coltonwade

Have you requested your fills be done under Flouro ? If your port is hard to find they should do it under flouro. There is no reason for you to be poked that many times. Mindy

To be honest with you I fully expect to have to have my band replaced at some point in time in my life. I do not expect it to last a life time. I look at it like breast implants. They last about 10 -15 yrs and need to be replaced. So if that happens I wont be shocked ! Mindy

That sounds like a very good idea . They might have forgotten what their requirements are , so you can remind them along with your paper work stating you have already fullfilled them !! Great idea Mindy

I hope your PCP finds someone too. Maybe shes got connections somewhere. But like WASA Said worst comes to worst you can go to the ER if someone seroius comes up . You are getting fills right ? So that's good. So things are "Sort" of covered for now . But I agree wiht you it would be best to find a doc to see you if you need them . Mindy

So what is someone suppose to do ? Besides go back to Mexico ? No chance of fiding after care in the US ? Mindy

In all reality i think this issue falls on the doctor mostly !! IMHO The docs and the docs offices deal with insurances enough and on a daily basis they KNOW what is required or is needed for the best chance of a patient getting approved. So if 6 months gets you a better shot then they should not even submit the paper work until 6 months. Does insurance suck . YES it does ! I cant even get it now cause im banded ( self employed) Insurances do need to be consistant I have never understood why one person gets it and another does not with the same situation ?

Dr Kirshenbaum is a good surgeon from what i hear and he's one of the cheapest in the US . Happens to be in Denver Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery There are MANY Threads on here about him .. Here is one of the bigger ones http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f11/considering-dr-kirshenbaum-26213/ HTH Mindy

I think its the compliments that for me are uncomfortable. I dont know how to take them i guess ? I never have really . I have not been over weight all my life but have had self esteem issues though. But My weight LOSS is something different. I have NO Qualms at all about telling anyone any everyone that A. I had lap band surgery B. How much weight I have lost C. How much more i Have to go D . How long its taken me E anything else they want to know about surgery ! You should be VERY PROUD Of how much weight you have lost. SHOUT IT from the roof tops girl !! I Think you probably need to get use to attention . As over weight people we have tried SO Hard to draw attention AWAY from ourselves that when it suddenly is coming AT us it takes some getting use to . But EMBRACE IT !! You deserve it Love Mindy :cursing:

This is meant as no offense to anyone ... If I had to do 6 months of a diet to get my surgery paid for I gladly would have. I had to borrow money from my parents and take out a $8K loan to get my surgery paid for self pay . I would have waited 6 months hell even a yr to get the surgery paid for. My point ,, I KNOW IT seems like forever, I waited for a yr after I decided to have surgery until i could afford it . But look at it this way.. its better than having to shell out $12K Plus to do self pay ?? Good luck yall I hope it goes well . Mindy

Well Im not sure if i would call myself a success yet . But I have PCOS I was banded in July 07 and Im down 95 pds . I have gone from a size 22/24 to a 10/12 My doc just asked me this week for before and "now" pics for his website and i still have 30 pds to go . I was hoping to be there before my 1 yr annivesary but I'll make 100lbs by then for SURE . I will tell you this ... I went into this EXPECTING to lose SLOWLY very slowly actually due to the PCOS . I had no other expectations other than I WILL Loose the weight , it will take me time but I Will lose it . I have lost fairly quickly and for that I am grateful AND SURPRISED . I tell anyone with PCOS Or with out it. Go into this expecting to lose but expect to lose slowly or go in with NO Expectations or time frames. You can NOT compare yourself to anyone !!! If you do that you will NOT be dissapointed. TOO many times people email me or others and say " HOW have you lost im 6 months out and only lost so many pds . i am so mad " Dont do that to yourself. compare yourself to YOU . There are MANY woman on here that the band works for woman with PCOS. And i was sketpical . My thought process was " IF I cant loose with out the band how can i lose WITH The band " Frankly I still dont understand it but i dont care !! . HTH Mindy

