Lady Q T

Ok Banded pro's this is my first time posting , I would like to know if n e 1 has been banded in columbus, ohio at the Mt. Carmel hospital and if so how was your experience? I have just sent in my first set of paper work to be approve by their Dr. Also they are charging $300.00 for administrator fee (paper pushing to the Ins.), not to mention I will have to spend another $200.00 for their nutritionist and this $500.00 is not covered by my insurance:faint: . Are fee's normal? I was just wondering because I feel as much as the surgery cost, these things should be included! N E help would be nice

Hello!!!! I can't believe how big this Thread has got it took me two days to read all of you guys post, (I must check in more often.) I have been so busy that by the time I have time to check in I just go right up stairs and go to bed. But I thought I would drop in and give an update since it has been one year as of yesterday (7/23) that I had my Surgery with Dr. Choban. I have lost 75 pounds, and have 25 more to go.......due to not exercising and not eating right at times has slowed my weight loss down a lot!!! But I am back focus and exercising and eating right every day. So before long I will post a picture:laugh:. I have not had any regrets about having the Lapband surgery. Angie it wont be much longer before you have your RNY, every one and thing has its own seasoning and yours is about here. I believe that at times God puts a pace car in your life to get you where you need to be at the right time, it is not us who decides but God, just think if you could have been Banded at the Barix clinic instead of being at Mt. Carmel meeting with Dr. Price and him giving you the Ok to have the RNY. By the way every one remember the next time you are driving and there is that slow car in front of you and you just can't get around him...... God might have him there just to slow you up so your not at the wrong place at the wrong time:biggrin2:. Ok I'm going to bed now but it was nice catching up on every thing that has been going on. I will start checking in more often. Maybe I will be free in Aug. to join you guys at the mall.....I love :wub:shopping. specially know that I can shop just about any where to buy my clothes, now that there feels GREAT!!!!

Mellisa attempted to do my fill on the 20th. but couldn't get it so Dr. Choban finished it,I should have told Dr. Choban let her try one more time, I didn't mind her praticing on me, because in the long run we all will benefit from her knowing how to do the procedure, (we will no longer have to wait for an appt. with Dr. Choban, and she can have more time with the new patients). I do believe that Mellisa is doing the first fill under Floroscope now she was training when I had my experience:blush5::tongue_smilie:. So she should be a pro at that type of fill.

BNLisa, Here's the thing about doing a liquid diet before surgery, once you have the surgery you have to be on liquids another three weeks and you are going to go crazy just doing liquids for that long of a period, I think you should just do a low cal. diet so you don't get tired of liquids so soon after surgery!!!! You can still lose weight and still Chew food, trust me after surgery and you can't have any thing to chew you are going to miss it. One more thing Don't Kill your brother or you'll miss your surgery date:tt2:! Everyone Keep up the GREAT WORK you guys are doing wonderful!!!!! For everyone going into their mushie foods Idaho makes these instant mush potato that are falvored and they are good, they are in a plastic hard bag. Someone else makes them to and they are just as good, you just add 2 cups of boiling water. NDWife: I was like Greg on the low end of BMI so Dr. Choban never mentioned GB to me, However if LB is what you want go in there with your facts, and let them know LB is what you want and there is no changing your mind, let them know that you know with LB losing weight is slow but in the long run it is much safer IMO!

Okay, Greg you are going to FAST, you need to rest and not over do things!!!! Even though your feeling good you need to let your body heal!!!! Niki leave them Steri-Strips alone, I too got alot ahead of meself and thought the surgery site was ready and took off my strips too soon and it took the left one a while before it heal correctly, so stop it :embaressed_smile:!! Well every one I went to my 9:00 appointment since Debbie couldn't and besides my left hip being in pain every thing went well. My appointment was at 9:00a.m I got there at 8:50a.m. and was back in my car by 9:21a.m. Now my next appointment is is May 15 at 10:45a.m so lets see how that goes. P.S Greg did I read right you were in the hall way giving a peek show to the ladies:lol:? It is Great to hear all of the March 17 people are doing good, keep us updated!! And once again GREG GET YOUR REST AND STOP OVER DOING THINGS!!!! Smooches

Debbie I just sent you a PM with the info you need to take my appt. Now here is some wisdom for every one always ask for the first appointment in the morning or the first appointment after lunch, that way there is no waiting or very little waiting!!!!!! At least this has been my experience at their office.

Debbie, You can have my appointment if you can make it there tomorrow at 9:00a I fell playing Wii (Video game) bowling with my DH on, and I really don't want to lay there while they do my fill so let me ASAP if you can take my appointment.

