Desperate4Size7

Hello Anne, how have you been feeling? Did you have this problem taken care of? Bella

Shrty835, Cjen, Nicolek, shiney42.......Ladies, thank you so much for sharing your personal info... I feel so much better know that I am not alone!... Shiney42 I have pain under my right breast and they can't find anything... I wonder if it has anything to do with HH!!??! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, whew!!!! Bella >

Hello I was just diagnosed with a Hital Hernia (HH) which concerned me. ( I am wondering if any of you fellow Lap-Banders' had or have a HH and still went through the Lap-Band (LB) surgery or did Dr. Ortiz refuse to go through the LB surgery due to the HH? What are the pros and cons and your experiences of having a HH along with the LP?... Does the HH eventually go away? Thank you again for your help. >

Hello again! I am curious to know once I get the Lap-Band and have reached my goal weight, will I need to have fills for the rest of my life or just until I reach my goal weight? Also, I am curious once you have the Lap-Band, do you feel ill and get used to it? Or are you comfortable (no pain or discomfort) like you did before having the band? Thanks again > -Bella

Hello everyone!! > I finally scheduled my surgery date -------> August 7, 2009 <------- I am so excited!!! I would love to meet anyone else that has the same surgery date! I do not know which hotel to choose; The Lucerne or The Marriott? Any recommendations? Thank you!! -Bella

Hello Mila, I received this quote from the OCC: "The cost of the procedure includes the following services: 1.Three surgeon team – all of our surgeries are assisted by surgeons including an anesthesiologist. 2.One night stay at our surgical center, 2 days if needed. 3.Operating room costs 4.All preoperative evaluations and tests 5.Adjustable Gastric Band Implant 6.Two nights at a 5 Star Hotel (3 nights for your companion) 7.Transportation to and from the airport or pick up on the US side of the border parking. 8.Nutritional counseling 9.No charge for one companion to accompany you. The hotel room is provided to your guest at no additional charge for the night that you are in the hospital and the rest of your stay. 10. Fill Adjustments and Follow up care for life (additional fee of $100 for fluoroscopy) 11. Complimentary Dental Exam (we also offer discounts to those family members or companions traveling with you!) *For a limited time, we are offering a special rate of $7300 " It's almost half of the cost of the other quotes I received in California! Bella

Hello I used the two these two sites to search for doctors, and after extensive search Dr. Ortiz at the OCC has incredible ratings and feeback...(and not to mention a great price!!) http://www.ratemds.com/social/?q=node/11 http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/LapBand/a,doclisting/type,LapBand/ <---- you can search for a doctor in close to your area and it also has feedback ratings from patients. Best Wishes! Bella

> OMG Lisa, you're right. I forgot that my brother has GERD really bad to a point where he is having a difficult time swallowing food and he has some kind of "bubble" that pops out of his esophagus .. (not sure exactly what it's called. Perhaps that is why his doctor insists on the BP(?) (he's 130 lbs over weight). I was so heart broken to hear about "cancer" which floored me. I agree with you all, I don't want my organs cut, what an awful thought! I feel so much better now about the LB decision again. I am so emotional with happy tears right now because my heart was so broken, and to sign into this forum and receive support from people that don't even know me and from people whom already have reached their goal weight and yet still take the time to come on here to give advice to the rest of us is so comforting, thank you all so much!!! I love you all!!! Bella

Hello again For the last three months I have done so much research on the Lap-Band (LB). I also became very excited to hear all the success stories and the side effects were nominal. So I told my brother about it too. ...Today, my brother went to his doctor and asked about the Lap-Band for himself, to my surprise, his doctor told him not to do the LB because it cases CANCER and that he should have a bypass (BP) which would be safer than the LB!!???!??? ..... this bursted my bubble! Does anyone know how common cancer is with the LB and why should I have the LP vs the BP?... I am now so confused and concered!!! Thank you again for your time, Bella

Thank you for the info, so... for the passport including photos and to expedite the process, am I looking about $200 - $250 for a passport (per person)?

#-o Waiting is torture!....

I am most likely going to get a surgery date past June 30th. Does anyone know how long it takes to get a Pasport? Thank you Bella

My hair is pretty thin because I had a surgery to remove an ovary last year and had a lot of hair loss. I was told it is a side effect of the anesthesia. So if I have the Lap-Band surgery I am concerned about losing even more hair!! ( ........... Oh well I guess that is why God allowed man to invent hair extensions lol Thank you all for responding. -Bella

When you get the Lap-Band, is it common for everyone to have hair loss? If so, how much?