nbjen

I'm having Dr Earl Fox do my surgery. They have an office in Richland too. So far everythings been great and I'm scheduled for next Friday Their website is http://www.aboutsurgicalweightloss.com/ Good Luck!

I forgot to add that we always eat at the Cottage Cafe when we travel east or to Cle Elum - that sounds really good right now!!

I tried to edit my post above to correct a spelling error but couldn't!!! Sorry!

Congrats Wenjea!!!!! That's not that far away and it'll come quickly :confused: I was really nervous about the liquid diet but as long as you keep up on your Protein drinks then the hunger shouldn't be too bad! I have had about one stick of cheese a day. I'm surprised I'm not hungier, although if I don't drink a Protein Drink every so often then I get super hungry and start looking for something to eat. My Doctor told me to drink 5 Protein Drinks a day if I need to keep hunger away but so far the first day I had 4 and then yesterday and today I had 3. Yesterday was the worst because i had a horrible headache probably from no carbs and couldn't take anything. I usually take Excedrin but couldn't and won't be able to after the band. I wish the protein drinks tasted like a milkshake then I'm sure I could get by - hah!!! Idea for a support meeting: Auburn's not that far for me and there is a nice Starbuck's near the Supermall?????

Hi Everyone, I'm on day 3 of my liquid diet, going pretty good. I really wanted a breakfast jack yesterday and was not going to eat the bun but I didn't... I would love some chicken or some real food! But I'm in this for the long haul and for about the next month this is how I'll be eating... Maybe being a self pay makes you stick to it better Good luck everyone.. I live kind of close to Cle Elum in North Bend, I love the mountains!

Good Luck Lucy Girl - please update us as soon as you can after surgery. I had my psych eval today and I guess I passed. I couldn't really tell him why I eat the way I do....... Still not sure but I think it's because I'm just hungry all the time and hopefully the band will help with that. I also had to tell him about the surgery and how my life will change afterwards - I guess they want to make sure you understand what you are doing. Tomorrow is my pre-op appointment with my surgeon, nutritional appointment and pre-admin apt at the hospital. Then I have my upper GI on Wednesday and I'm ready to go!!! Angelnurse - Thanks for sharing your story - gives me hope! Merillee - Keep up the good work and it'll pay off!! I hope I have as much success as you on the pre-op - I start tomorrow!!

Good Luck Krystal!!! I think your finally on your way :mad: Thanks so much for sharing your story

I'm scheduled for 4/27 but I'm going through Dr Fox..... Cindy - I think your doing great - it sounds like your all healed and hopefully you'll get a fill and start having the band work for you - keep updating!! Wenjea - Wow you have to do a whole month of liquid? I know I have to do 10 days clear liquid pre op and I'm not sure about afterwards but I think about 3 weeks. I hope that after surgery the swelling will keep me from getting hungry but I'm worried about when everything is healed and then your hunger returns before your first fill (Bandster Hell??).... Good Luck Everyone!!!

Hi Everyone! I'm Jen and I just found out my surgery date, it's April 27th!!! Yah!!! I haven't been reading the post's here but I will so I can catch up and be part of the April bandsters! I live near Seattle, Washington and I'm self pay. Dr Earl Fox is my surgeon. I had my gallbladder removed in 2003 and I'm hoping my recovery will be the same (although I think the port pain area will be the worst part to deal with). I plan on taking Friday - Tuesday off work - vacation as I've only told two people I work with. Good luck to everyone and for everyone that already had surgery I hope your recovery is going well!!! PS... I have to do 10 days of clear/sugar free liquid diet before Surgery and not sure how long after surgery. I think probably 3 more weeks, then mushies? I haven't had my appiontment w/the patient advocate who will review all that with me! I hope to talk to you guys more soon!! :confused:

I'm waiting to be banded... During my surgeon consult he said there is a new anti nausea drug that came out w/in the last 6 months that works great and they give it to you about an hour before surgery - I will be reminding him that I need that because I don't do well w/anesthesia either!

Thanks for posting this - I've been curious too! I have PCOS and have never been successful loosing weight. I'm hoping the band is the tool that will help me

You look awesome!! Thanks for sharing You give people like me hope!

What about calling your surgeon and telling them what is happening and if they could recommend someone? I agree about going to the ER - Geesh - I hope you can find someone! I go to Overlake OB/GYN and never had a problem but then I haven't had any gyn problems. PS cant they do a D & C - I think my Mom had that done for fibroid tissue?

Good luck Cindy!! I'm going to be self pay too but will be going through Dr Fox in Tacoma. It's the same price as Dr Oh. I just had my history and phsyical yesterday and now I have my list of pre-op test's I need. I don't have to have a sleep study so I'm glad for that. That seems like it would take a long time. Keep us updated on how you did today! I'll keep you in my prayers :success1:

If I choose Dr Fox then the surgery will be done at Auburn Regional Medical center, I'm sure it's pretty comparable to a surgery center, it's a small hospital. I had my gallbaldder out via lap and it was pretty simple and my recovery was quick. I'm hoping this surgery will be about the same recovery.

Congrats on your surgery date!! I hope to be following in your footsteps soon!

WOW!!! You look awesome!!! You don't look like you even lost that much weight! (I meant that you could have been that heavy) Congrats!!! I'm a newbie still researching but you give me hope! Good Job

Hi Merrillee, I'm pretty new here too and hoping to get banded. I'm just starting my journey and will be self pay too. I think I'm going to go with Dr Fox out of Tacoma. I think he is the same price as Dr Oh but can you tell me if any of the follow up appointments are included in your initial price? I'm just curious. For Dr. Fox your appointments are included for the first 90 days and then I will have to pay for each one. I think it's a great investment too!!! I live in East King county. Congrats on your surgery date and sounds like you have a great supportive hubby - I do too! Jen

Oh, I forgot to add that Dr Ortiz was $8500, that was $1000 off for a promotion and that was in the TJ center and I think that is a new center/remodeled or something. That didn't include airfare, but from here I can't imagine it would be too much if you have enough time to search for a good price.

Hi Dreamer, I'm currenlty looking too and went to a seminar by Dr Fox out of Tacoma, he does his surgery at Auburn regional medical center. The cost is $12,800 and that includes the 90 days after surgery, so any appointments you would have to pay out of your pocket afterwards. I have double insurance coverage but both exclude bariatric surgery so nothing will be covered for me. Anything that is related to the band would not be covered. I also emailed Northwest weightloss center and it was $17,000 through them and that included all your appointments for the year after surgery. I'm currently looking at financing. I looked into Mexico too but I'm not sure how I would feel flying home after having surgery. I had my gallbladder removed about 2 years ago and thought my recovery would be about the same but after reading these boards I'm not sure how I will do, everyone is so different. Although you could have a vacation and the band at the same time. I've only told a few people at work who I think understand and I'm not telling anyone else so I'm going to have find a reason to take a week off. Good luck!

Did either of you do research on Dr Earl Fox? If you did why did you go with someone else? o2bthin - who is going to do your follow up care here in the NW after surgery? I thought about Mexico too but I'm too nervous about flying right after surgery.

Sent in a application online to see if I could qualify for finacing for the lap band. Still waiting for a reply. :confused:

Sent in a application online to see if I could qualify for finacing for the lap band. Still waiting for a reply.

I'm glad everything went well with your surgery! And your recovery sounds like it is also going well.... Congrats

Hi, I'm new here too and in my research phase for the band.... I'm in King County and went to a seminar by Dr Fox, I think I'm going to call and make my pre-surgery appointment. I'll be self pay so I still have to look into financing. I love these boards!