AlanaH

So its been a long time since I've come on this site .... This is where it all started for me. Where I found Dr. Ortiz and this great community and .... where I've made some great friends. I can come here and not feel judged as we all have something in common. I was banded in August 2008 and lost some weight. In December 2008 I received the best Christmas present every -- a positive pregnancy test. A little leary of it, due to two miscarriages before - I had Kate in September 2009. Went in for a lap band fill a week after Kate was born and was down to my lowest weight I had been in years!! 219 pounds! That fill I had was my last with that Dr. I didn't feel comfortable with this doctor. His manner / attitude sucked and made me feel like crap that I hadn't lost more weight (70 pounds had gone).... Never went back ... and left with the fill he gave me. I've been trying ever since to lose the weight -- but its been sneaking up on me. Since I didn't like the fill Dr. here, I decided that on my most recent trip to Florida I would go and see a nurse there for a fill -- wow! What a treat to have a proper fill under fluro! She took out the fill that I had - me thinking I had about 2.5cc in my band only had about 1.5.... so the Dr. that did my fills previously didn't put that in! Ugh -- no wonder my restriction was never that great! She checked on my band & port - everything is in great position and nothing wrong! I left that fill appointment feeling rejuvenated ...a new me! I got my post fill instructions and have followed it ever since! My restriction is fantastic! The fill was March 1 - today, May 10 - was my first day that I have been actually hungry. I have not wanted to eat since I had my fill - I have literally had to force myself to eat food since that day. With that said --- the scale has only moved 6 pounds since the fill I find this depressing but I know that I have lost inches! I went from wearing a size 18 in Florida to a 16 before I left! My bras no longer fit me in the shoulders and fall off .... just tonight, I put on a new pair of underwear that fit! I have never been able to wear "nice" underwear - I like to stick to my granny panties! hahahaa But today it felt good to try them on and have them not "roll down" when worn! So I know I'm losing inches! Woohoo!!! The nurse told me while in Florida that I needed some blood work done. To check my thyroid. My levels have come back normal, but she really wanted me to check on the Reverse T3 levels cause that can also show that I'm hypo.... I have all of the symptoms but so far my bloodwork has come back normal and I'm just waiting to get the Reverse T3 done. I am definitely going to be traveling back to FL to get my band filled again! She was awesome and had so much knowledge. She told me that she has over 700 patients!! Today is May 10th .... I gained 7 pounds the night before last because I was constipated ... a couple of dulcolax tablets and I've lost 6 ... I felt "full". I feel much better now and tonight, decided to get on the elliptical for the first time since January! I haven't been hungry - I literally have to FORCE myself to eat food during the day. I have something for breakfast and its 2pm before I remember to eat. I do have a busy job, but even when people remind me that its lunch, I have no desire to eat! I'm low on iron - I take some wonderful iron pills each day. I have never once regretted getting the band .... I have thought about the sleeve. The band is a tool to help me lose weight and it won't do it for me. My mom is coming out on June 13th -- my goal is to lose 10 pounds before she comes out. 238 today ... .lets see what tomorrow brings!!

Lori! Congrats on the sleeve! I'm jealous! Giving it serious consideration to switching but afraid to make that move. I'm definitely going to be following your journey - I've had my band for almost three years and I screwed around the first two years (a crappy fill doctor, had a baby). I'm hoping that in the next 6 months I can lose weight and if not, you'll be hearing from me again about the sleeve (I had emailed while ago inquiring about the sleeve and you gave me all the info but now that you have it, I'll be checking in regularly!). All the best!!! Alana

Good morning all!! Its been ages since I have been to the forum and I'm not used to the "new look". Well for me its a new look - and I'm not sure the proper place to post this would be. If I should post elsewhere - just let me know! I haven't had a fill in just over two years (a week after my daughter was born was my last fill) and I'm wanting to get a new one. I do have a Dr. here in town but not too fond of his bedside manner and therefore don't care to go back to him. We are heading to Florida in February to be with my parents for a couple of weeks and I thought that while I was down there I would look at getting a fill .....Does anyone know of a Dr. who does fills (Fluoroscopy would be great) in the Naples area? Even if its not Naples but surrounding area -- we are heading up to Tampa as well ... so even there ..... Thanks everyone!! Alana

