Pat in Washington

I am again seeking help. Since my fill is due around the holidays I would like to have my fill done near my area. Has anyone heard about Dr. Kelly in Portland or a doctor who does fills in the Lewiston ID area ? Also how important is the flourascope. I see many patients do not have one. Those of you who have had it "done blind" I would like to hear about you experience. Thanks

I got my last fill from Joan Richardson at Clearwater Medical in Lewiston 208-743-8416. She does fills Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. It went well and was a relief to have someone close. And she only charges $100.00.

I am so glad to see this issue addressed. I found out from the fill ladies from Arlington that your body can only utilize 20-25 grams of protein at a time. Protein loading does not work. Protein needs to be spread throughout the day. I certainly feel better doing that.

Here's the web site to find out all you want to know about using mass transit in San Diego http://www.sdcommute.com/ Use the trip planner to plan your trip and the estore to buy a one day pass for $5.00. It really is easy and a lot more affordable.

Pat

The OCC's web site has the following information on it.

"We will provide you with written instructions from our Nutritionist and Surgeon along with a basket of approved liquids, oral medication for pain control and an acid blocker."

I didn't get the basket nor the acid blocker when I got banded last month. Has anyone else received these?

Hi

I'm new sceduled for surgery March 21st, has anyone gone alone and would anyone recomend it?

I was banded on 02/20/08 and went by myself. I had no problems at all. Everyone is right--I met some great bandsters having surgery at the same time, some that had surgery the day before and even some having surgery the next day. I would recommend anyone going by themselves rather than not going at all!

Hey Judy;

Girl I wish I knew what to say to you, but I don't.. I am sorry. I do wish and hope for you that you come to a solution that will satisfy your sweet tooth and your weight loss begins to drop again. Good luck and one more thing... look back at your sucess so far... wow- just keep going maybe not one day at a time, but one meal at a time.

Cindy,

Tomorrow is our big day. Real food finally. There were days I didn't think I would make but I did. Taking one day at a time worked for me. Enjoy that chewing!

Pat

I'VE ONLY HAD MY BAND FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND I EAT EVERYTHING. DO I HAVE TO WATCH THE BREAD AND PASTA INTAKE, YES BUT I DO EAT IT. NOT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND I DON'T MAKE A MEAL OUT OF IT, LIKE I USE TOO

MY "BAND PARTNER" LOST HER BAND DUE TO SLIPPAGE WITHIN 9 MONTHS. (IMO I THINK IT HAD SLIPPED A LONG TIME EVEN BEFORE THAT) SHE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF HERSELF, WOULDN'T LISTEN TO HER BODY, DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE, IGNORED THE SIGNS ETC.

THE BAND ISN'T THAT HARD TO WORK WITH, IT'S A FRIEND. RELAX, YOU'LL DO AWESOME

THESE ARE THE PICTURES OF HER SLIPPED BAND. EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL WITHIN MINUTES

So what are the signs of slippage that we should watch for?

Hey Everyone! Has anyone out there that needed to quit smoking used prescription medication to help? If so, what did you use and what are the side effects?

After a 2 pack a day for almost 40 years, I quit using Chantix. It worked great. I didn't do well on patches. With Chantix you don't get any nicotine. Even though my insurance company would not cover it, I was spending about the same on the med as I was for cigs. Today is my one year anniversary of being a non-smoker. I was just banded last month and I can't imagine going through preop diet and quitting smoking at the same time. Good luck!

Pat

I urge every bandster that is dealing with uncontrollable hunger to order the book "The Emotional First + Aid Kit" by Cynthia L. Alexander I was banded 02/20/08 and one of the other bandsters had this book. I ordered it from amazon.com the day after I got home. It certainly is helping me handle this post op diet better than I would have had I not read the book.

