Dolittle

Michelle,, your doing great,,, I was never much into goals,, I just played it by ear and went day to day,, the next thing I knew I was at a weight I hadn't seen since grade school. From 295 to 205,, I know I have another 20lbs I'd like to loose,, but it will come off in a matter of time. Bicycle season is now starting in the midwest and that's where I did the best last summer as far as loosing the weight. Exercise really helps and with the band,, with proper restriction,, you'll lose weight.

I've been banded 15 months and I've found if you PB water,, your either drinking it so fast it can't get by the restriction quick enough,, and if you drinking slowly and you PB, your might be too tight. But,, I've know several bandsters that like the agressive fill and they know they have to drink or eat slowly. I think its all a personal preference. Just don't get a fill that has so much restriction you can only sip water. If you can't handle water,, you sure as heck ain't going to be able to eat anything without it getting stuck,, which will lead into PBing all the time,, which greatly increases your risk of a band slip. Play it smart! This is why its best to do the fluoro/barium during your fill,,, this way the fill doctor can see if liquid flows by your band.

Also,, at the bottom of the Forum's home page,, there is a link to the moderating team,, you can click on that link and it will list the team,, from there you can send a message to anyone on that team. Were there to help and answer questions if needed.

Call your patient coordinator,, they will be able to guide you through this process. That's their job. This way you know you've done it the right way. Their very nice and will help you with this.

My wife and I will be down at the OCC on May 14th and 15th,, So send me a personal message and let me know who's going to be there those two days.. Maybe we could all meet in the lobby at the Lucerna and maybe talk about lapbands or what ever. LOL, I hope to hear from some of you.

I've mentioned this before too! It's something in the main frame and only the web master can correct it. I'll forward this post to him and we'll see if he can correct it. That's all I can do. LOL

I've been banded for 14 months,, so far so good,, even my wife decided to get banded after I had been banded 7 months,, She saw my results and jumped on the "BAND" wagon. LOL. I'm down 90lbs since I started this adventure. Wifes down 35 to 40lbs. LUV MY BAND!

WISH I'd known before the proceedure??? The only wishes I had was I wished I had done it 5 years ago when it became FDA approved. INFORMATION,,,, Lots of info here at this forum and at the LAPBAND website,,, more than you want,, don't overload yourself with to much info,, you'll end up with brain freeze and you won't be able to make up your mind. LOL. ANY REGRETS,,, NONE,,,, I LUV MY BAND AND I LUV THE RESULTS!!!!

I'm curious too. She used to be the celebrity spokes person for Inamed,, Another famous person who was banded was Sharon Osborne,, Ozzie's wife,, but last I heard,, she had her band removed.. She said she thought she could do it on her own. I don't know if either had complications or not,,, Lori might know.

I just can't belive the year is flying by,,, April showers bring May flowers and and new group of soon to be "BANDSTERS". Let's hear it from the wannabe's that are scheduling their surgery dates in May. See if you can hook up with your future banding buds before you get to TJ.. I'll be down in TJ at the clinic on May 14th and 15th,, so I hope to have an idea who's going to be there those days. C ya there.

Just a word of caution,, don't fall into a habit of blending your food. I know,, you'll find it easier to eat,, but you'll end up eating more and consuming more calories, then the next thing you know you'll be wondering why your not losing weight.

I was like you,, I ended up with the smaller 4cc band. I had lots of restriction from the get go. I waited till my 10th week to get my first fill and Doctor Romero only gave me 4 tenths of a cc on my first fill. I felt disappointed,, You read that most will have a nice big 1.8cc fill on that first fill,,, but nooooo,, not me. LOL. In the 14 months since I've been banded,, I've only had 4 fills and I'm up to 2.3cc's in my band. Every fill I've had they have just been small fills. That just happens. What can you say. LOL. Your like me,, your going to have to be carefull in that time frame between knowing you need a fill and when you can get one. You can do it,, just watch what your doing.

Yes,, We'd like to know who this inexperienced surgeon was.. It's not that we don't know accidents do happen,, but a good rule of thumb is not to be lap banded by a surgeon that's only done the proceedure a few times.. I've heard the number 100 before I'd let a surgeon place a lapband. Experience counts!!! Big time.

