Kari

You might want to bring some bullion cubes with you. The chicken broth at the Lucerna is yummy but it is a big bowl and cost $6.50. You can boil water in your room with the Mr. Coffee and make bullion.

What you are referring to is called Bandland Hell. Usually wihile in the liquid and mushy stage, you are healing and are not very hungry. What you have to remember is that the band is a tool. It is not a magic bullet that is going to melt the pounds off. I am six and a half months out and have lost around 70 lbs and I just started feeling restriction my last fill. Still not there though. IF YOU REMEMBER THAT THE BAND IS A TOOL TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, YOU WILL. IF YOU EXPECT THE BAND TO DO ALL THE WORK FOR YOU, YOU WILL GAIN.

Hi All, I had the lap band surgery on Jan 4, 2008. Everything went great until the fourth week. I haven't had a fill yet and was due for one in a week or two. On 1/30 after lunch, I started getting a constricted feeling in my mid section where the band is. By 5 pm on 1/31 is was so bad I was doubled over and I went to the ER. They first did a CT scan to ensure the band itself hadn't moved, and it hadn't. Finally my surgeon surmised that my band had filled with fluid and he removed that fluid from the port with a syringe, the fluid was completely clear. At that point, I felt and still do feel better, with no pain or constriction feeling. I can't seem to find out, to my satisfaction, why, or how, fluid would have accumulated in my band prior to a fill! Has anyone had any similar experience that they can share with me?

Were you banded by Dr. Ortiz? I was and at my first fill, the doctor who did it (locally) pulled out first to see if there was any fluid in my band. There was, about 3cc I think. He said that doctors sometimes will put a little fill in to help hold it in place.

Hi everyone...I notice that some ids say where they are and some don't. Any folks in FL? I see there is one in Bradenton and one in Edgewater =D> any others? Already there are social engagements being planned and i am turning down especially the week after surgery! Everyone wants to go to dinner or for drinks and hor d'oerves!!!

Is that all anyone thinks about?!?!?!?

See some of you all in TJ Monday-Wed next week!

My mom lives in Florida.........Stuart, and I usually spend about a month down there during the winter. Probably go down there sometime next month.

PB STANDS FOR PRODUCTIVE BURP. BELIEVE ME,. YOU'LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU DO IT.

Hi

I'm from Michigan and I have Mi Blue Cross Blue Shield, through Teamsters. The doctors I go to are surgeons, DOs. Don't ask me why they cover fills, the office said they would submit the claims and wait and see. They paid. I haven't gotten around to getting the info they want for my claim. I've been putting it off because to me, since I don't have all they want, it is more of an appeal and just haven't done anything yet.

the last newsletter, I got from teamsters did say that they will no longer cover doctor and hospital bills for complications from unauthorized or non-covered surgeries. So, let's pray I don't have any complications.

I was banded at OCC in July. I had no problems. No gas and minimal pain. Just a little tenderness at the incisions. As for support from your family?? My dh was all for me getting the surgery but let me tell you that he still weighs the same as when we married thirty some years ago and he just loves his chips and cookies/ Oh yeah, and Jewish rye bread. I do too but things are going great. You can do if you put your mind to it. I have lost 56 pounds since July even with cookies, chips and rye bread in the house/

I had the same pre-op diet that Christopher had/ I was also told I could eat as much green stuff as I wanted so I added a salad to my dinner and used the Wishbone Spritzer dressing. Also something that also helped me was Dill pickles/ They are green, 5 calories each and they crunch. Also, in the lean cusine, the panini's and the brick oven chicken ranch and bbq chicken pizzas are yummy. I lost 15 pounds in two weeks before my surgery and that was with cheating on the 4th of July and eating BBQ that dY.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY. AND PRE-OP DIET

I was banded 7-16-07. I just had my fifth fill Friday.....puttting a total of 8.2cc's in my band. I just now have restriction. Sometimes it takes a while. Have patience. It will come.

