(No subject)

[Guest guest]

(no subject)

>

>

>I have the same Dr as , Dr Kierath...I found him to be very good at

>explaining the surgery to me...The very first thing he told me was I still

>have to put in alot of hard work..The band WILL NOT do it for you...If you

>still eat bad foods you will not lose weight...I'm 4 weeks post op today

>and i'm doing really good....I dont think about food like i used too...I

Dayle,

Aren't you our " Phantom bandster " ? Did you have corrective surgery? I'm

really glad to gear things are working out so well for you.

Steph.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dayle,

You are inspiration to me,

Regards

At 09:26 AM 16/11/98 +0800, you wrote:

>

>

>I have the same Dr as , Dr Kierath...I found him to be very good at

>explaining the surgery to me...The very first thing he told me was I still

>have to put in alot of hard work..The band WILL NOT do it for you...If you

>still eat bad foods you will not lose weight...I'm 4 weeks post op today

>and i'm doing really good....I dont think about food like i used too...I

>have to make myself eat at times....I thought long and hard about this

>surgery and i knew it was not a miracle cure, My Dr made sure that i

>understood everything and i did...I make sure i walk on my treadmill every

>day and drink heaps of water, I have not been weighed yet but i know i have

>lost weight....It feels funny to walk and have to pull my leggins up all

>the time...I never thought my clothes would ever be to big for me...I'm

>looking forward to throwing away all my old clothes oneday soon...I've

>decided to lose weight and i'm not going to let food beat me...I'm worth

>much more than that....Best of luck to you all

>

>Dayle

>Western Australia

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debie,

Sorry to hear you are having some trouble with infection.I didnt

experience that and dont know alot about it but I just thought that

perhaps some high dose vitamin C along with the antibiotics you are

already taking may help .Also someone told me that rubbing vitamin E oil

on the insision not only helps with scaring but also infection.I dont

know how true all that is but I figure it may be worth a try especially

if you arent having total succes with medication alone.

Hope you get ontop of it real soon

KIM

[Guest guest]

umm, hi, have you tried herbal medicine or aromatherapy for this condition?

just wonderin..

a

Debie Boyd wrote:

>

>

> Kim - thanks for the advice. I am taking lots of vitamin C (mainly because

> the weather here in Seattle has been frightfully cold). My band was

> inserted laproscopically and my incisions have healed normally. My

> infection is internal, about 8 inches above the highest incision and 6

> inches above the port. The infection appeared about a week after surgery

> and improved immediately with the antibiotics. But as soon as I stop

> taking them, the swelling and pain reappears.

>

> I really want to beat this infection - as my doctor is saying that if I

> don't, he will have to remove the band - and I don't want that. - Debie

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Debie,

I hope and pray that you will be able to beat this infection. You deserve it.

Loved your message.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Debie,

It's probably only a very small comfort, but there was another Australian

lady who was on the list and her band got infected like yours. She had to

have it removed only about 2 or 3 days after the op. She posted and said

that she now has a " Phantom band " (she called it) and for some reason the

scarring on her stomach from the original band was doing the same job as the

band itself. She had lost quite a bit of weight last time she posted.

Steph

[Guest guest]

I live in Washington State and had my surgery in San Diego. You have to be

committed to flying down every 3 months for the first year then every 6

months the last 2 years. It will be my 1 year anniversary on March 2

according to my scale I have lost 103# to date, It's worth the travel time.

Re: (no subject)

>

>

>Lori,

>I live in Washington State, it's a long long way from New Orleans. I

>would think that they'd want folks that are in the local area so they

>can study them. I will call anyway just to get their opinions. I

>definately qualify, I'm 48 years old 5'3 " and 203 pounds and climbing.

>I'm really looking forward to having the AGB done!!

>T.

>

>

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

: they have new offices all over now, check to see if there's one

closer to you!! A fellow ster!!

Success=Hope for the Best, Be Prepared for the Rest. Much Luck, Debi

----------

>

> To: bandsters (AT) onelist (DOT) com

> Subject: Re: (no subject)

> Date: Saturday, January 23, 1999 8:37 PM

>

>

>

> I live in Washington State and had my surgery in San Diego. You have to

be

> committed to flying down every 3 months for the first year then every 6

> months the last 2 years. It will be my 1 year anniversary on March 2

> according to my scale I have lost 103# to date, It's worth the travel

time.

>

>

> Re: (no subject)

>

>

> >

> >

> >Lori,

> >I live in Washington State, it's a long long way from New Orleans. I

> >would think that they'd want folks that are in the local area so they

> >can study them. I will call anyway just to get their opinions. I

> >definately qualify, I'm 48 years old 5'3 " and 203 pounds and climbing.

