Banded14yr

Nataly, Obviously, I believe there is some kind of communication problem going on. Dr. Rodriguez always makes himself available to his patients. He and his staff will be in Las Vegas Thursday-Sunday for a patient gathering. I'll be seeing him there. Please pm me your name and an email address and I'll make sure that he receives the information. BTW - there are several doctors in the U.S. that will see patients that were banded in Mexico. Where do you live? I might be able to help

Nataly, You've left 4 emergency messages for Dr. Rodriguez? Can I ask how you have made these emergency messages? Email Marisol at office@thebariatric.com Let me know if she doesn't return your email. Tricia

Congratulations Lara & Kara on your upcoming surgeries. Dr. Rodriguez is wonderful!

Could you give me the name and number of the PA in Wichita where you get your fills? I know someone in Wichita that is looking for a fill doc. Thanks so much!

Congratulations TexasBr@t! Welcome to bandland - Just continue to take things easy for a while and please keep us posted on how you're doing. You've started a wonderful new chapter in your life, one that I think you won't regret Take care! Tricia

Merridy, Continue to do your research. The Lapband is a wonderful tool and you'll find that the more research you do, the more comfortable you'll become in your decision. I was banded in Mexico and have no regrets. There are a lot of great surgeons in Mexico and a lot of people have been banded there, so there is a lot of information about people's experience with surgeons and getting the Lapband in Mexico. You're doing great! Just continue your research and feel free to ask about anything Tricia

I drink one cup of coffee every morning. I used to be a pot a day coffee drinker but I just don't crave it like I used to. I love my one cup in the morning's tho

Welcome Lauren! I'm also in Nashville, and October 23rd is my birthday, so you picked a good day! Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. If you have any questions, just ask away.... lots of people with a lot of knowledge on this board. Tricia

Sweet, It sounds like you just need another fill. Are you able to get your fills locally? If so, did the doctor use Flouroscopy? If you have the Swedish Band it holds more saline than the Inamed band. My first fill was 5cc's..... I'm at at a perfect fill level at 6.4 - but everyone is different. If you don't feel any restriction or if you feel like you can still eat too much, start thinking about scheduling another fill. It might take 3-4 fills to get you to your sweet spot so hang in there!

Welcome Brad! I'll be honest with you.... I've talked with a lot of banded patients over the past few years, and all of the men that I've talked to have been extremely successful with the band. It's kind of sickening actually! LOL - for whatever reason, men tend to drop a lot of weight and much quicker than women with the band. Keep doing your research, read as much as you can, ask as many questions as you need to and I feel confident you'll find the answers that you're looking for and make a decision either way that's right for you. Tricia

Sue It's time for a brand new start. The first thing I would do is get a slight unfill. Having too tight of a fill is not healthy and obviously makes you feel miserable. Then, after you get a slight unfill, concentrate on the foods that you're eating. I've also been banded over two years, so I'm sure you've heard the same ole posts that I have about trying to get your Protein in first, then veggies...ect..ect... Don't worry about the past. You've done a fantastic job in your weight loss! You are an inspiration! It's just time to start a new. Take it one day at a time, then it won't feel so overwhelming. You're doing great!! Tricia

Thank you everyone for your replies! You've been most helpful!

It's very normal to feel hungry at this point and to be able to eat just about anything. You're still healing, but more than likely, any internal swelling you had has gone down. Your band is not filled during surgery, so it's almost like you don't have a band at all until you get your first fill. Hang in there and remember that this is a short difficult time to go through until you get your first fill. Try to stick to your doctor's post op diet during the healing phase. It will pay off for you in the long run. Congratulations on your recent banding! Tricia

My thoughts and prayers are with you Trish! John, thanks for letting us know about Trish and I know you'll take good care of her during her recovery time. Tell her to hang in there and we're all thinking about her! Tricia

It might be as simple as your daughter just needing another fill. I think you both have done fantastic!

I have a friend that was banded in July. She was doing fine until about 4 weeks post op and ate some crackers. She ended up having pain and has had problems with pain (while eating) ever since. She's had an upper GI, a Barium Swallow test and an Endoscopy with all tests coming back negative. We're now thinking that she might be experiencing GERD If anyone has been diagnosed with GERD, what are the treatments for it? Does it ever go away, or is this something you continually deal with? Thanks!

