Anyone in St. Louis.

I am in South County. (3min from the mall)

I am looking for some people in my area. I am 24. I was banded in June 05. I had no success due to my own fault.

Anyone around me? How was your success? My Dr was Dr. Wagner.

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.

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

I sat along the back wall too. Near the corner of the room.

I though the butter comments were funny.

Hi fellow South Citers ... I am also in the area, I live in Lafayette Square.

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.

Actually, today is 3 weeks, so I am now moving on to regular food. But, boy do I remember the craving for tomato soup. Hang in there.

And, yes, we should get together for coffee (or soup)!

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

What a small world ....

Welcome Cynthia. Glad you joined us.

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!

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!

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!

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.

Welcome to the Losers Bench

Hi MD2b

I am a self-pay patient of Dr Minkin. Isn't it amazing that companies and insurance companies don't cover this surgery? They just don't understand that this will reduce the medical expenses in the future.

Anyway, I had my surgery in January, 2008. Hospital charges --> 11,000, Dr. fee -> 5,000, Anesthesia --> 1,000 (they don't tell you about that charge). As previously stated, the Dr fee for fills are covered for the first year, however, because he does it in the radiology dept, there is a radiology fee each time you have a fill (not sure how much that is yet).

There is a support group the 4th Thursday of every month. I went to my first last Thursday.

Good luck, if you have any other questions, please ask.