I am not banded yet but I was looking for anyone who was in the Gainesville, fl. area or surrounding area. hoping to find a good surgeon close to home.

I live in Coral Springs, FL and I will be going to two orientation and one consultation on April 7, 2007 in Weston, FL.

how far away is weston?

Hi Becca,

I'm in Middleburg. I contacted the college recently and was told that in three months they would have a surgeon teaching it there, they are currently working out what the cost is going to be. Dr. Cendan says he should be able to tell me what it is going to cost in about two weeks. I do know that St. Vincents Hospital in Jacksonville chares $16,500 for the surgery. Good luck on finding your surgeon!

Best,

Dotty

If you haven't had your surgery yet, I reccomend Dr Ben-David. He arrived at UF from Duke about 9 months ago. His Fellowship was in Bariatric surgery. He did my band in February, 2008. He is very strict and very supportive.

I come from Middleburg and have been approved for Dr. Jawad in Ocala....by (tricare) he has very good credentials.....

Welcome to LBT all of you! Good luck on your journey!

I'm in Gainesville and in the process of getting it approved by my insurance. Did you find a surgeon that you like?

Hi. I am in Gainesville and I am getting banded on Monday, Sept. 29th by Dr. Ben-David at Shands.

Trying to get banded at North Florida. Just waiting on insurance. How are things going for you? A couple of us gainesville girls have gone to lunch, we are going to do it again, would love it if you came.

I am doing great. I got my band on Sept. 29th 2008. I received my first adjustment (fill) on Nov. 13th. As of today, I have lost 70 lbs. and I feel great. My clothes are getting pretty big on me. Had to buy new shoes because I am no longer size 14 extra extra wide; now just wide. Still got about 130 lbs to go and feeling pretty confident. Lunch sounds cool. lol.

Hello...I am from Orange Park/Middleburg, FL, Clay County. I have an appointment with surgeon tomorrow, 1/13/09, to make appointment for surgery. Getting very excited and nervous at the same time.

I will be having my lap band surgery at St. Vincent's in Jacksonville.

I'm sure that I will have a lot of questions after tomorrow. I just attended a lap-band seminar in November and have been doing research since that date. I think that the holidays delayed my appointment to schedule surgery, but that's okay. It has given me time to sort of Spring clean and make sure things are in order for surgery.

Keep in touch! lb

Another Gainesvillian here. I was banded with a Realize band by Ben-David on December 15th. Surgery was a piece of cake. Going a little slower than I would like, but I haven't had a fill yet so we'll see. Greg, how many fills have you had? 70 pounds sounds great!

Hi my name is Stephanie and I was banded 2-3-09 by Dr. Juan Cendan at Shands UF. Would love to talk with some local bandsters.

Hey David. Surgery was a breeze for me too. My recovery was a little longer than expected, because the surgeon also repaired an umbilical hernia, but I was back to work in a little over a week. I have had only one fill, back in November. I definitely noticed a change in what I was able to eat. I have to make sure I chew everything very well. I also experienced (the day after the fill) my first "pain" from eating a little too much. I now try to be very careful and to eat slowly so that I can better recognize the "full" feeling and avoid the pain caused from eating a little too much.

I also was Realize banded by Dr. Ben-David at Shands. As of today, I am down 80 lbs. and am feeling great. I just finished a mile walk on my lunch break. I could not have done that 6 months ago.

Edited February 9, 200917 yr by Gregall

Hi Stephanie. I was banded by Dr. Ben-David at Shands on Sept. 29, 2008. I'm feeling great so far. No complications. So far, down 80 lbs. 120 more to go. I hope you are feeling well. Take care.