WendyMary

I have a sticky situation and I'll try to make it short. I've been planning my Lap band surgery for months now and anxious to be banded. I'm over a week into the very difficult pre op liquid protein diet and doing well (i've lost 9 lbs). My surgery is scheduled for Monday and my grandmother just passed away and the funeral is scheduled for Wed. I called the Dr. office and they thought I should feel ok. I've talked with other banders and they all seemed to be feeling better and getting themselves off pain meds on around day 3 or 4. I have family comming in from all over and don't want anyone to know. I've told my immediate family (mom, dad, brother, uncle). Any advice??? tell me how you were feeling?? I have never had surgery before, but feel like I'm pretty tolerant of pain and I'm healthy (except for the weight issue) and I exercise regularly. I really don't want to reschedule, I've already done that once due to the holidays and all.......I should have kept my original date. I don't mind being soar on the incision site....Pain meds should help a bit. I'm worried about internal soarness.....is it really bad???? I'm also not worried about the not eating part either.....I've done it all week and no one really notices... I just keep a drink in my hand and sip on that....Sorry this was long....help!!!

I have a situation that I want to hear comments from. I'll try to make it short. I have been planning my Band surgery for months now and am at the end stretch of the 2 week pre op liquid diet and doing well. My surgery is Monday (yeah) and my grandmother just passesd away and funeral is scheduled for Wed (72 hours post op). I called the Dr. office to see if I should reschedule. I have to attend the funeral and would like to attend the after ceremony. I will be seeing family from all over and no one but my parents, brother and uncle know and I don't want anyone to know. Can everyone tell me about how they felt 72 hours post op?? Any advice would be helpful as I am totally stressed about this. Thanks

I have a situation that I want to hear comments from. I'll try to make it short. I have been planning my Band surgery for months now and am at the end stretch of the 2 week pre op liquid diet and doing well. My surgery is Monday (yeah) and my grandmother just passesd away and funeral is scheduled for Wed (72 hours post op). I called the Dr. office to see if I should reschedule. I have to attend the funeral and would like to attend the after ceremony. I will be seeing family from all over and no one but my parents, brother and uncle know and I don't want anyone to know. Can everyone tell me about how they felt 72 hours post op?? Any advice would be helpful as I am totally stressed about this. Thanks

I thought he was wonderful too. Do you have a blog or anything documenting your journey?? Can you tell us about your journey so far??? Wendy

Thank you, that is so reassuring. I looked up some pictures online and it looks real nice, just good to hear from someone who has actually seen it. Also, great that you had a good experience. Wendy

Hi, Just curuious, I went to San Pedro office for consult and physical and will have the surgery in Rancho Cucamonga facility. What did you think of the Rancho Specialty Hospital??? I won't see it until the day of my surgery and wanted to get a feel for it.

Brenda, What do you mean about adding the thicker???? The Dr. is so nice, but he is walking with a cane due to a back injury. He assures me it hasn't affected his surgery and I feel fine with it. He's very nice and personable. The office wants me to purchase the Protein shakes and vitamis through them and they really push it (the Dr. doesn't push their shakes). The kit is $150 and it will provide 3 tubs of protein and Vitamins which should be enought for pre op diet as well and post op diet. They didn't mention it to you???? I was thinking of purchasing the kit just to be safe and felt it was comparable (a little more) than some of the good protein drinks out there. Tell me what you are using and if they tried to get you to buy theirs and you decided not to. Talk to you soon, Wendy

I've heard of Dr. Ortiz in TJ.

Hi Brenda, My surgery is Jan 15, but I might have made a typo and put Dec. Sorry. I was originally scheduled for the 5th as well, but postponed to the 15th due to the preop diet and the holidays and all. I don't think I will be able to do it with the holidays. I'm not that disciplined. I've been talking with Michle also, and she is doing so well. It's nice to know what to expect. I didn't have to do any authorizations or anything with the office, they just told me to pay 1/2 the costs 2 weeks before surgery and the other 1/2 to the hospital the day of surgery. Is that what you have to do as well??? The office didn't give me any other details about time etc. They said someone would call me just before the procedure to give me all the details.

That is great!!! You must be having surgery at the Orange County facility!!! I'm going to the Rancho Facility and am scheduled for Jan 19th. Is your sugery going to be covered by Insurance??? I didn't have to wait for any authorizations, just a visit with the doctor and I'm ready to go. I'm paying cash. Good luck and keep me posted. Wendy

Hi, Did you end up going with Dr. Ownes?? I'm scheduled for surgery Dec 15th. Wendy

Hi Brenda, Have you heard anything on your insurance??? My insurance won't cover weight loss procedures at all. I saw Dr. Nazarian and Dr. Owens, both good doctors, but I ultimately went with Dr. Owens for a few reasons. He was a little cheaper and I'm paying cash and he offers a sort of insurance protection plan called BLIS also he didn't require that I do a lot of the pre op tests (i.e. nutritionist, psychologist, uppger GI) since I'm in good health. He does require a 2 week pre op liquid diet (Uggg!!!) as well as the usual post op liquid diet. My surgery is scheduled for Dec 15th. Good luck with your search. Wendy

Hi Michele, Well I went in yesterday and I guess I got mixed up on the date of my appt. They said it was scheduled for last Sun and the Dr. is only in every other Sun., so I am rescheduled to go in on the 2nd. I felt a little silly, I'm sure it was my error as I have had a very busy couple of weeks and probably marked my calendar wrong. Anyway, I'll let you know next week. I thought the location and feel of the office was fine. I see what you mean about a small waiting room, but I didn't get that uneasy feeling about it. I can't wait to start my journey. I'm glad your moving along. When is your surgery date again????? Keep me posted and I'll get back to you next week. Have a happy Halloween with your little ones. Wendy

Hi Michele, I am going to have to self pay and its not something I can really afford right now, but I feel this is my health. I want to do this while I'm fairliy young before I develope more serious health problems. I have a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity etc., so I know this is something I need to do for my health and it will give me back my self confidence. Anyway, I'm hoping I like the experience with Dr. Nazarian on Sunday and that we can work out some really low payments over the course of many years. The expense is partly why I'm looking in to Mexico as well. I keep hearing great things about Dr. Ortiz and TJ is a short trip and my husband is Mexican and speaks fluent spannish, but he's very uncomfortable about the whole Mexico thing, so we'll see. It seems rather frustrating to go to all these appointments and so far away for all these pre op things. There were no doctors closer that could do your pre op appointments??? Is the upper GI only because of your heart burn or do all patients need to do that??? Do you have medical problems due to your weight??? Talk to you soon, Wendy

ok, I'm going for my consultation with Nazarian this Sunday, so I'll let you know how it goes. It's confirmed that my insurance will not pay for it, so I'm looking at Dr. Nazarian or maybe Mexico Dr. Ortiz. Hows all you pre op stuf going Mattsmom??

Hi Gabi, I actually haven't had a consult with Dr. Nazarian yet, so there might be some added charges once I have the consult. I think a lot of doctors move around to different locations and I got Dr. Nazarian's name from this website Lap Band: Laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery. Lap Band Surgery and he has a internet special at the San Dimas Location. The lady I spoke with did say that they could offer such a good price because of the facility. Again, I haven't had my consultation yet, but will keep you posted. What was your experience of Dr. Nazarian?????

I also saw the internet rate and they told me it covered a years worth of fills, but not anesthesia. That seems like a lot to me to add for anesthesia. Do you think???? I figured $500 extra at most, but I can be totally off base. Anyway, I haven't found financing yet, but the Beverly Hills Consultation I had said they could finance for likee $100 a month. I know I'll be paying for years, but its kinda what I need right now. I hope they can do the same. I'm going to go ahead with Dr. Nazarian's Consultation. I am still going to try insurance, but don't think it will work. The Beverly Hills office I went to (Top Surgeons), put throught a request to insurance, but after reviewing their doctors, I know I don't want to go with them, so I don't know how that works. If it goes through (cross my fingers) can I switch Drs??? Hope so. Anyway. Keep me posted. -Wendy

what was the total out of pocket cost with him???? I've been researching doctors a lot the last week and I'm going to call Dr. Owens (Rancho Cucamonga), Dr. Coon and Dr.Krahn and see what their out of pocket costs are and I'll keep you posted. I called Dr. Nazarin's office and had good response from his team. I was pleased with that and I have seen a bio on him. Just wasn't happy with some of the responses people left about him and the yawning thing. Keep me posted and we'll hope to hear some good experiences to soon be posted.

Hi, I was thinking about having a consult with Dr. Nazarian. Have to pay cash and he is a good price. Not sure now that I read these posts. Anyone out there have a good experience with Dr. Nazarian or other bad experiences???? Anyone actually get banded with him??? How has your band been doing????? Anyone out there have a Dr. in the Inland Empire area with good experience and decent cash price????? Any help would be appreciated.