auntnettie

Thanks Deb! You make a lot of sense. Somewhere deep down I do know this info as well, but it is so easy to lose control and then my whole life starts spinning!! It is like I am on a Merry Go Round and I can't get off! I need help. I have been avoiding this website, but you are right - there are a lot of good people on this site full of great wisdom. Well I am off to visit a friend tomorrow in Washington State for the long weekend (starting early) and hopefully I can come back to LA recharged and remotivated. Have a great holiday everyone!

Hi! I was banded by Dr. Ortiz, as well on Oct. 7th 2005. I have lost 40lbs so far (18lbs on the liquid protein fast pre-op). I live in North Hollywood. Can anyone reccommend a local support group? For lap band only? Does it even exist? I just can't get it. I am constantly sabatoging (sp.) myself. Friends and family ask me what I can eat and my response is I don't know. I do know milkshakes and onion rings from Jack in the Box "go down". I need to have my head examined!!!

Dr. Billy charges $300 for 1st fill and check up with him (the Dr.),and $150 each visit after that with his nurse. He is in Ventua, CA - Google him and you will find his #. I don't believe I can give out a phone # on this site. If you don't find it, email me and I will send it to you. Where in LA are you? Have you found a good support group yet? Let me know . Thanks!

Hi All- I had my surgery in TJ with Dr. Ortiz (whom I love) 10/07/05 Than in late Nov. I had my 1st fill (too tight) - 1.8 and I couldn't handle it. (lots of PBs) Went back to TJ last weekend and had a complete unfill. I now am looking for a Dr. near the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles) for aftercare. It's not that I don't trust Dr. Martinez (Dr.Ortiz's right hand Dr.) - TJ is too far for the "hand holding" I am seeking!!! I want a Dr. who is "in the neighborhood" that I can see every other month and take "baby step" fills. I am also looking for a Dr.'s office that has a support group. Am I asking for too much? I know Dr. Billy is very highly regarded, but he is in Ventura! Still too far for me. I work in downtown LA (with very limited time off) Also, what I was told, Dr. Billy's sees you 1st, then his nurse does the follow up fills - WITHOUT FLURO (sp.) Have I just been brainwashed that the only accurate way to do a fill "is under x-ray w/a barium swallow"?? I would love to hear some feedback on this! I contacted Inamed for a list of Dr.'s who see patients WITH THEIR BAND INSIDE OF THEM who had surgery in Mexico and the answer basically was - Good Luck! Inamed sent me a list of local Dr.'s and basically said start calling, but don't hold your breath. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me! I feel so in the dark. Thanks for any support you all can give me!

Date Banded: 10/08/05 Country: Mexico Surgeon: Dr. Ortiz Eroded?: NO <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Many thanks to everyone who gave me such great input! I wish I had more "me" time to use you guys for support. You are all so wonderful. Right now work comes 1st, 2nd and 3rd in my life, my family and friends come 4th and I don't seem to have energy left to work on ME. I know "cry me a river" blah blah blah Thanks for always being there for ME!

Hi All Today is day 2, I was banded on Friday with Dr. Ortiz. Port incision is real sore, besides that I feel great. I keep waiting for the gas. Nothing yet. I want to thank everyone for their postings. Without all your great wisdoms, I would not of had the courage to do this for myself. You guys are great! I hope to start posting regularly about my experiences so that I can inspire as well. Thanks again!

