La_madam

Wow Lauri nice weight loss under the circumstances. How are you feeling? Did you get any answers yet? Let us know what you find out. Hope you are feeling better

This is so strange..I was not overcharged but it was probably becasue I used my credit card that only had enough credit left on it to cover the book LOL I just emailed Sandy at Dr. Ortiz's office again and let her know of this matter and how upset everyone is. Just to let you all know Dr. Ortiz is also upset with this publishing company.

Hi Paula sorry you are experiencing reflux... here is an excerpt for Ortiz's book on reflux If you are experiencing heartburn or reflux after having the band, surely something is not right. Usually it is either a band too tight or something has swollen the pouch and made it too tight. In any case, this is a serious symptom and should be corrected immediately. Your doctor should deflate the band, if your Dr. does not deflate the band the banded patient will not lose wieght since they will be condemmed to a liquid diet. Paula as little as .1 or .2 cc's can make a huge difference getting removed, I know you would rather be on the safe side then risk any damge to yourself or your band right? Do call your Dr.!

Teresa..Sorry to hear about your car accident. I know you must be upset over the loss of your car..but a car is just a car, replaceable..you are not so I am so happy to hear you were not terribly injured. Please be careful , my husband was rear ended and signs of anything wrong did not kick in right away, it was a few weeks down the road where he started having horrible pain and problems in his neck and back. To date he has had 3 neck surgeries becasue of this accident and he is in need of back surgery but refuses on account of the 3 neck surgeries. He will not go through all of that again... Watch yourself carefully and if you notice any thing out of the ordinary , call your Dr. asap Sending you (((hugs)))

Betty, the charge on my credit card was correct. The name of the charge on your card is or should be The Savings Network Inc, here is their phone number 949-394-8741

I remember my first fill and I remember when he repurged my band for all of the air,I was warned about it by a felllow Ortiz bandster what to expect. it was a very strange feeling or sensation very hard to explain the feeling but very unbcomfortable for about 45 seconds to 60 seconds when I asked why he ( Dr. Martinez) was pulling the bottom of the syringe in and out he told me he was getting out all of the air in my tubing. I was told he only does it for your first fill..I did not have it done for my second fill but all of the 1.1cc's was still there from my first fill when I went in for my 2nd fill so there must be some truth to it.

Yes Paula www.lap-bandforlife.com here is an excerpt on what you experienced when you thought you had lost some of your fill. I thought of you when I read it. Here it is Most experienced LAP-BAND surgeons reccommend the repurging of the LAP-BAND at the time of the first fill. Even though the band is purged of the air at the time of surgery, LAP-BAND surgeons usually find air in the band during the first fill. It is vital to understand why.Experienced LAP-BAND specialists have found that if there is air in the system, it will leak and part of the fill will be lost. liquid does not leak from the band normally, but air does. Therefore, if at the first fill the band was inflated with 2cc's of saline solution and an additional 0.5 of air were in the system, the total of 2.5 cc's provided a very good restriction. But in a couple of weeks time, the air leaks out and the acceptable restriction is now aduquate. This could explain why you thought you had more of a fill then you did Paula and why when he pulled out the saline some was gone. You had air in your system

This is an excerpt from Dr. Ortiz's book on the Pors & cons of each technique. Fluoro and No FLuoro Both are satisfactory in the sense the patient will acquire restriction level needed. FLouro is more expensive and requires special equipment, plus the barium that must be swalloed is not the best tasting bevergae on the planet. The advantage of using fluoro is that it provides and objective image for real time evaluation, which can reveal many things about the band besides the fill level. It can show band position, the size of the esophagus and upper pouch and of course the restriction level. In other words there is a much better interval view of the band then simply a fill without visual indications. WIthout fluoro there are advantages, but apart from the cost, I see no advantage of preforming it without direct visualization. Experienced band surgeons use the rule of thirds. A third of the patients will require one fill, a third will need 2 fills and a thrid will need three or more fills. The standard protocol in the US adopted by most surgeons is a gradual adding of volume. This works well but I prefer to get the restriction level to the correct ammount as soon as possible. This can be achieved more easily with the aid of fluoroscopy. One of the advantages of having a fill without fluoro is it can be done in a Dr's office without Fluoro the protocol used in the US right now is 1cc to 1.2 cc in the first fill and then visits every 2 weeks where incriments of .2 ccs are added the desired restriction is attained. Fills preformed outside of the US are usually more aggressive. Hope that helps to answer your question Pat

When there is a will, there is a way.. I decided I wanted this so bad I went to Mexico instead of trying to fight my insurance. I sold my convertible mustang to pay for it, that is how band I wanted it..I have no regrets. I would probably still fighting with my insurance for approval 8 months later. Hang in there and Do not give up!

We all miss her, but I also think part of the reason is her man and her are living together now aren't they? I'm sure that is keeping her busy.

