BANDIT GIRL

thank u so much! and i will definetely keep u informed. i am also going through this with my boss. we have all our appts together too.we figured we both wanted it and our insurance just started paying for it this yr(optima health) all of our appts r scheduled in april. i think lab/ekg/us/cxr for 4/4,support and wellness 4/17,psych 4/28.i am scared and excited all at the same time. good luck to u guys! were u at the meeting to get ur big book with mary on the 5th or so? i think we may have been at the same one. i was there with the red head and we both work for sentara.

hello bridgette and harleynana(i love that name!) nice to meet u. dr fontana is gonna be doing my band at nsg.and thanks for the wellwishes! same to u guys. so harleynana, how have things been for u since ur banding? have u reached ur goal? have u had any complications?

hey fellow norfolk bandsters! yes, i am also going through nsg with dr fontana. what dr are u guys using? i am excited about going to the support grp. i am scheduled in april. maybe i will c u there. my name is della. have u guys been through the white light scan yet? that was fun.....had to get naked...but no one sees u. they stand around the corner. it is cool to c ur image. were there post op people for a few yrs out at the support group? i am gonna be at norfolk general.

hello everyone! my name is della and i am looking for anyone who has had surgery at norfolk surgical group. i am currently in their program.

thanks for the update....most people i meet here are new bandsters. yeah, i really like them at nsg.who was your dr? i have gone with dr fontana. so how has it been for u since surgery? good the bad and the ugly...lol r u happy u chose the band over bypass and how long did it take to get to goal?

:mellow:HELLO ALL IN POST-OP! I AM A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE I GUESS YOU COULD SAY COMPLICATIONS. I HAVE READ ALOT OF POSITIVE THINGS TOO ENOUGH TO BALANCE IT ALL OUT BUT I AM STILL CONCERNED. IT SEEMS ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD ALOT OF VOMITING AND PROBLEMS EATING. SOME EVEN SAYING THEY CAN'T EVEN KEEP DOWN WATER OR ANY LIQUIDS LET ALONE MUSHIES OR SOLIDS. ALOT OF PAIN TOO. ALOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO ALSO HAVE ALOT OF ISSUES AND PAIN AFTER FILLS. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE POSITIVE STORIES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING GREAT AND HAPPY W/NO OR LITTLE ISSUES. WOULD ALSO LOVE TO HEAR SOME STORIES RECENT STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE 3-4 OR MORE YEARS OUT AND HOW THEY ARE DOING. THANK YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH FOR THE INFO YOU GIVE HERE!! IT IS AN AWSOME WAY TO GET SUPPORT AND TALK TO REAL PEOPLE NOT JUST FROM COMERCIALS AND ADS WHO U NEVER KNOW IF THEY REALLY HAD THIS SURGERY.

yes, i am currently going through the process at norfolk surgical group. i was a lil taken aback when they told of the program fee but my insurance will only pay if i have surgery through norfolk general or hampton careplex but i am very pleased so far with their program! i am a sentra employee and got a 20% discount. so i paid $396. the fee is for the copays u may have to pay and the whole program they put u through.i also have optima health through sentara . both hopitals are bariatric centers of excellence. i do know also if u cannot pay the whole fee up front u can make payments but unfortunetly the actual program will not start until u complete payments. good luck with ur process, i hope it goes well.....i really like them if that helps at all. and i'm not sure who told that they have only done a few bands because they have a whole support group of bandsters. and i have personally met 2 just at the office in the waiting room.last edit i swear..lol, also they don't try to convince u of either surgery they give u the info and let u make up ur mind. they support u , unless u r not a good canidate for one over the other.

yes they do have a less expensive program fee. i am currently going through nsg with dr fontana. i have had a great experience so far! i also know 3 other people who are going through nsg also and they love them. my friend of 7 1/2 yrs recommended them to me. she is having gastric bypass. i have heard alot of good things about dr woglemuth too. (i know i spelled it wrong lol)

hello, my name is della and i have just started the program at norfolk surgical grp. i also called the one in newport news and they told me their program fee was $730. nsg is $495 and if u r a sentara healthcare employee u get a discount and i paid $396. 20% off. i chose dr fontana as my surgeon.i really like him, he is very thorough and answered all my questions. so far everyone there was very nice ! his nurse barbara was a hoot. i also know 3 other people who r using nsg's program.if u have any more questons please feel free to ask. i will help in any way i can(i said that like i am an old pro...lol) NOT lol

hello all! i have not been banded yet but going through the process though. i was wondering if there is anyone here that has had surgery through norfolk surgical group. specifically with dr fontana. he is awesome and i would love to hear the post-op stories of some of his patients:smile: he is located in norfolk,va.

HELLO ALL IN BAND LAND!!! I'M JUST BEGINNING MY JOURNEY INTO BAND WORLD. I HAVE BEEN TO THE SEMINAR AND I'VE ALSO BEEN TO MY FIRST MEETING WITH MY SURGEON. HIS NAME DR FONTANA AND HE IS LOCATED IN NORFOLK,VA. HE IS WITH NORFOLK SURGICAL GROUP. SO IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME OFFICE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE TWO FRIENDS GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROGRAM AND MY BOSS AND I ARE DOING THIS TOGETHER AS A BUDDY TEAM FOR SUPPORT. I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR ALL MY APPTS. WE HAVE TO OF COURSE GO FOR A PSYCH EVAL AND MY PROGRAM HAS AN ALL DAY CLASS ON EXCERSISE AND NURITION. THEY ALSO OFFER A WHITE LIGHT SCAN. THIS SCANS YOUR BODY AND MEASURES YOUR BODY IN LIKE A SILHOUETTE AND YOU GO BACK ALL THROUGH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS AND SEE YOUR PROGRESS. WE MUST OF COURSE ATTEND A SUPPORT GROUP MEETING WHICH I INTEND TO KEEP GOING TO PRE OP EVEN THOUGH I AM ONLY REQUIRED TO ATTEND ONE. THERE IS MORE BUT I THINK YOU GET THE GIST OF IT...:wink2: I AM SAD TO SAY I FOUND OUT THROUGH MY INSURANCE THAT I MUST HAVE A ONE YEAR WEIGHT LOSS TRIAL BEFORE THEY WILL APPROVE ME. I HAVE OPTIMA HMO AND THE POLICY MY JOB OFFERS JUST STARTED PAYING FOR THE SURGERY THIS YEAR(OR I WOULD HAVE STARTED SOONER). WELL I WILL LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW BUT I MUST SAY I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE STUMBLED ACROSS THIS PLACE..... YOU GUYS ARE VERY HELPFUL AND I HAVE LEARNED ALOT AND WILL BE BACK WITH MY QUESTIONS AND ENCOURAGEMENT!!

That Makes Complete Sense And I Was Thinking That Mabey They Were Not Eating Correctly Or Eating The Wrong Foods. Some People I Have Talked To Said They Preferred Gb Because They Felt Having The Dumping Syndrome Would Remind You To Not Eat The Wrong Foods. I Feel That The Band Does Pretty Much The Same Thing. Thanks For Ur Help!

:biggrin2:THANK YOU CHICKIE! U LOOK GREAT IN UR PICS!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR U! ONE DAY I'LL BE THERE.