My surgery date is July 6, 2006

Hi, I live in Biloxi, MS. I plan on having a lap RNY done by Dr. Avara of Ocean Springs. His clinic is called the South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center, though he performs all of his surgeries at the Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula, MS. I elected to self pay because he is only 5 miles away from Biloxi, rather than drive to Mobile which is 60 miles away. I weigh 230, am 5'4". BMI is 40. Are there any other South Miss. WLS folks around here? I'd love to meet you for your neighborly support. Krisi Ashcom

Congrats Krisi....your surgery is on my birthday...I am so happy for you! ~Danielle

Congrats! I'll be having mine in Hattiesburg on that day! We're 2 wks & 6 days from the beginning of our new lives! So excited!!!

Yes, I am very excited. It's all I can think about. Have you started to buy any "inventory" of protein suppliments for post-op? I've purchased, Protein-ex, variety sample pack with stainless stell shaker and their Any Whey from Bariatric Eating.com, Protica variety, and have Unjury on order. Also, have a couple of books lined up and a subscription to OH magazine started. I don't know what else to do right now for preparation. I'll start my liquid diet on Monday July 3, just 4 days before surgery date. Gee, I feel like there is more I should be doing in preparation. I'll get my sf popsicles, broths and other liquids next week. What are you doing in preparation? What am I forgetting to do? Krisi in Biloxi. PS. Yea! July 6th, a new beginning!!!

Congratulations! I am having my surgery July 31, 2006 and I am so excited. I currently live near Hattiesburg and I am having my surgery in Mexico, self pay. Good luck to you! Elisa

Hi Elisa and the rest of the Mississippi gang , Congrats on your surgery dates too! Life is becoming more exciting, huh? May I be so bold as to ask what your surgery will cost you being done in Mexico? Plus, including airfare? It would be very interesting to know, as I too elected to self pay. Keesler AFB, here in Biloxi WAS doing both lapband and RNY procedures (for retirees, too), up until the infamous Hurricane Katrina wiped out 90% of the base and their medical facilities. There supposedly is a waiting list for if and when the base starts the procedure again, which is anyone's guess as to when. "I want it NOW"! At least I was able to have my open heart surgery done at the base last April, (deceased hubby was retired Navy, and I will not remarry, so hence I still have all the retired military base benefits). One very major surger a year is plenty enough on the old body! I am very thankful and grateful I "slipped under the wire" and had the heart fixed before Katrina. My heart is better than ever now. I had a mitral valve repair. God is good! I question my sanity regarding self paying for my RNY. My PCM said she could have reffered me to a doc in Mobile and be covered under Tri-Care Prime (Humana). But, I had already visited Dr. Avara's, had the free consult, and I attended one group support meeting. There were 20 patients, all in various stages of WLS. Everyone there was VERY pleased with Dr. Avara and their results so I felt like I belonged there, in good company. I also feared TriCare Prime might possibly deny me cuz my BMI was 38-39 and I wasn't quite 100 lbs. overweight. It would have killed my spirit had I been turned down, so this is another reason I elected to self pay. Also, as I've mentioned several times on other posts, Dr. Avara is only 5 miles away from Biloxi in Ocean Springs. (I'm justifying my unstable sanity regarding self paying with other reasons that seem important to me to offset the out of pocket expense). BTW, since I am paying cash, a discount had been applied, the cost breakdown is this: Dr. Avara's fee is $4,800.00. Removal of the gallbladder is $385.00 extra, added to his fee. Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula is $20,000.00. This is for 3 nites stay, OR costs, anesthesia. This is it. Supposedly, no more costs unless there is something like a biopsy needed on the liver (improbable) or the such. Gee, at $6,666.66 per day at this swanky Bed & Breakfast, you'd expect their Surf & Turf special, filet mignon and lobster with plenty of drawn butter, a baked potatoe loaded with everyting and cherrie's jubilee for dessert. So, what's with the clear chicken broth, jello, and juice? Gees, helluva puny menu if you ask me. He-He! Signing off for now, *group hug*, Krisi

Hey Krisi, To answer your question, I am paying out of pocket a little over $9,000. That includes everything: plane tickets, hotel, procedure, all fees. I am not just doing this on a whim either. I have two friends that have had the same procedure done in Mexico. He has performed about 2,000 lapband procedures and even teaches over physicians around the country how to perform the lapband surgery. I am sooooo excited, I can hardly wait. I would have already gone to have it done, but I am having to go when I have arrangements made for all the children to stay with family. I am counting down the days though and already "practicing" on chewing my food better, something I should have been doing all along. BTW as far as hair loss, neither of my friends have had any noticable hair loss, so I guess it is very individualized. Elisa

Elisa, Thank you for your quick reply. Where in Mexico? Near a beach so you can catch a few rays and sip on a margarita? He-He. I'm glad to hear about your friends and the no hair loss issue. How long will you be in Mexico? Are you having the lap-band or an RNY, lap or open? Gees, the cost you are self-paying certainly sounds fair. It's a good thing you already have friends who are first hand referrals with good results. One gal I know of on a different web site went to Brazil to have hers done. Wow! Those of us all having our surgery's so close in timing should really make an effort to keep posting here so we can support each other, educate one another, and openly express what our feelings are, mentally and physically. We are all in this TOGETHER. I for one will be "glued" to this site from here on. This is where I belong at this station in my life. Please keep in touch and let's all "keep posting". *Group Hug* Krisi

Krisi, I am going to Tiajuana, Mexico and having laproscopic lap-band placement. I will get there on Sunday for pre-op, have surgery on monday, discharge on tuesday and go to a hotel, and fly back on wednesday. This is all included in the price I am paying. My physician has indeed encouraged me to lie out by the pool after discharge!! I agree, we are all in this together and I am glad to get support here. Elisa

Hi Krisi, well shucks.. I just moved away from Ocean Springs in December LOL but there are plenty folks around, just give it a few days, a few don't have access to internet right now so just hang in there ok? I've personally had to travel to New Orleans < yeah, thanks to the military insurance! > but I have heard great things about Dr Avara. Good luck and please do stay on the board actively and post often, no matter what it is . . I 'm not here as often as I want to any more, with a fulltime job, a very active 6 yr old and being a single mommy right now ( hubby's on deployment ) my time on the web is kinda limited. If you have ANY questions, feel free to post, there's no silly questions EXCEPT the ones you didnt ask!!! *wink* WELCOME to the MS board and looking forward to calling you a "LOSER" Your Fellow Loser ~Andie~ RNY June 2004 ~ 140 lbs and steady ~ those last 20 lbs are HELL!! LOL