CalKev

Greg, Thanks for asking. I believe it will. I had incorrect figures on the amount of saline in my band. Dr. Romero kindly checked how much was in my VG and I had 6.2ccs before the fill. So he added an additional amount of .8ccs to a total of 7ccs. He actually filled the band until it closed the stoma fully and then backed it off to the 7ccs. I had put on weight since my last fill. He asked me if I had been eating differently. My spouse informed him we had just returned from an all-inclusive vacation or should I say all consuming vacation and yes I did go to the gym and workout every other day. He and I both just knodded in a silent agreement as to where the extra weight came from. So I am at chew, chew, chew to get the food through. Feels great to have the restriction that will limit my intake. Congratulations on your success! I see you are on a good trendline. Do you plan another fill and if so when? How is your restriction. I can still believe that one more fill will be needed to get me to my ideal weight. We should coordinate in future and meet up at OCC maybe when we get close to our goal weights. What do you think? Kevin

Beata and Barbara, It was a pleasure meeting both of you. I'm glad we got to share some good "spirits" together on May 3rd, 2007. You both are great people and I wish you success on the band! Now again about those spirits. They were in a black bag right? hmmm where is that box I brought across the border? Well a "toast" to your continued success! Oh I mean....Beata I hope you will get your next fill soon! Have a fun weekend! Kevin aka CalKev aka You buy it, can't fly it, we'll ship it.

Judy, You are on track for success. Only rely on your scale. You can't do better than that. Make sure it is calibrated per instructions that came with it and keep making it happen. You are an inspiration to us all! Congratulations on your continued loss and your decision to enter the lap band lifestyle!

Cyndi, Awesome job on weight loss! I'm still frozen in time.... Going for fill May 2nd........ getting up there in ccs. Have a great weekend and congratulations! Kevin

Congratulations Sue!

Heather, Yes I felt as you do. Your family I am sure puts a higher value on your health and happiness than $8500, 20,000 or even 100,000. This journey is however not about their needs. It is about yours. Accept that you deserve this and embrace the feeling of well being that is to come. Don't fight it with guilt. It isn't worth it. I've been there and I'm not about to go back and niether should you. Even if you don't feel like it you have already stepped away from the old you by setting a surgery date. Embrace what is to come and savour the anticipation like you would the purchase of a new car or a trip to a holiday spot of your dreams. That is simplistic because those things won't change your life to the degree this will. Enjoy every moment of the process and learn from it. Don't look back. I do know how you feel. A small part of me is still there but it grows smaller by the day. By making yourself a stronger human being your family will automatically reap the benefits. Focus on accepting change and the truly good things to come! Best wishes and congratulations on your decision to make "You" a priority! Kevin

Lap Band In The News These are stories being publised by the the named entity and do not reflect my views! I chose to delete a seperate news thread I posted as it was just begging to be taken out of context. Viva La Band! Kevin

Bariatric Surgery Found to Significantly Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Complications Sun Feb 25, 2:01 AM ET Researchers Celebrate Major Advance in the Fight against Morbid Obesity. San Francisco, CA (PRWeb) February 25, 2007 -- A recent article published in the Elsevier Journal of Science and Health illustrated the results of a study designed to assess the impact of bairiatric surgeryon cardiovascular and musculoskeletal morbidity. The study focused on 1,035 morbidly obese patients ("cohort") who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical LapBand procedures sometime between 1986 and 2002. The results of this group were compared to 5,746 patients who had chosen non-surgical alternative therapies. The study focused on 1,035 morbidly obese patients ("cohort") who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical LapBand procedures sometime between 1986 and 2002. The results of this group were compared to 5,746 patients who had chosen non-surgical alternative therapies. On the whole, the surgical cohort experienced a 62% mean reduction in excess weight and a 32% drop in body mass index (BMI). More importantly, during the five-year follow-up period, the surgical cohort had a significantly reduced incidence of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disease when compared with the control group, while 10.84% of the control group received treatment for arrhythmias, only 1.96% of bariatric patients required similar treatment. Bariatric patients were also less likely to encounter problems with pulmonary edema, heart attack and arthritis. When asked to comment on the study, Dr. Paul Cirangle, a noted bariatric surgeon and member of the Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco (LAPSF), stated, "With over 300,000 deaths attributed to morbid obesity each year, this is another example of bariatric surgery being an effective treatment for morbid obesity. Not only do weight-loss procedures like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and duodenal switch bring at-risk patients back to a safer weight, but they also limit the possibility of future cardiovascular and musculoskeletal problems." Dr. Cirangle explained his view, saying, "A global epidemic like morbid obesity deserves greater attention from health experts. It's comforting to see more studies conducted in that confirm the benefits of bariatric surgery. It's important that individuals understand that first and foremost, a good diet and a regular exercise regimen are the best roads to a healthy life, but bariatric surgery is a viable option for those looking for serious treatment." ### Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco Ben Kou

