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Surgeon TestimonialAviv Ben-Meir, M.D.My first meeting with Dr. Ben-Meir was in February, 2007. My first impression was that he was a kind, self-confident surgeon. He answered my questions, did not rush me and when leaving the office, stated to me that he would take good care of me. After surgery, I saw him twice before leaving the hospital. Every precaution was taken to ensure an uneventful surgery..to reduce complications which could occur. He emphasized aftercare, made certain I understood everything and was ALWAYS VERY PLEASANT! A+ for surgical competence and bedside manner. I would recommend him to anyone contemplating RNY or lapband surgery. rnrnOver all, I felt they have a very good structured program, however since I wound up having to go self pay, I think was a bit of a wrench in the \"normal works\". There were times that I felt my case specialist took too long in addressing my calls, following up on my appeal, and at times almost seemed like she had no clue who I was. I understand there are hundreds of people that come and go through their doors, but let's face it, we want and need to feel that they know about \"my case and my medical history\".rnrnThe PAT went flawlessly as did the group meeting with the dietician. They provided detailed printed materials needed for Pre and Post-op, addressed risks of the surgery and even though you left overwhelmed, you left with a confidence.rnrnWhen I asked the cost of the total package to have this surgery, I was told $4,000 for the surgeon, $15,450 for the hospital which was all inclusive, and a bill for anesthesia approx. $2,000-$4,000 and would be discounted if paid immediately. If any problems were to happen, of course there would be additional charges. 6 weeks after my surgery, bills started rolling in above and beyond those quoted to me, bills for various doctors, and then the mother load of a bill came in for $9,850 ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT I ALREADY PAID! I feel I was grossly misinformed! Now I have to figure out how to come up with $10,000! I am very upset about all of this!rnrnUPDATE 12-12-07 rnrnGREAT NEWS! They screwed up in sending the request for coverage to my insurance. This was for the charges I paid for PRIOR TO SURGERY. Thank goodness.......I now can get on with my life and the holidays without the worry of how I was going to cough up another $10,000.rn Member Interests
- Computers & Internet - Just love my computer- searching the web for everything I need or want
- Crafts - Love making things, however my hands do not let me anymore
- Games & Entertainment - Cards, computer games & board games
- Health - Diabetes, 2 heart attacks, HBP, the list goes on......
- Hobbies - Swimming, wildlife, taking pictures, ebay addict & my pets
- Pets - 3 loving cats, Sabrina, Sasha & Isis
- Fish - Have a pond and just had babies, 5th generation native to pond -15 Total
- Movies - Love them all!
- Music - Country, rock, pop, hip-hop & alternative
- Married - My wonderful loving husband for almost 32 years-best thing ever!
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MY FIRST EATING HOLIDAY ~ THANKSGIVING! on November 24, 2007 2:50 pm
Last year (2006) was a very sad and lonely Thanksgiving. My mom had just passed away in September and my husband and I are the only family in
Ohio . Both his and my parents were gone, and having no children, it was just the two us. Being so emotional about my mother’s passing, we did not even really acknowledge that it was Thanksgiving.
I had made a promise to my mom that I would take control of my health. Mom & I had discussed off and on the issue of my having Bariatric surgery and even though she was scared for me, supported whatever I decided. So after everything settled down, I finally had my surgery in October (2007)
This year, however things were much different. We had met a wonderful friend and her husband whom asked us to join them to dine out for Thanksgiving. Ok first challenge, not eating my HOMEMADE Thanksgiving vittles. Second challenge, what will I be able to eat? Well, I was worried for nothing as all went great. The restaurant did not have a child’s menu; however they did offer a small & large portion. So I ordered the small, and I was able to eat 2 oz. of turkey, about 2-3 tablespoons of mashed potatoes with a bit of gravy, about ¼ cup of mixed veggies, and a small green salad with 2 tablespoons of 1,000
Island dressing. Took the rest home and my hubby ate it as a snack later on that evening. I was in heaven that I was able to eat and enjoy our friends at a restaurant.
