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No :[. I have my stuff sent in to the bariatric hospitial. Just waiting for them to call and set up our appointment so they send everything into insurance.

HI I saw that you also went through Synergy Bariatrics, I am also going there, I just went to my pysch appointment last week so now Im just waiting to hear from the office to get me in to see the DR. So how long did it take you to get in, and after that how long was it til your actual surgery date. If you have any tips or things I need to know please let me know. Thanks for your time.

I just started taking a generic (flintsone's type) children's chewable with iron which was recommended by the nutritionist. I also just bought OPTISOURCE from Walgreens. It is a post-op bariatric multivitamin with iron and it has great reviews. I am also looking to the Bariatric Advantage brand vitamins.

You are probably wondering about prices/cost. Dr. Sureddi is very fair, I have to say. The only other surgeon in CT that I considered was Paula Moynahan but her prices were OUTRAGEOUS....easily twice what Sureddi charged. His experience with bariatric patients was also extensive and I just liked him. With each surgery, you have the surgeon's fee, the facility fee, and the anesthesiologist's fee. To be honest, the latter two are usually the steepest. Dr. Sureddi charges one fee for the procedure, and that doesn't go up. It's the other two that charge BY THE HOUR and if the surgery runs long (with him it does), you get a bill for that. The anesthesiologist is $500/hour, to give you an idea. It's ridiculous. The surgery I just had was supposed to be 4 hours. It ended up being 6.5...so you can imagine the bills. This has happened every time. Part of that is because Sureddi is a perfectionist. More coming...

It is up to you....personally I did not find the operation painful...just a bit of wind pain.....I have benefited both physically and emotionally from my decision....it is a personal choice which only you can decide....but for me it was the best decision I ever made....I am not depressed I have more energy,...plus I am fitting into regular clothes and being told how hot I look.....I notice a lot more men looking at me.....maybe that is just down to my renewed confidence.....You have plenty of time to think whether the operation is for you....

Hope you do it you will not regret it. I live in Central Fl and had it done at suncoast bariatrics, Dr Tiffany Jessee in Clearwater. She is from West VA and just the greatest. Wish you luck. I had my surgery the april 28 and have already lost 45 lbs

Hello, I am so sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. I have been terrible at logging on here. I just went to Dr. Hawasli today for a small fill. I hope that you like hime. Sometimes he is a bit tough on his patients, but it's love. Come to our bariatric support group meetings! They are on the first Wednesday of every month at the Bethel church located on Little Mack at 10 1/2 mile.

Hi, Cynthia! Yes, I got a meal plan from my doctor. It's very, very simple.

For the first 2 days, it's clear liquids. Then:

Weeks 1-2: pureed protein, 3 Tbs 3x/day; bariatric vitamin

Weeks 3-4: 1.5-2 oz. of soft, moist protein (meat, eggs, fish, poultry) 3x/day/ bariatric multivitamin

Weeks 5-6: All protein allowed--2 serving 3x/day; bariatric multivitamin

Weeks 7-8: 2-2.5 ounces protein 3x/day; bariatric multivitamin

Week 9: 2.5 ounces protein 3x/day; bariatric multivitamin

Week 10-11: 2.5-3 ounces protein 3x/day, add 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggies 1x/day; bariatric multivitamin

Week 12: 3 ounces protein 3x/day, 1/2 cup nonstarchy veggie 1x/day' bariatric multivitamin

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I am having it done in Oxnard at St. Johns. My surgeon is the director of Bariatric there. I was told at my initial consultation last month that once I am approved it is like two weeks from there. I want to wait until the end of February though because I am going to Bakersfield with some girl friends next month and they dont know about it so I dont want them wondering why I am only drinking liquids lol...

did you grow up out here? are you in college? do you work? do all your friends know or are you keeping it quiet?

Tampa Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Wil Aguila

Wilfred Aguila, M.D. is a native of Florida and has served communities in Florida since he graduated from the University Of Miami School Of Medicine in 1991.

Dr. Aguila completed his surgical residency at the University of South Florida and is an expert in general surgery specializing in surgical treatments for obesity.

Learn more about Wilfred Aguila, MD.

I had surgery 4/29/2010

Did u get my reply about the Bariatric Advantage shakes?

Hope u are still doing good.

Please reconsider your choice of facilities. If you have insurance I would find a real bariatric surgeon like mine, Dr. Carson Liu who was one of the first in the US to be approved for this surgery in 2001. He did mine Tuesday in Westwood. He has done over 1900! Can the 1800 doctor honestly claim that? Google Dr.Liu and you will see his amazing background. He was named one of the best lap band doctors by Newsweek magazine, has numerous board certifications and his office and surgery center in only one of maybe 5 in the country that have been awarded the Center of Excellence Award for bariatric surgery. You can see him in Tustin or Westwood.

Melissa

Got your message. I got the realize band. Dr Floch from Fairfgield County bariatrics did it in June of '09. They're a wonderful group. Who's doing yours?

Just researching and starting the process. I've talked to my regular doctor and I am about to make an appointment with the bariatric doctor. Kinda scared.