I have Verizon and I couldn't get my cell phone to work at all.

Uh, oh! I had been doing great...start weight: 225, lost 15lbs on pre-surgery diet, banded in Sept. Followed all the rules, had some plateaus when my body went into starvation -protection mode, got first fill (a rather puny 1.2) in November. Not too much restriction, just the now and then surprise of getting stuck, some minor sliming. Got down to 185lbs--started getting lots of complements (never thought I would feel slim at 185!) and was quite on top of watching what I ate. THEN CAME THE HOLIDAYS......at first, no prob. Then the parties, and "gifts" of cookies, candy. Now I am eating EVERYTHING. Am back to (gulp) 189lbs. I am scheduled for Fill #2 , but am freaking out, because the "invisible shield" has been broken. I am eating like a fat person again. It wasn't the magic lapband that had made me lose weight---it had been my willpower following the rules. Now I have broken the rules, and I am not sure I can go back to being a good girl!!! Is it too late? Can I be saved yet again? Will fill #2 be the magic cure to my weak will and hungry head? Stay tuned...tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I have yet another party to attend. Alcohol not a big problem for me, but there will be appetizers, there will be hors d'oeuvres, there will be a sit down dinner. I do not have restriction, and, as it turns out, I do not have willpower. I will, of course make the token New Year's resolution to lose weight, but this year was supposed to be different! Someone please tell me that the fills make a difference---that I will someday only be able to eat a tiny bit, that willpower will not be the sole determining factor in my weight loss. HHHHHHHEEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!

SOUNDS VERY VERY FAMILIAR. i AM IN THE SAME BOAT.

I haven't used Nutrisystem, but I do use Lean Cousines. Not every night but most nights I will have one with a salad or vegie. It is pretty good. Also make cheese omelets with low or no fat cheese and egg beaters. Very filling and low in calories.

am seriously considering surgery early next year but there is only one option here in Ireland.That involves travelling 200 miles to Dublin to be operated on for 10,000euro by this Polish surgeon in a cosmetic surgery place that has a dubious reputation.Just wondering if there are any other Irish on this forum OR if anyone has any experience of travelling to Prague for the op.Is it a bad idea to have to fly somewhere for fills afterwards???thx for the posts-v.helpful!

Go to www.lapbandtalk.com. Go to the monthly support section and pick the July 07 Bandsters. There is a woman there by the name of Dini that is from Ireland and banded. Don't know any other info about her but I am sure she would respond to your questions.

I had my surgery in TJ with Dr. Ortiz. Paid cash and then submitted all the info to my insurance company. I qm not sure what they are going to do with it since they want more info, including pre=authorization. But, I found a doctor here that will do fills and he is an innetwork doctor and my insurance is paying for my fills less my co-pay.

I went for my first fill last Wednesday. I was so excited about having some restriction. I had some after the surgery and had lost 24 lbs. before my first fill so I could not wait. It was a blind fill which disappointed me as I had heard people say they could not tell they got a fill or they were too tight. I did not want either of course. I think she filled the band first and then ask me to drink water. She told me to tell her if I could feel it. I thought I did. She said if you fell you are going to throwi it up go to the sink. Well, here comes me not wanting to bother her by throwing up so I thought I felt something. She then drew some saline out, I drank again. It went down. She messed with it a litte more, I drank more. She started telling me she wanted to make sure I could swallow my spit. I said "What?" I had not heard this before. To make a long story short I guess I did not do such a good job feeling the fill. I cannot tell I have had one and now I am trying to use my own will power which is not easy. My question is why do people do blind fills? And, should I tell the nurse I cannot tell I have a fill? Have any of you had this happen? Does fluro work all the time?

Give it some time. Not everyone feels restriction their first fill.

I've had three fills and I am still waiting to find that "SWEET SPOT" I am getting close though. I am getting full quicker than I was. Hopefully the fourth time will be the charm.

