Blazn

Hello, I have been banded for 2 years now and have been pretty successful. I would still like to lose 20 lbs but I am happy where I am.....anyway.....It seems like I remember a recommendation about getting an EGD done every 2 years post-op. Has anyone heard this?

I have been having a lot of reflux in the last several months. I called OCC and they said my band is too tight to loosen it (which I have not done yet) but I do not feel the restriction like I used to. I do get full very fast (as I always have) but I can feel the food slip through my band after just a couple of minutes. Anyway, I have an appt scheduled with a gastroenterologist in a couple of weeks to talk about an EGD but was just wondering if there was anyone else out there that has had it done.....or is experiencing the reflux and what you did to get it to stop...Thanks

RE: fills.

has he physically SEEN the liquid go in and out of his port?

i've heard/read some stories about shady fills - which have turned out to be NON-fills.

They didn't actually inject in the port, therefore, there was no restriction.

Every time I get my fills, I ask for the nurse to show me the liquid coming and going,

just so i know for sure that everything is being done/filled as I want.

That's a good point Lindsay. Some docs do blind fills and do not pull out what is already in there. So.....how in the world do you know the needle was even in the port to begin with. The fill could have been injected subq - which you would not feel if normal saline was being injected - which is what is normally used for fills.

Good for you! Very touching post! Thanks for sharing!

I love Special K Protein Meal bars. They are delicious. I think they have 10g protein - so they were usually a breakfast for me.

I honestly think I hit my sweet spot with my first fill which was 3cc in 4cc band. I did have to have another fill in 2.5 months but that was only because 0.6cc had leaked out - so I went back to 3cc. Well as you can see by my signature - I did not have another fill until recently and that is only because I had not lost any weight in 3 months. All 3cc were in there but I just think the band had loosened up due to the weight loss. 3cc in the first fill is a lot, so for those of you who have not been filled yet - don't go expecting that. I did not beg for it or anything - Darlene used fluoro and that is when the barium went down at the perfect rate. Hope this answers your question.

Hey y'all. Day 1 post PS surgery and I'm okay. Little sore but not terrible. I have only taken 1 pain pill and 1 muscle relaxer since yesterday - so I think that is pretty good. I go back to my doc this AM to have the wraps removed so I am excited about seeing them.

Thank you all for your nice comments. We are all inspirations as we decided to do something about being overweight instead of living with it. Everyone should be proud of themselves.

I will keep you updated along and along, and again thanks so much for the support.

PS - where's Michelle been? She sure is missed!!!!

Very impressive!

Hey Misty, Congrats!! You look so great! Are you having your lift/aug at Cosmed? I am doing the same thing this Monday, and I am starting to get nervous though I am excited too.....

Good luck! You have really done well for yourself and you should be so proud!

Karen

No, I am having my lift/aug here in GA.

Well I honestly cannot believe tomorrow will be 1 year since I have been banded. It has been great!!!!! I have lost 70lbs and am 14lbs from goal! To me, that is AMAZING!!! I did not do measurements like I should have or I would post them but I can tell you I went from a size 18 to a size 10 jeans. I am happy, healthy and love the new me!

So how has the road been? Well it was not all peaches-n-cream - however, if that's what I wanted to eat, I ate it. That is why I love this band. I honestly eat whatever I want - just in moderation!!!! Now, yes, some things do get stuck and I stay away from them. Like eggs - can't really eat those much anymore. Sometimes I get frustrated when I want to eat more but that's okay too. My band has taught me when enough is enough - the painful way! With that being said, to you newbies out there - THIS BAND IS A TOOL! You have to know how to work it for it to work! You have been given instructions - use them. I promise this band will work.

If you say you are sticking to the rules and you still are not loosing, #1 you are either in denial and not fully sticking to the diet or #2 you are not taking in enough calories. I hit a plateau a couple of times and the first time I started counting calories and I was only taking in 700cals so I increased it to 1000-1200 and the weight started coming off again. The second time I got a fill. Simple as that. If you see that you are eating too much - get a fill. Don't sit there and ask yourself daily why you aren't losing!!

I would also like to say that all 70lbs were lost totally without exercise!!! Totally!!! I have never exercised much - or else I would not have needed the band. Would I like to exercise? Sure, I plan on it! I graduate from NP school in May and my husband and I are both joining the gym. Now am I proud of the fact that I do not exercise - NO - but I am telling you this so you can see just how much the band has helped.

So with all that said, I love my band. Do not get discouraged throughout your weight loss journey - if you stumble just jump back on the bandwagon! YOU CAN SUCCEED WITH THIS BAND!!!!!!

Misty

PS - I'm having breast augmentation with a lift Wednesday - but don't tell anyone!

Before and After.......

TGsMom, rest assure knowing that this is soooo normal. Especially if she is thinner in the midsection. My port actually sticks out a bit. I notice it but not sure if anyone else does. And yes, you can feel it so good. The thinner she gets the more you will feel and see it. There have been people that go in for a second surgery just to bury the port deeper in the abdominal muscle, I am not sure I am going to do this though. It's not that bad. But it is always an option.