Hey all!!! Its been too long since I've been active on this forum but I need some help and advice! Its been almost 2 years since I've been banded, lost some weight but gained a baby instead! I only gained about 10 pounds (and 5lbs of that was Kate!) while pregnant and while I haven't seen the scale go down lately, my clothes are getting bigger so I know I'm losing inches. I don't want to go for another fill as I feel like its almost too full at the moment - I can get most foods down, others I can't. What does everyone do when they hit a plateau? I've started to exercise now that the snow has melted so Kate, Beans & I go out for a walk every day. I'm back to work early from Mat Leave and just find I don't have lots of time to exercise like I'd like. Do you decrease your food intake to kind of "jump start" the weight loss again? What I've just started to do is cut out all junk food (but I'm a sucker for a chocolate bar every now and then.... I know, its bad) and keep my calorie intake low but just wondering what people can tell me what to do to get off this plateau! I've also started counting calories on myfitnesspal.com which seems to be helping but I need some extra help and some support.... I've got 80 pounds left that I'd like to lose but would be happy with 60 ..... And I want it all gone before November when I head back to Florida for an early Christmas with the family! If anyone has any ideas how to get off the plateau I'd love to hear it! Thanks everyone! Alana

I also got reimbursed by the Province ..... I had OCC email me a copy of the OR Report & the receipt and I completed the Out of Country claim form and sent it all off. I got about $1700 back and then claimed the remainder on my Income Tax - which I got about $7000/$8000 back. I was asked by the Gov't of Canada for my documents (I knew it'd happen) and they reassessed my claim and I had to pay about $100 back to them because they capped the fill amounts. Also, if you can get your doctor to write you up a note stating its medically necessary you should be ok -- I didn't have one but in their letter they made mention of it. Keep your fill receipts! I claimed it in the fall of 2008 and income tax in April 2009 .... I honestly had no issues and the person I was in contact with the Gov't of AB was great to deal with! Oh they wanted a breakdown on the blood work that we had done at OCC but I didn't pursue it further ..... I didn't ask for it and just let it go - I was happy to get the $1700 back! ;0 Good luck! You can always call the Out of Country claims department with the gov't and see what else you need! Alana

Hey Amber ..... congrats!!! I was banded almost 2 years (August) ago at the OCC .... its been a slow process for losing weight as that December / January I got pregnant. I wouldn't change the band at all! And I definitely wouldn't change having Kate although in a weird sense, I was upset to find out I was pregnant because I wanted to lose the weight! 1. Did you get an un-fill? If so, was it a total un-fill or just partial? At what point did you refill the band? I didn't get an un-fill. I had a fill in November and thought about going back to get it un-filled but the restriction wasn't bothering me. I work at a hospital in the Operating Room and I my OBGYN works there too so if I ever had questions, I could just ask him. He wasn't concerned about my restrictions as long as I could still eat foods and get it down. Throughout my entire pregnancy I didn't have much of an appetite though and only gained 10 pounds. I had Kate on September 5th and 10 days after that I was back to the office for another fill -- I wanted to be aggressive! I really think it depends on you and how you are feeling. I definitely would have had a de-fill if I couldn't get foods down! 2. Did you feel that your band in any way hindered you ability to eat enough foods or to breastfeed, to push during labor, etc. (especially if you did NOT have all your fill removed) I did have some good restriction while pregnant, but I also didn't have much of an appetite -- perhaps it was related? I really don't know. I'm not much of a big eater, just chose the wrong foods to eat! I had tested positive for the Triple Screen test which indicates a possiblity of Spina Bifida in my baby....after being sent to the city for 2 ultrasounds with a Perinatologist it was determined that Kate was ok, but my obgyn was still concerned -- it could be an indication something could happen in labor to me. So he had me induced. And with alot of inductions --- a c-section is the result. So I never had to push ..... I had labor for a few hours but due to Kate's decrease in heart rate -- they did an emergency c-section. So I can't honestly tell you if it would hinder any ability to push while in labor. 3. Did you port give you problems as your belly got bigger with the baby? Did it become something that was visable or uncomfortable as more of your insides were filled up with the baby? My port started to hurt a bit at the end, but that was only the last couple of weeks .... I honestly had no complications with the band. I used to make my husband feel it all the time cause it would stick out a bit 4. Were you able to find an OBGYN who had experience with an expecting mother who had had the band or did you feel you had to do the educating of your doctor(s)? My obgyn may or may not have had experience with the band -- we never actually talked about it. Bad, I know .... but he never brought it up after the one conversation we had. In our town of 65,000+ we only have 2 obgyn's (I kid you not!) and I went with the best in town .... if he wasn't worried about my band, then either was I. Now, if I lived in Edmonton, then perhaps i would have found a doctor who had experience with the band. Kate was the best thing that happened to me - I didn't expect it to happen so quickly after getting banded, but I definitely don't regret the band or Kate! Hard to believe she'll be a year in September already ..... I often think that if it wasn't for the band, I wouldn't have gotten pregnant and stayed pregnant (I had 2 miscarriages before the band).... Good luck and enjoy every minute of being pregnant! Alana

