luv2bingo07

Forgot to mention the cost. When I went to the seminar and she was talking about the cost if your insurance didn't cover it, it would be around $25,000 and $35,000 for gastric bypass. GULP! I am only paying $8500 with Dr. Ortiz and it included tranportation to and from the airport, hotel, clinic and back, surgery, all pre-op tests, nutritional counseling, EKG, and a night in the hospital. If you would like to check it out just in case, the website is www.lapbandforum.com, and the website is www.obesitycontrolcenter.com.

Hi Marv, I started the process with Dr. Patterson a couple years ago. I went to the info seminar and this was before the Obesity Institute was even finished. It was great info, but if you are sure that your surgery will be covered, that is great, but if you are like me and not sure, then trouble could be ahead. My company had an exclusion for any weight loss surgery. I would have had to risk having a lot more bills by starting and going through the whole process and then have to appeal after appeal. Nope! Not gonna deal with that hassle. The process takes too long and I don't want to wait. That is why I was able to withdraw my 401k and am scheduled for surgery on May 21st with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. He is highly recommended and way more experienced and knowledgeable about the lap band. I even have his book. Anyway, it will be a nice vacation for me too. Don't get me wrong though. Dr Patterson is good from what I have read about her and her colleagues, but I really didn't want to have to deal with the long process and appts. it would have taken. Besides, it wouldn't have been covered anyway. Hope this helps. Judy

Hi all, I finally got my 401k check and a surgery date to have LBS with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I am so excited, but stressed too. The date is May 21st, and arriving on May 20th. The nutritionist said I need to lose ideally 36 lbs, but she said at least 20 would be ok. But she called me today and said I need to start the diet now. I told her I couldn't afford the Optifast from their website. For a 4 week supply is almost $300. :faint: She said to then have a Glucerna shake for Breakfast and dinner, and a lean cuisine meal w/meat for lunch. I can have up to 4 lbs of veggies a day. I don't know if I could even afford that. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on how to do this? I was thinking costco, but not sure if they carry that stuff. :help: Most of the veggies I wanted to get are really spendy too because they are not in season or are organic...lol Thanks for any advice or suggestions. Peace, Judy

Hey trizzy, I hope you get your fill if you think you aren't at your sweet spot yet. Are you still losing weight or hit a stuck part? If you are not losing, then you probably need a small fill. Maybe talk to Dr. Fitzpatrick to make sure. My surgery date is May 21st. I am supposed to fly down on the 20th(Sun.), and pre-op tests and surgery on the 21st(Mon.). I am not sure how to do that because the only flights are early in the morning, or later in the evening. I don't want to get there too early, but want to be there in the daylight. My mom is coming with me. I was told I need to lose around 18 - 20 lbs or more before and not sure how to do it. But will I am sure. Did you shop alone with your husband or were you there with a group of bandsters? Did you pay in US dollars or change over to pesos? Kind of nervous about that part. I want to shop, but kinda nervous. Take care, Judy My

Hi Brandy, Everyone here has great thoughts on your situation. I am scheduled for May 21st to be banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I am self pay also and was able to pay for it by withdrawing my 401k money to pay for it. I am really excited, but nervous and stressed because my Mom is not happy that I drained my 401k for it. Also, paying for the airfare, which isn't that much actually so far. She has been in a mood ever since I showed her the check and made the appt. Noone wants me to go alone, but seriously, I think I should. She even told me to start cutting back my portions now, since I will have to do it soon anyways. Well, I won't cut anything back until I find out how much I need to lose from the nutritionist, etc. lol Take care and good luck. Peace, Judy

Hi trizzy, Thanks for the info. So are you at your sweet spot yet and continuing to lose? I feel alot better about going to Dr. Fitzpatrick now. I will probably go to her after my first fill if I can afford going back to TJ. How was your trip across the border? I was told that your only need your US identification if you are driving over the border. I just want to make sure, so there is no stress with delays and whatever. Also, did you shop at all? And did you have to claim anything or pay duty coming back over the border? Thanks again, Judy

Congrats trizzy on your surgery and weight loss! You seem to be doing great. So you have had two fills since surgery? Did you have any co-morbidities before your surgery? Where in Oregon are you? I am in Portland. I want to go for my first fill with Dr. Ortiz or I think it would be Dr. Romero, b/c like you, I want to make sure everything looked good and is staying in place. I have Dr. Ortiz book, Lap Band for Life. It is awesome and has so much information in it to live with your band to best results you can. It also says that when you have your first fill, they try to give a bigger fill than most docs so you have restriction right away and longer so you drop the weight quicker and better, but that doesn't always work. Did you make a pre-op appt. with Dr. Fitzpatrick before going for surgery just so you get to know her and also get info you will need during the process? My primary doc recommended I should, but I think I will just call her or email her. Thanks again, Judy

Hi all, WTG! Nykee on your weight loss. I am scheduling with Dr. Ortiz for mid-May. I was wondering how much you were required to lose on your pre-op diet? That is what concerns me alot. Also, I want to get my first fill with Dr. Ortiz and then go to Dr. Fitzpatrick after that. I bought Dr. Ortiz book, Lap Band for Life and it has so much great information in it. Peace, Judy

I have Dr. Ortiz book Lap Band for Life and it is awesome! It tells you everything you want to know for where the lap band came from and also pre and post op steps which include nutrition, fills, etc. You can only get it on Amazon.com Judy

Just an FYI...Star Jones had gastric bypass. I saw it told on a an entertainment show a couple years ago or so. Of course, she looks great, but it's very sad that she became a diva since she lost so much weight, her personality seriously changed due to the dramatic weight loss.

