gagirl

Hey!! I'm just wondering if there is anyone out there that lives in the NW Georgia area? Chattanooga, TN, also.

If you are going to MX or any other country to get banded, I do agree that you should find your follow up doctor BEFORE YOU EVER LEAVE THE STATES. Before you ever go, you should plan ahead and tell the doctor, coordinator, secretary, or WHOEVER, you deal with that you will need you O.R. papers. Even if you are planning on traveling back to MX or wherever to do your follow-up you should plan to get these papers. I really thought I would go back and decided not to and had a time getting my O.R. papers. Most doctors here will not see you unless you have these. I have found several doctors that will do fills and follow-up on pts. who were banded outside of the US, but it comes with a price. Some are very high. The doctor that I was planning on using gave me a price of 560.00 per fill as of last week. But this past Monday, his coordinator informed me that they now have a new policy. It is 2000.00 for the 1st year and 560.00 a fill the 2nd year. This is in GA. There is a Doctor in Atlanta that does fills for 600.00. A doctor in Nashville that does fills for about the same, another in Nashville that charges 500.00 for the 1st visit and 400.00 after that. But there is a doctor in Dallas, TX that does them for 250.00. He is at the Central Imagining of Arlington. This place has been the cheapest so far. But if you are like me, by the time I pay for a plane ticket that costs 200.00 - 300.00, it's easier just to stay pretty much local. I may have to drive a couple of hours, but that's ok. But I will have to say that I was banded by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey, MX and he is GREAT! I really do wish that I were closer to him.

I don't know where my friend heard this, but did you know that the pill fails 60% of the time in obese people. 60% folks, that's a lot, Be careful if you are on the pill. She (my friend Kelly) is over weight and called me panicking wanting to know how to find out what her BMI is. She's 36 and has children in their teens!! Just thought y'all would like to know.

Does any one know of any Doctors in GA or TN that will do fills for patient's who where banded outside the US? thanks!!

Hey! I have never heard of your doctor, but I was banded in Monterrey, MX by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. I would just be really careful. If you don't get any feedback on your doctor. I did a lot of research and finally got it down to 2 dr.s and and chose Dr. Rodriguez because I had not heard of ONE negative thing about him and his creditials are outstanding. You can go to thebariatrics.com to find out more. feel free to email if you need more info. Good luck. gagirl

Hey everybody! It's only been 9 days since I was banded and I'm so down. What's wrong with me? I've only lost 3 lbs. and find that I am feeling so sorry for myself because I can't have this or that and wondering if I will ever get to really enjoy food again. I feel like it's not fair because someone can eat something and I can't. I'm kind of regretting that I did this, is this crazy? I don't want to remove the band, but I'm so sad about something, just can't put my finger on it. Has anyone else felt like this in the beginning? Every single time I eat, (mushies right now) I hurt so much in my upper left side, right behind my left breast. It's not just a small amount of pain, it's a lot. This is the only bad pain that I've experienced, (the gas, even from the beginning). I can't handle this pain everytime that I eat, will it stop? Or do some of you continue to hurt even after being banded for a while?

I called his office Shelly. I have the swedish band, and he doesn't do fills for it. Also, coming for MX, the 1st visit is 500.00 and 400.00 after that. But thank you so much for responding to me. gagirl

It's that time of year! for SNEEZING! :eek and when I do sneeze, it really hurts the area where my port is. I was banded on the 21st of October, so I'm still very tender. How serious could sneezing be to someone newly banded. I was reading how throwing up could possibly cause a problem. Can sneezing?

I ask Dr. Rodriguez about coffee and latte's. He said a latte is okay ever now and then, but coffee can cause erosion, as well as alcohol and spicy foods. Just be careful all of you who drink coffee, drink alcohol and eat those spicy foods. (also, carbonated drinks are not good for us either)

Ahh, tears, You all are great!! I really needed this!! Thanks again. I have done some better today. Just keep me in your prayers!!

thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone so much for all the advice and support. I really needed to come here this am and read all this, it has helped soooooo much. I knew I could count on all of you and hoped someone had felt the same way as I do.(so sorry that you did, but glad too, cause you have inspired me!) Yes Marie, I'm following Dr. Rodriguez's advice. One time I ate one small bite of something I shouldn't of , but Tricia got me back on the right track. It is hard and very much a challenge, but I think I'll be able to do. You all did, so I think I can, especially if I come here and hang out with all of you. I keep saying to myself only 2 more weeks and the real foods start back, but then I tell myself that I can't do it. Of course I know I have to, but I just get so discouraged and feel like a big failure. And then that little voice inside me tells me that this is no different from all the other stuff that I've tried and i'm just going to fail again. This past summer a friend of mine tried to get me to join WW's with her, I told her no, because I would just fail. And now I'm fearful that this will be the same. Oh my gosh, I wish y'all were right here with me. I really need y'all here holding my hand!!!! Again thanks and thanks for all of the .... )))))))HUGS((((((( I really needed them! And )))))Hugs(((((( to all of you gagirl

