Vera

FYI Total cash cost Dr. McKeen San Jose Ca. $20,000. I'm sure you don't want to fly to California either. I wen't to Mexico for $10,850 and get my (blind) fills for $75.00. I'm still paying for my Band operation and flight via credit cards. Its the best Health choice I ever made. Good Luck

Wow Thanks for the info:D I was just at the doctors getting my 2nd fill and we were talking about metabolism, how when you eat less the body wants to store it as fat instead of energy, why I'v been feeling tired. Insulin spiking....Glucose index was another thing we were talking about and I want to learn more of both of these issues. Thanks again and Conratulations on your wonderfull weightloss.

Michelle I just had my 2nd fill. It was this doctor's first blind fill he had ever gave. It went very smooth! He removed all the saline first, in his words "to make sure there are no leaks. I should get close to the same amount of the first fill", which I did(1.75cc). I let him give me a total of 3.5ccs. I have an AMI band which is 11mm tall, verse Inamed band which is 6.75mm tall. I learned alot today including when the band is placed, its like a tie-wrap and is adjusted per the size of your stomach. A larger stomach would have the band wrapped loser. Thus the fill amounts are different for everyone. I never thought of leaks at only 3 months, but it could happen. I'm just learning. I'm not going to try to eat anything for a few days, I'll see how it gos. How do you get your fills? Good luck

Sushi I love it! Not a problem with me. Here out of Monterey Caif. the albacore tuna fishing boats prepare it as you catch it, so good.

Carmen Perhaps if you know exactly why your doctor put you on this pre-op diet it might help you stick to it. I'v heard of diets to shrink your liver (1/3 of its size) to get the stomach easier, less complications during sugery. Try to hang in there, the band will help change life for the better.

Congratulation:D Welcome to Bandland!

Congratulations I have my 2nd fill scheduled for 11/21/03, just in time for Thanksgiving too. I won't mind cooking the bird at all.

Michelle and Brandi How much total "Fill" do you have. I'm at 1.75cc and am going for my second fill this friday with a new doctor whos going to try giving me a blind fill. I'm going to ask for aleast an additional 1.5cc but I'm thinking of asking for alittle more and backing some out if I'm too restricted. I'm going to stand up and drink some water as a test. Do you have any suggestions? How do you know your at a good level...sweet spot? I saw some pictures on Oprah.com amazing transformations.

First the cheese and now the kringle, Help me!

I'm at the end of my cycle also. I have had less restriction in the last 2 weeks, have been thinking of getting my 2 fill. I havn't lost any weight for 2 weeks then this morning I'm down 2 lbs!! It must be the water retention, and as usually for me I seem to be more hungry prior to my cycle. So I guess I'm the opposite of what your exeriencing. As for the POP I feel for you, Don't have any advice except call the doctor.

Lea Sorry to hear about your fill dr. I came across a dr who wouldn't fill non Inamed bands. I counted 13 Texans registered on this forum and I bet theres more! Compare the cost of Mexico to finding a Fill dr. in Texas. I'm sure you can find a resonable Fill doc near you. Ask around? Obesityhelp has lists of drs. As for the cost... my first Fill cost me $371 och. Now I'm looking at a new doc who just started his practice 20 miles from me and is asking $200 plus needle fee. I offered to be a guinea pig...Still waiting for a response. Gee theres alot of 2 year olds, I'v got one too. Just watching him move wears me out. Good luck

Congratulations Lea Welcome to Band Land! Dr Sanchez is so wonderfull. I bruised alot too. Did you get an AMI band?

Wonderfull weightloss:D I love my calistoga carbonated water. I have 2-3 of them a day. I can't have diet soda cause of the aspertain reaction, I get muscle cramps and hip pain. Carbonation is not a problem with me.

Hello Everyone I have an AMI band also with Dr. Sanchez 8/14/03. I had my first fill 9/24/03 at that time they started at 5cc which closed me up alltogether and very painfull. As they started un-filling while drinking Barrium I could see the opening(X-ray) at 2cc and felt my esophagus open up. I had the dr. stop at 1.75cc. Everyone is different . Now I'm lossing very slow 1/2 lb a week if that and have starting thinking I need another fill? Most of my diet consist of a piece of chicken or fish, I notice every bite going down too, twice I ate Pork and it came right back up. I read alittle lubrication helps, ketcup, mayo.. and that helps me. Yes I can eat as much salad, soup, potatoes..I want but I don't. I'm trying a stick to foods I feel going down they seem to keep me fuller longer. With the Holidays coming up I don't know what I'm going to do. I just wanted to note that everyone is different. I think that as your stomach shrinks and the amount of fat around it has alot to do with Fills. I'm no expert. I believe that Barb from Penn who has an AMI also has had a 4cc Fill. So I'm not sure if theres any correlation to the AMI bands and Fill amounts, again I think its an individual process. I am always interrested with others that have an AMI band and there progress. Good luck with your Fills.