Good Morning,

It is 3:09 in the morning and I am wide awak. I think I am still on the other time. We just changed our clocks last weekend and my body has not made the change yet. I had my first fill two days ago and cannot tell I have had one. I just ate a hot dog on half a bun. It all went down fine and I do not feel full yet I have never felt that with this surgery. For some reason I do stop long before I use to when it comes to portion size. Not sure why. I always start out thinking I am eating this whole thing and somewhere after aout half I start giving my dogs the rest. They may start to gain! I do seem to be having lots of gas and upper back pain behind the shoulder blades.

It is supposed to be 73 degrees today here in Arkansas. I love this weather and want to stay home. Have a good weekend everybody!!!!!

Suzie

I just had my third fill today and I still don't have restriction. I've got about 7cc's in it so far. I can't wait for restriction to happen. Another four weeks till another fill!!

I was wondering if this lap band and the weight loss has helped improve diabetes. I have lost 24 lbs. so far and wondered about how much weight people loss before it will improved blood sugars.

Hi Suzie

I am diabetic and since banded in July have lost 49 pounds. I take 2 metformin/day and 1 Avandia/day. I also take 38 units of Lantis which the doctor has lowered from 88 units and I no longer have to take insulin on a sliding scale at mealtimes. My sugar levels have gone from totally uncontrolled (and high numbers) to between 70 and 99. Very seldom are my sugar levels over 100.

For those of you having plastic surgery to remove excess skin............I want to share with you something I have gotten from Gift of Life. THEY WANT YOUR EXCESS SKIN!!!! We don't want it but others need it.

I am a big supporter of organ donation ever since my granddaughter passed away waiting for her third liver. I never thought that there could be a need for excess skin but it can save a life and make life more bearable for burn victims etc. So, even though, tummy tucks etc are somewhere down the road, REMEMBER........LET THEM HAVE WHAT YOU DON'T WANT ANYMORE.

Good Luck with your surgery. I wish you and your wife lots of success. You're in good hands with Dr. Ortiz. He runs a first class operation down there in TJ.

I now exactly how you are feeling. I thought the band was going to be the magic potion that made me skinny. NOT!!! I wouldn't have to give up any of my favorite foods.....just eat less of them...NOT!!

I was banded back in July and so far, I've lost about 45 lbs. I have to admit though, that I am questioning the money spent for a band. Like I said, I've lost around 45 lbs but it has been all me. I've had two fills and another one scheduled for Friday. I am hoping I'll find my sweet spot soon cause this is getting old. I watch what I eat. (Yogurt and lean cusines) and I ride my excersize bike at least one hour a day, trying to increase everyday. I want to start feeling restriction and let the band do it's magic. I have to keep reminding myself that it is just a tool. Just a tool. Now, I'm counting on the fact that onceI hit goal, it will keep me from overeating and gaining back what I've lost. Don't know if that makes sense or not. But.............

OK, so this is the story. I went to get a fill last week. My doc didn't have the right length needle, so she used a shorter one, and had trouble accessing the port because it was so short. She pulled out about 2cc's and that was all she could get. She put in 2.6cc's (if indeed she was in the port) and I left pretty happy. I immediatley went to get something to eat to see if I had any restriction. NONE WHATSOEVER. I went back today to get another fill. Same thing, longer needles hadn't arrived yet, and she tried to use the shorter ones again. She "thinks" she hit the port on the 2nd try. She tried to pull out the 2.6cc's but was only able to pull out .5cc. It had a little blood in it. So, can you pull .5 cc of liquid out of tissue??? I'm terrified that my band has a leak! She never was "quite sure" she was in the port with the shorter needle, so she told me to come back Friday, when the longer needles would be there, and she would try again.

She was using a 1 inch, right angle Huber non-coring needle. I'm also scared about this....could she have damaged the tubing, and CAUSED a leak? Any ideas????

Thanks,

Donna

Donna

At my first fills, the doctotr pulled out about 1cc of fluid so the doctor put in 2cc and told me it would take a few fills to reach the sweet spot. Now, at my second fill, he used a bigger syringe and pulled out over 5cc's. So, he said it must have been the size of syringe that made the differnce. I don't know if that helps or not.

