:bored :bored :bored well well I guess this site has nobody from the chatt. area and let me also guess that no body has been banded at memorial hos. by dr. fromm-paynter-or ponce?? Geez I sure feel like the lonesome stud here lol.

Maybe they have been looking at this thread?

Maybe, lol!

Well, I got my refund check, but it was a lot more than I thought it would be. So I don't know what happened. But I had to call and call to get it.

I'm just glad that you got your check. I know that I never actually complained to them about her, but I am sure that some people may have. Then again, maybe she just got a better job. Who knows?

Dr Ponce at the Gastric Band Institute is doing my surgery on Jan 26th (I start my pre-op "liver" diet on Jan 12). For those of you who used Dr. Ponce, how did you feel for the first few days post-op and what are your recommendations for pain relief/gas relief/sleeping?

Hey you start your pre-op on Monday! w00t! Congrats. It is getting closer everyday!:grouphug:

Yea, I'm glad I got my check too, but I know it is not right. I am just waiting to get a bill from them saying I have to pay it all back. It looks like my program fee was refunded as well as some of the other money I was supposed to get back. So I don't know.

Wow, that is strange. I would think that since they sent you the check that they couldn't really come back and say that you owe it. Of course, just because it wouldn't be right, doesn't mean that they won't do it. Are you going to call and ask, or just wait. I don't know if I could hold on to that much money without spending it.

Yep - I'm been spending this week getting my "last meals", my favorite restaurants. I have a last business lunch meeting at Sticky Fingers this Monday and then I start guzzling the Glucerna. My pre-op class is Wednesday AM and I get my pre-op lab work done that morning also. Did you have any flavors of Glucerna that you didn't like? I bought a pack of chocolate but I haven't tried it yet.

I really hated the vanilla. It had then awful smell that made it impossible to get it to my mouth. I ended up using the chocolate.

You know, depending on how many you think you can drink, I found them cheaper at Sam's. I paid $26 for a case of the glucerna.

I have not tried glucerna, what is that?

Wow, that is strange. I would think that since they sent you the check that they couldn't really come back and say that you owe it. Of course, just because it wouldn't be right, doesn't mean that they won't do it. Are you going to call and ask, or just wait. I don't know if I could hold on to that much money without spending it.

No, I'm not going to call and ask. I'm just going to go along with it. If they send me a bill, too bad, I have decided I'm not going to pay it back. They can kiss it, LOL! I am going to use it for my college tuition money this summer. It is sitting in my savings account. They shouldn't be charging so much for a stupid "program fee" anyway. I wonder if anyone else has gotten it back.

No, I'm not going to call and ask. I'm just going to go along with it. If they send me a bill, too bad, I have decided I'm not going to pay it back. They can kiss it, LOL! I am going to use it for my college tuition money this summer. It is sitting in my savings account. They shouldn't be charging so much for a stupid "program fee" anyway. I wonder if anyone else has gotten it back.

I don't know, but I would love to get my program fee back. Even if it was just half.

I have not tried glucerna, what is that?

Glucerna is a meal replacement drink that Dr. Ponce uses for the preop diet.

Oh, I didn't have to do the preop.

Glucerna is specially formulated for diabetics so it won't spike your blood sugar (200 calories per shake). I bought the Vanilla and Butter Pecan today. Both are OK, but I like the Butter Pecan the best (even better than the Chocolate). Haven't tried the Strawberry yet, but I'll probaby try it just to keep from getting tired of drinking the same thing for two weeks.

Here is the official Gastric Band Institute pre-op diet that I was sent via email (since I'm starting my diet prior to the pre-op class).

BEGIN THIS PLAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY

* 6 CANS OF GLUCERNA SHAKES EACH DAY

* 1-2 (8-OUNCE) SERVINGS LOW-FAT YOGURT A DAY - PLAIN OR ARTIFICIALLY SWEETENED

* 2 (8 OUNCE) GLASSES OF FRUIT JUICE (100% JUICE) EACH DAY

* WATER, DIET SOFT DRINKS, SUGAR-FREE KOOL-AID, CRYSTAL LITE, UNSWEETENED TEA, COFFEE (SUGAR SUBSTITUTE) AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DRINK.

* YOU MAY DRINK ANY LOW CALORIE, NO SUGAR LIQUIDS SUCH AS BROTH, TEAS, ETC.