SouthTX LapBand

Well, this will be the BIGGER bash, won't it? :couch2: Here's the invitation - http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?event=SJCXTVTCWRJNURNUYTDP The Seattle Bash started out being held in Jessie Ahroni's living room for the first few years..

The 2006 Las Vegas Bandster Bash will be held in October - the exact weekend will not be decided and announced til April 1. I got an invitation early today, but I don't know how to get one. The gal heading up the planning committee is a member of ObesityHelp.com's LapBand forum.

Date banded 11/08/05 Where: Acuna, Mexico Surgeon: Dr. JOSE Rodriguez (the OTHER Rodriguez) Complications: None to date --- but erosions don't usually show themselves til 18 to 24 months out Great to

How exciting to hear about your band and thank you for taking the time to tell us all about it. So, do you go to the doctor for the adjustment? And does he have you swallow barium so he can see how much is flowing through and how fast it goes through? I want to know all the details. What do you think about your rate of weight loss? Do you think you are having good advice on what to eat and how to eat? How "tight" are you? Do doctors there try for "the sweet spot" where you simply can't eat more than a small amount at a time? Thank you for sharing.

All I know for certain is that NO RESPONSIBLE LAP BAND SURGEON would give someone another fill when they already weren't able to swallow solid Proteins. Usually living on mushies leads to poor weight loss or, worse, even gaining. But a fill will not correct that problem. Many people can't eat any solids at all in the morning, or they would prefer to "eat" just a 16 ounce latte for their first 20 grams of Protein for the day. I think the main consideration is whether or not the liquid Protein Drink (no matter what kind you take) is keeping you from being too hungry, too soon in the morning. Sound right to you guys?

It's a shame as doctors and medical researchers STILL don't have any firm grasp on WHY erosions occur. There are guesses, but still no proof that any of those guesses are correct. The main thing that IS known is that they most usually become EVIDENT at 18 months to two years out. This doesn't mean they happen overnight, just that it will take that long for the symptoms to show up. Another thing that is known is that it is not an "allergy" or an "intolerance" or a "rejection" of the band, for rebanded patients are no more likely to have erosion than any other patient. The things which I have seen most doctors tend to ascribe to is to the notion of too much or uneven pressure... Thus the technique of making sure the "buckle" is not under the stitches, but fastened on the backside, so to speak. And thus also the idea that "creeping up" on strong restriction may be a better idea than jumping rapidly to the sweet spot. This second technique of trying to avoid erosion places more emphasis than ever on having good follow-up ------ being able to go as often as every week to be inched slowly to the sweet spot. This would mean a greater need than ever before to be close to a surgeon, in terms of travel-time, and a greater need than ever for surgeons who include unlimited fills for the first year at least. I am able to see, more and more, that going to Mexico can be a false economy in some circumstances if it means you don't have money left over to get regular fills, never mind contact with a nutritionist and psychologist. I hope that eventually insurance companies reimburse only surgeons who offer "the whole package" to keep patients from trying to save money by not seeing the surgeon frequently enough, thereby losing the full value of the banding.

Whey Protein is made from dehydrating whey residue. Remember "Little Miss Muffet, sat on a tuffet, eating her curds and whey? Whey is what is left over when they make cheese, the watery part they used to throw away. It is not a complete protein and that is why some supplements include other amino acids. Anything over 20 grams of protein at any one meal (from ANY source) is not considered, by nutritionists, to be used by the body as protein, per se, but will be converted to stored fat. Be sure to watch your overall caloric intake, too. Theresa

