TLC Edge Dr's...

[illion 0]

TexasT- I'll PM you with the info about the Optifast!

Hi Leah--- Well, I was lucky- Dr. veninga was my surgeon, and when I explained my problems with the Optifast, his nurse told me to eat one "normal" meal a day. I did *try* to make it a low cal low fat meal, and it helped a LOT! I filled in with the reduced fat Soups like the broccoli cheese, Tomato, and the broth from regular chicken noodle, etc. I managed to get by! But as an experiment, one day about a week ago I still had two cartons of the Optifast at my office, and decided to drink one. Within 15 minutes, my stomach rebelled like crazy! :thumbup: So.. there's just something in that stuff that I can't handle!

I get my first fill on Friday, March 7th. Yea!! I've had very little restriction, so I'm looking forward to a bit more "help" from my band. I can eat the band-size portions and feel full, but in about 2 hours I feel like I'm starving to death!! That's when the will power has to kick in, and let's face it- if we all had it, we wouldn't be here! So my weight loss hasn't been what I'd hoped it would be. :w00t: Thank goodness for fills!!

[illion 0]

Hi Diane,

I too am still having some port site aches and a little "poofy" feeling. It seems like it's worse at the end of the day, but I think it's because I'm sitting at my desk all day, kind of bent over using my computer. By the time I get home I'm ready to stretch out in a recliner and let it relax. By morning it's fine again. I hope with time, that gets better. George at TLC is doing my fill on Friday. Have you met him?

[Road King 0]

Pat: I do not think I have met George at TLC. I was trying to get someone closure to home. I hope I do not regret it. I live in Duncanville and the trip to Plano and then to work would be hard. I will let you guys know tomorrow how it goes. My appointment is at 8:00. I am more than ready for this fill.

[illion 0]

Dianne, can't wait to hear how your fill goes! Keep us informed!! I'm a bit nervous but still excited about getting mine on Friday. My appt. is at 10am. Good luck to you!

[tweenwaters 0]

Hi Diane,

I too am still having some port site aches and a little "poofy" feeling. It seems like it's worse at the end of the day, but I think it's because I'm sitting at my desk all day, kind of bent over using my computer. By the time I get home I'm ready to stretch out in a recliner and let it relax. By morning it's fine again. I hope with time, that gets better. George at TLC is doing my fill on Friday. Have you met him?

George did my first fill on 2/28. He is very nice and knows what he's doing....you are in good hands. Good luck!!

[tweenwaters 0]

Pat: I do not think I have met George at TLC. I was trying to get someone closure to home. I hope I do not regret it. I live in Duncanville and the trip to Plano and then to work would be hard. I will let you guys know tomorrow how it goes. My appointment is at 8:00. I am more than ready for this fill.

Dianne~

Good luck tomorrow...I'll be thinking of you! I'm very curious to see if Dr Kim put in any saline on your surgery day. I had no clue that I had 2.4cc in my band from the day of surgery. I have 5cc in my 10cc band. I also had my first sliming experience today....not fun! Painful!! Here is some advice to hopefully save you from the pain I experienced. DO NOT reheat leftover chicken....it is too dry and will get stuck. I can't tell you how awful and painful that was today!! Take the next two days slowly....stick to liquids and then mushies for a couple days to heal and get use to the restriction. I am also much tighter in the mornings.....so take the mornings slow as well.

Best wishes and looking forward to hearing from you!!

Stacey

[TexasT 0]

Thanks,

I had my meeting with Dr. Kim and John today. I was very comfortable with them. I tried one of the Optifast they gave me for the sample when I first went in and didn't seem to have any trouble with it. I did order some of the chicken Soup to go along with the other.

I can't wait to hear how you all do with your fills.

Okay, here I go with another question. I know they told me, but i don't remember and I'm positive y'all will know the answer.

When do they do pre op and when do we pay them?

T

[tweenwaters 0]

Thanks,

I had my meeting with Dr. Kim and John today. I was very comfortable with them. I tried one of the Optifast they gave me for the sample when I first went in and didn't seem to have any trouble with it. I did order some of the chicken Soup to go along with the other.

I can't wait to hear how you all do with your fills.

Okay, here I go with another question. I know they told me, but i don't remember and I'm positive y'all will know the answer.

When do they do pre op and when do we pay them?

T

pre-op....do you mean the diet? I did the pre-op diet for the 2 weeks leading up to surgery. I had 4-5 Optisfast shakes each day....and lost 14 lbs.

Payment was given on surgery day.....BUT I used a low interest credit card. If you are financing using something else...I would call Prestonwood to ask. You will be getting calls from Prestonwood and their billing department and they will answer all of your questions. You will also get a call from the anesthesiologist a day or two prior to surgery..... They were very organized and I felt reassured with the whole process.

[TexasT 0]

Thanks for the info. I knew I could count on you.

I started with the diet today. I only bought enough for a week or so in hopes I'd get with Pat sometime during the next week. I had the chicken Soup for my supper just now. It wasn't to bad, not great, but tolerable.

