TheWomanWithin

Melody, thats how I first found out about Dr. Ortiz (he was the dr I was going to be banded by) Dr. G's office is about 20 min from my house, so when I saw articles in the local newpaper last year, I started researching. I found out Dr. Ortiz banded Dr. G and said, hmmm he has to be doing something good if he banded him. I wanted to go to the Cancun facility but it is closed, so I went with the TJ facility. I have medical coverage now that says they are 99% sure they will cover the band through Dr. G - BUT I had some conflicting info on different things from different people when I started asking questions months ago. Soooooo I am back at square 1 - researching and waiting on medical tests to see if my Urologist is going to release me on May 18th for the band and waiting on my approval from the home office of new coverage. When and if all are a go, I think I am going to Dr. G's since I can go home quickly if all is ok. If insurer doesn't approve it, then I am back to square 1 with being Self-pay going with Dr. Ortiz (maybe Cancun will open by then hehehe) BTW... Welcome to Florida

heheheh Thanks Teresa....now for Monday...a week off of the wagon and I feel like I am starting all over again:phanvan

One of the tips was a small spoon - Im on the "live like you're banded tour" also - due to kidney complications. I found a great tool - in the South Beach Diet wraps there is this very small red plastic spoon (like a baby's spoon) they give you to eat your Jello with.. I buy 7 or 8 wraps each week and have tons of the spoons and use those to eat with. The wraps with lettuce and tomatoes added are a great addition to a low carb lifestyle.

Plunder, not sure if this has been answered - have you joined a local homeschool group? I did that when we homeschooled my daughter and they were a huge help in what to do when and laws etc. Also, did you check your school districts website? ours here has a full section on home education - and even helps you get scholarships for your children. Sometimes you just have to get people to feel like they are doing you a favor at the school board and helping you out - worked for us when my oldest daughter decided she didn't want to go to school anymore she had a 4.0 and got bored with school in 11th grade. You can do the virtual school as part of your cirriculm (or we can here in FL). We have to keep records, testing, FVS info and then each year have a general test by a certified FL teacher.

Raek, I didnt know he did surgery there also. It's a wonder Dr. G has any time for anything - look at his schedule WOW wish I had part of that energy. Thanks for that info - his price in St Pete is the same as near me. Did you stay in the hosptial only 6 hours also? Ive spoken to 1 who did 1 who didn't recently.

Please take me 4-21: lmt33167 out of this group - due to kidney complications I had to put my band on hold - still going it alone and losing weight on my own until I can get my Dr to release me I keep update with all of you - but I'm insanely jealous of all you losing weight! hehehehe GREAT work all and by the time I get mine, you will be wayyyy ahead of the game...

Has anyone heard of or used medical plans such as these to get their surgery done? 1. Qualified Health (PHCS - Private HealthCare Systems) 2. UA - United American Insurance Both places say that as long as the surgery is done by a "surgeon" they approve or in their network they will cover the surgery and you pay out of your pocket the rest. Since I am still waiting on my Urologist to release me - trying to find alternatives to being Full Self Pay for my surgery

Oh wow Melody I hadn't heard that about Dr. G - they usually put stuff like that in our local Pasco Section of the Trib. Wow - only 6 hours in the hospital, that is less time than I spent in outpatient for a laproscopy (sp). That's what I would love to have to do - back home where I can make sure my kids get fed LOL

Ok, I know you could change your user name as Alex showed us before, has that option been moved or changed? Did I miss it totally? Thanks

Somebody kick me..... I have not done a dang thing this week, except take care of sick kids and sit my butt on the computer - cleaned house when I had energy... OMGOSH I even ate regular food for 2 full days - I slept a few hours last night so I don't feel as bleh today; so going to go back on my pre-band routine! We were supposed to go to Disney this wknd but cancelled plans when they got sick - :arrgg: (__V__) <<<~~~ kick here

When I called Dr. Ortiz - Cancun is where I wanted it. I was going to make it a weeks vacation since it was close to our wedding anniversary - Cancun is closed due to massive damage from the hurricane I read a couple of posts about Dr. G refusing care to others - even seeing them then making them go somewhere else - but I didn't get a response when I asked about the specifics. Seems weird to me that he would put his name on Dr. Ortiz' website and that he is partners with or whatever it is and then not do followup care if you are done in MX.

