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Don't know if you have found a fill doctor or not, I was banded in Mexico and I use Dr. Stephanie for fills. She does mine in Tyler, $200.00. She only does them on Saturday. Her husband sets up the appointments for her. She does Tyler one weekend and Bryan/College Station the next. She is very sweet, has a lap-band herself so she knows the challenges and you don't have to convince her you need a fill. Her phone number is 1-903-520-8847. She does her fill with the f.scope.

I fell over the weekend and have some broken ribs. I was wondering how others have done with lap band and broken ribs. I fell on the side my port is on and it has been very sore since the fall. I am sure I internally bruised myself with the port. One of my no more food signs is a little nudge in my back and I have had pain in my back from the broken ribs, so it has been a little difficult to get the right signal. My other sign to stop is a little burp, and I am trying not to reach that point either cause "it really lights up my life" when that happens! This has been an interesting journey, any wisdom will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Tulipstar

Does anyone have Scott and White insurance? My emloyer is changing from First Care to Scott and White. I self paid for my band, and was just wondering if Scott and White might pay for fills...probably not, but I can dream big! :thumbup:

Thanks! Really didn't think they would!

I was banded in October by Dr. Rod and would do it all again the same way.

Love ya' Alfie, you have been an encouragement to many, many people even before you were banded!

I understand the little rant, it is frustrating. However, the tough love in me has to come out...this is a healing stage.Healing--periods of times of discomfort...rather it is physical pain, boredom with the food, hunger, etc....I have to disagree with standing on the scale when you feel hungry. This is a time to heal, not lose weight. Yes, it is hard, I don't think anyone told you this would be easy at first. One of the things that you are learning at this point is what true hunger is. That is something most of us know nothing about. We ate for every reason but hunger. Not only can this be a healing stage for you physically, but a learning stage emotionally,to learn the difference in head hunger and real physical hunger, so as you progress down this journey, you will be able to identify the difference--you will learn to stop and really listen to your body and decide if it is really hunger or emotions. Yes, we all get hungry when we are healing...what activities are you doing...camping in front of the tv where all you see is food commercials, watching the food channel, or finding other things to do to keep your mind busy. This is only a few weeks of the rest of your lives...sorry to be so outspoken, however, the damage that can be done now can also cost you more than few seconds of comfort than food can offer.

If someone should not be sensitive to their religious beliefs why should others be senstive to the other comments she mentioned? Guess I just don't understand why it is okay for others to be senstive to other comments, but once again Christians can't be. There are many mor e groups out there that try to force their beliefs on me other than Christians.

The density of the food effects the amount I can eat. The more dense the less food. Soups, chilli I can eat 1/2 to 1 cup of food, salad I can eat more than 1 cup, other foods 4-6 bites takes care of it.

I know it is Mindy!!!! But she is so good I just wanted you to know about her, it is about an hour away from you! I know her being banded herself makes a difference in her patient care and it shows...she really listens and you don't have to convince her you need a fill, she knows we know 99% of the time when we need a fill. She has patients that come from Louisiana, Oklahoma and other states for their fills. Hard to tell I like her isn't it? I should be doing PR work for her!

For me it has been worth it. I would do it again in a minute. The pb's, throwing up, etc...are uncomfortable, but not often. It may seem like a lot because when it happens we get on the forum and post it, well after you read it a couple hundred of times you think that is all we do...not true. I normally have problems when I eat to fast, the bites are too big, or try a food for the second time that I was not successful before to see if it is actually a food I can't do or if I was eating too fast, bites too big... There is always a risk for surgery...for anyone, big, small, whatever...I guess it is kind of like childbirth, it hurts like you know what, but when you see and hold that sweet one, you forget the labor and the pain. I may have a problem every now and again, but when I step on that scale, I know it has been worth the effort and I forget about the discomforts I may have had. It is a change in lifestyle, and change is always hard. At first it will be hard, like any change...dealing with head hunger, bandster H***, grief of losing food, anger sometimes that I am full as a tick, but I want to keep on eating, relearning my band limitations every time I get a fill, it all depends on how bad you want it and what you are willing to do. I know you will make the right decision for you and that is what is important! :decision:

I would recommend Dr. Stephanie Eijsink in Bryan. She is banded herself, banded in Mexico, does it with fluro--cost is $200.00 per fill. She only does them on Saturday and does them one weekend in Bryan and the next in Tyler. She is awesome. She does the fills standing up and numbs the port area.

