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Good luck with Kaiser in San Diego. I went to their information seminar in May and decided to go with my other insurance. While I was at the seminar I learned that you had to have a bmi of 50 which clearly I didn't have and that you have to go through their weight loss program which takes about a year. Back in May they didn't have a contract signed yet with Pacific Bariatric since their surgeons didn't do lapband at that time. Best of luck to you and hopefully the process doesn't take as long.

I am in the Nashville Tennessee area. I have a really good bariatric team (except that NUT who drives me crazy), a lovely NP as a PCP and a wonderful doctor at the oncology clinic who I think of so highly. he is a specialist. my case has them all scratching their heads - but they keep a good eye on me. they know the WBC is caused by enlarged lymph nodes where my small intestines are - I had NO idea there was tissue holding your guts together until this happened! makes sense though. there's what they call "stranding" in there too. it's inflammation. so they think it is either cancer, an infection or something called sclerosing mesnteritis which is what they think it probably is. isn't it frustrating that all of our other problems don't go away with WLS? seriously. we should only have to deal wit one thing at a time.

1) Area of USA-North Carolina 2) Price with and without fluoro-$250 in-office non-flouro, $300 + about $400 hospital charge for flouro (prices may not be current) 3) Type of Provider, (MD, APN etc)-Bariatric Surgeon, but does NOT do bands (Dr Gonzales in Winston-Salem) 4) Is that provider a "bandster? Nope

Yes, I had to pay a $550.00 fee to St. Francis Hospital's Bariatric Center, this covers my support group visits, and nutritionist follow-ups for the next 5 yrs. This had to be paid before surgery, but they told me this upfront. I also, have to pay my regular co-pays to the doctors when I see them, and for lab work.

that's great that Bariatric Advantage is releasing some! i was taking the viactiv multi and the calcium b/c i hated all my chewable options, but my nutritionist (at the surgery center) said viactiv is junk and a waste of money. he has me on the bariatric advantage vitaband chews and the calcium. my only problem is taking them on a regular schedule! multi, calcium, Iron, and Vitamin D = a lot of Vitamins to take!

Dang, I'm glad you mentioned that! I'm in the same situation as you, but have free fills until September. I was going to put off gall bladder surgery indefinitely (until more frequent/severe attacks), but with the fill situation in mind, I'd be better off getting the surgery out of the way so that I can get my re-fills for free! I've only had a few attacks. The first two or three were relatively mild. The last one was 5-6 weeks ago, and was fairly severe. It started after lunch, and lasted until dinner time or so. I was in bad enough pain that I knew that I couldn't drive myself to the hospital, so it was either wait it out or call 911. Fortunately, it passed before that was necessary. An ultrasound the next week showed the stones. I visited my bariatric surgeon a few days later, and he recommended I go ahead and have surgery. He said that something like 80% of the American population has gallstones, but once you become symptomatic, it usually goes downhill, and that eventually surgery is necessary. He added that women are more likely to go ahead and have it taken care of, whereas men usually wait until they have "the big one" that makes them regret delaying surgery! Wheetsin, what are you waiting for, girl?? You seriously need to go on and get that baby taken care of! Don't be such a "guy"! Tami

Ok, thats what I'll do. Dr. Brown, yes its Colorado Bariatrics its connected with Pres St. Lukes. Its suppose to be a center of excellance? I liked all the team. I went today for all my nutrition stuff and psych eval, so I am on information overload. Nervous but excited!

I'm in Northeastern California and had my surgery done in Reno, Nevada, by Dr. Kozar at Western Bariatric. I was scared I wouldn't wake up but I did and everything went fine. The IV went in EASY! The hardest thing right now is making myself get up and MOVE! I'm still sore!

I just left Barnes and Noble sure that I would find some great books regarding "Life After Bariatric Surgery"...no. Nothing. I'm looking for some resources on ideas for eating, especially in the 2-6 weeks period. During the time I need to eat "mushies" I am traveling and I really need to know what to pack for food. I won't be hitting any restaurants at all. Plus, I want a good variety because the temptation at the resort where I am going (business trip) will be tough to handle! Is there a web-site with this information? Maybe something that could even be printed out?

Gregg, While I understand what your saying and agree... I never looked at lap banned as anything but a tool. I realize that if or if i do not have this surgery my life has to change dramatically. I have just come to a point in my life were i have exhausted alot of my options and feel the emotional and phsyical burden of "getting no where". As far as your commen on "paying your due's".. Im curious how you come up with that when most people who are educating themselves and looking into Lap Band or any other bariatric surgery... why do you assume they havent "payed their due's" and been through a tough road of emotional and phsyical let down. I realize some people may assume this is a quick fix.. but i am not one of those. SO your right, i dont need to be lectured as far as my purpose for the band or how the band will change my life. I am aware. And i am sure you were in my shoes at some point. I wish you could only remember what it feels like to be here. Were I am. In my moment of worry and concern. Everyone who at least gets consulted and goes through informaiton sessions and meetings has had this feeling of helplessness and most have exhausted their options. I wish your comments weren't so judgemental. THanks for reading though.

