VERY VERY happy I went with Dr.Cywes!!

I highly recommend Dr.Cywes. He has been nothing but spectacular since I was banded. I have nothing negative to say about him and the people at his office. They really care about you. Dr.Cywes and staff are really there for you when you need that boost of help. I think there are only a few people that touch your life and for me thats Dr.Cywes. I think the band is the tool but you need people that will help guide you on this journey. For my that has been been my family, Dr.Cywes and the GREAT people at his office. I got my band Jan 15th 09 and I have already lost 85lbs.

V/R
Gabby

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I am considering LAP-BAND® surgery and have already went to a seminar that Dr. Baptista held. I also went in and talked with Dana one on one and have spoken with her on the phone several times. This has been going on for about 2 months now. I am 5'6 and weigh 200lbs. so would like to lose about 50. I am also diabetic, on shots,and have high blood pressure.
My BMI is not high enough for my insurance to pay for this so I will be self-pay and I just keep wandering if paying all that money will be worth it. Will I be able to eat a handful of food at a time, will I throw up all the time, will I be giving up all the foods that I enjoy so much, bread, pasta, etc! I am a popcorn addict and I think about not being able to ever eat popcorn again (I know that must really sound silly) I have got to make up my mind on this and fast. My youngest daughter is getting married in March and I do so want to drop some weight before then. I realize that if I keep putting this off it's just going to get harder. I also think about my age, 56. Am I crazy for wanting to do this at this stage of my life? My husband is the type who never gets onto me about my weight, sometimes I think if he would just tell me he wants me to lose I would br more that willing to do this.
Sorry for rambling, but this decision has practically consumed me for the last 2 months, I just need someone to talk to who's been where I am.
One more thing. Did you have a hiatal(sp) hernia when you had yur LAP-BAND® done. Dana says that most overweight people do, and if they repair it they will turn this over to my insurance . That would be a great help with the money situation!!
Thanks for listening and I'm so glad you're doing well with your band.

I also used Dr. Cywes. It went so smooth. The day I went to surgery I was 202lbs. I had the surgery October 1st. I am down to 194. I never expected it to go so smooth. I had no neck or shoulder pain from gas. They gave me some breathing exercises to do do to prevent it. I had no pain from the incisions at all. Even though its only been a week since the surgery I am very pleased with the results. I would have been a self pay if the insurance had denied it. My comorbidities were high blood pressure and high cholesteral. My post op is tomorrow.

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That's really great mareea2. I guess you know that Dr. Cywes and Dr. Baptista are in practice together so if I decide on the surgery I don't know which one I will get for it. I have heard that both of them are really good!
If I may ask, how many days did you have to do the pre-op diet? I can't remember what Dana told me and she is probably getting tired of hearing from me, lol.
I wish you well on this journey and will post if and when I decide to have it done. Thanks for posting.

The pre-op was a liquid diet that included sugar free jello and sugar free popsicles. This is the best decision I have ever made. Just watching these few pounds come off gives me such motivation. Good luck.

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Sorry about that. I guess I asked too many questions.

I dont think you can ever ask too many questions. I feel lucky cause in my office there is about 10 of us who have done it in the last few months. Most of us with Baptista or Cywes. I have asked them questions for months and watched their progress. I did have a hernia that was fixed.

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me again, were you self-pay? if so, do you remember how much it ended up costing you? I have a friend that went there and was self pay, because she had a hernia it ended up costing about $7,000. I hope that will be the case with me.

No, I wasnt a self pay but if the insurance hadnt covered it I would have paid for it.

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