grammylew

Hi Marie, Nice to meet you. This is a great site for information. You should do lots of research and check out many sites. Another very good one is www.obesityhelp.com They have many different forums. The NC forum has many military members (My DH is retired Navy), and almost every WLS type is represented. You should check it out. Grammylew

OK, my DH went in for his lap band and gall bladder removal in Feb. Dr. Pender removed a HUGE gall stone (4cm long), and the gall bladder, postponed the lap band for 4 weeks. Finally got his band on March 5th. Had a little trouble coming out of the anesthesia this time. Now he is doing great. Dr. Pender was very nice and caring through both surgeries. His 2 week follow up is Tuesday. We shall see how the next year goes, with fills, etc, but so far we are very pleased with the doctor and his staff.

Does anyone have any experience with Dr. Pender? :mad2: My DH is going through the process to have the lap band surgery and Dr. Pender will be doing it. We have met him once for about 20 seconds (when he did my DH's endoscopy). He seemed very nice. The staff we have met so far are nice, but some not too well informed about the band. :confused2: My concern is that he hasn't done very many bands. At the time of the seminar in April, I think they said he had done less than 75 of them. :biggrin: My doc had done over 5000 of them and I was very confident with him. But Medicare is paying for my husband's band and it has to be done in a COA, and ECU is the closest and our PCP recommended them. Any info ya'll have would be appreciated. Thanks.

I've always been able to take my Wellbutrin XR 150 mg. I also take any other pill I need to take. If there is a chance it will upset my tummy, I take it with a spoonful of applesauce. I have noticed, though, that it takes longer for a medication to affect me. I imagine that is because it has to dissolve and pass through my stoma first. Like my Ambien. It takes about an hour for it to 'take ahold'. BTW, I am 17 months post op, have had 3 fills, I feel that I am at me 'sweet spot', and I have lost 97 pounds.

Hope all continues to be easy. Mine was a piece of cake, and I am so thankful for that. Keep us all posted, we do care.

You are wise to try some now, to find ones you like. I agree with the Isopure - I like Icey Orange I like the New Whey liquid protein (like the bullet), 3 oz. 42 g protein, but very thick. I divide it among a couple (or more) bottles of water to dilute it. Makes a very subtle taste (I like orange again) ANY of the "canned" protein shakes are way too thick for me. Since getting good restriction I like my liquids room temp or warmer. So I add hot water to these shakes. Sometimes I will add skim milk too, to thin it, but keep it creamy. Yummy. Bariatric Advantage has a powdered meal replacement in a bottle, they want you to add water to. I add some milk and hot water, thinner than they recommend. Vanilla is YUMMY! They have a "sample" thing you can buy and get a few different examples of their protein stuff. I also like their pro-stat 64 that you can put in your water bottle. For shakes from powder - I think designer whey is best. I like vanilla or strawberry). I used to mix it with ice and dry non-fat skim milk and water in a blender. Sometimes I'd add some fruit, and maybe some yogurt or wheat germ depending on what I needed for my nutrition for the day. This was always my evening snack, but now I don't like the cold. My DH will be banded soon, and he has always tasted what I have been having, so now he knows which ones he prefers.

Had surgery with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. Fills with a Fill Centers USA doc in Denver, NC. Have never had a fill under fluoro, but it is available if needed (more money and have to go to hosp for it) I know there are some docs in OR who do fills for non-patients. One in Salem and I think one in Portland. Also a few in WA near Portland. Good luck with your fills.

FillCentersUsa was founded by Mexican docs just for this reason. I love my FCUSA doc. I just wish he were closer.

WOW, prices have gone WAY up, since the last fill I had in January! I wonder why?

I forgot to mention, for me icey cold liquids will slam that stoma shut, sure as shootin'. Warm, and I can eat well, after. Hot, I can eat GREAT after.

Well, I am a grannie, too and I live in Jacksonville. I'd be happy to talk to you on the phone, or meet. But I may not be the best help. I had NO problems, pain, gas, etc. after my surgery. I DO know that being able to talk to someone in person can be invaluable. E-mail me and I'll give you my number. I don't work, so I'm available to talk just about any time.

WOW, they gave us popsicles in the hosp right after surgery. To keep us hydrated.

Hi, birdlady. Glad to meet you. Have you been to any of the Jacksonville WLS support meetings? If you are intereseted I'll let you know next time I one is scheduled. I am in Jacksonville, had surgery Oct 1, 07, in Mexico (Dr. Ortiz). My DH is currently going through the process to have Dr. Pender do his band surgery.

I STILL love pizza and I eat it. I just skip the crust! It swells up like a plug every time. But I can eat the heck out of the top of a piece. When I make pizza at home for the grandkids, I spread just the sauce and toppings in an oven proof dish and bake it the last 15 min the pizza is baking. We can all sit down and eat together, and I don't feel deprived. Depraved maybe!

