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Hi there! I was just banded by Dr. Karen MacKenzie in Visalia, Ca. She is awesome, and she and her staff worked really hard with me to get my insurance in order. I got a referral no problem, but it seems that the hospital we chose was not on their approved list for this procedure, so they wanted it in writing that Blue Cross would indeed pay the claim.

Anyway, my surgery took about 50 minutes, and other than having issues with nausea from the anesthesia for the first week [this happened with another surgery I had several years ago as well], everything's been going very well.

I have lost 20 pounds as of yesterday, and 2 sizes! My friends are all fighting over my old clothes.:smile:

I go for my first fill June 11th, but I'm doing good without it, I don't get hungry very often and still limit my meals to 6 ounces at the most. I did find a really great Protein Drink, Isopure [look for the one that says Zero Carb, there's no sugar], and that's usually my Breakfast to make sure I am taking in enough Protein every day. The Cookies & Cream is tasty!

Well, I'll stop for now, just wanted everyone to know how great my doc is!!! If you are in the Fresno/Visalia area and looking for a lapband doctor, she's the one for you. :(

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Hi there! I was just banded by Dr. Karen MacKenzie in Visalia, Ca. She is awesome, and she and her staff worked really hard with me to get my insurance in order. I got a referral no problem, but it seems that the hospital we chose was not on their approved list for this procedure, so they wanted it in writing that Blue Cross would indeed pay the claim.

Anyway, my surgery took about 50 minutes, and other than having issues with nausea from the anesthesia for the first week [this happened with another surgery I had several years ago as well], everything's been going very well.

I have lost 20 pounds as of yesterday, and 2 sizes! My friends are all fighting over my old clothes.:smile:

I go for my first fill June 11th, but I'm doing good without it, I don't get hungry very often and still limit my meals to 6 ounces at the most. I did find a really great Protein drink, Isopure [look for the one that says Zero Carb, there's no sugar], and that's usually my breakfast to make sure I am taking in enough Protein every day. The Cookies & Cream is tasty!

Well, I'll stop for now, just wanted everyone to know how great my doc is!!! If you are in the Fresno/Visalia area and looking for a lapband doctor, she's the one for you. :(

Congratulations. Glad you are doing well. Thanks for letting us know how things went.

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Welcome and congratulations on your success!

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Lauree08, what hospital did you choose?

I went with Kaweah Delta, they were the only facility contracted for my HMO. She also does the surgery at Cypress Surgical center, which is supposed to be good, and I think now she is credentialed at Tulare Community Hospital as well. But everyone at KDDH was very nice, and I had to work closely with several people in the insurance billing dept, and they were all very helpful.

You know, they charged over $10,000 for the use of the surgical room - the surgery only took 40 minutes - thank goodness I didn't have to pay that!:thumbup:

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    • 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

      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!
      · 0 replies
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    • 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

        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

      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

        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

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