Found this on ObesityHelp and thought I would share.. How to Tell When You Are Perfectly Adjusted - You are losing 1-2 pounds per week without struggling with hunger. If you are not losing 1-2 pounds per week, then: A. You may need an eating adjustment 1. Are you eating 60 grams of Protein a day 2. Are you eating 25 grams of Fiber 3. Are you avoiding all liquid calories _a. Soup can be sign of “soft calorie syndrome” _b. Alcohol contains a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram ...(1) It’s also a stomach irritant ...(2) It relaxes the stoma, allowing food to go thru easily _c. fruit juice is just sugar Water 4. Are you making healthy food choices from a wide variety of foods? _a. Are you avoiding soft foods _b. You can’t just eat what’s easy _c. cheese is glorified fat 5. Are you drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day between meals 6. Are you eating too much junk? _a. chips, chocolate, nuts, ice cream, Cookies and other highly processed junk foods are too calorically dense to be regular parts of a healthy diet. But don’t avoid them completely to the point where you feel deprived. _b. Stay out of fast food places 7. Are you getting in two servings of Calcium daily? 8. Do you always eat the protein first? 9. Then the vegetables or fruits _a. Five servings a day _b. Potatoes are NOT a vegetable 10. Is your portion size appropriate? _a. meat or fish ...(1) 3 ounces – the size of a deck of cards _b. Vegetables ...(1) ½ cup – the size of your fist _c. Starch ...(1) If you eat the protein and the vegetables first you don’t need much ...(2) Avoid: rice, potatoes, Pasta 11. You might try avoiding artificial sweeteners _a. Some people think that artificial sweeteners stimulate the appetite _b. They are HUNDREDS of times sweeter than sugar _c. They teach you to like things too sweet _d. There is no evidence that people who use them are any thinner than people who don’t 12. Avoid most diet foods _a. Real food usually tastes better _b. Real food is more satisfying than low calorie substitutes _c. When you are only eating a tiny bit the caloric savings is not that great ...(1) Use a teaspoon of real butter instead of a tablespoon of diet margarine ...(2) The body has no way to break down artificial fats ~~~(a) They may go into permanent storage ~~~(:bananajump: Some people think liposuction is the only way to remove hydrolyzed fats from the body B. You may need a behavior adjustment 1. Are you eating only when you are hungry? If you’re not sure drink 8 ounces of water and wait. 2. Are you eating three meals a day? With maybe 1 or 2 small Snacks 3. Are you sitting down to eat? 4. Are you eating consciously? No distractions, turn off the TV, put the book or newspaper away, pay attention to your food and your companions 5. Are you eating slowly? _a. Put the fork down between bites _b. Take 20 to 30 minutes to finish a meal _c. Taking longer might cause the pouch to begin emptying 6. Are you taking small bites? Use a Tiny spoon, chopsticks, cocktail fork 7. Are you chewing well? 8. Are you drinking with your meals or too soon after your meals? _a. Practice water loading between meals _b. You won’t be thirsty if you are well hydrated before the meal 9. Are you stopping at the first sign of fullness? _a. Sometimes it’s a whisper: not hungry, had enough _b. Hard stop versus soft stop 10. Do not eat between meals. Stop grazing. 11. Do not eat when you are not hungry C. You may need an activity adjustment 1. Are you getting in 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times a week? _a. Over and above what you would do in the usual course of your day _b. Could you make it 4 or 5 times a week? _c. Could you make it 45 or 60 minutes? 2. Are you taking advantage of opportunities to increase your physical activity? Easy Ideas - a. Taking the stairs instead of the elevators or escalators b. Walking on the escalators instead of riding c. Parking your car further away from the entrance d. Getting out of the car instead of using the drive through e. Getting off the bus one stop before your destination f. Washing you car by hand instead of the car wash g. Playing with your kids D. You may need an attitude adjustment 1. Are you committed to your weight loss journey? 2. Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? _a. Log your food and activity on Fluid added to your band 1. You feel like you are making healthy food choices in appropriate portion sizes, but getting hungry between meals? 2. You can still eat white bread, fibrous vegetables and large portions. 3. You are having to struggle to lose 4. You are gaining weight in spite of eating right, exercising and having a good mind set. F. Signs You may need your band loosened 1. There are times when you can’t get fluids down 2. You are vomiting (PB'ing) too much _a. How much is too much? 3. Do you have frequent reflux or heartburn at night? Ideas for controlling indigestion a. Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating b. Do not eat late at night or just before bedtime c. Rinse your pouch with a glass or water an hour before bedtime d. Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause reflux: ..(1) Rich, spicy, fatty and fried foods ..(2) Chocolate ..(3) Caffeine ..(4) Alcohol ..(5) Some fruits and vegetables such as Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, peppers ..(6) Peppermint ..(7) Carbonated drinks e. Eat slowly and do not eat big meals f. If you smoke, quit smoking g. Reduce stress h. Exercise promotes digestion i. Raise the head of your bed j. Wear loose fitting clothing around your waist k. Stress increases reflux l. Take estrogen containing medications in the morning m. Avoid aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen at bedtime (Tylenol is OK) n. Take an antacid (Pepcid complete) before retiring o. Try other over-the-counter heartburn medications p. See your health care provider G. See your health care provider immediately (or call 911) if 1. You have a squeezing, tightness or heaviness in your chest, especially if the discomfort spreads to your shoulder, arm or jaw or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, irregular or fast heartbeat or nausea. These could be symptoms of a heart attack. 2. If your symptoms are triggered by exercise. 3. If your pain localizes to your right side, especially if you also have nausea or fever 4. If you throw up vomit that looks like black sand or coffee grounds. Or if your stool is black, deep red or looks like it has tar in it. These are symptoms of bleeding and need immediate attention. (Note: Pepto-Bismol or other medications with bismuth will turn your stool black. Iron supplements can also make the stool tarry.) 5. If your pain is severe This was written by Jessie H. Ahroni, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., C.D.E., B.C.-A.D.M.

