Keri7227

I have the realize band from Johnson & Johnson and had my first fill yesterday. I don't notice any difference as of yet and was just wanting input from anyone with the same type band. how soon did you feel restriction? did it take several fills..etc... Thanks

Hey everybody! I am a patient of Dr Schmitts. I have been reading all of your posts, but have never actually posted a comment. I am having some trouble with the billing office at St Vincents East and was wondering if anyone else had gone thru the same thing. I had my surgery back in April and my insurance paid all but my $250 ded which i got billed for thru the hospital. (I think the total that insurance paid was around $6000.) Then my husband had surgery in July and we got a bill from hospital for almost $1,000! I started looking at the break down from our insurance company and the total bill was $30,000! Which is outrageous for this surgery ( he had no complications and went home the same day of surgery) Anyway, so now I am fighting with them and can not get any straight answers as to why his surgery was so expensive. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm very frustrated and don't have another $1000 to spend for this surgery. :biggrin:

I can't yell at you for not following your doc's orders completely because i did not either. (even though i'm sure thats best) What I can say is that if you are going to be eating non pureed foods, at least eat healthy things i.e. not sweet and sour chicken and fried rice! Also, be sure you're not drinking any liquid calories. As for the pain, I wouldn't ignore it if it continues, I had a serious complication right after surgery, best not to wait. Good luck!

I chew sugar free gum all the time. It helps me to not eat in between meals. My doc never said not to, just warned me not to be careful not to swallow it. It was just too hard to give up chewing gum considering everything else I have given up!

I have the same problem IRC. I have had 3 fills and I think I will go back once more for a .5cc fill, I hope this will do the trick. Its not that I feel no restriction, its just so hit or miss.

Mnilene, Did you have to have another surgery because of the band slip, or did the unfill hopefully fix the problem?

Kidder, I think that is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard! I would be finding a new doctor. Isn't the reason we go the band in the first place because we didn't have any success losing weight on our own? I would be seriously upset.

At 9 days I gave in and started eating just a little bit of mushy food. ( I was supposed to wait until day 14) I did fine with it.

I know how you feel. My 1st fill was also on June 4th and I can't go back till July 9th. I don't feel much restriction right now at all. I do eat less but I still need way more restriction than I have. Although, I have had 2 instances where I didn't chew my food well and everything got stuck (very painful). I'm just trying not to get discouraged. I'm also going to call mr Dr and see if I can at least come in on July 2nd

I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to work Tues. I have an office job, so I am just sitting all day.

Hey Jessica, I had a similar thing happen...2 days after surgery I went in with chest pains and they discovered a blood clot in my right lung which they said was due to inactivity directly after surgery. However, I had not been inactive at all. ( I have an 18 month old to chase around!) I think these kinds of things are just common after surgery. I could find no other reason to explain it.

Hey Judie, my surgery was with Dr Schmitt also! (4/11/08) I'm feeling great..down about 26lbs and going in for my first fill on the 4th. Its great that you're already exercising. I think that is the key...I am working out at least 3 days a wk, sometimes 4 and i feel so much better!

Name: Keri Date you were banded: 4/11/2008 Weight Loss to date: 25lbs How are you feeling: Feeling good....the first week was rough....I had a blood clot in my lung! (very scary). I spent some time in the hospital but everything is clearing up and I have a lot more energy.

Hey everybody....my name is Keri. I'm 26 and live in Decatur, AL. I'm married and have an 18 month old little girl. I've only been banded about a month, but its going well so far. I had an initial complication. (Had a blood clot in my right lung) which was very scary, but I am recovering really well and am already exercising 3x a week, which I feel is really helping.

I'm staying on plan today because by next month I want to be wearing all those clothes in my closet that are just a teeny bit too tight now!

My doc had given me an estimate of $3500, so $9000 does seem really high.