Kennedy Conway

Wismer, Please check with your doctor for a solution. I'm going back to my original WA surgeon for removal. I have excellent insurance & it's simply a matter of their waiting for my AZ records. Best of luck to you.

Sweetie, please get in touch with your doctor. I there's redness or heat in the area, you DEFINITELY need to see him. I have lupus so that's why my port is being 'rejected' by my body. I'm making arrangements to go back to WA to have the lapband out & will continue to learn to overcome my weight issues on my own. Best of luck to you & hope things have improved.

I pray you have the easiest surgery & fastest healing possible. I wish you the very best. I know you're 1 day post op but hang in there.

Puget Sound Surgical Center has an office in Edmonds, WA & I think Bellingham as well. Both Drs. Landerholm & Billings are excellent. They took BCBS & medicate for me in 2007. The fees for the dietitician & psychologist were NOT covered by EITHER insurance or medicare. I wish you the best in finding a surgeon.

Thank you for the information about high altitude & a pressurized airplane. Those are necessary tidbits of information to know. I wish you the best.

I had investigated gastric bypass in 1999 & again in 2002 but it wasn't a risk I was willing to take at that time. The complications with bypass for someone with Lupus were astoundingly bad. I was actually doing better on my own with portion control & exercise had successfully lost from 406 in January 2007 to 346 in August 2007. I was continuing to lose weight but was HUNGRY all the time. I had a friend go to a lap band seminar in June of 2007 & told me all the WONDERFUL things they learned. I went to a seminar in July 2007. I felt that having the lapband surgery would give me another TOOL in my arsenal for my battle with weight. I scheduled my appointment the night of the seminar but with insurance approval I didn't have the surgery until August. My rheumatologist warned me about lupus complications even with the band but approved me for surgery at my insistence. My mistake! I flew through the surgery without a glitch & only MINIMAL pain. I did however have a big adjustment with lap band eating. It was awful for me not being able to drink with a meal or immediately after meals. Dietary restrictions of band eating turned out to not be compatible with my personal needs. I prefer having salad first & be able to mix Protein & vegetables. My blood sugar is more even with I have six very SMALL meals rather than three moderately small meals. I continued exercising by walking 10,000 steps a day without fail & riding the exercycle for 25 to 30 minutes daily. I lost gradually to 271 in August 2008. After a few months, my port began to protrude & be extremely painful. I continued to lose & reached 261 before I couldn't stand to touch my own port area. Sadly I put weight back on because I couldn't have even an elastic waistband touch my skin. I've had it for 1 1/2 years & am tired of having constant EXCRUCIATING pain in the port. Because of the pain I am restricted in the exercises I can do & quite frankly miss them...especially the abs workouts. I was warned about risk but stubbornly had it installed. I continued to see the surgeon & he was wonderful. I had a CT scan to determine if my body was rejecting the port & while there was some slight inflammation, he didn't believe it was infected. He thought the port might need to be relocated. I gained back up to 300 pounds just to be able to 'pad' the port & be able to tolerate the slightest touch anywhere near it. He gave me a cortisone injection in the area surrounding the port. It helped for a few days until the numbing agent wore off. I'd planned to get another in October 2008, by then my weight was up to 320 & I was embarrassed to go in since the first shot didn't really help. I moved away from the area in November 2008. By January 2009 I gained to 333. Needless to say I was very disappointed in myself. Now I'm unhappy after having pain as a CONSTANT companion for 1 1/2 years. I'm looking for a surgeon in AZ or NV to remove the whole thing but finding it a difficult process. The one I visited in Phoenix wanted $1,600 for 'out of network' expenses & I paid a non-refundable $500 cash to have him scare me out of my mind with a potential 'disaster' scare story. I had an egd & there were no leaks or erosion (mild gastritis) but he wanted the full balance before he'd operate. I wrote a personal check the day prior to surgery but that wouldn't work for their 'office policy'. I cancelled the surgery because it seemed the primary concern was MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!! I felt as if my well being took second place to the $$$ discussion. To have the lap band surgery initially, my insurance covered EVERYTHING except co-pay and Medicare picked up that. I was doing better on my own with diet & exercise & in retrospect, I realize that hunger was simply 'fat burning' off my body & a good thing, not something to AVOID AT ALL COSTS. By exercising my legs in the hot tub, walking & riding the bike 15 to 20 minutes a day, I'm back down to 316. I hope to find a surgeon nearby that won't be so focussed on the financing. It's not that I don't HAVE the money, it's a matter of principle with me to have my health as a doctor's priority. I'm now investigating the expense of returning to WA to the original surgeon. I have ZERO fill in my band now which helped a lot with the ongoing gas pains! Other than when I have the flu & have to vomit, I have no eating restriction at all. It's painful to throw up because even with only the band in place there's still a minor restriction. I eagerly await being able to have this reversal done & recognize NOW that hunger is a GOOD thing for me. I learned it's all about mindset anyway. I'm thrilled to read & hear all the success stories & know it makes a lot of people healthier. I wish them all the best. I'm just ready to correct my error of judgment. "...behavior trumps biology when it comes to weight loss. Lifestyle change will always be the foundation of weight loss. Eating less and moving more are always the starting lineup, which remains a challenge for all of us." Madelyn Fernstrom, MD Health Journal