I claimed in on my income tax ..... got a nice return and then as expected received a letter in the mail that I was being audited. I knew it was coming, I just hoped that they'd let me keep the money since it had already been spent! ;0 Well while I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago, a letter came and I have to pay about $85 back to them because I didn't include a doctor's note stating it was medically necessary (as if they couldn't tell by my initial weight???) and oh my fills were capped at $200 a year (I pay $75 a fill). I can pay that back, no biggie Good thing I kept everything together in my OCC folder! Hope everyone else gets some money back!!! Alana

Congrats on the pregnancy! I haven't posted on here in such a long time ... or even come to the website but i thought today I would check in and see how everyone is doing! I had to put the weight loss on the back burner for 9 months as I too am pregnant. I've had no issues with the band while being pregnant and even though I wanted to wait until I got to my goal weight --- some things you just can't prevent I had two previous miscarriages prior to being banded and so happy this this one was finally able to "stick". I lost 10 pounds at the beginning and I've only gained about 3 pounds in total .... and I find that I'm still losing inches! I went from wearing an XXL at the Gap to now wearing a Large t-shirt. My jeans, I've lost inches on my hips and butt (hey I'm not complaining!) so it looks like I've got poopy pants. I'm not trying to lose any weight, I just keep eating healthy food... but I think my metabolism is in high gear. Definitely looking forward to the beast coming out in September though I'm excited to meet her and start this weight loss journey again! I start 24 weeks tomorrow ..... Congrats and all the best!! Alana

Well .... I still haven't lost any weight in the last little bit --- I think its completely because of my crummy diet and lack of exercise. I did change that two days ago - where I started my Wii Fit again and do about an hour of step on it and changed my diet to be completely healthy foods for a week before my next fill. Its discouraging and I have to stop weighing my self each day because its depressing. I feel good though -- I've lost in inches and I can feel it in my clothes and from the reactions of people who haven't seen me for a few days or even a week - so that helps. Do you always have to lose pounds? Inches are good too right? However, I want to see that scale move down! I NEED it .... just even 2 pounds would give me the extra "boost" that I need to kick start me again. I know the exercise is going to help -- my job is so sedentary that I'm afraid my butt is going to stay stuck in my chair ... so I've been forcing myself to get up and outta my office and walk around the hospital that I work at. Thank goodness I drink 2 liters of water in the morning cause them I'm forced to get out of my office and run to the bathroom This weekend we are going away so I can't exercise but I will watch what I eat like a hawk. I have another fill scheduled for next Friday, but think I will cancel it and make it the following week. I am learning what I can and can't eat -- what gets stuck and what doesn't. But the fill will definitely help me.... I just needed to come here and write my thouhts out and I know I haven't been on here for a while --- perhaps I should up my time on here again for the great support that every one gives. Anyway, I hope everyone has a good weekend --- we are off to the city and hope that the snow stays away until we get back --