First challenge – the food was not as good as what we make at home, but edible! Second challenge - THERE IS LIFE AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY!
I still do not get all of the proteins, fluids and calories in that are required per day, but I am working on that. At this point I am pleased to report that so far I can eat anything (well all that I have tried so far) with no problems. I just get full on small amounts of food, which is how the tool is supposed to work!
Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving and remembered what they had to be thankful for. I sure did!
(I’m keeping my promise mom) 
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NEED TO SELL PROTEIN... on November 16, 2007 11:32 am
I tried a product called Chike! They have 5 flavors, Banana, Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla and Orange. Surprising enough, the Banana and Strawberry are wonderful tasting to me. Per scoop it contains 27 g. protein, 170 calories, 9 g. carbs, and 2 g. sugar. It comes in 3# tubs or individual plastic bottles, pre-measured and all you do is add water (or milk if you need additional protein).
It is a bit more expensive compared to other protein supplements/meal replacements, but it mixes well with either water or milk, taste is great and does not have the nauseating "protein" smell.
If interested, I do have a few samples that I could send to those interested, all I would ask is you pay the postage. I also have two-3# tubs available, one Banana and one Strawberry which I need to sell. My surgeon wants me to stop taking protein in two weeks and only obtain my protein from food.
Silly me, I went on a shopping spree for protein, thinking I would need it for a longer period of time. If interested, send me a PM.
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Update on my fur baby Sasha! on November 15, 2007 5:48 am
Finally, after several months, surgery and tons of medications, my middle baby Sasha finally got the ALL CLEAR on her last visit to the vet. Her urinalysis came back clear and said she is doing fine. 
This good news has been such a relief. Both my husband and I love our babies as if they were our children. We cannot bear when one of them are sick. We feel so helpless and with vets these days, it seems to take forever to get results back, so you wait and you wait and you wait. The worry mounts, you think about all the "what if's" and you begin to stress out. 
I noticed last night that my oldest baby, Sabrina has a small growth on her eye lid. She is the one that is impossible to catch, she jumps at every sound and to try and get her to take to the vet, well almost an all day affair. Then when you bring her back, it is about a week before you can find her again. That in itself is bad especially when you have to adminster medications, talk about "mission impossible". At this point I will keep and eye on her (no pun intended).
With the holidays and cold weather upon us, I really hate taking my girls out in this weather as they are strictly inside babies and I do not want them catching a cold. Spoken like a true mom, right??? 
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Ok, I guess I am at an impass! on November 15, 2007 5:31 am
Well it has been 6 days since my 3 week post op, and not one more pound have I lost!  Ok, ok, I remember, do not let this get me down. I have to remember that my body is trying to catch up and figure what the hell has happened!
I have progressed to eating pretty much normal foods, I just chew and chew until my jaws get tired. So far there is nothig that has bothered me. I have tried all sorts of foods like Governor Tso's Chicken with pork fried rice (ok could only eat 2 small pieces of chicken and about 1/4 cup of the rice), but it tasted wonderful! Crab Rangoon (ate 2), baked orange roughy stuffed with crabmeat (3 ozs.), green beans, carrots, corn (mixed with other veggies), Hillshire Farm's extra lean oven roasted turkey, wheat toast, lite mayo, baked potatoe and eggs with small bits of ham and velveeta cheese. Now although all the above are in small quantities, they tasted great, stayed down fine and I was full after eating. I even tried No sugar added Ice cream made with Splenda and I really enjoyed it.
I still have a bit of minor discomfort on my left side but I think it is from the water aerobics. My doctor said I may have jumped the gun just a tad as I was doing ALL of the exercises and should NOT have done the ones with the foam weights. Even though they are virtually weightless, the resistance when plunging them in the water is equal to regular weights. So hopefully the minor irritation will subside sometime soon in the near future. 
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