Jack, I thank God for your wisdom!

Thanks Phyl for the reminder it is not a race. I just said that to someone a few days ago, how quickly I forgot. I have had a couple of discouraging days due to stress, moving to a new home, etc...and just have not taken care to get in the Protein and Water I need, so therefore I am craving, and forgetting to take care of me like I should, and as a result, dealing with head hunger and guilt of not doing the right thing. I just got a fill a week ago, so it sure is not the time to be ignoring myself. Time to get back on track with my Heavenly Father and myself. Guess it is time to Be still and know He is God...the rest will take care of itself if I will do that.

You have a few stitches holding everything in place right now and it is important to go easy on these stithces while everything is healing. Scar tissue becomes our friend now because the scar tissue that is developing while you are healing is what is going to help hold your band in place. The small amounts are due to the healing process to help not put a lot of pressure on the stitches that are holding the band in place. If those stitches should break, it would not be pretty! This will not be for the rest of your life! Right now it may seem like an eternity, but it is for a short period of time compared to what the future will hold.

I no longer live to eat, I eat to live, and have to remind myself at times I need to eat.

Fills will change everything when you start getting them, and it may take more than one fill to make a difference. One thing to think about is that we don't have to eat until we get *full*. *Normal* people don't eat until they get full, they eat until they are no longer hungry. Remember it is all about healing at this stage not losing weight. Some people do gain some weight when they start mushies and solid foods. This is the hardest time, it will get better.

Cerrin, that is great! Proud of you...very hard to do. I will be thinking about you tomorrow as you start your new band adventure! Wanda

your carb levels are really high, the rice and pasta maybe what is keeping you from losing. My doctor wants the carbs less than 30 a day.

Gloria, thanks for the reminder that I celebrate my Lord each day, not just at the holiday season. That is exactly what needed to hear. I knew it in my heart, but for some reason could not get the words from my heart to my head. Christan support is the awesome. I don't know how people who are not Christians make it. Each of you are a blessing to me. Thanks for being willing to listen, but most of all being willing to share your world with me. Because He Lives, Wanda

You keep your port as long as you have the band...it's a package deal--without the port you can't get fills, and that too is a lifelong process.

I have been really struggling getting into the Christmas holiday spirit this year, and it is really bothering me. I want to say it has nothing to do with my lap-band, but my head tells me it really does because I have been so involved in learning the lap-band life style that other things are being neglected and put on hold. We are traveling for the holidays, so I had not planned on doing major Christmas decorating, but I have done nothing! Yesterday I finally took a Christmas tablecloth out of the linen closet and ironed it and put in on the table. It looks kind of sad, so I am am going to go purchase a poinsettia tonight to go on the table. Sunday night at chruch the youth had their Chrismtas program and I was excited about going to see it, but still never really "felt" the holiday spirit. We have not even celebrated Advent in our home, which is something we always do. I have been praying that God will help restore to me the joy of the holiday. My husband told me last night, maybe He wants me to focus on me right now and not the holiday, that He gave me an important tool and I need to not put this on hold due to a holiday. I guess I am feeling guilty that this is a time to put myself aside and focus on others and the birth of my Savior, but it just isn't happening. I guess it is something I am just not use to doing, and being out of what is the norm is creating a struggle for me. I knew there would changes in my world, lifestyles, etc...but I think this one just kind of "snuck up" on me. I wasn't expecting this one. Because He Lives Wanda

My doctor told me that when I am losing inches, I am losing fat. That when I am losing pounds, it can be anything, water, etc...so I don't focus too much on the pounds.

I live in Texas and yesterday I was in a meeting where the air conditioning was on and the room was very cold. I could feel swelling as I sat in the room and figured out it must be the cold air causing the swelling. After the first break, at 10:30, they changed the temp of the room and I noticed the swelling started to go down a little. I have a really bad sense of humor and had to giggle to myself, with this going on, who needs fills, just turn on the a/c before each meal. I logged the expereince in my journal and will continue to monitor this to see if the pattern continues when I am cold.