I received my lap band last Fri, Oct 21st. Wow I thought I was dying when I woke up in recovery. My chest hurt so bad, that they kept reassuring me that my ekg was fine. When I finally realized where the monitor was, I kept looking at it to be sure. It was. It was the gas that hurt soooooo bad for the whole day and night. Finally it moved from my chest, but went to my upper shoulder, ear and left side. It was a nightmare (the gas pain). I did do a lot of walking to try to get it to move. Walking does help, but ROCKING also helped me ALOT!!! There was a glider rocker in my room and Sat. morning, I realized rocking was a good thing for me. Just get moving some way, nothing strenuous, though. I am already tired of Jell-O, it's not my favorite anyway. I'm so thankful that I was not sent home the first day, I think that happens a lot in the states, not real sure though, anywho, I'm thankful that I had a hospital bed. I couldn't have laid in bed for anything that first night. At the hospital, they let me have jello, ice chips, tea, which felt really good on my sore throat (from the tube during surgery), and apple juice. Friday night my husband and I were ready to come home. There is not place like home!! So Saturday morning my Dr. released me, with his asst.'s help, We got our plane tickets arranged and we were out of there!! NOBODY told me how difficult the ride back to the airport would be. The roads there are a little rough and with all that gas blowed up in me, every time we would hit rough spots I would kind of grab my belly and say oooohhhhhh!! The taxi driver would look at me through his mirror. One time he did say x-cuz me. I just smiled. I didn't know if he new that I may be in pain or not. I speak hardly any Spanish. On the plane we had a good bit of turbulence for the 1st 15 minutes of take off and a little with the landing. That was a little painful. And Ahhhh, the Atlanta airport!!, we won't go there!! On the plane, I took on a migraine, so by the time I got in our car, I was depressed!! I just started crying. I was hurting from head to the bottom of my stomach. I honestly don't think the band surgery wouldn’t' have hurt so much, if I hadn't had so much gas and then the migraine, which is now gone, Hopefully soon, I'll be feeling a 100%! Saturday night, I slept propped up on about 4 pillows. Did any of you gain after your surgery? I've gained a pound and a 1/2!! Maybe because of the swelling. Who knows? In Atlanta, I got a Steak n Shake, vanilla shake, which was wonderful. I'm not a big fan of jello, so anything was better that that. At home, chicken broth from Chicken noodle soup has been my favorite, and a choc. Frosty from Wendy's. Also, applesauce is good and apple and cranberry juice. Monday, Oct 25 ~ A lot of my gas is gone today and my stomach isn't so tight, so I can bend and get around a lot better today. Anywho, I'm just so thankful to be home. I just took a shower and feel a lot better already. I was up early with kids, gettin lunches ready and kids out the door. After that I laid back down. That is now getting easier also. I can lay flat down now with slow turning. I know everyday will be better and my new life is just ahead of me. I sit here and think of food that I'm going to be sorry for that I and probably no longer eat, but then isn't there little cliché that goes something like this .... Nothing tastes as good as being small feels... :banana :banana :banana That's my experience so far

I'm so hungry. I was banded on the 21st. I was not hungry at all until last night and then all day today, what can I do. This kindof panics me. Is this normal? :speechles

Thanks to all of you. I'm on liquids, Sassaay, I will start Phase II, Thursday. My doc told me to eat things such as mashed potatoes, creamy soup, etc. Yahoo!! I cannot wait!! What did y'all eat on the mussy stage? All of you are doing so good, I hope I do as good!

