Roblynn54

Your right about the rules. If you won't follow them, don't get the band. You should stop eating as soon as you have a PB. Not go back and try to eat again. Also, your next few meals should be liquids to let the swelling and irritation from throwing up go down. Sometimes people tighten up due to stress, altitude changes, period, what ever. When that happens, go back to liquids for awhile, it can't hurt. I know I tightened up 6 months after a fill so bad I had to get fill taken out. I know lots of people who as they get closer to their goal weight, need less fill for some reason. They don't call it the Fickel Bitch for nothing!

My son's band was tight right off from surgery. He refused to follow the rules. He ate, threw up, ate, threw up, etc. The last 6 months, he threw up every day, multiple times. It got so he could not eat at all until late in the day, not even fluids. We think his band slipped in May, but when we got to the surgeon, it was back down and he could eat again. Nov, Dec, Jan, he was back to throwing up all day. We went back to Mexico for vacation in January of this year. 4 days in the heat and throwing up, he got really dehydrated. It turned into an emergency surgery to remove the band. The doctor could have repositioned it and may be loosened it up, but my son just wanted it out. Unfortunately, he has gained back 25 pounds. He is 6ft 4inches and at 220, he was pretty gaunt. He got laid off of work in construction, so he is getting zero exercise. I hope his fiance will get him moving again soon. He still has some restriction, even without the band. Bread is hard to eat, so that is something. I think down the road he will get another band, but the last year was pretty traumatic. I think he needs one of those AP large bands that hold 14ccs. Unfortunately, Mexico doesn't have them.

Vicki, I think you need another fill. 6cc's isn't a lot in a 10cc band. You should be eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. 45-60 grams of Protein per day (20 grams per meal) and 1/2 cup of veggies. No drinking once you start eating. You just wash the food down. Breakfast: scrambled eggs with a Tbs of cottage cheese (makes them fluffy) or a yogurt or string cheese, or Protein shake if you are too tight. Lunch: tuna with lite mayo, onions, pickels on whole wheat cracker. or I like the BBQ Pork from costco (its moister) or a cup of chili. Dinner: 3-4 oz chicken breast with veggies. Salads sometimes get me stuck. Depends on the time of day and the lettuce. Put the food on your plate, set the timer for 20 min. Eat slowly, chew, when the timer goes off, you are done eating. Hope this helps Robin

I don't understand why they would have to remove the fill already in there. When you do that, you irritate the stomach. It is very sensitive. When you have your fill in, you are somewhat tight, then they remove it all and then refill you too tight then take out until you can swallow, it doesn't sound good to me. I have a friend that the doctor did that way, her esophagus went into spasm, she totally shut off, ended up in ICU for 3 days and nearly lost her band. She sued the doctor and he paid all of her medical expenses since she had no insurance. I think I will take my fills a bit at a time thank you. Robin

You are not a loser! Except for 23 pounds. I have been banded for 5 years. I would love to be your buddy. You can email me privately if you wish at roblynn54@yahoo.com I also have fibromyalgia as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis. I admit I don't exercise much, but the doctors all say it will actually help you if you do. Describe how you feel now with your current fill: too tight, just right, too loose? Can you eat a bandster portion and be satisfied with it for 4 hours? Can you eat solid Protein without throwing up? Are you limited to liquids and soft things? (signs of being too tight) What do you eat for Breakfast, lunch and dinner? How much Water are you getting in? Many people are upset with slow weight loss. Lets find out what the reason is. Robin

I think your husband needs a slight unfill. If he can't swallow fluids, he can dehydrate in 24 hours. Have him get an unfill, let it rest for a week or two and then get small fills after that. My son never had a fill in his 10cc band. He did not follow the rules, small bites, chew, chew, chew, no drinking with meals. Yes he lost 190 pounds, but he also ended up losing his band. Follow the rules, take it easy on the fills and you should do fine.

