New Chicago Friends Thread.....

[piercedqt78 658]

Amelia, congrats on the new job ....but we will miss you ~Mandy

[gina1107 0]

Amichelle,

I had my band done by Dr Sarker at Loyola in March. I too started with Dr Shayani but he quit right before my surgery. It is a long drawn out story but I ended up having my surgery with Sarker and I love her. Loyola was great - I have no complaints. I am sure you have had your surgery already so I hope you are doing well. I have to update my ticker and I havent been on here in a while but I have lost almost 40 pounds and I feel great.

[amichelle 0]

Hi everyone, well I made it through surgery without any problems. The first few days home were rough but my family took good care of me. Now I've got another week to rest up before I have go to school-- I teach second grade-- and start getting ready for the school year.

Gina, it's nice to meet another patent of Dr. Sarker's. Aside from the message boards, I've never met anyone with a Lap Band, let alone someone who had the same surgeon as me That being said, I was thinking of attending the "Life After Lap Band" support group at Loyola. I think it's on the 4th Monday of the month. Just wondering if you know anything about the group.

Take care!

[Chrissy 0]

Mikesmom

I had my surgery done in MX on July 25th. I have not gone for a fill yet but I did get 2 doctors names from IL that would do the fills for us.

Dr. Shayani - Loyola Univ. Hospital

# 708-327-2899

Dr. Vitello - Downers Grove

# 312-996-2037

I know someone that just had her fill done by Dr. Vitello and she loved him. She also had the surgery done in MX.

[piercedqt78 658]

I'm pretty sure Dr. Lahman does Mexico bandsters also. He is in Joliet at Silver Cross Hospital. ~Mandy

[soniacan 0]

Hey my dear Chicago friends!

well today I had a good interview with 2 women fromthe Northern IL food Bank in St. Charles. It was a super easy commute and they semed really great.

Next step is talking to my references and scheduling the 2nd interview.

Cross those fingers that this goes well please!

so can we get together soon before the madness of schools-back-in-session starts?

Sonia

[piercedqt78 658]

What day/time is good for you guys? ~Mandy

[piercedqt78 658]

I just realized I haven't updated anyone about my surgery in a while. I am driving myself around without any issues. I have very little pain now except for when I cough or laugh. I started having hot flashes at night, and they are going to put me on hormones when I see the doc again next tues. Things are going really good, I am just easily tired, but the pre-op pain is gone, and that was the entire point of surgery. ~Mandy

[Amelia40 0]

Michelle ~ Congrats on being a new bandster

Sonia ~ Good luck with the 2nd interview, let us know when it is.

Manday ~ Glad to hear you are recovering. How are you handling not having and fill?

I go for my forth fill tomorrow. I am really frustrated since I told them months ago after reading on this board that UHC was not paying for fills so guess what. The 2 fills I had in may were denied and they sent me to collections without even giving me achance to repay. So now I have to deal with them and collections.

I just got back today from FL and have so much to do now. I am hoping to leave by 8/28.

If you do not mind I will probably drop in every once in awhile just to see how everyone is doing...

I have more time this weekend to get together. Next weekend will be more difficult because I will be moving furniture and what ever else I can out of my apt before the movers comes. My brother is taking some stuff, not sure yet what I am doing with everything else.

[Amelia40 0]

I went for my 4 th fill with my Dr yesterday, at least I thought it was my 4th. As the Dr's assistant was reading the notes she had indicated that I only had 6 cc's in the band however according to the Dr's notes I had 8, so since there was a discrepency they withdrew all the Fluid and then put is all back in plus one cc. As it turns out when I had my first fill under fluro he missed the port. When I went in for my second fill also under fluro when he tried to withdraw fliud there was none. Unfortunately he did not tell me this I found out yesterday. That explains why my weight loss as been slow and I really did not feel anything until my 3rd or actually my 2nd fill. So now I finally have my third fill and actually feel when I drink liquid and have to drink very slowly. Now maybe I will see more results.

Sonia ~ any word on the interview/job?

Mandy ~ How many days until your vacation?

[Amelia40 0]

The good news was I lost 11.5 pounds since my last visit with them 5/31, but only one pund since last month.

[piercedqt78 658]

I leave in 28 days. When are we getting together for lunch? ~Mandy

[Amelia40 0]

I will not be available next weekend, and I will be drivign to FL by 8/29 and so will not be here the following weekend. So unless there are some of you that would want to hook up either tomorrow or Sunday, I will probably not be able to see you all before I leave.:think

[soniacan 0]

i have to help a friend move tomorrow and then shopping with my mom for her bday party sunday. but i can stop by for a quick coffee either before or after.

[SkinnyChick 0]

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited that I have found a thread of Chicagoans, specifically some of which who have had their surgeries perfomed by DayOne and Dr. Myers! I initially attended DayOne back in March '07 where Jonathan Myers was my assigned physician. However, I had a lot of trouble obtaining insurance info from their staffed person so I kinda became frustrated with the insurance process and gave up:( I just ran into a friend I had not seen in a long time who had gastric bypass and she was super skinny. She had to have lost at least 150 pounds or more while I've apparently gained more weight. After much research and soul searching I really feel like this is the route to go. Reading forums like this helped me to understand that it is really my responsibility to secure the insurance coverage.

I keep thinking to myself that had I pursued this more aggressively in March I might have had the surgery by now. Oh well, no since in looking back. I do have a few questions for those of you who have had their surgeries done at DayOne:

1. Generally, how long does it take to secure a surgery? (I'm a little anxious)

2. I just switched insurance carriers which does not kick in until September 16, 07. Should I proceed with everything (testing, physician paper work, etc) and simply submit everything on the start date or should I just wait?

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly welcomed. I look forward to hopefully meeting all of you soon.

Thanks a lot!!!