Hi everyone-

I've been lurking as a "visitor" for some time now and finally decided to join up today. I'm pre-op and started my research on various WLS about 2 years ago. Initially I was considering the LB like so many others... it sounded perfect! and completely reversable- woohoo. But the more I read about it, the more it scared me! And then the thought of constant fills and a foreign object inside me.... no thnx.

I have a close friend who got banded in Jan and she has had some success but tons of problems and regularly vomits after meals... She also tends to eat pretty terrible stuff because "it stays down"... I can't imagine that lifestyle.

I came across the VSG forum on LapBandTalk and eventually found my way over here... VSG sounded like a good match for me and I found a local surgeon I was happy with about a year ago and made plans for surgery.

I'm a self pay, so things were moving quickly when I found out I was pregnant!

It came as a complete shock for DH and I but we were thrilled! Surgery had to wait till after the baby. Not long after finding out I was pregnant, we found out we were having twins! LOL.

Now my twin girls are 5 mo old (see avatar) and I've been back in communication with the local surgeon to get things moving on my VSG.

I go for my pre-op consultation Sept 10th and will schedule my surgery then. I'm excited/nervous!

I look forward to reading more about everyone's journey and will update with my own as things get rolling!

Hi ya'll

I'm doing fantastic!

Bright and early wednesday morning, DH and I dropped our twins off at a family member's house so he could join me at the hospital while I was in surgery.

On the way back to the interstate we were stopped at a busy intersection when a HUGE black pickup ran the red light and plowed 3 other cars into our tiny little Prius.

The first car accident I was ever in just had to happen on the way to a hospital... ironic.

Thankfully everyone was ok and ours was the only car that was drivable following the accident.

I called the hospital on the way there to tell them I was going to be late and explain the situation. Everyone was fantastic and my surgery was pushed back to the 3rd and final surgery for the day.

When we finally arrived, the doctors checked me over to make sure I was ok from the car accident and then got me prepped for surgery. Dr Bellanger stopped by before surgery to chat with me and my husband which was nice.

That's pretty much all I remember up until waking up in recovery. I just kept asking "are you done yet?" and the nurse would tell me the surgery was over. I must have asked 3 or 4 times.. it just didn't seem possible that it was over already. I was in a lot of pain as I began to wake up and my face itched like crazy from the anesthesia.

Once the pain was under control (yay morphine), I felt fine. Very sore and gassy but no nausea. I was able to start sucking on ice chips which was great since I had awful cottonmouth. Dr Bellanger came to check on me again and was pleased that I could keep down some broth and Jello.

DH came back up to the hospital that evening with my twins and I was able to snuggle them one at a time while we watched a little TV (Glee- I love this show!). I ended up sleeping most of the evening and barely noticed the nurses coming in every few hours to check vitals.

Thursday Dr. Bellanger came to check on me again and we talked about followup and what to look for at home if I had any problems. I was discharged around 11am.

So far recovery has been very easy. lots of sipping but I'm getting in all my Fluid AND my Protein. I find it a lot easier to get my fluids in if I stay on top of my pain management, every 5 hrs I take the pain meds to keep any serious pain at bay. As of today my pain is nearly gone and is mostly just some discomfort. I stopped the pain meds and only plan to take them tonight to help me sleep.

I've read a lot of people's experiences comparing the VSG pain to a Csection pain, but to me- the VSG was so much easier.

I'm really happy I went through with the VSG. Dr Bellanger has been fantastic and St Elizabeth's was excellent.

Thanks everyone for your support! I'll update more when the scale starts to move. :confused:

I really enjoyed reading your story, I wish you all the best on your journey!!

Quick update!

I have a date! Oct. 7th. :thumbup:

Hi Feffers! Today is your day! Congratulations! How are you feeling?

Wow guys, thank you for the warm welcome!

PennyS- I'll be seeing Dr. Bellanger. I've met 2 of his former VSG patients and they had glowing reviews about their surgery experience.

Hey Penny I am also using Dr. Ballenger in Gonzales, La. I had a

Nov. 3rd date, but my blood pressure stopped my surgery in it's tracks. I'm working on my BP and hoping for a Dec. Date. Great to find some who is local and using Dr. B. PLease keep me posted, and let me hear of your glowing reviews. I also had a friend who used Dr. B. and she loved him. That is why I went to him.