Kris, Inspiring success story! Awesome progress! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your positive point of view!

Hello March Fillers! My fill is 11am on the Thursday, 22nd of March. Anyone else going to be there for a fill-up?

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Hopeful, Schedule your fill. If Dr. Ortiz is still doing the surgery as he did when I was banded (correct me if there has been an update to this) you do not have saline in your band if you do it is a minimal amount. No saline = no restriction. Six week increments has worked well for me. Consult OCC for your own timeframe if it differs. Kevin

E, Congrats on the new band and a new life! Viva La Band! Kevin

Paul, Man - I'm with you - I started at 377. We are in the same shoes. You have a valid point on the support style of the board. We all need it. Support is a positive term not a negative one. Got to know what to support before you throw some legs under it. On several occasions I have met people getting an unfill at OCC. They reached their goal weight and feel healthy and many are focused on saving money for plastic surgery. Are they here on the board? No. Are they on a plastic surgeons board somewhere? Maybe. They have beat obesity and are doing things we all would love to do. They are kicking the tires of life in their new bodies and finding out what they can achieve now. You and I will do the same. We may not leave the board but our personal focus will shift us to look at new and exciting avenues to rev our improved chassis on. Paul - you got t made! Do you know how many would love to have the privilege of being banded? And by the best, in my book, Dr. Ortiz. The toughest part is making the decision. Because at that defining point you decided life will never be same for you again. This is opportunity in its purest form. Make it work for you! We all are the best we know how. In that moment you made the choice to do something for yourself and no one else. You are committed to the process. Go for it! Grab it! Viva La Band! Kevin

Judy, You will do great. It really isn't complicated. We all sometimes make it that way it seems. I'm a vegetarian and I have made it so far so good. Follow Dr. Miranda's advice and you don't even have to think about it. Call her if you need help and she will be there for you. She has for me and many others. Stay focused and all will go well! Congratulations on your decision to band! It will change your life for the better - it has mine! Viva La Band - Kevin

Hello All! Wow this is some really good insight in this thread. All the views are just a little different but each one has great points. When I first started to investigate my own reasons for being obese the one realization I confronted was like the alcoholic, drug addict, even the shopoholic, I had to say

Cyndi, Congratulations! - So glad you are doing so well! It sounds like your motivation to live a longer healthier life has rubbed off. That is about the biggest compliment one can have being banded outside the personal achievement. I keep in touch with the sisters who were banded on our Band Day (very close to a re-birthday), and they are both doing well. Slower progress than you and I but progress none the less. Let's keep on losing! Viva La Band! Kevin

Pam, I'm we met on the Jan. 15th at OCC. I was the only male there for a fill or any procedure for that matter. Terry C who had surgery the same day as you did is getting her first fill on the 22nd of March. What you are experiencing sounds very normal. I didn't pickup anything from your message that is outside the normal mind-bending education most bandsters go through. If you can let the band continue to talk to you and be open to its teaching method then your eating habits will start to bend to its demands. You may want to try other protein sources or even as I do from time to time supplement my food intake with a high protein shake to make sure I get the nutrients I need. I am vegetarian and allergic to soy so I have to do the shake thing to keep protein intake high. After losing 70lbs. my hair started to thin out and I realized it was time to up the nutrients. Hey you started at 213 and you are at 204 - thats called progress! Congratulations! Kevin

Tipped a $5 per person each way. The last visit there were 4 so $20 each way. Well deserved.