Ok Banded pro's this is my first time posting , I would like to know if n e 1 has been banded in columbus, ohio at the Mt. Carmel hospital and if so how was your experience? I have just sent in my first set of paper work to be approve by their Dr. Also they are charging $300.00 for administrator fee (paper pushing to the Ins.), not to mention I will have to spend another $200.00 for their nutritionist and this $500.00 is not covered by my insurance:faint: . Are fee's normal? I was just wondering because I feel as much as the surgery cost, these things should be included! N E help would be nice

Sarah - interesting to see that some of us are starting to cycle through some unfill adjustments (Heather this week too) so I hope you can heal and get back to your sweet spot soon. Congrats on getting your tushie into the doctor ASAP when you thought something was not right -- a great example for all of us.

Hi Mt. Carmel bandsters and anyone listening in... I went to the August 4th support group meeting and Melissa Webb said they are trying a new more informal format where they ask everyone to sit pretty tightly grouped in the front center part of the auditorium and she facillitated a sharing session of those who wanted to share their successes, both RNY and Lapband stories, Post Op patients who wanted to share questions or suggestions for others, then Pre Op patients who had questions and wanted to ask any Post Ops what to think, etc. Different than just having a speaker and not as much interaction from the audience.

Next meeting they are bringing in someone to share about Overeaters Anonymous in terms of what that offers to those of us who are overeaters and will always need to strive to not overeat.

I also posted a link under the Columbus thread about Walk from Obesity and this is something Melissa supported and said its being led by the Riverside Fresh Start program this year, sounds like the different bariatric programs share who hosts it and she encouraged us to participate. Google on Walk from Obesity or look under this forum's Columbus thread for the link to the info. I think I will plan to walk in this.

Well I have had a weird couple of weeks. I haden't had a fill for about 6wks but only got .5cc in. I was doing fine for about 4 weeks after the fill when I noticed a lot more restriction. I chalked it up to being fluid retension, stress... yadda yadda. Then On Friday I could hardly eat anything that wouldn't get stuck. Progressively got worse over the weekend and started feeling bad heart burn, reflux, hiccupps, coughing...all the bad symptoms. So today I saw Dr. Choban and she wanted to take out all of my 5.5cc. She ended up taking out 3 but found that there was really 6cc in there. I felt immediately better. thank the Lord!! I had lost 14lbs in 5 1/2 weeks. So tonight I'm starving!!! she didn't know why it got tight all of a sudden but if I didn't feel better with the deflation she was going to send me for an upper GI test. I sure am glad I feel better but not too happy i don't have restriction anymore. I wonder where my "sweet spot" is. I did hit the 60 lb weight loss this morning but I don't think it will stay now.:cry_smile:

sorry this post is so long but I need to vent!!!

Congrats special K on your success and hang in there Lyn it takes time to work:redface:

Sarah, I posted a similar story in the Columbus thread... only thing is my doctor doesn't believe that the bands can get tighter and almost seemed to blame me for causing my discomfort. *sigh I didn't post that part yesterday, I'm still trying to process my appointment and my feelings. Anyway, I haven't had a fill since April and yesterday he took out .25cc even though I suggested the entire kit and kaboodle. I was able to drink a medium smoothie last night with no problems so I think I'm fixed... at least I hope so. I've lost 7.4 pounds in 6 days! Not that I'm complaining, but that's more than I lost in the entire previous month!

P.S. Congrats on the 60 pounds!!! You'll keep it off... just be VERY conscientious of what you eat and go back to tracking and counting calories or something until you can get more fluid put in. 60 pounds is a great achievement... you can do anything you put your mind to!

Heather & Sarah~ Sorry to hear about your "glitches". I have read on other threads about people going through this very situation. How scary for you guys. BTW~ 60 & 70 lbs is AWESOME!!! WTG!!

I had my pre-op testing yesterday. I was in a group with 3 other ladies. Everything went very smoothly and I was out of there by 1:30. I see Dr. Miller on the 14th and then surgery on the 27th.

Melissa addressed the problems with the office staff. She said that they were just approved to hire someone to help Charlene (can I get an amen anyone??).

Everyone have a blessed day!

Heather sorry you had trouble too!! I haven't read your entry where is it so i can see what you went through. I am soo much better today but could probably eat anything put in front of me. Feeling like I don't even have a band now boo hoo

Hi TM.....Amen! SpecialK you are doing great! Greg are you still here? How are things with you?

I'm still here ... just keeping busy. I had my 3rd fill this week. She only gave me .5 cc after saying that I was already at 8 cc and probably close to hitting my sweet spot. I was caught off-guard and didn't think fast enough to point out that I only had 6 cc not 8. So the fill helped a little bit but not as much as the first two. By the way, Dr. C. was in the exam room but somebody else did the fill. I think it was a new (young female) doctor. Hopefully, that will help take the load off of scheduling fills. It took her three tries before she hit the port. Fortunately, I didn't feel her poking around since the lidocaine did its job. Also, I hit 60 pounds at this weigh-in. Woohoo!