Surgery June 28 and today July 1st was the first day I got in two 8 oz protein shakes. I have the Bariatric Advantage chocolate which is so good to me. My goal is to get in 3 shakes per day which will give me 81g of protein per day while I on liquids for these two weeks. My doctor's office sells my powder but we have the option of using the following per his advice: optifast shakes, Myoplex, or Smoothie King Hladiator Shakes these are all meal replacements

You will get sick of the same tasting shake every day...get a variety..that way when one starts to turn your stomach...you can turn to a different one. I started with Bariatric Advantage vanilla so I could mix different flavors in. But the smell started to get to me...so I turned to GNC brand for a bit. Vanilla, is a good base flavor..I have changed the flavors using sugar free Jello mix...or sugar free syrups down the coffee isle.

He has an office in Albany, but to get a fill there it's $100+. If a patient wants the promised bariatric support and "free" fills, you have to drive to Macon. It's the hospital system's fault, not Bagnato's; but either way, it left patients in a difficult situation. I got insurance approval, which was a year-long fight, and had my fills at the bariatric center in Albany. Since I moved six months ago, I've heard the center in Albany had to close. I am glad to be out of SW GA for many reasons and getting support and care for my band is one of them. I wish you much success. I have nothing but great things to say about Dr. B as a surgeon.

The long-term complications of the Lap Band have been one of my top concerns. I cannot get satisfactory answers from my bariatric program. What they have said to me is, "Do the research." So I did, in peer-reviewed medical journals. And what I'm finding is downright scary, so scary that I'm at the point now where I'm probably not going to have this surgery.

Does the person who put you on the 2000 calories a day really understand the restrictions of your new tummy? That is a lot of calories to take in for a sleeve. Maybe that physician is not well versed in Bariatrics. I would recommend an appointment with your Bariatric Nutritionist for sound advice.

My surgeon's office had the ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates. I also got them online through Bariatric source. You might also check the new BariatricPal Store. I got a sample pack of the Syntrax nectar directly from the manufacturer. Drugstore.com also has it by the tub. Most GNCs and other health-food stores may have what you need, too.

@@Holysaro87 I agree with the poster above. Take a deep breath and try to relax. I am going to sound a little harsh with you for a moment here. When you FIRST had signs of something not right it was the time to go and see the Dr. Never mind how you were before your band. You are now a banded patient and vomiting no matter how small. food being stuck, acid reflux, night coughs all of these are signs of trouble and they are NOT normal. No one with a band should be throwing up after eating EVER if they can help it. If you follow the proper band guidelines then you would not be having these issues AND if you are then you need to see a Dr. ASAP a Bariatric Dr. who specializes in the Lapband. OK now all of that said....take another deep breath. I am on your side here. One of the reasons your Dr. may be telling you take the band out is because you are not being compliant with the band rules. There are very specific rules to being a banded patient and you are not following them. Yes we all get caught up with family and friends and FOOD. I totally understand, BUT you must ALWAYS remember that you are a WLS patient and that you have a band around your stomach and it is there and it will not be overlooked and it will cause you trouble if you ignore it. I am compliant in all ways with my band, all the time...? No not all the time, and that is how I learned to make sure that I am now ALL the time. When I am full I stop eating, if I am stuck I pay the price and feel sick and learn that next time I need to cut and chew chew chew and then chew some more. I need to slow down and eat my food and not be stressed while eating. A few months ago I had a mild pouch dilation and had all the Fluid removed from my band due to medications I was taking from being in a car accident that irritated my stomach. I did the 4 week liquid diet and the dilation resolved itself and I am not back on track to getting fills and losing weight. OK take another deep breath... Ask yourself is this band something you want? Why do you have it if you are not going to use it and take care of it properly? If you want to keep your band, follow the Dr.'s orders. Take the fill out, and start from band basics. Go back to the days of early banding. Get yourself some Protein powders and shakes and go from there. You will start to lose weight and you will feel better. Tell your family and friends you MUST be on this diet and not to derail you because doing so is going to cost you and you will ultimately have to have the band removed and worse you can cause permanent damage to your internal organs. So make sure you are ready for this commitment and settle in for a month of liquids, and gaining your health back. You have to take time to put you and your band first. You are right now both at risk.

