nwlife4

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you, if you haven't found a way to finance please look up the care credit. I wouldn't say its the lowest finance you could get - i do have a great credit score but I wanted it fast and it was the fastest route- I knew i would be able to pay it off in a year. Don't let lack of credit detour you from trying though. If you call them they will answer your questions about how much your monthly payment will be and so forth. It took me matters of minutes to be approved. Airfare is not included. I live in Michigan about 4 hours away from detroit. Did I loose fast? ok I'm in constant loss of weight but in the beginning it was a struggle because I didn't have the restriction so its not like you wake up and pounds just drop off. When I finally got restriction.......wow they fell off. Now my body is totally different therefore my mind is different (I feel so much better about myself) and I do sooooo many different activities (exercise does not mean u have to b at a gym it can be riding bikes, play ball ect.) but I want to do those things. I started out at 264 and I am now 182 (and still losing its been a year 2mo.) I'm 5'5" tall and am not a skinny minnie but I feel great about the skin I'm in now. I can go into a store and try 10 outfits on and they all fit-now its trying to decide what one to buy instead of just hoping one will fit right! If there is one point of advice I can give you is please get your fill every 6weeks until you reach your sweet spot. I didn't and I could've been further along a lot quicker. We are what some may call lap band orphans I've learned throughout the journey and a lot of my info comes from this site. I've fought my whole life with my weight losing many times each time gaining more than when I'd started. I would keep it off for 2-3 years then balloon up. You are so young I believe you would be so happy! I wish I had done it sooner. I researched it for 2 years b4 I made the commitment. Same reasons as you the finance. My husband and I stayed at the " hospital motel" I want to say it costs something like $14 or $17 under 20 anyway. I wish you the very best in this journey!!!!

Hi Jacksdad, I've been banded a year and still get gas too under my left rib at times, the thing that works best for me are the beano drops.

Hello Lisa, First of all I'm going to suggest you don't get a fill to a 5 , only because you have a hard time at a 5. Start at a 4 wait your 6 weeks and see how you do. You are not suppose to throw up and you should still be able to eat just not as much. You know 5 does not work for you so why put yourself through this again. Your only going to keep flip flopping over and over again. Even now I have days I can eat more than other days. Sometimes the band is swollen especially on those monthly monster days. Am I mentally hungry or physically hungry. Thats the question you need to ask yourself. When you know Its mental you need to have a plan set in, have something you enjoy and go do that 1 thing. Everyday is a new day, old habits can become just that old...make efforts to change them bad habits into good habits. Its not a one day process but keep trying them until you accomplish them. You can do this!!! You are beautiful and you deserve a healthy life!!!!

Hello , I also am a self pay patient who also did my surgery at Harper Hospital. I had doctor Webber but also met the other Doctors- all must I say VERY nice. I remember the day of my surgery when they took me back to prep me Dr. Webber came back and the question he needed to ask was my weight (my husband standing by me side) Instead of blurting out , whats your weight! He simply whispered in my ear , "could you whisper in my ear what your current weight is?" I thought how thoughtful and caring! You will be in good hands and very happy. Now as far as would I do it again the answer is YeS YES YES and I'd pay it all over again!!!! I have not had any complications but If it were to occur I'd Pay ( and I'm not wealthy at all) but this has totally changed my life!! Not in the perspective of men or attention because I already had that from my husband but I'm talking about myself mentally. I've not always been heavy lost, gain, lost gain since having 2 kids. When I went into surgery I was 264 lbs at 5'5" the heaviest I've ever been and totally a hermit when not working , I was ashamed to go out in public and miserable with myself. Anyway I can rattle on and on but one thing I want to tell you if I can let you know anything since you are a self pay you will be a orphan Bandster I called and payed and got my surgery in the matter of 2 weeks I had no clue but what I had searched on the net. Do get your fills in the beginning every 6 weeks , at your appt. make the next appt. The longer you take to get to your sweet spot the longer it will take to loose weight. That was my problem so it took longer . My current weight is 189 which may not seem small but I truly am a different person. Fills are so important and eventually the foods that were so hard to stay away from become foods you don't even want. Another thing is don't become discourage when you read others post about how much weight they have lost and how fast their losing if your not losing as fast ( and maybe you will be a fast loser) but if your not losing as fast remember it will come off eventually and you still will be healthier ever day and a new you. Also this was my first surgery ever! It was a breeze! I had a lot of gas in my shoulder, get the meds filled and use them they work ( I waited days b4 I got them filled cause I don't like to take meds if I don't have to.) I was the only one with the gas pains though, the other 2 ladies I became close to never had any gas pains . I hope you do what is best for you, good luck!

sad thing is none of us really know who he is......There is a high price to pay for being so famous

Hey everyone besides of course listening to your doctor and doing what he suggests you can also visit a barber (a barber college would be best around here $5.00 a visit) and get what is called High frequency treatment. This procedure does not hurt. Another thing to do is every day have your spouse/ sig other/ massage your scalp. The H/F treatment does work in all the cases I've had- If you have a pace maker you will not be able to have the treatments though.

For myself I wasn't covered under insurance either so I self paid - I used Care Credit - My surgery was done in Detroit, MI which is one of the cheaper places I met patients that came from as far as AZ-at the time it was $12,000 now I believe it is even cheaper. That could be an option for you though. I would pay it over again if anything ever happened I will always be with my LB I love it. As far as how it feels? You feel normal except you are full fast...which u then don't eat a lot. One thing is you have to get your fills until you reach your sweet spot (which is the where you are comfortable and full faster but able to swallow w/o vomiting- when u reach it that is when It all begins life changes as u know it! This has truly changed my life.... No more tv for me..... now I love to play basketball with the family, ride bikes, go to the beach , live life without being afraid b/c of my size. No more back pain either!!!!!! And also since I was self pay I didn't have to do any pre surgery visits I just called and 2 weeks later I was having the surgery.

great ! great ! great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! needed that!!

Hello, just want to add it sounds to me like you haven't reached the "Sweet Spot" yet. You got the band Nov 2007 - did you go get your fills regularly? By now you shouldn't have to get a fill every 6 weeks you should already be there. You say your 250 have you lost any weight since the beginning of your journey?

VERY normal for some- Until you get restriction this can happen , the best advice I can give is pre schedule your fills get them on time eventually u will get restriction and it won't be a challenge! Enjoy the journey!

HI!! How much for a fill there?

Hello!! You will be so happy in this process!! Life with the band will be the blessing you are looking for. Make sure you get your fills on time please don't delay its a much faster loss. Its time to enjoy LIFE!!!!!!!