thenewksc

I was a self-pay with Dr. Jessee and what was posted above was true for me ($5000 doc; $12000 hospital; $1000 anesthesia). Dr. Jessee is also now involved with a group of surgeons in the area called Journey Lite. It only caters to self-pay and it is only $15000-15500 and appears to offer payment plans of some sort. They are strictly outpatient, as opposed to mine where I stayed in the hospital for 24 hours. Just another option for you to consider...

I had my surgery by Dr. Jessee in Nov 2005. She's great! Her work is so important to her that she's actually due to give birth next month and swears she's only going to take a week off so her patients won't be at a loss without her. She's been performing Lap Band for several years now and is one of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in this area. She attends a monthly support group meeting in Largo, just down the road from her office. It's a great way to hear what post-op patients have to say about the surgery and you can actually meet her before making the appointment. Next one is March 1, 6:30-8:30 at Athona Methodist Church just south of Suncoast Hospital.

I am so proud of myself. On Sunday, with all my friends and family watching, I completed the 2006 Danskin Women's Triathlon at Disney (1/4-mile swim; 9 mile bike; then a 2 mile run). It was such an emotional time, not only for my weight loss goal, but that the event supports breast cancer research and many of the participants are survivors. I started training for it just after New Year's and met my fitness goal 63 lbs. lighter. I teared up at the check-in, the start line, running through Cinderella's Castle and down right broke down at the finish line. What a feeling! I'm still in the clouds. Any of you bandsters looking for a good fitness challenge to keep you going and help melt off those lbs., I highly recommend the Danskin Triathlon series. Check it out at http://www.danskin.com/triathlon.html. The entire experience was so positive. They really keep you motivated with training tips, seminars, cheerleaders throughout the route and other athletes. I can't wait for next year.

I agree...I think she had the band. There is so much speculation in the tabloids about her having having bypass-type scarring and she keeps denying she had the bypass. I think she's denying because she had the band instead. The scarring can be the same and her weight loss is possible. 100 lbs in a year? Desired weight loss is 1-2 lbs./ week. For 52 weeks = 104 lbs. It can be done. I think she would've lost it alot faster if she had the bypass. Plus, she has the resources to stay on track with diet and exercise. I'd love to find out that she did get banded, but I don't blame her for not going public. Too much attention on whether she fails or succeeds long term. Imagine...the pressures we have day to day trying to lose it and keep it off...then add the media attention? Who needs that kind of pressure?

I only told immediate family and very close friends about my surgery. The recovery period is so small, I was able to just take a few days off without anyone suspecting a thing. I told my boss I was having a minor procedure just in case something went wrong and I wound up in the hospital longer than planned. Once the weight loss became noticeable, I told people I was doing a modified South Beach Diet since my food tolerances are consistent with it (no bread, pastas, sweets, etc). The funny thing is that I've lost so much that a dozen people I work with started doing the South Beach Diet. LOL. I decided not to tell because I didn't want to be "judged" either. Even though it's no one's business, people still come out of the woodwork to give their unsolicited opinion. I don't need that negativity. There are so many negative opinions of WLS because of the statistics regarding bypass and no one really understands the band yet. It's alot more than a five minute explanation of what it is and why it was best for you. You're weight loss will be at such a natural pace, you can really get away with not telling anyone ever. Good luck.

I had surgery on a Wednesday and was back to work on Monday.

It sounds like to me that the leader of your support group truly just doesn't know much about the band and its issues. Are there any other groups you can attend? Pre-banding, I checked out several surgeons who perform WLS in my area and the first meeting I attended was at a hospital that had only performed 4 lap band surgeries. OK, it's good they are open to performing lap band surgery, but I certainly did not want to be only their fifth! Anyway...I think that WLS patients are so used to defending their decision to have a risky surgery they sometimes go overboard in trying to convert the "on-the-fencers". Both surgeries have their advantages and disadvantages though. It is true that sweets are the enemy, but that goes for both surgeries. A lot of bypass pts. have dumping when they eat sweets, so they learn to stay away. You will have to control that either way you go. It's just a matter of whether you want to dump or gain weight if you indulge once in a while. I noticed in my group there is a "line in the sand" between bandsters and bypass pts. In my support group, they segregate themselves and make comments under their breath. For example, a bandster will bring up getting stuck and the bypass posse will brag that that never happens to them. Or, a bypass pt. will comment on hair loss and bandsters will snicker that it doesn't happen to them. It's kind of funny to observe, but I think they miss the point of the "SUPPORT" group.

