rearea1222

Hi, I'm looking into doing the lap band but wanted some people's opinions on doctors in the Houston area. I see on this board that a lot of people have gone to Dr. Spivak, but I would like to get some opinions on other doctors as well. I've looked at "Lapband Solutions" with Dr. Felts and looked at "True Results". Dr. Felts and Dr. Spivak are both listed with "True Results". I don't know if I just don't understand all of the centers in Houston or if the doctors work at various facilities. Are "Lapband Solutions" and "True Results" the same thing, assocaited with each other? Who has everyone used in Houston and would you recommend? Also I will more than likely be self pay, if anyone else was self pay, is there a big difference in fees between all of the doctors? Thanks so much for all your advice! Rachel (still trying to figure all of this out)

Did you ever find out what to do? I too was a cash patient and paid a LOT to get the "free" fills. I went to look them up today to schedule and appointment and couldn't find them anywhere, I ran across your post and I am so upset!

Hi! I go for my very first fill this wednesday and I have a question about my diet BEFORE the fill. I don't remember my doctor saying anything, should I eat like I am now before the fill or should I be on liquids before I get it? If I have something in my stomach, will it effect the band when they fill it? My appt is after lunch so I just wanted to see how all that is going to work. Thanks for any insight! Rachel

Well what a difference a week and 2 days is!! Today is the first day that I actually feel really good! For a few days there I was really not sure I would ever feel normal again, but I do!! I am now on "full luiquids", the week of clears just about killed me. Today I half a little cup of applesauce, went out to lunch and had half a bowl of brocolli cheese soup and had the other half for dinner. Is anyone else getting full on just a little bit? I'm not sure if that's the band or just still all swollen inside, but I like it! :biggrin2:

I definetly feel your pain! My gas pain was so bad for about 4-5 days. Thought I would die. But as they say "this too shall pass" and it certianly did. Tips for getting rid of it... Gas ex strips, suck on those like your life depends on it. Walk walk and walk some more, it gets stuff moving and out. Occassionally I would lay with kindof my butt in the air. Kindof sitting on my knees and laying on my forearms. My mom calls this the "knee-chest" position. That helped a little bit too. While I was going through this I was never so thankful for every single burp or toot. You'll get thru it, good luck to you!!!!

Well I don't know what to tell you to ease your mind. But I felt the exact same way before I had mine. Up to the point I was on the operating table thinking "ok if you wanna back out do it now". But one week out I can tell you those fears kindof calm down a bit. I won't say I feel 100% terrific, cause I'm still doing the whole liquid thing, and that part sucks. But you will get through it and you will feel better and better everyday. I have yet to hear one person say they regret getting their band so I have faith that on the other side of "post-op" I will love mine as well. Good luck to you tomorrow!

Oh thank God someone else is having this problem too!! I just thought I was strange! Thought it had to do with Protein powder or too much broth. I'll have to go buy some listerine spray before I head to work tomorrow. I start full liquids after a week of clear on Tuesday and then from there I can move on to mushies. So hopefully by the end of the week I can get rid of this nasty taste. I've been trying to drink more Water, but because of this nastyness in my mouth, everything just tastes gross.

does anyone else have to be on clear liquids for a week? My doc gave me a week of clear then a few days of full liquids then I can move on to a little thicker substance. I so far have been eating, chicken broth, sugar free popscicles, Jello and vegtable Soup without the vegtables. I'm afraid anything else would be too thick. Does anyone have any other suggestions for "clears"? Cathychatts- thanks so much for the tips, I'm just afraid I can't start some of the Soups yet cause they might be too thick.

Just a question to all of you on the couch like me.... I was banded 2 days ago on the 10th. I'm sitting here on the couch, suffering with gas pain, wanting to just get it all out. Suffering with hunger, cause nothing I eat seems to fill me up. And all the while watching tv and every freakin commercial has food on it!! How many times a day do they have to advertise the stinkin pizza special!?? OMG I'm dying!

Hey! I went with Dr. St. Laurent through Journey Lite in Houston. I really loved him. I did a lot of research on all the docs in Houston including Lap Band Solutions. I went to a meeting with LBS and was planning on going with them until I found Dr. St. Larent.

I finally made it, I am on the couch and banded and drugged, so please forgive any misspellings. I had my surgery this morning and just checking in and reporting back. My surgery was scheduled for 8am. My mom is staying with me, so we got up at 4:30, did the getting ready and drove the (about 30 min) drive to be there for 6:30. I had a few last minute papers to sign and then I sat and waited. Can I even tell you how my nerves were going 100mph?? I was so nervous and scared. In fact I pretty much didn't sleep last night cause I was so nervous and excited. First piece of advice, GET SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE. So anyway, sitting in the waiting room for about 30 min. They call me back about 7:15, had to do a urine test and then they brought me to my bed and got my IV going. My surgeon (who I just love) came by to say hi and ask for final questions and stuff. I met the anthesiologist and he went over everything with me. Then my mom got to come back and sit with me for a few minutes. About 15-20 min later, they were ready for me. As we were going back, the dr gave me some happy drugs to calm me down. Then we went into the OR. I had never been in an operating room before and it looked very different from the ones on Grey's Anatomy! They had me change beds to the one on the table type thing. Then they had me start breathing in oxygen. The nurse kindof strapped me down a little bit and stretched out my arms and strapped those down and that's pretty much the last thing I remember. Next thing I know I'm in recovery and they are making me wake up. I was exhausted. I couldn't wake up. I think its cause I was so tired from no sleep last night on top of the drugs. I have no idea what time it was but I'm going to assume that was bout 9:30 that they started waking me up. They asked how I was feeling, sat me up and gave me some drugs for nausia. Time gets fuzzy cause I was in and out, but then I had to get up, walk to the bathroom and make sure I could use the restroom. Then I went by and did an x-ray/barium swallow. That was pretty interesting to watch. Then they sat me in a chair instead of the bed. The nurse went over a couple of things then my mom came back. The nurse went over the important stuff with my mom, showed her my incisions (5 of them) and then helped me get dressed. I brought a very loose fitting sundress which helped. Then as soon as I was dressed I was free to go. I believe that was around 11:15. Fast fast fast. Sitting there I felt rushed, but now I'm glad I got home early. The ride home wasn't bad. Had a pillow and that cushioned all the bumps. Not a whole bunch of pain from the incisions. Just sore, like I did sit-ups. I live in a town home type place and so from my garage I have to walk up a flight of stairs to the living room and then another to the bedroom and bath. Did both no problem, slower than normal but not bad, no add'l pain. The pain I am feeling is gas pain. Don't brush it off, it hurts, but I feel like as soon as it passes I will feel 100% better, again only pain I'm feeling as of yet is the gas. When I got to my bedroom I was dizzy and nausious. I was still heavily doped up on anthestisia. I feel asleep for a couple of hours. Layed on my back and that was ok, then was able to lay on my side that didn't have my port and that was ok too. When I woke up I felt a lot better, the anthesia finally was wearing off. I was then able to get up, walk around a bit, use the restroom, and go downstairs. I walked and paced a lot and was able to get a tiny bit of the gas out. I sat on the sofa no problem and was feeling better. I ate a few slurps of chicken broth and drank some water. Gas was hurting so I took some liquid vicadin that they gave me. Once that kicked in I started to feel week and dizzy and nausious. If that keeps up with that med, I might switch to liquid tylenol. We'll see how it goes. Taking the gas-ex strips hoping they are working, get that gas out and the pain will go away, that's what I keep telling myself. So now I'm up, checking email and watching tv. I feel lucid, though just a tiny bit dopy. Sorry this feels long and rambling, but wanted to give an account to all of yall that are coming up so you know what to expect. Good luck to all. Fellow June 10ths-- I hope you are all doing well and recovering nicely. Can't wait to hear from you!! :grouphug: - Finally!!!! :behindsofa: ~Rachel

Hey Everyone! I know we've all been reading the boards and talking to people about what to expect after the surgery. Why not share all the items others have found "helpful" after the surgery?? Recommendations I've gotten... gas-ex strips heating pad small pillow Everyone, feel free to add! :thumbup:

I am getting banded on June 10th by Dr. St. Laurent. I've had my initial meeting with him and LOVED him. Can't say enough good things about him. I've done a lot of research on all of the doctors in the Houston area and I haven't heard a single complaint about Dr. St. Laurent. I am also self-pay and going through "Journey Lite" in Houston. While I haven't met anyone there, I have talked on the phone and emailed back and forth with the people there. All of them have been super nice and when I was deciding on the doctor they went above and beyond to answer every single one of my hundreds of questions with no heistation and no attitude. Not only did I love the people but I found the cost was pretty good for all it included. My cost will be $15,000, and that includes, free fills for life, free support and classes at the Journey Lite office, 6 months (1x a month) visits with the Dr's nutritionist and monthly visits for the first year and 6 visits the 2nd year with Dr. St. Laurent after the surgery. Most of the surgeons you only see on the surgery date and maybe a week after, he was the only one I found that had so much follow up and personal care. Not to mention, he was wonderful during my visit. He took his time, answered all of my questions, didn't seem rushed, and treated me like a patient, not just another surgery and another check in his bank account. I met with several doctors and/or surgery groups in Houston and he was the only one that made me feel like that. Good luck to you!! :biggrin2:

Hi Everyone! For many of us, our surgery countdowns are less than a month away!! :biggrin2: Anyone else scared? What does everyone's pre-op work look like? How is everyone preparing for the big day? My doctor didn't give me a pre diet to follow or anything. I'm really getting nervous about it, not only of the surgery but also with what comes after the surgery.

I also picked up some mini spoons and mini forks, so that when I can start eating I force myself to take smaller bites. http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=752&f=27457&q=demi+spoon&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

Has anyone on here had their lap band done thru Journey Lite? Did they like them? Opinions, good or bad? I'm trying to decide who to go thru for the surgery. I'm cash pay and they are the most expensive, but they seem to have much more aftercare and support. I know a lot of people on this board used Dr. St. Laurent and loved him and his staff. He is listed as one of the docs for Journey Lite and I wasn't sure if anyone who used him went thru Journey Lite. Thanks for all your help! Rachel

I think I was fine until I looked at the date this morning. I am getting banded in a month from yesterday. So when I realized I am less than a month from my band, it kindof scared me. I've been trying to read up on what to expect and what to keep on hand and such. I've made lists and tried to prepare but the nerves all of a sudden have hit. And it's not so much nerves of the actual surgery. I probably should be nervous about that but I'm not. I'm more scared of afterwards. The "what-ifs" are now starting to penetrate my brain. What if I die of starvation after the surgery the month before I can eat actual food again? What if my port pops out of my skin? What if I hate it? And the biggest scare for me, What if it doesn't work? I realize some of these are completely irrational, but still...

Thanks everyone! I decided to go with Dr St Laurent and my date is June 10th!

Hi! I'm getting banded on June 10!!

Hey! I'm in Houston and I just got my date. I'm June 10th also!

Thanks so much for your input! Those are some great questions to ask!

Thanks! If you don't mind me asking, you said you were self-pay, did you choose the 11400 plan or the 12400 for unlimited fills. Because I am self pay and basically draining my savings for this, I didn't want to spend money where I won't use it. I don't want to short myself on care that I will need, but I just don't want to throw away money either. What is your suggestion? Do you know how much his fills are regulararly? Thanks! Rachel