LourdesQO

:bounce:Hi Betsy, I guess I responded to the wrong one. Sorry....LOL

Hey I heard that University General Hospital is going to have a Special for self paying patients. The cost for the band will be $11,900.00 from October to the first of the year. That's great for cash patients.

I had my surgery by Dr. Spiegel. I have lost 95lbs so far.. I am very happy with the results.

Hey guys, Dr. Spiegel conducts his support goup in the Houston office. I attend the one in Port Neches. It is very helpful. When you are going thru weight loss and a change in lifestyle it is so important to have support.!!

How is your progress going?

Dr. Spiegel is taking United Health Care again.

Hey guys I was banded by Dr. Spiegel in December of '04. I have lost 95lbs since and I am working on losing more. I have had a great experience with Dr. Spiegel and both him and the staff have made changes to benefit his patients. When you come in for a fill you have your own appointment. It is no longer something you call a "cattle call". We have had a great response here in our Port Neches office. I have been to the Houston office several times since and the patients that I have spoken too have had possitive comments about their follow-up visits. We help our patients as much as we can to get insurance approvals and also with follow-up care. I really enjoy my job and it makes me and my co-workers very happy when we get patients approved for surgery. We also have our monthly support groups were we try to help our fellow bandsters with any problems they may have. If anyone has any questions please e-mail us. Our e-mail addresses are on our website. The seminar dates are updated weekly. If you have a medical question please do not hesitate to call the office. Lulu

Hey Everybody, I have great news! IT'S OUR LUCKY DAY!!!! Dr. Felix Spiegel has come back into network with UHC. Tell your co-workers, friends and family that have UHC that they can come see the top LapBand surgeon in the country and get the best band surgery with the best results. YEAH!!! We are all excited especially for all of our patients with UHC benefits!!

We are all excited at our office. Many of our patients have UHC. I am very happy that your recovery went well. I had my surgery on a Friday and came back to work on the following Monday morning. Let all your friends know that we are back IN-NETWORK

It would certainly be worth it for you to go get your fill from your doctor in Dallas. A road trip. If you are looking for support you can always e-mail one of Dr. Spiegel's nurses. My e-mail is posted on his website. It is very important to have support when you are getting adjusted to the Lap-Band. It's almost like having a diet buddy, I work in his Port Neches office and I have had the band for over a year and have lost 95lbs. I still have 30 to go. I'm so excited.

I had my surgery with Dr. Spiegel and I would do it over again if I had to. Dr. Spiegel does care very much about his patients and has his instructions for his patients to have ultimate success. I have lost 95lbs so far, and I am very happy. The one thing that also helps me is that Dr. Spiegel has a support group. It is a good idea to come to the support groups. You get to meet other patients who have traveled thru this journey and they help you and you help them. Dr. Spiegel also takes his time to speak with his patients when they go in for there follow-ups and he does his own fills unlike othere surgeons who do not. He gives excellent patient care, and patient education. I am proud to be one of his patients. As for him no longer being in the UHC network he has his reasons of doing so. I know others who have UHC that have decided to pay for their surgeries. I would pay for the surgery out-of-pocket because I know that in the long run I would be saving money for medications and diet pills. I have calculated that If I did not have the surgery I would be paying a whole lot more in the long run for diet pills and other diet fads.

How did your first fill go with Dr. Spiegel? He likes to do the fills hisself so that he can see how your progress is going. I think patients benefit by having there fills done even if there alot more patients in the waiting area at the same time. It is like having support from all the other patients at the same time.

Many people in Europe get banded if they are 20lbs or more overweight just to avoid gaining weight. I have seen many patients who are about 40lbs or more that have been banded and are doing great. If you have any co-morbidities even if you are not 40 BMI you can benefit from this procedure.

I would definetly get another fill. Have a protein shake for breakfast and concentrate on meats at lunch and dinner. Your stomach muscles may have adjusted to the fill you have now. Follow your instructions after your fill. 3 days liquids then soft foods then progress to solids. If you have problems the first couple of days after your fill go back to your dr. for an unfill. I am sure that a small amount more will make a whole lot of a difference.

Usually patients reflux goes away with the Lap-Band. Good luck on your approval.

Hey, I had my surgery with Dr. Spiegel last year. I have lost 85lbs so far. I am very happy with my band. Most of his staff is banded so that is great if you have any questions pre and post op.

Hi my name is Lourdes and I am both a patient and employee of Dr. Spiegel. I had my surgery on December 10, 2004. I have lost 34lbs and I am feeling great. My weight loss is continuing and I feel so much better about myself and my health. As to the rumors about six deaths by Dr. Spiegel, THOSE ARE FALSE!!!! In my view Dr. Spiegel is the most experienced lap-band surgeon. Dr. Spiegel cares for his patients. He does all patient adjustments himself to insure that our patients have the best care possible. I would not have undergone surgery if I new that he had KILLED SIX PATIENTS!! These are only rumors started by a mentally disturbed individual.