Congratulations Greg on the 60! Way to go! You might check with Dr. Choban next time she does an adjustment because what I believe Dr. Miller does is extract the existing fill level to check how much is in there and then adds total amount back in plus what he's adding. It wouldn't surprise me if you find you really are at 8 cc's as Dr. Choban said as I'm at 8.5 cc's now.

Greg, I had my fill this week as well, and the girl who did it is not a doctor. She is a nurse and had to do multiple tries on me too. She also did not have my band size correct on her chart. ?????? Guess you have to keep a close eye on them to keep things right.

They never said who she was - just that she was learning to do fills. I got the impression from their little side conversation about medical school, interning, and carrying pagers, that she was a new doctor or something.

Kathy,

When I had my 2nd fill, Dr. Choban did take out all the fluid to see how much was in there. This time, however, as soon as she walked in the room she said, "I'm only giving you 1/2 cc since you already have 8." And that was before they even prepped me. But based on what she told me before (that they put in 1.5 cc during surgery), I now have 6.5 cc. I'm definitely not feeling the restriction I did after each of the first two fills. If I don't see good weight loss, I'm going to try to get more - soon.

I sure hope dr. choban does my fill on the 28th because my port isn't super accessible. since losing my 3cc last week I am totally able to eat ANYTHING!!!! My old habits are returning and i want to eat all the time:frown: I am just going to have to get super strict with myself until i can get in there for a fill. I think from not eating for several days my body is on a hyperdrive need for food. My head is giving in. Oh well just a little speed bump just hope I don't gainn too much in the next couple of weeks.

Hi everyone..I have a question. What does restriction feel like to you? I keep hearing people talk about a tight feeling in their chest. The only thing I feel is under my ribs. It feels like an under wire bra that is way to tight, I have to stand as tall as possible to get any relief. I am beginning to wonder if it is restriction or a medical problem! I have not heard any one else describe it this way. What does yours feel like??:thumbup:

Standing tall is a good description. When I eat more than I probably should have; I feel so full I have to arch my back and stretch up to get relief.

Restriction to me is knowing that even though there is still a plate full of food, I feel full and I stop eating. No more clean plater awards.

i have start carry a 1cup measurering cup in my purse; when I go out to eat - I put the food in my cup and eat no more regardless of my fullness. I havent had a fill yet; but could sure use one.

Hi everyone..I have a question. What does restriction feel like to you? I keep hearing people talk about a tight feeling in their chest. The only thing I feel is under my ribs. It feels like an under wire bra that is way to tight, I have to stand as tall as possible to get any relief. I am beginning to wonder if it is restriction or a medical problem! I have not heard any one else describe it this way. What does yours feel like??

Well, it could be different to each person but my experience is this: When I eat a couple bites past when I should have stopped, I will get a very heavy pressure sensation dead center on my chest, between my breasts, just above that a little, and it feels like a ball is there. It is definitely uncomfortable and if I am at a table with friends or family, I imagine I have an unusual look on my face because I'm trying to hold it all together...literally. If I immediately stop eating and just sweat it out for a few minutes, maybe 30 minutes, the pressure starts to resolve and I'm fine. If it is too much pressure, I will have some productive burping, PB'ing, bringing up saliva and very finely chewed bits of what I've eaten. I can either swallow and try to keep it down, or spit it out in a napkin, etc. Now, a couple times since I've had this third fill, I experienced what I'd call 'sliming' which was I took about 2 bites of very dry pork/chicken past my stopping point without realizing it and there was no room for my saliva to go down and stay down so I was burping up fairly large amounts of just saliva for about 15 minutes until the food started digesting and going down. I had to spit the excess saliva out, it wouldn't stay down. Thus, I am learning to think, okay, how much have I eaten, should I stop now or can I take a few more bites. If there is any doubt in my mind, I'm trying to stop right then.

Edited August 19, 200817 yr by SpecialK

Hello All,

I just wanted to check in. I guess I have not posted in more than 30 days. I do not want them to boot me. :biggrin: Things are going well for me. I am down over 70lbs now!! I have had several NSV. I think my two favorites that happened in the last 2 weeks were 1. I fit into a size 15 jeans. 2. I can now take my hubbers clothes and wear them. I go in for another fill next week. I am excited I am getting close to my "sweet spot" My family Finally noticed I have lost weight!! that made me feel good. (they do not know I had the sx) Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about your stepfathers death. I am thinking and praying for you and your mom. I am sorry that the post is so long winded. Is anyone else getting filled next week?? Keep being losers :thumbup: