Anyone From Sacramento?

[Vicki J 0]

Lana - Sorry for the late post. For some reason LBT isn't sending me my messages about people responding now. Hmmm. Imagine, a computer malfunction. Who would have thought? LOL

No, I haven't worried about getting too skinny. One of the beauties of the band is that it's adjustable not only tighter but looser. If I find I can't quit loosing (wow what a thought), I would have them loosen it.

I have warned my family that there will come a time when they will be telling me I'm skinny enough but that my goal is a healthy BMI. I reassured them that I'm not even shooting for the lowest point in that range but that I'm determined to not be overweight or obese.

I'm so excited about all of this. I can't believe it's only 6 days now until I'm banded. It sure has been a long 6 months getting here. I guess I should be grateful because I found out that people who are just starting out on the So. San Francisco Kaiser program are now having to wait 5 to 6 months for their next appointments. That means that it will be close to a year for their surgeries if they don't have any problems that slow them down. That would be really hard. Kaiser seems to be very overwhelmed with the number of patients that are flooding into the bariactric department. I can't help but think that it is because they decided to do the lap band.

Anyway, good luck on your appointment. On the 11th I'll be heading down to SSF to stay the night so I can get up in the morning for surgery. Just think, you'll be heading for your surgery sooner then you think.

[Lana24 10]

hey,

when you saw dr machado was there a program fee?

[Lana24 10]

Lana - Sorry for the late post. For some reason LBT isn't sending me my messages about people responding now. Hmmm. Imagine, a computer malfunction. Who would have thought? LOL

No, I haven't worried about getting too skinny. One of the beauties of the band is that it's adjustable not only tighter but looser. If I find I can't quit loosing (wow what a thought), I would have them loosen it.

I have warned my family that there will come a time when they will be telling me I'm skinny enough but that my goal is a healthy BMI. I reassured them that I'm not even shooting for the lowest point in that range but that I'm determined to not be overweight or obese.

I'm so excited about all of this. I can't believe it's only 6 days now until I'm banded. It sure has been a long 6 months getting here. I guess I should be grateful because I found out that people who are just starting out on the So. San Francisco Kaiser program are now having to wait 5 to 6 months for their next appointments. That means that it will be close to a year for their surgeries if they don't have any problems that slow them down. That would be really hard. Kaiser seems to be very overwhelmed with the number of patients that are flooding into the bariactric department. I can't help but think that it is because they decided to do the lap band.

Anyway, good luck on your appointment. On the 11th I'll be heading down to SSF to stay the night so I can get up in the morning for surgery. Just think, you'll be heading for your surgery sooner then you think.

Vicki thanks

I have been reading a lot of other posts and the "fear" of being too thin is now gone. I just had to switch my brain to worrying more about health and not so much what the scale says. I also have to wait and find out where my body will fall in all of this. Just because I want a specific size does not mean my body can or can't do it. So all I can do is wait and see.

Your support means the world

[Lana24 10]

I'm new to this site, but saw the Sac thread. I am from Folsom and was banded on 1/10/05 by Dr. Laura Machado w/ Sacramento Bariatric. Dr. Bruce Wolfe is also with this practice. As Anne said, he's not a big advocate of the band, mostly b/c of the unknown and he's been doing bypass for YEARS! Dr Machado, on the other hand, is wonderful!! She's an advocate of getting healthy... band or bypass! I found her absolutely wonderful and would highly recommend her to anyone. The office staff is awesome too. I'd be happy to answer any questions on the practice.

Tracey

Banded 1/10/05

Tracey,

When you saw Dr Machado was there a program fee?

[Kristin07 0]

Hello! I also have Dr. Machado and when you say program fee do you mean a fee at the orientation? Because the answer is no. I really like Dr. Machado. My only advice for someone looking into the band, dont expect to drop weight super fast in the begining. Dr. M's office is a tad on the conservative side with the fills. You HAVE to wait 6 weeks in between no matter what. First fill 1cc second fill 2cc then after that its .50cc then down to .25. Dr.M is more likely to give you more but not the nurse practitioner. Okay if you have ANY questions feel free to ask.

[want2beme 2]

Just a quick side note... not to discourage anybody, but just wanted to put my 2 cents in about Dr. Machado... (no hate mail, please!) ~ I was banded in Mexico by a great doctor. Been trying to find somebody up here in Sac that will do fills. I went to Dr. M's orientation, which she said would be required for me to attend even if I was just looking for 'fills'. I wont get into how rude she was to me, but my point is this: Dr. M is conservative because she doesn't use flouroscopy to do fills, "I just do it in my office, there's no need for a flouro"... That's why she's conservative. The flouro gives you the most accurant fill, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE DAMN THING ON THE SCREEN. Adding a bit at a time seems, well... like an insurance scam for one thing... and well, we'll leave it at that. In my humble opinion, its a waste of a patients time and money to be strung along on her 6 week journeys. Sorry, but if I need a fill, I need a fill! I've only needed one so far, and getting to where I'll need another here soon (losing weight fast), and my doctor will do it because he (and she) uses flouroscopy.

Sorry about the rant... I don't want to discourage anybody, but if I needed a fill and was told no, I'd be freakin' pissed off!

(if anybody wants to know more about why I can't stand this doc, email me privately. I don't want this to become one of those hate threads!) ~~~ thx.

