Banded14yr

There are some smilies currently available for you to use, you will see them to the right of the text box that you type your post in. Just click on the smiley that you want to insert and it will paste it in your post Hopefully we can increase the number of smilies available to use in the near future. BTW: Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. April will be here before you know it.

I see!

They're not available for use on Lapbandtalk.com yet, but hopefully Alex will add them to our smilies library soon

Alex, Sure, I'll pm him and see if I can send him a bunch of these things. I'm with you, I think we need more smiles and smilies at least some new ones.

Congrats on the new restriction. You're right, it's a great feeling to be able to eat so little and feel so full. I also hope that you don't have to have your port moved, but if you do, sounds like it will be a fairly easy procedure. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this is the last fill that you will need and won't have to worry about where your port is located.

I run a website with a friend of mine. He's always finding new smiley's and emoticons, he found this banana and added it to our list. I just came across it in our list this morning and it cracked me up. I know a lot of people like to use the dancing banana on here so I thought some would get a kick out of it.

Hello and congrats on your decision to have lapband surgery. I was banded by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, if you have specific questions .... fire away! I had surgery at Santa Engracia, but have heard good things about San Pedro, I know that it's a lot cheaper than Santa Engracia, maybe not as state of the art but I think the good care that you will receive is the same.

I came across this and thought it was funny. I think it's the dancing banana on speed

I waited a month after my first fill to get my second fill. I've had two fills in one week just recently. I still haven't hit that "sweet spot" again so I'll probably go back in another 2-3 weeks and give it another try. Good luck to ya!

Congrats and welcome back! I'm glad to hear you're doing well. Take it easy for a while and welcome to band nation!

Good luck to you! It sounds like you've taken the first step. You have to start somewhere. I hope the insurance approves you for lapband surgery, keep in touch on your progress with everything. Tricia

Good luck to you! Let us know if you have any specific questions. Lot's of knowledge and experience on this forum.

Why is this thread cracking me up? I have never laughed over PB experiences before.... Oh my! I can envision you doing this....too funny...I need to try that to see if it helps. And as far as the art goes, this is one of my favorites ... I probably just broke a rule and I'm not mooning anyone in particular, I just think the emoticon is funny Very true!!

I know that going through a PB is NOT fun, but your post made me laugh. Been there done that!

Congratulations on your banding Pain and redness around the port area seem to be fairly common after surgery. Just remember to take it easy for a while and try not to overdue. There are good and bad things said about a lot of doctors, hospitals, patient coordinators ect..... Don't try to let someone's else's bad experience scare you now. Just concentrate on your own health and situation. Take care!!

Megan, Thanks! It's great to hear that from someone that also has the Swedish band and has gone through some of the same things. I was thinking that my band has just taken on a personality of it's own and doesn't want to be at the right fill level anymore I'll give it a little time, then I'll call for another fill. BTW: You look fantastic!

Wow! That's incredible! I was raised in Arizona, so I know how shocking it can be to get snow like that out in the middle of the desert. It sure is pretty though!

I'm thinking about you also. Hope all is well. Please let us know how you're doing as soon as you feel up to it.

Zoe, I'm sorry to hear about your back trouble. I really hope that the steroids help you asap so that you can feel better and not have to worry about those things causing any weight gain. I'm struggling a little also with weight gain, but mine seems to be attributed to lack of finding the oh so ever sweet fill spot A little background... I have the Swedish band that holds 10-11cc's, so it's the larger band... I flew back to Monterrey for my first fill. I was filled to 5.0cc's (no significant restriction felt) A month after that, I had my second fill with Dr. Houston. He filled me to 6.4cc's. (perfect restriction, a little too tight at first, but I hung in there and it loosened up) On February 19, I was in Monterrey with a couple of ladies who were getting lapband surgery, and Dr. Rodriguez said that he would give me a fill if I wanted/needed one. Since I was already planning on getting another fill soon, I took him up on his offer. (No restriction at all after this fill, as a matter of fact, I felt wide open again) A week ago Friday I went back to Dr. Houston for another fill. (Still no restriction) He said that I only had 4.5cc's in my band. I knew that my restriction had disappeared, not sure what happened in Mexico. Dr. Houston filled me to 6.2cc's using flouro. He said that he didn't want to go any tighter than that based on what he saw on the screen. Last Friday I went in to Dr. Houston for yet another fill, this time he filled me to 7.8cc's! I thought for sure this would do the trick, but to no avail, I still have very little restriction. I'm kind of giving up (for now) on fills....I'm going to see how I do over the next 4 weeks. I keep gaining a couple pounds, then putting myself on a stricter diet and it taking a couple weeks for me to lose those two pounds. Hopefully I will reach that "sweet spot" again with my fill level and start the losing ways again. For now, I'm just kind of frustrated, but have worked too hard to start gaining weight again so I'm going to be extra careful about what I eat and start moving (ugh) a little more. At least the weather is starting to get nicer, maybe I'll be more enthusiastic about riding my bike again. Hang in there! Hopefully you can discontinue the steroids soon~

I wouldn't consider this a "little thing".... Dr. Ortiz would probably appreciate a phone call vs. you sitting there with a possible problem hoping that it will go away on it's own without letting him know what's going on. I'm sure HE won't feel that you're bothering him. I would definately give him a call. Take care!

Larae, It sounds like you and your DH have been through quite a time with fills, but sounds like they were still successful. I hope you're both doing well and congrats on the weight loss!!

Rica, I'm not sure where I'm staying in Dallas (yet). I haven't made reservations. I'm assuming that most people that are coming in from out of town stay at the same hotel? I guess I need to email Patti and ask her. I'm sure they'll have a dinner where we all get together and meet. I can't wait to finally get to meet you and the others. I'm really looking forward to it.

Thanks everybody! It sounds like everyone has had good luck getting adjustments without using Flouro. I'm already feeling better about the situation. Betty, sounds like you have a really good doc there!

Thanks Kelly, good to hear. I'm also wondering how much experience Dr. Houston has will doing adjustments without using Flouro. I'm assuming that this is probably a technique that gets better with experience.

Betty, does your doctor use a set amount and/or schedule for your fills? How can he tell if you're restricted enough or too much? I'm sure he has you drink water before you leave to make sure it passes through the band?