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St. Louis People

Krystal

By Krystal, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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StLouisGal    1

StLouisGal
Posted

I live south city. About thirty minutes from DePaul in good traffic.

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JohnC    31

JohnC
Posted

Brandy, I was also there tonight. Met Pat (StLouisgal) also sitting in the back against the wall. Pat's doing great,drove herself to the meeting. Nancy is supposed to write up my request letter & send it to my insc. co. tomorrow. Will keep in touch.

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cosmo24    0

cosmo24
Posted

Pat aka StLouisGal, Glad to hear you made it to the group. I am a whimp and did not go because of traffic. I also live in South City. Benton Park to be exact. How are you feeling. how is the liquid diet going? I am almost out of milk, and the weather is not good for driving. Yuk. I am suppose to work tonight but hoping I get called off. Just wanted to say hey. TTYL Annie

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StLouisGal    1

StLouisGal
Posted

We'll have to work at getting together next month. I'm feeling well, Cynthia, how are you? You're a little over two weeks out now, correct?

I live in the Grand/Oak Hill neighborhood, near Tower Grove Park. It certainly is a small world.

The liquid diet is a bear, I would just about kill for a bowl of Tomato Soup. The boxes of Soup are lined up on the kitchen table waiting for lunch on Monday. My post op is at 8:45 a.m. Monday morning. I am ready!

I thought the butter comment was funny too. It was an interesting meeting. I wish they would break it into two groups LapBand and RNY. It would be more specific then. Oh well, I guess the new kid can't run the show.

Hope you are all doing well. John, I'll be sending up some prayers for your insurance company. Hope it goes quickly. The waiting is really the hardest part.

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cosmo24    0

cosmo24
Posted

Cythia, I am always over in your area. I walk my dog there when the weather is good and my cousin lives on the park. coffee would be great for us to meet and be of some support. StLouisGal I hope you enjoy your Soup when you can have some. I have learned to eat soup without crackers. Never thought I could do that. Take Care Annie

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LMarie_MD2b    0

LMarie_MD2b
Posted

Hello, all! I have read through the thread, and I can't recall seeing anyone who was self-pay. I'm in med school, so I'm on cheap-ola med student insurance that doesn't cover bariatric procedures, and my only opportunity for a band is this summer. It's the last large block of time I'll have off, ever, and I think I'll need that time to get all adjusted to the new diet, etc. I'm 23, and my BMI as of today was about 36.5. My cholesterol is high, about 250, so I'm guessing that might be a pretty significant comorbiditiy for a lower BMI. My fasting blood glucose is creeping up, too, (97 last time I checked) so that's not good news, either. I just don't want to be one of those "hypocritical doctors" who tells people to lose weight for their health. And I don't think I will physically be able to get through my rotations in 3rd and 4th year with all the pain/cramps that the extra weight causes. I can't imagine being in an OR, standing upright or in some crazy bent-sideways position, for 6 hours without a stretch!! And running up 4 or 5 flights of stairs to answer a page... yeah, that's not happening.

Not to mention--I don't want to place myself at higher risk for gestational diabetes or other complications related to "obese" pregnancy.

I'm living in the city now, but will be moving to Kirkwood or West County/Valley Park this summer so my fiance can move in with me in the winter. I'm looking into Des Peres hospital and Dr. Minkin--does anyone know what his self-pay rate is? I'm going to try to get into the March 11th seminar.

Sorry for the random nature of this post. I'm just taking a study break, and thought I'd try to get some ideas from the people who know the most about STL banding doctors! :blushing: Thanks so much!

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StLouisGal    1

StLouisGal
Posted

Sorry I can't help you on self-pay rates because my insurance paid for mine. Good luck on your journey. You'll be glad you did it.

Welcome to our group!

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JaimeSTL    4

JaimeSTL
Posted

I'm living in the city now, but will be moving to Kirkwood or West County/Valley Park this summer so my fiance can move in with me in the winter. I'm looking into Des Peres hospital and Dr. Minkin--does anyone know what his self-pay rate is? I'm going to try to get into the March 11th seminar.

I was just banded by Dr. Minkin yesterday. At the seminar I attended, he said he charges $16,000, which includes pre-op visits and a year of post-op care. Good luck!

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JaimeSTL    4

JaimeSTL
Posted

I was banded yesterday and I am home now. Everything went well. I lost 15 lbs on the liquid diet (5 days). I was pretty happy about that. I'm having slight discomfort, but overall, I feel okay. I have been really thirsty, after not getting anything all day yesterday and today until about noon. I'm not really hungry though, so I'm going to have to make myself eat and drink.

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Go To Topic Listing LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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    • LeighaTR

      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

      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

        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. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      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

        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

      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

        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

      CaseyP1011

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

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