That's awesome Cathy!!!! Way to go!!! :lb13:

...... otherwise I'm never going to lose any more weight! AHHHHHH!!!!! I've been "stuck" at 240 now for a while, and I had a fill last week and I'm hoping that there will be some restriction with this one. I do get full quicker and I do take smaller portions but I know that I need more of it (the fill I mean). But I think what is really slowing me down is my non-active lifestyle. I really do .... so tonight, because I'm not a gym person, I'm going to spend an hour on my Wii -- half hour doing step and the other half hour doing fun stuff. Maybe I'll do half Wii and half Dance Dance Revolution -- either way I have to get my heart beating faster to burn those calories! On a happier note though ..... I bought some Christmas PJ's at Superstore yesterday in an XL and tried them on last night. Thinking that they were going to be "tight" ..... nope not at all! So.... my pounds may be slower but my inches are going quicker! I even bought a long sleeve shirt from there and it fit! And I find that Joe sizes aren't as "giving" ... so I'm very happy. Its little things like that, that keep me going! :girl_witch:

Joey was my favorite!!!! I'll be seeing them in November when they come to Edmonton - well worth the sick day I'll be taking from work .... cough cough My husband surprised me with tickets to see them as a "reward" for losing weight after surgery ...... I can't see your pictures right now as I'm at work but when I get home I'll be running to the computer to check them out! Glad you had a great time!!! Alana

I'm going to vote in half an hour!!!! Not sure if my voice will be heard, but its worth a shot!!!! Alana

Which makes me wonder if the scale needs new batteries and its just playing with my mind Dear Lord, I hope that it doesn't need batteries because this is just what I need!!! So now my weight is 240.5 (I round down so 240!) and that's almost 30 pounds gone .... gone.... gone .... Wooohoo!!! When I started this I weighed 265 when I wrote it down on my paperwork for OCC, but when I went to start my pre-op I gained 3-4 pounds so .... I started this really at 268. When I started my pre-op it was the end of July / beginning of August. I was banded on August 22nd so I can't really complain about the results at all! We had a fantastic weekend in the mountains and away from the town that we live in. We did a little bit of hiking -- I wouldn't actually call it that -- but it was enough to get our heartrates up and go for a good distance. This weight loss ends a fantabulous weekend!! /biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' /><' />

And right before Thanksgiving weekend when we are heading down to the mountains?!?! Grrr..... Oh well, I guess it comes with the season! Things are going pretty good other than being sick --- I have managed to keep my portions of food to be fairly small as I am always full. I can't see this being a bad thing -- I eat but stop when I know I'm full. Unlike before I'd eat, eat and eat some more. I don't feel sick when I eat -- I feel good. I'm going to step on the scale tomorrow or Thursday and weigh myself and see what, if anything, I have lost. Hey, as long as I don't gain I'll be happy .... but I'll be happier when the scale starts to go down more!!! Looking outside the window here at work and you know that say -- "red sky in the morning is a sailors warning" ... well thats what I see right now --- dear Lord it better not be the work of snow! We are getting new tires on Friday and we can't have snow until after that! :-h

Well ..... on Thursday I went for my first fill here in town. I was a little nervous but all things went well and he gave me 1cc. I go back on the 22nd for another fill - he wants to put in .5cc and then get me up to 2.5cc. Sounds good to me! I was unfortunately able to eat anything from the time I ate solids to my fill. I didn't over do it...... didn't gain weight, but didn't lose it either. But now -- I notice the scale has started to drop because my portions are limited. And I can feel it. This is the part that I was so excited to get to! I'm going to weigh myself on Friday and see what I have lost. One of my surgeon friends at work has told me not to have any more Boost or Ensure. Its hard because in the morning I don't have time for scrambled eggs or anything really. So I grab an Ensure. Its not like I'm having breakfast and then on top of that Ensure. She said that I will gain weight with taking the Ensure ..... Weekend mornings are different, today I had one slice of French Toast. And I was full! Yesterday I had scrambled eggs. So I do eat breakfast, just some mornings during the week are hard. And Devin brought me a salad from Wendy's on Friday for lunch --- I was so surprised as to the amount I was able to eat. I couldn't even make a dent in the salad and I was done! I've lost 25 pounds since I started down this road. I have another 99 pounds to go. I'm going to make my next goal 50 pounds .... This band really is the best decision I have ever made. I've been known to not make the greatest decisions at times, but marrying Devin and getting this band is the best thing I have done! Devin is refereeing hockey this morning and will be back in 3 hours so I need to plan what I'm making for lunch.....