Recently, someone posted (somewhere here) that her husband wanted her to get the balloon rather than the band. I do think he was in the military, so probably stationed in Europe. I had very little in the way of English language research that I could access online, but the one thing I did see was that it must be removed within 6 months and it has caused life-threatening erosions of the stomach wall. Anyway, this is a news article on the gastric balloons and you can expect to hear more about them as Europe begins to face their ballooning problems with obesity. -- Theresa Stomach Balloons Used to Fight Weight Gain By MARTA FALCONI AP ROME (Jan. 29) - Vittorio Campati is a 40-year-old restaurant chef. He weighs 308 pounds, likes Pasta and sweets and has failed many diets. His last resort? A balloon inserted into his stomach in a procedure that lasts less than 20 minutes. European doctors hail the technique as a simple, less invasive way to fight obesity. "I'm having this balloon inserted in the hope of reducing the quantity of food that I eat," Campati said shortly before being sedated at Rome's Polyclinic Hospital Umberto I. Being a chef makes that hard. "I eat a lot of carbohydrates and I did several diets, but all of them failed," he said. Inserted down the patient's throat, a round silicon balloon is filled with a saline solution and remains in the stomach for about six months, when it is deflated and taken out before the material degrades. "We introduce a balloon of half a liter volume (about a pint) in the stomach and inflate it so it takes up space and helps slow down the eating," said Dr. Nicola Basso, the obesity surgeon who performed the procedure on Campati in early January. "This causes a sense of fullness, and the patient is helped to lose weight." The balloon, which also contains methylene blue to signal any leak, does not alter the shape of the abdomen and is too big to slip down into the digestive tract. Basso, who has performed the procedure on about 700 patients in six years, said the technique allows an average drop of 33-44 pounds over six months, although the weight loss is often temporary. "The efficacy of the treatment depends on how the patient is able to use these six months to change his dieting habits in a more or less stable way," Basso said. Basso hopes the procedure, which he said is less invasive than techniques like gastric bypass or stomach-stapling surgery, will catch on in the United States. Initial trials with the balloon technique are being conducted in Louisville, Ky., although the procedure has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he said. Basso acknowledged the operation's long-term effects have yet to be determined. Scott Shikora, a general and obesity surgeon at the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, said the results appear encouraging. "I think it could be approved in the (United) States with probable limitations on how long it can be kept in the stomach," he said. "It looks to be safe and can be used to start weight loss for other procedures or on its own." Patients who seek the procedure first go through eating behavior therapy and psychological screenings. Basso said they also are monitored and psychologically assisted after the operation. "After years of failed diets, I got to the point of not being able to go on with my life, or even go out," said Maria Pia Di Liberatore, 21, who weighed 242 pounds in 2003. Two balloons and two years later, she was down to 141 pounds. "Life simply got better, it was a big revenge," she said in a phone interview from her hometown, Teramo. Sabrina Spalliera, a 33-year-old in Rome who lost nearly 66 pounds, described the sensation of her balloon as "drinking a lot of Water all at once." "I felt full up after only a few bites," she said, looking fit in a tight, black suit and high-heeled boots. Spalliera, whose weight dropped from 220 pounds, conceded that stomach cramps and nausea were part of the deal, but she is asking for another balloon while trying to lose 22 more pounds. "Given the result and how rapidly I've achieved it, I'm really enthusiastic," she said. Obesity affects 27 percent of men and 38 percent of women in Europe and causes illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension that are estimated to account for as much as 7 percent of the European Union's health care costs. In the United States, about 31 percent of adults - 61 million people - are considered obese. Basso said about a third of balloon patients return to their initial weight after the device is removed, but another third maintain a permanent loss for years and the final third regain only some of the lost pounds. The American Obesity Association says weight loss usually occurs soon after other obesity surgical techniques and continues for 18 months to two years. Few regain it all, averaging a loss of 60 percent after five years, the group says. Basso said at least 1.5 million people in Italy might benefit from surgical intervention against obesity, which he stressed is not just a cosmetic issue. "Obesity is not a minor problem. It actually reduces life expectancy by a quarter," he said. <SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!--adSetType('J');htmlAdWH('93218503', '438', '180');adSetType('');//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://ar.atwola.com/html/93218503/416492981/aoladp?SNM=HIDBFV&width=438&height=180&target=_blank&tile=2&TZ=360&CT=J&hw=docw"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://twx.doubleclick.net/adj/TW.AOL/News_USNews;MN=93218503;dcg=00413224;dclu2=D00536005BD03107;u=55EC2E246E8FAF8D;wm=o;sg1=13;sg2=9;af6=1;am6=1;aah=6;chl=1;chn=1;inc=3;mar=1;hme=2;ccb=1;ccg=1;pmi=10;ten=694;clv=4184;aol=1;r23=1;r38=1;r39=1;r60=1;cby=1;dwe=2;soc=9;wwm=1;mob=1;mre=1;nie=4;car=1;res=1;l0=1;l2=1;l11=1;l23=1;l41=1;l72=1;r82=1;sz=438x180;tile=2;dcove=d;ord=416492981?"></SCRIPT> Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