:cool: Hey I Know Dr Pamela Foster who works with him. I went to her for my fill which she wrote the orders for then actullay had the fill at Mills Penn $$. Last week I went to a seminar at Good Sam San Jose, they just started a bariatric center and I was very impressed with Dr. McKeen, he'll be doing my fills from now on. There cash(no insur) cost is $20,000 total for lapband, hospital etc... I had my band sugery in Mexico. Are you from around the Bay? Vera

I wasn't done...oops Id like to know how many Doctors call without follow-up appt.s Vera:confused:

Good Question

I use Designer Whey protien mix from GNC every morning then about 9 am some cottage cheese too.. slimfast is loaded with sugar, I won't touch the stuff. The food forum has alot of info. I agree, besides the liquid stage there wasn't much instructions on what to eat. Vera

Congratulations Maggie I agree with Donali, Karen, and Nicole. Also its what you eat! I too had my band sugery by Dr. Sanchez on 8/14/03 isn't he a wonderful man! I was simular to you, 10 lbs dropped the first week, then weight- loss stoped after 4 weeks and was eating endlessly. I had my first fill last week(you can read about it on "fill" forum) and at that time the fill doctor did stress what you eat(protin first, veges..), not to drink with meals or after for an hour, and to excersize. Since last week I did notice more restriction I'm getting full sooner, so I'm eating less. But I'v only lost 2 lbs. People are remarking that I look thiner, I'm loosing inches. I keep telling myself my band is just a tool, I have got to make it work and its going to take time. I suggest you look into finding a fill doctor, 6 to 8 weeks is a good time to consider your first fill. Did you get a Lap11 or an AMI? Good luck Vera

Megan Congratulations Do they have a name for your band? I'm very happy with my AMI. I'm wondering if your getting the same as mine? Tell me more about the research? FYI The AMI brochure reads: AMI soft gastric band implant Soft against surrounding tissue Expected to reduce the migration rate Safety lock mechanism Opens automatically in case of extraordinary strong votiting and / or muscle spasms and therefore prevents tearing of muscular layers of the distal esophagus and / or the upper portion of the stomach wall. Long, soft expanding neck Provides a soft, gentle, safe placement of the implant, around the posterior wall of the stomach. Reducing the chance of experiencing, unexpected small bleeding on the posterior side of the stomach! Full Titanium Instiller Port. Vera

I have a AMI band know as a swiss band distributed by CJ Medical of the UK. It sounds alot like what your discribing, it has a titanium port and a smaller "buckle". I had my placed in Mexico. I'm curious if its the same one. I just had my fill with no problems. Vera

Just wanted to let you know how my fill went. It took me 2 hours to get to Mills Peninsula Hospital, First I saw Dr Foster, she didn't feel I was ready for a fill, she has her patients wait 2 mos. and from what I described (that 2 wks ago I had severe chest pains after eating 4 bites of mac and cheese, which I shouldn't be eating in the first place) but that shows restriction. Also my port seem to be alittle tilted down. I wanted to go ahead and try to get a fill for allot of reasons so she wrote the orders for the fill. Dr. Lee who preformed the procedure was very professional and funny, He claimed he's filled band from all over the world. Once a lady who had her band procedure done in France came in with her own container of fluid for her fill, he said what's in there Chardonnay? He's done other Dr.Sanchez patients and that Dr Sanchez does good work. So while laying on a table a large "live" x-ray machine is placed about 10 inches over me. Immediately I see my port no problem getting to it. He says with massive weight loss the ports sometimes flip, very common, mine is flat. Then he numbed the area and placed a 4 inch needle about 1/2 inch into the port, alittle pressure but no pain. Then he placed 5 cc into the band, I choked the pain in my chest was unbearable, that's the esophagus he explained and my band was completely closed off. He let 1 cc out and had me drink some barium, I almost vomited. He let another cc out as we were looking at the screen we could see the barium but it was not getting thru and I was still choked up. Drank some-more barium which was hard to do and took out another cc. Finally saw a trickle pass about the same size of the needle, I said let alittle out to be on the safe side. I got a total of 1.75 cc and we were done. A half hour total for the whole procedure. Dr. Lee explained that my band holds 11 cc when not around a stomach but that everyone's different and my total is 5 cc. his last words "chew your food well". I was amazed that its such a small amount. Do I feel different? no. I'm back on fluids but ate 3 small bites of chicken last night and I did feel it about 5 minutes later, kind-of full feeling. I'm scared to eat knowing the opening is smaller then a pencil but I feel great. I'll see with time. Vera:cool:

Amber I agree with Alexandra I just got my first fill and seeing first hand live. It's an individual process. Vera

"I wonder if everyone who has had him perform surgery went out and had their Lap Band X-rayed it would disintegrate all negative feedback about Dr. Sanchez because if they had the newer models than everyone who give the negative feed back would have to hush up ya know what I mean. " I had an AMI(newer model) band sugery done by Dr. Sanchez and just had my first fill with X-ray.... Dr. Lee of Burlingame CA. who performed my fill has had other Dr. Sanchez patients says "Dr. Sanchez does good work". Dr. Lee has filled bands from all over the world. I'm very Happy with my band. Vera:D

Hi Lea I was very eager to get a band and knew insurance would be a long battle, and felt I would have probably been declined because I don't have any health problems/issues. So I went to Mexico and had my band surgery preformed by Dr. Sanchez on 8-14-03. He is an outstanding doctor and has an excellent staff. I would highly recomend him. Good luck in your decision, your Health is very important. Looking forward to my fill 9-24-03! Vera