tomorrowsdream

You most definitely do need a passport at this time to get into and out of Mexico. Please make sure you have one.

I directed the poster above to this site after his message was pulled on another lapbanding site. I told him anything could be discussed here and he would probably get some valuable replies. His first post is this because he is passionate about it. I thought his point of view would be welcomed here, as all views seem to be. Perhaps I am wrong in thinking this is the fairest site on the internet. I personally apologize to Ron if his post is not accepted as it is presented. I find it disturbing and a lot of credibility in it. Thanks:confused:

I have been having port pain for about a week or so now. It doesn't hurt when I'm sitting or lying down, but hurts terribly when standing or walking. I thought perhaps I had slept on it wrong, but that's not the case apparently. I can't even imagine going through the rest of this journey with pain in my port like this. My port area is not swollen, red or infected...it just plain hurts for some reason. Could it be at the age of 64 I just don't get enough exercise. Walking is all I'm able to do with my arthritis. The port is apparently fine and it doesn't hurt to get a fill, but always remains sore. My dr. isn't concerned, but I am. I didn't sign on for more pain in my life when I had this surgery. Why could this be hurting me? Any advice is appreciated.

I am almost 5 mo out of surgery and have had 4 fills. The last one brought me to 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band. I had restriction for a few days and then poof it was gone. I'm as hungry as ever and can't figure it out. I'm trying to stick to bandster rules but it is tough. Should I be this hungry? Do I just need a fill or is there a possibility something is wrong? My dr. never fills under fluoro either. I also have a port that aches a lot, sometimes more than others, but no fever, swelling or redness... I'm really concerned that I have absolutely no restriction. Any answers? Do I possibly just need a bigger fill. Should I be worried at all about slippage, as I don't know the symptoms. Thanks

I'm going for my 5th fill on Wed. I'm at 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band and have zero restriction. I thought I was really unusual, but I see a lot of people with larger fills than me, so I guess I'm just one of those people needing a larger fill, and my dr. goes veeeeeeeery slow... I'm hoping the next one will help me some. Good luck to you.

I will definitely eat more Protein, but that doesn't account for the port pain I'm having for no reason. Everything feels and looks the same in the port area, but it just hurts. Anyone else have this problem further out from surgery? I did this surgery for my health, and granted I'm losing weight, but I can't imagine going on every day and carrying around a port that hurts, and it's one of the smaller ports. It isn't red or infected in any way, simply painful. Thanks

I'm drinking my protein. I'm being bothered with bad port pain and can't figure it out. It is worse on standing, but has been getting worse over the past week. I thought maybe I had just slept on it wrong, but that's not the case. Does anyone else have port pain? Thanks. The area is not red or tender or burning...just painful.

I've had myself on a self-imposed diet (not what I signed up for) and don't eat much at all. I'm trying very hard to not think about the hunger, so I don't think there is any way I could have stretched the pouch. Someone told me if the band slipped you couldn't keep anything down, and that isn't my problem. I'm not sure of this info though. Will keep you posted. I have a dr. appt. on Wed.

Did you know your band band had slipped and if so how? I thought that if your band slipped you couldn't keep anything down....Is this right or wrong? Why are they taking so long to fix the problem?:eek:

I feel like I don't have a band....I know I could eat anything I wanted to if I gave into it. I had a few days of restriction and it was gone and it worries me. I keep thinking something is wrong with the band...not sure what, but worried. I'm relieved to know someone is right there with me. I try to eat very slow and eat the right foods, but I am still hungry and have to fight it. I'm on a self-imposed diet. Gosh, I must have this huge "blow hole" that needs a full band to do any good. I'm getting discouraged....thanks for answering. I hope things get better for you also.

My info on the band and not feeling it being made tighter came from my surgeon who told me it was because the stomach has no nerve endings...maybe he's wrong. I'll have to ask again. I have felt it in my "throat" when getting fills, which baffled me, but I find that isn't that unusual. I have never felt any tightness or anything when I have my band filled, nor do I ever feel the band. I have 2.5 cc in a 4 cc band and have never felt the band tighten..it will be interesting to see if anyone else can actually feel their band. My vagus nerve is definitely not communicating with my tummy for sure, as I am still as hungry as I ever way. It looks like I'm going to be someone that requires a huge fill to feel any restriction. He also told me people with smaller stomachs often require larger and more fills. I guess this subject could be up for debate also, because I'm not sure if this is correct or not. In any case, this is an informative post. I never knew anyone felt their band.:grouphug:

The vagus nerve is located in the esophagus. I said the stomach has "no nerve endings", meaning you cannot feel the band at any time. You cannot feel it during fills as the band gets tigher, but afterwards you can definitefly feel restriction when the vegas nerve lets you know you've eaten enough. There are nerves that run through the entire body, but "nerve endings" are completely different.

It is possible to feel your port, but not your band. The stomach has no nerve endings in it and the band cannot ever be felt. It is like the arteries of the heart...there are absolutely no nerve endings. Not sure what you are feeling, but it is definitely not the band. You may feel restriction however, but this is not the same thing.

I've been taking my pills whole since the day I came home from the hospital. I'm on 5 different medications, two of which cannot be crushed and do not come in liquid form. I have absolutely no problem taking my pills, even 4 fills later. Good Luck. I've never heard of anyone having to crush pills for life.

