faithmd

Awesome NSV's!!!

And fillls are sometimes included for the first year, sometimes not. I've see fill prices anywhere from $100 to $300 (52-156GBP) per fill without Fluoro (basically x-ray guided) to $200 to $500 (104-260GBP) per fill with Fluoro.

In my state alone I've seen one Doc who charges $12,500 (6,500GBP) and another who charges $19,750 (10,271GBP). I know some folks who go to Mexico and have gotten it for as little as $9,000 (4,680GBP).

I think he's referring to someone who previosuly had a gastric bypass and now has had a band placed.

Ya know, I do the same thing. I also believe that Anna Nicole did have surgery. I don't know about Kirstie Alley. If she did I'd bet she had the Band. I work with a doc who lost about 60 or 70 lbs in the past eight months or so and I asked him how he did it. He told me he just stopped eating. I find myself wondering if he didn't get banded...I've got a pretty good relationship with him so after I get banded, I think I'll ask him about it. I don't plan on telling anyone (other that DH and my folks), so I'm kind of concerned about telling him, but he's pretty cool. I can't wait to get mine so I have a tool to help me control my portions. Now I just have to stop eating right before I go to bed...

Completely depends. Depends on if you are going to be self-pay or you need insurance to pay. Also depends on your surgeon's schedule and his/her pre-op requirements. Then it depends on getting those appointments for the pre-op stuff out of the way. My insurance requires a minimum of 12 months of MD supervised weight loss and 5 years documentation of being 100+ lbs overweight, and other things. They will NOT accept letters or records from Weight Watchers, etc. It must be MD supervised and I must have 10 documented visits in those 12 months. Other insurance is only 6 months, some is only 3. Some WILL accept letters from your MD about your weight and loss attempts. If you are going the insurance route, I strongly advise you call them RIGHT away, now, today. Most companies have case managers who deal exclusively with things like bariatric surgery claims. Ask if your company has one and talk to that person. They will know what will and won't be accepted. Ask for them to mail you a copy of the information in writing. If you are self-pay, then you just have to choose a surgeon, find out what the cost is and get it together and also find out what that surgeon requires for pre-op consultations. I suppose there is a possibility if you are self-pay and the doc has an opening in his schedule and he doesn't require many pre-op clearances from other docs you could potentially get it in a couple of months. See why it's sooooo hard to answer this question? Good Luck!!!

The MD are my last two initals of my name. Faith M---- D---- I've used it as a sign in for as long as I can remember, throws many folks. Although I have always wanted to go to med school.

Sorry, just added another couple of lines to my post above. I have my surgical consultation on 3/20, hopefully it will be soon after that. I just reread your earlier post, I'm not a doc (though I regularly fight with them). I am a critical care RN and paramedic.

I don't know if it will help or not. I don't recall if she said she is testing MRSA positive in her blood, or only in her wound. I know she said her wound has MRSA in it, but I wonder if she's got it systemically as well. Zyvox is a great idea and certainly is an excellent line of defense. Especially if Vanco isn't doing it's job. Seems to me that as long as she doesn't have systemic MRSA and isn't critically ill from it, that it would be a really good idea to try the Zyvox before removing the band. And could she not just have her port removed for a while if the Zyvox doesn't help? (Rather than removing the whole band.) Also, some studies say that resecting the areas that are infected with MRSA is enough to get rid of it. If they removed the port and resected the infected tissue, then treated her for a bit with a big-gun antibiotic and after it is clear, replaced her port, then that might save the band. Just a thought. I would suggest if she can get in to see a good infectious disease MD that would be the best idea. But I realize that in countries with socialized medicine, that might be nearly impossible. Certainly I have seen folks with hip implants and such who develop MRSA in those wounds and they don't have to have the hip removed. But then again, the port is much closer to the surface of the skin and is removable, as opposed to a joint necessary for walking. :crutch:

Though I despise beans, I think the rest of this sounds WONDERFUL and I'll be making a big pot tomorrow, THANK YOU!

I also found this very interesting webpage that concisely describes the promising treatment of MRSA with a type of honey, check it out: http://www.manukahoney.com/resources/research/mrsa.html

Vanco can certainly be given via a peripheral IV (for those who don't know what we're discussing, a peripheral IV is like the one you get in the ER or before surgery where they poke you with a needle and catheter that is about 2 inches/5cm long), it does not have to be given in a central line. But if she's at home and getting Vanco, I can't imagine that she'd be getting peripheral after peripheral put in. But I guess other places might do things differently than I'm used to. And yes, in adults it should be infused over a minimum of 90 minutes. I prefer it to be given over two hours to prevent Redman's. Vancomycin levels do not necessarily need to be checked every third dose. The first check is usually a trough prior to the fourth dose and thereafter for patients on long-term therapy there is little consensus. Some doctors will order trough levels every few days throughout vancomycin treatment. Some will order both trough and peak concentrations at regular intervals. Many do not feel that general monitoring is necessary and will only order the tests on patients who have decreased kidney function and on those who are not responding to treatment as expected. Zyvox as you said does not need levels. Mrs. D, I suggest you also ask about washing the wound with Hibiclens (chlorhexidine gluconate) and applying Bactroban (mupirocin) to it twice daily. Those are the treatments of choice in a patient who turns MRSA positive to kill the bugs externally.

Excellent post, Mandy!

