cadezma77

July 12th to the 16th at Florence

I will be at Florence/Marriott July 12 thru 17. Surgery with Garcia on the 12th.

Wow! Agree big difference in a short time. Awesome!

Not until July 12

Just read Cindy's post about Florence. Great details.

I switched my surgery dates and will now go to Florence instead of Mi. alma says its very nice and better equipped with ICU and etc I'm not worried as I trust dr Garcia and alma, as they have been great thus far. Just curious about Florence hospital and if anyone's went and their thoughts.

U will do great. Good luck.

Good luck, hope All goes well. I can't wait to be where u are!!

I'm tentatively scheduled for June 27 with Dr Garcia, but hoping to get it done sooner.

will having this procedure done in mx or just the procedure itself be an issue in trying to get insurance later on? I have cobra insurance now and it will run out in march. We tried to get insurance on our own, but we were told they couldn't guarantee approval due to me having the lap band (which is now out). Just curious if anyone knows ???

I'd say it feels great to have the band out. My life is revolving around food anymore and anxiety about can I eat that, will this work etc. the fact I haven't thrown up in over a week is amazing!!! The pain isn't too bad anymore. I was having a lot of pain on the right side..... Which I thought was odd, but now the pain has centered right where the port was. I was beginning to question if they left the port in cuz it was so swollen n when I pushed it felt like something was there but it must be all the fluid. Ick! I had intended on going to Garcia for both procedures but there was that 50% chance that I could come home without the sleeve due to lap band scarring. So I figured let my insurance cover the removal, heal n then get the sleeve!! Hopefully sooner rather than later

Finally after a long process my band is out. I had it removed on Friday. Recovery has been tough. Lots more pain than I remember in getting the band. Every movement that involves my tummy muscles hurts Like $#@&. Just glad it is out. I will be scheduling the sleeve with Dr Garcia after my 2wk checkup with my us Dr. I currently have cobra insurance that will expire in march. My Dr said I need to wait 6mths before we even discuss the sleeve. Therefore I will be self pay anyway and had originally decided to go yo Garcia when I felt my doctors weren't listening to me.

So after a long drawn out process the crap band is finally coming out!!! I had my upper GI and dr said everything looked good. Band looked like it was in a "slightly different" place but that shouldn't cause any issues. I then was still having the nausea, and problems eating, vomitting etc....they finally gave in and did the EGD. The printout that I got afterwards talked about possible Barretts esophagus. They took 4 biopsies and it was a week from hell waiting for answers. The more I googled the barretts the more stressed out I got. In the end it was NEGATIVE...thank God! It turned out to be esophagitis. I then met with dr and she said soooo what are you wanting to do?? my reply TAKE IT OUT!!! duh!!! same thing ive wanted for months now!! I asked if the esophagitis was a possible reason for the inconsistancy inthe band and why I can eat better some days and not so well others....her reply "not necessarily"...hmmm Honestly, I still believe that my doctors think I am nuts. If I have to hear one more lecture about "using my tool correctly" Im going to freak!!! Do they not see that my "tool" worked great for 2 years....and then issues arose. Need I remind them that I was comfortable with 7ccs in my band and at this point can't get past 4.5 or 5ccs without issues. Not to mention I am 100% unfilled right now and have vomitted and had days where things were too tight! In my opinion that "slightly different placement" of the band may be the key! I am not a doctor but thats my thoughts. so I left my appt with no dates info etc. emailed two days later to see what the plan was and got a phone call saying insurance approved it and Im sched for nov 20. They wont discuss the sleeve until 6mths out. In that time my cobra will expire!!! I have been researching Dr Garcia in MX and now I am trying to weigh my options. If I go to him for both procedures, there is a possibility both procedures can be performed at the same time. Of course if not then I would be better off just doing the lap band removal in US and waiting to heal. Its a tough choice!!!! Another thing that I have to consider is my hubby and I are going on our first cruise and honeymoon in march (after 14yrs of marriage) and if I go to MX there will be about 7weeks between surgery and cruise. I am not concerned with not being able to pig out on the cruise, but I am concerned that I will be on a somewhat "normal" diet and healed fully enough to enjoy our vacay. I am just glad to be getting it out!!! I am up to my presurgery weight and I pray I do not gain anymore!!!!

is anyone, or has anyone had the band to sleeve surgery with Dr Garcia? if so what were your band issues. was it completed in one surgery? I know that each person is different as far as scar tissue and etc. I am just curious to see if majority has to have two surgeries. I have startes the initial process of going to Dr Garcia. I am just waiting to see if insurance denies surgery and going from there.

As of now I am still banded. I am hoping to revise to the sleeve. Pretty much waiting on my Dr to deem it medically necessary. For insurance to cover it.