. No fills yet. I go to every meeting. My shrink told me I only have to exercise on the days that I eat. I have excellent support groups. The more I learn, the more I need to Learn. Good Luck to all. Hope you all lose lots of pounds & inches. Love the band because it gives me so many more chances and years to improve my life. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbs_up:

wow, I'm a newbie but exercise will not make you lose weight. I'm trying to replace muscle with fat. I've found most are cheating on diet & grazing to gain weight. A lot of people drink excess calories. I think 95% of weight loss is in my own head. I'm fixing the main frame of my brain. hasta Pronto, George