tcbgirl

I went to have a consultation with the doctor yesterday. Well, what can I say, I am kind of disappointed in him. I know he is top surgeon in TN but he did not take time to answer my questions at all. I felt rush and if he does not take time answering my questions, what will happen in the surgery room? For example, first he asked me what I want done. I’ve told him arms, legs and tummy. He said he thinks I only need arms and tummy done and if my legs still bothering me in the future, he will be glad to do it for me. Then he took my pictures and said the accountant is going to talk to me about the price and stuff. I said I do have questions to ask you. He said well, we use drains, we use pain pumps, I am board certified and blah blah blah. I’ve said well, I am going to ask you about down time because I have 3 little ones at home and I don’t have family around; however, my mom is going to fly in to help me out. Also I am going to ask if you ever done this to a lap band patients. I want to talk about my scars too since I healed slow and tend to get keloids, I just want to know how to prevent it. Well, he quickly said, I don’t have to pull your muscles in if you wanna heal quickly. I said No..you do the best you can and I will find a way to arrange someone to watch my kids. Then the next question he said yeah I did a lot on weight loss surgery patient. Then he said ok, let me know when you at goal, so we can set the date. This all happen in less than 20 mins and I paid him $150. I have still has a lot of questions unanswered, so I was disappointed. I think he overbooked though since they are at least 10 patients in the waiting room. Oh well, I have another consults on Feb 1st, we’ll see how that one does. BTW, the total price for arms and tummy is $10,000 (outpatient, no overnight in the hospital). If I want my legs done later it will be $4,500. If I want all 3 done at the same time, I have to stay overnight at the hospital and it will cost me a lot more.

This Monday, I am going in for a consultation with Dr. Maxwell, TN. I am still about 15 lbs away from my goal; however, I have a lot of hanging skin that no matter what I've tried does not help shrink it much (I assuming it is from being overweight for so long + 3 c-sections). If anyone when through this already, could you give me some pointers about what to ask the PS? Thanks,

Well, I have not loss any this week. Up and down those 1 lb. I am going to get a fill next Tuesday so hopefully, I have some restriction. I want to be at my sweet spot so bad because I am hungry all the time.

I would love to start couch to 5k too. I cannot work out at the gym since I have 3 children 4 and under and no family around in the US. I saw what you guys did and think that I might be able to squeeze I time after everyone has their dinner. Where do you guys go and download the program? I would like to download to my sony walkman thing (kid of like ipod) and what shoe to buy for running + walking? Thanks,

Thank you everyone for the responses. I've decided to contact one of the PS today and see what he said. I'll let you know what procedures the doctor said I needed and when I should get it done. Jenna12566- my insurance does not cover any cosmetic surgery except for the spider vains, breast reduction. I have Cigna of TN btw. Mimi- Thank you so much for the complement. It is kind of hard now to lose weight though but I am trying my best. Skinnyjeans - what type of surgery did you do? How long do you have to be off work? Pennreporter - Do you mind telling me the cost of your daughter procedures? I need to save money and see if I should get everything done at one time or the main one first then the little ones later :smile2: Thank you all again for the help.

abcangirl- I just stumbled upon your post. I am from Thailand but currently living in the US. I am planning to go back though in a few years. I had my band 4/24/09. How are you doing with the band? Where did you have it done?

How much do you pay? My co worker had her tummy tuck done in Nashville about a month ago. The surgeon did a very good job on her. Eventhough I am not at where I should be yet (I am about 20 lbs away), I would like to consult with a doctor. Well, he charged $150 per consultation. I am planning to go to several before I pick one and if all of them charge that much, I don't know if I can afford it. Thanks,

Could you please add me too. I just came back from a month long vacation and I am excited to get on the band wagon again. Thanks,

I am oversea and won't be back till Dec 12th. I think there is something wrong with my band. Since I have arrived here, I can hardly eat and I know it is normal after flying; however, thease past 2 days even sipping Water hurts eapecially in my belly area. When I drink water it's stucked too and my last fill was in September. No matter how much I chew food, the pain is there. I can hardly eat even with liquid is so painful. Oh and another thing, I normally do not burp but I have been doing it every time I have the pain (sipping water especially) and the gurgling sounds are horrible too. Before I left U.S. I had swine flu and I cough and threw up so many time, do you think my band slipped and that is why I have the pain? Thank you so much,

Thank you so much for your help. I did get a doctor name here but unfortunatly it is the national holiday week and the on call doctor does not know mucha bout lap band. It is not that common in this country. I cannot wait to go back to see my surgeon, hopefully I can hang on till then. Thanks again,

Thank you for calming me down. I am so excited to go since the last time I saw my family it was almost 6 years ago :-( I am going to try my best though and just have fun spending my time with my family and let my kids enjoy their vacation too :sad: Thanks again.

I am leaving for Thailand in a few weeks and will be there for 5 weeks. I grew up there so I love all Thai food. Right now I have some restriction but I am not there yet so the lbs that I've lost is mainly will power. I am scared that I will gain a lot of weight back from having not so much restriction. Well, like this past week, I have been dealing with H1N1 flu in my house. All of my kids got it, my almost 2 year old just got diagnosed yesterday. My mom and sisters (they watch them for me when I work) got it too and is still dealing with it. As for me, I am going to urgent care tonight and see what is going on with me (I am sick but no fever). I have already gained weight just by eating something that make me feel good and not counting calories and it has been only a week. I am going to Thailand for 5 weeks and probably won't be able to prepare my own meals. I am so paranoid over this :sad: My doctor will not give me a fill since he said it would be hard for me to find a lap band doctor there in case I need an unfil or something. I need some advice please. Thank you so much,

This morning I weigh myself and then just realized that I am no longer obese...I am just overweight hip hip hooray! When I told my co workers they looked surprise and cannot understand why I am happy that I am overweight. I have not been at this weight since I graduated college 10 years ago :cursing: I am so happy and I love my band :scared2:

Steroids :-)

I had that and they postpone my surgery because of the med I was on. However, the day on surgery (new date), I still have all the symptoms and they went ahead and do the surgery. As long as the med doesn't jeopardize your surgery, I think you will be fine. Please call and ask your surgeon or nurse what they recommend you to do. Get well soon,

Jachut - Let me know if you plan to go to Thailand. I am from there and can tell you great places to go and some good deals too Btw, we are leaving for Thailand on Nov 9th for a month. Most of my family + husband family have never seen our children. I am nervous to be on the plane that long with 3 boys ages 5 and under but excited to see my family and my husband family.

First congrats on your coming up wedding! It is hard to say like others said. My weight loss is fluctuate, some week I lost a lot and some week didn't lose any at all. Some people lost weight even without fill (bandster hell), some starting to lose when they are at their sweet spots. From what I see, on this board, there are fast loser, steady loser and slow loser, even if you do exact same thing. You just have to find what work best for you. For example, I have to eat between 1100 -1200 calories to lose but others don't count calories but have to do low carb. Just try your best and you will do fine :-) For myself, I was banned about 5.5 months ago and did the pre op about 3 weeks prior the surgery. I started out at 105 kilos, day of surgery 95 kilos and 5.5 month out I am at 75 kilos. Best wishes to you on this journey,

My Nutritionist said to keep it under 50 grams.

Yes, you can born with it because both of my sons have it and till now they are still taking Prevacid. I was not born with it but I had it since I was 15 years old. I had my esophagus stretched many times too (due to erosion). After I had the ban, I no longer has acid reflux. I love it...

Since I've been banned, my doctor has never checked my fill and see how much I have. One time, I asked him why and he said the same thing as Jachut and OP said. He also said it can make the band less effective.

I still here doing good and loving my band. I think I am at where I should be but I will give another 2 weeks and see if it is true since most time I lost restriction after 2 weeks. I am plateau right now and trying to write everything I eat down and see what is causing it. The problem that I having right now is when I lay down on the hard surface or driving, my bottom hurt (tail bone or sth). I guess I lost fat in that area too... I wish it did not since it is very uncomfortable. I am so glad to see that everyone is doing good.

Padanelle - Thanks for all the ifo about the powder Protein. I will try to stop by GNC and see if they carry it. Can I find greek yogurt in the the yogurt section? Thanks,

Band_Groupie - I am 5 months out too (Bunny Bandster)...and I have the same problem. I think I have good restriction now. Well since I eat a lot less, it's also mean less calories and less Protein. I am trying real hard to get it in but couldn't and may be that is why I have not loss any weight since. My doctor does not want me to drink Protein drinks too but sometimes I had to because I am busy mama (3 kids under 4) :smile2: I am trying to do really good this week and eat all the protein and will see if the scales move for me this week. I am going to buy some protein powder too to add to soup or yogurt. There are so many out there that I don't know which one taste good. I am going to talk to the DT again today and sees what she said.

I went out to a restaurant with my co worker today 9P.F. Chang). I order Madarin chicken (chicken with bunch of veggies) and eat a little with brown rice. Well, I ate super slow and carefully chewing my food. After about 3/4 cups, I feel stuck, so I stopped. I thought I was going to pb because it stuck but I just slime a little. Well, after got back from lunch, I am super hungry like I have not had lunch or something. I can actually eat if I let myself do it. I have a south beach bar in the cubby but I am not eating it just yet. I waited it out and see if it just my head telling me to eat or I am actually really hungry. It has been an hour now and I am still hungry. Does this ever happen to you? If so, does this mean I wasn't full or what? I am 5 months out and have about 7 cc in my band. Thanks,

Ok. I am flying to Thailand in a couple of months. The trip one way will take me about 24-27 hours to get there. The longest flight is around 14 hour straight. Someone told me not to eat anything while on the plane. Well, I don't know how is that going to happen. I will be hungry for sure and well, since they don't allow to take liquid on the plane and I don't think the airport sells low carb slim fast. In my case, what would you do? Thanks,