HUH! I guess I was an exception to the rule. I was back in the hotel within 5 hours of surgery and on an airplane within 24 hours of surgery. Took 2 planes (6 hours in the air, plus a layover of 1 hour), then a 2 hour drive home (I didn't drive, but could have). The only pain med I ever had was the lortab just before I left the clinic, and they insisted I have that even though I didn't think I needed it. I COULD have stayed at the clinic another 24 hours and the hotel for another 24 hours after that, but what was the point? I felt great! I had no gas, no pain. I DID take an afternoon nap the first 3 days I was home, which was so not like me. I guess what I'm saying is - it depends entirely on YOU. I had a friend who had the same experience as me 3 years earlier, so I EXPECTED to feel great after surgery. Could that have been part of it? BTW I was 59 when I had the surgery, my friend was 36, so age doesn't necessarily affect this. Was it the experienced surgeon we had? I also had a hiatal hernia repaired.

If I'm gonna be on it for 30 min I wear my shoes. My good work out tennies. Otherwise my feet hurt. I don't it slippery at all. Our grandsons use it barefoot. But they are younger and lighter than me and have better feet!

I was banded in Mexico in Oct 07. I was unable to find ANY doc near Jacksonville who would fill a patient they hadn't banded. I also go to Denver, NC for my fills. I always spend the night in case I am too full. I don't want to have to drive back the next day. Never happened, but better safe than sorry. I knew this before I was banded, so I was prepared. But I do wish I could find a fill doc closer. I have had 3 fills and still have pretty good restriction, but I think I could use a tweak. Not gonna spend the money for the trip OR the fill for just a tweak, however. My DH is going through the process to have Medicare pay for his band at Pitt Memorial. Two hours from home for his fills, but better than 5 or 6.

Hi all. I've been coming to this board for awhile but just discovered the NC one. I was banded Oct 1, 2007, I've lost 77 pounds. I'm now 60.My DH and I have lived in Jacksonville, NC for 3 years. Moved here after 23 years in Oregon. We have 3 children, ages 42, 39, and 39. We have 6 grandchildren (each of our children have 2), ages 19, 17, 15, 14, 13, and 11. They live in OR, AK and NC. My DH is going through all the insurance hoops to get lap band surgery. I had mine in MX, so no hoops for me. Glad he did though, because they have just discovered nodules on his left kidney, and we will be finding out what thet is about on the 14th. I have to get my fills at Fill Centers USA in Denver, NC. I love the fill doc, but wish I could find one closer. That's about it for me. My grandson spent the night and he just got up and is ready for breakfast, so I better get a move on. Sundays is BLT morning at Gramma's. Even though the DH and I can't eat them any more!

Huh, I had a wonderful experience and so did 2 of my personal friends. I had MORE personal time/contact with him than my husband has had or will have with the local surgeon who will do his surgery. What PERSONAL experience do YOU have with Dr. Ortiz and/or his clinic?

How many calories? I can get 40 G with 20 oz Isopure for 160 calories.

I don't eat spicey, but it was hard to stop drinking with meals. I ALWAYS have a giant cup of water with me. I finally just had to leave the water in the other room when I ate. I still have trouble remembering when I go out to eat. The cup is right in front of me, so I pick it up unconciously. My doc said I could drink right up until I ate, and I do. In the AM and PM it is hot water cause I'm tighter at those times. Still no drinking 30 to 45 min after eating. Drinking with our food is just another habit we have to learn to break. I have discovered though, the first time I had a "hard stop" and felt stuck, I was sure some warm water would help. WRONG!!! It's like if you have a clogged drain, pouring water down it is only gonna make it back up more!

Well, I didn't make it either. I think if I hadn't spent 2 1/2 weeks in TX when my Dad passed away, I would have! Way too much stress and not enough moving! 216.......190.......196........6

Quick question. :huh2:Can you use the Wii fit on carpet, or does it have to be on a bare floor? We have the Wii and I am thinking about the Wii fit, but all the TVs in my house are in roomes with carpet. Thanks.:biggrin:

I know there are places in/near Portland that do fills, other than FCUSA. Not sure of the cost. Try Obesity Help Forum, they have a good list of fill docs. I know there is one in Eugene, too.

I believe at the Obesity Help Forum they have an Obesity Law section that will help with insurance denials. I've never had to try it, and it sounds like it may cost (it is a lawyer, after all), but I would think it would be worth the money. My insurance wouldn't cover my band because I had no comorbidities, so I had to self-pay in Mexico. My husband is just beginning his lap band journey, and if his ins denies him, we will be checking into the Obesity Law thing. Good luck. Whatever you have to do to get the band - it is WORTH IT!!