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Donna34

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Posts posted by Donna34

  3. PROTEIN SHAKES

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Just an IDEA for the pre-op diet! You can buy Cambridge diet products which come in a variety of flavors, including shakes, soups, and bars! It is a high protein, low fat diet. Just like Medifast, but really cheap.

    I did it before deciding on the surgery. I lost 28 pounds in the first month, going from 247 to 219. I was SO thrilled. I continued until I lost 38 pounds, but then I cheated, and once I tasted REAL food again there was NO turning back!! I gained all the weight back plus some! Tried it a few more times after that with the same results, and gave up. HOWEVER, the soups and shakes are pretty good, and not that expensive. They come in nice little canisters, and you WILL lose weight fast if you do the shakes/soups only. Personally I am going to use it for my pre-op diet.

    Everytime I did Cambridge I lost 10-11 pounds the first week. Anyway, if you are interested, you can e-mail me or just check out the website!

    sparks2n2@yahoo.com

    or www.cambridgedietusa.com

    Hope this helps!

    Donna

  4. Anyone from Knoxville

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Hi you two!

    I was born and raised in West TN. Halfway between Nashville and Memphis. We moved to Iowa 3 months ago!

    Anyway, I don't know about doctors in Knoxville, but I hear there is a good one in Nashville. I know that is a stretch, but if you find nothing else? I can get his name if you are interested. My cousins had hers done in Memphis, and was pleased with her doctor there.

    Honestly, I would seriously consider Dr. Ortiz in MX, unless your insurance is going to pay. I'm having mine in Tijuana, MX on April 3rd, by Dr. Ortiz! I'm so excited!!!! My insurance would not pay a penny!

    Donna

  6. Daily intake

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Could you post the names of the Doctors in Chicago that do the fills. We'll see if anybody has used them or not and if they would recommend them.

    Sorry, just noticed the post!

    I can't remember if this one was near Chicago, (Downers Grove), but he is in IL. His name is Dr. Vitello. The fee without fluoroscopy is $75, assuming he can

    get access to your port without xray. If he needs xray the fee is $150 plus the hospital bills you $125 for the use of xray. ($275)

    AND:

    Surburban Surgical Care (n.w. Illinois) 888-639-7353 $250

    I don't know anything else about them.

    Donna

  7. More Silly Questions...

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    When you did the pre-op surgery and lost 10-20 pounds, did you gain any of that back when you started solid food after the band?

    Also, how much restriction did you have after the band was placed? Did you have any restriction at all before your first fill?

    If so, how much weight did you lose between suregery and first fill? I told you I had crazy questions. My cousin had her surgery here in the US, and she actually GAINED about 10 pounds after getting banded. I just do NOT want to gain before the loosing starts! LOL

    Is it true that a 1/2 cup of juice etc will make you feel stuffed?

    Thanks for reading my ramblings. hope it made sense! :-?

    Donna

  8. Pre - Op diet

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Just an IDEA for the pre-op diet! You can buy Cambridge diet products which come in a variety of flavors, including shakes, soups, and bars! It is a high protein, low fat diet. Just like Medifast, but really cheap.

    I did it before deciding on the surgery. I lost 28 pounds in the first month, going from 247 to 219. I was SO thrilled. I continued until I lost 38 pounds, but then I cheated, and once I tasted REAL food again there was NO turning back!! I gained all the weight back plus some! Tried it a few more times after that with the same results, and gave up. HOWEVER, the soups and shakes are pretty good, and not that expensive. They come in nice little canisters, and you WILL lose weight fast if you do the shakes/soups only. Personally I am going to use it for my pre-op diet.

    Everytime I did Cambridge I lost 10-11 pounds the first week. Anyway, if you are interested, you can e-mail me or just check out the website!

    sparks2n2@yahoo.com

    or www.cambridgedietusa.com

    Hope this helps! :rolleyes:

    Donna

  9. Daily intake

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Thanks for the advice. Donna I live in Eldora and go to Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls, to Dr. Glascock, actually Angie his PA does the fills. I have had one fill and am very satisfied w/ it. I went to Tijuana and had the surgery 1/4/07, the reason for that is I do not have insurance and wouldn't meet the surgical requirements if I did. The price for a fill in Cedar Falls is $390 if paying cash, then you have to have a consultation before the fill which is $300 and up depending on how much time Angie actually spends w/ you. I haven't gotten that bill yet. Any other questions just let me know. Greg/NE I thought I was pretty much on track, but I am going to try to stick more to solids and not choose the liquid/soft stuff over the solids as often. Thanks Kellie/Iowa

    Thanks for the info! I'm having my surgery in TJ too. Is the $390 with or without flouro? There are a couple of drs in Chicago that do fills too. One charges $275 for a fill with flouro.

