LovingWhatIs

They are in Cincinnatti and Columbus. They are a really great organization, very patient-centric. go to Synchrony Health :: Home and click on Locations. Also search for "dr. watkins" I am sure he would love to talk to you. great guy!

SYNCHRONY HEALTH IS IN OHIO! That surgeon, Dr. Watkins, is actually on this Board! I went to Synchrony in Virginia and it has been amazing!!!! I was self pay in Virginia and all my fills are free for a year (15,000.00). Also it was 6 weeks from my first appt. to my surgery date. I had just had a physical, and just had to get a couple more simple tests done. I paid nothing for the physical (Veterans affairs), but paid about 200 bucks for additional bloodwork. I was shocked to find that people who have their surgery out of town to save money, and then want to get a fill in their own town, are paying 500-600 bucks each. Somehow that doesn't sound like a good deal to me. I WOULD SEE IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEONE LOCAL FOR EVERYTHING! THAT'S just me.

oh the sublingual b-12 is so great! Don't you love it? Also I like the liquid Vitamin "Source of LIfe". It is so NOTICEABLE on the days I don't take it....

:clap2: Nice going, girl. Just what some of us needed to hear! For sure, me. Loved the pep talk and appreciate you sharing your positive story... I sometimes do get discouraged. Mostly about getting the restriction just right and the pain of eating now that it needs adjusting down. SHEESH. I am mostly grateful for this amazing tool, and sometimes I just think, god, I wish my focus on this would end. Impatient. Ungrateful. Sometimes. Thanks for reminding me to question what I am believing and feel the gratitude that having this band brings me . YOU ROCK :kiss2: Lisa

It is nice to wear a Large (instead of XL) now. I haven't lost a ton, but it is still 1/3 of my way to goal. I think I am a little OVER RESTRICTED, so I am limited to softer foods and they tend to be higher in calories - the other things is I am not eating enough at all. I am lucky to squeeze in 800 calories, and my body is adjusting - I am taking lots of Protein, but I need more calories on board, especially with working out. Maybe my doc will take a little out next week when I go... I am sick of food hurting so much that I just don't bother eating...

Yeah, it's a bout time for an full evaluation to see if there is bi-polar disorder, pospartum depression, all the clinical evals AND THEN a long term treatment to recover from the addiction portion of this not uncommon mess. That way everything is being treated and she can get out of that horrible paparazzi situation. Women and men who have to hold such a collective projection often dont' make it or do well, like elvis, marilyn, Kurt Cobain, michael jackson. So you wanna be famous? ya shure? hahahahah

I have never been a sweets craver. Sweets have always been the last thing on my list. Now suddenly, well maybe not suddenly - but recently (I had my surgery Sept. 11) I am having chocolate cravings? Very strange... This must be the addiction transfer thing. Definately gonna nip it in the bud - I am only having chocolate powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury. I have been on a STRICT WATCH on addiction transfer. I am in recovery and so it is easy for me to identify alcohol or medication craving, but this one really surprised me! Anyone else have new "cravings" or addiction red flags since surgery?

Why do they do a complete unfill in these situations? I have heard this before... something about shrinking the pouch with the band unfilled and then filling again?

Congratulations Ginger, and to all you getting ready for surgery - WAY TO GO! I was outpatient - my Doctor's guide was anyone under 40BMI who didn't have high risks (ie heart problems) could be done in the Surgery Center and go home. I went in at 7:30am, surgery at 9:00am, husband picked me up around Noon. It was great to be in the "nest" with all my dogs... No Dogs in Hospitals! Bummer...

I used to have a similar upset - that is why your post caught my eye - about my husband being around his ex-wife. I obviously am prejudiced about this now, but I found the book, Loving What Is, by Byron Katie, and at first found it stupid. Then I did a "worksheet" on my thoughts about it, and after a few months of doing "The Work" which is the process shown in the book (how to do it is free on the website), I not only am not upset, but encourage him to go visit, I don't get a sick feeling in my stomach, I have a great love and respect for her - IT"S A MIRACLE! Now I do "the work" all the time and wow! Incredible change in my sense of myself. People will facilitate you for free over the phone, or you can just facilitate yourself. If you are interested I would be glad to send you a CD too. I can TOTALLY relate to the feelings you describe and I love sharing the way I found my freedom from that nightmare... If I can experience it, anyone can. Here to help, if you ever need it. Lisa

So My goal was 197 pounds (12 pound loss) and I made it for a day, then up a pound then down 2 pounds then up 3 pounds... Cramps and everything else tell me my body is doing just what it is supposed to. Trying not to let that number have more power than necessary. It is what it is, right! perfect. You guys are great. I missed being on the board while I was out of town so much. It is incredible to me how much a difference in my sense of "support" it makes to just read this board. Not being on the board feels just like "Isolating" with food used to. Yucky! I think I will take my laptop with me from now on. Doing this "alone" is, well, lonely! Thanks for you guys in the world.... Lisa

