nicnaknut

I have COPD/Emphysema and will be having LB surgery on October 16th. I would like to hear from others that have COPD and if the weight loss has helped any with your breathing and energy levels. My primary physician says that my big stomach is keeping my lungs from expanding to full capacity by pushing up against my diagraphm. I am hoping that weight loss will help with my shortness of breath and energy levels. I know that I won't ever get full function back of my lungs, but I would like to have the ability to breath a little bit better and have a higher energy level so I can do things with my grandchildren that I cannot do now. Or, perhaps I am just dreaming of things that cannot be. It would be nice to hear from others and their experiences.

Hi RP, I ran into the same problem as you when I came out to the San Francisco area... I have found a Dr that will give fills and he is located in SF.. His name is Dr Gregg Jossart and his number is 415-561-1310.. I haven't gone to him yet so I don't know anything about him... I did call his office and his gal seems very nice... Another one is Dr Feng, 650-685-2959... I didn't call him, so I don't even know for sure where he is located, I just got his name and number from someone... Hopefully that will help you in your search...

Hi Simon, I had my surgery last October and I also live full time in my motorhome... I went straight from the hospital to my motorhome and my husband helped me with all of my pain meds, getting up and down, etc... I'm not sure that you will feel like getting up and doing much the first 2 or 3 days, so you will need someone there to help you... I slept in the recliner the first few days as it was easier than trying to roll around in bed... So, those are the few things you may want to keep in mind if you want to spend some time in your camper... Whatever you do, you do not want to be there alone, you will need someone there to help out... Congratulations on your surgery and starting your new journey...

Hello Sunday eve to all.... I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July weekend... Mal... I go tomorrow (Monday) for my fill... I'm so looking forward to it, but at the same time a little nervous because I have never been to anyone other than Dr K for fills... I hope he finds my port ok... I will keep everyone posted on the results... Shelbi... Thanks, it feels good to be back hanging out with all of you again... Dee... Cool poem, I see where you got your new name from... I'm rootin for ya on the 100 in 6 months... I think you have enough determination to get-er-done... Mini... Congratulations on your new banding and new life and so glad those horrendous headaches are gone... Deb... Lucky you for having such sweet parents... I bet you are getting all excited and nervous for your surgery... And to all of the rest of Dr K's beauties, I hope you have a fantastically loser week....

Welcome to all of the new people who have just been or will be banded by Dr K... He is the greatest Dr as well as all the the sweet gals in the office.. The super support group right here on this thread and the original thread just rounds out the whole package... I would like to invite everyone to come on over to the original thread "Considering Dr Kirshenbaum" and meet the rest of Dr K's gals and token guy with the band... Hope you all had a nice 4th...

Hey Dee, I was confused with your name change.... I thought it was another person... Thanks for the 10 Commandments, I printed them up to keep on hand... I still have a hard time getting to this thread... I sure hope things get better before long... I'm sending a big Sunday hello out to Shelbi, Woofay, Adorkable, Mal, Mini and all the others... Has anyone heard anything from Mare lately? How is she doing?

Hi everyone.... I've had a heck of a time trying to get on... Everytime I click on a page to go back and try to read, it takes me back to the home page... I've finally been able to go back and see the pic's of Mini's pre op dinner and WOW!! everyone looks fantastic... My gosh Dee I hardly recognized you, you look marvelous dahling! I hope everyone had a good 4th and good weekend... I will be going in for a fill on Monday... I can hardly wait, it has been way to long since the last one... I must say Dee you are an inspiration to me and I need to get back on the bandwagon and lose some weight... I also need to get in more exercise... Anyway, Happy Weekend to all...

Thanks so much adorKable for the big hugs, I really needed them... All of you guys here are the greatest bunch and I will do better with keeping in touch... Wow, way to go on your smaller sizes, that is great and look at your fabulous weight loss in just 5 1/2 short months, WTG!!!... Also, Congrats on hubby's new job, sounds like he is doing well even before his certification...

Nitey nite to both of you.. Sleep tight, sweet dreams and God Bless...

Dee and Mini.... You guys are cracking me up.... I love it!!!

Thanks Dee for the encouragement, you are such a sweetheart... I have been in an emotional funk and ashamed of myself for not being a good bandster and went into hiding... I didn't want anyone to know that I wasn't being good... So, that's kind of the nuts and bolts of the whole thing, besides financially trying to afford the fills has been a challenge, but that's a whole other issue... Anway, it is so good to see you doing so well... I am soooo happy for you and again, thanks for the encouragement....

Hello everyone.... I have been MIA for awhile and I can't believe how much this thread has grown... It is so refreshing to see how well everyone is doing on their weight loss... I have not been doing very well on my weight loss and will be going in for a fill on July 6th... My last fill was in January and I haven't really felt any restriction so I have been eating badly and of course I have gained a few pounds... Since I have been out here in California, it has been difficult finding a Dr that I can get fills from that doesn't charge an arm and a leg... (he only charges an arm) So, I am looking forward to gettin my fill and getting back on track to being a loser again... Dee.... Wow girl, you are doing exceptionally well... I bet you are looking fabulous dahling... Munchkin.... I think you and I had our surgeries sort of around the same time last year and according to your ticker it looks like you are doing much better than I am... Way to go!!! Lap Dancer.... That is a great slideshow... You sure can see the difference in the pics... Plus, you are a beautiful woman, you look stunning in the black and white outfit... Marcy... Wow, 6 lbs gone, way to go girl!! I sure wish I could attend the BBQ in August, but my finances won't allow for a plane ticket... I would love to see everyone in person... For those that are going, please take lots of pictures and post them here, as I would love to see how fabulous everyone looks... Wishes to all for a great weekend....

