ddorman67

I also have a PPO.... Anthem Blue Cross. I have not paid one dime out of pocket.

I am in Norwalk.

I like yours!!

Boring here... d for Darlene + dorman for my last name + 67 for the year I was born

Chocolate Protein shake mix, skim milk, crushed ice and a spoon full of peanut butter mixed in a magic bullet type mixer in the morning... Yummy!!

The day after was the worst for me. It will get better... I promise!! Take Care!!

How are you feeling today?

I had my first successful fill with Dr. T. My second fill might have been with Dr. Samouha (I know his last name started with an S). I guess my port is tilted. Dr. Powell in Long Beach tried to give me a fill and after 20 minutes of sticking me with a needle (an not numbing me) he told me my port was flipped completely over and that I needed another surgery to fix it. I later went to Dr. T in Bevery Hills (about 2 weeks later) and he got it on the first try and told me there was nothing wrong with my port. I went back 2 weeks after that and was seen by yet another doctor (Maybe Dr. Samouha) who had some trouble with my port and told me my port was tilted. After about 10 minutes of trying, he finally got it (thank God he numbed me). I am going to try and stick with Dr. T., but he is not at the Bevery Hills office that much. My next fill appt is on Saturday 9/12/09 with Dr. T. If for some reason he is not available I will see the other doctor since he is now familiar with the position of my port.

How do you like Dr. Powell? I went to him for my first fill and after almost 20 minutes of him poking and prodding me, he told me my port was flipped and I would have to have another surgery to fix it. I was devistated!! After almost 2 weeks of waiting for the insurance to approve the "port revision" surgery I got a call from one of the girls in the Beverly Hills office who told me that Dr. Tashjian was confident that he would be able to do my fill. I made the appt with Dr. T thinking "What do I have to lose". Dr. T found my port on the first try!! No numbing needed even!!

Richard... since Dr. Jackson is no longer with Weight Loss Centers, which doctor are you seeing now for your fills?

Good Luck!! We are really close to one another... I live in Norwalk, CA.

Thanks Trisha... I did see the needle and it wasn't that bad. Don't get me wrong... it is bigger than most shots but not bad. I did notice that there were two needles on the table, but he did not use the numbing one.

They numbed you when filling your port?? I wish the first doctor (the one who couldn't find the port) would have numbed me!! I didn't need any numbing with my new doctor.

Dr. Tashjian is my new doctor and I love him!! Dr. Jackson at Top Surgeons did my surgery back on 6/18/09 (Dr. Jackson left Top Surgeons right after I had my surgery). I went for my first fill on 7/15/09 and was told by another Doctor (Dr. Powell) that my port was flipped and that I needed another surgery to fix the problem. He tried for about 20 minutes, stuck me 3-4 times with the needle and with each poke moved the needle around inside of me for several minutes. I was soo sore after that. Anyways, after almost 2 weeks of waiting for my insurance company to approve another surgery...one of the girls in the office told me that Dr. Tashjian was pretty confident that he would be able to find my port. I just went to see him on Saturday (8/1/09) and he got it on the first try!!! No poking and no prodding around. 1 stick and that was it!! Thank you Dr. T!!!

My port is NOT flipped after all!! :biggrin: I had been waiting for the insurance company to approve a "port revision" surgery after being told by one of my doctors that my port was flipped. After almost 2 weeks one of the girls in the office told me that the other surgeon in the office would like to see me and told me that he was confident that he would be able to get to my port. I decided to go ahead and let him try... HE GOT IT ON THE FIRST TRY!!! :biggrin: I don't know why the other surgeon had so much trouble. Anyways, I now have 3cc's in my band and I do feel a little more restriction. I go back in 2 weeks for another fill. I am so happy that I don't have to have another surgery!!! Thank you to my new doctor!!!

My port is NOT flipped after all!! :biggrin: I had been waiting for the insurance company to approve a "port revision" surgery after being told by one of my doctors that my port was flipped. After almost 2 weeks one of the girls in the office told me that the other surgeon in the office would like to see me and told me that he was confident that he would be able to get to my port. I decided to go ahead and let him try... HE GOT IT ON THE FIRST TRY!!! :biggrin: I don't know why the other surgeon had so much trouble. Anyways, I now have 3cc's in my band and I do feel a little more restriction. I go back in 2 weeks for another fill. I am so happy that I don't have to have another surgery!!! Thank you to my new doctor!!!

I had my surgery on 6/18/09 too!! I am currently on hold right now though. I went in for my first fill on 7/15/09 and found out that my port was flipped. So now I am waiting for the insurance company to approve a "port revision" surgery. My doctor told me that when they do the new surgery they can also fill the port at the same time. I was really looking forward to getting my first fill, because I am feeling very little restriction. Good Luck to everyone!!

My doctor tried everything he could to get the needle in the port, but it is flipped completely. Needless to say, he was not able to do the fill. So now I am at a stand still until they hear back from my insurance company (which should be this week, hopefully). At least the doctor told me he could do the fill at the same time as the "port revision". Good luck to you!!

Welcome Irishlady!! I had never had any type of surgery before this and I felt that it was really quite a breeze. Unfortunately, I just found out that I am going to need another small surgery to fix my port, but this is not that common I am told. Good Luck to you!!

Thanks for the info Jeanne. I have a cousin that lives in Grapevine!

I had my surgery on 6/18/09 and I was supposed to have my first fill on 7/15/09. After trying for some time... the doctor told me that my port was flipped. I am now waiting for the insurance company to approve the "port revision" surgery (which should only take a few days I'm told). I should be able to schedule the new surgery any day now. I was really excited about getting my band surgery, but I am just plain scared about this one. I had never had any surgeries prior to band surgery and now I have to have another one. How did your surgery go? How long was your recovery? Any insight you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks,

Thanks Murphy... I have the "Lap-Band" not the Realize Band, and I had no pain at all in that area since my surgery. I don't know how if flipped... the doctor just told me that in very rare cases it just sometimes happens (of course it would happen to me though). At least the doctor told me that when they do the new surgery they will also take care of the fill at the same time.

Thanks Corliss... I'm not sure exactly what will be involved with the new surgery. The doctor told me it would be very quick and that they would do the fill at the same time. All I now is that they are going to reopen my incision near the port and reconnect the port to a better place. I have to call this morning to see about a date for the new surgery (hopefully next week).

Thanks Cathy!! This does put my mind somewhat at ease.