All of you St. Patrick day Banded babies are in my prayers!!! Just think your new life begins today!!!! Look forward to hearing how all three of your surgery goes!!!

Angie, How did the Seminar go at Mt. Carmel Wednesday? Maybe things will go alot faster with you getting a surgery date since you have already been approved by your insurance company! Maybe you won't have to do all the clearances' again!! Good Luck!!! Okay now I have to Vent & Rant :angry_smile: Okay Wednesday evening the neighbor hood children were outside playing when one of them decided to go get their Pitt Bull dog to get the other children because she was not happy about the snow fight they were having, I think some of the kids laughed at her, anywhoo so she lets the pitt bull out of the garage where they keep the dog and never lets him out (just imagine how bad it must smell in there:scared2:) and the dog runs across the street and all of the kids jump on a mini van well all but one made it before the dog attacks him a six year old boy!!!! The dog breaks one of the little boy finger, fractures a bone the same hand, bitting him in the hand the shoulder, and his rear end badly!!! Causing him to have 62 stitches!! Now the Animal Control comes along with the Police, and Medic's. Now the children of the owner of the dogs gets ahold of their mother who is NEVER HOME, AND HER CHILDREN ARE LIKE THE DEVIL because there is no adult supervision and the pretty much torture the other children!!! Any way the Animal Control allows the mother to keep the Pitt Bull because she says she will keep the dog under coritine for 10 days this has outrage our street because there is nothing we can do about it!!!! When I called Animal Control they said that they could not take the dog because the owner refused and said she will keep it confined, this house is not fenced in, and she is never home maybe and comes home maybe around 11:00 P.M on a daily basic. I just don't thing that a person should have the right to say the want to keep a dog once it attacks a person!! Okay I am done Ranting but if anyone know of any thing I could do please HELP!! Oh this is a Section 8 house. Which in our neighbor hood there is not suppose to be any rental property.

Niki Glad to hear every thing went well and your back at home resting!! I should have warned every one on the rice, I to eat rice and it caused me problems, not nearly as LadyRoz, I think the rice must swell back up or some thing, I was out shopping when I got hungery I went to the chinese place and some fried rice it wasn't like I ate a lot of it before it started to feel stuck but it was painful, and then like a dummy I tried to eat it again same thing happen! So yes people you might want to stay away from rice even if you love it like me. LadyRoz glad to see that you are doing better!!!!!

Your in my Prayers Niki!!!! Can't wait to hear from you on how things went!!

I did not take a bath robe, They give you two gowns on front ward one back wards, with the IV in your arm you will have a hard time getting your robe on, and yes I'm sorry I did take my slippers, but I just walked around in the socks with traction they provide one less thing you have to bend over and put on.

I took a change of clothes, loose fitting pants and a loose shirt a pair of slip on shoes, you don't want any thing you have to bend over and tie. Here is a little tip.....There is a cute teddy bear in the hospital room, (there was when I was there) it is great to help you get out of bed, hold it against your stomach to help take some of the pressure off as you are getting up. I got to take him home too! Okay Greg you might not want to use the Teddy Bear, I started out using a pillow till I ask one of the nurse if he was mine. Oh yes don't forget to take some thing to read so you don't get bored between walks!!! I can not stress how important it is to get out of that bed as soon as you get into that room, I strongly believe that, that is one of the main reason I did not have Gas pain at all and my quick recovery!!!! When I was in there I didn't see any one walking the halls, I was lonely walking the halls by myself:huh2:when my DH went home to take care of my DS.

SpecialK, did Dr. Price put you on the liquid diet or did you start that on your own to get a jump start on weight loss? Dr. Choban never put us on a liquid diet, or any diet before surgery. She just stated that lossing weight before surgery helps shrink the liver and makes it easier for her during surgery. I was just wondering I don't think I could have done a liquid diet before the surgery and then have to do liquid after surgery for two to three weeks. You have alot of will power:thumbs_up:. I am so excited for you guys having surgery March 17.!!!!!!!

Angie, I would be cussing right along with you if I cussed too:mad::w00t::tea: but since we don't letl just be very angry, cry , rant and punch a pillow and pretend that it is your ins. company together!!!! Okay know that we have vented together. I must repent and lets do the right thing and Pray that when you call Mt. Carmel and tell them that your Insurance has already approved you and you did start with them they will agree to take you and all the other Dr. and test results, I don't see why the wouldn't but lets pray they do the right thing!!!!!