Hi Vicki, Oh my goodness, that's my favorite 'addiction' that I'm wanting to end! I use the GFIC sugarfree decaf mocha for at least two - three cups a day. I know my hand gets 'heavy' measuring the powder. I have it both hot like any coffee drink & iced to blend with my unjury Protein. I'm not gaining but the losing is slow! Let me know how you do conquer this. "I too have fallen into some bad habits. I'm really trying to break them at this point...I have gotten where I drink my International Suisse Mochas (sugar-free) a little too much. I mean I'm hooked... but the red lights are a flashing!!! So, I'm starting to journal my food again and put the fork down in between bits. But the mochas are so very hard to give up. I will conquer this though. I refuse to go back up."

I'm now planning to travel to another state to have my band removed. :rolleyes2: The airline, motel rates & misc. expenses are still not as expensive as the exorbitant (out of network) rates wanted in Phoenix or Scottsdale. The original surgeon there is covered 100% by both my insurances so I have no out of pocket expenses but the ones mentioned. I hope each of you have continuing success.:crying:

Thanks so much for your good wishes. I'm investigating traveling to another state to have my band removed. The airline, motel rates & misc. expenses are still not as expensive as the exorbitant rates wanted in Phoenix. The dr. there is covered 100% by both my insurances so I have no out of pocket expenses but the ones mentioned. I hope you have continuing success.

Hi Circa/Lolagirlie, Thanks so much for your good wishes. I'm investigating traveling to another state to have my band removed & I'm STILL not telling anyone. The airline, motel rates & misc. expenses are still not as expensive as the exorbitant rates wanted in Phoenix. The dr. there is covered 100% by both my insurances so I have no out of pocket expenses but the ones mentioned. I hope you all have continuing success.

Wow! What a workout! Congratulations on your ongoing effort. What is an ab crawl? I'm not sure I have heard of it. Thanks.

I'm happy for you that you're not having port problems. Mine is on the left side about 2 inches from my belly button & about an inch below my last rib. To all of those with problems I wish you the very best. For all of you without them, I hope you will continue with your success & be in good health & spirits.

I simply didn't want to hear ANY negatives or have 'poisonous' little seeds planted. As it turns out I am looking to have the port removed but I have extenuating circumstances. It sounds like you have a good attitude about it & are willing to do what it takes to reach success. Best of luck to you.

Thank you Marie for your comment. I pray & hope I will find resolution soon. I'm looking for a CARING surgeon who doesn't think only of DOLLARS but also about my well being to remove my port & lap band. I've had it for 1 1/2 years & am tired of having constant EXCRUCIATING pain in the port. I found after my total unfill that I still have some restriction, especially in the am but FINALLY the gas pains have stopped. I'd rather be able to sing praises about my experience. I only heard the upbeat side before my surgery & wish I'd heard about someone else who had a similar situation. I wish you the best of success & hope you're in good health & spirits.