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez is the Dr. I chose. To go to thebariatrics.com, then go to the group and then to laparoscopic surgeon and you can see a picture of him and read all about him. He has some amazing credentials to brag about!! My experience was good! My husband went with me. I don't know how some people do it alone, I admire them. Anywho, we flew in, was picked up by a taxi driver standing with a sign that had my name on it. Man, so those taxi drivers scare me to death!! lol ~ he took us to the hotel. Dianna, his coordinator, called me at the hotel, told me she was going to come by and pick me up and take me to the hospitals (there was two to chose from) ( Dianna is an absolute sweetheart and please pray for her, she has a very tough type of Lupus) We went to the smaller one and Dr. Rodriguez was there. I got to talk to him, he was so kind, and all smiles. He explained to my husband and me what would be happening. I was so amazed that he stood there in that hospital hall in scrubs and just talked and laughed with us. NO US doctor would ever do that, or not one that I know anyway. I told him that I wanted a good MX dish for dinner, so he had Dianna take us to his brother’s restaurant, which was wonderful. I'm so thankful for Dianna though, because we speak very, very little Spanish and she was so helpful. After dinner she took us back to the hotel and told us to be ready at 7am the next morning for the taxi driver, we were ready early, as the taxi driver was early also. When we got to the hospital, I kinda panicked some, because Dianna was not there and I had to fill out papers w/o her help, however the ones that were pure Spanish, I did not sign until she got there. The nurses took me back w/o my hubby, which is normal, but concerned me. But they were so sweet and one could speak words of English, so I knew what was happening. For example, to start my IV, she kinda pinched her arm, said pinch, and showed me the needle, I new she was starting an IV and said okay. I then new that there is a way to communicate with the world even if you think you can't. However she blew 2 veins and I started crying, Well, IT HURT, so bad!!! LOL Anywho another nurse came in and patted me and she tried successfully for the 3rd time. Dianna got there about that time and I did feel a little better with her there. WHY, I don't know, I just did!! My husband came back and stayed with me until my surgery. Then they rolled me off to surgery. When I woke up, I was having chest pain so badly, I thought something was wrong; it was only gas, but very bad though!!!! I was taken to my room and slept a lot that day until late afternoon, except one time to get up and walk. Dr. Rodriguez came by to check on me, woke me up and said all went well and told me what to expect the next few hours and to be sure to walk. I did walk some more that evening. By evening I was ready to go home. Sat. morning his asst.'s made plane arrangements for us to go home a day early. I was sooooo ready to go home. My experience was good, but I still was ready for home, I didn't want to go back to the hotel, plus I really missed my kids so much. Also, I met a new friend and we visited each other back and forth on Friday night and Sat. morning. Anywho, we were scheduled to leave at 1pm from the hospital, Laura; my new friend came to visit, as did Dr. Rodriguez. My husband took pictures of us together; Dr. Rodriguez hung out and just chatted with us. I was really impressed with him. He is a very kind person with a lot of laughter!! The taxi driver was really a rough driver, plus the roads are a little rough also, but it about killed me, because the gas in my chest hurt so badly. The plane ride was good, with some turbulence. But the Atlanta airport, well, it's huge and with all that walking, I was totally worn out by the time I got home and was I glad to be home. The gas is getting better and it's getting easier to lay down and turn over. It just takes time, That’s my experience ......... how about you, did you go to MX and where are you getting your fills? take care

Hey thanks for all of your support everyone. I love this place, it's really encouraging. I am feeling a lot better today! and so thankful, however the gas is back in my chest cavity again. I can't hardly take a deep breath and am having a very hard time burping. Any suggestions? thanks again

Am I doing something wrong? Everytime I go to the chat room to chat, there is never anyone there. Do any of you ever enter the chat room or am i doing something wrong?