Wow, Maire that's great 20 lbs in 2 months, you are doing terrific... I sure hope that you don't have to pay the high prices for a fill and I wish you continued success in your weight loss journey... I had my band put on by Dr Kirshenbaum in Denver, Colorado and of course I wouldn't have to pay an arm and a leg to get my fills from him, if I could just get there... I just wish that the Dr's out here were a little more compassionate and not charge so much for a fill which is actually what makes us successful in our weight loss... I really can't afford to go in very often for a fill, so I'm not sure if I will ever get to my sweet spot or lose much more weight... I just won't be able to get the fills I need as I can't afford the $350 that often... I've already had to go 5 months between fills because I couldn't afford a plane ticket back to Colorado and the other Dr's I contacted out here wanted $450 a fill... I am getting real frustrated with the whole thing... I spent all my savings on this band and now I can't afford the upkeep on it...

I am in desperate need of finding a Dr that will do fills for me in the Oakland, Sacramento or San Francisco area... I got my band in October 2007 from Dr Kirschenbaum in Aurora, Colorado and have only had 2 fills and it feels like I have zero, zip, nada restriction... With airfares getting up there in price, I would like to find a Dr closer to where I am to get regular fills so I can lose some weight.... I have not lost any weight for the last 6 months and now I think I am starting to gain... I did find a Dr in San Francisco that would do the fills but, at $450 a fill, I would have had to take out a loan each time I needed a fill... :laugh: I am real discouraged about the whole thing... I can't afford to fly to Colorado all the time and I can't afford the Dr's that are close by... I can pretty much eat anything and everything that I want right now... Every once in a while food will get stuck if I don't chew good enough... I lost 25 pounds between the pre-op diet and initial surgery loss in October and that's it... The scale has not moved since... Actually, I have gained back 4 pounds... Sorry for the whining.... I just hope someone can give me the name of a Dr that I can go to out here....

Hi Maire, Dr Husted charges $350 per fill also, which seems pretty pricey to me, but I have found that everything is expensive in California... However, he does go to either San Francisco or Fairfield which both of those places is close to me as I am in Petaluma... I will be going in for my fill on July 7th and I am looking forward to that as I am so overdue for a fill... How long have you had your band? How many fills have you had? Are you losing weight? I was banded on October 16th of last year and have only had 2 fills and I do not feel any restriction... It has been 5 months since my last fill and I have gone back to my bad eating habits and starting to gain weight... So, I need to get back on track... I will let you know how things go with my fill...

Well considering that I am in the San Francisco are where everything including gasoline is higher than anywhere else in the country, I consider $250 -$350 per fill reasonable anything above $350 is outrageous... Thanks Phyl for the nice warm welcome back... It's been 5 months since I've had a fill, so that's why I'm so thrilled that I finally found a Dr out here, cause I didn't want to wait until I could get back to Colorado for one... That is great that you are taking it off slow and easy... That is the best way... I'm at a complete standstill right now, so I need a good fill to get me a kick start towards losing again...

I will let you know how the fill goes... I had a nice chat with Lori when I called and right away I felt comfortable with the office... She is a sweetheart and put me at ease... I'm so looking forward to getting this fill, as I am wayyyy overdue for one... My husband has been wanting to go to the Jellybelly factory, so we might take a quick tour after I get done with my fill... :blushing: I'll be getting back with you and let you know how it goes...

Whoo Hoo IndioGirl, You look fabulous dahling... :hurray: Congratulations on losing all of that weight plus 10 lbs below your goal weight, that is soooo neat... I sure hope that one of these days I will be at my goal weight... I'm glad you are planning on sticking around here and being our food cop for a lifetime... :blushing: You are such an inspiration to all of us... Phyl.... You are looking great!! Congratulations on your fantastic weight loss... I haven't been around for a few months and so much has been happening here... It's so good to see how well everyone is doing... I need a fill so bad and I have finally found a Dr out here in northern California where I am that will give me fills at a reasonable cost... I have been in a funk for awhile because I've needed a fill and couldn't find a Dr that would do my fills without charging me an arm and a leg per fill... These Doc's out here sure do charge alot if you are not their patient... Anyway, I go in on the 7th of July and I'm excited... Hopefully I can start losing weight again... Have a great weekend everyone and it's great to see everyone doing so well...

Hi Tommaney, I finally gave Lori a call and I'm set up to go see Dr Husted on July 7th for a fill... I will be going to Fairfield... Thank you so much for the referral...

Thank you very much Tommaney, I really appreciate the information... I will give Lori a call and will let you know what I find out...

Thank you Tommany for the info... I think you forgot to give me Lori's number... As soon as I get the number I will give her a call.... Thanks again..

Welcome FatBoy Slim and Wife.... Please keep us posted on how you and your wife ae doing... Dr K and his staff are very sweet people, I think both you and your wife will like him and his staff.... Take care and be well...

Hey John.... Congratulations on your great acheivements.... So glad to hear that you are no longer Super Morbidly Obese and WOW!! 82 pounds lost is fantastic..... Dee..... Congratulations on joining all of us in bandland... I am so happy for you that all went well in surgery.... Fatwidow.... Hang in there, everything will work out for the best when the time is right for you....

Dee..... Happy Birthday to you..... Congratulations on being the newest Bandito member.... Sending wishes your way for a speedy recovery....:biggrin: Mal.... So Sorry to hear about the kidney stones... Hope you don't ever get them again....:party: Hello to all of my Colorado buddies, please stay warm and well...:frown: