VegasGrace

Of course not. Christians care what the Lord thinks.... and is no respector of persons...right? Be true to the Lord and yourself, all will be fine.

Hate that for you. Insurance companies are in the business to make money....not to pay it out. So it doesn't surprise me they have that rule. I don't have insurance so I don't know what it's like for a doc to tell me , 'no' to something....but I thought I needed an unfill last year when I had pneumonia as I couldn't keep anything down and I needed the nutrition...well, that was a Thursday. I called my doc Friday morning and he could see me Tuesday. That's quick enough right? Just 2 working days. I told myself that if I could make it thru the weekend...I wouldn't get an unfill.... there was no point. Well, Monday came and I called to cancel the unfill appt. During these few days you have to wait you will try to come up with a plan to get rid of the reflux and issues you are having. IF, and that's an IF you can do it...you don't need an unfill. If you can't go as soon as the doc gets back!

I had stitches, too. No staples here. I took my stitches out due to redness and inflamation of the area. Used steri strips to keep the incision sites closed.

Thanks for your post. I related to the part of pre/post op dieting...those who are able to do that and lose weight..... why did they get the band since they proved to be able to diet? That's not really a question. I wasn't able to do any preop diet. I did 2 days of liquids and that killed me. Post op? Nah...I was eating normally by weeks end. Exercise...not a lick. Counting calories/carbs/fat grams.... no thank you. The band has forced me to relearn how to eat. Has forced me to modify my behavior. The band didn't do these things...it forced me to do them. Good luck to yourself and congrats on the weight loss. You did GREAT for that short amount of time.

I've not counted a single calorie or carb or fat gram. when I get to a point where I wasn't loosing, I'd eat a Krispy Kreme and drink a coke. Hey...it worked.

Well, that depends. When you had a baby...did you need tending to? Or were you one of those who pops the baby out and goes home to tend to the kids, do laundry, etc? I was the latter as my last child I stayed in the hospital for 6 hours. I also had a tummy tuck years back...which killed me. The banding was nothing compared to those two things. I was up and around doing everything. Got tired alot...won't lie to you. But if you've ever had the flu...it's kinda like that. You don't want to do anything but you keep going. good luck

Hi and welcome! The hospital stay should be none, as it's an outpatient procedure. However, some docs will admit a patient for a day or two. I was up and at 'em by weeks end. But I got tired really quick. I remember sleeping alot. Everyone is different and you can gauge it for yourself.

That's me, too. At 256 lbs, I yo-yoed from that to 160s, then back then down to 140s, then back then down to 136. When I went back to the 200s I knew I had to do something to maintain....I got the band with a bmi of less than 30. Prevention is what I was aiming for. I need to stablize my weight. And I've been at the same weight for 2 months now. I weigh a few times a week to ensure I don't start climbing. Time will tell with me.

What is that saying.... someone who represents themself in court has a fool for a client..... same goes with medicine.... there was a saying but I can't remember it.

Sorry, no. I don't know anyone who actually had a slipped band. Since this is happening to you, can you share? What makes you think you have a slipped band? Like, do you feel anything? Any pain?

They are right....the FDA requires a minimum BMI...but Inamed, makers of the lapband, don't. So if you must have someone in the USA do it...you may be out of luck. But good luck with your search.

I drink soda a few times a week. Yeppers, it should be diet but I haven't been able to do that yet. But....I bet if I didn't drink soda I would have lost weight faster and would probably still be loosing.

Yes, I do. The best predicter of future behavior is past relevant behavior. Famous Psychologist says that often. His behavior over the past years...you betcha it's relevant.

Just met a practice yesterday who won't take patients if they were banded in Mexico, Las Vegas, or anywhere that saved them money. No kidding, the docs very words were 'to save money'. I'll out them: Intermountain Health Care System, Dixie Regional Medical Center. So, it's not about health care...it's EGO. They are upset someone moved in and was already banded and they lost money.

If you are hungry...EAT! Just be mindful that you are healing. Your innards have been tinkered with. I was on regular food by weeks end. Just eat a tad...if it's okay, eat more. But when eating something new, be careful. Good luck.

BINGO! You are a smart one. I've moved 2 times since being banded and haven't found a single doctor who wouldn't do fills. I just chose the cheapest/closest, too. Thanks for the post!

I was banded last June. No, not an ounce. It took 2 fills before I reached restriction and that's when I lost my first ounce. Those who can lose weight w/o restriction.....why did they get the band? I've heard so many say they lost such and such pre-op or while on the liquid diet. If I could have done that...I wouldn't have gotten the band! I can't go on a liquid diet! (that was rhetorical....folks get the band when they decide to.... and many are good patients by following doctors orders for the pre-op or liquid diet. My doc only had a 3 day pre-op diet so I WAS able to do that)

Hi. You are a few weeks out by now and should be getting your first adjustment soon. I was banded in Mexico as well. Los Angeles was the worst part of my trip...hate that airport. Hate your diet is like that. Mine wasn't. But so many docs do prescribe a liquid diet for that long. Congrats and welcome to the forum.

If you are hungry....eat! I did 1 day of liquids, 1 day of plasma, and 1 day of mushie, then started eating what I wanted. (lots got stuck but you have to learn what you can and can't eat) Talk to your doc, tell him you are hungry and you have to eat something.

I've only heard of one horror story. I've heard more than a dozen from patients from US docs. More US docs are being trained to catch up with the rest of the world, as the device hasn't been on the market here that long. You'll find many patients who chose to go to Mexico or elsewhere. I was one of them. Good luck!

oh, others say it's nice of you not to cast blame on the doc as it could have been a defect in the band...... you trusted your surgeon to inspect the band. They are simple appliances and the doc should have done a visual inspection and felt the appliance.

OUCH! Don't suppose you'd share who your surgeon was..... give us on here a warning. That sounds like a sloppy job.

If you had a nose job and it was big time botched....please tell me you wouldn't go back to that surgeon. Same thing here. Any internal medicine doc/surgeon who has been trained by Inamed can do the band...or fix anything wrong with yours. It is not necessary to keep seeing the same doc for LIFE. We live in a mobile society. Having the band doesn't mean you can't relocate or go on vacation.

Straight from the manual: The manual Inamed says is to be given to the patient: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE: BAND ADJUSTMENT Postoperatively, the surgeon may adjust the stoma size percutaneously by injecting or aspirating saline with the access port needle via the self-sealing access port. The following are general guidelines for LAP-BAND System adjustments: 1. The initial postoperative adjustment should occur 4-6 weeks after the operation. In most cases, you will add 1-2 cc of saline to the 9.75 and 10 cm LAP-BAND, 2-3 cc to the VG LAP-BAND, and 4 cc to the 11 cm LAP-BAND. 2. The patient should be reviewed regularly (every 4-6 weeks) and weight and clinical status measured. If the weight loss has averaged less than 1 lb per week over the period and the patient indicates there is not excessive restriction to eating, a further increment of Fluid should be added (usually 0.3 - 0.5 ml) 3. Where the average weight loss between visits has been greater than 2 lbs per week, normally no additional fluid would be added. 4. If the weight loss has averaged between 1 and 2 lbs per week, additional fluid would be indicated if the patient feels he/she can eat too freely or finds difficulty in complying with the dietary rules. 5. Fluid would be removed from the system if there were symptoms of excessive restriction or obstruction, including excessive sense of fullness, heartburn, regurgitation and vomiting. If symptoms are not relieved by removal of the fluid, barium meal should be used to evaluate the anatomy. Prior to doing an adjustment to decrease the stoma, review the patient's chart for total band volume and recent adjustments. If recent adjustments have not been compliant with nutritional guidelines, the patient my have a leaking band system, or may have a pouch enlargement or esophageal dilation due to stomal obstruction, band slippage or over-restriction. Band system patency can be conformed by injecting saline into the band system, then immediately withdrawing it. An absence or decrease in fluid volume indicates a leak in the system may exist. The band may be evaluated for a leak using a radiopaque solution, such as Hypaque or Conray-43, flushing it from the band system after the evaluation. If pouch enlargement or band/stomach slippage is suspected, a limited upper GI with a samll amount of barium or gastrograffin can be used to evaluate the size of the pouch, the gastric stoma and the position of the band. CAUTION: Insufficient weight loss may be a symptom of inadequate restriction (band too loose). Or, it may be a symptom of pouch or esohpageal enlargement, and may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as heartburn, regurgitation or vomiting. If this is the case, inflation of the band would not be appropriate. The band internal diameter may be decreased approximately 0.5mm by adding an additional 0.4 cc of sterile saline. Excessive restriction may result in a closed stoma. Because of the possible complications that can occur with excessive restriction, a doctor familiar with the adjustment procedure must be available for several days post-adjustment to adjust the stoma in case of emergency. Deflation (an increase in stoma size) is considered if the patient experiences frequent episodes of vomiting, is unable to swallow liquids or appropriate foods, or if there are medical indications for increasing nutrient intake. the internal diameter of the band can be increased approximatley 0.5mm by withdrawing 0.4 cc of the fluid. Elective deflation of the band is advisable in the following situations: Pregnancy Significant concurrent illness General anesthesia Remote Travel Travel to areas where food or Water contamination is endemic.

Just as soon as you REACH goal, call your doc for an adjustment. Don't worry if your appointment is 2-4 weeks out...it's okay. Eat normal. Like, your new normal...how you plan on eating for the rest of your life...normal. IF, and that's an IF...if you gain weight...go back to dieting. IF you still lose weight get a slight unfill. Your doc has been trained by Inamend on how much an unfill should be. Then, eat normally. IF you gain...diet/and get the fill back. If you still lose weight, get another adjustment. If nothing is happening and you gain a pound or two but then lose it...you are so DONE. That's where I am. I am 143...can get up to 145 but then the next week I'm back to 143. Congrats!