scared

Hi Susan, Well I have not had my fill yet because actually it takes some time for an appt. Her earliest open dates for new patients are at 4wks waiting time. so my suggestion is that u make an appt for fill upon your first week on solids so that you will be on your 6th to 8th week at the time of your first fill. I will actually be at week 11 and not to happy about that but I didnt know I was going to have to wait that long. As far as the insurance, I have nj bc/bs and she is participates with them so she actually charges them as an office visit and not as a fill per say so I'm assuming that is why it is covered. she Informed me of that, because I was also figuring they would not pay but she told me I would only have to pay my copay > > ,which needless to say I was quite happy. I was also told I needed the operative reports and an esophogram by Dr. Ren... I did not request the report at the time i left OCC but they faxed it to me.. I would suggest however that you ask for them when u leave this way u have them handy... they will give u everything right away if u ask... no to the big question... did my insurance cover the surgery...well...i have read others taking there chances and submitting there bill to the insurance company and after some persistence and mailing all operative reports it was paid...at least some portion... So I figured I will give it a chance too..... I havent heard from them yet... honestly I dont expect them to pay for it.. but if they give me back anything.. I will be happy. My suggestion is that you ask the doctors at OCC for a letter of medical necessity for the surgery as it may help. When I was there they told me they would do that for me but at the time i wasnt even thinking, or planning on ever submitting it to my insurance just figuring they would not pay anyway...but if u can remember to ask them for it i would suggest u do it. good luck

Hi jetdeck, i finally got my appt w/dr. ren...although i do only have to pay my copay for the fills they told me i have to pay for a nutritionist... did u? have u gone back for a 2nd fill? my appt isnt til july 2nd..

Yes, i have tried the french vanilla. it was just okay to me ... it did curb my hunger but very very sweet with slight after taste. I preferred the eas advantage.

Since my surgery on 4/11/08 everything has been just fine. Since I have not had my first fill yet I actually have no restriction and am able to eat just about anything... Havent pb'd at all.. but then the other day... I ate breakfast like normal..and I started fixing something in the bathroom and stretching my arms up but to me nothing that serious and a few minutes later when I was finished i started to get a horrible pain in my chest. I thought I was haveing a heart attack.. was having problems breathing... I knew it was my band because i was right by the 1st incision between your breast and I tell u it hurt like hell... I started thinking the worst, it slipped, I busted a stitch, the tube is wrapped around my lung and is sufficating me ( i didnt know what it was.. i was going to go to the hospital but I was afraid they were going to remove my band without even trying to find out what the problem was... i laid down, took some liqued tylenol and just prayed for it to go away... it subsided but it never went away...i didnt eat anything else all day except for some protein water which I was able to keep down. and today and definately much better... still have no idea what the hell could have happend.. any ideas?????

hello everyone, its been a while since i've posted but it's just that I have been very busy.. I was bande 04/11/08, and previous to that i had been in a car accident. had problems with my back but I have been doing better, i would like to believe since I have lost some wieght... well my doctor scheduled me to have shots in my back... i never told him I had the surgery.... i told the chiropractor i had a hiatel hernia fixed.... do i need to tell them..???? I dont see what shots in my back have to do with my lapband.. other than i will be under anesticia and they may see my scar.. what do u think... i really dont want to have to tell them since im in the process of sueing the other driver... any response would be greatly appreciated.

i called to try to make an appt , they said they needed an operative report?....was this required from u too? and how long did it take u to get that from OCC?

I dont know if I missed this part...but how did u find out it was flipped? when u went for fill?

Jetdeck, I was just wondering how you are doing with ur fill? I was thinking about going to Dr. Ren or Mount Laurel for my fill since TJ is really not an option for me at this time. Please respond and let me know how u are doing. I hope to get my first fill by 5/24, which will be six weeks for me. thanks

nebmom, I would be very careful and hold of on the chicken until your 3wks... I will be the first to tell u that it was also very hard for me but and I also did cheat but I think eating the chicken is pushing it. you can try mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and oh way the protien drinks do help the hunger pangs... lets see what else... banana... and of course the soups.. oh yeah and puddings..they work.. these are some of the things I cheated with and even though I had no side affects I was very afraid I might have stretched my pouch.. so that the big thing to be careful about.. good luck

I have not been to Cosmed but previous to getting banded I was doing research on having Lipo in TJ.. and I have heard many good things about Cosmed. Also when I was at the hotel, there is an plastic surgery center across the street and I asked Dr. Ortiz mom about, she also recommended Cosmed which she stated was only a few blocks away... she actually wanted to take me there the same day for a consultation but I just wanted to get back to the hotel room and rest. She stated that Cosmed has always been highly recommended by other patients..and like I said I have read alot about them on other forums. When I'm ready I will also be going there. One more thing... I believe Carolyn the coordinater has also had some work done by them hope this helps...

mmmmmmmmm thats sounds good....thanks for the suggestions.... It's so hard to think of new things to eat and have them taste good ...especially when ur not to creative like me...

I knew it... I often have thought about sushi because I love it ...but because of the rice I figured I was not going to be able to eat it... ( ( ( good by sushi forever !!!!!!!! ( (

okay so before my band i would eat a bagel everyday for breakfast What's the first thing dr. Miranda says when we are first able to eat..."Bagels usually don't go down well with the band".. okay so now on 5/2 I will be able to finally eat... and looking forward to it.. dont want a shake for breakfast...so does anyone have any suggestions???? :lb12:

hello punkgirl, I do suggest that u let Dr Miranda know and like mama michelle stated if your a little short if should be fine. But I do suggest u try to lose atleast 6 of the ten u need and I think u should be able to do so in the time u have a left. another reason for the diet is to lower the fat around your stomach... if u do a search on this forum, some have experienced problems because of that and u dont want to risk that... i know it scared the sh** out of me....so the last week befor my surgery i really buckled down and got on my diet... I know its not easy... and especially after haveing two shakes u dont look foward to eating a lean cuisine but u can alternate and try a lean meat and vegetables for dinner... remember dr miranda states u can eat anything green.. good luck.

I have been on her website and she seems to be very knowledgeable. I had really wanted to go back to Mexico but it doesnt look like it is going to happen. I am in NJ, so Mount Laurel on NY would be an option. For anyone who has had a fill done by Dr. Ren can u please update on who u are doing. thanks