Wow! VelvetKiss, you are an inspiration for sure to us higher BMI people that want or are looking to be banded. That's amazing that you never had a fill yet. Best wishes and good luck to you after your fill. I so hope that when I am banded, I will drop weight as well as you have without needing a fill too soon. If you don't mind, could I give you my email address and we can keep in touch? Maybe you could help me figure out how to and when to eat? Peace, Judy

I am 6'1, weigh around 385, large frame. My BMI is 50 or so. Been heavy all my life and moreso since about six years ago, starting after my first pituitary surgery, and then hysterectomy. I have lymphedema in my legs, so that is a big part of it I guess.

Hi, I am planning on having my surgery done with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. Heard nothing but great things about him and I also bought his book Lap Band for Life from Amazon.com. It explains everything in there and I know for a fact that all he does is lap bands and have done many surgeries on high BMI patients. My BMI is over 50. You will have to go on a pre-op diet to lose some pounds before your surgery, but from what I have read on his forum lapbandforum.com, it's rough, but worth it if you are serious enough to get banded. Hope this helps somewhat. Good Luck with whatever you do. Judy

Hi, I have been reading the Lap-Band for Life book by Mexican surgeon Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Lap Band means Laparoscopic gastric banding. It is the procedure for the surgery(laparoscopic), and the band used in the surgery placed around the upper part of the stomach(gastric). Hope this helps understand it better. Judy

Hi all, I am working on getting my 401k withdrawn for surgery with Dr. Ortiz in TJ, and hoping I can make that life changing appt. for mid-April. One of my biggest concerns is I am diabetic and if I don't eat right or enough, depending on hunger and the right foods, I get very weak and tired. I am worried about getting enough Protein and nourishment to keep me going on the pre-op diet. I don't have a big income to buy all the special meals and supplements to get me through alot of the liquid stages and so on, but am willing to get them when and if necessary. I read alot about protein, protein, protein to keep your body and your stomach running smoothly, but it sounds really complex to me. I may by thinking to hard on this, but would like some advice and suggestions anyway. Thanks so much in advance. Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9846--> <!-- THE POST -->

Well, the Protein Shakes would be a start for sure, but it's the clear liquid diet I am concerned mostly about for before and after. I know I will get weak and shaky and nauseous on that, so was worried about something else that might qualify for the clear liquid part that would keep me going. Thanks all, Judy

ok...I will put my 2 cents in then. From what I have been reading on two different boards including here is if your doctor doesn't want to do a lap band surgery on a higher BMI patient, then that doctor doesn't have enough surgeries or experience with the surgery as most do. I am planning on having my surgery with Dr. Ortiz in MX and he has done high BMI's and low ones as well...all adding up to over 4000. Not to mention, he has trained many US docs on the surgery. Judy

Thanks BB! I am only on one med for my diabetes. Someone told me on the other board also that too much protein could cause kidney failure. BUT...I just got Dr. O's book Lap BAnd for Life in the mail today. OMG! It is a must have for all bandsters whether you have surgery with him or not. SO full of information, diets, phases, care, surgery, and troubleshooting after banding. Awesome reading so far and I just started.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone who had been banded by Dr. Ortiz from Oregon set up aftercare consult with Dr. Fitzpatrick in Portland? When I got the letter from my doctor for withdrawing my 401k, she recommended I have a consult with her before heading off to TJ to get the surgery. My family is also concerned about aftercare and also to have someone nearby that could help me with any problems that could arise after surgery and also getting fills which I would want to go to TJ for my first like so many of you do. Thanks, Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9824--> <!-- THE POST -->

Hey all, I had an appt. with my doctor to ask for a letter that stated I needed to withdraw my 401k due to medical and financial hardship to be able to have LBS. She typed it up right there and then and I thought she would type it up and send it to me. I was amazed at her wording of the letter. She was so professional and foward about eveything that needed to be said. She is also concerned about me going to Mexico to have this surgery and stressed that I should have a consult with the doctor here that I will be having fills at after surgery. I really would like have my first fill in TJ, but we shall see I guess. She was also concerned about my going alone and I assured her I would not be going alone for sure...LOL Wish me luck so I can get all my money to pay for surgery and can hopefully have it in April. May is out, so if not April, then June. Peace, Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9731--> <!-- THE POST -->

He is going to do my surgery for 8,000. Hi Sparkette, I have made my decision a couple months ago to have surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I have researched alot about him and the people that have had their lap band surgery with him. He and his staff sound awesome! Would be a nice vacation for me too. You mentioned their price for surgery is 8,000 now instead of 8,500? Are they running a special right now? I have tried to email Lori to ask about that, but I guess she is on vacation. I am trying to withdraw my 401k to pay for the surgery. The holdup right now is I need my doctor to write up a letter for me stating I need this surgery and that I have a medical financial hardship that is keeping me from any other options to finance it. Unfortunately, my doctor is only in the office wed. thru fri. Thanks and good luck with your decision and journey to get banded. Judy

Oh ok...thank you. How sad and I am very sure she is missed by so many here.

May I intrude to ask what happened to Blossom? I hope it wasn't band related. I thought I remembered see her posts before. Thank you, Judy

That is one thing I am worried about down the road when I get banded. I am diabetic and if I don't eat, I get nauseous and my sugar drops, therefore, get weak, shaky, the whole nine yards. Should you force those protein shakes or water down even when there is no appetite.

They were running a special and my total, not including airfare and anything I bought at the hotel, was $8K. Hi FurEllie, I am in the process of getting the money from my 401k for surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I will only have about $7500 or so after taxes and will have to beg, borrow, or save up the rest for the $8500. But when you said there was a special so recent as last week for $500 less, I was really even more excited! I'm hoping it wasn't a typo...lol If not, then how long is the special for? Congrats on your surgery and I am hoping my journey starts real soon. Peace, Judy