No chance whatsoever... The general advice is to have your band un-filled to accomodate sufficient nutrition during pregnancy -- it is necessary to document your intake and make certain you get sufficient Protein and fats. Take supplemental Biotin. But I suspect it can be done during without it -- just let your ob & surgeon know and have them monitor you carefully. If you breastfeed, you can lose a lot of weight producing all that "baby forumula" --- Just focus on sufficient protein and fats, and keep on your pre-natal Vitamins and biotin.

When something like this happens, it is best to immediately schedule 24 hours of just liquids (anything you can take thru a straw).

I had the Last Meal Syndrome and I put my surgery date off til I had gone thru this process of "letting go" of foods. Mainly pizza and ice cream. I didn't lose weight on my 2 weeks of pre-op diet, but it was low-fat for the most part. Part of this depends on your weight and the actual condition & fattiness of your liver. It would be better to call first thing Monday morning, explain that you have not yet managed to start preparing your liver and go from there. Or simply postpone it for a week or two. Or a month or two. Your head really has to be ready for the change. Some people never get there. Oh .. and by the way? I had been told I would never again be able to eat so many different foods. The truth? Generally untrue. While I CHOOSE not to eat rice or potatoes or, Pasta or bread, I HAVE had pizza and even a bagel. And, SOMEDAY, if I have a chance to have some cake or some ice cream, I will. I just don't allow them into my home.

:bananapowerslide: Oh, I don't take offense. But Smart Bandsters is not the same as NWWLS. We have members from all over the US, Canada, Europe, Australia & New Zealand, the Middle East and China. Many are banded in Mexico. All are welcome - :welcomeB: And while Jessie, a diabetic and lapband educator, successful bandster and fill tech since 1997, author of a lap band handbook recommended by many doctors, is a source of sound wisdom born of her knowledge of the experiences of thousands of bandsters, she is not the owner and, believe me, more than a little :fencing: goes on on the list! :paranoid But we are all striving for the same thing --- helping one another achieve goal and maintain goal. We have had a recent spin-off for those more than a year out who have failed to ever reach goal, even those who stalled just a short ways out after surgery. It has taken off very strong for list less than a week old. We talk about food CHOICES, not "mistakes". Some choices are good :clap2: and some, not so good. :think But we never rag on one another for gaining :hungry: , but help one another work out what's going on and lend encouragement to one another to try, try again. :cheer2: Jessie is harder on herself than she is on any patient... And she is mellowing, too. And for everyone who let's their guilt get triggered, there are are the ones who love her for her unpaid devotion to our list. We are her apostles.