Oct. 7th here w/ Dr. Ortiz Anyone else out there going to be in TJ on the 7th? I'm getting a bit anxious/nervous

October 7th!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait this protein shake diet is driving me mad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my God, this sounds exactly like my ins. nightmare!! I am in LA and my company outsources their HR dept. to a company called Administaff who provides us with health Ins. 3 choices: Pacificare PPO Pacificare HMO Kaiser HMO Last year I had Pacificare PPO, should be the top of the line ins., right??? NO! I went to my GP and he put me on Phen and Pacificare denied to pay the whole office visit. THEY COVER NOTHING RELATING TO WEIGHT LOSS - That is thanks to the "cheap" policy that Administaff buys in bulk. So I call Kaiser, they said Yes you should switch we cover all "bariatric surgeries". I wait until open enrollment, switch to Kaiser and I hear Lap Band? Oh no, we define bariatric surgery as RNY. You qualify for that. Hell no! That is not for me!! P.S. - 2 appeals later, I gave up. I have a 10/7 surgery date in TJ with Dr. Ortiz. Ins. companies know how to play the game! They know they can break the average person. It takes a much stronger person than me to fight their system. I spent hours, days, weeks, months for nothing!! I wish you better luck than me. I know it is possible. Go for it!!!

I went to what I thought was an appointment with a nutrionist at Kaiser and it turned out to be a seminar for Gastric Bypass surgery. About 1/2 way through thank goodness someone asked about the lapband. The nutrionist was very abrupt and said "Kaiser doesn't cover that surgery". Funny, 3 different people at Kaiser told me over the phone that they do. I switched my insurance for that reason. Their 200+ page handbook says that they cover bariatric surgery. To me that would cover quite a few different surgeries!!! Including Lap Band. Under exclusions, lap band is not mentioned. Now what?? This was 2 nights ago and I am still fuming! I guess it is time to start writing letters. Everyday if I have to. Wish me luck!!

Hi All- I have been reading posts for months, but only today did I finally decide to join. I enjoyed "watching from the sidelines", but I finally decided I wanted to play too!! I have learned so much from eveyone on this site, thank you!! I have been researching the lap band for about 6-9 months now. I had to wait for open enrollment at my office to change insurance companies. Pacificare (PPO) wouldn't even pay a Dr.'s visit that his nurse submitted saying "obesity consultation". I now have Kaiser as of May 1st and my new doctor has reffered me for a Bariatric Group/Health Education appointment (they only have 8 appointments a month). I was lucky to get a June 22nd date. My doctor "believes" Kaiser will only cover Gastric Bypass --- NO Way! Not for me. I called the benefits department and the exclusions do not include lap band. I know they use UCLA Medical Center (they do Gastric Bypass as well as lap band). I actually looked into UCLA when I found out Pacificare wouldn't cover the surgery -I figured I would take a loan - $22,000 -$25,000 - I almost dropped the phone! Needless to say I can't wait until 6/22 - 6PM!! If Kaiser tries to bully me into the Gastric Bypass - I am going to fight, fight, fight!! You all have given great amunition!! I will print up all the positive facts about the Lap Band. I am going to be prepared, show them I did my homework and they WILL agree to the Lap Band!!! I am so looking forward to being banded. Is there anyone in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles area) that has dealt with Kaiser Woodland Hills? I will keep everyone updated!! Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

How about fitting in an airplane seat? How about not having everyone look at you on an airplane as you go down the aisle with a look that says "please do not have the seat next to me!"? How about the seat belt fitting without having to ask the airline attendent for a seat belt extention? How about grocery shopping without everyone looking at your purchases and frowning??? Or worse yet making comments????? How about no more mean "fat" comments from young children, teenagers, strangers, "so-called" friends, family....EVERYONE? How about being able to sit in a lawn chair without the fear of breaking it? (that has actually happened to me, I was mordified!!!) How about being able to wear high heels without excruciating (sp.) pain? The list is endless......

Wow, July 12th! That is right around the corner! I will be on a cruise the week of July 10th, otherwise I would of loved to keep you company in Mexico. Good luck to you and definitely keep us updated!!!

Thank you everyone for such a friendly welcome!!

Penni - Yes, let's do coffee sometime, but as far as the valley talk--- no can do, I am a transplant from NY. I've been here 4 1/2 years and I am still homesick!! Would love to "pick your brain" in person sometime. Let me know. Antoinette