I am still waiting to hear from my insurance company. I didn't get pre-approval and I was out of network (I went to Mexico) Sure hope I hear something soon.

I would highly recommend the surgery. Let me tell you why. Before surgery I was 222 lbs. 5 foot 5 inches, 55 years of age, diabetic for 10 years, high blood pressure for 16 years, high cholesterol for 5 years, depressed and on so much medication I was ready to give up. I did not have a weight problem as a young adult but gradually gained weight over the year. The last two years I put on 40 lbs. due to insulin. I was taking huge amounts of insulin, 150 units of 70/30 at night, 60 short acting with each meal and the weight kept coming on. My A1C was never good and I felt I was in a horrible battle that I could not win. I loved food, it ws the high point of my day. It was my best friend. It was the only thing that made me feel good for awhile and not matter how bad I felt i always managed to get to the food. Could I give it up? For me there was no choice. Either take this chance or die soon. I was sleeping all the time. I would go to work and collapse when I got home. I wanted to sleep all the time on the weekends and never wanted to do anything, except eat, never wanted to go anywhere anymore. The saddest thing of all is I was so content to just stay at home on the weekends and sleep. I guess I had given up on anything better. I had scheduled the surgery and then backed out because I was scared and the cost was going to come out of our pocket. My husband came to me shortly after I cancelled and told me he just watched a news report on lap band surgery and diabetics. One groiup of diabetic had the band, the other group did not. The death rate for the group that did not was 93% higher. He said I want you to do it. I did and it gave me back my life and I am only 5 weeks post op. Already I have seen such a difference. My energy level has doubled. I feel so good. I do not sleep all the time now. I want to go to the store now. I want to shop. I can only imagine what the next several months hold for me. I hope this helps someone.

Suzie

Your post could have been written by me except I am a stay at home mom. Half the time I wouldn't even bother getting dressed. I too felt that I either take a chance on the band or die. Not only from a health point of view, but I hated myself so much, I was on the brink of suicide. I was banded in July and so far I have lost 41 pounds and feel great. Good luck with your journey.

I had surgery on September 25, and so far have lost between 19 and 24 pounds depending on the day. I know this is a lot and I am very excited, but I am getting discouraged at the same time. I seem to lose 2 pounds here and gain 2 pounds there. In the last two days I have gained 4 pounds. I just started eating last Thursday, and stuck to the liquid diet pretty faithfully. Unfortunately since starting back on solids, I am trying to watch my portions and the quality of food I am eating, but still can't seem to continue to drop consistantly. I know that until I have my first fill, which I might add isn't going to be for another 2 or 3 weeks, I will probably gain some of the weight back, but I have been so encouraged by my weight loss so far, I feel I will be failing until I start losing again. I also have come to the realization that I really don't have any or much restriction, though at some times I do. Up to this point I have thankfully only PB'ed once and it was not very bad, but this morning I ate a hard boiled egg and thought I was going to die....won't make that mistake again. That was this morning, but yesterday I felt I could have eaten a house as hungry as I was, so I finally gave in and ate a hand full of chips, but got right back on track after that eating healthier food. Then to my disappointment I had gained 2 pounds when I got on the scales this morning. I am really starting to obsess about what goes into my mouth and getting on the scales each morning....#-o Any encouragement or advise would be greatly appreciated.

I was banded in July, had two fills and I still don't have restriction. I've kind of plateau-ed and know exactly how you are feeling. I do fine during the day but by night I try to clean the fridge out. It is frustrating.

I am from the Toledo, Ohio area and I am in need of a doctor to do checkups and to do a fill. Does anyone know of anyone in Ohio area or within a 100 miles?

I see Dr. March in Hillsdale, Michigan. My insurance covers my fills less co-pay. If you want his number, e-mail me at kirajh@yahoo.com