[Lana24 10]

Hello! I also have Dr. Machado and when you say program fee do you mean a fee at the orientation? Because the answer is no. I really like Dr. Machado. My only advice for someone looking into the band, dont expect to drop weight super fast in the begining. Dr. M's office is a tad on the conservative side with the fills. You HAVE to wait 6 weeks in between no matter what. First fill 1cc second fill 2cc then after that its .50cc then down to .25. Dr.M is more likely to give you more but not the nurse practitioner. Okay if you have ANY questions feel free to ask.

Kristin,

Did you have surgery with her when she was in the Medclinic building before she became the director of sac bariatrics? Because now that she is director she charges a program fee of 2800.00 above and beyond what insurance will cover. It is an administrative fee to cover group, forum and emails to the staff. That is the ONLY part I am disappointed about...

[Vicki J 0]

Lana - Glad to hear that you've got your fears taken care of. Going into surgery is stressful enough without other worries harping on you. Checking out all the information available online is a good thing. Glad to be of help!

Want2beme - I know how you feel about being worried about attacks because you say something. If people check out this thread, they will see it happened to me just because I accidentally worded something a little wrong. I think we should all be able to voice our opinions and experiences without fear of becoming a national enemy. LOL

[Lana24 10]

Just a quick side note... not to discourage anybody, but just wanted to put my 2 cents in about Dr. Machado... (no hate mail, please!) ~ I was banded in Mexico by a great doctor. Been trying to find somebody up here in Sac that will do fills. I went to Dr. M's orientation, which she said would be required for me to attend even if I was just looking for 'fills'. I wont get into how rude she was to me, but my point is this: Dr. M is conservative because she doesn't use flouroscopy to do fills, "I just do it in my office, there's no need for a flouro"... That's why she's conservative. The flouro gives you the most accurant fill, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE DAMN THING ON THE SCREEN. Adding a bit at a time seems, well... like an insurance scam for one thing... and well, we'll leave it at that. In my humble opinion, its a waste of a patients time and money to be strung along on her 6 week journeys. Sorry, but if I need a fill, I need a fill! I've only needed one so far, and getting to where I'll need another here soon (losing weight fast), and my doctor will do it because he (and she) uses flouroscopy.

Sorry about the rant... I don't want to discourage anybody, but if I needed a fill and was told no, I'd be freakin' pissed off!

(if anybody wants to know more about why I can't stand this doc, email me privately. I don't want this to become one of those hate threads!) ~~~ thx.

Want2,

Thank you so much for your input, so far there are now 2 things that are moving me away from dr machado

#1 no barium after lap band ( could save my life)

#2 maybe too conservative with fills ( I have heard both sides of the flouroscopy and in the end it could make the differances of comfort and taking too much time off to run back and forth to the damn doc's office.

As I am a work in progress, so is my decision as to which doctor I may end up choosing.

Thank you again

[Lana24 10]

Want2,

Thank you so much for your input, so far there are now 2 things that are moving me away from dr machado

#1 no barium after lap band ( could save my life)

#2 maybe too conservative with fills ( I have heard both sides of the flouroscopy and in the end it could make the differances of comfort and taking too much time off to run back and forth to the damn doc's office.

As I am a work in progress, so is my decision as to which doctor I may end up choosing.

Thank you again

Want2,

no 3 things #3 that damn administration fee of 2800.00 (there goes the new washer and dryer I wanted) lol

[Kristin07 0]

That is very interesting.... I just got my band in July and she was already Sacramento Bariatrics... but I did not get a fee? Maybe its something even newer. My insurance covered most of the surgery i had to pay a percentage. Her conservativness with the fills does bother me. Everyone in the office has explained why they do it though and it does make sense. They want you to slowley re learn how to eat so you dont PB or throw up a lot. BUT i think a week or 2 would be enough... 6 is a long time! LoL But, everything else im really happy with. The surgery went really well, my inscisions were very small i had only a little gas pain in my shoulder on the 2nd or 3rd day after the surgery. OHHHH this was one other thing that turned me off to the NP in the office. I had my 1 week post op apt and wasnt taking my pain meds regularly anymore but only had about 1 more dose left. So I asked for a refill knowing i was going back to work and would probably be sore when i got home, and she gave me a really REALLY hard time about it. I'm sorry but I come from a medical family and a medical provider takes a vow to help and believe the patient no matter what. This is also why i think they should give fills more agressivley. Ok enough of my ranting. Dr. M is a very down to earth type of person she doesnt really sugarcoat things... If you have any more questions let me know!

[Vicki J 0]

Well, the next time you guys hear from me, I'll be a bandster!!!! The day has finally arrived and I'm so excited. It's truly been a long 6 months. See you on the other side!!!

[Kristin07 0]

Congratulations Vicki and welcome to bandland!!!!

[Jbaker 0]

I am being banded on Dec 27th with Dr Cirangle. Heard is is real good. I'm from Vacaville.

[Jbaker 0]

I'm new to this group. I am being banded on Dec 27th with Dr Cirangle of San Francisco. His group is Lapband associates of SF. Real nice doctor. I am a self pay and the inital pre surgery stuff has been fairly simple. They give you all the info you need regarding eating, and stuff. Hopefully everything will go just peachy. I am very anxious, but very excited.:whoo: