faithmd

Advanced Platform Here's a link to a thread about it on Dr. C's forum: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - New AP band and a pic thread: Trace W. Curry, M.D. :: View topic - pic of new AP band I was closed with staples....DAMN! But I agreed with my surgeon's logic, gotta hate that freaking logic!

Hiya kleta! I was closed with staples. I started a poll thread about this subject a while back and it's still pretty active, here's a link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/what-were-your-incisions-closed-31852/ Thought you might like to see what many others have said as well

Hello Kahuna and welcome to LBT! Many surgeons do not like to remove your gallbladder at the same time as placing the band due to increased risks of complications with the surgery and with infection. They will more often remove the gallbladder when doing a RNY than when placing a band. Self-pay packages are coded differently than insurance paid procedures, it would be worth talking with a surgeon about. But being in the San Diego area you are close enough to Mexico to take advantage of the wonderful surgeons there. I would reccommend you start by looking into Dr. Aceves or Dr. Ortiz, you can do a search on here for them, or look in the Mexico forum. They are both good surgeons with good reputations. There are more wonderful surgeons from Mexico, but those are the first two names that popped into my head. If you choose to go out of your area for surgery, just be aware that you need to set up aftercare and fills with someone close to home BEFORE you go for surgery. But again, being so close to Mexico, if you should choose to go with a Mexican surgeon, you could fairly easily return for fills/follow-up.

Thanks, Edie! I can always use fast, easy and nutritious meal ideas. And I love Schwan's quality.

Carrie, I'm not sure if you even come here anymore-I see your post counter is only 9 and like so many people the possibility is that you came with a problem seeking help and just haven't been back, which is fine. But I just wanted to post something for you to consider about going back to Dr. Selim:cry If your Dr. Selim is Niazy Selim then here is some information I found on OH about Dr. Selim in KC. There are no reviews of Dr. Selim, which is interesting if he's done "thousands of bands" as it sounds like you were told he did. This is from a woman's surgeon's story: Surgeon Testimonial I met with Dr Niazy Selim about 2 hours after my appointment time. He seemed to be nice, asked me if I had questions, of which I did and answered each one to my satisfaction. I did express the need to get things going in a timely manor due to a change in my insurance in May 07. I was disappointed because he did not give me any paperwork, booklet, brochure or anything about the lap band surgery. I did recieve a pamphlet 10 days later after calling his office assistant to find out what the next step was. I was directed to get a letter from my cardiologist and have my psych visit before they submit to my insurance. He did have one doctor suggested but left it up to me who I see for the psych eval. Dr Selim says he has done about 100 Lap band procedures and had 2 who had slipped band which was the only problems he mentioned. He says that he does fills in four week intervals which seemed appropriate to me from what I have read. I also would caution you that someone who is a liver specialist may not be a BAND specialist. Is he a member of the ASBS? You can check by going to ABSB.org, was he trained and certified from Allergan to place the LapBand? You can check that at lapband.com

I know I'm specifically looking for unflavored protein. I've got some GREAT chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla shake packets already that mix with water and taste pretty damned great-even my husband "the picky eater" likes them.

Yep, it was one of the suggestions my nutritionist had for our class as well.

CONGRATS!!!!! Go to this forum, there are two threads filled with questions to ask about the band and ask of the surgeon: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/

My best friend is a Urologist and he has also been very vocal against surgery. I half-expected him to fly in from SF and stop me on the way to the OR, so I didn't tell him my new date when it was rescheduled. I wish you luck and welcome to LBT!

Most folks LOVE unjury. unjury.com I just went there and ordered one sample packet of the chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and three of the unflavored Protein. All together it was $13.45 including shipping for the six packets. I'd rahter pay that than pay $20 to $40 for a large amount of gross stuff. I'm looking for unflavored protein that I can put in HOT foods. Haven't found it yet, anyone?

I haven't bought a scale that I can weigh on yet (too heavy), that stops me from making myself nuts with scale checking. I never got weighed pre or post-op at the hospital. I have no idea what I went into OR at, nor what I weighed after all the Fluid.

Thanks! I just posted some incision pics on Scar Stages. I'm so far fairly fortunate, I have very little bruising. But my belly remains totally numb around my big port incision. I should probably be grateful for that.

Maybe, but I've been working out pretty heavily (pre-op) three times a week 45 min-50mins at a time. Recumbent stepper, rower, elliptical, treadmill, bike...

How FANTASTIC! I'm jealous, though! You guys have lost 19 and 37 lbs, respectively and have changed sizes. I have lost almost 50 and haven't changed sizes at all, waaaaaaaaaa!

Welcome to LBT (officially)! If price is an issue, there are some great docs out there that are fairly reasonable. For example, my surgeon's office (in MI) charges about $19K, a really really skilled doc down the road about 45mins charges a package price (inc first year visits/fills) of about $12,800. Then there is lapbandrockies.com where Dr. Kirschenbaum in Denver charges a little under $12K. If you would be willing to go to Mexico (that is where you will find some VERY experienced band surgeons-Ortiz, Aceves, etc...) you can get a wonderful package price of around $8K-9K. The key to going anywhere other than your home area for surgery is that you HAVE to set up a doc for fills and follow-up BEFORE your surgery. Many docs won't touch another surgeon's band. The good news is there are some great docs out there who gladly fill other's bands. And there is a company fillcentersusa.com that does fills. I wish you luck! And I concur about not telling ANYONE about your surgery. I told only my parents, DH and two friends who have been thinking about it themselves. I just don't want the "food police" or the naysayers to disturb my zen.

