oktwigs

The "procedure" went well. No problems...love good drugs that put me to sleep. =D> No need to tell them about the band at all.

Hey - just wanted to let you know I talked to my gastroenterologist and he said there is no reason to disclose the fact that you have been banded. He said having a colonoscopy will not compromise the band at all and your gastroenterologist will not come anywhere near it during the procedure....so if you don't want to tell him, don't! Good luck!

Thanks for all your extra leg work on that! I really appreciate it.

Twigs

Twigs - for some reason I did not see the gastroenterologist this week but I will try to get in touch with him before your procedure. When is you consultation or next office visit?

I'm scheduled for the end of May. He promises me I won't feel a thing. :)

Thanks Blazn...I'll look forward to your input.

That's the problem with small town living...you can't burp without someone knowing about it. My Mom, sons, and the rest of my family thought I went to a "retreat" aimed at helping people with weight issues. Close to the truth, but not quite there. I also flew down to SD for my first fill. That time I was out of town for a class. In my profession it is common for me to leave town for classes and such so no one thought anything about that absence. I guarantee you though that if one records person or nurse at the hospital/clinic knew about the band it would become common knowledge.

Oh yes, I soooo excited abut the colonoscopy (NOT). Here's what so funny about it though...when given the choice of the dates I picked the day of an annual event here in my school that I just hate. Sitting in the bleachers with my students or going under sedation....uhmmmmmm...I'll go for the drugs!

Thanks for the input.

Twigs

I'm scheduled for my first colonoscopy in late May. My Primary Care Doc knows I'm banded, but we've elected to keep it out of my medical records...this is a small town and even with privacy laws we felt it was a private matter (only husband knows i'm banded) and didn't want it leaking out into public knowledge. I saw the doctor who does the colonoscopy and didn't tell him...should I? Again, I don't want it in my medical records, but in a normal 'scope they don't need to put a tube down your throat for anything.

What do you all think?

Twigs

The resteraunt in the Lucerna offers a fabulous quesidilla... it was huge though and both my sister and felt we could have shared it. This was probably because we had also been on the shake pre-op and were not used to consuming so much. That being said, I think TammyLu also had the same thing...

BTW, when we went to Mexico back in January, we were specifically told not to eat outside the resort and to stay away from the fruit. Just a thought... don't want to get sick on top of surgery.

The main recommendation for eating in MX is to eat only things you can peel or wash yourself in water with either microdine or a few drops of bleach. Make sure your drinks have purified ice...restaurants want tourists to come back and so do a pretty good job. I had the best ceasar salad ever at a small pizza joint in Todos Santos this winter...organically grown just out of town.

I've been to MX for two vacations and not gotten tourista and I'm even brave enough to eat from roadside stands. But...I am known for having a cast iron stomach. We went for two full weeks this past Xmas with my whole family and out of a dozen people we only had two cases of mild tourista that were gone within a few hours.

Do make sure you brush your teeth with bottled water and only drink bottled water...I think that will solve most problems.

Good luck!

Twigs

I'm especially glad that only my husband knows I was banded. I'm almost to my 1 year anniv. and I've only lost 25 lbs. this year. Part of that is the difficulty I have in getting fills since I live in a very remote area. I haven't had a fill since Oct. and will get one at the end of the month. Good thing about the band is that I haven't gained the weight back. I alternate between being grateful for the band the fact that its kept me from gaining weight...and then back to feeling discouraged that I haven't lost as much as I'd like. If people knew I'd been banded I would have had to deal with questions and knowing looks, and gossip that I haven't lost weight. Even my best buddies don't know -- only my banding buddies.

Twigs

Didn't she describe weight loss surgery as the easy way out? Hopefully she'll be fair in her portrayal but I'm going to reserve my judgment until I see the show.

I agree...she does say that WLS is the easy way out. Remember the show she did on people who just switched their food addiction to drugs or alcohol? I hope OCC knows what they are getting into. While I like Lady O, I sometimes worry about the influence she has on people...she has lots of power and if she does a negative piece on OCC and banding, it could really backfire. As for me -- I am very pleased with my experience and although I haven't lost as much as I'd like to, I am still plugging away at it.

Twigs

Hey Chrissy-

I just got banned in TJ. I am reading along about the people in Arlington. You mention that they are having problems finding the port. So, where is Dr. Neal? I live in Monroe and don't like needles. Can you let me know how to get ahold of this doctor? That would really be great. Thanks!