Pat

I was banded on 2/27 in TJ. I had a great time there and loved the OCC and everyone in it! My surgery was wednesday and its now Sunday evening....all i can think about is food. I want to eat something so badly. I dont even know if I am hungry...but i just want to eat. When I was at the airport on my layovers I was just surrounded by food..and i was so bored- there was nothing to do but eat. I was laying in bed today realizing that my sundays revolved around food. Id make breakfast for my and my husband, then go to the grocery store, and pick up a big sub from the deli and then make a big dinner... today- ive had a little bit of broth and of course some water and crystal light..... i just want to eat-i dont even want to start typing what Im craving because I will never stop. I quit smoking about 3 weeks ago....and that was a piece of cake compared to this. I know that this not eating thing is just for a few weeks (until march 18 to be exact)..... i dont know what advice there is to be given on this topic...but has anyone else felt this way? AHHHHH

Also- has anyoe been in therapy after being banded for addiction? I want to know how to deal with this?! HELP ME! I seriously feel like THIS is my low. Ive never felt this pathetic before. Ive been thinking that it mightve been better to be fat and be able to EAT then to have to go thru this post op diet. I have watched the scale go down and it makes me feel good for a minute, and then the thoughts about eating just take over. DOES IT GET BETTER?!

I was banded 10 days ago. While there, I heard of a great book from one of the other bandsters. I ordered it the day after I got home and received it yesterday. I would like to recomend it to everyone that is having surgery or thinking about having surgery. The book is "The Emotional First + Aid Kit A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery" by Cyntia L. Alexander. I bought mine at amazon.com.

Pat

Hi Cindy,

Sorry to hear that you are having problems. We were banded the same day and besides hiccups and a little port soreness everything is going well here. Are you drinking your 8 cups of water per day? Good choice is calling the doctor for advice. Hope the heartburn gets better!

Pat

Hi Judy,

I am able to keep all of the liquids down with no problem and I feel great, it's just this awful burning in my chest- seems to get worse as the day goes on... so who knows. Dr. Martinez told me to crush the Prilosec and swallow it with yogurt, so it actually went down pretty good- tasted gross though...

Thanks for your input!!!

Cindy

There's been a lot of posts concerning fills. Someone sent this to me and I can't remember who, otherwise I'd give them the credit. If any members have any good ideas to add to this, send me a message and I'll edit it and add it to this post. Also,, Anyone that wants to, you can copy and paste this post and print it out for your convenience. This has a lot of good ideas and suggestions.

Here it is again,, its good reading material

Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill

The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill.

1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 6 to 8 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill.

(Remember, water is your friend).

Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take an empty drink bottle and fill it after you pass airport security. TSA rules state you can bring an empty water bottle past the TSA security check point. Bring some of those "to-go" packs of Crystal Light, they’re ideal! Ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink.

(Hint - If you flying in for a fill, while you're on the plane, grab a couple of those white barf bags.

It’s good to keep one in your purse or car, for "emergencies".)

2. Do not to have any solid foods for at least 6 hours before the fill. Don't eat a huge or late dinner the night before. If you're having any trouble (reflux, possible slip, etc)

please have nothing but fluids after dinner the night before.

In some cases, food can still be in the pouch for 12 or more hours.

ANY food in the pouch will make it impossible to give a good fill, or get a good fluoro

3. Don't drink COLD fluids for an hour before the fill. That will shrink your stoma and give a false fluoro reading, and a poor fill. Room temp fluids are fine. Let the ice in your drink melt and hour before a fill,

and then you'll have room-temp fluids to drink right up to the fill time.

4. Avoid getting a fill during a menstrual period or a few days before an expected one. During this time, girls are usually retaining water, and the fluoro will not be as accurate, and the fill will not be either.

5. If at all possible, hang around for at least a few hours after a fill. Don't run right back home or to the plane. It takes the normal swelling after a fill 1-2 hours to develop, and by that time you might be too tight and need to come right back.

6. If you fly in, If at all possible, stay overnight and catch a plane out the following late afternoon or evening. If you are too tight, this will allow time to get a small unfill before you leave. This is not very convenient, but sure beats having to possibly return to TJ in a few days, on short notice, in pain, and at high last-minute plane fares! This is "prevention!" Overfills are not common, but they DO happen, even under the best of conditions. Be prepared, and think about this overnight stay. Test your fill the next day before you leave.

7. After a fill, please have liquids only for at least 24 hrs. This allows the stoma to rest and heal. Then, a day of soft foods, then back to regular foods. Full liquids are fine, no need for clears. Remember, if you staying over night test your fill before you fly out.