Molly, vent away! That's why we're all here. I'm a pot-stirrer, I'd be calling the pharmacy and asking to see the proof of the faxes sent and make sure they went through. If they did, then I'd be calling that so-called friend and giving her a piece of my mind and making darned sure that she knew I don't accept that kind of treatment just because we have a friend relationship instead of just a professional one. I agree with you, I'd be steaming mad as well.

Can you see a different nutritionist? And is a nutrition consult REQUIRED for your insurance to approve you? The only requirements for my insurance (besides the 12 month program) are for me to have the psych eval and see the surgeon.

Depends, that is something you MUST ask your insurance company about. Mine said that the important weight is the weight I started the MD supervised diet at. (And my requirement is 12 months, ack!) My insurance company said that even if I lose weight on the MD diet, that is okay, they'd still approve the surgery. In fact, on the MD diet I MUST lose weight, at least 5% of my excess weight in order to prove I can follow a doctor's plan.

I wish I could say I was going to Port Huron, they are among the most experienced in the state (them and Dr. Deol). Sadly my insurance does not pay for me to go there, and Dr, Deol charges $800 for a mandatory support group fee that is not covered by insurance. I wish you all luck, I think it's wonderful you are getting banded at PHH! I researched them quite a bit and everything I found out was very positive. I would double check with your insurance company about EXACTLY what there requirements are for the 12 month diet. My company requires not only 12 months PHYSICIAN supervised weight loss, but I MUST attend 80% or my visits in that 12 months, which means *10* visits in 12 months, with weights and discussion of diet/exercise at *each* visit. Your insurance company should have a complex case manager who is very familiar with this stuff. Mine is wonderful. Best wishes!!!

Thank you, Elisabethsew! I was wondering about that. I understood the reasoning behind not taking a NSAID in pill form, but I didn't understand why a banded person couldn't take a liquid form with a good flush from water and perhaps a coating agent (like Mylanta).

Wow, if I had a dime for every thread I've read about Diet Coke... I cannot wrap my mind around it because I DESPISE the stuff. Now, Diet Pepsi, or preferably Pepsi ONE, I can drink. But Diet Coke, ick... I do think they must put something addictive in it. On the floor where I work they removed the Coke machine and people flipped out. A huge group of folks inundated the vending services folks with nasty letter and emails to try to get it back. And they did. The whole reason? Diet Coke! Wild! :eek: I'm going to have a huge problem giving up V-8

I would guess that you were given at least one antibiotic for your surgery. It is possible that you now have a yeast infection around your incisions. Sounds odd, but it does happen. Especially in areas that are moist or unhealed. I'd try some over-the-counter cheap anti-fungal cream. Go to a dollar store and get something either for athlete's foot or something for a vaginal yeast infection (a cream). They are all antifungals. I would say go buy Lotrimin, but that's way expensive if it is not a yeast infection. The cheap, generic stuff works just as well. If it's not starting to improve in about three days or so, then it's likely not a yeast infection.

Tasha (and all), if you haven't seen this thread yet, you might want to check it out. It's a thread for Bandsters who have started at a higher BMI: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/thread-super-sized-t16168.html It can be done! I've got loads to lose myself. Even if I can't get to my "Met Life Insurance Table" goal, I know that I will be lower in weight and will be healthier with the Band. I will not have to worry about when the awful complications will set in from the bypass. If the surgeon I am consulting with will not band me because of my weight, then I'll find someone else. I will not get the Bypass merely because I have so much to lose. But that is a personal choice.

PB'ing is productive burping, here's a link to a great thread about the various abbreviations: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/abbreviations-and-they-t7959.html

Fosamax does offer an oral solution, I saw it under "how to take" on Fosamax.com Boniva looks like it is a smaller pill (from the Boniva commercials), and while I didn't see an oral solution listed for Boniva, there is an injection.

What a great thread!! Thanks for starting it and congrats on your surgery! I'm waiting for approval...

Hello pangie! I am in the middle of my pre-op "stuff" right now. I live near Ann Arbor and am going to Hurley in Flint. I would suggest you call your insurance company and ask if they cover the band and what their requirements are before you get started with all the pre-op stuff. Give your insurance company the codes for the band and ask if they cover these specific things: Laparoscopic surgical adjustable band: Procedure code 43770, diagnosis code 278.01 Most insurance companies have complex case managers who deal specifically with things like bariatric surgery. When you call you ins co, ask who handles bariatrics and also ask to be mailed the specific statement of benefits that either covers or denies the band along with the requirements. That way you have it in writing. Talk to the case manager, ask what you need to do and who your insurance will pay to do the band, mine only pays for it at three places, their "Centers of Excellence." My case manager is great, she talked to me at length and gave me tips on what documentation she's seen get approved and what I would definitely be denied for. For example my company will not allow MD letters to say what I've done about losing weight, my documentation must be in the form of office notes from my MD. I haven't been banded yet, but I have read many threads that have asked how long you have to be off work. The responses vary greatly. Here are links to a few threads about this: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/back-work-t30346.html?t=30346 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/time-off-work-t27726.html?t=27726 http://www.lapbandtalk.com/long-would-someone-t28444.html?t=28444 Seems there is not any one answer on this topic, that is something you'll have to ask the surgeon who is going to place your band. Here's a link to a thread about that as well: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/preop-not-preop-t27197.html?t=27197 I know what you mean, I have so many that keep popping into my head despite my have reaserched this for so long, this board is wonderful! May I suggest you go through the Pre-op/Poet-op Questions and Answers forum and the FAQ and References Forum, lots of great stuff there! Good luck on your journey! And it is nice to see another Michigander here!