ecbailey

Anyone have feedback on Dr. Jamie Ponce in Dalton, GA? I am having surg. 3/23/2005 and am having the nervous jitters. Any positive remarks would be helpful. Eliza

If you are not sure talk to your Dr. I had two fills before I felt restriction. My. Dr. is not a big advocate for talking about the amount of Fluid he uses; instead he wants to know how I "feel" do I feel retricted? This is hard to know if you have never felt restriction...For me, good restriction has been similiar to the way I felt after surgery. I had too much restriction after my third fill and threw up all night. i could not even keep down liquids! Dr. Ponce adjusted my band the next morning. I now have restriction . My surgery was 3/23/05. I am just now starting to lose weight. Don't give up. The right restiction is critical! Good Luck, Eliza

Hello everyone, I have spoken with Dr. Ponce about fills. He says everyone is different and that not to go on how many cc's someone else has. Everyone's stomach is a different size and different levels of sensitivity...that is hard to do, especially for me. I have not had a good fill yet. I have had two fills so far (surg date 3/24) and still have not had good restriction. Dr. Ponce did say good restriction feels like you did a week or so after surgery. Does that make sense? It did for me, also you should not be feeling hungry all the time, which I am...I explained to him that I have not had the good restriction sensation since 4 week post op. I am going back for a third fill. Hope this helps. I would talk to your Dr. and let them know how you are feeling. Apparently getting the right amount of fill is very tricky for some people and it takes a lot of tweaking to get it just right. I am staying with it and hoping that I will have good restriction very soon. Good Luck, Eliza

Does anyone know what the requirements are for getting the bigger band? I am tryingto figure out which band I have, I have emailed my Dr. but probably will not hera from him for a couple of days. Eliza

Did you ask your Dr. what type of band you have, Is that how you know? Eliza

Thanks that helps. Eliza

Who makes the larger band? How do you know if that is the one you have? Eliza

What is the difference...bigger bands? What is a bigger band? I am having the same problem...I was banded 3/27 and have had two fills. 2.o cc's and 1.6 cc's is a cc the same as a ml? Help!!! Eliza

Hello SC, There don't seem to be very many of us: SC bandsters. I thought I might get some activity going. Anyone else out there? I am going to be banded on March 23, 2005 in Dalton, GA with Dr. Ponce with the Gastric Band Institute. I am curious about the recovery...anyone have any experiences they'd like to share? ecbailey

That's Great! Eliza

Thank you. You are right that website is a great resoure. I called my Dr. and they said that I did need to come in and have my fill adjusted. Apparently, the first fill is to "test " my eating habits and to make sure everything is working properly befor they give me a tighter fill. So three weeks later I am off to TN a 6 hour drive...for a 30 minute apt.! Ughhhh! Eliza

Hello everyone, I had a fill 3 weeks ago. I have lost 2 lbs. I have been walking and eating less; However, I NEVER feel full. I stop eating but could eat again in less than 2 hours...hungry not emotion eating ...I am wondering if I should go back and get adjusted? Any suggestions? Eliza

Hi everyone, Sorry to be absent for so long....Kathy you are right about posting else where but I can barely keep up with my school emails and threads! It is confusing for me to go all over the place. Hopefully I will have some time before summer school starts. I had my first fill 3 weeks ago; I do not think it is the correct restriction. I am hungry not long after I eat. So on Monday I am calling the Dr. to see about an adjustment. I have lost 2 lbs since the fill but I also spent last week at Walt Disney World...walking about 5 miles a day and eating properly. I was just HUNGRY in the evening! So I am going to see what's up. Hang in there and I will be back to check onevryone. Take Care, Eliza

Hello everyone, I am still down only 15 lbs. but seem to be keeping it off. Kathy I am glad to hear you are doing better. Another good mushie food id cottage cheese with a little chicken salad (not chunky) this gives it a little taste. I have also put salmon spread with the cottage cheese and this also helps...don't use a lot just enough for flavor! Talk to ya'll later. Still in the middle of school and don't have much time! Eliza

Kathy, it really does get better. i have not lost anymore weight but am scheduled for my fill. Did something particular happen? Eliza

Angie, good luck with the insurance. If they deny it remember you can appeal. Has your Dr. been successful getting insurance to pay? That usually helps. I think dr. ponce has had luck with getting insurance to cover the lapband. for me it was not an option. Cigna would not pay. Take Care, eliza

Kathy, I had the same trouble it only took once...something getting stuck and then everything hurt after that...or felt like it was getting stuck. I thought maybe it was gas pain??? Who knows??? Either way, it is all gone now...3 weeks post op. I really started to feel normal last week. I am eating mushy foods, no breads or dry stuff. I still fell like I am gulping my liquids, I get sp thirsty b/c of my heart meds. diaretic/lasix. But i have ot had any pain or trouble. I am scheduled for a fill May 5th. It will be interesting to see if the "pain" returns after the fill. What's your next step? who will do your follow up? Di you like Mexico? Keep us posted. eliza

Angie, I think you are doing the right thing, and I wish I had known about the lapband when I weighed 220. You will get to your goal weight so much faster b/c you have less to lose than I do. I weigh 265 now. Ughhh! I am not frustrated, it just wish I had known about the band sooner. You know you need a fill b/c you can eat more. It's hard to explain, but you will feel the restriction after surg. b/c of the swelling. Once the swelling goes down, you have less restriction. The way Dr. Ponce explained it to me was: The band is like a belt around your waist; as you lose weight, the belt needs to be tightened, same with the band; it needs to be tightened as you lose weight. The fill tightens the band and gives you more restriction. After surg. once the swelling goes down, the band needs to be tightened "filled". Dr. Ponce does not do the first fill until 6 weeks post op. What about your dr.? When does he do the first fill? I am still done 15 lbs...My first fill is May 5th. I have started walking so hopefully I will lose a little more before then. Remember the 6 weeks after surg. is time to heal, any weight loss is a bonus. At least that's what I keep telling myself Take Care, Eliza PS: Any news from Kathy?

Kathy, I do just come here. I don't have a lot of time to navigate and post... Since I am in graduate school I have three listservs i subscribe to and have a hard tiime keeping up. I am glad you are doing well. I can definately tell i need a fill soon. i am calling Dr. Ponce in the am to set it up. Take care, eliza

Hello girls, I am down 15 lbs! wednesday will be three weeks post op! I am feeling much more normal and am ready for a fill. Kathy how goes it? Let us know. I've been thinking about you. Take Care, Eliza

How is your wife doing now? When I come for my fill, I am planning on coordinating my trip so I can attend a support meeting. Which group do you go to? Isn't there more than one? You know, my husband has felt that there is not enough support for the spouses..i.e., what to expect after surgery. I am two weeks post op and was very moody once I got home. A lot of it had to do with the stress of two children, 2 and 6, each with the throw up bug during Spring Break! Other aspects of it had to do with not having time to myself to adjust, and being in pain and not being able to explain it to him. How long did it take for your wife to really recover? I fell good, but I am not 100%. Take Care, Eliza

Hello Girls, Hope all is well just wanted to say I am hanging in there. The gas pain is subsiding and the hunger is getting to be less. I can't wait til the true mushy phase and my first fill! One thing i keep telling myself is that this is the healing part not the weight loss part and not to stress out that I am eating foods that I would "normally" consider to be off limits: creamy based soup; eventually mash potatoes; soft cheeses, etc...broth gets old but works. I am not really in the mushy phase yet but every now and then i have something with some substance to it. It hasn't seemed to be any different than when I have just broth. Now that the swelling has gone down, I am losing some restriction and can eat a little more; I don't like this and snacking seems to becoming a routine. Today I have focused on NOT snacking. I think the fill will eventually help with this. "Three meals a day, No snacking is what I keep telling myself." At any rate, i don't have any regrets and feel much more positive than ever! Good luck Kathy on Friday! If I don't post as much...it's because I have a bunch of papers and projects to do for school. I am still thinking about you both and keeping you in my thoughts. Take Care, Eliza

Hello everyone, Kathy seems like we have finally got others yeah! I am glad we got this forum started. Where is Dr. Bauman? How much does he charge for fills? I am sticking with Dr. Ponce for the first year but would like to find someone closer for the long term fills. Bondgirl is your insurance paying for the lapband? if not we can help give4 you names of Dr.'s. Dr. Ponce cost for outpatient was $13,700.00 for everything, surgeon, anethesiologist and facility. He is in dalton, ga. that is where i went and theu were awesome. eliza

Kathy, it's heartburn pain. I did not do any pre band modifications and old habits die hard. The gulping! Really if I could just focus on me I'd be doing great! Kids are still sick! Ralphie came home from school today and tonight (second day) Grace has a 101.5 fever. I would strongly suggest a quiet hotel! i am going to check out the liqiud food recommendations. Thanks, Eliza I will keep you updated. 10lbs as of today and the incisions are healing well.

Kathy and Wendy, I am on liquids only. This is tough and I am with you...I am looking forward to the mushies! I have two more weeks on liquids and I then I can start mushies. Are you experiencing any pain? Maybe I am doing something wrong. I have lost 10 lbs so far post op so I am happy with the results. Maybe I need to take some prevacid. Kathy...the liquid phase is not fun! But he results are! I just keep telling myself over and over that this is temporary and I can do it...Take Care, Eliza