taosgal

Thought I would check in after my first fill. I have lost 11 lbs., and since I am only 4 ft. 10 in., this means almost two sizes. Good, not great, progress, but I am very happy. I thought I'd been having reflux (waking at 3 AM with stomach pain), but when I saw the doctor he thought it was probably gas, since I didn't have any other symptoms. Last night tried gas x instead of tums and sure enough, seems he is right. Of course, I've given up diet coke and other sparkling drinks. Not champagne, though! It's the holidays! The fill was so easy I was thrilled. I have a bit more restriction now (i had .6 cc and he added 1.5) so I think it will keep my on track. I've just about completely given up on steak/meat, it gives me that golf ball feeling in my chest. I don't have any trouble with bread, unfortunately! Best to all.

I have a surgery date for Dec. 15th, there must be a lot of people with $$ in Los Angeles to have to wait that long! I was told that 4 fills are included in the $15.5 price, then $250 after. Someone posted that Dr. Korman had previously been offering free fills for life... Anyone negotiate a better deal? Or, to put it another way, how many fills did your doctor offer as part of your original package??

My dr. charges $15,500 with four fills, and $17,000 if you stay over night at the hospital. I asked for two years of free fills and he agreed. I'm not sure about the pre-op barium swallow test...got a bill for $1300 from the hospital. Well worth it all..I've lost 8 lbs and at 4 ft. 10 in. it is already one size...

Anne, try the Daily Plate. Pretty amazing site.

I just had my surgery yesterday and have only some discomfort at the port site, not really any pain. No gas, either. The anesthesiology is important, of course, the skill of the dr. essential. My throat is a little sore from the intubation, but not anything serious, and I am a real wimp. The main worry about the post anesthesia is nausea, and my dr. prescribed emmend prior to surgery and a scopamine patch and compazine after surgery...so NO nausea. All in all, this was entirely tolerable, and I am only 18 hrs. post surgery. Good luck and I hope my experience helps mitigate your worries.

My surgery was yesterday and it was pretty easy. No nausea, no gas so far...so I am relieved. It's a bit difficult to get out of bed and almost impossible to pick up the newspapers off the floor :biggrin: so I will have to get more tidy! The pain medicine makes me incredibly sleepy, so I tried liquid children's tylenol this am and that seems to work fine. The pain all seems to be at the port area. But entirely tolerable, and I am a wimp. Popsicles are wonderful, and I managed to have a protein drink just now, and added a little cold coffee to it just because of the withdrawal issues. Hope it doesn't upset my tiny tummy... Just delighted to be through with this and on to the next...I don't go back to the dr. until next Wednesday, just clear liquids and protein drinks til then. Hope everyone does as well. It's comforting to be a part of this little community.

My surgery is Monday and I'm more or less ready. No pre-op diet, except for tomorrow...light breakfast and then clear liquids...report to hospital at 7 AM, I'm the second procedure; out-patient, so I hope to be home by early afternoon. For those who think that "only" 50 or 70 pounds to lose is not much, think again! It's like carrying around a big sack of dog food! Really a big burden, which I am very very ready to give up. My doctor is very handsome (smile) and seems much younger than his 46 years. I asked for a modification of the basic terms for self pay, which included just 4 fills the first year. He was very nice about providing 2 years of fills in the price, which was $15.5. I've gone to therapists and all the rest (phen fen, optifast, weight watchers, etc. etc.) and this will turn out to be a good personal investment compared to all that I've done before. Best wishes to everyone! I am hoping for a quick recovery. Anyone find that they could go back to work for a few hours a day after three or four days post surgery?

Oh my goodness! My surgery date has been moved up from December 15th to October 20th. I'm relieved (since that will cut off my last meal eating) and scared, too. I'm a fairly low bmi (36)...I'm 4 foot 10 inches and have always always struggled with my weight. Tried it all, from a program at Cedars Sinai where I successfully lost 50 pounds by eating liquid protein only for six months...to phen phen, etc. I'm so hopeful that this will be a long term tool for me that will help me. So many questions! Hoping that I will do the surgery out patient, since I'm a self pay and its $150 more to stay over. Best to all!

I am delighted to have found this site and all of you! I'm not scheduled for surgery until December, so I'll probably mostly be "lurking" until then. I am posting tonight to check to see if my ticker is working...it's a bit complicated to get this all set up! Is there a post that walks us through? Best regards to everyone.

I'm a "lightweight" at 175 lbs., but I am only 4 feet 10 inches, struggled with weight since childhood. Lost the same 50 pounds five times... I will be a self-pay and have completed everything, and am scheduled for December 15. The self-pay price is $17,000 if I stay in the hospital overnight or $15,500 if I go home that day. What do you think???

I do have people at home to help me, so that's not an issue. I 've had serious nausea once before from ovarian cyst surgery...so I'm not quite surey what I want to do.