:help: So I have really good restriction - may be too good. Have any of you experienced not losing as well because the band is too tight? In that I can only get very soft Protein, am limited to softer foods (which tend to be too caloric), and am still losing, but it is slowing down. I need more calories for working out, too. But I don't want my hunger to come back... This is such a dance! I go to my doctor next week and that should help - I will see what he thinks, but you tell me what you think! I was considering maybe taking a TINY bit out so I could get a bigger variety of food and actually eat less often... THanks for you thoughts and Ideas and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I was shocked to find out that Lump crabmeat is only 80 calories a 1/2 cup, 16 grams of Protein, 0 carbs, and no trans or sat fat (only 2 grams of good fat)! I can't tolerate chicken too well, so thought I would share it in case others are in the same boat. And it is pretty easy to eat. I moistened it with a little cocktail sauce. It was on sale 1/2 price at our store so I bought 4 cans. Lasts for months... I am gonna chuck it in with steamed veggies for dinner.. Any other Lump Crab ideas?:whoo:

TULIP you are amazing!!!! 62 pounds and NO BAND? You are so gonna be an A student, heh heh.

UPDATE: Name..... Start Wt....Current....Goal.....To Go Lisa Lee 209.......198..........197.......1 pound to go! YIPPEEE :whoo:

Hit 199.5 yesterday and it is still there today. I attribute the extra push on weight loss to working out but not going to high on heart rate and trashing muscle. This feels like a solid fat loss. FEEELING GOOD! 2.5 pounds to go for my Jan 1 goal of 195. WEEE HEEEEEEEEEEE

Great ideas Everyone! I found these substitutions helpful: 1. Meditation - lots of great guided meditations on Itunes! 2. "The Work" - amazing process and a ton of fun. Great way to deal with head hunger. Lifechanging! www.thework.com 3. Helping others - I started volunteering to share "the work" and my addiction history in Prisons and Jails. It's a hoot. They help me far more than I help them. 4. Spending quality time with my elderly parents and REALLY LISTENING to them. 5. Photography, WebSite Building and Movie Making. I love making movies on my Mac from the video camera I bought me (it was only 300 bucks!) and I put up a family website, especially so our Son in Iraq can receive the latest news. Beautiful Pictures abound just from walking out here in the mountains of Virginia. 6. Physics. I am loving the host of audio books I am "reading" on Physics. It has greatly enhanced my spiritual journey!

I saw a couple presentations, actually from doctors that prefer bypass, and it said that after 5 years, the weight loss of both is the same! This 50% stuff is misleading, I think. Good for you for trusting yourself. Your "inner work" shows! I, too, worked on "head hunger" for 15 months previous to getting my lapband. I was self-pay, so it wasn't required, but I knew that if I didn't deal with my stressful thoughts, that I would either transfer to another addiction, or really have a hard time. I use "The Work" to deal with these thoughts still today, even became a facilitator I loved the changes in my life so much. Has made all the difference! I agree with you, working on the Inside Stuff is the Best Thing I Ever Did!

Oh, and another thing - Eric's whole practice is Banding. He does tons of them - lots of experience. I went to a seminar at another Virginia Hospital, and the surgeon had only done 20 of these lapbands. Eric probably has done that many in a good month, but you always feel like you are his only patient. The practice is NOT a cattle call at all.

Weight, I was THRILLED with Dr. Eric Pinnar, Synchrony Health. Here is a link to the website, just click on Washington, DC Synchrony Health :: Home There is a doctor on this board named Dr. Watkins, you can find his threads, who is a colleague of Eric's (although he is located in Ohio) and speaks very highly of him too. I never have to wait for fills, he spends time just talking to me, and is a great friend to his clients. My husband's business partner, also a surgeon, has known him for years, too and says he is awesome, and the same surgeon also worked for years with Eric's P.A. Phil, who also does fills and is great, and he says that he is a great PA. So I am happy and recommend them. Prices were much better than hospital out here, for self-payers, and if you qualify you can even have your surgery in the Surgery Center and go home the same day and save another 3 grand!

I love looking at this data... I wish I had understood all the ways this can go before I had my surgery. Very interesting. Thanks to everyone who voted and is to vote in the future. Let's keep this going - I think "pre-surgicals" might find this helpful.

I think the program fee was due at your first appointment. Actually I am sure it was. That was $450.00 I think. The Surgical Fee for Eric is due 7-10 days prior to surgery. I was done on an outpatient basis at Reston Surgery Center, and the Balance of the Surgery was due to them on the day of surgery. So it was 3 payments basically. Oh, and I paid the Anesthesiologist the week before the surgery - they send you a bill and ask that you pay it before the surgery...

I explained it ONCE. Then after that, the Phrase, "I hear You", or "Things are right on track", and a smile was all they got. Or if they asked, "You haven't lost any more weight since last time?" the answer is, "No I haven't" and a smile. That's it. Real simple answer and no explanation. Saves me making me nuts.

Yeah, I have lost almost 20 since restriction and needing a little tiny fill this week. Seems to start to loosen at 20 pounds for a lot of people... But boy does it vary radically it seems.

well said, Manatee. This is not a time to even be concerned about your weight, my doctor said. That helped me a lot. I would just put the scale away and do something you love to do and haven't done in a while... a great step towards the real goal, fully living again. Good luck and love to you.