The probem with soda is the carbonation. You can have diet soda, you just have to stir it or let it sit until it gets flat before you drink it. The theory is that the carbonation could potentially stretch out your pouch. Some docs are okay with their patients having soda in reasonable amounts after healing (6 months or a year out). Most folks have said they no longer have a taste for it. I gave up all carbonated beverages in January, haven't missed them at all. Occasionally (pre-banding) I'd pick up DH's glass or bottle and take a small swig and it was pretty odd. I didn't really like it as much as I used to. Regarding your diet: Your surgeon should have hooked you up with a dietician and they should have discussed what your post-op diet should be. Did you get the band booklet? It has some diet guidelines in it. Call your surgeon's office RIGHT AWAY to find out what you should be drinking and for how long before you advance to each stage. You shouldn't be eating at all yet. This is not the time to go it alone, you need guidelines from YOUR surgeon as to what you should be doing. Welcome and good luck!

Manatee, that's AWESOME!

Hello and WELCOME! There is an entire forum here dedicated to food and recipes. Take a look around, you'll find great stuff here! :)

I would suggest she get online and look into the various Yahoo groups, one in particular is called "OSSG-gone_wrong" you have to email them to request to join, but this is a group dedicated to those who have encountered complications with their weight loss surgery. It's a great support. They also trade names of docs who do reversals (though it never can TRULY be reversed, at least 22 inches of bowel have been removed), or at least as close to a reversal as possible. I wish you and your mom luck! I would not suggest going to obesityhelp.com, they seem to be only about the positive stories, not anything negative.

Here's a picture of the band with the port attached, the port is sutured to the fascia of your abdominal muscle. Fills are done one of two ways, either by feel to guide the fill person into the port, or under fluoroscopy (a form of xray) to guide the fill person to the right spot.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->

Huh? The fill is how the band works. The band is a silastic balloon-ring that goes around the stomach and restriction is achieved by inflating (or filling) that ring using a needle into the port that is placed in your abdomen. Here's an example

I was unimpressed with the Magic Bullet, it only has 225 watts of power and a regular blender has at least 450 watts. If you really want a small sized blender, here's a link to one you can get online from walmart.com for about $18 and it's 350 watts! Back to Basics 3-Speed Brushed Chrome Personal Blender Express, BPE3BR - Wal-Mart I bought a regular-sized blender (needed a new one, anyway) by Oster that included a free small-sized cup for smoothies. If you look around and buy one that has a screw-off base (from the pitcher) and rings for cleaning, then you can use small canning jars instead of the pitcher and make small amounts at a time, and easier clean-up. I think I paid $39.96 for my Oster at Walmart and it included not only the free personal sized jar, but a food processor attachment as well. What a great deal!

BobbertsMom, GREAT suggestion! Soniacan: The Magic Bullet doesnt like the ice because it really isn't all that powerful, it is only about 225 watts, a regular blender is at least 450 watts. If you have a regular blender that has a jar with screw-off rings, then you can use those little glass canning jars instead of the huge pitcher that comes with the blender. There is a small blender you can order from Walmart.com that is about $18 and has 350 watts. Back to Basics 3-Speed Brushed Chrome Personal Blender Express, BPE3BR - Wal-Mart

My experience at Hurley was pretty great. ANYONE, ANY HOSPITAL can oops and a patient can get a burn from the Bovie pad. I ended up getting closed with staples despite my desire for sutures. I pled my case and Dr. Wagner pled his, and in the end, his case made more sense to me, so I agreed to the staples. One incision has one staple, three have two and the port scar (above my belly button) has five. I drew all over my belly with permanent marker (industrial strength) where my braline is, where I wear the waistbands of my pants (scrubs and jeans) and that I wanted the AP band ONLY. You know what? He avoided every single line, he went in between them for eveything he placed. I couldn't be more thrilled. I also asked for and received the box my AP came in (AP small). I was admitted overnight and i do remember being in a great deal of pain in the recovery room and moaning a lot. I remember being told that moaning wasn't doing me any good and me saying, but *I* feel better! I got a morphine PCA and was admitted to their burn/bariatric unit. I shared a room with another Bandster and we both loved on our PCA's all night. I had to pee every two hours and I think the nurses got sick of hearing my call light all the time to get me up. My lower belly, mostly around my port incision, is completely numb. I don't know if that was intentional (liks a dose of something placed in there) or an unintentional side effect of the surgery. But I'll take it for now. The only real complaint I have is the huge rash I've got from the tape, but that's no one's fault. I never reacted before. All in all it was a really good experience, DH said he had never been in a hospital where folks had been nicer (and we've seen the insides of loads of hospitals). I was the first AP placement at Hurley, and I'm kind of geeked by that.

Keep us updated, it's great to hear it went well and that you are home!