DonnaB

Oh my. I don't recommend the plastic bag over the head cure. What if you passed out? You'd suffocate. At least your son was there. He's not mad at you or anything is he? lol Any recent change in life insurance coverage? No - plastic bag technique is not on my hiccup solution list.

No - hiccups are not the same as a PB. Looks like your surgery was in December, is that right? If so I'm sure you're COMPLETELY healed up, lol, so it probably isn't a problem. I had a fairly mild episode of hiccups about a week ago and didn't feel any pressure or tenderness, no problem eating solids. Hmmmmm. This is a good question. I may have to ask my doctor when I check in with him this week. Maybe your doctor could recommend a solution to hiccups. If so I'd sure be interested in hearing it! Let us know how you're doing.

Hi Carlene, Thanks for the info - is there an RSVP list? I don't know if I'll make it but I'd like to try.

Figure out how much you want and tell them. Be prepared to justify the amount. Don't forget to include the amount of time (time is money) it has taken you dealing with the insurance. The amount you spend on faxes and emails - you're paying fees to support that technology. Just figure it out and ask for it. That's all you can do.

Oh Soundman - I'm so sorry you've had such an ordeal! Who is your surgeon? Where did you have surgery? Are your wounds healing up now? You lost 34 pounds in how much time?! I'm glad you're on the mend. Keep in touch so we'll know how you're doing.

Thanks for the bump Mikey. Mike and I will be attending - consider this our RSVP. The question is, who else plans to attend? I'm pretty sure Divanita will be there - did everyone see she's approved for surgery and scheduled for the 22nd of this month? Cool huh. See you all Saturday.

Sugar Free Fat Free chocolate pudding has saved my life. Just a little melodrama to let you know you're not alone. I really haven't noticed an increased desire for sweets since my fill, but I admit that I have something sweet at least once a week. If I didn't, I'd jump off a cliff. More melodrama.

Hey jjolive, welcome to LBT. ALL surgeries have a risk for complications - even simple dental procedures have resulted in death. It's highly unlikely, but it DOES happen. Most U.S. lapband doctor's have a complication rate of about 1-3%. The upside of lap band surgery is that the VAST majority of complications are not life-threatening. The chance of you dying from lap band surgery is miniscule. Do a lot of research. Find the best doctor, at the best location. Do everything in your power to be in the best condition to withstand surgery. That's really all you can do.

I've been gurgling since my fill. Do you have a fill? Maybe you just have great restriction.

You think there are complications with the band? You need to do more research into the bypass. Yes, there are complications with the band, but, in general, they are fewer and less dangerous than with the bypass. Good luck in your research.

Non Scale Victory

Call your doctor. Sorry I'm not more help, but if it looks like it needs to be treated, your best bet is to call the doctor.

Sounds like acid reflux to me too. Rather than propping yourself up with pillows, try putting a 2 X 4 - or even two of them - under the legs at the head of your bed. Pillows cause you to bend at the waist area and can increase reflux. If you're a side sleeper, your left side is better than your right. The stomach is a little to the left so when you lie on your left side the stomach is lower and gravity works in your favor. I learned that one online - AOL Health - so take the information for what it's worth. lol I agree with Carlene - you need to talk to your doctor about this - don't wait. I don't think it's an emergency or anything but sooner is much better than later.

One day at a time. One meal at a time. One minute at a time if necessary. Sorry I can be more help. Try to keep busy, it's the only thing that will really help.

I would change the wording of The Pledge of Allegiance. My version would read: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisable, seeking liberty and justice for all. My version takes out "under God" not because I think God should not be a part of people's lives, but because not everyone believes in God and shouldn't have to make a pledge for their country which includes something they don't believe in. If you're forced to say under God and don't believe it, what else is it OK to say but not mean? I also change the words "with liberty and justice for all" to "SEEKING liberty and justice for all" for fairly obvious reasons - liberty and justice are NOT a given in this country. There's an excellent webpage showing the original pledge and all of the changes made to it - under God being added in a hyper-conservative era (1954). It surprises me that 52 years later, in an era of extreme liberalism, no one has pressed for a change in wording. I'm always filled with a sense of hypocracy when faced with a group of people reciting a pledge which is so obviously flawed. http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_pledge.html Oh my. I just reread my post and realized how crazy I sound. I'm not. Well, not more than everyone else anyway! May I add here how grateful I am that none of us can change laws at will?

Thanks for the pictures - it IS a little gross and a even a little MORE scary, but I think its good to be able to see what can happen, so if it does, it won't be so frightening. Thank you ladies. I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. I think it would be helpful for future reference if you both post in this thread how your complications first presented themselves. Later on this thread might be very very helpful to anyone who has or may have a similar situation. Thanks. Good thoughts - luck is not a factor - for your healing Trish and for your continued journey Robyn.

