Kellie/Iowa

Hi everyone, it's been a long time since I've been on this forum, so things have changed on how to talk to people so if I'm doing anything wrong let me know. I had lapband surgery in Jan. '07 and had lost 140# with the surgery, I have had 2 fills total and I haven't had a fill for at least 2 years. I have lost wt in the last 2 years, but lately I have gained wt. I quit smoking and atributed the wt gain to that, but I have gained 25-30# in the last 9 months. I have very little to no restriction and am wondering if I should go get another fill. I have really bad acid reflux at night, and have some restriction sometimes, but not all the time. I really just don't know what is going on and could use anyone's advice. Just don't know why all of a sudden I have no restriction when I had the perfect amt of restriction before. Thanks for any help or suggestions

Hi Everyone, I haven't been on here for awhile, but was wondering if anyone could tell me what it costs (approx) for a breast augmentation at Cosmed - I am ready for one and can't get pricing from Cosmed until I have a consult and am just curious if it is that much cheaper than having it done here in Iowa. Thanks for any help - Kellie

Donna, Yes, the $390 is w/ fleuro, which I always will want, and the Dr. had to poke me several times before she could access my port, she said when they(the surgeon and her at Sartori Hospital) put the port in they put it on the side and not more towards the middle like ours are, but she did numb me before trying to access the port, so that was not a problem. I had my first fill of 2cc on 2/21 and now it is 4/3 and I have lost 20# since that fill, YAE! The good thing is I think I will only need the one fill. Btw, I see you were scheduled for surgery today, I'm sure everything went well, and you will be doing great in no time. Good luck. Kellie/Iowa

Thanks for the advice. Donna I live in Eldora and go to Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls, to Dr. Glascock, actually Angie his PA does the fills. I have had one fill and am very satisfied w/ it. I went to Tijuana and had the surgery 1/4/07, the reason for that is I do not have insurance and wouldn't meet the surgical requirements if I did. The price for a fill in Cedar Falls is $390 if paying cash, then you have to have a consultation before the fill which is $300 and up depending on how much time Angie actually spends w/ you. I haven't gotten that bill yet. Any other questions just let me know. Greg/NE I thought I was pretty much on track, but I am going to try to stick more to solids and not choose the liquid/soft stuff over the solids as often. Thanks Kellie/Iowa

Hi everyone, I have a question, I had my first fill on 2/21, and it was a good fill, my question is how much food should I be able to eat? I can eat about 3 bites of solid food and then I'm done, so I have been eating alot of soups and doing a slim-fast shake in the morning because if I just stick to the solid foods I will eat VERY little (like under 600 calories/day). If I can stay healthy on 600 calories a day then I will go back to just my 3 bites of solid foods, but I think that I need more in order to lose weight the healthy way. I am trying to get around 1200 calories a day. Is my fill too tight, or is this normal? Thanks Kellie

Hi everyone, I had my surgery Jan. 4th and have been shopping around Iowa for a fill Dr. (since I don't have the time to go back to TJ for the 1st fill) anyway, since everyone is talking about prices and port size I thought I would share this with you, I called a Dr's office near me and asked prices and they said it would be $300+ for the initial consult (depending on how much time they actually spend w/ me) then the fill is $385 each time. Well, I thought that was kind of expensive, so called another Dr's office and got prices, the office charges $150/fill, (not bad) but then you have to pay the hospital where the fill is done under fleuro, so I called there and about had a heart attack when told the price, it is $3000 for each fill, not $300 - $3000!!!??, this is b/c it is such a new procedure and basicly no one in IA does it, so they think they can charge whatever they want. Well, needless to say I am not going to that office for my fill. Just thought I would share this story with everyone. Kellie/Iowa (the state where it is cheap to live, but not cheap to get a fill)

Hi Debi, I had surgery January 4th, and Dr. Miranda said that we could add the drinkable yogurt beginning day 4, so you should be ok. I also had jello and had no problems, but I only ate it twice. I just started full liquids yesterday (thursday) and have pureed some soup, I thought it wouldn't be very good, but actually it is pretty good, but I guess when you haven't had anything but clear liquids for a week anything is good. I don't have alot of hunger, just the mental hunger, which doesn't help that I work a 2nd job at night and I am the only person at work who isn't sleeping, that's hard to keep busy and not "think" about food, but am doing ok so far. Well, good luck. Kellie

Hello everyone, I have a question since you are talking about post-op diets - next week I begin my 3rd week post-op and can start with the soft/mushy foods, am I supposed to not drink anything for an hour before and 1 hr. after I am done eating with these kind of foods, or is that only w/ solid foods? I have started doing full liquids and was wondering about the same question for like the creamier soups, any help is greatly appreciated. Kellie

Hi, well I just had surgery on thursday w/ Dr. Ortiz, it is now sunday and I have had no pain. I didn't have the gas pains in the shoulder or back or anything. The only thing I can say is my port sight is a little uncomfortable at times, but I do have a cold and have been coughing so that doesn't help. But, I am happy to report I am one of the lucky ones who has not been in pain. If it weren't for the 5 incisions in my stomach and the little bit of uncomfortableness every once in a while I would say I never had surgery. BUT, I did make sure to walk around the clinic alot after surgery, I walked when I got back to the hotel and I walked the airport when waiting between flights. I think that helped alot. Good luck Kellie/Iowa

YAE!! I'm sooo excited!! No intubation during surgery. Anyone know if they cath (for urine) you during surgery? That is another one of my concerns/questions. Thanks I am about 8 days away from surgery. Can't wait.

Hello everyone, I am being banded January 4th, and I going to TJ by myself, so am kind of nervous about that, but Lori has been great with answering all my questions, and I am always reading this and other forums, so I have found out alot of things that way. I plan on going shopping this wknd to buy supplies for when I get home from TJ, so if anyone has suggestions please let me know. Thanks Kellie