dreamhappy07

Hi Donna, I would be nervous and worried too, but I don't think you can disconnect the tubing. At least I really hope not! Maybe you have lost alot of fat around your stomach, that things are looser and you are really ready for another fill. I could tell a couple weeks after my first fill that I was ready for another one because I could eat alot more than right after and even foods that are usually scary I could eat no problem without chewing to goo. I have barely any restriction now, but am so careful as if I do have restriction. I guess it's a mind control thing...lol Of course, I have always been bad at grazing. I want so badly to have the kind of restriction that I don't feel the need or habit of grazing. Something I will need to learn soon. I find that peanuts, even though they are a good source of protein, don't chew down very well, but I have been lucky so far and never pb'd or threw up and hope to never do that EVER! Good luck with your next fill and keep us posted. Peace, Judy

I used to take one Naproxen a day before banding for arthritis in my knees and hips. Haven't taken any since and was doing pretty good. I was glad to get off of it, but since I have dropped some weight, I thought it would get better. Could be another reason that I am still in pain, but I was wondering if anyone still takes it with the band? I know that anti-inflammatory drugs can hurt the band and cause erosion if taken too much. I take Lortab, but it isn't enough. I am sensitive to all NSAIDS, because I swell from them, but the naproxen wasn't causing too much swelling. I don't want to risk hurting the band no matter what! Any alternatives I can take? Don't know. Thanks for any suggestions or advice. Peace, Judy

Hi Mikey, I am so excited for you! You will have a great experience! Keep in touch ok? We are all rootin' got ya! Best wishes on your banding journey! Peace, Judy

Ok, so I had surgery May 21st and my first fill July 21st. The doc adjusted the band from putting in 4cc's and then I drank sips of water and depending how quickly it went down, she adjusted it after each sip by taking some out. I ended up with 3.2cc. I was kinda bummed because I wanted to be able to get the full normal first 4cc fill for a VG band. But, I didn't want to get in trouble with being too tight, etc. My understanding is that the more fat you still have around your stomach, the less fill you can tolerate because of it still causing tightness around the band. The more fat you lose in that area, the more fill you can tolerate to a point. I think I explained that right. LOL After two weeks I could eat almost as much as I could before the fill which can be alot, but certain foods I can still feel the restriction. I am so ready for another fill now, but putting it off because of finances and time. Good luck all and enjoy bandland. Peace, Judy

Hi Emi, Sorry you are having a hard time with your pre-op diet. Dr. Miranda wanted me to lose 36lbs before surgery. I lost 23 and she was so happy. I was struggling at first and then decided to quit drinking soda and leave sweets alone(mostly) Within just a few days I lost 8lbs. I am still losing and not drinking soda and really limiting my sweets. The weight seemed to come off just fine when I got into the groove of drinking my protein shakes for breakfast and dinner and a lean cuisine for lunch. I ate veggies and some fruit. If I ate anything else, it would be sugar free or high fiber. Seems to help. I fell in love over the Healthy choice fudge bars. Not bad for you either even though they taste like it. You can do it! You have to and we are all cheering you on! Good luck on your weight loss journey! Judy

Hi and welcome to the forum. Also, CONGRATS on your upcoming surgery! It will be a great experience for you I hope. Mine was. I am in Portland also and flew in on sunday may 20th and my surgery and pre-ops were all on monday the 21st. My mom went with me and we met up with some nice people. They were sisters and we communicated before meeting up at the airport catching the same van back to TJ and at the Lucerna hotel. We walked alot shortly after we arrived and had lunch at the mexican restaurant La Casa de Mole across from the hotel. Then we caught a cab(the people at the hotel will tell you which ones to take and will even call one for you), to Revolution avenue...the big tourist hot spot for shopping. I will tell you that I for one cannot handle the haggling and sometimes aggressive store people but did find some souvenirs that I was able to just buy with US money off the shelf. There are malls around that are really nice too. Everyone takes US dollars because that is king there. Very valuable to them. The day after surgery we must have walked several miles to a mall that my mom and her friend found when me and her sister were in surgery. Neither of us ever had problems with gas pains and we think it had alot to do with all the walking before and after. To answer some of your questions...pack very light. Less time coming back through the border in case the driver is running late and he usually is for some reason or another. Sometimes because he is going back and forth for surgery and fill patients. Are you coming alone? If so, you will have to take all your belongings with you and check out of the hotel and then check back in when you come back the day after surgery. If not, then you can leave your stuff in your room and your companion will be there while you are at OCC. When I went to TJ, I only had my US id(drivers license) and my birth certificate with me and all was ok. IF you don't have your passports back yet, then all you need is US id and a paper stating you have applied for a passport and then no problems will come about. I didn't buy enough to ship anything back, but if I did buy alot of stuff, I would have just carried it with me. Well, I hope some of all this rambling helped you in some way. Take care and good luck with your surgery and weight loss journey. Peace, Judy

