magaines

My Dr. is in Aurora, Colorado. He charges roughly $9900 for the complete surgery. This includes your first consultation, preop, nutrition consultation, surgery, hospital, postop, and the first 3 months (from your surgery date) of fills are also included. After the third month he only charges $15 per fill. If you want more information, let me know.

I also had this problem. When I asked my Dr. he said it was probably because he had given me a strong antibiotic for infection and sometimes it knocks out the good with the bad, I had to take it for a week, then it went away.

I know how you feel, I had my band on 7/3, and it feels as if it is taking forever to get anywhere. I have had three fills, I feel some restriction, but I could still eat larger portions than what I have been told to have. I am sure we will get to where we want to be we just need to hang in there.

I was self pay. I had to pay my surgeon 2 weeks before surgery. The total was $9900. Don't know what the hospital portion was since his office took care of it out of the $9900.

Congratulations on your success, and being normal.

Great you have your surgery date!!! I was also very nervous, but as the day came closer I became more comfortable with my decision, although I did not have the option of which band to get. I can actually say that I was more nervous about my first fill than the surgery, maybe it was because I would be awake for it. Neither of them was worth all the worrying over. Your eating choices will change, but it is something you can become accustomed to. I was raised on meat and potatoes, and all the good stuff that goes with them, I've adjusted and I'm sure you can too. I can say that I don't really miss walking away from the table stuffed any more.

How did your consult go? Mine was fairly simple, the dreaded weight in, blood pressure, temp. etc. The Dr. gave me a complete run down of the surgery, and what to expect, pros, cons, showed pixs, explained slippage. When I left I didn't have any questions that he didn't already answer. Hope it all went well, and you are on your way.

Thanks! I will give it a try.

Wow, I know how you feel. I just had my third fill and I am still hungry all the time. I only got .7cc, I felt that I could have used more but the doc backed it off. I get all the protein that I am suppose to get to help control/curb the appetite but it isn't doing a very good job. I had two fills within a month, but now am not scheduled for another month. Sometimes I think that I could sit and eat a whole meal like I used to, but I try to limit myself to smaller portions. Keep up the good work, I'm sure we will make it.

I bought and tried the Beneprotein. I mixed it with both Crystal Light and Propel, it made the drinks cloudy looking. I can't really tell you how the flavor was, cuz I couldn't get past the smell. If you find anything else out there, please let me know.

That's great!!!!!!!!!!:shades_smile: The 19th isn't that far away, good luck, and I will be thinking about you. I went and got a small fill Thursday (only .7cc) but I think that I am just about where I need to be with them.

Thanks! That makes sense. Guess I didn't think about that.

Hey I found you!!!!! Keep me informed on what's going on with your progress. Mim

Has anyone out there been treated by Dr. Keith Vollstedt or Wolpert in Dakota Dunes, SD? A friend will be attending their seminar this week, and would like some input from current or previous patients. What type of testing do you need to have? If not approved by insurance do you know what the self pay amount is? Also, if self pay what is the cost for fills? I know these are a lot of questions, thank you for input.

I have a friend that lives in Nebraska (I live in Colorado) that is going to be attending a seminar in Dakota Dunes (Dr. Wolpert). We have been looking for someone that has used him. I know it has been a while since your surgery but do you know what the cost is/was for self pay? Also, what's the cost for fill's, and what was your personal experience with the center? Thanks for your help. Thank you.

I too had pain in my chest and left shoulder when I woke up from surgery. The first thing I remember is complaining that it felt like a brick was on my chest and I couldn't breath. The nurses got me up and walking right away. It took until the next day for my chest to feel completely normal and a couple more for the shoulder pain to be gone.

Congrats!!!! I had my band on 7/3/08 with Dr. K. I did not have to have a psyc eval. I had my nutrition consultation over the phone with Paula. Everthing went smoothly. I have had two fills for a total of 3.7 cc, and go for my third on sept 4. Hopefully I hit the sweet spot soon. Good luck and let us know how things are going.

When I had my first fill I did not have any numbing meds. I was actually more worried about the fill than the surgery itself. It was a small poke, didn't hurt at all, when the needle was removed I was sitting up, and it was a very weird feeling, didn't hurt, just a strange sensation. Good luck

I had the same problem, were you given any antibiotics to take afterwards? When I talked to my Dr about it he said that the antibiotic that he had me take at home for the first several days was fairly strong and sometimes it knocks out the good along with bad, it took a little while but did go away. Good luck.

Yes Dr. K is Kirshenbaum, I called the office and spoke to Mary, she scheduled me an appointment for this Thursday afternoon. Although Dr. K won't be in he has additional staff that are capable of doing the fill. The staff at his office are very helpful. Thanks for inputs. Mim

I had my first fill about 2 weeks ago and have no restriction. My second fill isn't for 3 weeks. Does anyone know if Dr. K in Aurora, Colorado lets you schedule an earlier appointment for a fill or do I have to wait the month?

Hi, I was banded on July 3, 2008, and had my first fill yesterday (8/5/08). My surgeon is Dr. Kirshenbaum in Aurora, Colorado. Surgery went well, my stomach was a little touchy for a few days, but all is back to normal now. I can't wait to see what's in store for the future.

How many fills have you had? What is the capacity of your band and what is your fill at?

The whole process was quite easy. I am 5 feet, on a good day, and weight started at 197. I have currently lost 10 lbs. The day of my consultation (mid May) I scheduled my surgery date, Marilyn had told me it would be a ways out, then suggested the first week in June, but I was unable to schedule that soon, so I chose July 3rd. I was also given an appointment for pre-op for about 3 days before surgery. I was contacted by Paula the nutritionist for a consultation with her which was held by phone, very convenient. Dr. K has two locations for surgery, one at Parker Adventist (closest for me) and another (not sure what center). I had post-op appointment a week later, and my first fill about 5 weeks later, with the second scheduled in another month. Dr. K is great, he is so laid back, very informative, and doesn't pressure you on anything. I was more nervous going in for the first fill than the actual surgery. Don't know why, it was a piece of cake. Good luck, let me know how it goes.

Hi! I live in Aurora too.