PAMMIE

Actually, I was talking about October 8th, sunday. I am still a week post-op, and it would be nice if I could eat something. Plus, I think there were a few people who were being banded the beginning of September. If we planned it a month away, everyone would have a chance to hear about it, and we could figure out where we were going to meet specifically.

Becki

PERFECT!!!

How about Southcenter on Sunday evening, like 5pm, or something. It will take me an hour to get here, at least, so that would be a very good time for me.

Becki

SOUTHCENTER SOUNDS GOOD, NEXT SUNDAY THE 10th? AND WHERE?

please remind me, I have to go back to work this week and i don't want to forget about this

Here is my wild FILL idea of the day....

4 bandsters meet in San Diego at the airport at the same time for pick up to get a ride to the clinic

$32.50

($130 divided by 4)

Get filled at the clinic and get driven back to the airport

Take the shuttle to a fantastic hotel, the double Tree in San Diego and stay the night

$30.00

($120 at my fantastic rate divided by 4)

Ride to airport on the hotel shuttle the next day

$5.00 per person

So for transportation and lodging it's only....$67.50 each

Which of course doesn't include the fill or plane fare but....you get to have the experience with 3 LB friends!

Ok...maybe it's a long shot, but I love to save money and have fun.

Michele

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLAN MICHELE!!!

Hi becki,

I've been using the antibiotic cream and keeping the wounds as clean as possible and they aren't getting any worse but not sure if they're getting better. I dont think ive given it enough time yet but we'll see what happens!

If no improvement in the next few days, i'll have to call the Doc.

KEEP SAFE!!!

Just thought I'd follow up with this. My surgery was at 7:30 in the morning. When I woke up from surgery, my port site was VERY painful. They treated it with pain meds. By noon, I was in a room, and out of recovery. I took a nap for a couple of hours. By 2:30pm, I was walking around, trying to move around so I wouldn't get gas pains. At around 4pm I was discharged. Still sore, and not comfortable, but definitely tolerating everything.

I had a function for work that evening. I got home, got dressed, and had my wife take me out. I walked around the function, smiling and shaking hands with people, none the wiser. The next morning, I had a court appearance for a new client that I couldn't miss. Got back from court, checked into the office, then went home and slept. That was the Friday before last. I really took it easy all weekend, but was back to regular work on Monday. Granted, my energy level was low, both from the surgery and the lower calorie intake, but I managed.

I'm now a week and two days post-op. I don't think I'm ready to work out quite yet, but I'm very close.

Obviously, everyone has a different time table, but this was mine. Good luck.

I WAS BANDED JUST OVER TWO WEEKS AGO AND BEEN GOING FULL STEAM WITHOUT A PROBLEM, SHOPPING, YARDWORK, ETC. THIS AFTERNOON WE WENT TO THE U of W HUSKIES FOOTBALL GAME, I TELL YA, BY HALF TIME I WAS SPENT LOL

I THOUGHT I WAS REALLY FULLY RECOVERED AND THEN SOME BUT MAYBE JUST TO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN ONE AFTERNOON WITH NO BEER LOL

The surgery costs do vary depending on where you have it done. My insurance has a blanket denial on weight loss surgeries, which is a huge bummer. I did consider getting private insurance (self-pay) with a company that would cover the surgery, but it would have taken at least a year to get approval because it would be considered a pre-existing condition. Then I would still have to pay the monthly insurance premiums and the co-payments and deductibles and... it just wasn't worth it to me.

Dr. Ortiz charges under or around $10,000 with free fills for life. The hospital I was working with charges $18,000 and each fill is around $500. Dr. Ortiz is ideal for me because I live in San Diego, so his office is nothing more then a trolley ride and a taxi away.

There are options to get payment if you want to go through the hassle, but for me, the best option was a fixed APR low interest credit card and Dr. Ortiz. I am still pre-op and I meet Dr. Ortiz on Monday for my consultation, but I am fully prepared to have this done, I just need a date!

GOOD LUCK ON MONDAY LITTLEROO!!!

GOOD INFORMATION, I FORGOT TO EVEN ASK WHAT THERE TIMES WERE

THAT'S GREAT NEWS!!!

