Hey everyone, I'm having surgery 5/12 @ Cedars Sinai, and wanted to see if there are any other Mayo Banditos from Cali.

I live in Pasadena, and was orignally going to be banded by Dr. David Martin @ Huntington Hospital, but he's out of network for my insurance. So I found Dr. Philippe Quilici, and I am excited to have such an experienced and proficient surgeon poking around inside of me.

And is it just me... or is every freeway in SoCal decked out with numerous Lap-Band billboards? My BF and I laugh every time we see them or hear that horrible 800-Get-Slim jingle on the radio. Although I'm excited that the word is out that LB works!

Hi. I am in CA - LA area and am getting banded tomorrow...I will let you know how it goes!!

Good luck to everyone else!

Danielle

Anyone from the San Jose area? Im getting banded on the 21st *yay*

Hello everyone, just got back home from my procedure, which included treating a Hiatal Hernia. My Surgeon said she had to put some mesh (?) around it along with the band, she said the band would up holding better. I'm feeling alright, taking Hydrocodone which really helps with the pain. The hunger pains are the worst but getting through it.

I too am from SoCal,Southbay area. I see those LapBand signs all over the place. Must be working if they can afford all that advertisement. I was suppose to be banded 5/06, But the surgeon put it off a week because I just had my gall bladder pulled. New date is 5/13. Good Luck to me and to everyone else

Dear Ram, Glad you're doing ok but sorry for the hunger. I think mine must still be really tight because I really have no interest in food and have to force things down for protein and fluid...I never thought Id say that in my life...its like bizarro world where everything is opposite. Sounds like you are a pretty fast healer...I was kind of a wimp! Well keep letting us know how youre doing...Cali

I am having surgery on May 29th in Glendale with Dr. Keshishian, but I live in Palm Desert...I am getting very nervous and excited.

My doc does not do the two week pre-op liquid diet so I am still eating regular food (and trying to get in "one last" of everything)!

Hey Everyone

I just found this thread!

I got banded on May 26th by Dr. David Davtyan at Cedars Sinai in LA. Dr & hospital were both awesome. My Dr didnt have a pre-op diet either. I had my 9 day check up yesterday and everything seems to be healing just fine and I've lost 9lbs since surgery date. so its exciting, but on the same token there were two other woman in the office who had their surgery 2 days after me and had lost 13lbs each :biggrin: Kinda felt like a looser!

Im on phase II with the mushy foods and so far I'm able to handle everything (which is kinda scary) and feel super hungry towards the evening nearly every night. Craving chocolate like there is no tomorrow, hope all these yucky cravings will go away without me caving in.

Has anyone had their first fill yet? How soon was it after surgery? My dr said if I didnt loose weight for 2-3 weeks he would do an adjustment, ofcourse assuming I was already 6 weeks post-op.

Goodluck everyone

Gonnagetbanded, Congrats that all went well and glad you liked your doc and the hosp. I almost went to him (I think its awesome that he is banded himself!!!) but even though I was self pay and could go anywhere, I picked my doc partly because he is on my provider list in case I needed anything billable thru insurance later, like a complication or revision. So I went to Dr. Oliak in Orange and he's great!Turns out I also had a hernia repair at the same time which they did bill my insurance for...havent heard if they paid it or not but its only like $500 compared to 16K for the lap band!!

Good luck to you!

Hey Xavier,

So cool that you almost went to dr D hes a really neat guy, and yeah its really nice to see a dr who has had it himself.

Glad your surgery went well also... Glad the hernia is gone. You did the right thing by going to someone who is on your providers list, you just never know. Goodluck to you...Keep in touch

Hi All I also got banded on May 26 in LA.

It will be 2 weeks on tuesday and everything seems to be going well but the hunger...IM STARVING!

I have no clue when I can actually have an fill done. But I hope its soon.