La_madam

Hi Chantal Did you try calling the toll free number from their site 1-888-777-4202 ask to speak to Susan Maria Leach she is the owner of the company. I have ordered from all over the internet and never had a problem yet, so maybe its just a matter of callingto confirm they got your order, that is what I have doen in the past. If they did not send you a confirmation number maybe it did not go through. Hope this helps Michelle

I live in Southern California but had my surgery in TJ Mexico My doctor does his under fluoro with a barium swallow. You might want to call one of the Mexican doctors they will usually help anyone regardless if you had your surgery with them or not, my doctor charges 100.00 . His name is Dr Ortiz, here is the number to call to inquire about fill info. 619-270-1126 ask for Veronica she is very sweet and helpful. I just scheduled my first fill for Monday June7th, I'm driving down to the border and taking a taxi to the clinic. There are many other wonderful doctors in Mexico who can help. Dr Lopez, Dr Kuri just to name a couple of others. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

In my written post op instructions from my nutritionalist it clearly stated in big bold capitalized letters NO CARBONATION EVER AGAIN!! I never questioned why, I just figured these were the instructions from my Dr. and my nutritionalist and since I was a self pay and paying alot of money .I'm going to listen to their directions. They are the professionals with more knowledge about the banb then I have.. However I have heard all kinds of different theories as to why not to drink sodas ie: band erosion, reflux, pouch stretching so if any of this is true , having a soda is not worth it to me. Just My opinion Good Luck to you Michelle

I hae the adjustable gastric band made my Inmed (lap Band) My surgeon was trained by Inmed and is a proctor who teaches other doctors how to preform this surgery. I felt very confident with my choice of band and surgoen. It has been 8 weeks today and I have had no problems with my band and have lost 25 pounds. I have yet to have a fill but will be having my first fill next week or the week after. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi My insurance company denied me too, the told me I had no co morbitites that go along with being obese. I weighed 265 at my surgery. So instead of fighting and appealing my insurance company which can take months even up to a year. I decided to go to Mexico and self pay. My surgeon in Mexico is trained by Inmed he does 4-5 lap bands a day and he is one of the top Lap Band surgeons in the country, he also offers financing throught Capital One. Has your brother ever considered going to Mexico and self paying? To me it was so worth it, then trying to fight my insurance company. I have been banded for 8 weeks today and I have lost 25 pounds. I know for a fact if I was stil ltrying to get coverage from my insurance company I would still be fighthing them today and I would not have lost 25 pounds. Just my thoughts and something for your brother to think about. My brother is 38 years old and weighs over 350 pounds. He is going to be having the surgery and he will be a self pay also. He lives with my husband, kids and I and he has been following my post op and is very excited for me as well as himself. Michelle

I understand your reason for not wanting to tell anyone other then hubby and I felt like that at first but after alot of thought I decided to tell anyone and everyone for 2 reasons 1. So that more people would be aware of the Lap Band procedure, I feel it does not get enough publicity I actually had one of my customers see me 3 weeks after surgery and he then decided to have the surgery himself he used the same surgeon I chose he is 3 weeks post op and after his surgery one of his coworkers had the surgery also. They are both so happy with their decision and I feel responsible for helping them come to their decision, neither one of them have ever heard of the Lap Band until they spoke with me. 2. I have told anyone and everyone becasue "for me" it helps me to stay focused and it helps me to make better food choices around my peers who know I have done this. I run my families restaraunt and I'm around food constantly so all of my employees and customers know I have had this surgery. I'm far from perfect but telling all of my peers of this surgery helps me to not fall off that band wagon. I know alot of people do not want to tell anyone becasue they do not want to be scrutinized for whatever they put in their mouth when they are around these people but like I said it helps me when I'm around my peers to make better food choices becasue I do not want to be scrutinized. Does this make sense? I beleive whatever works for each person, this is whatworks for me. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi Kathy I had a slight fever 5 days after my surgery. I called my surgeon and told him about it, it was low grade 99.8 but still a fever. He told me to drink alot of fliuds and if it did not go away in 48 hours to come see him. It went away.

I don't understand why you can not drink 3 hours before laying down. I have always thought that the liquids go right through the band? I was never told this by my doctor, nor is it in my post op instructions Michelle 4/6/04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

I have been told by my doctor and the fellow bandsters here and on other message boards to go on liquids for 24-48 hours after an episode of Pbing. Have you tried that? Your stomach might need a little rest. If after this time you still cant keep anything down then definately call your doctor. I have not PBed yet so I do not know if this works but I am keeping it as useful info for when I do. Hope this helps..