I have a date! I will be arriving Sept 26th and surgery Sept 27th. I am so excited!

I was banded on July 14 and am scheduled for my first fill tomorrow. I must admit that I am very anxious...to see if it works. I also had a VG band put in, and was virtually not familiar with it. I had a BMI of 40 and am very short, so Dr. Ortiz felt it was my best option. The surgeon who is going to be providing my aftercare says that most doctors now use the VG band, but he also says that I will need 5cc's on the first fill. I am praying that I get restriction. I lost 10 pounds preop and have lost another 8 pounds, but I am really very hungry and denying myself. All I can do is pray that tomorrow's fill will help.

I get angry when I think of how much this all costs. It is like the insurance company wants to punish us by not covering the procedure and after care. It is a large price we are all paying, in order to get healthy.

Wish me luck tomorrow....I wish luck to all of you.

Sheila

GOOD LUCK SHEILA!!!

BUMP FOR MININ

LET US KNOW WHEN YOUR SURGERY IS. THERE'S A GREAT POSSIBILITY ONE OF US WILL BE THERE FOR A FILL

I'LL BUMP UP PICTURES I TOOK WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE. I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF EMAILS FROM PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT NICE DOWN THERE. HECK, I DIDN'T LOL

WOW, LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY, THANKS MARY

I just got the official word back from 7-11 headquarters and Here it is....major bummer but my bandster friend tried one and was in agony from the carbonation...

Our apologies for not getting back to you sooner. In regards to your

question pertaining to Slurpee being carbonated the answer is yes. All

Slurpee across the United States is carbonated.

Please let me know if I can assist with anything else.

Thanks.

Hi, Catherine:

I was reading this post and thought I'd give my two cents (so to speak). I used the $1 per bag rule when I went last week for the clinic driver and doorman at the hotel. We tipped the driver when we arrived at the hotel. And, because our room wasn't ready yet, the doorman had to put our luggage in a secure room so we felt obligated to tip when were able to get to our luggage back. Take plenty of singles!

PatU

I WAITED AND TIPPED THE CLINIC DRIVER WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE AIRPORT, $20.00

THE BELL CAPS, $2.00 EVERYTIME THEY MOVED MY BAG

CAB DRIVERS $2.00

Hi All!

I just wanted to introduce myself. I am Miriam and live in Indiana. I like many of you out there have battled with my health insurance just to be denied several times and am now looking to go to Mexico to have the procedure. So here I am, scared and excited and can't wait to be banded!

Miriam

WELCOME MIRIAM!!!

WHEN IS YOUR SURGERY DATE?

CHAT WITH DR CURRY ON OBESITYHELP.COM AUGUST 24,06 NOON CST

http://members.cox.net/franspencer/lapband_transcript.htm

LOOK FOR A VERY NICE MIDDLE AGED, MEDIUM HEIGHT, MEXICAN MAN, VERY FRIENDLY WITH A SIGN, WITH YOUR NAME ON IT, AT BAGGAGE CLAIM

I'd be interested also, unless you all want to just talk about girlie issues

I'm scheduled for Sept. 8th

Roger

Port Orchard

OH ROGER LOL, WE'LL SET ASIDE TIME TO TALK MEN TALK TOO LOL

JUST THOUGHT I'D START A THREAD SO WE CAN PLAN A GET TOGETHER WITHOUT IT GETTING LOST IN ANOTHER TREAD. I'M IN AND I'M SURE MY FRIEND SANDY WOULD LOVE IT TOO.

I WON'T BE AROUND THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK IF I DON'T REPLY, HEADING TO BOSTON, I THINK LOL WHO KNOWS

DR MIRANDA SAID I COULD TRY A BEER, OFF TAP IN 6 MONTHS

SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TOO

REMEMBER ONE MINUTE, ONE HOUR AT A TIME, THAT'S HOW I'M DOING IT HERE. I HAVEN'T QUIT SMOKING, I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A SMOKE IN 11 DAYS IS ALL

MY FRIEND AND I WERE BANDED AT THE OCC A WEEK TOMORROW.