A fellow bandR

Shanny

I've had three fills in Arliington...all went very well and no problems finding the port,

Suzie, thanks for asking about me! I actually went back to Chicago last night, to get fluoro, and have everything checked out. LUCKILY, everything is OK. No leaks, no damaged port, no slips, erosion, or stretched pouch! I can't TELL you how happy I am! However, my band was COMPLETELY empty, which is what I had expected. My family doc had pulled out a total of 2.5cc's, but when she tried to add saline, she wasn't in the port! So for over a week, I've been able to eat ANYTHING, and EVERYTHING. I almost KNEW it was empty. I don't know if, while my band was empty, my stomach walls got thicker or what, but I was only able to handle 2.25cc's last night. At 2.5 NOTHING would go through, and that is what I had before. Or it COULD have been those 2 pounds I gained while my BAND was EMPTY. Either way, everything should be back to normal now, and I'm gonna REALLY work on it before Christmas. I'm gonna start exercising more, and try to watch what I eat, and NO drinking with my meals. It's strange how you can slowly fall back into old habits. But, with my band scare, and my new adjustment, I'm thinking of it as a FRESH START.

Donna

WHOO HOO! That is great news. I am so pleased things are ok with your band. I'm still feeling a pretty good restriction. I don't even try to eat my usual breakfast any more...one warm low fat cocoa until about 10:30. Sometimes I can eat a small amount of cereal then, other times I just end up eating a granola bar. Have you tried those KASHI ones? Delicious and they aren't too bad calorie wise. The rest of the day is made of healthy choices. I wish apples were easier to eat, but oranges are a good afterschool snack for me. I have a few things I'll be packing my MX bound suitcase, the granolas being one of them.

I'm working harder at the exercise too. I pretty much took the first quarter of the school year off, but now I'm back at it. If I'm going to try surfing down in MX at Christmas i'd better be sure my shoulders and arms are strong so I'm hitting the weights at the gym very regularly. Man, was I sore for a few days, but it is better now.

Are you fixing the Thanksgiving dinner or are you traveling to one of your family's homes. I'm doing the cooking and will probably get the last of my shopping done today. I think I'll brine my turkey this year. It'll be interesting to see what I can and can't eat and I'll have to be especially careful with the current fill I have. I wouldn't want to PB in front of the family since they all have no clue about the band. Again though, I am soooo glad I didn't tell anyone. DH keeps an eye on me whenwe eat out or around friends and will ask me quietly if I'm ok if I lay my fork down (ha ha ha) -- something I'd rarely do beforehand. Now I try to put it down inbetween bites.

Do you waterload before meals? I try very very hard to drink a full 16 oz. before I sit down to eat a meal. It does help with that temptation to drink during meals. At restaurants I often suck on an ice cube rather than taking a drink. I remember Dr. Miranda suggesting that and it works well. I get that need for a drink taken care of without water choking me.

Take care hon, let me know how it goes.

Janice

Hello,

I am new. I live in Washington also. I was banded on the 14th of November. I have only had band two days. What in the world is that sensation in your diaphram and throat that feels like a stuck ball? Please let me know, I am not familiar with this feeling?

Please keep me in the loop on any places or times WA bandster meet.

Kathy

That is the restriction you are feeling from the band being placed. After the surgery your body reacts by swelling. Most of us only feel that sensation when we eat too fast, or too much, or don't chew our food to mush, but if you are newly banded that swelling is normal. Does it feel that way all the time or just when you have your liquids? Remember you shouldn't eating any solids or even mushies at this point....total liquid diet so the band has a chance to heal. Good luck.

Where are you at....East side or West Side. I'm hiding out over on the East side of the state.

Twigs

Thanks for the reply!!! I am trying to learn how to work this darn page???? Get the word out about looking for a place for them to work out of in Spokane. I end up staying over night just incase I need more in or out. I took a friend over this weekend. I myself have only had one fill at 1.5cc. I only had surgery on july 10th of this year. Well hopefully we will work it out to get them over here in the future. Maybe we ill run into each other in Leavenworth. I have a group of 5 of us.

That's pretty cool ... five eh? I would like to talk the doc in Omak who does fills for his nurse (also banded in MX, but in PV) into doing mine so I could stay close to home. Most of the bandsters in my area are pretty private about it, but I've heard of three others who were all banded in MX, but don't know their names...I'll have to put out some feelers.