Thanks Susan Im going to go read up on your Dr. after my head clears from my confusion with Dr. Grossbard information I got heheheh Since I have a 6 month wait now, Im going to take a long needed break and do no research, no reading anything pertaining to WLS so I can start fresh and maybe that will help with getting facts figures etc all straight. Did anyone have to stay in the hospital overnight? I just learned Dr. Grossbard doesn't require it! that's a big plus for me since I live close and could be at home in 1 day. Thanks again

WOW now I am even more confused than ever [holds head in confusion] So you do not even have to stay in the hospital overnight. Maybe I have my hospitals and who I talked to totally mixed up....I used to live 3 min from Dade City Hospital (PRMC) and I called them when I saw an article in the paper...then I started asking questions. Of course when I found out how much it would be self-pay I started searching all over FL for pricing and I see I have some mixed up information , then I got info for Mexico since it was so much cheaper. I need to start from scratch and make new notes on who what where and how much. Im glad you posted and cleared this up since no one else had all of the correct information. Right on the insurers in FL , I was told from BCBSFL. Hopefully one day this will change. We switched to United American Insurance, and the home office said it was covered as long as it was a by a board certified surgeon and medically necessary - there is a 6mth wait to have it done per their policy.

Thanks MelodyJ Im curious about this: what's this mean? Am I being a bit obtuse here? do you mean about WLS or a crime? hehehe let me drink some more coffee and see if it is clear then. How much was your fill if you didn't get your surgery done by him? On my other thread - someone said $200, but I have seen up to $500

Jukebox Is the 17k for one or two night hospital stay? Not sure why Dade City Hospital now (PRMC) would quote that price to me - maybe that was for RNY? [ponders] I know I have seen where it is more than LBS, this was at the beginning stage of my research, so maybe I misunderstood that it was for RNY instead of LBS - that's why I asked on here to see if anyone had used him or knew his price. ive heard Dr. G called cocky too - not sure why though, when I question this statement, I get things like - well he just acts that way? He knows his stuff and is a great doctor - and done some nice things for people that have PM'd me about him. I have a question about appointments every month - what are they for? I have read that normally you get a fill about every 6 weeks, did he say what the need for monthly visits were? $200 is less than what others have said they paid for him to do fills on LBT- maybe he has come down in pricing? Do you live in FL? Im just wondering what Ins you have that pays for the procedure if you live in FL?

Woot those are so much fun my DH and oldest son tell me - we get tickets from a customer of ours who plays for the Tampa Bay DevilRays. Ive never been, maybe next year Ill go.... wow! $5 lemonade? that's as bad as Disney lol

Since my plans have now changed and my new insurer will cover the procedure (instead of self-pay) I need some names besides Dr. Grossbard, Dr. Jawad, Dr. Jessee. to research on. I'm waiting on the approval from the corporate office after I gave them the CPT code so I can go for a visit. I then have to have them make it medically necessary to do the surgery i.e. M.O. and 6 months they will pay for it. Did you have your band placed by a Florida Doctor? If yes I would appreciate - the name, website and price if you know it. Anyone with info is a great help since I only know of those 3 here in FL. Thanks

Didnt know where to put this question, so I figured FL would be the best thing. Since my plans have now changed and my new insurer will cover the procedure (instead of self-pay) I need some names besides Dr. Grossbard, Dr. Jawad, Dr. Jessee. to research on. I'm waiting on the approval from the corporate office after I gave them the CPT code so I can go for a visit. I then have to have them make it medically necessary to do the surgery i.e. M.O. and 6 months they will pay for it. Did you have your band placed by a Florida Doctor? If yes I would appreciate - the name, website and price if you know it. Anyone with info is a great help since I only know of those 3 here in FL. Thanks

Non-diet sodas to be pulled from schools Major beverage companies sign deal with anti-obesity advocates Updated: 10:27 a.m. ET May 3, 2006 NEW YORK - Tens of millions of students will no longer be able to buy non-diet sodas in the nation’s public schools under an agreement announced Wednesday between major beverage distributors and anti-obesity advocates. The distributors, working with a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, also have agreed to sell only Water, juice and low-fat milks to elementary and middle schools, said Jay Carson, a spokesman for former President Clinton. Here's the link from MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12604166/ you can read the rest of the story there.