Fill Managment NW in Washington State is moving to a new location with fluroscopy. Check out their website at www.northwestfills.com for prices. The new location is 9528 State Ave Suite A Marysville, WA 98270 425-512-4220 fillmgtnw@yahoo.com

Fill Management NW 540 N West Ave Arlington, WA 98223 www.northwestfills.com

Fill Management NW is coming to Moses Lake May 30, Spokane May 31. email them for appointments at fillmgtnw@yahoo.com or check out the website for other sites at Northwest Fill Management providing affordable lap-band fills for weight loss surgery patients.

I think it is March 15th. That is a Friday. They will spend the night in case you are too tight. I think the plan is once a month or every other month if the need is big enough.

Fill Management NW is starting to travel for fills. They will be in Spokane in March. Email them at fillmgtnw@yahoo.com for information. Their website is www.northwestfills.com Future fill sites will be added to the site as they become available.

Fill Management NW is starting to travel. They currently go to Port Orchard every other month. They are starting to go to McCleary (near Olympia) soon and are scheduled to go to Spokane in March. Go to www.northwestfills.com to email them. Email them if you want them to come to your area. Enough interest and they may come to you too!

Fill Management NW is going to Spokane in March to do fills. Go to www.northwestfills.com to email them. They also go to Port Orchard and will be starting fills in McCleary Washington. If you want them to come to your area, email them. If they get enough patients they will come to your area.

There is a clinic in Arlington, Wa who does fills for Mexican banded patients. go to www.northwestfills.com

Arlington Support Group meeting place has changed. Instead of Little Italy, we will be temporarily in Pizza Factory the third Thursday (tomorrow) from 6-7:30. Hopefully by Oct we will have our own conference room in the Pharmacy. Hope to see you pre and post people there.

The dates the same, 3rd Thursday of every month. This month Sept 21. New location: pizza Factory (they have Soups and salads) on West Ave. just down the block from 7-11. We will be using that location until our own conference room is completed, hopefully in October. The room will be more private but no food will be available. August meeting speaker was Dr. Ryan Schultz, a local chiropractor. He stated that when we lose weight, our balance is affected. He gave us some simple exercises to do. One is to stand on one foot for 30 seconds, then the other, progressing to eyes closed and holding for 1 minute. He also suggests sitting on an exercise ball to get your center back. Very interesting. Everyone is welcome, banded or unbanded, local surgeon or Mexico surgeon.

Hi, My name is Robin and I am from Marysville, WA. I was banded by NWWLS in 04, my son by Dr. Joya last August. I work in a fill clinic in Arlington. We have a support group in Arlington the 3rd Thursday of every month.

I have the same problem. My surgeon diagnosed me with esophageal spasms. He put me on nifedapine. It helped some, but I am going to see a specialist soon.

My son does have restriction. He can't eat bread or rice and yaks (family word for throws up) when he eats too fast or too much. He was banded Aug 18, 2005. His goal is to lose 100 pounds before getting a fill. He has the large VG band. He was 413 pounds at surgery (he is 6ft 5in). He has gone from waist of 50 to 40. He is doing great.

my son has lost 92 pounds since last August with no fill. Rotten kid.

We are open to all Mexican Banded patients. We are in Arlington, Washington, about 45 miles north of Seattle just off I-5. Our prices are: First fill $150 Future fills $125 We have a 10 day free follow up. Fill Management NW 540 West Ave Arlington, Wa 98223 360-435-5365 fillmgtnw@yahoo.com for appointments or questions Robin Martin, Banded 2/26/04

My name is Robin Martin. I was banded 2 years ago by NWWLS. I took my son to PV to be banded last August, he is down 88 pounds with no fill! :clap2: I have lost 70 pounds and have been on a plateau for months. It was just discovered I have esophageal spasms and I am taking Nifedapine to help it. I work with Kitty Carmichael, ARNP. For many years we have had a diabetic practice here in Arlington, WA. When we decided to open our own clinic, we started doing fills for our banded patients. We have gone to PV and to TJ to be trained by the different doctors. (although Kitty has accessed many ports during her nursing career) I am always looking for additional support and answers to my own frustrations. I heard about this board from someone else and thought I would give it a try. It looks like you have a lot of fun on this board! I'm a McDreamy fan myself and can hardly stand waiting till fall for it to begin again. Robin Martin 2/26/04 266/190/150