christy

A little late here, but I've gone through 2 pregnancies while banded, and you couldn't see the port with either pregnancy, but you could feel it, and my scar was a lot more prominent. When people touched my belly I usually would put my hand where my port is so that people wouldn't feel it and ask me if it was a hand or a foot.

I was also banded by Dr. Aceves, and have had nothing but a positive experience. I can't recommend him and his team highly enough!

I'm now nearly 36 weeks pregnant and my port doesn't stick out at all. You can feel it more easily, but it isn't visible.

There are risks with getting the surgery, and I think that not being able to eat certain foods EVER is probably the most common one (I can't do scrambled eggs, or broccoli) The band has really helped me become less food centeric -- I'm not hungry all the time, I don't spend all day thinking about what I'm going to eat next, I don't have to worry about making myself stop eating before I feel satisfied. For the first time in my life I think that I'm eating like a normal person is supposed to eat. But there are times when it is hard -- when I'm full but I want to taste just a little more, or when my head really wants popcorn or something, and I just can't do it. It's totally worth it for those few times, though.

I burped up gas just the day of and day after surgery, man did it taste NASTY. It's totally normal, though!

:spit: Love it. No underwear here!

I'll admit that my weight loss has been a little slow going, much of it is my own fault, but it seems that with the band the weight is coming off differently. I'm 211.5 this morning, and I've been this weight several times in the past few years, but NEVER have I gone down a pant size like I have with the pant. It seems to me like I'm losing more around my middle than I have an the past. Anyone else notice that their weight is coming off differently than in previous attempts to lose weight?

I can do sushi just fine! But, I really can't eat very much of it anymore!

I nearly passed out the first time I tried to have a fill, but not because it hurt! I was just so nervous about it hurting! You have very few nerve endings on your belly, so add the numbing agent to that and you really don't feel a thing!

Dr. Aceves and his team did my band -- I'm so happy with everything! It is $8200, $8000 if you drive yourself. Your hotel the night before is paid for, and 2 nights in the hospital after your surgery (I chose to stay only one night.) Everything is SO SO clean, the nurses are fantastic, all of your doctors come to talk to you about every step of what will happen. I haven't heard of any of Dr. A's patients having complications, just hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews!

I've never slimed -- I did get the shoulder pain once, never again! I totally overate at dinner and my shoulder was tense and in pain all nice.

Some people have really bad port pain, have you been taking liquid tylenol? I think that infection usually also causes a fever, so I wouldn't be too worried about that yet.

Didn't she (Sharon Osbourne) actually have band over bypass? I thought that she initally lost her weight through RYN?

This is the same reason Sharon Osbourne is getting her's taken out! She can eat around the band, so might as well have it removed!

I can feel mine if I'm looking for it, but I can't see it, and it's never caused me any pain.

I was peeing out my butt for at least two weeks after my surgery! It'll go away one you start adding fuller liquids and mushies!

I've heard really good things about Ortiz, I chose Dr. Aceves in Mexicali.

Flouro is also good in helping see if your band is too tight or too loose -- if the barium doesn't move quickly enough (or too quickly) they know that they need to add more, or take some out.

Another happy Dr. Aceves patient here! I'm so so happy! Everyone at the hospital was wonderful, the doctor was fantastic, I've healed great, my first fill went well (once I stopped nearly passing out!)

I didn't feel anything with my fill, but I almost passed out the first time he tried to do it! I had to sit down and wait 2 hours before he'd take me back in!

I guess that my first fill was pretty small, but I also had slight restriction with just the band unfilled. .8 and i've been banded for 9 weeks and a day!

I think that this is a quick route to a port infection. Toss the needle and report the doctor!

I went down to Mexico yesterday for my first fill! Everything has been great with the band so far except that I've been able to eat more and more since surgery! Fill time! Traffic was bad so I had to drive quick on the empty parts, but I ended up getting there on time. And having to wait because the xray room was backed up. I had only had a Boost shake and coffee all day (liquids only on fill day!), and I was very nervous so... after they stuck me with the first needle (which didn't hurt) I nearly passed out. Tunnel vision, couldn't feel my legs, hearing was fuzzy. I had to sit down and wait nearly two hours before I got another shot in the room. I did better the second time, the sweet nurse Sergio held my hand the entire time (I think partly to make sure that he was nearby in case I went down), but man am I glad that I didn't see the needle... it was about 6 inches long. Literally. :thud: So I got my fill and drove home! It kind of sucked, but really didn't hurt, so I no next time to drink more calories before my appointment, and just that I don't need to be nervous!

I went down to Mexico yesterday for my first fill! Everything has been great with the band so far except that I've been able to eat more and more since surgery! Fill time! Traffic was bad so I had to drive quick on the empty parts, but I ended up getting there on time. And having to wait because the xray room was backed up. I had only had a Boost shake and coffee all day (liquids only on fill day!), and I was very nervous so... after they stuck me with the first needle (which didn't hurt) I nearly passed out. Tunnel vision, couldn't feel my legs, hearing was fuzzy. I had to sit down and wait nearly two hours before I got another shot in the room. I did better the second time, the sweet nurse Sergio held my hand the entire time (I think partly to make sure that he was nearby in case I went down), but man am I glad that I didn't see the needle... it was about 6 inches long. Literally. :thud: So I got my fill and drove home! It kind of sucked, but really didn't hurt, so I no next time to drink more calories before my appointment, and just that I don't need to be nervous!

I don't think that I wasn't being compassionate. My insurance didn't cover my surgery, and I'm certainly not rich. I found a good doctor within my price range, and I did, in fact, get a discount (like I said, because I drove myself instead of taking their transportation) -- that said, I never would have ASKED for a discount. I wouldn't go to a doctor that would lower his/her price for me (unless I had some very very special circumstances -- like a medical rarity that a doctor would be interested in studying.)