Totallytater

My surgeon was just under $10,000 for EVERYTHING and I flew to Denver (one trip) for it. It was nice not to have all of the pre-op testing and charges and none of the follow up visits and costs. I flew back and forth to Denver a few times because his fills were free for 3 months and then just $15 each fill forever. My surgeon Dr K's quality and prices are just fantastic. I got tired of going back and forth to Denver so now I get my fills from Fill Centers USA for something like $175 each (I can't remember exactly what it is- $175 or $185 I think). So it is pretty reasonable. My surgeon doesn't accept insurance but if yours allows you to go out of network you might be able to turn in for reimbursement from your insurance company.

I have the BEST HAIR of my life now after surgery. The first 6 or so months I probably lost 25% of my hair and I was worried. Then I stopped losing it. Then I started growing lots of tiny new hairs. Now my hair is fuller and thicker than it has ever been. I have great hair now, much better than before the surgery.

Had my period too. Everything went fine. We're just human women, and so we have our periods sometimes. No problem! This surgery will be the best thing you have ever done. Nope, I can't eat fries anymore and they used to be my favorite food. But I have found other foods I really like now, like French onion soup with croutons and nice thick cheese. The truth is that after awhile, you don't obsess over food in the same way anymore. You will be fine. Good luck to you.

I have noticed an underarm smell that I didn't have before. Even with deoderant I can be a bit smelly now sometimes.

I am VERY HAPPY now. I think I'll even be happier when I reach my goal. The excess weight was just as much a drag on my brain and happiness as it was on my body. It put a strain on every part of my life. I had even let my house become a huge burden on me. Every closet needed to be cleaned out. All kinds of chores needed to be done. Now I am getting out from under all of this burden and getting things done. Losing the weight definitely has made me happy.

Change doctors right away. I started clomid when I weighed 297 with a BMI of about 49. I got pregnant 3 times taking clomid when I weighed over 300 pounds. My doctor never told me I had to lose weight. But he did tell me if I lost 10% of my weight I would have an easier time getting pregnant.

Another vote here for Dr. Kirshenbaum. He is terrific!!

I had mine. The gave me some sterile underwear and a big huge pad and I put it on. No problems.

Luckily I don't get stuck very often, but here is what I do. Be warned. This is gross. Many people would disagree with me, but I stick my finger towards the back of my mouth and throw up several times. It's not regular vomit. It is clumps of thick mucous and slime. And a very little bit of undigested food (that is stopping me up). It's not the normal acid stuff. Then the following 24 hours I just drink liquids until things calm down again. Hope this helps.

I told you the wrong figure. I think the fills are actually more like $165 and the first one is $350. They don't have support groups that I am aware of.

I think it depends on the location. I love my fill centers usa doctor in NC. He is a regular primary care physician, so you just go to a regular doctor's office. But he also does lots and lots of fills. He is the only fill centers usa location for our area so he does lots of fills. So he is good at it. He is just as good as my original surgeon, and that's saying something.

Hi. I flew from Charlotte to Denver for surgery with Dr. Kirshenbaum in Aurora, CO. His price is $9950 including everything. You do a phone consult with him and a nutritionist before the surgery (included in the price), so you only have to go to Denver once. His fills are free for 3 months, then they are $15 each. I used to fly back and forth to him for my fills, but now I go to the fillcenters usa location in Denver NC. The fills are only $150 (the first one is $350). Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

What you need is a balance beam scale like they have in many doctor's offices. The nice thing about a balance beam scale is that you can adjust it to make sure it is right with a screwdriver right on the side. They are a bit costly. Detecto or Health o Meter scales can be bought on the internet with free shipping for around $185. I got mine cheaper on ebay but it is a gross color of green. Turns out it was military surplus. But it works great.

Get a fill, get a grip and get on with it!! We all stumble. I am a slow loser myself because I lose a grip on things sometimes and go for the ice cream too much. At least you are not gaining. Get motivated and get going. If any of us here can do it, you can too!!

Here is the answer ladies. I bought these boots last year when my calfs were absolutely HUGE and they fit. They are really stylish and sexy. They are tall calf boots that lace up the back. The extra wide size fits a calf of 18" to 20" !!!!! They come in black and brown and are $154 at zappos and ard called Formula by David Tate. Here's the link Formula by David Tate at Zeta Zappos

Where are your protein shakes? You are not getting nearly enough protein.

To answer the original question: I don't remember everything that happened at the airport because I flew home the morning after surgery and I was doped and groggy. My sister came with me and she pushed me throught the airport in a wheelchair. We had EVERYTHING in the carry on bag. Because you never know if you are going to be sitting on the tarmac for 8 hours or stuck in your connecting airport or whatever, so I needed to have my pain meds with me. It seemed like we got a letter from Dr. K to present to TSA. I even had some broth in my carryon and they let that go through too. I remember there being some discussion at security and a supervisor coming over. I was groggy, but I remember lifting my shirt up to show them my belly and they let us bring everything through, even the broth. They didn't ask to see my belly, I was just loopy and lifted my shirt up. If you are really worried, then take a clean bottle and pour off most of your painkiller into the clean bottle and check it in your luggage. Then keep the remaining painkiller in it's original prescription bottle and carry it on. If they confiscate it, you will still have the majority of it in your luggage. But if you have a letter from Dr K, they should let you bring it through. I would argue for it, because you could really start hurting and need it badly. I would also suggest you upgrade to 1st class for your return trip. We called the morning of our departure and upgraded for $150. It was well worth that for the extra room. I would also wait until the 2nd morning after surgery to travel. I should not have tried it the following morning. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions about the travel.

Some of the previous posters are right. The function of the pre-op diet is to reduce the fattiness of the liver. You don't have to do a liquid diet to accomplish this. You only have to do low carb. When you eat with your dad, just eat a nice lean piece of meat or fish and a salad with ranch dressing. Ranch is low in carbs. You can also eat a non-starch veggie like green beans. No potato. No bread. No dessert. No sweet salad dressing. No sugary drink. Otherwise you will be fine. Please keep in mind that some doctors don't require a pre-op diet at all. And some just require low-carb.

I concentrate on accessories. As you lose, buy a minimal amount of very basic clothing. Black dress pants, basic shirts, basic jackets and wear nice coordinated fashion necklace, earring and bracelet sets. These will make you look more put together while just maintaining the most minimum wardrobe. Also, when you buy clothes always buy them a bit tight so you can wear them longer. Good luck!!

I took clomid for several different pregnancy attempts when I weighed 300 lbs at 5-6". I achieved 3 pregnancies using it at this weight. One was successful and 2 ended in miscarriages. My doctor never said anything about my weight and clomid. He did tell me that I would be more fertile if I lost weight though.

Like I said before, I only do it every few weeks- and for just a few bites. I did it tonight as a matter of fact. Two french fries to be exact. It was probably 2 months ago since I did it last. I'm sure it would be an eating disorder if someone did it every day, but I can assure you I don't have any sort of eating disorder (other than wanting to eat too much on a regular basis). I just wanted to taste the fries since they used to be my favorite food. I can't swallow them because the get stuck.

I would LOVE to have your rack!! Congrats! I wouldn't go under the knife again for the small difference I see in the pictures.

Just because you paid $14,000 out of your pocket for surgery doesn't mean you magically became perfect. This is a learning process and you have to learn what to do and how to do it. Don't worry about this hurting your band. My surgeon let us move on to solid food as soon as we felt like it, so I can promise you it's okay. When you get filled the hunger will start to subside. Don't beat yourself up too much until then at least.