> >I'm really looking forward to having the AGB done!!

> >T.

> >

> >

> >

> >------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Where in WA do you live? Was your procedure the lap band? Were you

part of a study? Give me the scoop!!! WOW!!!!! 103 pounds, cool!!

T.

>

>

>

>I live in Washington State and had my surgery in San Diego. You have to

be

>committed to flying down every 3 months for the first year then every 6

>months the last 2 years. It will be my 1 year anniversary on March 2

>according to my scale I have lost 103# to date, It's worth the travel

time.

>

>

> Re: (no subject)

>

>

>>

>>

>>Lori,

>>I live in Washington State, it's a long long way from New Orleans. I

>>would think that they'd want folks that are in the local area so they

>>can study them. I will call anyway just to get their opinions. I

>>definately qualify, I'm 48 years old 5'3 " and 203 pounds and climbing.

>>I'm really looking forward to having the AGB done!!

>>T.

>>

>>

>>

>>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jo,

Glad to see your happy with the way things are going for you.Now that

your loss is on the move again there will be no stopping you.

How many top ups have you had?

I was also told about the Gall bladder thing too.It seems to be quite

common with both the band surgery and the bypass from what I can

gather.I have heard that even this is being laporscoprically now but

that would be something you would need to check with your Dr.Hope it all

goes well for you.

Chat soon

KIM

[Guest guest]

Hi Marie,

As far as I am aware this op isnt offered under medicare at all.I know

that my Dr only does the op if you are privately covered or are willing

to pay.Just my luck I had to pay and it cost me around about(dont know

the exact figures)$9000 and I got 85% of the Drs bill back from

medicare.The hospital was not covered at all.I figured that I am out of

pocket about $7000 give or take.

Hope this helps

KIM

[Guest guest]

Hey Marie,

You and I are after some of the same answers, hope we get some as cost can be a

touchy subject.

Syd.....

(no subject)

Hello all It's Marie again,

I have a question that some of my Australian friends may be able to help me

with in reguards to how much do you have to pay if you go through Medicare, the

waiting time for the proceedure and how much doe's private health insurance pay.

Love Marie.

[Guest guest]

As I understand it the wait for the op to be done under medicare is years and

years. You would be better off joining a private fund and contribute for a year

(about $1000) to become eligible for them to pay for your operation. Otherwise

if you can't wait, like me, you can pay for it out of pocket. I paid about $6000

altogether, and I expect to get another $1000 or so back at tax time.

I don't think cost is a touchy subject. I think it is just different for all of

us as the surgeons and hospitals tend to charge vastly different amounts. Also,

I don't think there's anyone on the list (is there?) who had their operation

covered by medicare. So the bad news is that realistically you would have to

shell out anywhere between $7000 and $10 000 for the op. unless you can wait the

year under the private fund.

Call me in Sydney (02) 94117744 anytime if you want to talk more about this, or

anything else for that matter.

Steph.

[Guest guest]

Hi Marie,

Even tho alot have already replied, I thought I'd add my bit!

My op was covered by my health insurance except for the " gap " . The

doctors gap was $1000 and the anaesthetist was $400. Curiously, both

asked for payment in advance as they said people who have this op are

often bad debtors!! Other than that everything was covered. The doc

said in total it costs about $8000. the band alone is about $2400.

I stayed at a private hospital where I had my kids and the food there is

fabulous! Like living in a hotel. When I had the babies I never wanted

to leave, but this time as I couldn't eat, I was ready to go! I had the

op on Wed, went home Sat (open op), but in hindsight maybe should have

stayed till Sun.

Hope you are finding the info helpful. I know I do!!

Hugs

Aly

Mark wrote:

> Hello all It's Marie again, I have a question that some of my

> Australian friends may be able to help me with in reguards to how much

> do you have to pay if you go through Medicare, the waiting time for

> the proceedure and how much doe's private health insurance pay. Love

> Marie.

[Guest guest]

,

thanks for the info.

I am in private health cover but haven't been in it long. I will wait until

after I see the specialist before approaching the health insurance company (for

a noway probably). If the outlay is too high I may have to wait.

Once again thanks..........

Syd.......

Re: (no subject)

As I understand it the wait for the op to be done under medicare is years

and years. You would be better off joining a private fund and contribute for a

year (about $1000) to become eligible for them to pay for your operation.

Otherwise if you can't wait, like me, you can pay for it out of pocket. I paid

about $6000 altogether, and I expect to get another $1000 or so back at tax

time.

I don't think cost is a touchy subject. I think it is just different for all

of us as the surgeons and hospitals tend to charge vastly different amounts.

Also, I don't think there's anyone on the list (is there?) who had their

operation covered by medicare. So the bad news is that realistically you would

have to shell out anywhere between $7000 and $10 000 for the op. unless you can

wait the year under the private fund.

Call me in Sydney (02) 94117744 anytime if you want to talk more about this,

or anything else for that matter.

Steph.

[Guest guest]

Rhonda,

It's great to hear from you. Sounds like things are going well even though

you are so busy. must be a doll. That is such a fun age.

Wendi

(no subject)

I just got a

free minute and wanted to tell everyone that I really miss * talking * with

everyone..........

Peace and Love,

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

Thank you Wendi! Yes, everything does seem to be going forward quite fast but

that's okay I could use a little motion in my life LOL. IS a doll I

enjoy every single moment! even the *you little imp what are you into now*

moments :-) she is teaching my 4 older daughters what it means to have a baby

in the house and that its not so easy to *just have a baby* (my oldest is 14

and she has friends, who have friends that want to have babies already, I

cant imagine, I can, but you know what I mean) its not as easy as they think

it is and she spreads the gospel LOL. I am truly blessed with my children : -

) all right enough of the brag fest LOL need to go.... do laundry YUCK I hate

it.... :- )

Rhonda

In a message dated 1/30/01 10:01:54 PM Pacific Standard Time,

naturebaby@... writes:

> t's great to hear from you. Sounds like things are going well even though

> you are so busy. must be a doll. That is such a fun age.

>

[Guest guest]

Nope, I don't think that's the reason why. There is no need to bend or

displace the implant in the first place. Just like with a rib graft,

the ear is cut from behind and lifted forward with the implant in place.

As for where to connect the canal...right in the middle. The implant is

not a solid piece. If you have ever seen a picture of grafted and

shaped rib cartilage, well, it looks just about the same. Nothing in

the middle to block where the canal should go.

Again, I believe Dr. J. is just being cautious because he has never done

it before, it's a simple as that!.

[Guest guest]

Lynne, thanks for clearing that up for me. Right now our plan

for Eva is (1) polyethylene implant and (2) evaluation by Dr. J

regarding canalplasty, then (3) canalplasty if possible or (4) BAHA

if canalplasty is not possible or not successful. Eva still has a

couple of years before this would happen but the information that you

and others have provided is INVALUABLE.

Bethany, my dream is for Eva to do as well as you are doing--I'm not

just referring to your obvious academic talents, but maturity, self-

awareness and self-confidence. Fantastic!

Finally, someone asked about people's experiences with the different

hearing aid models. Eva has used the Oticon since age 6 weeks. She

has stage 3 microtia bilaterally so I modified a fabric headband to

hold (with Velcro) the microphone part on one side of her head and

the oscillator part on the other side. The wires are contained within

the headband. We've sent it back for repairs 3 or 4 times in the 4

years that she's worn it--always for the same problem--wires

disconnected from the microphone unit. The last time that we sent it

back, they reinforced the wire connection, and it's been fine for the

past 18 mos or so.

Best wishes to all,

(Eva's Mom)

> ,

> It isn't any problem, I think you may have misunderstood me. What I

> meant is that Dr. J has never done a canalplasty on a child with a

> polyethylene implant. Doesn't mean that it is any harder or there

is

> any reason for him not doing it, just that he hasn't had any other

> patients with a polyethylene implant. Evan is his first. He told

me

> that he knows another doctor that has done canalplasties on kids

with

> implants, with very good results I might add. If he were to

operate on

> Evan, he said that he would consult with this doctor just to make

sure

> that there was nothing out of the ordinary that he might need to

know

> before proceeding. In no way does a polyethylene reconstruction

> compromise the atresia repair!

> Hope I straightened this out for you!.

>

[Guest guest]

I would like to post messages.

Please do....but I hope they have more content than this one did!!

(I assume you were testing, and it indeed worked)

Steve

[Guest guest]

Sorry about that message!! I'm new at this and I thought the email

said to email the person who started this, but it came on the message

board. silly silly me

>

>

> I would like to post messages.

>

> Please do....but I hope they have more content than this one

did!!

>

> (I assume you were testing, and it indeed worked)

>

> Steve

[Guest guest]

> Sorry about that message!! I'm new at this and I thought the email

> said to email the person who started this, but it came on the message

> board. silly silly me

No problem!....Good to have new members!!

Steve

[Guest guest]

Steve,

You sound so bitter, you're beginning to sound like me. I like to

use this group to vent.

Cheryl