I was at the Oct. 22nd Seminar, with my husband. I can't wait to get

started !!!! I'm from Canton, Ms. 3 1/2 hours away and 25 miles north of Jackson.

Hi ya'll

I'm doing fantastic!

Bright and early wednesday morning, DH and I dropped our twins off at a family member's house so he could join me at the hospital while I was in surgery.

On the way back to the interstate we were stopped at a busy intersection when a HUGE black pickup ran the red light and plowed 3 other cars into our tiny little Prius.

The first car accident I was ever in just had to happen on the way to a hospital... ironic.

Thankfully everyone was ok and ours was the only car that was drivable following the accident.

I called the hospital on the way there to tell them I was going to be late and explain the situation. Everyone was fantastic and my surgery was pushed back to the 3rd and final surgery for the day.

When we finally arrived, the doctors checked me over to make sure I was ok from the car accident and then got me prepped for surgery. Dr Bellanger stopped by before surgery to chat with me and my husband which was nice.

That's pretty much all I remember up until waking up in recovery. I just kept asking "are you done yet?" and the nurse would tell me the surgery was over. I must have asked 3 or 4 times.. it just didn't seem possible that it was over already. I was in a lot of pain as I began to wake up and my face itched like crazy from the anesthesia.

Once the pain was under control (yay morphine), I felt fine. Very sore and gassy but no nausea. I was able to start sucking on ice chips which was great since I had awful cottonmouth. Dr Bellanger came to check on me again and was pleased that I could keep down some broth and Jello.

DH came back up to the hospital that evening with my twins and I was able to snuggle them one at a time while we watched a little TV (Glee- I love this show!). I ended up sleeping most of the evening and barely noticed the nurses coming in every few hours to check vitals.

Thursday Dr. Bellanger came to check on me again and we talked about followup and what to look for at home if I had any problems. I was discharged around 11am.

So far recovery has been very easy. lots of sipping but I'm getting in all my Fluid AND my Protein. I find it a lot easier to get my fluids in if I stay on top of my pain management, every 5 hrs I take the pain meds to keep any serious pain at bay. As of today my pain is nearly gone and is mostly just some discomfort. I stopped the pain meds and only plan to take them tonight to help me sleep.

I've read a lot of people's experiences comparing the VSG pain to a Csection pain, but to me- the VSG was so much easier.

I'm really happy I went through with the VSG. Dr Bellanger has been fantastic and St Elizabeth's was excellent.

Thanks everyone for your support! I'll update more when the scale starts to move. :001_wub:

Oh I'm so glad to here everything went well, for I am using Dr. Bellanger too. How are you doing now? I've not got my date back yet due to high blood pressure, but I'm hoping for a Dec. Date. I can't wait to see how your doing now.....

Judy from Canton, Ms.

I live about 45 minutes outside of Baton Rouge and have been referred to Dr. B. by an acquaintance. I am still waiting to see if my insurance will approve surgery, however, I am pretty sure that WLS is an exclusion to my policy. Can anyone tell me what Dr. B's cash price is?

Just curious. I am also considering going to Mexico, but would much rather do it close to home....

Thanks!

Hi there...in which direction do you live 45 minutes outside of BR? I'm in Mandeville and Dr. French will be my surgeon. I'm cash pay also as any type of WLS is an exclusion on my policy and his "low risk" cash price is $13,600.

I am in Ponchatoula. Where is Dr. French at?

Hi there...in which direction do you live 45 minutes outside of BR? I'm in Mandeville and Dr. French will be my surgeon. I'm cash pay also as any type of WLS is an exclusion on my policy and his "low risk" cash price is $13,600.

He's in Covington.

I live about 45 minutes outside of Baton Rouge and have been referred to Dr. B. by an acquaintance. I am still waiting to see if my insurance will approve surgery, however, I am pretty sure that WLS is an exclusion to my policy. Can anyone tell me what Dr. B's cash price is?

Just curious. I am also considering going to Mexico, but would much rather do it close to home....

Thanks!

Hi, I had my surgery In December 1st 2009. At that time it cost 13,950.00. That encludes everything. You have to put down a small down

payment if your self pay like 250.00 if I remember correct. I really like Dr. Ballenger. He is a great Dr. He's not real talkative, but does an exellent job. I've had NO complications what so ever. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I wouldn't change a thing. I've lost 48 lbs in 4 months. I am not looking for super fast weight loss. My progress maybe slower than some, but I'm very happy with it.

