Vera

Do It!!!!!

I'de hang them up line dry, but if they were cheap in the dryer they would go. The dryer can break down the fibers, especially if you over dry.

Hi Terri Welcome to LBT

Love Wasabi, NO rice for me

No seaweed for me either!! Oh how I enjoy a bowl of Miso soup to start then some Maguro...Crab...Salmon...Albacore My favorite lunch.

Sue Are you still scheduled for PS? Is it tomorrow? Wishing you the best and my thoughts are with you.

Congratulations Kevin

I love this site too! It's the people, so caring and concern. :Bunny

If your flying into Mexico (not just crossing the boarder) I would advise a passport. A year and a half ago I flew with a birth certificate and had to get a notery/affidavit ($40) at the airport and was a major hassel. Just got my passport monday.

Glad you had it checked out and got a fill on top of it.As far as insurance go's, It's all how they word the report.

I recall Donali haveing her port flip and have heard of others. This should be a simple proceedure. Hang in there. Keep us informed.

Thanks for all the well wishes! Forgot to mention between all the conversations with Dr. Sanchez, I was speaking with Dr. McKeen for advice and he's in total agreement with me going to Mexico. Also, if I was to count my total fills I'd be at 8.5cc's.....ya right EGBOK

Yes that's right, Monterrey Mexico to be exact. For those of you that don't know my total story....here's a few bits of previous posts that will explain my situation. I posted this a year ago I went for a blind fill yesterday and this is how it went: Dr. numbed port area, inserted hebber needle. Went to withdraw old saline/fill, only got .5cc's out, previous fill 10 weeks ago was at 3.5cc's(I'm thinking I have big gremlins). He pulled that needle out and got a brand new needle and again nothing came out. So he put 2cc's in then tried to get that out...nothing. Pulled the needle out and tried again...nothing would come out, not even a drop. The questions start "when did you loose restriction, quick or slowly" Well I still have alittle restriction and it depends on what I eat. I was getting hungry between meals and was able to eat quite a bit. Personally I was thinking of canceling the appt. but decided to have a check-up and alittle fill. He claims if it was quick loss of restriction the port could have broke off the tube, if its slow loss of restriction the tubing could have a leak or the band it self. So I have lunch, 5 bites of chicken and I feel it. I've got restriction that I've never felt, not bad just can feel the ball of food sitting there. The same thing at dinner. In the morning I'm not hungry, lately I have been, but not today. I have a protein shake, couple pints of water and a yogurt. Lunch 1/2 cup of chili was all I could take. So my better half has an idea "what if the tubing is kinked" The solution is forced in but can't come out. I did really good through out the spring into early summer loosing a few pounds per month. Well I had a good summer, lots of fun and noticed I was eating more as well, I was pushing the limits. Eating soft breads, buns and pasta where just a few months ago I would have PBed. Summer was over and I knew I had to have my next fill under flouro. I had to know what was going on. So on 11-11-04 off to radiology Dr McKeen struts in, we start talking about where my fill could have gone and why he couldn't get any fill out the previous time. Then I asked him about contrast and he remarks that he just read that the makers of the Swedish band were suggesting contrast fills because the band's not holding saline for a long time, Why...they don't really know, but he remarks that all bands have a tendency especially over time to loose some fill solution. The fluoroscopy machine is on and the port is accessed the first time, we follow the tubing and indeed a possible kink is reveled, more like a sharp curve, about 2 inches from the port. He tries to pull some saline out but nothing comes out. He has me drink some yummy chocolate barium and we watch it go right through, a good 1/2 inch opening. He puts in 1cc of contrast as we see the stoma opening get smaller, then adds another cc and that's when it got real cool. As I drink small sips of barium you can see it sit right above the band for a few seconds or so then with a couple of spasms in the esophagus, which is like a muscle, the barium slowly goes down about a 1/6th of an inch stoma opening. I long for that restriction I had a year ago. 2 months have gone buy and Ive gained 7 lb.'s On 1-12-05 I went for another fill, blind this time again, nothing comes out. reality sets in. I don't have an Inamed band, what if I need new parts or even if the band itself needs to be replaced. After talking to some dear friends I call Dr. Sanchez. He confirms everything I said and says It's a leak. He informs me to get down to Monterrey Mexico and he will fix it. That he has experts and equipment that will find the leak. In his words "I take care of my people" he explains That most leaks are near the port and it's a simple fix but if it's the band itself, he will replace it and the manufacturer has to pay for everything. I've talked personally to Dr. Sanchez twice in the last 2 weeks. He wants to make sure I'm taken care of, I asked if they have to replace my band, that I want an Inamed he said of course.. Everything is set up, I fly with a stop over in Dallas on 2-24. Sergio will pick me up from the airport and I'll be staying at the guest house. The radiologist will perform a flouro specifically to find the leak. Then we go from there. Yes It's about time.

So Happy for you! How bout a pic Congratulation

Praise the Lord! such good news.

Happy 28th Birthday Michelle I read you get a fill today, hope it helps you get back on track.

And to top it off...Why won't so many medical insurance's cover Gastric Banding? It's like preventive medicine, If loosing weight would relieve diabetes and all the other diseases you mentioned. It would save them money in the long run. Rant on

While were on the photo quest... Can anyone recomend a photo printer? If I want to print a pic I go to the Rite-aid photo place....I want something that will print a quality 5X7 picture at home. Sorry for the hi-jack...believe me Paula once you get your digital camera it's just a matter of time before you'll want a printer too.

I love my Canon A90! 5 megapixels 4 AA batteries that last a long time! It even takes movies. Got it on E-bay brand-new for $300. Then bought a 256meg memory-flash card for $44 at Target.

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so sweet LOL

May you always be loved

I wish I could just stop eating like stopping smoking, drug addiction...but we all need fuel/food. Wise choices, and for me knowing when to quit. I'm addicted to food. :tired Good stuff Penni, Thanks

We all go through the pro's and con's Choice of a healthy life! best part...insurance backing you up. Awesome job as well..research!

Hi Bright. To fill, not to fill, how much? Where did my fill go? I go through these same questions. Now I'm trying to gear myself up to go back to Mexico to find and fix this leak that Dr McKeen, my follow up doctor here, and Dr. Sanchez, who banded me feel is my problem. Traveling not for vacation is not always fun. The things I keep telling myself is-This band and me have to work properly for it to work, and someone lately said why have a car if your not going to put gas in it. I probably didn't help you much and we are all so different. Good luck and let us know what you decide. I have a large band(AMI)and if I were to count my total fills I'd be at 8.75cc's Now don't look at that for comparision.

I can agree with "there's not a real sweet spot" but I can tell you, when while your eating you can feel the food just sit there in your pouch and you've only eaten about a piece of chicken the size of a deck of cards and you feel full for a long time. To me that's a perfect "sweet" restriction. (which I so miss) I want to add, you can eat the same amount of ice cream and not feel a thing. The myth that you can eat anything but in smaller amounts does not apply to everyone who's banded.You have to look at what you eat, how much, and it's nutritional value. All good stuff Lisa, keep um coming!