Mink

I Cant do it. When I have it hurt and made what I ate come up and then the pain goes away. As one poster said try it you will learn real quick. Now I dont think about it I do order a glass of Water just to make the server happy but I dont touch it.

Good Luck

Good Luck, I beleive you have made a great choice in Dr Ponce. He did mine 6/13/08 have done great up until the last 2 months and seem to have stalled. You will find the office staff to be super nice. Once again good Luck and If you have any question just ask.

Has GBI in chatt. changed the fill dates. I need a fill in the next week or so but need to work it around my work schedule. I have put on 5 lbs and find I am getting hungry in a couple of hours this will be fill #5 in 16 months. I am worried I will run out of fills before I reach my goal.

I think 1 bite every 5 min is a little extreme you will have to eat slow and learn what to stay away from. I cant handle alot of bread if I order a sandwich I will remove one side of the bun.(everybody is differant) A burger might take 15-20 min. to eat and some days 10 min. My major adjustment was No drinking while eating and no sodas. I now wait over a hour to drink. Mornings will be differant than later in your day you just have to learn what your band does with certain foods and portion sizes. Good luck

The band is the best thing I have done for myself. I am 16 month banded and down 110 lbs. (still need to lose 25-30 lbs).

Had my 1 year post -op and fill yesterday. The office was packed. They were short handed, Brooke worked the front counter and did fills and they was working their butts off. (had a longer wait time) My past fills everybody would talk and compare stories I liked the waiting time because I would learn alot. (Like a support group with differant people every time) Yesterday was strange nobody spoke tried to strike up a conversation but no takers. The real problem is I was dying to let everybody know I broke the 100 lb mark. If anybody that was there yesterday is reading this please loosen up in the Dr office.

I have lost over a 100 lbs but it has slowed down a lot in the last couple of mohths. Dr Ponce did my surgery and Brooke has done all my fills. (I cant say anything bad about either) I do walk 3 miles at least 4 times a week if not more. Being self pay I think helped me get the mindset that this is going to work.

Anybody at the 1 year mark. I am 10 days from it and thinking of getting one more cheap fill in before they go up. It has just been 7 weeks since my last fill but I am asuming they will want to bring me in for a 1 year check and If I drive 4 hours for that I might as well get a little fill. Anybody know what happens at the 1 year mark?

Was banded on Fri and went back on Monday but came home a couple of hours for the first 3 days back just to lay down and rest. I dont have a hard job, hardest thing is getting in and out of the vechicle.

I too like brooke, all my fills but 1 was done by her. What was your surgery date mine was june 08 and I really dont know why she said I need to see the doctor I am doing fine. But I will see whoever they want me to for a fill it has been almost 4 months and I have slowed down on my weight loss.

Is Dr Ponce in chatt. doing fils on Wed? I called to get a fill and she told me I needed to see the doctor as I am 9 months after surgery and she gave me a date and after hanging up I looked and it is on a wed, they told me I would see Dr Ponce and Brook will do the fill. Back when they did the pre-op I was told Tues and Thurs was the only day they do fills. Anybody else have fills on a Wed. All 4 of mine have been on Tues or Wed. Will call monday but thought someone on here might know.

I am from east TN also about 25 miles east of Bristol. Was banded in June with Dr Ponce. Doing great but weight loss is slowing down.

Is anybody else checking their weight 2 and 3 times a day? and does your weight go up and down 3-4 lb in a day. This drives me crazy I am Terrified i'm going to stop my weigt loss as it has slowed down too 1-2 lb a week.

Thanks for the link

How about motel room and gas. I live 300 miles away and have over $800 in expences. I wanted to do my own taxes but this might be a little more than I can handle. I do itemize and have for years. I just hate to go to local HR Block I live in a very small town.

Has anybody requested a statement on everything paid to the GBI. I was self pay and would like to claim the surgery on my taxes. I should have saved all the receipts but didnt. Who should I ask for.

Has anybody used their surgery as a tax deduction (I am self pay). I had motel room's ,fills and a 4 hour road trip on every doctor appointment and fill. What do I need to start collecting to take this off my taxes? and what can I deduct?

Also do you have to specify what type of surgery you had?

Thanks for any advice

The only one knows is my spouse. I just tell them I have changed the way I eat. Just yesterday my son asked why I didn,t get something to drink (we were in a rest.) this is 6 months of Sunday dinner with no drinking. I have lost 80lb in 6.5 months and people are just now beginning to ask questions. I just didn,t want people watching every bite I take and judging me on my decison (The Surgery) I have made to change my life. My spouse is my support I need ( and lapband forum) and 3 grandkids are my motivation.

I was 420 when I first began, at surgery I was down to 398. Dr Ponce in Chatt tn was my surgeon and I even got to do same day surgery. I was self-pay. Surgery date was June 13th and today I am at 347

Good luck

Dr Ponce in Dalton GA 14,500

I don't have anything terribly helpful to say - I think that there are quite a few types of bands from different manufacturers - Realize and Allergan/Inamed and maybe more. The bands come in different sizes - I believe your doctor will decide once s/he sees the size/shape of your stomach which size is appropriate for you.

Just curious - why are you trying to understand this? I would think you just need to find a surgeon - and the type of band is something that they figure out.

I had to make this dission at my pre-op appointment. I did not care and told them do whatever they wanted and they said I had to do this and they do not have a favorite. I felt like flipping a coin, They did say there is no differance between the Inamed and realize and they were the only 2 they use. good luck on your choice.

Ps My doctor did say Realize has a lot of web based aid for people using their band i picked Inamed I cant tell you why.

I too was self pay 1.went to the seminar 2.3 weeks later went to consult was 1 week into my 2 week liquid diet ( did my upper GI and blood work in my home town I live 200 miles from surgeon) 3. 1 week after consult had surgey at the surgery center in Dalton GA. good luck

I had my surgery with Dr Ponce and had no problems. I was self pay and went to the seminar and 3 weeks later haad my consult and 1 week later had surgery. I have not seen him since surgery day I seen his asst for 1 week post-op,but that is fine I dont need alot of attention and the office staff is great they did the only fill I have had. I might be a exception but have had no major pain and had surgery on Fri traveled 200 miles home on sat and went to work on Mon. ( I made it 6 hrs and went home just got a little tired) I have droped 50 lbs in 8 weeks so he did something right.

The surgery center he uses in Dalton is great they do so many lapbands they really take care of you. surgery was 9:30 and by 1:30 was up walking and discharged by 3:30. Like I said I dont need a lot of pampering but they are very good and just a phone call away ( they have a nurse on call 24/7) Good luck and I feel you will be in good hands. If you have any question I will try to answer.

I had my surgery with Dr Ponce and I live a little more east in tn than you do. I originlly contacted Dr Watson and did not like the way they acted when I told them I would be a self-pay.(I do have ins. but they dont cover weight loss surgery) went to Chatt. on 5/23 for seminar and pre-op 6/5 and returned for surgery 6/13. The great thing about them is Lapband is all they do. feel free to PM with any questions.

I had surgery on Fri and returnrd on Monday. I was feeling rough the first 3 days back but worked thourgh it and did just fine.

I would like too ride bikes with my grandkids and live to see them finish high school.