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Hi, :biggrin2:

I called his office and went in for a consultation, he talked about the band and answered my questions. He was very nice and so is his staff. When I left his office they gave me a paper that told me what my insurance would possibly pay and the testing they required. I have United Health Care PPO Plus and all I had to do was get a EKG, blood work, and give them 5 years of past weight recordings from my other doctors. That was it. I was approved in about 2 weeks. Dr Mckeen has no pre op diet, just nothing but liquids the day before surgery. On my day, while the hospital was getting me ready, he came in to say hi, and reassure me, I was very nervous!! Good Sam has a bariatic nurse who came in and gave my husband and I a nice size folder will all kinds of reading material. She was very nice and informative, again answered any questions I had. Everyone was very nice and I was out of there by 11 am, my surgery was at 9 am. He had pre-prescribed me nausia medicine which I was so glad I had when I got home, I got nausiated off and on. He told me to get liquid motrin and tylenol which I had ready too, and needed it. I was in quite alot of pain, and mostly slept. My worst day was day 2 and 3, I called him at home, they give out his home number which I found very assuring. And he called me back right away. After I healed up I noticed I had good restriction, and did not go in right away for my post op visit. I called the office and let them know I was doing well and would make a appt later. My first appointment was in March. I still had good restriction, he put some saline in at surgery and it was working fine for me. They weighed me and was happy with my loss, 17 lbs, with no pre op diet, my number was only weight loss after surgery. He tried to give me a little fill, and he was awesome, he got the port easily and I had no pain other then the little poke when he gave me my numbing shot. The fill was too much, so he took it out, told me no charge and he would see me in a month. That is this month and I have not been in as of yet. I don't know how he charges for fills for sure, I have not been billed for one yet, but my insurance covers $150 so I was told I have to pay $50, we will see! Oh, he also has an office in Utah, so he is gone alot. Just to let you know, I have a hard time getting in to his office because of MY job, but the girls in his office are great and work very well with me. They call and check on me and I really like that.:tt2:

He is very nice and knows what he is doing, you will be taken care of very well! Keep me posted on your progress, I would LOVE To hear how things go for you.

Good Luck~

Cathy:smile:

Thank you! I just saw that you left me rep last week! And for my whiney post, too! LOL Happy Thursday!

Hey,

I haven't seen you online at lapbandtalk.com I hope you are doing okay. Having a good week? I got best loser this week at my tops group. Which was very motivating. Also, I posted some pictures that are new on my profile. I am pretty pleased with the diffrence 56lbs makes! How much have you lost all together? Just wondering where and how you have been.

Gail

Hi! How are you? Like your photo. So how are you doing?

I am struggling this week. I am stressed and want to eat. I am suppose to be cleaning and throwing out my stuff but I haven't been too successful. The kitchen guys are coming tomorrow at 9:00 AM and I need this place presentable. UGH! My next fill isn't until April 30th. I dropped down to 199.5 for about 4 hrs and am back up to 202. Enough about me, how are you?

Enjoy this beautiful weather!

Tina

Hi Shannon, I had the band done march 25th in mexico with dr. ortiz, very good experience, I finally got to start eating real food this week as he is pretty conservative and we stay on full liquids for 3 weeks post op, since starting my pre op diet, I have lost 25lbs but figure I will hover around here at my current weight till I get my fills, I had also lost some weight prior to the preop diet, so I am actually down 59 so far. The part I am finding the most difficult is not being able to drink with my meals.

Hi.

Thanks for the info. I went to see Dr Pietrse the wife of Dr.Afriedi and she called someone when we were there , Dr.Jim I presume , and they said to try the Dr. in Sexsmith first and if he had trouble then he would do us at the hospital. Ther eare 2 of us my daughter and myself so we'll se how it goes. We are having our first fills on the 6thof may. How many weeks after your surgery did you have your first fill? Ho did you surgery? I may have read it some were but do not remember. thanks so much for getting to me, I really appreciate it.

Lizzieann

Two more weeks and I get to schedule surgery!

One week and One day until surgery!!

It has been a week and a half since surgery and I have lost only about 8 pounds. From what I have seen and heard from others about their weight loss, this doesn't seem like the norm. What am I doing wrong?

Well today is a big day, I pick my surgery date! I am so scared and nervous. What ifs are trying to take over. Scared the insurance company won't approve me for some crazy reason. Yikes! Can't wait to see whats going to happen in this next couple of weeks! Have a great day everybody!

so almost 2 weeks before surgery I get a freakin cold. Ugh..runny nose..sore throat..and a ear ache..and all I can take is Tylenol..ugh shoot me now

1 more lb and I would have hit my next goal, well guess I have to wait another week??? lol, I am not going to worry over it!!!

Lost 2 on vacation -- all that hiking, swimming and fresh fish in Belize made for a successful week.

checking my lists of what to pack... almost 2 weeks before surgery... its getting real

Went in for a small fill today and couldn't believe I lost 8 lbs in the past 4 weeks especially because I was on steroids for one of those weeks. Yay!

Lost a pound this week, was only a pound but it was my goal to get to my next 10 lb drop, so I am now at 230 which i love, and now next goal 220!!!

3 Weeks post op. I see my surgeon tomorrow regarding the pain I'm having. Hoping all is okay with me - otherwise everything else is going great!!!

Less than two weeks away from the big day! All I can say is wow.

My weight loss has stalled the last two weeks and it's only been a month since my surgery. I'm down 27 lbs so I shouldn't complain but I'm getting upset about it moving so slow.

Lost 7lbs in the past few weeks, I'd like to be excited but I'm so sick its hard to be...

wao i really tho my weight lost eventually was going to speed up.. but nothing.. losing about 1 per week.. no bueno. i was hopping for an amazing weight loss story to post.. but no.. i guess i just have to look at thr positive in it.. at least im not gaining weight

I'm a little bit worried. My husband is really suffering with stomach flu. My daughter and son in law had it last week. This morning I woke up with a queasy stomach and all I want is water. My protein shake made me feel ill. If I start vomiting, do I need to call my doctor?

So, I am back in school studying for my AA in Graphic Design. I will finish up next June. I am very excited! Working Full time and taking two classes every 5 weeks would not be possible without WLS. I have regained my self confidence and can do attitude. It is so nice not to feel defeated all of the time!

Just wanted to say . . . . never give up. After 5 weeks of back and forth with UHC peer to peer and 2 denials, I have finally been approved. Got my pre cert and surgery date for gastric sleeve 8/25.