Thank you! 50 pound weight loss since March is nothing to sneeze at either! :clap2: Congratulations! Tricia

I've been around here for a couple of years and have witnessed several nasty message board fueds. I don't know Lisa personally, but I've seen her in many ugly fueds, I've seen her swear she won't be back, I've seen her say she's leaving, I've seen her say that people begged her to come back so she did, I've seen her make people laugh (including myself) I've seen her really hurt people, I've seen her really tick people off, I've seen her leave and I've seen her come back again numerous times. I don't know anything about anyone's personal fueds, I'm just posting about what I've read on this message board. For the most part, I think we're all adults. If someone wants to leave, then let them leave. If a moderator has broken the rules, then let the power(s) that be handle it. It's like this board has to go through major drama every couple of months or so. I guess that's going to happen when you get so many people posting on a message board with so many different personalities. I agree with others that say that this is a board that people should feel safe about coming to for support and information concerning the LapBand and our weight loss issues. I hope this all blows over soon, if I were a newly banded person and visited this board, I would have to wonder what the band does to people mentally. BTW, I've lost 115 pounds and feel great! I feel very fortunate that I still have my band, and I feel very badly for those that have lost it. I come here for information more than anything, if I came here for support, I think I might get more messed up than help Tricia

If you have WL surgery, he might feel like he's failed as a therapist. It sounds like he thinks he can get you to lose weight by giving you advice, you taking it, following it....case close. I would definately find a therapist that is supportive in your decision to have WLS. I just don't see how this therapist can be beneficial to you.

If I had the misfortune of losing my band, I would hope that within time I could get another one. There will be bumps in the road, some experience larger bumps in the road than others, but I would do it all over again if I had to. The band is one of the best things I've ever done in my life! Congratulations on your decision to get the lapband. Keep us posted on your progress. Tricia

You misunderstood my post First off, I don't know who Dr. Melvin is. I live and work in Nashville and I'm in the Medical Field. I just find it odd that I've never heard of him, especially if he is as good a doctor as you say he is. I've spoken to so many people in this area about the band and his name has never come up. Not throwing stones, just stating that I find it odd that I've never heard of him. Secondly, Dr. Morton IS in Nashville at Southern Hills Medical Center. So I think you have your *facts* a little confused. Maybe you're thinking of Dr. Colquitt? Where did I say that Dr. Morton did surgeries at Vandy? I'm not knocking anyone for having surgery in Mexico or for having problems with their band. If you call telling you that your *facts* are misconstrued, then I guess I'm knocking you. Penni, Lisa and others have had a bad experience with the same Mexican surgeon. It doesn't mean that everyone that goes to Mexico is going to have problems. It's very possible that I could lose my band, it's very possible that you could lose your band. Why in the world would I "knock" anyone for having problems with their band? I don't care if they got their band in the U.S., Mexico or India, if they lost their band, I feel very badly for them because it's something that I never want to have to go through, but I'm also realistic in knowing that it's a possibility for all of us. I'm not "knocking" the fact that you would't go to Mexico for surgery. I told you that I respect the fact that you would be scared to death to go there for surgery. I'm "knockin" your so called facts about the Mexican surgeons. I'm trying to tell you that those of us that actually did go to Mexico for surgery (more than likely) did a lot more research about Mexico and the surgeons there than you did. I think when you state that the things you are saying are facts and not backing it up is frustrating for a lot of us to read. You just come off as bashing Mexico and the surgeons for no substantiated reason (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) So take a deep breath and if you have a fact to post, please post the source or link to back it up to help us all, otherwise it's just your opinion. Gracias!

I live in Nashville and work right down the street from Vanderbilt. I'm also in the Medical field and find it odd that I've never heard of your surgeon. If you hear about LapBand surgeons in this area, it's usually about Dr. Morton. My aftercare doctor is Hugh Houston who is also part of an Excellence of Care Group at Centenial Medical Center Treatment for Obesity. Although I respect the fact that you would have been scared to death to go to Mexico to get your band, I don't think you have all of your facts straight about the Mexican surgeons. Believe me when I say that most of us that went to Mexico for surgery did a ton of research before hand. So what I researched and found out is a lot different than what you're posting. Sorry you have such a negative attitude about the Mexican surgeons when they have helped so many people that didn't have the luxury of having Medicare pay for their surgery.

Dody, did your insurance pay for your surgery?

Most who consider going to Mexico are self pay. So the obvious answer is the cost is a lot less in Mexico than the U.S. Plus there are some very skilled LapBand surgeons in Mexico.

Hey Penny! Does Dr. Billy know the chances of the band eroding again if you get another one? I sure would hate to go through another band surgery only to lose it again in another year or two. But I'm totally chicken when it comes to bypass, so if the chances are low that I could erode again, I would have to go with the band, but only you can make that decision for you. Good luck in your research and getting the insurance situated so you will have minimal out of pocket expense. BTW: spent lots of time in Clarksville not long ago (Titans training camp) thought about you often Tricia