NC Intro Thread...

[Totallytater 1]

Hi everyone! I am in Monroe. I was self-pay as my insurance, Wellpath, doesn't cover WLS. I flew to Denver, CO where everything was only $9950. I am going to fly into Denver for the 1st year for fills if possible. I joined AirTran's frequent flyer program and got one of their credit cards. I actually charged my surgery on the credit card and the surgery alone earned me a one-way ticket. And just applying for the credit card earned me a one-way ticket. So my first round-trip was covered without spending a dime. My surgeon does fills free for 3 months, then they're $15. So it won't cost me that much more to fly back and forth to Denver than to get a fill locally. I checked prices around Charlotte and for self-pay they wanted $17,000 to $24,000 for everything. So that is why I went to Denver. I am happy with my decision, and everything is going well so far.

[rivi23 0]

I lived in Monroe before my husband got transferred to Charlotte. Looks like your band is doing you well. We have the same goal weight and high weight (although my high weight is what I have right now.) Congrats on the band. Keep in touch, I will have lots of questions for you soon. Hopefully my insurance will approve me, I am super nervous.

[afisher4band 0]

Hello I am Amy Fisher from Belmont! I am a proud wife to Robert for 11yrs. and a proud mother of 2! I am not banded yet however I can NOT wait I am so ready. I am so tired of being in bondage to my weight. I am a cosmetologist and I own Salon South in Mt. Holly. I love everything about my life except my weight and that will soon change!:clap2:

[SHEILA IN NC 6]

Hi Amy,

Congrats on your decision to be banded!!! Keep us posted, no punn intended, on your journey!!! Welcome to the NC thread!!!

[Totallytater 1]

Rivi,

Ask me anything you like. I will be getting my first fill on Jan 15th so I will have more information after that. Right now I can eat about anything I want. I just chew it very well and don't eat much at a sitting. I might eat 1/4 or 1/5 of what I used to eat and I'm just tired of it and ready to stop eating and move on to something else. I can't wait to see what happens when I actually have a fill. I'm pretty excited. My weight was down another pound today but I haven't changed my ticker yet. I have never lost weight this easily. I hope it will work for you too.

[nc_longhorn 0]

I'm from Raleigh and have three kids (ages 6, 3, and 3), a husband of 14 years, and a yappy poodle who just moved in. I was banded 4 weeks ago, and it's going pretty well. I still have some pain on the right side, but I think I'm just healing slowly due to the kids. My doctor is running tests, but I doubt she'll find anything.

Are there monthly get togethers in the Triangle area?

Thanks!

[sunsett 2]

Hi everybody,

It's so excited to read up on all of you.

Tar I'm sorry that you had to fly to Denver for your surgery. Dr V and NewHope Bariatrics prices are a lot less than what you quoted for this area. Plus all fills for the first year are included.

Well I live in Wesley Chapel. I've had the band now for 2 years and 3 months. I've gone from a size 24/26 to a 10/12. It hasn't always been easy, but if I had to do it again I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I do not know of any meetings in the Triangle area, sorry.

There is a very large support group that meets the second Saturday of the month in Charlotte. About 6 of us started the group almost 3 years ago and it has grown! We meet at Southeast Bariatrics on Randolph Rd near Presby hosp. It doesn't matter who you band Dr is or was all are invited.

A lot of the group post on the NC section of band2gether.net I post both places.

Have a great day and Happy New Year!

[MacBand 0]

Just thought I would pass the word along to anyone looking for an awesome bariatric surgeon in the Raleigh area.

Dr. Enochs is the first and most experienced bariatric surgeon in Raleigh. He performed the first procedure in both gastric bypass and lap band in Raleigh. He has wonderful bedside manners and is extremely compassionate and caring during this journey. His practice is Bariatric Specialists of NC and the phone is 919-859-9191. His website is Surgical Specialists of North Carolina All the other surgeons were taught by him. If you want the absolute best call Dr. Enochs. I guarantee you will be happy. Also, my friend just got the bypass 2 days ago and is doing great! I'd love to be part of the group. His seminars are weekly on Tuesdays. You can call the office for more info.

[MacBand 0]

Dr. Enochs has a support group weekly. Call them at 919-859-9191

[sunsett 2]

Wow Jean a weekly support group that is wonderful.

How does he run it? Is he there or do the patients run it? I'd love to hear how he does it.

I've been thinking about a weekly meeting in the area of where I live.

Our monthly group is wonderful and I think I invited you all to come join us. We meet at Dr Voellingers office, but it is for anyone who has the band or is thinking of the band. It does not matter what Dr you used.

A bunch of us started it up from this website about 21/2 yrs ago. Last time we meet we had people coming from wilmington nc.

Stats show that the people that attend support groupd have better wl results than those that don't.

Needless to say, I'm sticking with it!

[Totallytater 1]

Sunsett,

When I started checking out prices New Hope Bariatrics wasn't doing surgeries in Charlotte. I checked with Dr. V and his prices were too high. Had I known he was going to team up with New Hope in Charlotte I would've probably gone that way, although Dr. K in Colorado is great too.

[Mel119 0]

Hi, I'm Melinda from Hickory.

I'm divorced with two great girls. The oldest is married and expecting a baby sometime in mid-February. I'll be a grandma!!

My insurance recently approved my surgery. I will be banded on February 27, 2008 by Dr. Monty Cox of the Hickory Surgical Clinic.

Dang, I can't believe no one from Hickory is on the board!! lol

[sunsett 2]

Hey Tarheelluv, This is brandnew NewHope and Dr V. I am extremely excited about it!

Dr V did my surgery over 2 yrs ago. This past July I started with NewHope Bariatrics. We have 2 centers now one in LA and KC. Now we have partnered with Dr V. It is so exciting to be able to recommend my own Dr and a band that I know is the only way to go!

The cash price is very reasonable! I won't post it here, but if anyone is interested you can PM me.

I hope that some of you will come to the support group meeting this Saturday.

Tar how are you liking band life?

Mel I bet your counting the days!

[Mel119 0]

Yes, Sunsett!! I'm excited about my upcoming surgery, but also kinda nervous!!

I wanted to ask everyone how they handle negativity from people about weight loss surgery. I got a nice "dose" of it today at work!! :girl_hug:

[Totallytater 1]

Sunsett, I am liking the band fine so far. I have lost 16 pounds since my surgery on 12/11 and had lost 50 pounds prior to the surgery so I am finally starting to look like me again. I feel great and my recovery has been pretty quick and easy. Thanks for asking.