I had the band for the simple reason of one day wanting to have a baby. I have PCOS and did not ovulate until I lost weight. I knew if I got pregnant and added 50-60lbs on top of my 220 I would be huge and unhealthy. So I got banded. There is one person on here that has been banded before getting pregnant. I think it is Karen Lynn. Maybe you could PM her and ask her specifics.

Karen - you look great! Congrats on the upcoming surgeries! I am having my boobs lifted and implants on March 18th and CANNOT wait!! You really look amazing!

Thanks Lisa. I have got a little work to do to get to my "happy weight". My goal is 140 and my "happy weight" is 130.2 - but I'll be happy at my goal - heck I am happy now!

I would also check into Fill Centers USA. A lot of us here on this forum go there for our fills and they are great. They do not care who you have been banded by...that is what they are there for...fills. The first visit can be costly...up to $550 depending on the charge for fluoro if any. If you live in OK it looks like the closest will be either be Austin or Houstin, TX or Farmington, MO. I know all three of these places are hundreds of miles from you but what is the point of having the band if you can't figure out why it is not working. Good luck and keep us posted.

First off, you were beautiful, Michelle. Secondly, what a great speaker you are. And yes, you did sound so different in my head also. Great job.

Eggs but that is probably in the most part because I eat them in the morning when I am extreeeeeemely tight! So no eggs for me!!

I would absolutely, 100% have it done again. This is the 3rd best decision I have ever made in my life (only behind 1- making Jesus Lord of my life and 2- marrying my wonderful husband)! I am so much healthier & happier. Am I saying that there are not days that my band don't frustrate me? Certainly not, but that is only on those selfish days when my band must stop me from eating rather than my brain! I love my band!!

Oh - and for those of you out there with PCOS - I had my insulin level drawn last week and it is down from 29 (which is way, way high) to 7 which is low normal!! I am so ecstatic!!

Blazn,

Thanks! you have done a great job - I hope I am that lucky! Do I get to ask for any specific Dr? If so, I will ask for Darlene since she did such a good job with your fills...

No, there are no physicians there but Darlene is a nurse practitioner and highly qualified. She has been doing this for several years and has been trained by Fill centers USA who was trained by the OCC - I think that's right. And thanks, I am sure you will do great!!

Blazn,

Great job on your weight loss. Do they use flouroscopy for the fills? Is hard to get in for an appointment?

Sharon

Not usually but Darlene did just get a full time job as a NP in her home town in Moultrie so I do think it is harder than it was a couple of months ago. I think she is only going to Roswell once - maybe twice a month. Just call Fill Centers and they can give you her schedule.

Darlene is great!!!!!! I have had two fills. My first fill was 3cc in 4cc band (yes, that is a large first fill but it worked for me!) and my second fill was .6cc because I only had 2.4cc of my original fill left - so that took me back to 3cc. I have had great results and I love my band!!

I was dx with PCOS a couple years ago, and have been taking Metformin ever since (not that it's actually helped much). Anyways, I'm curious the band has helped alleviate the your symptoms (ie. facial hair, skin probs, periods) and if you've had success losing weight. I have a very very difficult time losing weight on my own, and i'm concerned that i won't be able to lose it even with the band.

Babe, yes I have/had PCOS - I quit taking my Metformin ( I never was really compliant anyway ) and have been very, very successful with the band. Although it has slowed down and I am still not at goal - I am so very happy with my results. Facial hair was never a big problem with me but I had a very bad case of ancanthosis nigrans on the back of my neck and that has completely went away. I am planning on checking my insulin level in the next few weeks and I will let you know if it is normal or not. You won't go wrong with the band though!!!!

I will help with the planning but unfortunately I probably will not be able to attend. I am graduating 2 weeks after that and will probably be having finals right around that time but I will know more next month. I will attend if at all possible. I am a very good travel agent if I may say so myself so I will start planning when we get a final word from Lori about the docs. That way if we decide to move to Vegas I won't have wasted time/effort. Evette lives in SD so she may be able to help and if we move it to Vegas Michelle may be our gal.

Well said, Trav. People, please keep in mind there are risks for ALL surgeries. Do not let this incident change your mind about banding. Although this is very unfortunate, the band did not cause the death, the bacteria did. Please keep that in mind. And yes, you do need to carefully select your surgeon based on reputation and cleanliness. I am a nurse and must add that the OCC is one of the cleanest facilities I have ever been to so you can't go wrong there!

Hi Sue,

I live in Tallahassee, FL and I actually drive up to Moultrie, GA to get my fills done thru Fill Centers USA. However, I know they have locations in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Not certain about Orlando, but I think those would be the closest to you. I only go to GA because it's closer to me than driving down to Tampa. The fill nurse in GA is always helpful, polite, and efficient. Hope it helps!

Alana

Hey Alana, FYI Fill centers called me today and told me that next Saturday (12/13) will be Darlene's last day doing fills in Moultrie - she will only be in Roswell now. I know this is a bummer. I am 4 hours from Roswell and need one more fill but can't go next weekend!!!

Yes, I think Roswell, Ga would be your best bet. You should only be a couple of hours from there, right? Darlene is great!!! There are lots of people that use her from TN! Good luck.

Wow, that is awesome. We would love to see photos of your progress for inspiration!!!!