MyNext30Years

It's interesting you say that because my fill dr told me that the weight/size on the way up would not be the same on the way down because you have denser bones and more muscle mass to carry around the larger load. She said she was a size 18 at 180 on the way up but a 14 on the way down. She was also banded in Mexico. I'd be interested to hear from others if they have found this to be true.

You just scared the crap out of me. I've been banded for about 3 mos. now and I'm on my SECOND round of the stomach flu. Lucky for me I haven't thrown up either time (the 1st was 10 days post-op). When I started feeling nauseated this time, I started to worry about my band because my mom was telling me how violently she was throwing up a couple of days ago and is still sore from it. I guess you really can't do anything to prevent it from happening.

The nearest place w/ fluoro that I can find is in NJ (I'm in VA). My blind fills are even a 2 1/2 hour drive each way. I've called everywhere I can think of and nobody wants to take on MX patients. The fill center in NJ is at least $500 - so by the time I drive up there and spend the night I could probably fly to TJ. I've never seen the plane tickets for $99. $300 is about as cheap as I've ever seen them and my family doesn't want me traveling alone so I can't afford to go to the OCC every time plus the time off from work and away from my family. I do plan to return there eventually, I just can't do it every time. If you know of a closer place to do fluoro, please let me know!

How frustrating! I fill for ya! (pun intended!) Thanks for the input!

I'm interested in hearing your responses becuase I'm only 3 mos. out of surgery and my port is tilted. My 1st fill dr. didn't seem to have too much trouble accessing it, but my 2nd fill dr (yesterday) had an AWFUL time getting in it. I just pray he didn't damage it. I kept hearing him poking the hard plastic outter edge of it. I'm going to go back to my 1st fill dr. next time and pray she doesn't have a hard time and that it hasn't moved since she accessed the first time. She said it was titled the 1st time towards my left shoulder. YIKES!

Ok, so I went to a different Dr. for my 2nd fill A.) because my 1st Dr. had to have surgery and put me off a month B.) the office environment was not the cleanest at the 1st & C.) the 2nd Dr. was an actual bariatric surgeon opposed to the 1st of being just a GP. Well it was a disaster. It took him AT LEAST 15 minutes to get into the port after digging and digging. He bent up a smaller needle and had to go get a much longer one and it still took a while. I'm very sore and bruised - about the size of 2 50 cent pieces side by side. He put in 2 ccs for a total of 6 ccs and I swallowed and all I could do is burp non-stop, I didn't feel like I was going to be able to keep it down. So eventually I only ended up w/ 1 cc for a total of 5 ccs. Although I don't blame him for the low fill amount, I totally know I coudln't have handled the whole 6ccs, I'm still VERY frustrated and disappointed that's all I've got right now. So, I'm going to go back to the 1st Dr. next time. She got into the port w/ very little trouble last time. I will say that it's tilted towards my left shoulder - both dr's said that and that is why the guy yesterday had trouble, but my 1st dr. didn't seem to have much trouble at all. Plus the 1st dr is cheaper, but she won't bill insurance and I don't know if they'll pay anything for yesteday but it was $480 since it was my first visit. She only charges $200 for a fill and $150 for unfills. I'm drinking liquids today and don't feel any restriction but that could change w/ solids. Frustrating - I tell ya! Plus I have to add that I followed Dolittle's guidelines for a good fill. Extra concious to be well hydrated the past few days, only liquids prior to the fill, etc.

http://www.occforum.com/index.php?showtopic=9919 - increasing your chances for a good fill

There's a complete list of guidelines for fills under the Fill discussion. For example, be well hydrated, only liquids so many hours before the fill, and only room temp. water within an hour prior to the fill. It's a pinned thread by Dolittle. Look it up. Good luck! I go for my 2nd fill today, I'm so excited!

A lot of people's avatars are missing. Did they delete them or do I have setting wrong?

I didn't have that feeling until after my first fill, but I'd say it's normal.

For anyone who's interested, I just created a weight watcher's point calculator in excel. Just reply or PM me w/ your email address and I'll send it on. Here's the formula... p= (c/50) + (f/12) - (min {r,4}/5) p=points c=calories f=fat grams r=fiber (max of 4)

I tend to have a lot of sinus problems and I know that I was given allegra (RX only) to help dry up some fluid this past fall. Also, if that doesn't dry you up, you may want to try some guafinensin (sp?) - it's in regular Musinex or generic brand and it will thin out the mucus. On a side note, it's sometimes given as a fertility treatment to thin out the cervical mucus.

She said she really didn't care if I took calcium or not - she was really into the Vit D!