Anyone From Sacramento?

pandagirl · 05-19-2008, 05:20 PM

I'm in Sacramento going through Dr. Machado using Blue Shield insurance. So far it's been great on both counts. Much, much easier then when I tried getting the bypass/band through Kaiser.

kozlosap · 05-19-2008, 05:45 PM

Panda - when did you get your band placed? What happened the first time?:confused2:

Diz · 05-19-2008, 11:25 PM

Yes, I know the Kaiser process takes awhile, but I did learn some great things about my habits, so I think it's set me up for success. That's great about finding a Dr. in Sacramento. Congrats. How's the journey going for you PandaGirl?

pandagirl · 05-21-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kozlosap

Panda - when did you get your band placed? What happened the first time?:confused2:

My surgeon is Dr. Machado. I went in on March 6th for my band and came out with some holes. They say the way I carry my fat prevented them from sewing the band on properly. So they ended surgery.

They've asked me to lost 30 more pounds. I've got 12 more to go. I haven't been banded yet and won't be until I hit 300 pounds and am re-evaluated.

I'm an apple shape and I guess the way I carry my fat isn't common. She,Dr. Machado, said there isn't much fat around the organs, but there's a lot to get through. I dunno...I'm "skinny" under the ribs then huge from the waist down.

I'm on a all liquid diet now, trying anyway. It's been rough, but I'm losing on average a pound a day ( When I stick to it completely. If not, I don't lose for a couple of days then is drops off.)

Ah well, I'll get through it one way or the other. At least the insurance side of things has been a breeze. (I have Blue Shield.)

pandagirl · 05-21-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diz

Yes, I know the Kaiser process takes awhile, but I did learn some great things about my habits, so I think it's set me up for success. That's great about finding a Dr. in Sacramento. Congrats. How's the journey going for you PandaGirl?

Ummmm, off and on. I went in for the band and it didn't get placed.I went through a rough month because of that. I had trouble with continuing the liquid diet and dealing with some anger issues. ( I didn't for a part of the month.) Then I started dealing with the emotions of not getting the band and am back on track. Hopefully, if I can stick to the diet I will be banded sometime in July.

How's your journey been?

smilin_apple · 05-21-2008, 09:51 PM

I recently had the unfill and a re-fill to 5 cc's in my 10 cc band and I am not feel a ton of restriciton. I can pretty much eat anything and I am falling back in to my old habits of not chewing too well because for some reason I am not finding that I have to. I chew a little and swallow and I am fine nothing gets stuck at all!!!I am hoping that is not a bad sign that I am not going to be able to get good restriciton any time soon, or worse yet that there is something wrong like a slipped band?!?
Anyone else had a large unfill and then a re-fill and not get restriction, or food stuck like you used to when your band is half full???

zoar · 05-22-2008, 12:32 AM

Hello everyone,

My name is Dawn. I've been looking for a Dr. in Sacramento who will do a fill for me. I had my lap band surgery in Monterey, Mexico.
Please help!! I had my surgery in Dec and I live in Reno. No one returns my calls, emails, or post.
Thank-you,
Dawn

pandagirl · 05-22-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoar

Hello everyone,

My name is Dawn. I've been looking for a Dr. in Sacramento who will do a fill for me. I had my lap band surgery in Monterey, Mexico.
Please help!! I had my surgery in Dec and I live in Reno. No one returns my calls, emails, or post.
Thank-you,
Dawn

Try Sac Bariatric. I don't know thier policy on fills, but they are great people and I'm glad I chose them. 916-338-7200

Diz · 05-22-2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandagirl

Ummmm, off and on. I went in for the band and it didn't get placed.I went through a rough month because of that. I had trouble with continuing the liquid diet and dealing with some anger issues. ( I didn't for a part of the month.) Then I started dealing with the emotions of not getting the band and am back on track. Hopefully, if I can stick to the diet I will be banded sometime in July.

How's your journey been?

Journey's been ok. Not as difficult as yours. You are truly a strong woman to not give up and I know you'll be successful. Got the date today...getting banded on June 12th. I'm really excited but I know that I'll have to keep working at this until the weight is gone....the band won't miraculously take off my excess weight. It's funny how people don't understand that. They think I'm taking the easy way out...and there is nothing easy about this. Don't have to tell you that. You're almost there girl. Can't wait to hear the results of your evaluation.

Diz · 05-22-2008, 10:17 PM

I do my main bitching about my journey on dizbanded.blogspot.com....Nothing special.

pandagirl · 05-23-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diz

Journey's been ok. Not as difficult as yours. You are truly a strong woman to not give up and I know you'll be successful. Got the date today...getting banded on June 12th. I'm really excited but I know that I'll have to keep working at this until the weight is gone....the band won't miraculously take off my excess weight. It's funny how people don't understand that. They think I'm taking the easy way out...and there is nothing easy about this. Don't have to tell you that. You're almost there girl. Can't wait to hear the results of your evaluation.

When I tell them the band is a tool and I still have to eat well and exercise they(the buttheads of the universe) say, "Why don't you just do that now? All it takes is a little will power."

I usually respond back, " Who says I'm not and I haven't ? Who says I don't have will power?"

It takes them a really, really long time to wrap thier brains around that.

smilin_apple · 05-23-2008, 10:21 PM

Diz-
I noticed on your blog you are being banded at Kaiser? Is it South SanFrancisco Kaiser? Who is your surgeon?
I was banded there in Nov 07 by Dr. Alami at Kaiser and I was just curios if you had the same doc.
He is AWESOME!!! I had to see Dr. Le for one of my fills and it was the WORST experience of my life and I told Dr. Alami that I will never see another surgeon EVER again!
He has the best bed side manner and is one of the BEST surgeons I have ever known, definitly a blessing for me to have him to my surgery.

I am now almost 7 months out from surgery so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I have had a pretty great experience with the Band only a couple of complications but nothing to fear, and most caused by Dr. Le

Anyways enough of the rambling on and on.
Take care and Congrats on your upcoming band date!!!

Diz · 05-24-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smilin_apple

Diz-
I noticed on your blog you are being banded at Kaiser? Is it South SanFrancisco Kaiser? Who is your surgeon?
I was banded there in Nov 07 by Dr. Alami at Kaiser and I was just curios if you had the same doc.
He is AWESOME!!! I had to see Dr. Le for one of my fills and it was the WORST experience of my life and I told Dr. Alami that I will never see another surgeon EVER again!
He has the best bed side manner and is one of the BEST surgeons I have ever known, definitly a blessing for me to have him to my surgery.

I am now almost 7 months out from surgery so if you have any questions feel free to ask. I have had a pretty great experience with the Band only a couple of complications but nothing to fear, and most caused by Dr. Le

Anyways enough of the rambling on and on.
Take care and Congrats on your upcoming band date!!!

Thank you so much. I'm going to keep you in mind. I'm being banded by the other Dr. Li. He's been there the longest out of the three. I heard that the Dr. Le (with the "e") was a real jerk and didn't take time with his patients. I met Dr. Li and he was very professional and nice (quite handsome also, which is disconcerting). I also heard great things about Dr. Alami so I'm glad I got one of the two good ones. Just getting excited about the big day. I'm looking forward to it and trying to be good and not gain any weight...so they don't refuse me.

Diz · 05-24-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pandagirl

When I tell them the band is a tool and I still have to eat well and exercise they(the buttheads of the universe) say, "Why don't you just do that now? All it takes is a little will power."

I usually respond back, " Who says I'm not and I haven't ? Who says I don't have will power?"

It takes them a really, really long time to wrap thier brains around that.

Exactly...who says we don't have willpower? Not only that, we have determination. How many people do we know will pick themselves up and start over and over again? We know we want to be healthy and we keep at it, keep trying. Most people I know would quit.

Diz · 05-28-2008, 10:25 PM

ok...Got some news from the Dr. Front. The doctor postponed my surgery from the 12th to the 19th due to...jury duty. I was not a happy camper because it's added an extra trip for me, so in all I'll be driving about 1800 miles in June. A little bummed, but I can do this, so I just have to be patient...for another week.