Yes, actually I would have had the surgery because even though I knew of the extra expense of getting fills to get restriction and continue to lose weight, I gave it alot of thought, thinking about my finances down the weight loss road and how often I would be able to get fills when needed. Well, I have only had one fill and I had to keep postponing it because of the $180 up front cost. That was a major chunk of money that I really could have used for other things and had to at one point, but then really got determined to get that fill, so I put all else aside and did it. It's been three and a half weeks now and I know I need another one, but not in any hurry for the same reason even though the fills are now $165. I want to go back to TJ badly, but financially that has to wait. Anyway, from the posts I have read from people that have gone to TJ for any fills, it really kinda bothers me because most I have read get to much a fill and have to go back or not enough. That would REALLY bug me! Considering all the extra expense to get there and so on, it wouldn't settle nice with me. I am still losing, but don't weigh myself very often either. I just go by how I feel and how loose my clothes are. I hope at least some of all this rambling made any sort of sense to you. lol I hope very soon you have great success without any more or very little fills and continue to live the healthy slimmer life we all want to be at. Take care, Judy

Hi NoWorry, Sorry to hear you are having doubts and problems with your fills. I have been asked how many fills will I need to get to lose all the weight I need to. I always answer that I have read about people with VG bands needing up to 5 or 6 fills in the first year after being banded. I guess it depends on the person and their needs and tolerances with certain levels of each fill. I know that the normal first fill is usually 4cc with the VG band, but I was only able to tolerate 3.2cc. Now, I know I need another one since the July 27th fill. I could tell about two weeks after. I cannot get one right now because of finances, but will for sure in a few weeks. Good luck and hang in there. I hope all your future fills will be successful. I have read alot about people wanting to get to their "sweet spot" faster, but then suffer for it. Just be patient and you will reach that spot eventually. Peace, Judy

After reading the reply to my post about Sliding Hiatal Hernia, I looked it up on Webmd to see exactly what that is and it had a pic of it. Very interesting. I am still wondering if it was repaired or not. I can't tell exactly even after reading the surgical report...lol Too much medical jargon. Well, then I noticed I have had(since I dropped weight), this lump in the middle of my chest between my breasts, where my sternum(chest bone) should be. It is more noticable and feelable when laying down, but I can still feel it standing up too. It hasn't caused me any reflux or pain, unless I mess with it and push on it to see how big it is and such. The pain then start with an aching and sometimes radiates to my left shoulder and some other places. I think that pain is from that, but not totally sure. Kind of concerns me too. I probably should get checked by my doctor, but I am putting it off because I have to have my annual checkup for my brain(pituitary) tumor and bloodwork soon. I was told that tumor could pop up in other places and I really hope it didn't land in my chest area...LOL Well, just posted this to see if anyone has an idea about what it might be. Peace, Judy

Thanks Kevin for the reply. Very eye opening and brain buzzing. So, eating around the band is basically eating all the crap that I shouldn't but do because it is around and I know I can eat it and do? Got it! Judy

Hi, I have read many posts on this board as well as replied and posted alot myself through my journey. One of the things I have read some of includes the phrase "eating around the band". I thought I knew what that meant, but not really sure anymore. Does it maybe mean that even though you know you have restriction, you eat sweets and stuff more than you should because it chews down and goes down better? I know I have been doing that and am ashamed, BUT I am still losing. strange huh? I have only had one fill, but do and don't have restriction. What I mean is, I have more restriction than before my fill, but later in the day I can sometimes feel that I am starving and can eat alot if I let myself. I have never PB's or thrown up and don't plan to EVER! LOL How much time in between fills should there be? I know I will need another fill soon. Thanks for any input and advice in advance. Peace, Judy

Hi Kristy, Which form should I use to submit my claim? My insurance is Regence BC/BS PPO and their website has regular claim forms and international. On the international, it says for Puerto Rico, Jamaica or the Virgin Islands. Not sure if Mexico would be considered as part of that. Thanks, Judy

Hi all, I recently got my surgical reports faxed from OCC and saw that a Sliding hiatal hernia was found. I don't know what that is, but prior to surgery, I was taking Prevacid for GERD. Haven't taken anymore since surgery which is great! I didn't see anything about the hernia needing repair, but there was alot of medical terms in the report that even I couldn't figure out...LOL Any help on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! Judy