Just found this on http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mexicanbandsters/ Just thought it may help you as well as others fill doctors in the southeast The info that follows was obtained in late August and early September of 2003 in my search for a fill doc. I was banded by Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico on August 5, 2003. I utilized Inamed’s website surgeon locator, called around and FAXed my surgical report to several. I used my zipcode (Birmingham, AL) and was given all currently approved lap-band surgeons within a 175 mile radius. I also used the zip of my hometown (Jackson, TN) which ultimately led me to the doc I chose. Even if your insurance didn’t cover banding, ask the docs about coverage for flouroscope, barium swallow and other necessary procedures because sometimes if they bill just right, I’ve heard it‘ll go through. I made sure to tell the doc/nurse that I have had no problems since banding (thought that might help persuade those on the fence about doing my fills). I asked several questions - price for fill, price for flouroscope and whether doc uses flouro or not, what other procedures the doc requires and how much they cost (barium swallow), do they offer free fix if too tight or loose within 30 days, how much experience do they have. And much like with my electronics at home, one of my biggest criteria (along with price, experience and location) is accessibility. The best computer in the world does me no good whatsoever if I can’t get anyone to help me when it malfunctions! My choice was *Dr. Charles Morton* in Nashville (615) 832-8186 He agreed to do my fills for $150 due to easy placement of my port. He doesn’t use flouroscope and it’s done in office. I guess he might do it differently for everyone, but that’s what I was told. Shauna was my contact person. VERY nice and returned call promptly! Dr. Barry McKernan (Woodstock, GA - 770-924-8808) does fills for those he didn’t band for $400 per fill -or- three fills for $1000. Each flouroscope is $200 extra and he requires a barium swallow prior to the first fill on people he didn’t band. That’s $250 if you’re paying out of pocket. Office staff named Kelly is very helpful. Dr. Rick Finley’s prices are the same, though I’m not sure about the “three for $1000” deal. His office staff seemed a bit disjointed. He has an office on Peachtree Street as well as one in Woodstock that he uses once per week. (404) 688-1934 Dr. Dennis Smith in Marietta (770-928-9299) does fills for people he didn’t band ($400), but requires review of the surgical report and doesn’t use flouroscope. Dr. Robert Miles (Birmingham) and Dr. Douglas Vanderbilt (Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga) only adjust those they banded themselves. Drs. Steinberg & Quinones (Surgical Associates in Atlanta) continue to be impossible to reach and calls don’t get returned. Dr. Leena Khaitan at (Emory Bariatrics in Atlanta - 404-778-5671) is new to the band so Adrianna was going to call me back. I FAXed my surgical report. I never followed-up since I found someone else. Dr. Michael King in Oxford, Mississippi has a nice staff person named Micki who told me that he has only done 3 bands and doesn‘t feel comfortable doing follow-up for patients of other surgeons just yet. Drs. James White & Ron Goncalves Cleveland, TN (423) 479-1647 FAXed my surgical report and Tabitha was going to talk with the docs about it, but I went with someone else before she even called me back. Dr. Walter Rose was impossible to reach. He’s located in Chattanooga. Drs. Ponce, Fromm, Manaham & Paynter are located in Dalton, GA and Chattanooga, TN. They charge an arm and a leg to adjust those they didn’t band ($740). Though they have a fantastic reputation, please don’t reinforce this price gouging by using them!!! other fill doc info Dr. David Carroll in Jackson, Mississippi Dr. Jeffery Caylor in Foley, Alabama (beach trip anyone?!) will do fills for those he didn’t band. Cost is $500 for first fill and $350 for all others. He gives a 30-day guarantee. I don’t think he uses flouroscope. (251) 970-1295 Dr. Allen in Louisville, KY (502) 583-8303 does fills for those he didn’t band and is recommended by Dr. Rumbaut. Cost is $250. Dr. George Woodman in Memphis (901) 869-2000 Dr. Clark Warden in Pascagoula, MS (228) 762-3131 Drs. Booth, Bellanger & Kim in Ocean Springs, MS (228) 875-3778 Dr. Anthony Terracina in Panama City, FL Dr. Ray Compton in Paris, TN (731) 642-2011

Hey, I know there is a doctor in Dalton, GA., Dr. Jaime Ponce, that will do fills, but they are $750.00. The cost of a flight to Costa Rica would be cheaper. But just in case of an emergency you could contact him. He is at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton. the phone # there is 706-272-6000 and ask for the Weight Management Center / his nurse is Bev. I'm not sure where in Atl. you live, but if it's the North part of Atl, the drive will only be about 1 1/2 hrs. away maybe less. Airport area is about 2 hrs. away. Buckhead, about 1 3/4 hrs. away. anywho, good luck. Also, there is a Dr. Champion in Atl, but I don't know his 1st name or if he will see a pt. after another dr. has seen them. Good luck. gagirl

it's at the very top of this page. The 4th tab over! Maybe we can all chat soon gagirl

I'm here, i'll go ahead and enter the chat rm feel free to join us in the chat rm.......EVERYBODY

Hey, I'm fairly new at all of this. I'm 37 soon to be 38 in November and just want to be healthy for my hubby and for my two kids. I live in N. Ga. and stay at home. I love to go to my kids school and volunteer. I've been doing research for about 1 week on the lapband. Who to use, where to go and why. Costs? The pros and cons of all. It is all scarey, but it is something that I need to do. I am planning on going to MX for lapband. Anybody have any tidbits that you'd like to share about your experience with lapband?

Hey Kyleigh (love your name by the way) lets plan a chat. I could chat in the morning, what about you? gagirl

Thank you! With --67 you have done great. I hope I do as well!! Congrats on your wgt loss, and again thank you. gagirl

Hey Ginny, thanks for the reply, there is a chat room I do go to some, if anyone is interested. It's pretty fun. go to obesityhelp.com I just wish this one worked, it would be neat to talk to y'all in chat.