8. Review the eating and food guidelines again before every fill. You’ll need to refine your eating more and more with higher fill levels, and there will be less and less room for goofs. As you reach a higher fill level, you'll no longer be able to "get away" with things you might have before!

9. Please don't get a fill if you are having ANY trouble with the current level of fill. This means ANY regular pain, PB or barfing more than maybe once a week at the VERY most, not able to get enough

calories in, not able to drink enough, able to eat only soft foods or fluids.

More fill will NOT help, and will make things worse. Discuss all this carefully with your doctor. You may even need an UNFILL, to keep your band and stomach safe.

10. First fills are routinely given at 6-8 weeks after surgery, but only as you need them. Many people do, some do not. Your doctor will help you decide if you need a fill, just ask. There is no rush for fills. Too much can very easily get you in trouble, and you end up further "behind" than if you had gone slower with fills.

11. Give a fill at least 2-3 weeks to test it. Some fills don't "settle in" for a week or two, and sometimes more. Your weight loss is what determines how a fill is - not any feeling of restriction, necessarily.

12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will NEVER be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info.

A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied (NOT "FULL", but simply "satisfied, not physically hungry". for about 3-4 hrs.

13. Plan regular meals. A good fill will keep you satisfied for 3-4 hrs, but no longer. If you are hungry 5 hrs after lunch, it is not because you have an inadequate fill! Regular meals at planned times are important for a number of reasons; including avoiding snacking, maximizing your calorie burn and normalizing metabolism, which is essential for weight maintenance later on.

14. Learn to recognize YOUR "soft stop" sign. Common ones are chest tightness or "fullness", a sudden runny nose, a single hiccup or burp, an eye twitch, back pain, left should pain. All mean the pouch is full enough and we should STOP eating, even spitting out the bite that may be already in our mouths. If you do not, you could progress to the "hard stop" - slimming, pb, barfing.

Please remember that good fills are very elusive, even with highly- experienced docs and fill people. There are just too many individual factors involved that the docs cannot control. Even the fluoro is only a clue, and not entirely accurate - for some of the reasons above.

It usually takes 3- 5 fills to slowly and safely creep up on a good level, and they can be safely given a month apart.

Trying to go faster with a bigger fill is not the solution, and the stomach rebels at big sudden fills. The goal of the first few fills is NOT to achieve a good restriction, but to gradually get your stomach used to some pressure so you can tolerate a GOOD fill later.

SLOW and GRADUAL is the key!

Going slowly with fills can be frustrating, but is well worth the wait to avoid problems.

Talk to your doctor about going on Chantix to help you quit smoking. I was a 2 pack a day for almost 40 years and it helped me quit smoking. My food addiction has been harder to deal with. I can't imagine dealing with both at the same time so good luck! Remember what they say--If it's something you really want, it is worth working for.

I was to meet the driver at 10:45am. He arrived on time but we were told we needed to wait for some other people. They didn't arrive until 12:15. There were 2 of us who were waiting had been fasting for tests. When we got to the clinic, there ended up being six of us to process at the same time. By the time I was able to get something to drink it was 2:00. And it was 4:00 before I got anything to eat and I am a diabetic. We were told to meet the driver at 7:30 the next morning and it was almost 8:30 before he arrived. I was told that as a diabetic my blood sugar would be tested every 4 hours. It was tested only twice--just before surgery and the next morning. No doctor came to tell me anything about how my operation went. Those that had companions there did get a visit and update from doctor. So why not the patients that were there by themselves? I found out when I checked in at the hotel since the hotel room I was occupying would be empty while I was at the clinic that I had to check out the morning of surgery and back in the day after. I had to wait for an hour for a room to be available the day after surgery. By the time I got to my room all I could do was take a shower (they didn't want you taking a shower at the clinic) and go to bed. I got a call that afternoon saying to meet the driver at 11:00 am the next day for the van to the airport (my flight was at 4:30). So we waited until almost noon and then he finally there. I didn't get home until 11:00pm and it was a very long 12 hours. I really didn't have the experience I was expecting from reading the posts prior to surgery. I think part of the problem is because they are so busy since the Oprah show. I had booked prior to the show and wish I had the surgery before then. I think my experience would have been different.