Anita, Please let me know if you need anything, or just want to talk, or have someone come hold your hand till they wheel you into the OR, or be hovering over you when you regain conciousness, or you need someone to go get you a cool cup of Water, or . . . well, you get the idea. I'm not working so if you want me - I'm there! Hey Michelle, I think the LBT DFW group is meeting again this Saturday - June 17th - at the Red Hot & Blue in Irving. I'll PM Janet - who somehow got elected Team Leader - and double check, then I'll post again here. Randy, You and me are gonna have some words about Jayaseelan when next we meet - :angry - OK, so it doesn't have anything to do with you and Ms. Joy but y'all know him so I'm gonna vent to you!!!! LOL So unfair, but so gonna happen! Let me just say this - ARLENE IS THE QUEEN OF THE WORLD IMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good for you Malice X Girl. The hardest part is making yourself take that first step. The second hardest part is making yourself take the NEXT step. And then the one after that! Do it enough times, though, and it becomes easy. At least, that's what they tell me. I'll wish you good luck if you'll wish me some! Seriously, take this chance to make a change for the better.

All I can say is BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE SCRAMBLED EGGS! I know they're on the soft food list for a lot of new bandsters but I also know that if you cook them too hot, too fast, the Protein binds together in solid little, dry, blocks. If you get a piece stuck it could really do some damage in the healing phase. I got a bit of scrambled egg stuck at 12 weeks and the PB lasted for 6 hours and 10 or more heaves. If my band was still being held in place by sutures, I would have ripped them. As it is, I caused some irritation which took a long time to start feeling better. Be careful out there.

Yay for you NewSho! How tall are you?

Campbell's Bean with Bacon, pureed, is quite filling. Sounds gross but it's actually pretty tasty. I also like cottage cheese but you'd have to get an OK from your doctor for that. Good luck, welcome to band land.

Hi all. I've just come from my State-side fill doctor who has suggested that doctors performing band surgery who use the Pars Flaccida - also known as the proximal stitch - technique are doing the surgery incorrectly, and that a Pars Flaccida, or proximal stitch, should not be used. For those who don't already know, the proximal stitch is the stitch - or stitches - taken on the backside of the stomach, which anchors the band to the diaphram muscle. Think of the proximal stitch as the center back belt loop on your jeans - with the band being the belt of course. The purpose of the proximal stitch is to make a slip virtually impossible. I say virtually because, as we all know, ANYTHING is possible! I called my Mexican surgeon today (Saturday - LOVE HIM!) and he tells me that the proximal stitch is the technique being taught in Italy which most Mexican surgeons use. He also tells me that the proximal stitch is an FDA approved surgery technique. I KNOW my Mexican surgeon proctored many many U.S. surgeons in lap band surgery, so now I'm curious . . . Do you have a proximal stitch? Has it caused any problems? Back pain with your first fill? Back pain with a PB? If so, how long did the pain last? Did it recur with subsequent fills? Anyone with the proximal stitch who did in fact have a slip? A separate - but related - question: Why are U.S. surgeons so FULL of themselves? Why do they feel the need to denegrate other surgeons with comments like (and I quote) "because all of my competition sucks" ? Any respect I might have felt for this doctor crumbled when he suggested that my doctor did me a disservice with the proximal stitch technique, and then by claiming that all his local competitors are incompetent. It seems to me that the majority of U.S. doctors have a very high opinion of themselves. This type of arrogance is not becoming in a professional in whom I am expected to place my trust. How do you trust anything that person says after a remark like that?

Thanks NewSho - I'll try re-posting with that terminology.

The problem with making your own, or using a generic 'dog tag' with your engraved information, is that it doesn't have the medic alert emblem on it. If an EMT or doctor doesn't see that emblem, chances are good that they're not going to look any further to see what your 'jewelry' says. IMHO, anything other than the actual medic alert bracelet or necklace is a waste of money. Having said that, I sure wish I could find one that looked like a nice piece of jewelry instead of my personalized invitation to the old folks' home!

Carol, All you can really do is walk, walk, walk, walk, walk. If you can pass gas do it. If you can burp, do it. No matter who's within ear shot! The best thing I found for any gas pain relief was to stand next to the bed, bend from the waist and rest your forearms on the bed with your forehead resting between them. You can bend your knees a little if you need to to make it more comfortable, but try to keep your fanny as high in the air as you can. It looks crazy but it helped my gas pains and those of my band sisters who had surgery on the same day I did - we were all at the same hotel a few rooms apart. At one point I stacked every pillow in the hotel room, including the extras I had already ask for, into a pile and leaned over them to rest my forearms on the bed. It helps. Give it a try. Good luck with the gas pains and welcome to band land.