NINNYED

I have heard that "Aunt Flo" will cause changes in the tightness of the band because of Water retention, etc..... Could that be part of your problem?

Hi JudyAnn!! I live in Bettendorf and was banded October of 2006 by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana!! :clap2:

Good luck on your surgery this week, Diane!! When you feel up to it, please let us know how you are!! It will be a piece of cake... The anticipation BEFORE surgery is far worse than the surgery itself! Happy banding!!:clap2:

Yeah, I checked into it... Trinity in Moline will be doing it too. I was VERY disappointed... The doctors are VERY inexperienced and gave me a lot of incorrect information over the phone when I talked to them. Bummer, it would be nice to be able to get a fill here locally instead of going to Chicago or Tijuana! How is everyone doing? I get my fill by Dr. Vitello in Chicago tonight!! YEAH!!! Keep your fingers crossed that this time I reach my sweet spot! :whoo:

Hi Iowa Bandsters! I have been so busy with work lately that I have become "out of the loop" here!! WOW!! I am SOOOOO glad that there are a few more of us in these parts... I was getting lonely!! I cannot believe what hoops you have to go through to get banded here in the States. Since my insurance refused to pay even a penny, I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana and it was a wonderful experience. I did my research, choose my surgeon, talked to him on the phone. Did more research. Went to TJ, had all of my pre-op tests and was banded the next day. No psych exams (yeah, I KNOW why I am fat, I EAT TOO STINKIN' MUCH!) No sleep studies (I KNOW I SNORE AND HAVE APNEA - which, after loosing 61 pounds is now GONE as is my nasty machine!!). I just did it.... Good luck all of you who are going to be banded soon, it is really a simple surgery, I was walking 10 - 20 minutes after coming back from the OR.... and back to work 6 days later. I need a fill right now, but still can only eat about half of what I could before!! HUGS to all!:clap2:

Hi Sparkette! I was considering Dr. Vitello also. My main concern that kept me from going to him is that when I called Inamed (the people who make our bands) and asked they said that he has not taken the proctored training with them. Only doctors who have had that training can place the bands, but it does not prevent (by Inamed) doctors not certified by Inamed from doing fills. I guess my thinking is that I paid a lot of cash to have this band placed, no one is going to touch it who has not been properly trained in the placement and filling of it! Just my opinion... Let me know how it goes!

Depending on what you are allowed to eat.. The mushy chicken salad kits are good too. There is also the pre-made Protein shake option in a can. Have a nice trip!

I have gone back to TJ for two fills... I am still looking for someone locally to do fills at a reasonable price. There is a clinic in Peoria (maybe 2 hours from where you are) that I contacted yesterday to see if they would take me for fills, have not heard back yet. If I do not find some one in the next month or so, I will probaby head back down to TJ for another fill....

Mine seem to have nothing to do with eating... I usually get them between meals....

Blech!! I get the hiccups ALL of the time since my second fill last month... I do not drink from a straw either... I HATE the hiccups!:faint:

Dr. Glascock charges nearly $700 for your first fill with them.. That is WAY too much for my budget!

Have you recently started to exercise more?? I find that sometimes after a really hard workout, I will have some pain around my port incision.... If it keeps bothering you, it cannot hurt to speak to your doctor...

I am looking for alternative to going down to TJ for fills... Has anyone had any experience, good or bad, with the FillCenter in Farmington, MO?? I heard that they use Flouro for the fills, and I like that. I will NOT get a blind fill!

I forgot to tell you my motivation.... My biggest one is being 241 pounds... The lowest weight I have been in 15 years! I will NEVER allow myself to be 282 EVER again.... Everytime that scale ticks down another pound I tell myself that it is another pound that I will NEVER see again... Sometimes I feel like I am in AA/NA and taking it one minute/day at a time. Little successes add up to big successes! Our bands are not "cures" to being overweght, but tools that assist us in loosing the weight and living healthly lives again! It is not easy, by any means, but you can and will do it!

Hi Mary! I find that eating a dinner full of protein really helps curb the urge to snack later on... Most dinners all I end up eating is the protein part and not the rest. I have always been a huge evening snacker... Once in a while I will treat myself though, but I always limit the amount... Also, when the urge strikes, try drinking a glass of water, that might help... Along with just not keeping the bad stuff in the house... Good Luck! :clap2: