alwayslookinup

Thanks for the encouragement. I thought for sure I screwed up royally. I am so mad at myself for eating it.

I purposefully did NOT go to any 4th of July BBQ's as I am only 14 days post-op. I am technically still on a liquid diet. I thought going to bbq's would be too much. Instead, I took my 8 year old son to the movies. HE got a popcorn. When the movie started, it smelled so good, I grabbed ONE kernal of popcorn and sucked on it until it was just kernal and swallowed. Technically, no chunks, right? Before you know it, I had about a handful and I felt so sick. I thought WHAT HAVE I DONE. I felt so icky, like I was gonna barf. I feel weak minded and ashamed that I couldn't stick to the lousy liquid diet after purposefully missing 4th celebrations with friends I still managed to find a way to get it wrong. After research, I find that popcorn is so over the top a NO-NO that I now wonder if I have managed to damage anything with the band. HELP!

OMG. Help, what did I do? I purposefully did NOT go to any 4th of July BBQ's as I am only 14 days post-op. I am technically still on a liquid diet. I thought going to bbq's would be too much. Instead, I took my 8 year old son to the movies. HE got a popcorn. When the movie started, it smelled so good, I grabbed ONE kernal of popcorn and sucked on it until it was just kernal and swallowed. Technically, no chunks, right? Before you know it, I had about a handful and I felt so sick. I thought WHAT HAVE I DONE. I felt so icky, like I was gonna barf. I feel weak minded and ashamed that I couldn't stick to the lousy liquid diet after purposefully missing 4th celebrations with friends I still managed to find a way to get it wrong. After research, I find that popcorn is so over the top a NO-NO that I now wonder if I have managed to damage anything with the band. HELP!

Wow! I didn't have that experience. I was able to get my program fee for less than HALF of that. That being said, I already had all my info together. HIS OFFICE staff had to do nothing more than send my COMPLETE file to insurance. With regards to Dr. Simpson. He does come off arrogant. I think he tries to stretch himself too thin. He responds to personal emails, calls and seminars. In my pre-op appointment, he was rehearsed. I have to say I liked him much better than Juarez and Blackstone...two TOP DOCS in addition to Simpson. Juarez was icky and one-sided. Blackstone I never met, she doesn't meet with you until just prior to your surgery, I didn't like that. I want to MEET the doc prior to going under the knife. If Simpson's only downside is that he is a headcase, oh well. Aren't ALL surgeons headcases...playing GOD is in their DNA!

Dr Simpson charges $1200 for his program fees. Its for the POST op classes they require. He gives you books he has written, measuring cups, etc...They will negotiate that price. Mine was much lower depending on your circumstances. His PRE op charges are in line with what your insurance does or does not cover. I just paid co-pays. Although I will say he required half of my program fee BEFORE insurance submission and the rest prior to surgery scheduling. I didn't like that. I felt like charging prior to insurance submission (no refund if denied) was paying his staff to DO the job HE pays them to do as part of being his staff, but, it was required. I tried other Top Docs in the Valley who didn't charge anything. Also, keep in mind that his 1st Assist surgery partner does NOT take all insurances. Make sure to ask his staff, his partners, his surgery centers if they ALL take your insurance. His 1st assist didn't take my insurance so I am out of pocket $750 for his charge. Not cool. It's the minute details that get ya! Good luck!