ddorman67

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!!

We bandsters need to make a pact never to denigrate ourselves or minimize our accomplishments. Every pill we're taken off of, every size we shrink, every extra step we can now take is a victory. Every time we walk away from a binge and get back on track is a victory. Everytime we log in and receive encouragement, share our successes and our failures, and encourage someone else, is a victory. Keep coming back.

Cheri

Check out my blog at IF YOUR STOMACH OFFENDS YOU, TIE IT OFF

AMEN to that!!

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

Hi Darlene,

PB stands for productive burping. It happens when food gets stuck in the stoma, and then comes up with saliva (aka slime). It very often is accompanied by variying degrees of pain, and be over quickly, or last for what seems like eternity. The longest pain I have experienced so far is 1/2 hr. The pain usually passes after whatever was stuck comes up.

It usually is caused by eating too fast or not chewing thoroughly. It can also be caused by the band being too tight. Mine was caused by my own stupidity. You think I'd learn...

Joan

Thanks Joan... I haven't had that happen yet (I don't think). I am definately burping more than I used to (although my husband might disagree..lol), but it is not because something feels stuck. My band currently has about 5cc in it. I go for my next fill in about 3 weeks. I know that I am still eating too fast and not chewing like I probably should be. I am going to have to slow down and chew so that I don't have this happen to me..especially after my next fill.

I was scheduled for my 3rd fill today, but the NP decided not do add any more, since I mentioned I have been PBing a few times recently and he was happy with my weight loss (7lbs since my last visit 4 wks ago). I'm okay with that, but concerned since my next appointment won't be for another 4 weeks. Hope I don't get a bad case of the hungries before then.

This may be a stupid question, but what is PB stand for?

I see I'm not the only one with bad experience with the Staff. I am to get banded tomorrow (Aug 27) @ Tri City in Hawaiian Gardens and I did the blood work and xray @ Downey Community yesterday. After the Xray/Bloodwork I received a call from catherine saying that Dr Ollie Jackson who was to do my surgery refused to do it because I did not get approval from my primary physician so I would have to get his permission or meet Dr Salimitari Shahram to see if he Oks it. I called my Dr to get the stuff done, i am a day away from surgery and have no idea if I will be worked on tomorrow. I have no received a called from Tri City or from Top Surgeon. I have seen great compliments about dr. Salimitari here and its comforting but the staff need to be more professional, especially having a patient in limbo a day before surgery. I hope all goes good and I go to surgery tomorrow.

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

Hello Everyone....I had an awful episode of getting "stuck"....It was an eye opening experience to say the least!...I now know for sure my 2nd fill is working.....I had my 2nd fill 8-4-09, which I got under floroscopy because my Dr. could not find my port :w00t:...2.8cc's. I now have a total of 6.3 cc's in a 14cc Allergen Band. After 2 days of liquids I tried to eat some rotisserie chicken....I thought it was tender and juicy enough, I think I just didnt chew well enough!....Well gang....lesson well learned....CHEW..CHEW..CHEW!!!!...

I have lost 8 lbs since my 2nd fill!!.....I am so happy with my band!

FILLS

7/14/09.....3.5cc's

8/4/09.......2.8cc's....total....6.3cc's

Good Luck to all

Thanks for the warning!!! I go for my second fill this Saturday, August 15th.

Congrats Astera!!

Ddorman, my daughter's dr didn't numb her either, but seriously if you could see the needle you'd know why...lol. I swear I'm going to take a picture this next time. My daughter says I'm exaggerating but I'm not. so I'll take the number shot first. And I too believe experience is the huge difference. My doctor has done under 15 himself. The hospital has done quite a few but not my doctor. My daughter's surgeon who did the surgery has done 4k. Her doctor she follows up with has done a thousand. But if we all end up at the same place at the end of the day, that's all that matters. Although I may have to bully my doctor to get at least 2ccs this next tiime. They are uber conservative.

Good luck that it worked this time.

trisha

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.

Ddorman, I went with my daughter last month while she got a fill just so I would know what to expect. Unfortunately I wish I hadn't. Her doctor was wham, bam, thank you ma'am and she was done in no time. My doctor who has not done hardly any bands (lots of bypasses), takes a tad bit longer than that. Plus, he uses a horse needle (not really but it could pass for one). Another patient who I chat with goes to the same clinic but different surgeon. Last week, she goes in for a fill and he lets an intern attempt to do it...notice I say attempt. Finally her surgeon, who is chief of surgery, had to do it and he even had a problem.

The guy that normally does my daughter's fill (not the doctor), she says you don't even know he's done anything, that he's that good. Thanks god, my doctor does a numbing agent first. I got 3ccs on July 4 which has been no restriction at all. So I'm hoping for at least 2 ccs when I go next week.

So the doctor not being able to do it I don't think is totally unheard of. My doctor said he only uses fluoroscopy when he's having a problem finding the port.