Well the world spins fast and changes even faster. I went in today to have my lapband un-filled-Dr. Spiegel did NOT want another Dr. working on me. He pretty much insisted on me cxlng the surgery & scheduling with him. (I had NO idea he did other surgeries, but apparently all bariatric surgeons are/were general surgeons.) He said I will NOT need an un-fill before surgery, that if anesthisa decides I need a tube in my tummy - he will unfill it during surgery and fill it back up partially. :-) So, I called and cxled my surgery on Monday - we are planning on Tuesday morning at University General - the lovely, posh, swanky place downtown where I had my LB done. I have to have a referral put in and my bloodwork transferred, but if all goes as planned, I will have surgery on Tuesday. I am so excited Dr. S is going to be doing it. I totally LOVE him and I feel so much better knowing he will be doing it. Also, he can look at my LB and port and make any adjustments that I might need.

For those who are kaiser patients in the S.F. bayarea, their is a bariatrics dept. in Richmond and South San Francisco. You just have to get referred by your Doctor. I will have my 1st fill on Dec 9. I researched for quite sometime, due to far travel and expensive fills. My doctor has referred me to SSF Kaiser, my fill will be only $10 which is my copayment. Good Luck, let me know if I can be of any help.

Hi Guys. I am a 39 y/o married mother of two. I am 5'9 and weigh 285. I am now an insulin dependant diabetic with high blood pressure also due to my weight. I have finally decided to have some surgery to help me. I have not been to see a Dr. yet, I have only looked at different options online. I live in a small rural town and will have to drive a little over an hour to see any kind of bariatric physicians so I wanted to somewhat know what I want to do before I see the physician. Could one of you tell me why you chose lap banding over the other surgical alternatives?

Hi there! My name is Kim and I am from Elk Grove. I saw that you had your surgery in Modesto and wanted to contact you. Congrats on your success with the lapband surgery!

I am in the "considering" stage right now and have asked for a bariatric referral from my primary physician. I have a BMI of 35.5 w/ 2 comorbids so I guess I barely make it. I really am hoping this is for me. I have struggled sooo long with my weight and I am so depressed about it!

May I ask you how your recovery has been? Have you had a lot of nausea or vomiting? I am concerned about that part!

Any input you can give me is so appreciated!! Happy Holidays!

Kim

Hi,

What is up with that office????? Anyway, here is the phone number:

Dr. Steinberg

New patient coordinator: Shawna Clinard, she is GREAT!!!

1045 Sycamore Dr.

Decatur, GA 30030

phone 404-501-7903

fax 404-501-7981

They may make you attend one of the information sessions go to Surgical Weight Management - Bariatric Weight Loss Surgeons in Atlanta, Georgia performing Lap-Band and Gastric Bypass Surgeries for dates and times. They are great with getting you in for appointments. Shawna is wonderful about guiding you through the steps and submitting paperwork. My approval came through in about 2 days. Let me know how it goes!

Hi Renewed Hope,

Happy Birthday!!!! Have a great weekend!!!!

I've just got approved a few days ago finally after running into a couple of mishaps with my paper work not being received at the insurance company. I really have no idea were the break down in the office ,with the fax machine was but I'm glad it straight now. Atlanta bariatrics pretty much leaves it up to you to schedule all your appointment that are required to get done at your pace. Dr. Johnson will do my surgery when I pick a date I'm looking at the first week in Dec. Now that it 's really going to happen I'm getting nervous too. What Dr. are you thinking about using ?

Hi,

I am seeing Dr. Brown but mine is in Denver at Colorado Bariatrics. Same guy? He seems wonderful and he's done tons of lap bands. I feel very comfortable with him.

Thanks for replying!

I went through SouthWest Bariatric - Dr. Clark. How about you? How is the process going for you? How much are you down in 3 months? I feel so sore and bloated I wonder if I have even lost an ounce at this point!

Atlanta Medical Center is an excellent hospital. But parts of it are quite old. My sister was born there in 1958 and the original building wasn't new then. The bottom line is you have to be comfortable with everything about your choice in doctor, surgeon, whatever. Emory's bariatric practice has a well-respected practice. I will mention that an acquaintance went there and felt that it was a bit impersonal and ended up going to my surgeon (True Results/Dr. Chris Hart -- who was the founding partner of Emory Bariatrics). The first surgeon's office I contacted may have had a great reputation but his staff acted like they were doing me a favor just to speak to me on the phone. Bottom line, you have to have your own comfort zone. Let me know how it goes! And, what the GI Doc says. Good luck. And if I don't talk to you before next week, have a great Thanksgiving!

Hello Debi, well no your not asking too many questions, lol, that is fine, I am in Massachusetts, and I am doing my pre-op diet which I am ok, but at the same time still finding myself hungary. I am not a fan of these shakes, I don't know if you have the same ones as I do, but I got these Bariatric shakes and one you have to add fiber too, and ugh thats so nasty, and I got a banana flavored one and the way your supposed to make it you have to use less powder cause of how strong it is. It is not good. So I cut it with the vanilla powder or chocolate powder that I have. So anyway, when is your surgury? One of my other friends told me one tid bit that I want to share with you and that is make sure after your surgury try to sit up and get up and walk as much as possible to relieve the gas bubbles you get from surgury. Well I will talk to you soon!!!