Blossom, Dr. Ortiz is very upset with this publishing company not for what you mentioned but for the delays and the overcharges. I know this for certain. That is strange about your book being printed all weird, I am going to let him know about all of this. . I got my book on Friday and had no overcharge to my account. I have read the book also and enjoyed it, there were a few things I learned but most I all ready knew from these boards and all of you and from Ortiz being my actual surgeon

Way to go Betty and Melissa Great Job, especially this time of year. For me not weight loss, but no gain either which is a total shock since I'm not making the best of food choices right now with all the "Christmas goodies" I have been eating. Got to get back on track starting today..it's a new week!!!

Darcey, wishing you the best on Tuesday..lots of you are being banded on the 21st, You will all be in our thoughts. Good Luck

Mrs P Have you considered finding a Dr. locally for your fills or going to TJ, Mexico instead of all the way to Costa Rica. I know my Dr. in TJ does fills on anyone who needs one wherever they were banded. Where do you live? maybe there is a Dr. in your area or a Dr. closer then Costa Rica, just a thought.

Hello Sharon & Welcome What a fantastic job you have done with your band...Congratulations to you!

Barb best wishes to you on the 21st..seems we got a few of you here going on the 21st..you will be in our thoughts.

The best to you Jack on the 21st..we will all be here waiting to hear all about it. Good Luck

I do not agree always with that. Sometimes being filled too tight doesnt always mean losing faster. Those people who are filled tighter and think it is appropriate..I wish them luck that they do not have any problems with their bands in the future. I was specifically told by Dr. Martinez that those who do not abuse the fills and do not overfill have a greater chance of their bands lasting forever and that is the category I want to be in. I have had 2 fills (2cc's) in 8.5 months and have lost 72 lbs, believe me lately Iam struggling and not losing much and could use a fill but it is important for me to do some of the work I know I could be doing better making wiser food choices, some of it is head work. We do have to do some of the work, the band can not do it all on its own! Maybe those who are getting filled too tight can not do the headwork it takes to be successful, I don't know, all I know for me is I want my band to last forever and I will do what it takes to make that happen even if that means losing slower, I was told this is a journey not a race!

Nice Page Greg, thanks for the well wishes..I wish you and your family Happy Holidays too

Betty I know he would not mind...I got my book in the mail today after reading your post.

Nancy, It has been said by the best of the best surgeons that erosion is 1-3% which is not very high. Yes I feel just like you do . I worry every day like most of us Iam sure do especially when we are hearing about all of the erosions here on thisboard lately. The only thing wecan do is follow the rules and have our bands checked. This is why Iam greatful my Dr. does his fills under fluoro with the barium becasue any indication of Erosion can be detected by the barium, the barium will flow over the band and not through it if there is erosion then and endoscopy will give 100% confirmation. Dr. Ortiz is able to detect the possibility of erosion with the barium and that is peace of mind for me.

LOL..that was good Greg...My husband Iam sure can relate!

) Do you have any tips that might make the surgery easier? Would you have done anything differently before the surgery, in hindsight, to make it easier after the surgery? I made sure I had all my Clear Liquids, chewable Vitamins, liquid tylenol, gas X, on hand and ready for me when I got home from surgery, that was helpful also pack lightly, you will not need much in the way of clothing, be comfy 2) I am told that after the surgery, I am only supposed to 'sip' liquids and not to 'gulp' liquids. I have been trying to do this prior to the surgery, but don't understand how you 'sip' vs 'gulp' - can anyone shed some light on this for me? Sip is just one small swallow not two or three 3)During the first month after the surgery, before they adjust the band, does the feeling of hunger go away, or are you usually hungry? Everyone is different, I was fortunate to not be too hungry after the band I had my first fill at 9 weeks post op and the first 3 weeks post op, no appetite at all. 4) Do you have any specific tips for getting through the first couple of days after the surgery? Rest, hot baths, Gas X, heating pad, comfy place to lay down, sleeping on your back 5) Are there any foods that you where told you could eat, which you found to be problematic when you actually to tried to eat that food? That depends on your current fill level at the time you are eating, Bread was OK prior to my fills, now it is not OK 2 fills later. Best of Luck to you

I agree 100% Call your Dr. have them do an extensive blood panel on you not just a CBC Have them run all the tests imaginable until they come up with an answer. You do not want to go through the Holidays like this, peace of mind is the best gift!

*Sighs* Chrissy..As everyone else here..I'm so sorry to hear what you have gone through.Waht an ordeal for you emotionally and physically. I too am sending you ((hugs)).Please Take Care of yourself and know that we all are thinking of you and wishing you the best! Yes Betty thanks for sharing this info with us, it was very informative especially the part about the anti inflammatory medicines..I ve been afraid to take advil for my headaches or aches and pains, now maybe I will ..was it from Ortiz's book?