Last time I checked,, they were doing fills Monday thru Friday and half day on Saturday. Always call Rene or Claudia at the OCC to double check and make your appointment..

Check this post out and it has links http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?s=&a...ost&p=18816

WALK, WALK, and walk. That really helps get rid of that gas hiding in your joints. It will go away.

Well, since it will be 6 or 7 weeks after surgery,, If you haven't had your first fill, you'll probably be able to eat like you did before you were banded. I guess doing a cruise would be your last big chow down before that first fill. LOL.

$5 gets you an all day pass,, good for either/both the bus and tolley. Unlimited use on both,, all day long!!! What a deal!!! $9 will get you a 2 day pass!!

I'd say it was your first time you've had something stuck by your band. I'm also going to tell you this probably won't be your last. You'll find out certain foods will slide by the band and some won't do so good. Everyone is different, so chock this one up as an educational experience. LOL. When you get something stuck or if you have ate too much,, you'll experience the symptoms you just had. So learn your warning signs, but like I said,, everyone is different,, some bandsters won't have the same symptoms of what you experienced. But what you experienced is real common. So chew, chew, chew! I know,, sometimes you think you have chewed something to shreds,, but it never fails,, just depends on what it is. If you haven't irritated your stomach you should be fine. You could go on liquids for a day or so. Also,, depends on how you feel when you eat,, if your wanting to PB still, then you have irritated your stomach. Also,, read the post on how to get a good fill. It's posted several times here at the forum. If your wanting to PB after drinking something,, call the OCC.

Call either Lori or Carolyn at the OCC for a currant price. 1-866-376-7849 ext 81 or ext 82

Some patients have a problem with their meds,, 99% don't. I never had any problems and I take my daily big Vitamin and my little Synthroid with no problems.

If you don't have International calling on your cell phone, use the phones at the OCC clinic,, They are free for OCC patients. You also have free access to their computers while your there. The Lucerna has free use of their computers too. You can use your cell phone if your high enough in TJ to access an American Cell Tower across the border. Just check your cell phone and see what tower it is using at the time you want to make the call.. For an example,, if your have AT&T cell service,, your phone will show if your accessing a AT&T tower,, If your phone shows something like MexTel or something you've never heard of,, beware,, you'll be charged big $$$ for that phone call. Also,, Mexican cell providers use auto dialers to call American cell phones after you cross into Mexico. If your cell phone rings and the caller ID doesn't show who's calling you,, don't answer,, as soon as you do,, you've made a contribution to the Mexican cell phone company. I have AT&T service and I was able to use my cell on the second floor of the OCC clinic and if I walked outside on my room balconey at the Lucerna I could pick up a AT&T tower on the American side of the border. It just depends on where your at in TJ if you can use your cell phone and not be charged big $$$.

All the fills I've ever had were with Fluoro,, at the same time as the band adjustment. The OCC does it this way. This way you can make those fine adjustments as you watch the barium pass through the band. I've heard that some fill centers don't have a fluoro machine at the same office and have patients go to another location for the fluoro. It doesn't make sence to me to do fills that way. I'd call it a blind fill if that's the way their doing it.. I hope they don't miss the port and/or at the same time over fill you or under fill you. I hope their fill prices reflect that too. Your always better off going back to the OCC for your fills. Not only do they use fluoro at the same time,, they really check you out and make sure the bands in the correct position, etc. They have a reputation to keep and its the last thing they want is to have patients walk away with a incorrect fill. Even with fluoro, you could end up tight or loose,, that's why they want you to stay in town for a day so if you have any problems you can get back to the clinic and have it reajusted before you leave town.

Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill. 1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 6 to 8 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill. (Remember, water is your friend). Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take an empty drink bottle and fill it after you pass airport security. TSA rules state you can bring an empty water bottle past the TSA security check point. Bring some of those "to-go" packs of Crystal Light, they’re ideal! Ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink. (Hint - If you flying in for a fill, while you're on the plane, grab a couple of those white barf bags. It’s good to keep one in your purse or car, for "emergencies".) 2. Do not to have any solid foods for at least 6 hours before the fill. Don't eat a huge or late dinner the night before. If you're having any trouble (reflux, possible slip, etc) please have nothing but fluids after dinner the night before. In some cases, food can still be in the pouch for 12 or more hours. ANY food in the pouch will make it impossible to give a good fill, or get a good fluoro 3. Don't drink COLD fluids for an hour before the fill. That will shrink your stoma and give a false fluoro reading, and a poor fill. Room temp fluids are fine. Let the ice in your drink melt and hour before a fill, and then you'll have room-temp fluids to drink right up to the fill time. 4. Avoid getting a fill during a menstrual period or a few days before an expected one. During this time, girls are usually retaining water, and the fluoro will not be as accurate, and the fill will not be either. 5. If at all possible, hang around for at least a few hours after a fill. Don't run right back home or to the plane. It takes the normal swelling after a fill 1-2 hours to develop, and by that time you might be too tight and need to come right back. 6. If you fly in, If at all possible, stay overnight and catch a plane out the following late afternoon or evening. If you are too tight, this will allow time to get a small unfill before you leave. This is not very convenient, but sure beats having to possibly return to TJ in a few days, on short notice, in pain, and at high last-minute plane fares! This is "prevention!" Overfills are not common, but they DO happen, even under the best of conditions. Be prepared, and think about this overnight stay. Test your fill the next day before you leave. 7. After a fill, please have liquids only for at least 24 hrs. This allows the stoma to rest and heal. Then, a day of soft foods, then back to regular foods. Full liquids are fine, no need for clears. Remember, if you staying over night test your fill before you fly out. 8. Review the eating and food guidelines again before every fill. You’ll need to refine your eating more and more with higher fill levels, and there will be less and less room for goofs. As you reach a higher fill level, you'll no longer be able to "get away" with things you might have before! 9. Please don't get a fill if you are having ANY trouble with the current level of fill. This means ANY regular pain, PB or barfing more than maybe once a week at the VERY most, not able to get enough calories in, not able to drink enough, able to eat only soft foods or fluids. More fill will NOT help, and will make things worse. Discuss all this carefully with your doctor. You may even need an UNFILL, to keep your band and stomach safe. 10. First fills are routinely given at 6-8 weeks after surgery, but only as you need them. Many people do, some do not. Your doctor will help you decide if you need a fill, just ask. There is no rush for fills. Too much can very easily get you in trouble, and you end up further "behind" than if you had gone slower with fills. 11. Give a fill at least 2-3 weeks to test it. Some fills don't "settle in" for a week or two, and sometimes more. Your weight loss is what determines how a fill is - not any feeling of restriction, necessarily. 12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will NEVER be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info. A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied (NOT "FULL", but simply "satisfied, not physically hungry". for about 3-4 hrs. 13. Plan regular meals. A good fill will keep you satisfied for 3-4 hrs, but no longer. If you are hungry 5 hrs after lunch, it is not because you have an inadequate fill! Regular meals at planned times are important for a number of reasons; including avoiding snacking, maximizing your calorie burn and normalizing metabolism, which is essential for weight maintenance later on. 14. Learn to recognize YOUR "soft stop" sign. Common ones are chest tightness or "fullness", a sudden runny nose, a single hiccup or burp, an eye twitch, back pain, left should pain. All mean the pouch is full enough and we should STOP eating, even spitting out the bite that may be already in our mouths. If you do not, you could progress to the "hard stop" - slimming, pb, barfing. Please remember that good fills are very elusive, even with highly- experienced docs and fill people. There are just too many individual factors involved that the docs cannot control. Even the fluoro is only a clue, and not entirely accurate - for some of the reasons above. It usually takes 3- 5 fills to slowly and safely creep up on a good level, and they can be safely given a month apart. Trying to go faster with a bigger fill is not the solution, and the stomach rebels at big sudden fills. The goal of the first few fills is NOT to achieve a good restriction, but to gradually get your stomach used to some pressure so you can tolerate a GOOD fill later. SLOW and GRADUAL is the key! Going slowly with fills can be frustrating, but is well worth the wait to avoid problems. Forum: Support / General Discussions · Post Preview: #18694 · Replies: 15 · Views: 351

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