Hi Kathy I take the liquid Adult Strength Tylenol, I found it at Wal-Mart. Its just easier then trying to crush the tylenol . As far as getting all of my Water in. I drink 24 oz in the morning, after breakfast about an hour later I drink another 24oz then after lunch about an hour later I drink another 24 oz, during the afternoon I have another 24 oz and then after dinner about an hour later I drink my last 24oz bottle. I use a 24 oz sports bottle so I know exactly how much I'm getting in. Some days dont go as well as other days. When I was on my mushy food stage I took very small bites and waited 1-2 minutes between bites that helped me alot to not get that stuck feeling in my chest. It did go away after the swelling in my stomach went away each week it got easier and easier to get food down.

Congratulations Kathy ...Welcome to the banded world! My Gas problems did not start until 3 -5 days post op. They started with my bumpy ride back to the airport from TJ and got worse as the days progressed. By 10 days postop I had a terrble pain under my breastbone which I was told by fellow bandsters was just gas trapped in my diaphram, I could not burp to get it out. I seemed to get better as days passed and as the swelling in my stomach went down. I justwalked alot and took Gas X all the time. best of Luck to you..... Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Congrats Shelly....What an awesome accomplishment!!! Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Congrats Shelly....What an awesome accomplishment!!! Michelle 4.6.04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi I was banded by Dr Orit on April 6th and I experienced the exact same pain under my breastbone about 10 days post op...I was told it was gas trapped in my diaphram..I constantly felt pressure and felt like I had to burp but couldn't It went away at about 2 weeks post op. The pain in your neck and shoulder is most likely trapped gas also. I just continued taking Gas X and I walked as much as possible and it went away. Hope this info helps...Good Luck P.S. I did not have gas pains at all either until about the 5th day post op Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Yes for me fills in Mexico are just a little over an hour away. I just live across the border so it is very fesible for me.

I'm planning on goingdown there the 2nd week in June once my kids are out of school so I do not have my daily carpool duties....where did you have your surgery?

Congrats Deb! I was banded on April 6th in Mexico and I can honestly say it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. I have not felt this good in years. I'm down 25 pounds in 6 weeks and could not be happier. Best of luck to you Michelle

I was told by my doctor to not drink 30 minutes before or 30-45 minutes after. Every doctor seems to have adifferent approach to drinking. I had mine done in Mexico wit h Dr Ortiz Michelle

Dont worry to much one of our fellow members had the same problem when she arrived in Mexico 3 weeks ago and her surgery went off without a hitch. You should be ok, but it porbalby would not hurt to give your doctor a call to let him know of all of this. Michelle

Hi Joyce I was banded on APril 6th and have not gotten a fill yet. I have heard with everything that I have read about that a fill should help you. But it is important to not drink at all before during or after a meal. Drinking pushes the food through the band quicker and makes you hungry again quicker. The whole idea behind not drinking is to keep the food in the pouch to keep you satisfied. I think it would be in your best interest once you get your fill to try and not drink before during or after a meal or you may exerience hunger quicker. Just my thoughts Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Delarla You crack me up! I was told that any liquid right before, during and right after a meal helps to push the food through the band quicker to only make you hungry again quicker. My doc said no sipping either! Michelle 4/06/04 265/242/160ish

Thank God All of my three boys ages 16,12, & 10 all have their fathers metabolism. If anything all of my boys are too thin. They are all built like their dad...tall and slender. I let me boys eat whatever they want basically. I do not see any sign of any one of them ever being overweight unlike me who has been overweight my entire 38 years on this earth. I wil lsay this though, that ever since I have been making more healthier chocies my two younger boys have been wanting to eat the same things I eat. Something different for them I guess. Michelle 4/6/04 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

WOW! I was not able to eat any of those things exccept Jello, popsicles until week 5 post op. Even now that I'm on those foods I have a hard time. I still feel alot of restriction just from my band placement.I'm scared to death to eat bread or pizza or rice. I have yet to have a fill and I'm almost 7 weeks post op. My doctor does first fills 6 weeks post op and beyond. As far as my gas pains, they lasted for me 3 weeks post op. Every day was a little less painful though. Gas X did nothing for me. Walking did nothing for me, I just had to let it runs its course. Well, good luck to you. I hope your fill helps you!! Michelle 4/6/04/ 265/242/160ish Dr Ortiz

Dr Tengs number is 702-838-5888 I think the reason you could not find it was just becasue you were spelling it Tang instead of Teng Hope this helps Michelle

I did not quit befor surgery. Believe it or not when I went for pre op my nutritionalist told me not to try and quit right now. After surgery is a different story though. I had no urge or desire to smoke with the bloatedness and gas pains and not being on nothing but liquids a cigarette was the last thing I wanted. You may feel the exact same way. Some will tell you quitting smoking before surgery helps you to heal better but I healed very quickly and just fine. the added stress on trying to quit before surgery was something I did not want to experience so I did not quit. ... Good Luck Michelle