Boxing with a band...I would say NO. You could easily damage the port...no you would definitely damage the port and the reason for having the surgery would be null and void. I don't post often but couldn't resist this post. I would never take a chance with my band or port after the money invested, and I certainly would not box with anyone....walking, water sports, weight lifting are some of the things you could do, but please don't jeopardize your band with things like BOXING!!:faint:

It isn't nearly as exciting as being a binge drinker or ho, but my new addiction is shopping. You should check out my bill from QVC and you will know I've really been busy :girl_hug:

I would be leery of a Dominoe's Pizza guy that "crowed" like a rooster.

I haven't posted on here in a long time, and I'm still recovering from my guy Tony not making the chase. Two time reigning champ and he comes in 11th. He said after the race he couldn't have done any better with the original car he crashed in practice, so that tells me there was something wrong with that car too....Stewart just doesn't crash in practice. He doesn't really care where he qualifies. He knows he has the talent to march up through the field from anywhere (kind of reminds me of Earnhardt Sr. in that regard). Zippy gave Tony 4 lousy cars in a row...shame on him. By the way, Tony is in that commercial where they are toasting with champagne and pour it over their heads. Maybe next yr. Tony...meanwhile I treasure all your T shirts and will continue wearing them. I just got a new one from QVC today. Sentimentally, I have to pull for Mark Martin. Martin and Earnhardt Jr. are probably my second favorite drivers. I'd like to see the "old man" go out in style.

I came to this site in hopes of support for the lap band. I read nothing but horrible things happening to people. I know there are people out there that are happy with their bands. Are they all so happy they have chosen not to come here anymore. Support is supposed to make you happy, yet I'm constantly unhappy about things that are happening to people that are banded. It's such an expense, I'm rethinking it seriously. I can't afford some of the things that are happening to people. My dr. insisted on this over bypass surgery because it was safer, but it seems to me to take lots more upkeep. My daughter had her bypass, a check-up, and never went back. She received some support info by mail and never even read it. She did it all by herself and with a support group that was truly supportive. I'm NOT in any way saying that gastric by-pass is an alternative for me because my dr. forbids it, but I wish my dr. read more of the stuff on here and perhaps she would not be encouraging me to get the band. So much has happened on here and I'm sad for so many people. Please bring the happy bandsters back

After a lot of reading and a lot of thinking I've decided the lap band isn't for me. For those who are having surgery today I send my best. I couldn't make it through two surgeries. For those of you stressing because of your friends' misfortunes you have helped me make the right decision for me. I would worry all the time and I know it. I'm convinced I might be better served waiting for the tummy pacemaker to come out and hoping it works. At least it only requires a battery every 7 years. It can't erode, leak or slip are my main concerns. It seems the band is not yet perfected, but I think a new band must be in the making somewhere that these erosion problems will be solved. I feel like this is still in an experimental stage. Even if I lost 100 lbs. in a year and it eroded I would be unhappy, because I know me. I've gained and lost 10000 lbs. in my lifetime and always gained it and more back. I don't have the reserve it would take to keep it off and then I would be more heartbroken. I wish there was a magic solution. My dr. is deadset against gastric bypass and I don't know what this other surgery that Sue is having is, but I would probably get a huge no to it too, but I bet she will be successful. Gastric bypass patients lose huge amounts of weight right from the get-go. I say this from experience because my daughter went that route and in a yr. is really thin and amazingly healthy. She also was very dedicated to seeing it work. To all of you I thank you for this forum that helped me decide that this is probably not the right time in my life. I am extremely depressed, which doesn't help the situation and I have no one in my life to help me through this time except the forum and honestly don't really know any of you, but feel as though I have come to. I will miss you all, and may check in and see how the patients from today recovered. They are in my prayers as are all of you. Thanks again for all your insight; TD

You apparently just went on Medicaid and have a 2 -year-waiting period for Medicare to kick in am I right. I think Medicaid may help but it has to be done in the state the card is issued. Medicaid unlike Medicare is by Health and Welfare and only good in the state it is issued in. I would call H&W and ask a lot of questions. It sounds like you would certainly benefit from this surgery. I really think it is a shame that there is a 2 year wait for people for Medicare when they are on severe disability...but so goes the American Health System. Keep plugging away and I wish you the very best.

You may be giving yourself and your children a real chance at happiness. I too am looking forward to getting the band. I think it is the way to go. I don't particularly want my intestines rerouted. They cause enough problems. I hope that you come through the surgery well and happy and call do all the many things you want to do. Good Luck to you and God Bless. Keep us posted.

Just so you are well informed Medicaid only covers the state in which it is issued. Youc cannot go out of state and use it.

I hope for your sake that God guides the hand of the surgeon that operates on you because I wish you nothing but the best. The fact that you sign your posts "the friendly neighborhood atheist" is bound to grate on someone that believes in God. I'm sorry to hear you have no one to pray too. I find that extremely sad for you. And so she said.........I'm not touching this topic again. I wish you well.

Being an ATHEIST is groovy. Repeat that one more time so I can start saving up for a frontal lobotomy for you Vines.