Just remember, you can't always tell someone's weight or other health factors just by looking at them. The minimum BMI for surgery is 30. If a person has been heavier and managed to get slightly below 30 we may consider them for surgery based on other risk factors. Believe me, we turn down more than we accept.

Because I won't discuss a patients medical profile I won't tell you what that patients information is, but they did qualify for surgery.

While you may have had to go back to the airport earlier than expected, it may be possible that we had another patient needing pick up at the airport and there may not have been time to make more than one run to get you back in time had we waited. I don't schedule the driver, so I'm not sure. I'm sorry this was an inconvenience. We would just rather you get there early then miss a flight.

I hope that overall you had a pleasant experience at the clinic. We do welcome suggestions and I have forwarded your post for evaluation.

thank you

Judy,

Thanks for sharing. I'm schedule for surgery on the 20th so I was glad to see your video. I hope your recovery continues to go well!

Pat

Just in case anyone wants to see a really short clip of what happens after surgery and the special individual care each patient receives, here is a clip of me after surgery and taking a walk down the hall with the little sweet nurse. My mom was going to take a picture with my new digital camera and hit video instead...lol She told me that each patient has a nurse stay with them until they wake up and the care begins to get walking and then they bring you popsicles and broth or whatever.

Side note - this walk took place after I changed back into undies from the little paper panties they give you...lol

http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/luv...nt=S6300041.flv

Hope it works!

Peace,

Judy

p.s. sorry it is so short, but something to see, especially for the newbies.

I'm having my surgery on February 20th. Anyone else?

I'm from Eastern Washington and scheduled for February 20th. I'm 58 years old but decided that I am not too old to get my health under control. I was scheduled for gastric bypass last August but couldn't go through with it. It was the only obesity surgery my insurance company would pay for but I had major issues and the final straw was when I got the authorization from my insurance company it said "removal of stomach." I didn't think I could afford lap band surgery but decided I can't afford not to have it. I have been so busy getting ready for this that I haven't had time to be nervous yet. That will start the day before surgery when I get Mexico. My question for those that have been through it is what will I feel comfortable to travel in when I fly home on the 22nd? I don't expect it to be a good time but I would appreciate any input that would make the experience more comfortable.

Pat

Hello everyone, I have researched lapband for quite some time and I even went to a seminar in Memphis, TN a couple of years ago. I was told then that I needed to be at least 100 lbs overweight and, in general, I felt like it was an assembly line situation on top of everything else. I left there pretty discouraged.

Today, I watched Oprah and I was so impressed with Cassie and her mom. To be so young and so determined! I admire Cassie's strength and resolve to change her life at such a young age! And, I admire her mom for getting the best care for her daughter. =D> I have been inspired by both of them and if Cassie can do it, I can do it. She may have been one of the youngest and I may be one of the oldest!

I have tentatively scheduled my lapband for March 10th and will go ahead with it if funding works out. Please wish me luck! I live in Northeast Mississippi but I'm a retired Marine's wife so the travel is no big deal to me.

I was tall and skinny until I turned 50 and had to quit exercising because of nerve damage in my feet (long story). I have gained 70 lbs since then and now weigh 230. That is hard to admit, much less say in a forum!

Anyway, I will be 57 on 2/12/08 and this really is something to think about at my age! Not that I'm ancient or anything but I am a grandmother. The thing is, it sure would be nice to play with my grandchildren and run with them the way that I want to. And it sure would be nice to get off some of the medication I have to take everyday. The bottomline is that being fat makes me feel OLD!

Sorry for the ramblings! One question I have is about the "fills." I understand that I'll need to find a dr here to do them and I hope that won't be a problem but I live in a rather rural area in comparison to a big city so it might be tough. Also, getting a dr here to do a fill when I've had the procedure in Mexico. I'm sure they'll think I'm insane.

Are the fills painful? How often do you need them? Do you have to get them for the rest of your life? Thank you!

Best wishes and peace to everyone! Any and all advice or comments are appreciated. >

Traveling to TJ. Go to sdcommute.com for information. You can get a one day pass at the estore for $5.00. It makes traveling around San Diego easy and you don't have to worry about exact change.