    How do you like the band so far, and how was your experience in Tijauna? I'm excited, but nervous.

    Donna

  13. Daily intake

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Hi everyone, I have a question, I had my first fill on 2/21, and it was a good fill, my question is how much food should I be able to eat? I can eat about 3 bites of solid food and then I'm done, so I have been eating alot of soups and doing a slim-fast shake in the morning because if I just stick to the solid foods I will eat VERY little (like under 600 calories/day). If I can stay healthy on 600 calories a day then I will go back to just my 3 bites of solid foods, but I think that I need more in order to lose weight the healthy way. I am trying to get around 1200 calories a day. Is my fill too tight, or is this normal?

    Thanks

    Kellie

    Hi Kellie from Iowa. Sorry I can't help you out on the calorie thing. I'm from Iowa City, Iowa, and I'm getting banded April 3rd. Did you go to Mexico, and if so, who does your fills? Hope to hear from you soon!

    Donna

  14. What to See and Do in Tijuana, any suggestions?

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    I have decided 100% that Dr. Ortiz is the doctor for me! I can't WAIT to get this surgery behind me though. I'm a BIG CHICKEN, and the thought of surgery is S-C-A-R-Y. PLUS, I've never been on a plane!!!! Can you imagine that? And I'm terrified to fly!! :unsure: SO, I'll be conquering many fears on this trip! LOL

    Looks like the time spent there will be like a mini vacation with a surgery thrown in! Anybody got any advice on what to do while in the area?? Me and hubby don't drink, so bars are not something we would be interested in. Would love to see the ocean though. ANy nice beaches close? And how do you get around there, cabs?

    Thanks for any replies, I know i have a LOT of questions! LOL

    Donna

  15. WHO was I in contact with, can anyone help me?

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    I was banded by Dr. Ortiz Nov. 30. Going there was the best decision I ever made, the facility is awesome and cleaner than any hospital I've ever been in here - Not that I have a lot of experience, but PA, NJ and FL - none of them came close to OCC

    I have decided 100% that Dr. Ortiz is the doctor for me! I can't WAIT to get this surgery behind me though. I'm a BIG CHICKEN, and the thought of surgery is S-C-A-R-Y. PLUS, I've never been on a plane!!!! Can you imagine that? And I'm terrified to fly!! :unsure: SO, I'll be conquering many fears on this trip! LOL

    Looks like the time spent there will be like a mini vacation with a surgery thrown in! Anybody got any advice on what to do while in the area?? Me and hubby don't drink, so bars are not something we would be interested in. Would love to see the ocean though. ANy nice beaches close? And how do you get around there, cabs?

    Thanks for any replies, I know i have a LOT of questions! LOL

    Donna

  16. Ready for the band, but ONE question????

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    My understanding is that re-banding or removal is sort of negotiable. During one fill visit, I met a nice woman that had lost all of her excess weight, then had a slippage. I asked if she had to pay full price again, and she said 'we worked out a deal'. I think it kind of depends on the circumstances.

    Luckily, after reading my policy, I am almost certain my insurance would cover an emergency removal, but I doubt they would pay for a re-banding.

    Greg, did your insurance cover your surgery, or were you selfpay? I'm assumming you were self pay since you went to MX. I'm just wondering if my Ins would cover it if it was an emergency type situation. Who knows? Insurance companies are the DEVIL. :angry: LOL

    Donna

  18. April Surgery patients

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    Congrats, Kelly! I'm at the beginning of April, so we'll

    pass each other - but I'm very excited about this!

    I'm going solo to the surgery - I have decided to keep

    this to myself. I find the older I get the less I want to

    confess everything!

    Best of luck to you!

    Lisa

    I'm looking at April 2nd or 3rd right now. Anybody gonna be there then? Also, what choices of Pre-op diets do you have?

    Thanks,

    Donna

  19. WHO was I in contact with, can anyone help me?

    in Gastric Band Support & Discussion

    Posted

    I was on a message board talking to other patients who had gone to MX for surgery, I could have SWORE it was this one! Anyway, it was right before Christmas, and whoever I was talking to sent me information, and it was about having the surgery in MX, and they had different packages, depending on the hospital you chose, and there were like 4-5 different hospitals. Lowest pkg was 7,000. Someone even called me about it. Anyway, hubby talked me out of it, but NOW I'm desperate, I'm so tired of being fat! I "thought" it was in Monterey, MX but that may be wrong too??? Any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks,

    Donna

  21. I messed up

    in Weight Loss Surgery Testimonials

    Posted

    I can certainly understand your frustration with your hubby. It took 6 months of BEGGING, and PLEADING with my hubby to finally convince him that I really NEEDED this surgery. He finally agreed to it, probably just to shut me up! <_< But OH well!

    I'm hoping to be banded sometime this month. I can't hardly wait!

    Donna

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