Today is day 3 of pre-op. I stayed within my calories yesterday, but overdid it on carbs!! I thought all the dinners in my freezer were less than 20 grams carbs; I cooked one then looked at the carbs: 43!! oh no, should have pitched it but I went ahead and ate it. Then had blueberries for snack, and they are higher carb too. Some friends came over and brought a watermelon, I went ahead and ate some because I didn't want to have to explain. She asked twice what kind of diet I was on and I said predominantly liquid, she wanted to know what kind, blah blah, so I finally went ahead and told them I was going to have lapband surgery in two weeks. (Wasn't planning to tell very many people, but I'm not good at making up stories as I go along) Anyway, I was surprised, she said it would be good for my health; I about fell over in surprise. Another protein review: 1) Whey Gourmet Creamy Orangesicle Swirl - just 'ok'. Too sweet tasting for me. I mixed it with ice and water; maybe should have used a little more water. I wouldn't buy it but others would probably like it. (It came in my Bariatric Eating sample pak. My goal for the rest of the diet: STICK TO IT!! Don't overdo the carbs. I am feeling full; however, the day I had my regular meal at lunchtime, I was hungrier in the evening, so think I will stick to having the regular meal in the evening since I feel fuller longer.

Dr. Kirshenbaum does it in Colorado for $9,950.00. That includes everything but travel expenses. Check him out at Lap Band Surgery in Denver Colorado | Lap Band Surgeon in Denver | Gastric Band Surgery Denver | Bariatric Surgery .:biggrin:

I lost about 15 pounds in 2 weeks. That is the exact diet my doctor put me on too minus the vegetables. Wt. loss is different for everyone though. You may lose more or less. I have not used Bariatric fusion but as for flavor, I thought the unflavored one worked the best as I could add my own flavors. I was allowed to add frozen berries to my shakes. My doc did not allow any tea or coffee. Good luck!

Okay, fills... Some of us have surgeons who want to approach the adjustment (what a fill is really called) in a Let's-Get-This-Show-on-the-Road kind of way. They tend to be foreign and/or very experienced LapBand (not just experienced at lap surgery or experienced at bariatric surgery) surgeons. Other of us have the "Let's-Be-Very-Careful-and-Do-This-Slowly surgeons, who tend to be located in the US and/or kind of new at the band. So, what that means is how many fills one has had is completely irrelevant. And, IMHO, the whole little-by-little approach is silly. Because let's say that YOUR ideal fill is 2.3cc's. Dr. Little-by-Little puts in 0.5 at adjustment #1, then moves it up to 1.0cc's at adjustment #2 and so on. When the patient gets to adjustment #4 (2.0cc's), it still isn't enough and then at adjustment #5 (2.5cc's) it's too much and whatever the doctor was worried about in regard to an overfill is going to happen anyway. AND, some of thee surgeons only do fills once or twice a month. So the patient is six months post-op until he/she gets the needed restriction. And we all know how WE deal with that kind of frustration and "failure." And then they say the band doesn't work. Right. Figure out what your doctor is doing. Explain whay YOU don't want to wait six months for restriction. See if you can get the adjustment YOU need. Sue My experience with fills is almost all outside the US. Those doctors used flouroscopy and most got the restriction as tight as they thought I could reasonably handle, and didn't even look at the syringe until I asked them how much saline we were talking about.

The support groups are the best place to ask questions from people that have already been there, don't waste your time not asking questions, no questions are stupid and usually some one else is wondering the same but also afraid to speak up. This is important so use your voice and learn all you can you can never be prepared too much. I also recommend the big book on whatever procedure you're having I found in the Bariatric store and its well worth it Sent from my N9519 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have found the Premier chocolate to not be horrible. I do the11oz ones which have 30g of protein. Haven't tried, but I've heard bariatric advantage isn't awful either. Good luck everyone!

I'm thinking I'll call the after hours general nurse line today and depending what they say I'll call the bariatric nurse for my surgeon on Monday morning and get advice. Sent from my Pixel 3 using BariatricPal mobile app

@@Sleevie.Nicks that is great i've heard others get cold feet right before surgery then they stop the process no one should have this surgery if they are too scared, nervous not sure of having surgery so you stopped the plan for surgery then after awhile you realized you really want to go ahead sounds like NOW you are ready keep reading the boards you'll hear about lots of things you need pre-op and {PO) discussions about things you hadn't thought of questions will be answered you ask your questions make sure you are prepared for the big day read, read, read look into some books ie bariatric surgery for dummies they also have a cook book look at U-tube flood of information allll over buy Protein shakes don't buy too many ahead of time taste buds change what you might like now possibly you won't like PO happy you "came to your senses" and are proceeding with surgery good luck kathy