Congratulations on your banding date. The best advice I can give about preparation is act like you've been banded already. All the rules apply. Don't drink during meals. This was the hardest thing to get use to. Start working out a schedule to load up on liquids between meals. It's hard to do when you only have a few hours to work with. No liquid 30 minutes before meals and 1-1/2 hours after. Exercise every day. Even if it's just walking for 20 minutes. Get in the habit so that when you get the okay to exercise after banding, it won't be such torture. Eat slowly and with purpose. Put down your fork between each bite and while you chew, chew, chew, think about whether your appetite has been satisfied yet before putting the next bite in your mouth. Don't ask "am I full?"...ask "am I still hungry?" Eat your Protein first. This is important after banding since you hit full so quickly. Eliminate carbonated drinks and stop using straws. Hope this helps and good luck. :hungry:

I had a dermoid cyst removed from my left ovary at 21 (2.5 # - size of a grapefruit). Then had two more removed three years ago, one on each ovary. Smaller in size, but fused together near my spine. My latest vaginal sonogram shows another one developing. Not a concern until it gets large enough to cause pain though. I haven't had any removed since being banded though. But not very surprising, my husband and I have fertility issues. Good luck with the removal -- about the same time as my first surgery, there were reports of a woman with the same kind of cyst weighing in at 116 lbs. -- how it got that big without knowing something was wrong is a mystery to me, but imagine walking out of the hospital 116 lbs. lighter. Mine was only 2.5 lbs, but I gained it back in fluids they pump you up with.

I decided to keep my surgery completely private from co-workers. Only a small handful of my friends and family even know. I decided to keep it under wraps because I knew I would encounter saboteurs everywhere I go. Plus, so many people think they understand gastric bypass, but no one understands lap band. Even the people who do know about my surgery don't understand. They still try to push me to drink at meals and offer me more food than I can eat or things that are difficult for me. I'd rather keep it quiet than have to explain. It's never enough to say you've had a procedure that limits your food intake and slows down the rate at which food goes through your stomach. Just saying I had WLS is tough because, bottom line is, even though WE all know that it isn't a short cut or easy, others definitely do and can treat you differently because you chose the surgical route. I have lost 45 lbs since November and sure co-workers are noticing and asking me how I have done it. I just tell the truth...I'm exercising, eating right and eating less!!!!! Nothing untruthful about that! Good luck

Go for it! First of all, you won't be over 250 limit long enough to cause any wear and tear on the treadmill. Second, the 250 weight limit is for people who are 250 and running with and incline. The impact from running will surely put more than 250 lbs. of pressure on it, so i don't think it matters.

My first fill was with fluoro, but I stood the whole time. I stood on the footpad and the machine tilted me back about 25 degrees and the doctor stuck me, filled me up and had me sip the barium swallow with a straw all without moving at all. My second fill was lying down in the office. She stuck me once and didn't hit my port. She could feel it fine, but couldn't stick it for some reason. The second attempt she still had a little difficulty, but did hit the port. Then I had to sit up with the needle in and sip some Water to make sure I wasn't closed. When she did finally hit the port, the popping sensation did kind of make me sick to my stomach. It hurt a little, but not unbearable. She said the same thing though, that as I lose weight, it will be easier to hit it even though she said she could feel my port fine.

Dr. Jessee does do fills in Tampa Bay. I think she's the only one in the area that will take patients who have had the surgery done out of country. Her number is 727-584-7666. She is located in Largo/Clearwater right in front of Suncoast Hospital on Indian Rocks Dr.

Dr. Tiffany Jessee is my surgeon in Largo. The number is 727-584-7666.

My doctor mentioned she is the only one in the area who will take pts. who had lap band done in Mexico, so I'm sure she would take one from Maine. I couldn't tell you how much the fills are though or if there is a program fee or anything. I only just had my first fill two weeks ago and the first year is covered in my surgery fee. It'd be worth contacting her though if you're still looking. She is in Clearwater -- Tiffany Jessee -- www.shedthepounds.com. She's an awesome doc and has several years experience with the band in florida. Hope this helps.