Carrie_C

Mine is falling out too. I asked the doctor about it today and he said it was not normal, but after reading a lot here, I'm not so sure. I am taking Biotin too, and it is not helping.

Well, I feel the same as you so I guess I am arugmentative too. I feel very attacked for no reason.

Very harsh. I will be sure and go buy that wig. :tt1:

Me agrees.

I think Joy1 is the same person as Melolo.

That's terrible!

After years of fluctuating in the 230s and 250s, I finally made it to the 220s! I'm excited!

My thoughts exactly.

Ok, I'm a little embarrassed to ask this question, but my husband really wants to know, and I know you all will give us honest answers. How long is normal for a guy to last during sex? My husband is almost 40 and he's worried that he doesn't last very long. (I have no complaints, however, because he always satisfies me in other ways). I would also love to hear from the guys on this one.

I don't want to sound like I hate the Lap Band, because I don't. In fact, I love it! I haven't had any major problems other than the hairloss. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but what I have lost, I know I couldn't have lost it without the band. I can just really sympathize with those that have had problems, because I agree that people with problems are ran off and blamed when in fact it usually isn't their fault they are having problems. I can also sympathize because I agree that doctors and other healthcare providers don't always tell the truth about what can go wrong. Melolo, may I ask what type of hair treatment you had?

No, there are no other doctors in my area that do the surgery. I am glad the supplements worked for you.

Apparently YOU didn't read my posts, because as I stated I did ask the doctor and the nutritionist before surgery if this was going to cause hair loss. They told me no. But just about everyone on here has had it happen. And YES I am taking supplements for the hair loss, but IT IS NOT WORKING. I wasn't talking about other people who have had the surgery not stating the negatives, I was talking about the DOCTORS not stating the negatives and the side affects. AND I DID ASK. They glamourize it. You are newly banded and you have a lot to learn. In the beginning it is all great, but just wait until YOUR hair starts falling out, and then let's here what you have to say then.

Excuse me, are you talking to me?? I take vitamins EVERYDAY. I have never missed a day since being banded. And my hair is still falling out. Just about everyone I have talked to that has had the band all say the same thing. It doesn't matter how many vitamins you take, it still happens. I never said anyone was evil or deceitful. All I said was the doctor's office doesn't tell the bad things that can happen. They only state the good. I also never said that all I eat is junk food. What I was saying is that people thinking about the band need to know that they can still eat a lot of junk because it goes through easy. I think everyone thinking about this needs to know that it takes a total lifestyle change. A lot of people aren't told that up front and think the band is going to do all the work. I don't know why you are being so sarcastic. Are you even banded yet? I haven't had any major problems, thank God, but a lot of people have problems through no fault of their own, and picking up a phone or getting in an automobile doesn't solve their problems.

I had to pay a $75 fee during my inital consultation, plus my $30 copay. I had to pay a $95 fee for the nutrition and psy evals. I also had to pay $1000 program fee one week before surgery. I agree that it is a scam. They are just taking advantage of people because they know we are desperate and will pay whatever they tell us.

Yes, I agree. I am going to find the papers I signed when I first went there, and see what they say. It might have said that I will be charged more for fills than what my insurance is paying, I really don't remember. I will let you know what I find out.

I don't know either. I just wish they would get my account straighened out. I have Cigna.

The consult was $250 for me too, but my insurance paid some of it. The $1000 is the program fee. They made me pay it one week before surgery.

They file them as procedures, but my insurance is telling me that all I am supposed to be paying is my $30 specialty copay since it is being done in the office. But they are trying to charge me a lot more. I am going to tell them that when I go in. I don't want to be difficult, but I am not paying any more than I have to. I have already paid them enough. They also told me that there would be no charges the first 90 days, but that was a lie. I didn't have to pay for the first followup or the first fill, but they charged me $60 for the second fill and it was within the 90 days. So just be prepared. What type of insurance do you have?

I don't understand how they can charge a $1000 "program fee" either. They said some of it was for the support groups. But I live in Cleveland, so I am not about to drive almost an hour to a support group. I asked the insurance company about it, and they said as long as they told us up front about the fee and we agreed to it, then they can legally charge it. I think they are just taking advantage of people. They also charged me a $75 consultation fee on top of my $30 copay. I don't understand that either. I didn't know Johnna was getting a band. I haven't been there since July. I go Wednesday for my fill.

I had to do a nutrition and psych eval. It was required by my insurance, but they require both for everyone regardless of insurance or self pay. I had to pay $95 and it included both consults. They didn't bill my insurance for any of it. That is probably what you will have to pay, unless they have increased to fee. There is also lab work and an EKG. I am not sure of the price for those, though, since my insurance covered it. But your insurance might pay for those.

I didn't have to pay anything for my first one, but my second one cost $60. I am going to have to talk to them about that, because according to my insurance, it should have only cost $30. I think they try to overcharge people on things. That's the only complaint I have had with their office. Johnna is not good at following through with the insurance stuff. My surgery was in May and my insurance deined the surgeon's fee because he wasn't in network. But all she has to do is appeal it and they will pay. She told me 3 months ago that she appealed it, but I called the insurance and they said they haven't even received an appeal. Meanwhile, the doctor's office keeps sending me bills for $6100. I keep calling Johnna, but she just keeps giving me the run a round about it.

I'm not sure what they base it on either. I think maybe it is where you carry your weight. If you carry a lot in your stomach, maybe that's how they determine it, but that is just a guess. All of my weight is mostly on my butt and legs and arms. So maybe that's why I didn't have to do it. I don't know. They didn't weigh me right before surgery either. They weighed me at my preop class, which was a few weeks before my surgery, and they didn't weigh me again until my first followup after surgery. So I don't know. I go for my third fill on Wednesday and I'm wondering what it will cost.

I was just wondering how many of us have a family history of obesity. I have read about there being a so called "fat gene" and I just wonder if it's true. Almost everyone on my Mom's side is obese. Not just overweight, but severly obese. My Dad is overweight as well, but most of the people on his side don't have weight issues.

I made $2.15 back in 1994 and it is still the same! It is so stupid.

I didn't have to do the preop diet. I think they go on liver size to determine if you have to do it or not. It will get better when you get to eat soft foods.