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I have a tattoo on my left ankle, it has my son's name on one side and my daughters on the other. I am considering a womanhood tattoo after I have my TT to cover up the scars. Valarie

I was considered pre-diabetic. I controlled it with just diet (and very little exercise). Now one year after surgery, my A1C test has me as normal (testing like I never had it) and my cholesterol is 155 with my bad cholesterol under 100 for the first time since I started taking cholesterol meds in 2002. If my number keeps dropping I will probably come off the meds for that all together, we will see, unfortunately my cholesterol is more from genes than anything else.

Mine have gone from a full D to a modest B and very very loose skin. I am planning on having the girls put back next spring and a tummy tuck once I get the money saved! Valarie

I work in a lawyer's office doing mostly transcription work. They represent the insurance companies so it is pretty interesting.

I remember waking up when one of the doctors started talking to me. I woke up with a terrible migraine from the anesthesia and it took the whole day to get any type of medecine to get rid of it. Valarie

My port had flipped when I went in for my first fill at 8 weeks out. I was also told that there are many different reasons that port can flip. My surgeon went in through the original port scar and flipped it back. Then at my next fill another 8 weeks out, my port was tilted. It is now flat with the right side up and have not had a problem since. I was worried that since I am a side/stomach sleeper that might have caused the problem but I was told that wouldn't have caused it. My port has migrated up to just under my rib cage and it will hurt in the morning if I have slept on it all night so I am going to see if the PS can move the port down lower when I have my TT done next year. Valarie G.

I was banded in Mexico also, I belong to another group called Mexican Bandsters on the Yahoo Group page. They have a database with doctors by state and by price of the fills. If you follow this page you should be able to access the doctors in your area (or at least close) that will do fills but you do have to register with the group but there is some usefull information. I don't do much interaction with that group because they fight like children and I already have enough of those at home, but like I said ther is some usefull information on that web site. (health.groups.yahoo.com/group/mexicanbandsters) Valarie

You only have a few more days of pills to take, you might try breaking open the capsuls and mixing the powder into something like pudding, applesauce, something soft that will go down and mask the bad taste. We use to do this for my oldest when he had to take pills daily. If the taste is really, really bad the soft stuff might not mask the taste a lot but maybe enough to get it down without a problem. Hope you feel better soon! Valarie

Have you tried cutting your pill in half or thirds? I have always had a hard time taking pills even before being banded. You can pick up a decent pill cutter for under $10 from CVS or Walgreens. I cut my pills in half and take them with something soft, like SF pudding or SF Jello, its a mental thing for me. I can not swallow pills unless I am really deperate without having something soft to swallow with. You may have irritated your stomach with the throwing up, try sticking to liquid for a few days. Valarie

Mine was placed on the right side due to scaring issues from a previous accident on the left. My port has migrated up about 2 inches and now sits just under the rib cage right below the nipple area. It makes it hard to sleep sometimes since I am a right side sleeper.

I am almost a year out from surgery. Some people can take pills just fine after surgery, others have to crush them or cut them in half or thirds. I was never able to take big pills and taking Excedrin was even pushing it before surgery. I now cut most of my pills in half and don't have a problem taking them. It is trial and error to the size of pill you can take. With the vitamins, there are adult chewables, (GROSS) I started taking those and then read somewhere on here that taking two chewable childrens vitamins will do the same. The taste is a little better than the adult chewables.

My diabetes numbers didn't drop overnight but my A1C number two wees before surgery was 7.2 and three months after my number had dropped to a "normal" persons number of 6, so I am not quite sure how to answer questions on medical forms anymore if I am diabetic, but my doctor tells me I am no longer diabetic. I was never on medication for the diabetes just diet and exercise. This is one of the reasons I decided to get the band, I was already diabetic and high blood pressure runs in the family. Don't let anyone try to talk you out of the surgery. You know in your mind what is best for you so don't let anyone knock your confidence.

Hi Sherveport, Louisiana. Valarie g.

