Hi, I've been lurking around for awhile and am begining to wonder if there are any Arkansas bandsters. I live in the NE and am thinking about being banded. I go tonight to a seminar in Jonesboro. Has anybody been banded there?

I am self pay. The doctors in Memphis want 18 to 20 thousand. That would be fine if I could come up with that kind of money.......

So, I am looking for a less expensive alternative that is close by. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

SueB

Hello. I am from sw arkansas. There are seldom any replies for Arkansas.

I can tell you that the surgeons in Texarkana, TX charge about 16,000. Or at least that was one of the amounts I read in the past year. Good Luck

Mine was about $20K in Dallas but I do believe I have above average surgeon and aftercare physicians. Many self-pay lapbanders have had very positive experiences in Mexico for about $8K....you can find lots of info on this board about which ones are good and which ones to avoid.

Best wishes!!

Hi, I'm in SW Arkansas too and have begun investigating the lap band procedure. Have you been banded? If so, where? Thanks for your help.

Hi, I'm in SW Arkansas too and have begun investigating the lap band procedure. Have you been banded? If so, where? Thanks for your help.

I am set for surgery with Dr. Jones in Jonesboro AR and his office quoted me a price of 15,000 total, but my insurance covers 80/20 will his letter of medical necessity.. I met a girl in his office that was banded and she said that her hosp bill and his fee was 11,700 total...

Hi, I'm in SW Arkansas too and have begun investigating the lap band procedure. Have you been banded? If so, where? Thanks for your help.

No, I am not banded. I have been looking into it for some time now. My drs. have sent letters to my insurance, which doesn't want to pay more than a fraction of the cost. At this time my case is under review. I don't know how long that will take. If I were to get banded I would probably get in done in Texarkana.

Hey, Fellow Arkies! I am in Conway (central) and was banded in July 2005. If you have any questions I would be happy to attempt to answer them. (of course, it will be from a personal perspective--I am not a dr) Fortunately, my insurance covered the procedure, so I don't know much about the cost! Terri

You get to reading all these posts about complications and such and it kind of scares you. Then you read such positive posts and you get your hopes up again that this might work!!! It's so confusing. Any insight you could give would be great since you've had yours for over a year.

Thanks

Kim

Hi Kim. You may have me mixed up with someone else. I am not banded yet. But I have been looking into it for a good while. But there are many that have been banded for a year and many more that have been banded for much longer. Many will tell you the ups amd the downs. It seems like that the most that have trouble ( not all) know why they had the trouble. I have a young friend that has been banded for a little over a month and she is doing fantastic. BUT she is following the drs. orders to a perfect T. After all the reading I have done, that seems to be the key.

Sugarbear, I'm sorry I failed to put address my response to Terri. Thanks for starting this thread....it's nice to hear from people that are close by or at least in the same state!!

Kim

I am from NW Arkansas . My insurance did pay for all the surgery. I know you should check out www.arkansasobesitysurgery.com they have a cash pay program I believe only 15,000. That is who did my surgery and they are awesome people all the nurses there are banders also. Makes this journey a little easier.

I had my surgery in Little Rock AR check out www.arkansasobesitysurgery.com

Well, maybe this will be one new years resolution l will be able to follow. I am at about 305 right now, I am 48, and I am 5'10. I see one of you has lost about 55lbs in a year and a half. Just wondering that seems like a small amount for that long. Is that normal? I was really hoping to closer to 75lbs in a year. I am getting a bit nervous only because I am loosing my best friend. Do ya'll still want to eat everything in site, or do you just loose that compulsion too? Thanks for any info.. geri:clap2:

Hi. I am working on my insurance ect. so I might get banded also. Where are you getting your surgery done? I have a friend that got banded a month ago and is doing great. no problems whatsoever. I guess you are on the liquid only diet now? Do you get a salad once a day? Just wandering what your pre-op diet is like. Different doctors do it differently. Good luck on the surgery and Merry Christmas.

I am going to Dr Wellborn in LR..no need to be on liquids until the week before 2 weeks for diebetics. today is my birthday so we are going to outback..yummmmm...sorry banders........geri:hungry: :clap2:

One week would certainly be better than two on liquids. My friend had to do two weeks on Slim Fast Optima, with a salad once a day, non fat dressing and veggies only in the salad. Also required to take a multivitaman. Post-op is pretty strict for three to four weeks too I think.