I'M REALLY DOING WELL. SANDY'S HAVING A LITTLE HARDER TIME BUT IS DOING GOOD ALSO.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT TILL TOMORROW TO DRINK SOMETHING WITH SOME KIND OF TEXTURE TO IT LOL

I'M STILL SWOLLEN AND CAN'T REALLY THINK ABOUT HAVING A MEAL OR A BITE OF ANYTHING REALLY BUT I TELL YEAH, JUST THE SMELL OF FOOD RIGHT NOW DRIVES ME CRAZY!!! LOL I'M NOW DREAMING ABOUT FOODS LOL

SO FAR I'VE LOST ABOUT 9 POUNDS. I HAVE A LOWER BMI SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A PRE OP DIET. I JUST WATCHED IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN FASTED STARTING AT MIDNIGHT THE DAY OF PRE OP. ALL THIS JUST DRINKING IS ALL NEW TO ME BUT I'M GETTING THERE.

LIKE THE SMOKES, I JUST FOCUS ONE MINUTE AT A TIME. I FIGURE IF I'M REALLY GOOD, AND DON'T CHEAT, THE FASTER I'LL HEAL, THE FASTER I'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER WONDERFUL MEAL LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING LOL

MY BMI WAS 31.7

GOOD LUCKY TOMORROW

YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS

WE WALKED DOWN AND SHOPPED THE MALL AFTER PRE OP TESTING. (CAREFUL CROSSING THE ONE BIG INTERSECTION LOL)

THE MINUTE WE WERE BACK TO THE HOTEL THE NEXT MORNING AFTER SURGERY, WE GOT A CAB TO TAKE US DOWNTOWN AND WALKED WALKED WALKED FOR HOURS. THEN HIT COSTCO DOWN THERE BEHIND THE CLINC (LOOK OUT YOUR ROOM WINDOW) LOL

I REALLY THINK I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD NOW BECAUSE OF ALL THE WALKING. WE DID. SANDY NOR I GOT ANY REAL GAS PAINS.

SANDY DID CONFESS TO ME LAST NIGHT THAT SHE REALLY DID JUST WANT TO TAKE A NAP ALL DAY AFTER WE GOT TO THE HOTEL BUT SHE'S GLAD NOW WE SHOPPED ALL DAY. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE LEAVING ME GO BY MYSELF. I'VE BEEN DOWNTOWN BEFORE SO I KNEW IT WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM IF SHE WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING THOUGH

Thanks for sharing... What did you do after you were released back to the Hotel? I have heard there are some nice shopping areas close by. did you take advantage of any of them? And, do you really feel as well as I keep reading that most people do after the surgery? I am being banded on Aug 31st and have loads of questions, so any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Catherine

CONGRATULATIONS!!! IT'S BEEN ONE DAY, JUST STEP BY STEP, I'M RIGHT WITH YOU

IF I THINK IN LONG TERMS IT JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR ME. ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I KEPT A LETTER MY DADDY WROTE TO ME BEFORE HE DIED. HE HAD PANCREATIC CANCER AND DIED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND WAS MY WORLD. HE SMOKED AS A TEEN THEN QUIT HIMSELF IN HIS EARLY 20's.

PAM--

I AM GOING THROUGH HELL IN ORDER TO KEEP LIVING

PLEASE MAKE YOUR OLD DAD HAPPY

(THEN A PICTURE OF A HAPPY FACE)

QUIT SMOKING - I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH TO SEE YOU GO THROUGH THIS

LOVE LOVE LOVE

DAD

THAT'S MY ENCOURAGEMENT

don't smoke!!!!!!!! you've been off it for this long and you're on your way to a healthier you... stay away from 'em - you are worth it

Yes Lori, post them for us if you can!

I GOT AN EMAIL FROM LORI, SHE SAID SHE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO POST THEM SO, I'VE UPLOADED THEM TO A WEBSITE.

http://www.webshots.com/homepage.html

JUST USE MY USER NAME, NELSENETC, AND THE PASSWORD IS ORTIZ EVERYTHINGS IN CAPS IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THEN CLICK ON "MY STUFF". I DID ADD REMARKS AS TO WHO IS WHO, IF I REMEMBERED EVERYONE RIGHT I JUST WISH I WOULD'VE TAKEN MORE PICTURES OF THE STAFF.