pr8453
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Everything posted by pr8453
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September 2009 Band Date
pr8453 replied to ashleysara's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Happy Birthday (yesterday)!!!!! Hope you had a great one! You are doing great with your pre-op weight loss! -
My insurance started covereing WLS in 2008 so I started the process then but my insurance required 5 years of Dr records showing a BMI of over 40 and I only had 2007-2009 - the years before that were in the 30's and they denied coverage. I just couldn't see waiting 2 more years of not losing any weight - just so I could show 5 yrs over 40BMI so I starting checking into Self-pay and my dr didn't offer any discounts for self-pay and it was going to cost $21k so I started searching on the internet and found the surgeries in Mexico to be 50% or less what it cost in the US and though I had no idea you could go to Mexico to have surgery. I still have some fears about it - but I just couldn't see spending $20K on it here vs $7K in MX- and I couldn't wait 2 more yrs on my insurance. I hope I am happy with my decision afte 9-9-09! Good luck to you on your journey!
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1dayatatime- Thank you so much for the encouragement! If you don't mind, I have a few questions. How long have you been banded and have you had any serious problems with your band? Which band did you get? Again, thank you!
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Hi, I am from Gainesville, Ga and will be going to Mexico for surgery on 9-9-09. I started my pre-op diet Monday. I keep going back and forth between being really excited to finally be getting this done - to being really nervous - about complications, failing, Mexico..... I have really enjoyed reading alot of the messages on Lapband Talk and seeing how many people have had great success with their bands but then I will read a couple of negative ones and all my doubt comes back.
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I am scheduled for surgery with Dr Pompa. I have found a few people on lbtalk that have been banded or got a sleeve and all had positive results but I am still a little nervous to be going out of country to a dr I have never met to have surgery and then fly back to GA 3 days later! I am glad to hear your experience in MX was good- I am really just looking forward to getting it done- I start my pre-op diet on Monday the 24th.
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Hi Plumbum! I live in Gainesville, GA and see on your profile you are in Canton, GA. I am going to MX on 9-9-09 for my lapband. I had originally been trying since Jan to get approval from my insurance but no luck so I finally decided to bite the bullet and self pay but the office I was working with - had no discount for self pay so it was going to be $21K and I just couldn't see doing that is when I started searching on the internet to see if I could find any drs that did offer discounts for self pay. I had no idea that MX was even a choice and my initial thought was I would be too scared to go to MX for an operation but then the prices were so much more affordable that I just started to think that was the way for me to go. I called my original dr office in Atlanta and asked if they would do fills for patients who received their band outside the US and they said as long as it was an FDA approved band and you brought your surgery report with you that they would. So the first visit they said would be around $300 because it would involve a Dr consult and then after it would be less for just the fills. The Dr name is Michael Smith - located in Alpharetta-Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery Institute, P.C. 770-500-3660. Let me know if you get a different response from them because I am counting on them. There is a Fill Center USA in Roswell and they do have floroscopy available but I would really like to see a Dr at least the first time.
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September 2009 Band Date
pr8453 replied to ashleysara's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi! My surgery date is 9/9/09 in Mexico. I was excited to see someone else from GA. I live in Gainesville and work for AT&T in Alpharetta. Good luck to you on 9/2. Good luck to everyone with their various pre-op diets! I have been writing down the different protein drinks you guys have mentioned in this thread. Thanks! -
Thank you for all the info! I will definately stick to the Dr here in Atlanta - instead of the Fill Center- for the fills! His cost is just $315 for the first appt and then $250 for the additional ones. I hate the idea of one needle in my stomach but would really be stressing if they stuck me over and over and then said you need to go back for additional surgery! So glad yours all worked out well and you found a Dr within driving distance of you. You have to wonder about the quality of the personnel working at that fill center! Thanks again for all the advice and info!
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Good luck on 9/11! I am having my surgery with Dr Pompa on 9/9 so I will be at the hotel recovering while you are getting your band. Best of luck and stay in touch when you get back home! My email address is pr8453@att.com.
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Congratulations on your weight loss! I have just scheduled my surgery for Sept 9th, so it is very encouraging to me to hear that others who have recently gone through it are happy with the choice and having good results!
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I am scheduled with Dr Pompa on Sept 9th. I set everything up through Dr. Daniela Colin-LIMARP CHIEF NUTRITIONSIT so that is the only person I have corresponded with for all of my questions. I start my pre-op diet on Monday and I am really excited to be getting this done finally. I have been thinking about it and researching it for past 2 years but my insurance didn't cover WLS and I had no idea that Mexico was an alternative. Then this year my insurance started covering it but you have to show medical records for past 5 years showing a BMI of over 40 and I only had past 2 years over 40 and refuse to wait 3 more years - and continue gaining weight - just so my insurance will cover it. I was able to find a dr in Atlanta that will do the fills and there is also a Fill Center USA close by. So hopefully all will go well.
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Thank you Less of Me and congratulations on your great weight loss so far! Do you mind if I ask a few more questions about your surgery? I just wondered what brand of band did you get and have you had any issues with the port or getting fills? Any regrets? Sorry, I have been reading so much the past few days that I have gone from being really excited to being a little nervous about it now. How long did you do the pre-op diet? Thank you again for your help and sorry for all the questions!!
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Did you both get your lapband surgery with Dr Pompa in May? Have you had any problems? Was it a good experience? I am scheduled with Dr Pompa in Sept and just wanted to know how your experiences have been. Thank you very much for the info and I hope you are both doing great!
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HI, I saw that you were banded by Dr Pompa in Mexico and wondered if you had any issues or if it has been a good experience. My insurance has denied my surgery because they want 5 years of a BMI of 40+ and I only have 3 yrs but I certainly dont want to wait 2 more years before I get started so I have decided to self pay and will be going to Mexico to Dr Ortiz or Dr Pompa, but wanted to hear from others that were banded by them to see if there were any problems- with the banding, complications later, problems finding a dr in the states for aftercare and fillings, etc. Thank you so much for your help!
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Have you had any issues with your lapband surgery? I am considering Dr Pompa for my surgery because my insurance will not approve it because they require a BMI of 40+ for 5 years or more and I only have 3 years at this time and cannot wait 2 more years for it. Thank you for your help!
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How are you doing since your surgery? Have you had any problems? How is your weight loss going? My insurance didn't approve my lapband surgery because they require 5 years of Dr records showing a BMI of 40+ and I only had past 3 years- over 40 so I am considering Mexico also and wondered how it went for you. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are doing great!