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Cali Bandsters Unite!!



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Guest Sew N Sew

Hello all, Iam in Sacramento, Ca. Not banded yet...anyone here?

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:welcome2: Landgtino!

I'm in Ventura County, and not banded yet, either. Do you have a date yet or are you like me, waiting for all the hoops to jump through before my insurance will approve me? I have found so much enthusiasm on these boards and it makes me more anxious for the surgery. I hope you find the same thing here, also! Let us know more about your process!

Karen

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Guest Sew N Sew

:welldoneclap: Hi Karen, I have not been banded yet, just starting the process, and now I find out our insurance will be changing. So Iam going through all the required meetings, forms etc..We will have the same Ins. till Oct.15. If things move fast maybe I can get it done. But will the new Ins. work with what I've had done? AWho knows...just take it as it comes..The support here is great, so happy I found it before surg. Iam in Sacto. Take care, Gael:biggrin1:

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Gael, let me know if you can switch the required visits, meetings, forms, etc. to the new insurance. That sure would make it easier for you, and maybe for me if I have to either switch or go self-pay. I have heard that some things are switchable, others are not. Good luck in getting banded before October 15th!! Let us know how things are going!

Karen

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Hey guys! Getting banded Sept 28 by Dr. Ortiz in TJ, and am glad to find such a great group :couch2: I'm trying to be a good girl and do all of my homework... I live in Northern CA (Sonoma County), and am looking for someone more local to maybe do my fills or an urgent unfill if needed. Can anyone offer any suggestions and info on pricing?

I'd be fine with anywhere in the Bay Area or Sacto. I can go back to TJ and do a fill with fluoro for $225 (including the flight), so I'm trying to find something safe and hopefully around that price. I called LAPSF, and they quoted me $300 for the fill + $200 for fluoro... $500 seems really expensive to me, but what do you all think?

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Guest Sew N Sew

Hi all,

Iam in Sacramento!!! Thats up north farther than I've seen so far here. Anyone in my neck of the woods??

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Hi , I am new to the board and live in the San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles. I am just getting info on Drs in the area...Dr Arnatt and Dr. Paya....any info? thanks! :girl_hug:

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Hi , I am new to the board and live in the San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles. I am just getting info on Drs in the area...Dr Arnatt and Dr. Paya....any info? thanks! :girl_hug:

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Hi Witteegurl, I am in the Ventura County area. Dr. Helmut Billy is the best around, and has offices not only here but in other areas of So. California. You can probably access his info via the internet, or look in your phone book. Unfortunately, I can't use him because my insurance company will only authorize Dr. Laport in Fountain Valley! It is a very long drive for me, and I am currently in the evaluation and diet pre-band phase. Good luck and let me know if I can help you in any way!

Karen

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Thank you L8Bloom :) I am going to a seminar on Monday at Northridge Weight Center. I see a lot of people mention that Dr Billy Is good. Since I will self pay basically there is not waiting after the first doctors appt I am told.

Karen (my name too!)

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:)Karen, That is great news about your seminar! I wish I could handle being self-pay, so that I could have more options and pick Dr. Billy :cry Good for you!! Let us know how it goes and what you think of the Northridge Weight Center. Good luck!

Karen (2)

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Hi IckiVicki, I am in Canyon Hills near Cayon Lake. A couple of us meet once in a while...two come from Murrieta. If you would like I can let you know the next time so you can join us.

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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

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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. 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💪
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