My dream is to have enough captial in my Home Decor and Gifts business is to open a warehouse/store type of thing - waiting on kids to both be in school to do that...talk about jumping in with both feet... I have no clue how to do it! Can't wait to hear what you're going to do and what other people have done.

I thought that was funny that someone pointed that out on the show about Katherine - not enough sleep so I can't remember who it was lol Simon or Ryan?

dialidol.com has been pretty much right each week, so we will see -- the week they put Chris in the bottom 3 I cringed! after last night's votes this is what they say: Elliott Yamin 27.643 Katharine McPhee 24.583 Paris Bennett 23.375 ****disclaimer**** this is not an exact science and not meant to be taken as WHO is going to be going home, just a fun thing to watch as someone else posted on how we voted for the worst in a previous post...:paranoid

The only one I have found that does not require media player (or I dont think it does) is this one: http://www.jawadmd.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=120 Dr. Jawad's website

:youcandothis:Teresa woot!!! wtg - 3 lbs gone I saw you were walking extra this week....Forgive me if I read wrong - 2 hours sleep in 3 days is getting to me lol (sick kids) so I have not done a thing except go to the Zoo Sat and get groceries Sunday. :cheer2: :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Im much like you Lisa, I was a paralegal then went into Real Estate and had to quit working (due to a pregnancy complication) it took awhile but I got used to working for myself - ups and downs are a bit hard to take when you are used to a steady income though. My husband started a Pool Business 10 years ago, we do maintenance and repair, the family business is building pools but he didn't want to do that too. DH has a BA in History and taught school while building the business up - at one time we had 5 FT employees 2 PT and ourselves. If he could make the same amount of $$ as a teacher he would jump at it. He doesn't want to go back to school and finish to teach college he LIKES working in the 9000 degree weather lol I started my Home Decor and Gifts Business last year, but I do sole proprietorship since it's so small. Owning a business is great BUT over the past 8 years the things I have found are this: 1. The government is a pain about taxes - each month business owners pay W/H - double medicare and SS for each person who works for them. For some small businesses such as ours - this can be astronomical. At one point we are paying over $7,000 just in Payroll taxes. 2. Health Insurance is a major pain to get for you if you have under 5 F.T. employees, then they sock you with almost double premiums. 3. Auto and Liability insurance - we have to maintain a $550,000 auto policy on EACH vehicle we own. We carry a $2 million liability policy for the business. Each month alone that is almost $2,000. 4. We pay an CPA every 3 months $250 to do our quarterlys - a must for Incorporations. 5. We pay that same @&%# CPA $1,000 just to file our 1120's - we do our employees on our own, that was an additional $250 (he's the best though high priced - he worked for the IRS hehehe) 6. Licenses are about $500 yearly with everything - Local business license like $40, INC license was $700 initially and $150 yearly, etc. 7. Loans when you are self-employed or even own your own business are a pain to get - and they jack up the rates for stated income if you don't do w 2's or run most of your bills through your business. 8. I forgot to add Sales Taxes - how I forgot that is beyond me - each state is diff and FL is a pain in the rear about it and how to handle it. 9. Unemployment & Workers Comp - I don't even want to get started here lol too long - check your local laws. There are so many forms and things we have to file each month for each of these I think they do it just to harass you and make you give up your business. I wouldn't have it any other way though. We are our own bosses, take whatever business we can and send people to another reputable company if we can't handle the extra business. We advertise periodically, but most of ours is through Pool Builders we know/have worked with or word of mouth. Basically, whatever you put into that business is what you get out of it. It affords us to be able to work or not work when we want or to reschedule things if we need to or want to go on vacation :grouphug: