melinda_205

Restless Monkey, I was so glad to read one of the earlier post about someone being off from Wed-Tues but you were pretty much in my shoes! I wont have a test until Wed so maybe that will be long enough that I can get it together some. However, clinicals on Tuesday kinda scares me, but I have already got with my instructor and she says that everything will be fine, she is gonna put me in labor and delivery and then a chair when the babies arent popping out.....I'm really hoping for a quite day!

Libby Jane 1976 wow, I'm really glad to hear that bc that is the same amount of time that I have to "get it together" after surgery. I wish it was work that I was worried about, I could at least call in sick, but this is nursing school and I return to clinicals on Tuesday!

I saw some of those pics too and finally quit looking bc I decided "Lord knows if I stay this big, I dont ever have to worry about anyone seeing them anyway", but I am glad that you said yours wasn't so bad. I think I heal pretty fast and the only surgical scar I have is from a tubal ligation and really isn't vizable. I also survived 5 older brothers without too many scars so maybe I will be as lucky as you. As far as your pain, is it gone yet or have you had any trouble? I go 9 days from today, so of course that it is one of my biggest concerns right now. BTW....19lbs! wow, congrats!

Hey, I know that you ask for Ga or Fl, but since Alabama is just a few miles down, I am self pay and the total cost is $12 thousand. I am going in on July 1st and Dr. touliotis (spelled wrong I'm sure) with Advanced Surgeons will be my surgeon. This only covers 6 months of fills, which he seems to think that will be 90% of the fills that I will need, but if you have insurance (it doesnt have to cover the band) fills are the amount of your co pay. If you dont have insurance then fills are still less than $100, which seems to be much less than most that I have seen. I believe there is a doctor in colorado that charges $10,500, and if you want to make the trip it covers fills for 3 months then $15 per fill after that. I considered going to him, but then I thought about how much of an inconvience it would be. Plus by the time you travel that much you would be paying the normal prices anyway. Best of Luck!

Becky, glad to know that you are doing well. Like you, I have tried to keep in mind that things can and do go wrong or at least take an unexpected turn but I have made up my mind to do this. At one point after I got a surgery date my thoughts started racing, but I just decided I'm doing this and from this point on I have to think of it as being as important as any other life threatening surgery. So far that has worked to keep my nerves settled. Thanks for letting me know how you are doing and about the surgery. I wish you well and hope that you have a speedy recovery. BTW, I knew that you were a teacher before you told me. I think it was just the planning and having a plan b....bet you are a really great teacher! Best of Luck!

July 1, 2009! So nervous and excited :biggrin:

Hey Becky! I'm glad to hear that you are doing good. I am really getting excited now that my date is getting closer but still very nervous! I will be able to take it easy for a few days, like 5 or 6 but then it will be hard at it again, but my instructors know that I cant lift for a little while. How has the pain been for you? Are you glad that you decided to go through with it? Thanks for sharing about the surgery center, I'm really glad that someone could let me know a little about it. Good luck with the band and your new journey.

Congrats!! June 10th...that is so exciting and scary at the same time. I had originally set a date for June 19, but had to change it bc of nursing clinicals. I still have every intention of having it done but I have to work around class but I will eventually get it all in order. I am so happy for you. It sounds like we have both done a lot of thinking and praying about this. I know that it has and still is one of the hardest decisions that I have ever tried to make, but I do feel like it is in my best interest to do it. Thank you so much for sharing with me and I would love to know how everything goes for you. Will you be at Trinity or at the surgery center? I will be going to the surgery center bc I am self pay and I will still have the same wonderful doctor, it will just cost a little less. FYI, I heard that Dr. T and Pennington are wonderful. I work with a few nurses that think the world of both of them, not only of their bedside manner but also of their skills. I think you will be in good hands. I will keep you in my prayers and hope you have a speedy and painless recovery. Please let us all know how you are doing as soon as you feel up to it. GOOD LUCK!

Thank you for such a quick reply. I think I will like Dr. T. He seems to know what he is doing and for the most part I have heard nothing but good things about him. I am really nervous about the surgery but I know that the lapband is the only answer to helping me lose weight and keep it off. I have already seen him as well as the nutritionist so now its down to calling to schedule the appointment. I just wanted to get a little feedback from you as well as his other patients, mostly bc this is such a life changing experience and the other reason being that I have to pay out of pocket. At this point my mind is really already made up, I just have to get my nerves to that point (lol). I'm also trying to find a good time when I can work around school, just in case the pain is worse than what I am expecting. Thanks again for your help.

Hi. I'm new on here, well at least for posting or replying, but I have lounged around and read for almost a year. I tried to go through bc/bs last year and they refused to pay bc my weight has always went up and down so now I have decided to just go ahead and pay out of pocket (which is a really big decision bc I am in nursing school right now). To make a long story short, Dr. T will also be my doctor but I will be going through the surgery clinic and not the hospital. I am really nervous and really scared but at the same time very very excited. Will you please tell me about your experience with Dr. T? Maybe give me some helpful hints such as what is clear liquid besides broth, jello, and water and anything else that will make this journey a little easier and a little less mentally exhausting. I think I can handle the physical pain but I am really trying to pump myself up to help with the mental/head hunger stuff that I hear everyone talking about. I sent this to you bc I saw that Dr. T was your doctor but I appreciate any info/advice that anyone wants to give. I am new to this so as much research and studing that I have done, I still know there are those that are already banded that can tell me hundreds of things that I dont know yet. Wish me luck, I hope to have this done the month of June if all goes well, if not it will definitely be in July.