RogerF

Just enjoy the cruise and have fun, enjoy lots of different things just in smaller amounts, then hit it hard when you get back. Banding is all about being reasonable and healthy. I'm just around the corner in Port Orchard, and there is a band support group on the third Wed of the month over here. Good luck and congratulations on starting your journey. Roger

I've had a few requests and I posted some info the testimonial section under "I Made It", but I'll recopy here. I was out for the procedure, although I thought is was going to be under local. After a year, they would also have preferred and recommended that I had an endoscopy, but they do that with another Dr and it didn't work out. There would have been an additional cost for that. Well I'm a few days back from my trip to OCC to have my port moved. My port has always stuck out some, and as I lost my weight, the skin on top got thinner and the port more apparent. I have been doing some sit-ups as part of my regular routine and felt the my port was interfering with my emerging six-pack A few have asked about the procedure and costs so I thought I'd post here. They put the port under another layer of muscle in the same spot and that should smooth it out. I did have a plastic surgery consult here, and found they wouldn't touch it as part of the procedure, even for an extra charge. I decided that even if the tummy tuck could wait, this was something I wanted to do for me. I think it depends on if there is a problem with the port or not and any costs would be something you would have to discuss with the office. For me it was a cosmetic and a one-year "check-up" decision, and there was a cost involved. But figure less than $500 for the procedure and ground transportation, plus your travel costs (air/hotel). But I had a barium swallow and slight unfill to check my band, the whole regular pre-surgical work-up (blood, EKG), and the procedure (IV's and meds, antibiotics, anesthesia, and surgery). And of course the great care from all the staff. For me, it was worth it. I'm still a bit sore and swollen, but the incision looks good. I was still a bit tight with just a little bit of an enlarged pouch, so the little bit of an unfill should help that, but I'm not looking to loose much more anyway and eating normal, exercising, and maintaining going forward is only a little different mindset than being in "diet mode". Keep the faith that this will work for you, and do your part, you will be successful. Roger

Hey Penny, It was nice meeting you and good to see you up and around walking after your surgery. Hope you're still doing well and had a good trip back. No Worry, No big issue, my port has always stuck out a little, and after losing my weight the skin on top was even thinner and made it look like a little hernia (or my little tumor as I called it). I had the doctors at OCC bury it under the muscle (same spot) so it wouldn't be so apparent. Purely for my own vanity. Everyone was again so great with my care. Roger

Congrats to you both!! Watch for me too, I'll be arriving on the 24th to have my port moved on the 25th, staying at the hotel both nights. I've walked around the area quite a bit on my previous trips, so let me know if I can help. Roger

The one in the Portland/Milwaukee area I believe is a Kelly Fitzpatrick (no relation). Heard she was very good though, but I can't find her website right now. roger

Does anyone remember where the directions are posted? I'm headed back down to TJ next Monday the 24th to have my port repositioned. I'm not having it done until Tuesday so I figured I'd make my own way down from the airport. I know there were some good directions posted somewhere in a post. I know there's a bus to the trolley and then trolley down to the border, so I'm not all that concerned. Anyone else going down there the 24th-26th for a fill or surgery? I'll be hanging around OCC and the Lucerna for a couple of days. Roger

No intubation, and no catheters at OCC. Whew!!!

Bump up for Donna

Good for you Mikey, you're on your way!! There will be some discomfort, but walk as much you can. It really helps. Roger

Actually, I think my fill in TJ by Dr. Romero was probably the best of them. My opinion is that local fill clinics just push some saline in and tend to go on the conservative side. My first three were local, but under fluro, and I was also disappointed with the results and that is why I kept going back. I don't think they worked out the air as well as Dr. Romero would have and I didn't return there. After my TJ fill, I went to a different fill center without fluro. This fill was more of a calculated guess with the amount being my decision, and they would have allowed me to do more. You need to be informed and an active participant in this decision. The benefit of a local fill is the ability to have more frequent, smaller fills to to work into your tolerence level. For many, the travel time and cost associated with going back to OCC is prohibitive to do this. However, in my opinion, I would have gone back to TJ for all my fills if time permitted. I also think the fill process is just as important as the surgery portion, and most do not plan for them accordingly. There is a cost and time committment that that you must be responsible for to make this work. Why have the band put in if you're not going to use it? The surgery part is precise and why I chose OCC, fill management is not. Don't complain, just do what you need to do. It is frustrating in the beginning, but it will get there.

I had my first three over five weeks and would have pushed them a little closer if scheduling had permitted. The local fill places I've used will make slight adjustments within a week or two for reduced prices if needed. I understood the importance of fills and planned to do whatever was necessary. Really the first fill seems to be the most traumatic to the stomach and has the most chance for causing some swelling. After that the adjustments are slight and I seemed to know if there was a difference pretty quick. I think that once any remaining air has worked out the fills can be much more noticible and hold better. Please remember that everyones tolerance for a fill is different. I was a bit more careful after a fill, but I worked myself through a couple that most would consider too tight. As long as I could keep liquids down, I could usually eat something late and the weight loss eventually eased up the tightness. I probably went through more foaming, sliming, and PBing than most would want to. Thats one extreme but I needed a hard indicator of when to stop. Most are content with eating less and then staying full longer. Depending on your food choices, you will loose weight. But I think there is a lot of range in-between and thats a very personal choice. It does take some time and practice with the band to know what you are comfortable with. And fill level is simply not an indicator of tightness. I was at 6.2 at the highest in myVG, but many are well over that.

Bumped up for Mitcheee. Also see the info above about the Port Orchard meeting on Wed the 22nd. Roger

Welcome to the forum. There is a general Washington state forum that I'll bump up after this. Actually I was quite surprised by the number of from around the area here. I think your second fill should give a much better idea of what restriction feels like. Good luck with that. Roger

I have read the book, and I know it came out before the VG band did and there still isn't much info out there on it. In the past those who would have benefitted from the VG still got the shorter band. So if you think about it, they actually got squeezed down an extra inch at the time of surgery, so of course they're tighter to start off. They simply had more natural restriction, and would be included in the statistics across the board. NO lies, just the info available at the time. With the addition of the VG comes safer placement with the longer length, but the greater capacity makes it more difficult to find a good level, but really its better for those who need it in the long run. MY OPINION - I still think Greg's right about OCC doing a better job on fills. There is 3.5cc's of air in the unfilled VG band and port (only 1 in the regular). You shouldn't really count the first amount it takes to replace the air. I've been to two different fill places locally and they just seem to push in the saline. Restriction right away is from the fill and air. But the air works its way out under pressure and you're left with a looser fill untill all of the air is displaced, which may take a couple of fills. I thought for sure I had a leak, but when I went back to OCC (for my 4th fill and thinking the worst) everything finally came together and held. I think OCC understands this and does a better job of working the air out at the beginning so there isn't as much drop off. But it's difficult to get it all at once, and your anatomy and weight loss dictate the rest. My band currently "reads" 6.2, but I've had an even 10cc's pushed in. I've also felt a need for a fill about every 20 lbs lost. NoWorry, I really have appreciated your posts and the details you have provided. I found most of the events pretty much right on to my experiences. I think its good for all to know and understand what to expect, and yes, communication could be better. But it comes down to each persons perceptions and expectations. I think after a couple of fills now, it woudl be very reasonable to try a local. Once your band has settled and you're comfortable with the process it can't hurt to give them a try for minor adjustments in the future. I still think your ahead of the game and it will work. Best wishes in your journey, Roger F