I am sorry they are being a pain . is that the ONLY reason they denied you ? as frustrating at is it . Look at it this way . You can maybe do 3 more months or evne if you HAVE TO do 6 months then you will have your surgery ! maybe it was a mistake ? have you called the docs office ? Good luck Mindy

Sounds like you might be too tight ? I have heard this happening with people who are too tight before Mindy

its MUCH MUCH MUCH easier than that !!! Its similar to a blood draw ? But MUCH faster ? Mindy

OOps sorry my answers showed up in red in your questions above mindy

No problem with the questions. that's what we are here for . feel free to PM me if you have any other questions Mindy

My doc does not use the numbing med and mine are not painfull at all ! the time it takes to get the numbing med your fill is over . It does not hurt, sting ect. It takes about ( for my doc at least ) 30 seconds and he uses flouro , until this last fill cause he can fill my port. Even then it took about 15 cause he hit it the first time and i didnt have to do the barium swallow with the flouro . its a breeze !! mindy

How the "Mexico " is BAD Myth gets debunked is when people who have HAD bad experiences in Mexico or any where for that matter tells people what happened, who the doc was ect so others are aware and can make an informed, educated choice about who they go to for surgery . People can not educate them selves for safe affected WLS if they dont KNOW !! that's why public forums such as this is so important ! mindy

NO problem . really either way you are going to be fine, the choice will be fine im sure. I just think the doc should make it and should not have a patient make it . Good luck your going to be a great loser !! Mindy

do ya'll have different size bands ? Mindy

I think i would do that . if there is an option " No preference" then that's better. A lot of times what happeens is docs get "deals" on certain brands so they push that brand more , that way they make more money . It does not sound like that is what your doc is doing but im still more inclinced to let my doc choose Mindy

I know what type of band i have , I was told AFTER the fact by my doc once he went in and saw what kind i needed. But I agree the docs are the ones that know I just have big issues with this . Mindy

Honestly this is just my opinion but I have real issues with doctors allowing patients to chose their band. At least the size . Manufacturer that's one thing . But size that's another. I think my response to him would be " Your the professional you need to decide which band is BEST For MY ANATOMY " I was told that the docs do not know what size band they will place until they get into the surgery and see your anatomy . Hence why I have issues with docs having pts chose the size band they get. Also the "Claims" of less erosion I do not think are 100% found yet . they are more for marketing right now . So I am not sure i would put too much in that on either brand . really I would tell the doc he needs to decide for you ! mindy

OH dont be so sure about that !! Docs do not ALWAYS honor their commitment to you in the US. your making a HUGE general statement . Is their legal recourse in the US yes. BUT it does not mean a doc wont walk away or do the wrong thing. We all know that happens in the US. So to say " Go to the US cause docs do the right thing here and they dont in Mexico " is not accurate nor fair. I use to work in the medical field AND worked in a malpractice attorney's office. Ive seen BOTH sides. Not only do docs do it our own MILITARY Docs do it ! Mindy

OH i did not realize they were so far apart. in actuality your doc probably CANT do the surgery with teh doc in PA if she's in NY , she probably does not have privileges at the hospitals in PA . I totally agree with you seeing the other docs. You can have the same feelign with them and I agree i would much rather have someone that has port experience. Personally I think i am going to have my band doc move my port I just dont feel good about anyone else touching it Good luck let us know how they go ! Mindy

Honestly it sounds to me like you found your doc . If you like this guy that much ,,,, would you sacrifice price for a doc you did not like as much ? I personally would not ? My lap band doc was a little more than some other docs i could have gone too ( and he's still on the cheap side) but his bedside manner and his personality fit me so well I did not care. Have you considered asking your band doc if she can come in DURING The plastic surgery to do the port replacement ? A lot of times docs will do that or you can have a separate surgery to replace the port, its usually not very expensive . But really you get what you pay for and Price is not everything ! mindy