There is at least one Mexican physician who is using the balloon, and you hear about it in Europe -- but it is only good for that temporary weight loss AND there have been deaths related to it when the stomach ruptured. It is actually more dangerous to have your tubes tied by lap surgery that it is to have a band placed by lap surgery. The most important factor in success with the lapband is EDUCATION beginning before the sugery (and composed of the CORRECT facts, based on being a bandster, not a GBP patient) and having a great SUPPORT system after the surgery --- composed of lap band surgery patients, run or sponsored by a medical professional. Also, you must have yourself checked out, pre-surgically if possible, for the pre-diabetic Metabolic Syndrome (high insulin-resistant syndrome), and for a low-producing thyroid. I have both conditions. Got to get your spouse to a lapband seminar so he can ask questions. People live with artificial heart valves, blood vessel stents, artificial hip joints, implanted lenses, and replacement parts of all kinds ---- never mind breast implants. :eek: I have never had any sort of sensation at all from band or from the port (only from the incisions during the first weeks). I have my port on the midline, several inches above my waist. You can't see it and can't feel it unless you know what to feel for. There

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/ SmartBandsters is NWWLS of Seattle's online support group and they know everything there is to know about who and where regarding fills.

I am so thrilled that this thread focuses on BMI. When someone just posts their weight in pounds, I can't gauge the significance because I don't know how tall the person is. 200 pounds on someone 5 foot tall is considerably different than 200 pounds on someone 6 foot tall. GREAT THREAD and very inspirational !!

I, too, find myself still eating too fast --- but I HATE cold food. I want it warm and tasty, just from the kitchen. And I don't want to have to keep running back to the microwave every few minutes to warm it up... so I have kept eating too fast --- and SOMETIMES that still leads to PBing. So I just now thought that I have to find some device to keep my meal warm for me. My babies had heavy dishes you would fill with hot Water and plug with a cork. And I used to have a little warmer that I could keep my coffee mug on and perhaps it could have held a heavy bowl (but I don't think I own it any longer). But there MUST be some device, even if it is something plugged in like the mug warmer, that can keep my meal warm for the entire 15-20 minutes. Anyone know of something or will I have to go Google it up myself?

Shows a wide variety of currently used bands... There are more than I realized. It is wonderful so much innovation as going on as I feel sure that the problem of erosion will be solved some day..... But on another tact, I see the two European sites I accessed stating that they think that rapid inflation/progression to "the sweet spot" has something to do with erosion. Of course, erosion doesn't occur (or become obviously symptomatic, I should say) until two years out... hmmm. http://www.zyworld.com/acr/bands.htm <TABLE width="80%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> There are around ten gastric bands available with six generally used within the EU. The devices are different but principles the same - to facilitate a reduction in food consumption and enable weightloss. Specific information can be obtained from the sites of the leading band manufacturers but it is generally recommended to chose a band in consultation with an experienced banding surgeon.. Whilst the experiences of other banded patients is important, it is essential that your choice of band should be made in consultation with your surgeon and following your own research of the available literature. The bands all have advantages and disadvantages. It is important that you find the best one for you. Prior to leaving your home country for surgery, it is essential that you make provision for safe and effective follow up care upon your return. Also note that you may have difficulty finding a clinician to adjust your band if they are not familiar with an unusual or newer device. The adjustment technique is the same with all of the bands but some clinicians will not offer support with an unfamiliar device. Generally, most UK clinicians are familiar with the SAGB whilst, in the USA, the Lapband is the most familiar. The bands should only be adjusted by a clinician with experience of ports and gastric band management. It is essential that the correct needle and Fluid are used and performed under an aseptic technique. This will avoid potential complications such as port damage, tube puncture and infection. A trained and experienced adjuster will be able to advise regarding the correct volume for you. Do not delegate this task to a nurse or doctor with no experience of band adjustment-it could be a very costly mistake. All of the featured bands are fitted via laparoscopy ("key-hole") surgery and require a short hospital stay. <HR> <TABLE cellSpacing=20 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The SWEDISH BAND (Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band) was the first band to be fitted and dates back to 1985. In the early days it was fitted by open surgery but, as with the other bands, is now fitted laparoscopically. The device is now produced by Ethicon Endosurgery-part of the Johnson & Johnson group. It is the most commonly used band in the UK, Scandinavia and Mexico and takes a maximum fill volume of 9ml. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The LAPBAND/VANGUARD, made by Inamed, is the second oldest band and the only one to have FDA approval. It is the most commonly used band within France, the USA and Mexico. American patients often chose this band as they tend to find it easier to obtain follow up within the US if their provider is familiar with the band and the band has FDA approval. It comes in different sizes. 4.5ml and 9ml. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The MIDBAND is produced by MID of Lyon. It is rapidly gaining popularity with a number of UK, French and Mexican surgeons. It is too new to comment on long term complications but several thousand have been placed and the results appear to be promising-especially within the area of complications. The maximum fill capacity is 9ml. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The following bands are used extensively in Belgium but are not current supported for adjustments by the Euroband Associates private band management service. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The A.M.I Soft Gastric Band (produced by the Austrian Agency for Medical Innovations Ltd.) is predominantly used within mainland Europe & Mexico although some UK surgeons now place it. Maximum fill volume 9ml. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The BIORING is made by Cousin of France. It is similar in style to the AMIBand and is generally softer and low pressure. It is generally used by Belgian surgeons. It is very lower pressure and generally requires 4+ adjustments before maintenance restriction is achieved. Maximum fill volume 9ml. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top> </TD><TD vAlign=top>The HELIOGAST is made by Helioscopie or Vienne near Lyon. It is similar in style to the LAPBAND but is smaller and, as with the other bands, does not have FDA approval. It is used by a number of French and Belgian surgeons. It takes 7ml in total and </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

