I have been looking around the boards for anyone from Georgia. Am I all alone here?:welldoneclap:

I have been looking around the boards for anyone from Georgia. Am I all alone here?:tongue2:

hey there, i'm down in savannah. i see many of the posters are from the upstate/atlanta area. is there anyone here from the beautiful coast? :drool:

janet

I think everyone has forgotten about this thread. There haven't been that many postings lately.

I "WISH" I was from savannah, it is a beautiful place. I love it there. Have been twice.

Hey there-I haven't forgotten about this thread! :teeth_smile:

I live in Decatur. I'm within walking distance of Dekalb Medical Center but I went with a doctor in Alabama b/c I was self pay and it was cheaper. I won't lie and say I'm not a little irked to be driving 2 hours both ways on Monday to get my first fill...when I drive past DMC every day of my life! Oh well...it's still worth it. :drool:

Also-wasn't today beautiful outside? I wish we had MANY days of weather like this, instead of going from one extreme to the other.

I think that would irk me too! But, glad you have something worked out, at least you are able to do something! I feel so bad for those who don't have the ability to self pay and who's insurance will not cover them. It is a shame that all insurances won't cover this procedure. It is so life changing, and makes a BIG difference in other health condiditons. It would seem to be in their benefit, but ...

I just wanted to say "hi" to my fellow Georgians. I go for my first fill next week & it's time....I'm eating more, getting hungry between meals, not losing weight. I am so glad to have lost what I have so far, but OTOH, I have felt bad about the fact that 20 pounds on some people is major while on me it's just a drop in the bucket!

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. I need to make an effort to post more here because local support is always nice. After my first fill I will go to a local doc for fills so you may see me asking opinions of different people. :angry_smile:

It will be MUCH better after you start getting regular fills. Each time I get a fill it seems to cut my current amount that I'm eating in half.

I am so glad to have lost what I have so far, but OTOH, I have felt bad about the fact that 20 pounds on some people is major while on me it's just a drop in the bucket!

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. I need to make an effort to post more here because local support is always nice. After my first fill I will go to a local doc for fills so you may see me asking opinions of different people. :smile:

I know what you mean about the 20 lbs, it's a virtual drop in the bucket for me too. But if you add up all the drops, you'll eventually get a gallon! :biggrin:

Janet

I feel bad sometimes that I've only lost 25 pounds, but if you look at it as 1/4 of my goal, then it starts looking better ...

Well I got my first fill today...

Found out that my doc put in 2cc in my 10cc band during surgery. Who knew? It was a pleasant surprise.

The fill was not pleasant but it was a surprise. Surprisingly difficult!! OMG. I kid you not...I had to have been stuck with the needle 20 times before he found the diaphragm in the port to get the saline in the band. Started out at the doctors office. After about 12 attempts, complete with my surgeon, the PA and the nurse all hovering over me they decided something was off. At one point the doctor was sticking me with the needle, the PA had both hands PRESSING down hard on my abdomen, and the nurse was holding my legs up at an angle. I felt like a science experiment gone wrong.

Then I hear my doctor say the word "flip" and I wanted to flip out. He then clarified that he did not believe the port had flipped, it was probably just on it's side at a weird angle, but the damage was done. Out came the tears...it was just a nerve wracking experience. I'm not a fan of people hovering over me in any capacity, let alone applying lots pressure on me and randomly sticking me with a needle. :thumbup:

His office is across the street from the hospital where he does the surgery and they called over and got some tech to stay late so he could look at my port under flouro. After standing at a 70 degree angle with one arm holding me shirt up, the other bracing myself against the wall and about 8 pokes he found the diaphragm.

He put in 4cc. I was surprised, as the nurse had said it would be 2cc. I think he felt bad about the whole situation and frankly, probably wants to get me at my sweet spot and soon after that whole ordeal! I know it is not his fault, lord knows our bodies are all different and I know he put the port in a good spot, things just happen. I just never expected it to this difficult the first go around.

Sorry to be Debbie Downer. I am happy that I went for a fill. I'm ready for some restriction. I love my doctor and I am so glad I went back to him for my fill. I can't imagine going to someone who didn't do my surgery.

Oh and I hope I didn't scare anyone! I think this is a rare event in the world of lapbandom.

Edited March 18, 200818 yr by ugagirl

Wow, what an ordeal UGAGirl. I know that I've had three fills. The first one was slightly difficult because the needle they use bent as he stuck it in, and he had to get another and do it again. The second attempt went fine. And, each fill since then has went like clockwork. Just be grateful that they were successful. 4cc's is a really good first fill. You should start feeling a big difference in the way you eat. My biggest problem has been eating too fast and taking way too big of bites. Since my last fill I've found out that I can eat MUCH MUCH easier by cutting my food up into small bites. It doesn't get stuck as easy. So, if you find food getting stuck, try and remember to cut it up first. Will make it MUCH easier for you. GOOD LUCK on your journey! :shades_smile:

Oh UGAgirl I am so sorry for your troubles! I had a slightly similar experience with my first fill...though definitely not as bad as yours! He couldn't find my port, while mashing and pushing on me. He finally did a sonogram to find it and he was 2 inches too low! But during all of that I was about to have a panic attack b/c I was afraid it had flipped over! Hopefully all of our fills will be smooth from here on out!

Thanks zeta and Candy!

Feeling fine today. The physician's assistant at my doctor's office called today to check on me, which I thought was really nice. Not sure if I'm feeling the restriction from the fill yet. I swear half of this is a mental game. I haven't had that much to eat today but in general I haven't been as hungry since before the surgery. I went to Jason's Deli and got a bowl of the chicken chili and ate half of it for lunch and the other half just now.

Hope everyone is having a good week! No more tornadoes please!!

Hey guys...

UGAgirl....I am sooooo sorry to hear your story.....specially since my First fill is TOMORROW!

4jin-You'll be fine!! Please let us know how it goes.

Hello everyone. I am from Woodstock and have yet to be banded. I am going to be self pay becuase I have horrible insurance. Still researching doctors but locally True Results seems to be the cheapest for self pay.