Hey, It was amazing. Right after I posted my recent reply, I got all the forms needed from Rene through my work fax! How cool is that?! So, now I need to send them into my insurance through a claim form?? Then, play the waiting game. LOL I really hope and pray this works, cuz that money or most of it I could really use. Thanks all and please keep me in your prayers. My insurance can be very strange and stubborn. Peace, Judy

That's great angela! I haven't gotten anything by fax or mail yet from Rene and he has emailed me in reply to the reports twice now. I don't think he speaks good english by email, but does get the point across that he will mail or fax them to me. I hope soon. Peace, Judy

Hi Kristy, Noone is responding and I was just wondering how long it takes for the forms to get to me....and either by fax or mail? I wrote Rene again to ask about how and when I should receive those. Thanks you! Judy

Well, I received an email yesterday from Rene at OCC saying they will send the itemized bill and surgical report as soon as possible. Good news so far. Anyone know how long it takes to get it? I left my work fax #'s, but not sure if they will mail it or fax. He didn't say. lol Peace, Judy p.s. I was checking my insurance website and looking at the claim forms. They are in .pdf and will have to print them out and attach the reports to them, etc. I am really stressed about the exclusion in my insurance for any weight loss help and especially out of the country. But, we shall see.

LOL TYVM!!! WOOHOO!! Actually down 56lbs now, but haven't updated my sig. Peace, Judy

Ok, I emailed Rene at OCC and asked for the itemized detailed bill and surgical report. I also left my work number and work fax number. I hope this will work and also getting my insurance to pay me some back. Peace, Judy

Hi Joannar, I have no problem telling you or anyone. LOL I saw Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick in Milwaukee. She is great! Reasonable too! She has a website - www.gastricbands.com and will have alot of info there too. I have heard from other Oregon patients that Dr. Ortiz recommends her for fills. Good luck on your weight loss journey! Happy banding! I loved my experience with OCC and TJ. I want to go back so bad. Peace, Judy

Hi Kristy, thanks for the info. Do you think I could email Rene directly and he would fax them or should I actually talk to him. I am someone who hates calling people when I am sure or not if they are really busy. I don't like bugging people at work...LOL Judy

Hi Judy, Congrats on your recent banding! I went to a fill doctor who takes care of patients who were banded in Mexico. She doesn't use fluoro but she is excellent in doing fills. I have heard Dr. Ortiz recommend her to his Oregon patients. She charges $180 for the first fill and $165 for fills after that. I am hoping to go back to TJ for my second fill around mid-October. I have good restriction now, but time will tell in three months. Good luck on your weight loss journey and take care. Judy

Hi Beth and Elizabeth, Thanks for letting me know how you are both doing since your fills. I hope it does get better for both of you and you feel you can eat more of a variety of foods soon. Elizabeth, do you think you are too tight? You have to be able to take in enough protein every day. Good job on the weight loss, but hopefully you aren't losing too much muscle. I don't eat hamburger anymore. It is the one meat I just don't like anymore and it doesn't seem to chew down enough. So, not taking any chances. The only fast food I have had since surgery is Taco Bell. I haven't tried it since being filled because right now I have restriction and I don't want to waste any money on something I will just throw up. But, their pinto beans and cheese might work some day. I would love to join a gym to tone up some muscle and not be so flabby...lol But, I have pain issues still from Fibromyalgia and arthritis. I know that those things don't improve that much with weight loss, or that has been my experience so far. Good luck on both your weight loss journeys, take care and keep in touch. I may still be planning a fill trip to TJ in or around mid-October. Peace, Judy

Hi again, I am going to take that first step and get the ball rolling so I can hopefully get some reimbursement from my insurance. Just a couple questions for any of you...did your insurance have an exclusion regarding any kind of weight loss surgery or help? Mine did, but I was told before I drained my 401k to pay for surgery with Dr. Ortiz, I could try to go through the process and see what happens. Yeah right! No way! My other question is who do I email and/or contact at OCC to fax my itemized bill and surgical report? I probably asked this before, but I want to do it right. Sorry. Thanks bunches! Judy

Thanks Mikey for the congrats! I did celebrate, but in a healthy way kind of. Until I got my recent fill, I could just about eat anything and everything, but still in smaller amounts compared to pre-surgery. CONGRATS to you too on your pre-op weight loss so far!!! That is awesome! I can't believe you still have to lose more. Oh well, you have something exciting and life changing to look forward too! Take care. Peace, Judy