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Hey is there any one that is a bandster in Indiana. Have looked on the forum and there is no one posting..so any info out there

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Since Dr. Neal (pacsurgical) got fluoroscopy up and running his fills have jumped to $350 per fill, $150 for alterations within a week of fill date. Ouch!

Not bashing him since we all love our surgeons, just saving the office staff phone/email time answering this question for everybody.

NWWLS told me that they do not do fills for MX patients.

I understand the Doctors Fox do take MX patients, but I think they do blind fills. This last part could be wrong...

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Sorry Little One, I haven't checked the Indiana forum. Perhaps try checking the states that border Indiana? I know I'm closer to Utah than I am Boise, but I live in both Washington and Idaho...

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Since Dr. Neal (pacsurgical) got fluoroscopy up and running his fills have jumped to $350 per fill, $150 for alterations within a week of fill date. Ouch!

Not bashing him since we all love our surgeons, just saving the office staff phone/email time answering this question for everybody.

NWWLS told me that they do not do fills for MX patients.

I understand the Doctors Fox do take MX patients, but I think they do blind fills. This last part could be wrong...

Dr Fox does do blind fills unless they think something might be amiss.

and they dont charge to add or remove some in the first week after a fill. there fill price just went up to 225$. its 350$ - 400$ for your first visit to get everything in order to take you on as a patient.

theres also a Dr Chebli in the ballard area of seattle. i hear hes good and very fair on his price.

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I just started seeing Dr. Neal anyone have a Endoscope done by him? I would really like to get one done since it has been almost 2 years since I was banded. I was banded in Mexico and have had trouble keeping Doctors. They all seem to change their policies and won't see Mexico patients. If I could change one thing about being banded that is what it would be. I would have done it in the states. Finding and keeping Drs has been the worst.

Can anyone let me know there thoughts on Dr. Neal.

Thanks Kathy in Castle Rock, WA

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Sorry, don't know Dr. Neal. But replying to bump your post and hope someone else can comment! If you don't get a response here then definitely try the Yahoo group PNW_Bandsters.

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I checked on Dr. Chebli's rates. First fill is $250, subsequent fills are $200, an office visit with no fill is $40. The receptionist is very pleasant, they answer emails promptly (check out Obesity Help for contact info), and I scheduled a fill for Monday!

Will let everyone know how it went on Tuesday. He is in Ballard.

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OK, the fill did not go so well. Was it just that this was a blind fill? Was it just my fat depth? I was impressed with both Dr. Chebli and Lisa, but I am a big bruised mess. He was patient, pleasant and devoted. Lisa is a crack up who loves to talk.

He uses Lidocaine so the pain during was minimal, but the emotional trauma was significant. I must have had at least 100 needle sticks (I hate injections). I have 5 surface holes in a 3"x2" bruise. It is tender. On the bright side, the tissue damage may be like liposuction causing a reduced mass in that general area (unless it causes scar tissue). We had a hard time finding the port. It is very deep on my waistline. My biggest concern would be that he had no larger needles available. This probably would have been the problem-solver we were desperately seeking.

He asked if I wanted to stop and I chose to continue. He was very concerned with my comfort the entire time. I ended with a 1 cc fill.

Dr. Chebli is very clear that he is not just a "Fill Doc", he expects patients to subscribe to his program. He is of the opinion that Bandsters need supervision and guidance. I think he is right.

I will probably pay more for my next fill (under fluoroscope). But will come back to Chebli when I have lost some more weight. He says that he is able to hit the port in most of his patients the first time and that I was a very unusual exception. I AM very unusual.

I have a moderate level of restriction which is impressive since I am still on fluids. On the whole I am glad I went, I really needed a fill. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as it looks.

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Hi Laurel i had my lap band June 2001 in mexico Dr Rumbaut. I live in mt vernon wa. Looking for something closer to get a band adjustment?

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Hi...Michelle, outskirts of Granite Falls...technically Arlington. I am waiting to get on my husband's insurance that DOES cover weightloss surgery!!! I'm so excited. Good luck with your journey!!!

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HELLO ALL. 28 DAYS BANDED OR SO. SO LOST. SUCH A BAD BAD BAD BAD GIRL. LOOKING TO GET MY FIRST FILL AT THE 6 WEEK MARK. NO LATER THATS FOR SURE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTION AT ALL. IM ONLY DOWN ABOUT 5-6 LBS SINCE MY SURGERY. GEEZ. I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO START ANY EXCERSICING YET. RECOVERED FROM SURGERY AND NOW IM DEALING WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR HIP BURSITIS. I CANT WAIT UNTIL I CAN AT LEAST WALK A LITTLE BIT W/O EXPERIENCING PAIN, LIMPING AND BEING A WIMP IN GENERAL. :sick

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HELLO ALL. BOTHELL HERE. 28 DAYS BANDED. STILL LEARNING THE ROPES HERE. IVE A GOT A SLOW START BUT AS SOON AS I GET TO FEELING BETTER I HOPE TO POST SOME GOOD PROGRESS.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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