So now you know which person to make your appts with!! :biggrin:

Trisha (pennreporter)

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.

I just had my surgery on July 29th with Top Surgeons. I know that Dr Sal is who I originally saw for my orientation but he is not the Dr that did my Lapband. My surgeon was Dr Tashjian. Dr T (as he refers to himself) was very nice and spent a good amount of time with me before the surgery making sure I was aware of what was being done and I understood what was expected of me. He also will give out his cell number if you request it. Just don't call him at 3:00am to tell him how cute he is (he says it's happened! :biggrin:)

I have my first follow up appt this Tues with Dr T. I will let you all know a little more then. I'll even ask him what happened to Dr Sal... heck I'm not shy!

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!!!

Darlene that is great news, so happy for you. Makes you wonder about some Dr's though doesn't it?

Yes it does!! And to think... I was considering having that doctor do the "port revision" surgery (which I don't need). *My original surgeon opened his own pratice (plastic surgery) right after he did my surgery* The doctor that told me my port was flipped tried for almost 20 minutes to find the port. He stuck me about 3 or 4 times and then moved the needle around inside me for several minutes with each poke. I was so sore in that area for like 2 days. This new doctor/surgeon got the needle in the port on the first try. It only took in a second!! And there was no pain at all!!

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!!!

Hey guys,

I thought I'd let you guys see a little of what I accomplish with God's help as a teacher of at-risk students on the South side of Chicago. This is a video of one of my students who has an incredible story. I taught him to read and do math and you'll see me teaching him in the video. I helped interview him but you won't hear his voice.

One of the reasons I had the lap band was so I wouldn't have to retire early from a job where I can make this kind of a difference.

Here's the link: http://cltv8.com/rcs/micro4v2/

Very touching!!

Where are you guys? Start posting please.

Still waiting for my insurance company to approve my "port revision" surgery to correct my flipped port. I just got off the phone with the doctors office and they are going to call the insurance company again and told me to call back at 4pm today. I just want to get this taken care of ASAP.

Hi everyone,

I know that I have spoke to some of you about starting a monthly support group meeting. I'm ready to do it and wanted to know when everyone, who is interested, is available. It would be at my house in Westminster. I'm off of the 405 @ Beach. I was thinking of doing it on a Thursday night about 7:00. Enought time for everyone to get home from work, get dinner, and maybe relax a little before meeting up. I wanted to schedule one for this month and really want to get the ball rolling. I was thinking the 25th. Let me know what you all think. You can respond here or email me directly for more info at mamabutercup@yahoo.com Hope to hear from you all soon.

Tiffeny

Hi Tiffeny,

Did the support group meeting above ever take place? I live in Norwalk, CA and work in Buena Park. I would love to find a local monthly support group to attend.

This is for all the people getting banded on June 18th:

GOOD LUCK!!! We're going in tomorrow for our bands I can't wait to hear how everyone is doing when you get a chance to check in after surgery. I hope that everyone is safe and not in too much pain for the next few days.

Keep in touch! :smile2:

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!!

I was told by my doctor that as long as I was losing 6-8 lbs a month... I would be doing good.

6-8 lbs a month sounds great to me!! Of course, I would like it to come off faster. Truth is... if it comes off too fast, then I will have a lot of sagging skin (yuck) . It the weight comes off slower... it will give me time to exercise and tone .

I went in to get my first fill today and found out that my port is flipped on its side. They were able to do the fill and I may or may not have to have a revision; I'll see my surgeon in a month when my next fill is scheduled and he'll make the final decision.

I had my surgery on 6/18 too, btw :bored:

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!!

I'm a new person to this site also. I was approved for lap band surgery with Dr. O'Brien. I have it scheduled for August 12th. Any encouragement/tips/would be appreciated!

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!!

I had port revision surgery in March and it was easy. Since my surgeon did not have to go through the muscle, recovery was a few days and then back to normal! My biggest problem was that I reacted to the pain meds in recovery and then the meds given to counter that were a problem, too....

Good luck to you!

Thanks for the info Jeanne.

I have a cousin that lives in Grapevine!

I had a feeling something was just not right. I have had my band 11 months and about 4 weeks ago I had an episode for 2 days on and off where my port site hurt. I had vomitted (not PB) 3 times while I had a stomach bug that lasted less than 12 hours. I have 3 cc in my 12 cc band and had my last fill in Febuary but felt no new restriction after that fill. So, now I am wondering if it was flipped then. Anyway, my MD said this is extremely rare and happens less than 1% of all cases done. I will have surgery on Thursday. Is there anyone out there who is in this less than 1% club with me and if so, how was the recovery after?

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,

I've had a lot of surgeries and you're always a little scared. I pray the the Lord will bless you and keep and make his face shine upon you and give you his peace.

Thank you!! You are very sweet!! You have made my day with you comments!!

God Bless!!