Hey there --- thanks for the post -- my fill went great! Not as bad as I thought and realized that it was just anxiety that made me more scared than what I had to be! I've now got 1cc in my band and go back in two weeks for another .5 ..... hoping to get great restriction to start seeing that scale start to go down again! October 22nd is my next fill - I'm excited!!! Sorry to hear about your fill -- I wish that everyone had great experiences. Mine almost didn't happen as my doctor has just decided to no longer take Mexican patients (all thanks to a conference that doctors attended and was spoken to by a lawyer and now some doctors have decided to no longer fill us Mexican patients due to liability and the potential for lawsuits). But he told me that he wasn't going to say no to me .... yay!!! How are you doing now?? Have a good night!!! Alana

So.... I went for my first fill and everything went good. Except...... He told me that a couple of weeks ago he (and other doctors) were at a conference and they had a lawyer speak to them about doing post-op patient care on those who have been banded in Mexico. I don't know the particulars but if a patient was banded in Toronto, they have an understanding that if the patient gets his/her fill say here in Fort McMurray and the doctor punctures the band or something wrong happens - the patient goes back to Toronto and it is covered by Toronto ..... and not the doctor here. But with patients from Mexico - there has been one cause where one was filled and something wrong happened and they sued the doctor. Since there is no "agreement" with the doctors from Mexico to Canadian doctors to say that if anything goes wrong the Mexican doctor will fix it. And its because of that, that many doctors are now not wanting to fill patients from Mexico. I'm lucky though -- as he was telling me this my hopes were getting down and I was starting to get quite sad. Here I spent $8000 to get banded and now may not be able to find a doctor to do my fills and have to fly back to Tijuana ..... lots can go on in your mind within a couple of minutes! He gave me the good news though - he said that he's also not going to turn his back on someone who needs care and will continue to fill me. Heck, I'll sign a waiver to say that if he did do damage I wouldn't sue him -- that's really what he is worried about. He was upset though that I didn't get an Operative Report from OCC -- to say exactly where the port was, how big the band was, did the band have anything in it, etc. I'll try my hardest to get that again from them and then he can have it on file. For now though - I'll stick to him.... My first fill I can't complain - he put in 1cc in and I have an appointment for another .5 in two weeks ..... soon I know but he thinks that if I can get myself up to 2.5cc in the band I should be very happy. The needle didn't even hurt... yay! So I'm not sure if thats the reason why some of the doctors are now not taking on patients who have been banded in Mexico but thats what I was told today. I hope that you're all able to find fill doctors!! Have a good night! Alana

Hey all ..... I have a doctor here in Fort McMurray who is going to be doing my fills .... not sure what he is like as in two hours I'll be going to my first appointment with him. You could always come up here and have it done Not like anyone wants to come here! hahahaha I had been in touch with Dr. Descouteaux's office last month about making an appointment and the girl said he'd definitely take me but the time that I wanted to see him he was actually going to be in the OR that day so it was out. That sucks because we're hoping on moving back down to Calgary and will need a fill doctor! Google Lapbandtalk forum - there is a Canadian section on there with a list of doctors -- and that should definitely help you as well. And I was wondering - I know the Maples Surgical Center in Winnipeg does the surgery -- I wonder if they do fills? Definiely check out that site -- I have the link at home, but not here at work ..... Good luck!!! Alana