Rebecca

Let me get this right. You had your lap band put in here in Oregon, and still having trouble getting proper follow-up care? and I thought Patterson was just snotty to Mexico patients. don't understand the trip.

Thanks for the info Teresa. I'm in Hillsboro, Oregon. Sorry to hear about Dr. Eubanks' troubles. I can call him and check for updates if you have the number. (He doesn't come up on obesityhelp.com's list of bariatric surgeons in Oregon). A friend of mine with a lap band has had fills in Mexico and fills in the states. She said they are MUCH more generous with the fills (and cheaper of course) in Mexico. They just go for it and give you a good tight fill. Here they want to give you drips and drops and overly cautious about it. :0( Which ends up not as effective, and more expensive with all the return visits to get a little more. So . . I think she gave up on the Washington doctors and will just return to TJ mexico for fills. I'll still stay open to finding someone who is closeby if I can find a good one. Otherwise, will just have to head back to mexico too, if I want to make progress on this weight thingy . . :0)

I looked back in an earlier thread and saw that Dr. Hong is with Patterson. She gives a firm, resounding NO with regard to giving fills to anyone she didn't do the surgery on. I had checked with her 8 or so months ago. So . . Hong is probably the same, but I'll check if I find his number somewhere.

hey Jack--Does Dr. Wong in Portland do fills on people, even if they didn't have the surgery with him? Any idea on cost? thanks for any info. Rebecca in Hillsboro

hi Hagerteresa, I would like the numbers of Oregon fill doctors too, if you wouldn't mind. (These are doctors that will do the fill even if they didn't do the actual surgery, right?). I have gotten one fill, but having to wait a while to get together the $ for another. thanks! Rebecca

lol. yeah . . me too Primadonah.

Primadonah, I saw that episode of Grey's Anatomy. (The one you saw was a repeat, I believe). They of course have to go for the dramatic--it's Hollywood. And like you said, the girl's problem was trying to please her mom who just couldn't be pleased no matter what. I thought it was an interesting show. (They had the teen going to Mexico just so her parents wouldn't know. Though a more common reason is financial). Overall it's a great show! Can't wait until new episodes start up in the fall. They left us on a bit of a cliffhanger . .

Thank you Jenna! Brave you are! I've NEVER looked tan and lovely in a swimsuit, but wouldn't it be nice if it happened to all of us! You go girl--I'm sure you'll make it happen!

I'm planning to go back to the same place I had the band, after I've lost most of my weight. Dreaming of having lipo on the tops of my thighs since they seem to stay big at the top even when my weight is down. My girlfriend and I met Violet while we were down there at the clinic. (She's from New York) Her before and after pictures are on the side of the clinic van, and the difference is dramatic! She had the band and has had several plastic procedures done there (losing weight and losing her diabetes in the process). She's very beautiful and a tiny little thing. Reminds me of Fran Drescher. :0) Very inspiring . .

So true Woodkd. I could easily live on fruit/protein smoothies, lots of yogurt with pecans or walnuts stirred in (yes--way too much fat), cottage cheese, pudding. All soft stuff appeals more than going for some meat. But of course, eating all soft stuff the calorie and fat count can get clear away from me. Whereas eating some chicken or other meat--not gonna happen. Thanks for a good reminder to sometimes do the uncomfortable thing . .

I just got the name band-it. haahahaha. (yes . . blonde)

hi NewLease: I had my band put on my Dr. Huacuz, and my girlfriend also had hers by Dr. Huacuz the same day. I did get an infection in my incision, but still would do it all again. (I just would know how to recognize the symptoms sooner this time). My girlfriend did find and didn't have any complications at all. My girlfriend is flying back down next week for her 1st fill. In fact she will be there the same day you are! I still have restriction from just the band, so I'm not going back down yet. Best of luck to you.

hi Lisa, My insurance company (a NW company--Kaiser) SAYS in their written policy that they cover weight loss surgery 35 - 40 bmi if you have other conditions related to obesity. You have to have a combination of things like one good one is to have a sleep study done and be formally diagnosed with sleep apnea. Having diabetes is a good one. :0) They like to see that. Serious joint break down, documented. Asthma. Heart problems. As it turns out with my insurance company, even if you show and document ALL those things you still have to see their dietician for a year, go to group support, go on their diet and exercise program for a year and if you STILL are at the same weight, then maybe they might do the surgery. As if we don't all already know what does or does not constitute a healthy diet, and as if all we need is one more diet. We all gain it back is the problem. For myself, I was 37.7 BMI. I knew I'd never get approved by Kaiser, and wasn't willing to gain 60 lbs to do so. I also know my genes aren't the greatest. Diabetes runs rampant through my family--if I don't get my weight down and keep it down it will happen to me. Kaiser wants to wait til I does--I don't! There are also heart problems in my immediate family. I don't have those yet--and don't want to. I've also had one bout with breast cancer, thankfully detected very early on. Once you've hit 50 years of age, even 40 lbs of overweight DOUBLES your chance of getting breast cancer. So it's very important that I stay--all my life--less than 40 lbs overweight. My obese aunt is dying of breast cancer as we speak. It's deadly important for me to keep my weight down. And yet . . since I don't CURRENTLY have diabetes, heart disease or breast cancer, they won't cover me for weight loss surgery. I had to take out the loan, whether I could afford it or not, and just do it. Good luck to you. My sister went outside her insurance company to visit a bariatric doctor and paid out of pocket for a few visits to him. He was able to help her with jumping through all the insurance hoops and help her document her obesity-related conditions, more to their satisfaction, so at his recommendation her own insurance company was more willing to talk with her about it. You could try working backwards on the problem that way--just a thought. Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll reach the right decision for you.