Good luck with your fill and I hope it works well for you. I had half an apple as an after work snack and only ate half of a piece of fish for supper, so that's good. Hopefully things will continue this way.

Twigs

Just got back from the long drive all the way to Arlington from Spokane for a fill . That is such a long drive and did it in 2 days. I talked to Robin and Kitty at Fill Managemant and they are looking for a clinic or massage place so they can come to Spokane and do fills. Does anyone have a place or can you think of a place that I could contact and try to get them over here. If you are banded and own such a place they will do your fill for free or they are willing to rent.Think Think Think!!!! :-? Fill management is also going to be in Leavenworth ,Wa. doing fills on January 24,25,26th Just a FYI

We are on the same page....I was just over to Arlington yesterday, but was able to zip over North Cascades Pass once more before it gets closed due to weather. It looks like we might be lucky and it'll be open for at least another few weeks unless the snow just dumps all of the sudden. I left home at 7:30 am, was filled by 11:15, and back home by 4:00...stopping to take pictures quite a bit on the way home. I'm up to 2.9 cc and am doing just fine with it, almost feel like I could have had more. I'd love it if they'd get set up in Spokane occasionally. It's just a tad bit closer for me. I'll probably be in Leavenworth in Jan. too. Aren't they wonderful? I really appreciate their positive friendly attitude, I just wish they were closer.

Twigs

I am scheduled for Dec 6th and my dilemma is that my husband thinks that I need someone to come with me to TJ. I really want to go alone as I don't think I will want to be entertaining him or anyone else. Would love some feedback on the pros and cons of going it alone or taking a companion. I only pro right now is that I would have someone to carry my bag (which has wheels) !

Donna

I went by myself and my husband stayed home. No problems...I had fun with my banding sisters, who all took me under their wings.

Twigs

for the last 5 days i have had severe reflux, it wakes me up art night.i can't keep anything down. i went to doctor and he felt like i did not slip, he took .25 out and gave me reglan and protonics to take. has anyone ever had reflux this bad and it NOT be a slipped band???

Probably not. Usually slip symptoms include vomiting frequently. If it continues to be a problem a quick fluro will give a clear answer. I'm not a doc of course, so take my advice for what it's worth.

Twigs

Donna,

I really know how you feel! You've lost 10 more lbs. than me, but I've been on a plateau again for the past month or so now. I had my second fill, bringing me up to 2.3 cc and the only thing I feel restriction on is breads. I can eat anything else with little to no restriction and I know I'm overeating at meals. I am not drinking with my meals. In fact, I water load with ice water before I eat in hopes that the cold water will "tighten" me up. I'm getting down 8-10 glasses of water every day, eating my proteins as prescribed, but still find I am eating too much. I'm even on my TOM and that still hasn't helped tighten things up, but sure has made me think about food constantly!

To top it off, I'm back to work and still haven't gotten myself into the routine of hitting the gym regularly afterwards. I'm just making it a few times a week and my goal is no less than four workouts per week. I'm really falling down in that area too.

I guess I need to get back to the fill doc on the other side of the mtns. and get another .2 cc. That's all I can get per blind fill from now on. I'm thinking I need to be "sick" one day at work next week and make the trip once more. I need to get my fill to where it can do me some good before the snow hits the Cascades because after that a trip to the west side means taking at least two days. Otherwise, I can make the trip in an 8 or 9 hour round trip. Yes, that's a long day, but as you know from the pictures I sent you after my last fill trip, it is absolutely beautiful.

Enough bitching from me. I know we'll both get to that magic fill number and the weight will come off, but I guess we are both impatient and want it to happen yesterday!

Janice

When I made my appt I was told that Dr Ortiz will be out of town so Martinez will be doing the surgury. I am sure that he will do a great job but I am still nervous. Can anybody who has met him tell me anything about him both good and bad please!

He sat and talked with me quite awhile before my surgery. I was impressed by his bedside manner, but don't know anything about his credentials. He was very nice, caring, and personable.

Twigs

We have 4 volunteers/members that patrol this forum for spam posts. We try hard, but there's times when these spammers sneak some in. We're on here when we can do it, but were not on 24/7. There are hundreds of spam posts that get deleted every week. So if you see one or two, here and there, that happens, but they're usually deleted shortly after there posted.

I really appreciate the hard work and hassles the monitors go through to try and keep those posts off the forum. It's not like they get paid to keep an eye on things! Thanks again.