My Insurance did not pay for my surgery. I was lucky enough to have inheireted enough money from my beloved Grandfather to pay for the surgery. He would have wanted this, and I know he would have approved.

They do have a payment plan, but because I didn't have to use it, I don't know much about it. But if I had to do it that way, I would, no doubt. It's worth every penny.

My husband would not hear of me going out of the country, so I had to give up that idea. Best of luck to you !!!

Judy:blush:

Hey there, I'm in Louisiana too! What part are you from? I had VSG in Mexico in November and have lost 64 pounds since then. I had a lap band for 3 years, then had it removed after many problems. This is the BEST thing you could do for yourself! Good Luck and look forward to hearing your progress!!

Hi, I had my surgery In December 1st 2009. At that time it cost 13,950.00. That encludes everything. You have to put down a small down

payment if your self pay like 250.00 if I remember correct. I really like Dr. Ballenger. He is a great Dr. He's not real talkative, but does an exellent job. I've had NO complications what so ever. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself. I wouldn't change a thing. I've lost 48 lbs in 4 months. I am not looking for super fast weight loss. My progress maybe slower than some, but I'm very happy with it.

My Insurance did not pay for my surgery. I was lucky enough to have inheireted enough money from my beloved Grandfather to pay for the surgery. He would have wanted this, and I know he would have approved.

They do have a payment plan, but because I didn't have to use it, I don't know much about it. But if I had to do it that way, I would, no doubt. It's worth every penny.

My husband would not hear of me going out of the country, so I had to give up that idea. Best of luck to you !!!

Judy:blush:

Hi,

I don?t think you should go out of the country either........... But lots of doctors have payment plans, or surgery companies that do payment plans, plus the hospital will negotiate the price with you just call them. I also negotiate the price with my doctors too. Doesn?t hurt to ask anything is possible. I had to paid cash for both the band and the sleeve. My bmi was too much for the band and the sleeve was not covered by my plan. I not sure if the sleeve is cover yet due to it being so new with insurance companies? You can write your insurance company ask them to take the sleeve to there board of directors and see if they will pay for it also. In ten months I have lost 86 pounds with the sleeve and 100 with the band in one year. It?s still hard with the sleeve, I through-up if I don?t chew at least 30 times, if I eat to fast or if I take to big of a drink too. Good luck keep us up to date. :thumbup1:

My hospital was $ 4,500 two day stay

Doctor $ 8,500.00

Hi everyone-

I've been lurking as a "visitor" for some time now and finally decided to join up today. I'm pre-op and started my research on various WLS about 2 years ago. Initially I was considering the LB like so many others... it sounded perfect! and completely reversable- woohoo. But the more I read about it, the more it scared me! And then the thought of constant fills and a foreign object inside me.... no thnx.

I have a close friend who got banded in Jan and she has had some success but tons of problems and regularly vomits after meals... She also tends to eat pretty terrible stuff because "it stays down"... I can't imagine that lifestyle.

I came across the VSG forum on LapBandTalk and eventually found my way over here... VSG sounded like a good match for me and I found a local surgeon I was happy with about a year ago and made plans for surgery.

I'm a self pay, so things were moving quickly when I found out I was pregnant!

It came as a complete shock for DH and I but we were thrilled! Surgery had to wait till after the baby. :thumbup1: Not long after finding out I was pregnant, we found out we were having twins! LOL.

Now my twin girls are 5 mo old (see avatar) and I've been back in communication with the local surgeon to get things moving on my VSG.

I go for my pre-op consultation Sept 10th and will schedule my surgery then. I'm excited/nervous!

I look forward to reading more about everyone's journey and will update with my own as things get rolling!

Good luck, the time will fly by!!!!

Good luck, the time will fly by!!!!

The weight lost you'll love, I love my band, when it needed to be removed I felt like I went through a death. Doctor had me wait six months to perform the sleeve. I have went through the same things with the sleeve as the band, if you don?t chew at least 30 time before swallowing and don?t drink slow you'll be throwing-up just like the band. If you don?t pick wise choices when eating you won?t losses the weight either. I have learned a lot through the classes, support groups before and after surgery. I still go to classes all the time to help reinforce what I know. I have learned that if you eat mushy, soft or Soups this wont help. You must eat food of substance, always Protein first, veggies, fruit then last carbs if you chose to.

Congratulation on your twins, what a wonderful time for you, and then your off to a new you in Sept.

:thumbup1: