meswede

I use Tacoma Radiology (TRA) in Tacoma, WA to get my fills done. I just got my first fill of 1.6 and then sat there for a bit with the needle sticking out of me ... looking something like a human dart board and drinking my Water and eating my applesauce. My mind was racing ... "Is this enough fill?" "Am I feeling restricted?" I LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON! Don't eat or drink before going to a fill appointment! I had a lunch date to meet my coach, Elma, who's a Bandster Pro and known on the Yahoo groups. I hadn't thought much about making a lunch date until realizing that maybe I shouldn't be eating before my fill appointment. However, TRA hadn't said anything about it when I made my appointment and I realized I couldn't really recall ever hearing the Bandster boards talk about this before. So when I went to my appointment and was there trying to decide if I was restricted enough or not ... I said to Karen the tech ... "I'm not sure if I'm full from the applesauce and feeling a good fill ... or because the fill is choking back my lunch from going south inside me." So after returning home and having a couple days of eating with my fill ... I realize I most definately need more fill. At first I felt the restriction but my guess is because of eating before going to my appointment. I'm now scheduled to go back this next Thursday. Yes, another LONG drive up the freeway. And when I called back for my adjustment, the receptionist said, "and we ask that you not eat or drink anything 4 hours before your appointment." By gosh, they caught on to what I was saying! Has anyone else heard this discussed on the boards? Is there any such rules at your fill doctor's offices about not eating or drinking before a fill? There are several of us here that have repeated the same thing ... "After first fill I felt no restriction." So I'm wondering if those that have reported lack of restriction that they ate or drank before their appointment. Other than that ... the fill went fine! And to hear that some of you got fills without being numbed first??? No way! I would have refused! There's absolutely no reason they shouldn't have numbed that area before giving a fill. Are the doc's too cheap to spare the supplies it takes to numb someone or are they just being sadists? And after reading about the tossing and turning and man handling of a port ... that's uncalled for too. To me that seems like inexperience showing. Isn't that why we pay them BIG BUCKS to do the fluoro? So they can see right where they are with the needle and port? Hope to hear some posts about the eating and drinking before a fill. Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/243/140

Great site and glad to be part of it! My name is Lori (aka MESWEDE) and I live in Oregon. I was introduced to the lapband in March 2003 and immediately began my research on the internet. I read as many Bandster websites as possible and then met up with Patricia and Elma who I consider my Bandster Pro coaches. I was then banded by the ever so wonderful Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey Mexico on July 9, 2003. I now have a website available and though it is in it's beginning stages, I will be adding more information and posting my progress pictures as the pounds melt away. I hope that it will be an encouragement to those who are newbie Bandsters. I'm one of those who chose not to keep my banded experience a secret because I think there are many people out there looking for the same HOPE I found and I want to share that HOPE with as many as I can. Please feel free to check out my website and I hope it inspires you! Lori in Oregon ~ Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03

If any Oregon Bandsters want some support from a neighbor ... I'm here! Just drop me a line. Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 email: meswede@yahoo.com web: http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html:coo

Hey Bandaid ... thanks for the input about the milk. You might be onto something there! However, I just cringe over the thought of taking meds with Water. YUCK! For some reason that just gags me. Hey Glenda ... thanks for the post! My stomache is well settled since my fill because it's been a couple of weeks now. And yes, I agree ... the tummy doesn't only NEED a resting period after PBing, but instead mine DEMANDED a rest! Goshes ... I never knew I was sooo sensitive! ha! Thanks ladies!!! Lori in Oregon

Hey Lori, I forgot to ask how you're doing on the scale? I also just did a new post ... now not sure where it is, but it's about not losing weight and being stuck on the scale. You might want to read that post too. I think I also talked about this same subject on the MexiBandster site. You might have to go to the membership page here and look as my post history to find it. I just posted it this morning. It's a good idea about WAKING UP YOUR BODY to the idea of dropping weight. Glad to hear you cancelled your next fill for now. You'll know when it's time to go back. Keep learning and striving for the finish line! And daily, set a new goal and a renewed dedication to life as a successful Bandster. Celebrating weight loss by wearing my smaller jeans today! Lori in Oregon

I have something new to add to this topic that I learned from my little sister who used to be a competition body builder for years. And now after having babies, she just works out at her gym at home. When I was stuck on my plateau, she asked me a series of questions ... similiar to the questions everyone has asked here: What are you eating, when are you eating, what are you doing for exercise, etc. Then she explained to me that OUR BODIES ADJUST VERY QUICKLY TO A ROUTINE! The body sort of says, "Oh hum drum ... here we go again ... same old thing ... this for Breakfast, this much Water, back to Curves, etc." She said it's very important to shock the body AWAKE and KEEP IT ADJUSTING so it doesn't "settle in" to a pattern and fall asleep. She said that my body had ajusted to my workout at Curves and it was reading my workout as no more uncommon than my walk to the kitchen in the morning to get a cup of coffee! Even though it made since to me, I couldn't help but think, "HOW HORRIBLE IS THAT???" She said it doesn't take too much adjusting of your routine to keep the body guessing. She also said drinking LOTS of water was vital, at least 3 liters and no less ... more is better! (I am challenged here!) She suggested with an exercise routine to rotate it too. She has three routines and rotates to a new one each week. So I gave her suggestions a try ... and guess what??? It works! I go to Curves 4 times a week (I might add at 5:30 in the morning!) and since Curves is VERY ROUTINE ... I had to get creative! I now do the first rotation as my warm up, the 2nd roatation as a good cardo, the third rotation I go only to the machines and do 2 sets on each machine, and then the 4th rotation I cool down. Then there are days I just do the normal 3 rotations and call it good. I also kept a food journal for a week because sometimes we take in more than we THINK we are consuming. And ... I have to watch that I'm not doing the "soft foods" menu since I tend to eat like that naturally. So ... everyone who's feeling STUCK ... WAKE YOUR BODIES UP and give this a try! You might be plesantly surprised like I was. Three days later, I weighed in and smiled ... the scale finally changed!!! Lori in Oregon

Hey Lori in PA ... and my banded anniversary partner! Your restriction sounds just right actually. You know when you're too tight if you can't get liquids down and all foods get stuck. And now that you've got restriction as compared to having fills earlier with not enough restriction ... it's time to learn how to live with just the right amount of restriction. When the weight stops falling off and you've been the same for 3-4 weeks ... it's time for more fill. I too just had my first PBing experience due to taking one Excederine Migraine. I had woke up with a headache and just knew it was one of those that could explode into a mirgaine and after reading on Smart Bandsters that having an asprin here and there won't do damage but it shouldn't be taken often, I took one and chased it down with a couple swallows of milk. I walked from my upstairs kitchen to my kitchen downstairs in my office ... and was SICKER THAN A DOG! I had a LOT of pain and immediately started spitting in the sink. Within a couple minutes it all came up with the force of a fire hydrant! And immediately I felt better but for the rest of the day my band refused food. So yesterday was a liquids day for me. It seems to me Lori that each time we get a fill and experience more restriction, it's like starting all over again with a new beginning. Each time we learn more about what our bodies will allow and not allow. And each time it's a new adventure in Bandsterland! We're learning each step of the way! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/240/140) -25 and 4 more 25's to go!

Hi Bandsters! The second fill was indeed a real fill instead of an adjustment to the first fill. When the doc put the needle in, the last fill is supposed to fill the syringe. The saline is under pressure as if it were like air in an inner tube. But instead of 1.6cc's coming back out (like what when in at the first fill appt) only .4 came out. 1.2 was un-accounted for. The doc suspected I had a leak. But no such thing ... this fill at 1.8 is just right and so far so good that I still have restriction!!! I think I must have prayed all the way home ... 3-4 hours on the freeway. I'm thrilled! Jennifer, I'm not sure when I'll be up next. But I'll be sure to post and say when I'm coming your way, okay? Lovin' my Band, Lori in Oregon

Yes, I agree ... if you don't feel any restriction then there's no sense in waiting for a month to go by before getting another fill. I went last week for my first fill and got 1.6cc's. I called right away for an adjustment because by day two, I didn't feel any restriction. So I went the following week (yesterday) and when the doc stuck the needle in the port ... the usual is that the pressure from the fill will go immediately into the syringe ... but the only amount that came back out was .4cc's. Well NO WONDER I wasn't feeling any restriction! There was 1.2cc's un-accounted for and the doc suspects a leak. HOWEVER ... remember this is the place that makes me "sit up" on the table with the needle in my port and they don't practice tilting the table like other docs do. I heard from another Bandster who happens to use the same doc at that facility and she too had unsuccessful fills. But once she demanded they tilt her on the table instead of having her sit up with the needle in her port ... she had a successful fill. Another Bandster reported the same thing happening ... saying it's a needle leakage from them moving you wrong when the needle is in the port. I told the doc that sitting up with the needle in place could cause damage to the port and he said I had nothing to worry about. I'll be requesting another doctor if I have to go up there again for another fill. So ... yesterday's conclusion was that they gave me 1.8cc's and now I will see in the next couple of days if the restriction remains. This mornings coffee went down with a gurgle which is an excellent sign! Remaining HOPEFUL, Lori in Oregon

Hi Bandster Friends, Thanks for the replies. It's an interesting topic and we can see just how different everyone's experiences are. Mary - So far I've only heard that patients are instructed to not EAT anywhere from 4 - 8 hours before a fill. You're right, drinking doesn't seem to be a problem ... or a requirement by many. Donali - It seems there are THREE different ways of getting a fill. One - is just a fill without any equipment or seeing what's going on inside you. Two - is with a flouroscopy to see the port and needle. Three - is with the barium swallow added to the flouroscopy. I always assumed that when someone said they had flouroscopy that that included the barium swallow too ... but that's not the case. And as for weather to be numbed or not - it seems there are a few things to take into consideration. What comes to mind is PAIN TOLLERANCE; if a port is close to the surface or deep within; and if you're asked to do a "sit up" with a long needle sticking out of you. This subject seems to be one of those that we can only draw on from our own experiences. Anyone with a port near the surface doesn't know what it feels like to have a deep port that's harder to get to ... and vice versa. Thanks again Bandster Friends for your feedback. I'm sure hoping this fill adjustment does the trick for me because I'm ready for the scale to MOVE again! Here's to success for all of you, Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/243/140) http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html

Thanks for the info Larry. Well, no wonder she was able to go in and watch. I'm going back for a fill adjustment on Thursday because the 1.6 fill I got this last Tuesday wasn't enough. I'm thinking that maybe around 2.0 will be a better restriction. Wishing you well, Lori in Oregon

Sorry Kathe, I should have made myself more clear that I was responding to Sue's original post. oops! Sue ... I too attended Fox's seminar but then chose not to go through him for a few reasons and instead I directly contacted Doc Rumbaut. I'm glad to hear you're eating and that your first fill is around the corner. I know Fox doesn't use the fluoroscopy so I'm looking forward to hearing how it all goes for you. Lori from Oregon

Congrats Alexandra! You're a doll and I love reading your posts. Glad to hear that all went well and you're back to tell us how you're doing. Wishing you well from Oregon! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03

Let me guess ... you must be a Fox patient! I've spoke to others in this field and they all say the same thing, that Fox "tweaks" the diet to call it his own. I've heard his patients are more successful ... but then again ... there are many Bandster Pros out there that aren't with Fox and they've done great! Fox also says no sugar, no milk and only eat what you can fit into that tiny medicine dispenser cup ... 2 oz? I felt a few things about his plan were absurd, like staying on a liquid diet for 4 weeks post-op. Most everyone is HUNGRY and want to chew food again by that time! I know someone else that has went through him and never did stick to his "special" diet ... and she lost all her weight in a good amount of time and looks terriffic! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03

Hey Mary, Can you tell us the amount of each fill you got in that time period? I know some doc's like to do a little at a time but with me paying $350 a fill ... and at 6 fills ... that would be $2,100.00. And I'd rather pay that on my loan that I got to get my band in the first place. Just curious of the incerments. Thanks! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03

Great post Michele! You're right ... we need to LISTEN TO OUR BODIES! Sorry to hear that you had a hard time and I hope you're doing better now. Lori in Oregon

Wow Larry! They let your wife watch? I asked if my friend Vonna could come in with me to watch. She's a pre-bandster and she was my support person in Monterrey. I was hoping she could come watch and take pictures so I could post a real fluoroscopy on my website. But no such luck. They wouldn't allow her in because of the radiation exposure. (?) And pictures weren't allowed either. So lucky you that your wife got to watch the whole thing. I was hoping to post pictures to my website so the Newbies could see what it was all about. And I would have LOVED to have gotten a picture of that big needle sticking out of my belly and making me look like a human dart board! That would surely be a determining factor for some Newbies if they really wanted to go through with becoming an official Bandster or not. Keep up the good work Larry! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/243/140) http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html

I also use Tacoma Radiology (TRA) in Yakima. I just got my first fill there with Dr. Weis and loved Karen, the tech. I got a 1.6 fill and then sat there for a bit with the needle sticking out of me ... looking something like a dart board and drinking my Water and eating my applesauce. My mind was racing ... "Is this enough fill?" "Am I feeling restricted?" I LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON! Don't eat or drink before going to a fill appointment! I had a lunch date to meet my coach, Elma, who's a Bandster Pro and known on the Yahoo groups. I hadn't thought much about making a lunch date until realizing that maybe I shouldn't be eating before my fill appointment. However, TRA hadn't said anything about it when I made my appointment and I realized I couldn't really recall ever hearing the Bandster boards talk about this before. So when I went to my appointment and was there trying to decide if I was restricted enough or not ... I said to Karen the tech ... "I'm not sure if I'm full from the applesauce and feeling a good fill ... or because the fill is choking back my lunch from going south inside me." So I took advantage of that 48 hour period to make an appoitment for an adjustment at $100. I most definately need more fill. At first I felt the restriction but my guess is because of eating before going to my appointment. I'm now scheduled to go back this next Thursday. Yes, another LONG drive up the freeway. And when I called back for my adjustment, the receptionist said, "and we ask that you not eat or drink anything 4 hours before your appointment." By gosh, they caught on to what I was saying! Has anyone else heard this discussed on the boards? Is there any such rules at your fill doctor's offices about not eating or drinking before a fill? There are several of us here that have repeated the same thing ... "After first fill I felt no restriction." So I'm wondering if those that have reported lack of restriction that they ate or drank before their appointment. Other than that ... the fill went fine! And to hear that some of you got fills without being numbed first??? No way! I would have refused! There's absolutely no reason they shouldn't have numbed that area before giving a fill. Are the doc's too cheap to spare the supplies it takes to numb someone or are they just being sadists? And after reading about the tossing and turning and man handling of a port ... that's uncalled for too. To me that seems like inexperience showing. Isn't that why we pay them BIG BUCKS to do the fluoro? So they can see right where they are with the needle and port? Hope to hear some posts about the eating and drinking before a fill. Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/243/140)

One thing that would be helpful is if we could keep the chat room window open separately from surfing. Then we could remain in the room until someone jumps in. But since that's not how it works ... how about everyone spreading the word at their other favorite Bandster sites? It would be good for people to know that a Bandster chat room is available. I think it's just too weird that nobody uses the room when chat rooms are so popular. So it seems to me that just not enough people know about it ... yet. I know Alex posted on the Bandster Yahoo groups before to announce this site ... but it's got to be done on a regular basis. Just like the big ANNOUNCEMENT boards that are posted that someone had surgery or there's a meeting scheduled ... seems the same needs to be done for LapBandTalk. Think so??? The chat room still has potential but it needs to be MARKETED! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html

Well good grief ... I have an error in my website link on the post I just made for the Oregonian support site. My honey pointed this out to me ... and I swear it wasn't my fingers that made the mistake! Oh ... I know what happened. I was going to insert a smiley face and when I put the curser where I want the face to appear ... it always appears at the bottom of my post! Weird! Okay ... giving it a go again. Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html

Oh boy ... I can just imagine what I'm going to SOUND LIKE after getting my first fill next week. Everything you guys are describing that has happened to you after fills is what I've felt since my surgery. Hiccups ... hard ones and only one or two. And the gurgles ... makes people stop and say, "Was that you?" Yes, indeed it was. And it sounds like this journey is only going to get more interesting with time ... and fills. And as for PBing ... I avoid it anyway I can. Seems to me it's a normal red flag that your body does to send you a message, "Hey there Bud ... slow down and taste that meal." Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kbauer/Lori/lorilapband.html

Congrats Michelle on getting a date scheduled. I wish you well and a happy Bandster life ahead. Lori in Oregon MAN I'M BEHIND BEHIND BEHIND ON POSTING HERE!!!

Okay ... I can not hold back anymore since both Lisa and Alexandra have also joined in on this once "private" conversatation ... however Jen started this thread off by asking how everyone else is doing emotionally. So ... the Big Swede is jumping in now. Just to get this out of the way ... HI SISTER LISA!!! I think pre-banded I felt like I was somewhere between panic and mourning ... and at the same time estatic with gladdness and scared to be going into the unknown ... and surgery. It seemed like a HUGE range of emotions every day I got closer to my surgery. Then suddenly ... I had an all time onion bagel attack. And of course had to smear gobs of philly cream cheese on top of it after I toasted it. (I think I'm drooling at the thought) And acutally, I'm not really a bread lover ... but suddenly the strangest things were an obsession. I knew ahead of time that after banding, bread was going to be off my food list forever. And as Alexandra said ... I too had my share of last suppers. And as for things I now miss ... I miss CHUGGING down a glass of milk. I miss having a Starbucks Mocha Frapachino and since I'm still on the liquid/soft food stage ... I'm drooling for some pot roast or chicken. Just weird stuff that really have no meaning in my life at all. They are all just fleeting thoughts and then they're gone again. I must add that no matter the emotional roller coaster, it's nothing that can't be overcome. But it can feel like mourning a lost friend. And so to help myself out ... when I'm feeling a sad loss ... I turn that sad loss into a happy loss and simply JUMP ON THE SCALES!!! Everything negative has a positive side ... and I'm now discovering that it's okay for me to have these moments and perhaps they are necessary like a child leaning to walk. I have to walk before I can run ... and this time I'm running all the way to the finish line! Blessings to all of you, Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/245/140) Weigh in Wednesday in two days!

Snicker Snicker ... That's what we all love about you Alexandra, you just lay it on the line and say it so well too! I'm glad to read your postings and hear all your words of wisdom and insight. Those that can appreciate you best are those that are seeking truth and not just looking for someone to tell them what they want to hear. I value someone speaking truth. So Alexandra ... thanks for speaking out! Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03

Joanne, I'm in full agreement with Alexandra. Also, one is far more extreme than the other ... bypass more extreme by far over the lapband. And even if the bypass patients lose weight faster in the beginning ... the studies show that the end result in weight loss long term are the same. I believe it's a lot healthier on the body to lose the weight slow and steady. And when you say you heard the bypass is more reliable, where did you hear that? I'm not sure if you've been hanging around the Bandster site for long but it would be time well spent to hang out at several spots and hear more feedback from the Bandsters about the band being a most reliable weight loss method. Many people here have lost incredible amounts of weight with the band and have kept it off ... AND ... they still have their innards in the same place God put them! Anyhow, please be sure to do a whole lot of research before choosing either method so you know what you're getting yourself into. Going to a couple different seminars that the doctors hold would also be to your advantage. Wishing you the best, Lori in Oregon Dr. Rumbaut 07/09/03 (265/245/140) Check out my webpage: http://www.cascadeaccess.com/~kurt/Lori/lorilapband.html