barbara465

Vergie, Glad to hear of your success. So often we dwell on all the problems someone has and forget all of the positives. There is no doubt Dr. Spiegel is an excellent surgeon. That is why I was willing to put up with some attitude and craziness from the office. However, now that he no longer going to accept UHC my out of pocket expenses have risen to close to $8,000 ($4,500 for him and $2,900 for surgicenter). I am exploring another doctor who is more willing to work on the financial side of it, while doing the surgery at the surgicenter. If that doesn't work then I'll continue with Dr. Spiegel. We need you around this site to keep the positive energy flowing about lapband surgery!

It's so difficult once you make up your mind to get started. I had to delay mine, after much thought, because hubby and I planned a cruise in May. If I had gotten the OK a little earlier I might have gone ahead and done it, but 5 weeks out was too close for me. You have waited this long so waiting a little longer is OK. I wouldn't want to be in a foreign country trying to work and just had surgery. I have read here that some have gone travelling just several weeks after surgery. My fear is that you don't know if you will have a speedy recovery or a slower one. Work pays the bills. If your doctor requires a liquid diet before surgery maybe you could start that your last 2 weeks before returning. That way you would be ready for surgery on your return. Just an idea. Do what you are most comfortable with, but don't take chances. This is a lifetime committment.

Amy, I am wiping the tears from my eyes reading about your experience and the letter you received. I've never experienced anything quite so blantant. How proud you must be of your friends and your husband. They went as a messenger to right a wrong. The only thing better, in my opinion, would have been a letter from the waitress. It just wants you to look for something about them and ask them how they can live with whatever (hair above their lip, bushy eyebrows, small boobs, etc.) You are a better person than me. I applaud the one you handled it.

What a disappointment. No one really was great. I thought Elliott and Paris were pretty weak. I think one of them will be going home. My DH is convinced, as he has from the beginning, that Chris will win. I'm not into Rock, but he does have a voice. Too bad that he overused it this week and was not as good on his second song.

I've read on here that some go on liquids or mushies for a few days after a fill. They also say that after a few days if you can't get liquids down then you might have to return to have some of the fill taken out. Do some searches and you should be able to find some threads that talk about this. Good luck.

I have had them and then gone back to work. Some have problems a day or two later when the barium wants to leave the body. :confused: Drink plenty of water, let your husband drive, and you should be fine.

I'm 59 and will get the band in June. I am anxious to get started. I figure I got a few more years in this old body, so it was time for an overhaul!

As I understand it, the small pouch works just like the larger remains of your stomach. That is, it pulsates, churns, etc. trying to digest foods. It does everything the bigger part of your stomach does, minus the gastric juicies. If you eat solid food the small pouch will start churning, etc. trying to digest the food. In the early post op stages that can be damaging because everything is trying to heal, including the stiches that hold the band in place. Liquids flow through the opening and don't cause much problem in the early stages, except for the swelling. That is why most can't eat much during post op, including liquids. As the swelling goes down the opening is larger. Until your first fill you must rely on self will to get you through. It is not a time to lose weight, but a time to heal. Losing weight is the added benefit. I know I haven't gone through this yet, but I've read enough on here to know I won't waiver. This is going to work for me and I'll do everything to protect it. You will continue to have to feed your children and your husband. You might as well start now on dealing with the life changing attitude you must have to suceed. Good luck.

Great going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are awesome (and your toes aren't bad either)!!! Can't wait to join that club.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm excited for you. Great job. What a major accomplishment. You should go out dancing for all to see. Way to go and keep up the good work. You are awesome!

I was diagnosed with Roscea when I got the butterfly effect. I thought it was Lupus since my immune system was going haywire. This was just another side effect of that. I took the old fashioned medicine they gave us as kids for acne, textryclicine (spelling wrong). That did clear me up. I went through some other medicine along the way. It gets bad if I drink wine, some spicy food, overheated, and then just plain old stress. I treat it with getting facials for roscea and using products sold at the spa. I never clean my face with hot Water, only cold. I never rub my face as that makes it red. I use makeup for roscea and apply with a brush. Most spas can work with you to find the right cleansers, moisturers, and makeup. This has worked better for me than the dermatologist.

I'm a project manager and work from home whenever I can. I can do most of my scheduling, status reports, financial analysis, from my home office. I use phone conferencing and I-conferencing when required. The technology now allows for net meetings where I can share my desktop with attendees. They can view the same documents as I am displaying. I can also do Powerpoint presentations. I use this when in the office as well as some of my clients are dispersed around the country and in Europe. Working from home is especially nice when dealing with Europe and Asia. Getting up early for meetings for their afternoons is easier from home. I do take breaks for Doctor's appointments, etc., but tend to work more hours when home. I work the hours I would usually be commuting so that is at least 2 hours extra a day. I can schedule my time so noone is really "looking" for me in other hours. Good luck and hope you can work this out.