Twigs

Hey,

Is there anyone for Northeast WA? Near Spokane or North?

I'm in Okanogan.....

I'm a newbie, just checking into this surgery. got all enthused and set a date. now (ok, ok, better late than never) I'm wondering if anyone out there has had surgery from Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey, Mexico, and how your experience was. all information welcome. thanks!!

This forum is sponsored by Dr. Ortiz's clinic in TJ, so you probably won't see many people posting who've been to Dr. Rumbaut. Now, he was my second choice in doctors and according to my research, he has great credentials.

Twigs

Is there anyone on here whose insurance has paid for the lap-band surgery, and what were the circumstances/conditions in which the insurance agreed to pay? For example, did they just agree to pay for the lap band surgery, or were you having another surgery, ie., gall bladder, and the Dr. just went ahead and did the lap-band while they were in there. My general physician said that I qualified for the surgery, but I want to know if the insurance will pay for it or not. I live in a very small rural community and the nearest city where this surgery would be performed is over 2 hours away. I will have to take off work to go to an initial consultation. I'd prefer not to waste a sick or vacation day to drive a 4 hour round trip and sit in a doctors office for the other 1/2 day just to find out that I'd have to take out a HUGE loan. Anybody have any info or advice? Thank you!

Spend some time on the phone with your insurance company. Some companies won't even cover them...mine included, which is why I selected Dr. Ortiz for my banding. I'm very rural myself...spent my day off on Friday making an 8 hour round trip to get a fill. It's just one of those things I'm used to having to do in order to live in a beautiful area of the country.

Twigs

You will love Dr. Ortiz when you meet him. Just don't do like my friend did, and take the happy pills, and pass out, and miss his visit!

Hey! I resemble that remark! :)

Janice

I chuckled at the gals who thought Puyallup was too far from Arlington. I just did a 8 hour round trip from the east side of the state to go to Arlington and visit Kitty for a fill today! I'd kill for a shorter trip.

I was very pleased with Northwest Fills and Kitty was very helpful and encouraging.

Here's some info on another option if you are in Eastern Washington as I am, but I thought it was way overpriced! Dr. Trotter in Spokane charges $320 for a "post op checkup" and then $250 for blind fills. They cannot be on the same day. If you want to have a year's worth of care in a package price, he charges $2500. Going to Spokane is a 6 hour round trip for me and Richland is 8 hours. So for now, as long as the roads are good, I'll be seeing Kitty at NW Fills for any of my fill needs.

I'm up to 2.3 cc now on my 4 cc band...second fill and I feel very good.

Twigs

I made the decision to be banded just a few short months ago. My surgery is Monday, Sept. 3 and I am scared to death. I am having issues with my pre-op diet Dr. Miranda gave me. I am so hungry right now. I worry that if I struggle with this, how can I do the band? I have 3 kids that I have to cook for which is also hard! Does anyone have any advice? I am worried about EVERYTHING! Mexico, the money, PBing, emotional eating, having something on my stomach, etc. I guess I am having a panic attack. Ha! To make it worse I am not sure how to navigate around this forum to well!

Is anyone out there having surgery on 9-3-07? I sure could use some support and friends in this journey!

Thanks in advance!

Calli

I was the same way...really scared but Becky pulled me through it and everyone at OCC was wonderful. It was a breeze and I was worried about nothing. I've done great with my band and now laugh at how nervous and scared I was. Take care. You'll be fine!

Twigs

Yes, I do believe Tom will be showing up soon. I'm generally VERY RESTRICTED when it's time for him to come around! So, I can only guess I was so HUNGRY the past few days, due to his upcoming arrival as well! LOL #-o

Donna

Donna, You are so funny! I just chuckled when I saw the subject line. Here I am still fiddling around with just one fill and realizing that I really, really need a second one and you are heading for your third. That would explain why you've lost about 10 more lbs. than me since April 3rd. My TOM is so out of whack that I don't even think about it until it hits me, sometimes 100 days apart! I've been feeling "piggy" too, but I suspect that's more because I have to go back to work next week (damn the beginning of the school year!!!!) and I'm dreading it.

I truly doubt you've disconnected your tube from the band or the port. I've been exercising like crazy all summer long and the only thing that gives me the slightest twinge is the leg press...I feel the port stitches being pulled when I try to press too much. I just stabalize the area with my hand and all is well again.

Have a good weekend...

Janice