ANGIE I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU:thumbup:!!!! I to like Debbie can eat just about every thing I use to just in a lot less then what I use to, the only thing I really have trouble with is bread, it just doesn't agree with my band, even if I toast it. I can eat pizza but only a little of it before the dough starts to cause me to PB:embaressed_smile: but one slice is plenty! Debbie do you know why they say no popcorn? I can eat it with no problem but wonder the whole time what it is doing to my band? It looks like everyone who is a regular is banded or have their approval letters, that is so Great!!! Too bad Angie isn't going to be at Mt. Carmel on the 17 with SpecialK, and Greg to walk the halls with them and sing the theme song:laugh:.

Oh! I did not get one of them due to me having my surgery on a short notice kinda thing, I was approved one day and like the next day or two on a Wednesday Charlene called and ask if I could have my Surgery on the following Monday, so they rush me in to have all of my pre test on Thursday and that is when I received that paper work. (Best thing I have EVER done for myself!!!!!!) You guys will not regret this at all!!!!!!!

NDWife, I did not have to pay any thing when I went to my Pre admission testing, (I did my testing at Mt. Carmel West), I also did not have to have any of my Co-Pay when I checked in the day of my Surgery, maybe it is just because you went to Mt. Carmel East? ( I had BC/BS, and United Health Care insurance) I am so excited for you Saint Patrick day Band!!!! No Green beer for you guys:laugh:. I keep wondering what package you guy's are talking about that you got or are waiting for in the mail, the only package I received was the first package after attending the seminar at Mt. Carmel?

Sue, Dr. Choban requires all of her patients' to stay over night. Talk to you later!

I am SOOOOOOOOO excited for you March babies, now SpecialK and Sue you ladies need to get out of your hospital rooms and walk them halls like crazy!!! I was up and out of my bed within an hour or two, and I am telling you ladies it did a great job on the gas pain every one is talking about, I did not have any gas pain. I was up walking every hour, even when I woke up in the middle of the night I got up and walked them hall way got boring doing the same circle, but well worth it. SpecialK when you go to your Ortho and he starts getting on you again on your weight just tell him I know I know about the weight issue causing some of my problems and the next time you see me I will be looking GOOD! It is so wonderful when I go places and people haven't seen me since I was banded and they make wonderful comments on how GOOD I LOOK. Soon I am going to get Bold like Debbie and post my before and in progress pictures. But for now I need to get my lazy but back to exercising so I can lose more weight. My DH is trying to motivative me but I have the case of Laziness:frown: and need to get over it!!! Dr. Choban will not be happy if I go back March 20 and haven't lost any weight due to not exercising!!!!!! I read someone post about every one meeting next month can some one please tell me the Date and Time so I can be there? Also SpecialK I to decided not to tell anyone about my Lap Band surgery that included my Boss and co-workers (I was working back then). I just told my boss I had to have a medical procedure and needed to be off work for a week, by Law your Employer can not ask you why, and you start losing at a much slower pace then some one who has had Gastric By pass that when people start asking question I can tell them that you ar eating a very low cal. diet that your Dr. has put you on. Be careful who you tell because some people just cant keep their mouth shout and it could get around the office to people you don't want to know. I want to be in Fl. with Nurse Niki!!!!! I am sick and tired of this cold weather I want warm weather NOW!!!!!!!

SpecialK, I believe if Charlene called you she has heard from the ins. company, that letter is more then likely before they received all of your paper work, don't sweat it. Hey does Aetna have a web site where you can go and review your claims? If so try going there and see what you can find out. I know waiting can be a pain, but I don't think Charlene would have called without first getting comfirmation from your insurance company! Debbie, if you call Dr. Choban and tell them that you are hungry they will get you in sooner if they have an appt. My son got his Brace's on today, they put the clear one's on and you can bearly tell he has them on.:cursing:

:thumbup:SpecialK I am doing the Happy Dance for you too!!!! Congrats!!! you can still make it to being a Feb. banded baby! It took less then a week for them to schedule me for Surgery after I got Approved, I remember being at work getting the call from Charlene and her asking me if Monday July 23 would work for me, it was like Wednesday July 18 when she was making the call and I jumped right on it!!! I am so happy for you. KT how's it going? I have had bleeding Hemorrhoids before and they are painful with the same type of blood you are talking about, so it might be that. Nurse Niki, I was not at the meeting but I need to take my Bootie to one to get me motivated into losing weight better, maybe we can all plan to attend March's meeting then go out for a cup of Caffine free Joe I think it will do us all some Good. Debbie when is your next fill Schedule? Mine is March 20, just wondering because at one point we were on the same day. Sue have you heard any thing else on your Big Day? This Just in........ Eastmoor Boys BasketBall team is still in the running of winning the District, we beat Jonathan Alder last night......Very intense game!!! Did I tell you yall what happen to my son, that almost ended his season due to injury?? Here's what happened Jan. 28. He was running back into the Gym after pratice when he slipped and fell on the wet floors, causing him to slide into the metal door jam face first (Ouch) he hit his mouth and his top two teeth was forced up into his gums, you could not really see them, but with Prayer, and a clam mother (with prayer) I Refused them to call 911 and raced to the school and rushed him to Fixari Dentist were Dr. Bang saved his teeth by pulling them back down and placing a brace on his teeth to hold them in place, then the next morning I had to take him back to his Ortho who had just seen him the day before and told him his teeth were perfect. Dr. Hutta in Gahanna, and Dr. Bang both agree that he shouldn't play, but left it up to us because the City Championship was in two weeks, but after his next visit they said he could if he wears a mouth guard that Dr. Hutta made for him, Did I mention that my son has to have Brace's put back on due to this Trama injury (he fracture his bones in the top of his mouth also) but Glory be to God Dr. Hutta looked at me when he was telling that he has to put Brace's back on (which was kinda pricecy) he looked at me and said... NO COST TO YOU MOM, he has also offered to put on the clear ones that cost more. Dr. Bang and Dr. Hutta is AWSOME!!!!!!!! These last 5 months has been very trying for me, but I have made it through. Sorry Ladies I didn't mean to bore you with my son's story.

Hello Ladies!!! Palarin I don't know what it is about being banded and having gas, but I have it to. Now as for your first fill and every fill they tell you to eat a light breakfast, and after you get the fill Dr. Choban tells you to go back to the liquid diet for the next 24 hours. That is it. P.S Make sure you keep breathing during your fill, me like a Goof ball think that I got a tad bit nervous and stop breathing and I huh kinda fainted, okay, okay I did faint:embaressed_smile: I was their first and maybe only one to faint on them, looking back on it I am laughing at my self!! It is not bad at all once she gives you the shot to numb you its all good!! .:party:Sue I am sooooo happy for you!!!!! The way they have been scheduling Dr. Choban appt. after they have been notified by the Insurance company you may be Banded This month!! Call me Joy, My ins. company BCBS did not require my PCP to provide any weight loss history, in fact they just went off the form that I filled out with all the diets I did some under Dr.s care and most on my own. SpecialK You will be banded before you know it!! Maybe I should call Dr. Choban's office and asked if I can come work with Charlene since I don't work, I would be processing every one paper work very fast due to I know how it feels to wait.....................Okay Okay I still love being a House wife, but I wonder if they would concider some one coming in to volunteer to help poor Charlene.

Okay ladies I was just on Scar Stages share yours thread and I saw BansterNYC scar stages and the are amazing, here is what she said she was doing. I am going to look into if the Kelo-Cote will work for me, My scars aren't bad but If the can look like her's I will be Very Happy. Below is the post from BansterNYC: Here's my scar stages! I my skin does not typically heal well, and so I was nervous of how the scars would turn out. Before the surgery, my dermatologist recommended I take the pill form of Arnica Montana (available at GNC) which is a homeopathic medicine intended to promote healing. I have been taking it since 3 weeks before surgery and continue to take it. Also, at 14 days post-op I started using Kelo-Cote Advanced Formula Scar Gel (available at SkinStore.com) which was also recommended by my dermatologist. Looks like they are working!

Okay LadyRoz, Relax your will start to eat a little more as you start to heal, but don't don't worry it will be okay. Please remember the weight that you lose before your first fill is called Bonus weight loss, because it is not your Band working it is just that fact that your are healing from surgery, and that is why you are not very hungry. As far as the fill it is not bad at all, just remember to relax and breath, :biggrin: that is something I didn't do and we all know what happen to Silly me, the only little pain you fill is when the give you the shot to numb you. You will be fine trust me!!!! Well I go for my fourth fill today, I hope I hit my Sweet spot with this one, but I know I need to do a lot better with exercise, I think I am going to join my church gym that way I will feel guilty if I don't use it. NurseNiki I so wish I was going on vacation with you, I am tired of the cold weather!!!! Thank you everyone for your prayers, my mother is doing great, she still has problems with her left hand and balance but the Doctors and PT feel she is going to get full use of the hand!