I love this board! I called Dr. St Laurent's office. I knew he was out of network, but he was my backup to Dr. Spiegel. Anyway, they will do the surgery if I pay my In Network Out of Pocket maximum. That happens to be $3,000. They will write off the out of network fee difference and the surgicenter is paid 100%. I am most confused, but if this works its OK with me. Originally I was going to pay Dr. Spiegel $1,200 and the Surgicenter $2,900. When Dr. Spiegel's office called they said I would owe them $4,900. I would still owe the Surgicenter $2,900. I think there is a little greed going around. UHC wouldn't give me a provision so I was forced to either pay or change Doctors. I have an appointment with Dr. St.Laurent next Friday and we should be able to schedule surgery for June as it was scheduled before. My date will change, but the timeframe should be the same. I am also going to check with Dr. Spiegel's office on Monday as to why they can't do the same thing. Thanks for the information and wish me luck that I can get this straightened out and back on track. s

I just got the call from Dr. Spiegel's office that he would no longer be In Network with United Healthcare effective June 1st. I am scheduled for June 15th. The cost to me now would be $4500 for Dr. and $2900 for the Surgicenter. I am devasted. Who in Houston takes UHC? I don't want to change my date for surgery, but I don't want to pay this amount out of pocket. I am anxiously looking for a new Doctor. I was so ready for this surgery and then this setback.

So sorry to hear about your Mother. The loss is tremendous and your family is in shock as well. They have real fears for you. Understanding that, you must do what you feel in your heart is right for you. Have courage and faith and know your band family is here in whatever decision you make.

Kelli just has to go this week. Her dumbness is just getting to me. She can't sing that song she tried. I thought the experts gave some of them bum assistance. I'm worried about Taylor, but Kat and Elliott and Paris are the best.

Demi, I did lots of research before deciding on Dr. Spiegel. He,in my opinion, has the best record. He's not a warms and fuzzing kind of doctor, but as my primary said, you want a surgeon with good hands. He has done over 3500 lapbands and seems to have perfected the sitching so no slippage. When you go to any of these doctors there is an information sheet you fill out. That is what's used to justify to insurance. Insurance is looking for a pattern of approved dieting and failure, meaning you gained the weight back. They are also looking for morbidity medical issues, like high blood pressure, arthritis, joint pain, diabetes, reflux, etc. Most of the lapband doctors submit your information sheet with their consultation notes. One of the first things to do is call your insurance and find out if obesity surgery is covered. If so, what is required. That way you will know what information they are looking for. Some of the doctors in the Woodlands use the surgical center that Dr. Spiegel and Spivak own. Check around. Watch this site and search for information here. You will find what doctors others have gone with, what foods to eat, what to expect, etc. There is a wealth of information here and caring loving people to help. Good luck to you

My doctor said in his lecture that she had the band. I don't know if we was speculating or really knows. I think Starr definitely did something besides dieting. She is a real diva now. I don't like her. She had a better personality when she was fat, now she is just full of herself. I, however, will be far more kind.

Suzi, Maybe you can add a poll on the thread to get a better idea of the date. I'm pretty flexible. I don't want to drive to Richmond and then turn the next day and drive to Galveston. I live in Humble. However, we could all meet up in Galveston on Saturday. Those that want to stay there that night can, and those that want to return home could do so. There are lots of rentals around and lots of condos that have pools. There is also the Moody Gardens hotel, a little pricey I know, but it has a nice pool area, a beach, the moody garden attractions, and now the Water park. We can decide what everyone wants to do once we have a date, etc. Maybe, the bigger group meets in Galveston for lunch and goes on to whatever activities they choose. I'm pretty open, but understand that there is some financial implications with whatever we do.

I vote for July 21st. Gives everyone time to return after July 4th. I didn't realize we were spending the night at your house Friday. So that works for a day trip to Galveston or Kemah. Kemah is on the Water and has some stores and restaurants, for those that don't know Kemah. It is closer to Houston and not on the Island, as we call Galveston. What part of town is the slumber party? That may decide where and what we do on Saturday. It will be hot, hot, hot so we must think about our activities carefully!

Maybe what we should do is setup a date, the place, the activities, and then solicit responses. Sometimes people respond better to the details. Galveston and Kemah are great locations. There's something for everyone. Looks like we might get some interest from nearby locations, Beaumont, Port Arthur, etc. Those that want to spend the night can, and those that want to spend the day with us can do that as well. We could decide on a hotel and everyone could make their arrangements if they wanted to spend the night. This could really be lots of fun.

Sounds good to me. Any weekend at end of June, July, or August will work for me. It will be fun to meet everyone and have some fun.

My face is red with this one, The Barbara465 With The Hole

Sorry to hear about your trouble, but definitely taking notes. I know I eat too fast and will take longer due to chronic fatigure and fibromalgia. I am learning from your experiences. Hope things get better real soon for you. I am already planning on using my lunch plates and small utensils after banding.

I will be flying to Seatle that day to start my cruise. I really wanted to meet everyone, but would love to attend the next one. I will finally get banded June 15th so will be officially a member of the banded group when next you meet. Have fun.