I have one appointment at the Euless office next week and then it's just waiting until surgery date.

I told one of the guys I go to lunch with sometimes that I'm going on a liquid diet for a month or so. He seemed to get upset about it and I told him I was doing it under a doctor supervision and that it wasn't like I was just going on Slim Fast or something. I have to tell you this is a guy that also has some weight issues is one of the reasons I was talking to him about it. (By the way, he is about the same age as my son and just a baby, in case any of you were thinking I had something going on, LOL) Anyway, his reaction to just that little bit of information kind of confirmed my first thoughts as to not say anything at work.

T

[Road King 0]

Texas T

That is exactly why I have not told anyone but my husband and one best friend for many years. My best friends has watched my go through many trial and error with my weight battle. I have not even told my adult children. I just do not want to hear the feedback. If they notice I am loosing weight they can just think I am back on one of my diets again.

OK I had my first fill yesterday. There was some confusion as to when my appointment was scheduled. Someone at TLC gave me Dr Fears address and phone number in Duncanville and told me to be there at 8:00. So my plan was to go get my fill and then go into work. Well, when I showed up, I was not on the schedule and the Dr's office was a little confussed why I was there. So they called someone at TLC and let me know George was to do my fill, but could not do it till 3:30 in the afternoon. So I went back home, cleaned house and waited for 3:30. Due to the weather I received a call around 2:00 and they wanted me to come up right away so George could try to get home earlier. I was on my way. I really like George, Yes he does know what he is doing. He explains everything to you. It was a piece of cake. He told me Dr Kim had put in 3.0 saline at time of surgery. George put in 2.6. Which gives me a total of 5.6. He said he might could have put more in, but because it was my first fill and being the weekend he did not want to get me in trouble with an overfill. I am on full liquids for 24 hours and then mushies again. Told me to work back to solids slowly. I did not have any trouble. I really do not feel any different. Took all my pills this morning with no trouble. I had my Optifast this morning. He did say my port was a little tilted. But nothing to worry about. Sure hope George sticks around.

There was a girl there helping George for TLC and I asked what the procedure was for furture fills and I was told, if I see my see myself being able to eat to much to just call TLC and let them know I am ready. But I should wait at least 3 weeks, because sometimes the full effect of the fills takes time. Everyone is different.

Pat make sure you let us know how your fill went.

Dianne.

[TexasT 0]

Dianne, thank you for all the fill update. So did they numb you first or what?

I have to ask this and maybe you've already said and I just missed it, but how did you come up with Road King? Isn't that a motorcycle? Do you ride?

T

[SusanRN 0]

Hello, I love and appreciate this site and the time you take to share your success with us! I am just starting out and have been reading the post. Could you tell me what all the cash price for TLC covers? I had planned on using another physician who offers a $9500 cash price but soon found out that it did not cover initial consult, no fills and other things that quickly brought the cost back up. Thanks and CONGRATS! Susan

[TexasT 0]

Susan,

Welcome aboard, it covers (and someone correct me if I leave something off) the surgery completely, the initial consult is "free" there is 6 month follow up and fills. The only thing I had to pay for is the Psych eval. I don't think there was anything else I paid for.

T

[tweenwaters 0]

Hi Susan~

Welcome to the TLC info post. You will be very well cared for and love the whole experience if you go with TLCEdge. My surgery was 1/17/08...and it was my understanding (at that time) they were offering a low self-pay option through the end of February. Has this been extended? I hope so.... As T mentioned...it covers your initial consults, bloodwork, EKG, pre-op consult (where they go over your pre-op diet instructions etc...), surgery, a 2 week post-op check up with your surgeon, 6 months of fills and also any follow up care that you might need to speak with the TLC nutritionist, nurse or anyone on their care team. They also offer FREE on-line support and conference calls (weekly) for the first 6 months. The only added out of pocket expense other then psych eval is the Optifast shakes...whcih are expensive but so worth it....IMO. They taste great to me....but I'm a chocoholic:)

** Dr. Kim is AWESOME if you are still undecided on a surgeon. ** His office is based at North Hills Hospital in Hurst (I believe that's the city it's in). Good luck...keep the questions coming! There are quite a few of us who check in on this link daily and will be happy to help you along the way.

*** I must confess that I've experienced being "stuck" and "sliming" twice this week....since my fill on 2/28 *** Not a pleasant experience, so everyone please take care to chew really well and avoid over cooked meat!!!! ***

~Stacey

[TexasT 0]

Oh Stacy that does sound unpleasant. Thanks for the warning.

By the way North Hills is in North Richland Hills not Hurst.

I posted this question on one other place but I figure I'd ask my TLC Friends and probably get a response faster. Have any of you had any problems with leg cramps after going on the liquid diet pre surgery or I guess even after surgery? I've been having some doozy cramps this evening. I took my Vitamins and have been drinking Fluid in addition to the Optifast. So I don't think I've done anything wrong with what I've been told to do.

T