True, his page was done a while ago --- and the LapBand has been further refined and updated (such as the rigid sleeve to protect the tubing from accidental puncture), but the Swedish band still operates the same. Do wish I knew where I saw the page of photos of all three bands inflated. The folds/kinks were so distinctive. It was the flexible (but semi-rigid) silicone band of the Inamed Bioenterics LapBand that kept the inflatable part perfectly smooth.... Maybe I should write Wayne and see if he can help me find it again..

Actually, Colace is a hydrophilic --- it mixes with the stool and attracts and binds Water to itself -- thus hydrating the stool and keeping it soft. It keeps the body from drawing all the water out of the fecal mass. It keeps the stool bulky and thus helps keep it moving. Mineral "Oil" is a non-organic oil - not made of food, but derived from petroleum products. Thus, not being a food, it should not be absorbed (and normally is not able to). It can "leak" between bathroom visits, and that is how it works, by slipping past the fecal impaction and lubricating it. It also acts as a laxative - stimulating the bowel and causing colonic action by keeping the bowel from absorbing water. Mineral Oil, like any laxative, cannot be taken on a regular basis. It interferes with the absorption of water, Vitamins, minerals and medicines. If aspirated, it can cause dangerous pneumonia. And nausea and vomiting are some of the side affects. It is now considered to be a last choice, not a first. My mother used to give us kids "Fletcher's Castoria". Or prunes. Raisin Bran is magic.

And as you lose weight, your fertility increases --- the diaphragm has worked very well for my daughter for some 12 years. The only times she has conceived is when she wasn't using it. And then it happened almost instantly.

If what you have is a French MidBand (I presume BioRing may be an added part of the name?), then there is a surgeon in Mexico who does fills. His email address is JoseBand @ hotmail.com so you can contact him directly if you like. Fills are very inexpensive and transportation from the airport and back is $25. A Southwest flight is the cheapest, purchased at their website. But if I were you, I would first contact the manufacturer (by email?) and ask them for a list of fill techs in the US who do fills on the French band. You are more likely to find a technician trained than a doctor -- and the doctor's malpractice insurance company would not want them doing the procedure. If you could find some sort of health provider close to you, that would be the optimum. Your surgeon might have State-side contacts of his own... or be quite familiar with various Mexican surgeons.

I googled about, but could not find the page of comparative photos, but I did find this from the website of Wayne Smith, owner of SmartBandsters. http://www.waynesmith.net/lapband/why_lap_1.html Best I can find at the moment.

Actually, there are considerable differences in how the bands constrict the stomach. Some bands, when inflated, tend to fold in or kink, forming not a circular constriction, but a multi-sided constrictive enclosure. There is considerable concern about how this shape & pressure gradient differences MAY contribute to banding mishaps. I am unaware of any particulars beyond this, but there ARE websites I've read that go into this and they show photographs of the various bands and how they respond to inflation.

Dear Chef Lady ..... Your initial post was posted off-topic on a long contentious thread that may soon be locked, thus your questions lost, so I decided to post it here.... Okay --- Appointment Lag Time: If you are willing to be banded by some of the lesser-known Mexican surgeons, you can be banded by Wednesday morning, if not earlier. A cashier's check and a warm body is all they need!!! The pacemaker is available in India (per recent spam here at LBT) and elsewhere, I am sure. The pacemaker will eventually be approved here. The FDA is very cautious. Overly cautious, some feel. And a warm WELCOME to you! :welcome: