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Hi! I'm in Newnan Georgia and will have my surgery done on April 23 :clap2: . Anyone know of a support group south of Atlanta?

I live in Newnan too. who are you going to?

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Hello all! Long time no post it seems.

Good to see Newnan representing! I grew up in Carrollton and my pediatrician was in Newnan so I practically grew up there too.

Hope everyone is doing well. I am plugging away...feeling back to normal (I guess that's why I don't come on here as much anymore). THAT being said...I had my first experience with sliming today! Lovely...:rolleyes2:

I was *really* hungry by lunchtime, not sure why and I went and ate a pita. I haven't had much bread since the surgery and I guess my hunger swayed my good judgement!! I don't know what I was thinking eating something that doughy.

I had a hard time eating it, yet kept eating b/c I felt like I was so hungry. By the time I gave up, I made the HUGE ERROR of drinking a swig of water...human nature I guess. I didn't even realize I'd done it and then I realized I was stuck...bad. :scared2:

Needless to say, I sat in my car for about 15 minutes praying it would go down. The food didn't come back up thankfully but yeah that sliming thing was interesting. :tongue2:

Other than the other experience I had with getting stuck, things are going smoothly. I am tight until dinnertime. I swear I could have eaten that pita tonight for dinner with no problem. Oh well, it's a learning experience.

Everyone enjoying this amazing weather??? :thumbup:

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I've eaten pita bread with no problems. I don't feel with me its the type of food I'm eating, it is the size of the bites. When I cut up my food, I have no problems. If I bite and try to bite small bites, I find that my bites are not as small as my mind tells me they are.

I've had steak twice since my surgery, I cut up my meat both times and had NO problems with food getting stuck. I eat chicken, and it gets stuck. but, I didn't cut up my bites. That is the key for me. If I cut it up, no stuck food, no sliming, no PB'ing. If I don't cut it up, there is a 50/50 chance.

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I am using Dr. Johnson who is also with Dr. Hart at Atlanta Bariatrics. I have not heard anything about True Results. How are they affiliated with Dr. Hart. Has anyone heard of Atlanta Bariatrics and Dr. Johnson?

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True Results is a network of different doctors and practices who place the band. The name of the practice that Dr. Johnson and Dr. Hart are a part of is John's Creek Surgery and their weight-loss surgery program is Atlanta Bariatrics. Kind of confusing, I know! But I hope that clears it up for you.

I had my surgery out of state, but Dr. Johnson is my aftercare doctor. I just saw him for the first time on Friday for a fill, but he was really great. Very nice, friendly, easy to talk to. I did have to wait longer than I would've liked in the waiting room, but maybe it was just a busy day for them.

I researched several doctors/practices in metro Atlanta before deciding on Atlanta Bariatrics. The reviews were good, they're a Bariatric Center of Excellence, and the price for fills and consultations was affordable for me (since I'm self pay).

There are some patient comments on ObesityHelp here. You can probably find feedback from others here who have been there by searching for Dr. Johnson or Atlanta Bariatrics also. Just my two cents.

I am using Dr. Johnson who is also with Dr. Hart at Atlanta Bariatrics. I have not heard anything about True Results. How are they affiliated with Dr. Hart. Has anyone heard of Atlanta Bariatrics and Dr. Johnson?

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I am looking for the cost of self pay in GA. Thanks

It depends on who you go to. When I was researching it back in November of last year, I did not see any surgeon who charged less than $14k for self-pay. Some are as much as $25k if they require an overnight hospital stay. It's always changing, though, so you may find someone for less by now. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is go on the Allergan lapband site, find surgeons near you and start calling.

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Hi everyone, I'm in Augusta:smile2:

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Hello! Metro Atlanta here...been scouring this site and finding lots of wonderful information. I'm going to a seminar with True Results on Tuesday, just to get some info. I'm a self pay since I have an exclusion in my insurance policy (and I thought it was a top notch policy!). I didn't think I could afford it, but I will come up with it ASAP. I'm really hoping to find a local doc, but am willing to see that Dr. K in Denver as a last resort. This forum is a wealth of information all around, I'm so glad I found it! So Monday I will start calling around for the latest prices...any other self payers in GA feel free to let me know who you used and how much it was, etc. Thanks!

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Sida - There are quite a few of us in South Georgia who use Dr. Bagnato in Albany. I was a self-pay and it was $17,400. This might be more than some, but as long as you're in the area you have free fills forever. He also has a different site for the port. He places it in the bra strap area in front.

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I came to Atlanta Bariatrics through True Results.com, met with Dr. Johnson and my journey quickly progressed. Love the Nuts, Melissa and Rachael, and the Emory Johns Creek hospital.

Been a great experience, just a tad worried that Dr. Johnson doesn't numb before a fill.... ?

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Hey Ladies!

I wanted to drop by since I haven't been on in the past month. I am back from my trip to Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Macau, & Bangkok. The doctors at Emory have submitted my paper work to Aetna 2 weeks ago and now I am just waiting on approval.

Does anyone know how soon after approval I can be scheduled for surgery? They would not do any of the presurgical test until I am approved.

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