I am starting my research into PS and I am sure that this has been answered in another thread. I have a hard time swallowing pills and I am concerned about taking pain pills after surgery. Did anyone have an unfill before surgery to be able to take pain pills? How long did you need to take pain pills after surgery? Like I said, I am just starting my research and I am not looking for surgery until March or April 2008 because I still need to loose another 20 lbs. and my husband might be relocating to another state by then so I have not even looked at a plastic surgeon yet. Any advise would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Valarie G.

Thanks to everyone for their input. I have a very hard time swallowing pills bigger than an Excedrin cut in half. The liquid pain meds usually make me gag, but I am talking like liquid Tylenol, just way to sweet. I will probably look into a "pain pump" or even just taking pills just have to cut in half or thirds even if they are really big. Valarie G

I am fairley new to the band (Sept. 06) but I didn't think you "let the band out" after reaching goal. Isn't the band suppose to be kept full to keep you from gaining weight back?

I had almost the exact thing happen to my port. I had my surgery in September 06 in Mexico. I wanted to have my first fill with the surgeon who performed the surgery so I went back down to Mexico 8 weeks post banding. The port had completely flipped over so the part to fill was facing my spine. I had surgery the same day and had to pay for the hospital charge (Dr fee was free). Then went in for my second fill with my US fill doctor. The port had flipped exactly like yours, but my fill doctor has done so many band surgeries that he was able to access my port without a problem. Eventually the port did decide to lay flat, fill side up, thankfully!

Cyndi, I was banded in Mexico last year but my fill doctor is in Dallas. He is doing the surgery for $10500.00. His name is Dr. Maese, he is with Complete Bariatrics of Dallas. I don't know where you are located but that is a great price even if you have to fly, and it will be easier to find a fill doctor in your area willing to fill you if you have been banded in the US. Valarie

I don't really know all the percentages that are used (my CPA is worth every penny) but you get your deduction from the surgery andyou can also claim mileage to and from fill doctor, the cost of your fills if they were not included in the cost of surgery, airfare if you had to travel to your surgeon (mine was in Mexico), cost of hotel stay for surgery. I also took a trip back down at 8 weeks out for my first fill and my port had flipped and had to have outpatient surgery. Again airfare was deductable and the hospital charge for the surgery (Dr did not charge, just hospital). It might be worth paying for a CPA to do your taxes for the year you have your surgery done. Valarie

I also had a flipped port. Mine was 8 weeks out from surgery and found out because Dr. was trying to do my first fill. It was about a 30 minute surgery to reposition the port. The doctor used the same incision made previously, so no really bad scars all over the body. The doctor fee was $0 because I was within the first year of surgery, however I was charged a hospital fee since my insurance did not cover any of the surgery costs. Valarie

I don't think there is liquid Midol or Pamprin but there is a liquid Tylenol. I don't crush my pills but I do split them up because I have had Excedrin get struck. I usually cut each into 3 or 4 pieces and have no problem with it getting stuck.

I had my port placed on the right side for medical reasons, but did not know until after I woke up from surgery. I was in a severe car accident several years ago and too much scar tissue had built up on the left side so they made the decision during surgery to place the port on the right. I have the same problem as some of the people, I am right handed, sleep on my right side, etc... so I am constantly bumping my port and wish it could have been placed on the left side. _________________ Valarie

I have the exact opposite problem. I get a fill under floro and my pouch empties just like the doctor wants it, then probably within a week I am going back for a little unfill because I am almost completely restricted. I am going back for a unfill for the second time within within two weeks because I am still unable to get any food into my body and I am only able to drink about 20 oz of water a day, and that is only is the drink is the same temperature as the sun!:embarassed:

I was also banded by Dr. de la Garzia. OCA Hospital is very clean and everyone is very friendly. I traveled for the original surgery with a friend, but a second trip I made myself. I felt very safe traveling alone. I would recommend Dr. de la Garzia to anyone. Valarie DOB 9-20-06 Dr. de la Garzia Monterrey, Mexico

Well the worst thing said recently was from my boss at a new job. I have had to get a fill then a slight unfill within a week in December and I am going to get another fill this week (if they can get to the port). She asked if it "wouldn't just be cheaper to quit eating?" Well duh, don't you think I would have done that if I could have? Valarie