leatha_g

Works for me. However many can fit into my apartment are welcome, cept I don't cook much.. I'm the world's worst hostess, I'm afraid.

NO and yes.. lol

Yes! We've missed you! Glad to hear you're doing okay!

:banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh (doin the cabbage patch) PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!

tank yew bery mush.

LMAO:D

To answer your question. These are mere possibilities that you need to be aware of. Having said that, it's not all that uncommon to hear of port issues, or tubing leaks, even minor slippages or pouch dilation. Although there are improvements being made, it stands to reason that we are on the forefront of something new and wonderful here. So, it makes sense that we would be the one's who are in on the learning curve of the why's and how's of these minor complications. Even at that, the percentages are still very small compared to the amount of people being banded and having no significant complications. There are people abroad who have had their bands for up to 10-12 years. In the states, the longest I know of is 6 years. Most of the longer term bandsters can be found on Yahoo messageboards, some on spotlighthealth.com. One of the longest is Jessie Ahroni who is a PHD Nurse Practitioner who is also works in the field, doing fills for banded patients and she also speaks extensively at seminars. Jessie has also written a book which you can find at www.ahroni.com . She is very no-nonsense in her approach, but probably the utmost authority on bandster do's and don'ts. You can purchase her book and have it shipped or you can also purchase it as an E-book online. I think reading her daily posts on Yahoo Smartbandsters is even better. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmartBandsters/ but, for support and comraderie, I don't think you can beat this forum. For myself. I encountered absolutely no problems whatsoever my first year. Then I got over-filled by an inexperienced over-zealous opportunist and was told my band had slipped. (no symptoms until the over-fill) Then, suddenly I had severe reflux and had to have my band un-filled. In the meantime, I had moved from San Francisco back to Texas and I had a whale of a time finding someone who would even SEE me. My band is FDA approved, Inamed band, with no complications until this point and the door was slammed in my face at ever corner. Of course, there were insurance issues too. Some took mine, some didn't, but mostly I was told "If we did not place your band, we do not take you as a patient." Luckily, my PCP got on the phone and located a doctor in my area who had much less experience with bands but was a great wls surgeon in his own right who hadn't yet adopted the same rule as the others and I was re-banded by him and he continues to be a great doctor for me. As for my future and any possible complications? Who knows? Does anyone ever really know their future? The only one I am sure of is the one WITHOUT the band and that is almost certain debilitation or untimely death due to strokes, heart attacks or diabetes (I've already had clots in my legs and lungs. My odds were multiplied already. ) So, any complication that I may face with the band seems to me to be maintenance far less troublesome than the other surgery options and a minor nuisance compared to the lifestyle I was living at 250 lbs.

I'm sorry to hear about your port, Penni. For the whole year after my surgery, my port would get extremely sore if I wore jeans that were more binding or had to sit in a bended position for a long period of time. I was always quite afraid of too tight clothing or abdominal exercises. Interestingly, now that I've passed a certain weight and things have moved some, I don't have that pain anymore. (thankfully) So, hopefully, things will get better at some point. I found it rather worrisome too. Good luck at the docs! BTW - you need to check your scale. There is NO way that you weight 247!!

It's a bit confusing, the terminology, however, I understand that it is entirely possible that BOTH places are called your PORT site. Reason being, the port to your band may well be stationed in the sternum area AND, the 'port' site where the laporoscopic procedure was done is definitely in the lower left area. This is called the 'port' site for the procedure because it is where the largest of laporoscopic instruments is introduced into the abdomen. This is a general term for all lap procedures, not just the band. So, it could well be true that you do, in fact, have a sternal port. I believe they can see on x-ray if the band port has come undone. Sometimes, they do go in and fix them in a minor procedure. I hope this is not the case for you, but if it is, take heart that this is not all that uncommon and very easily taken care of. Here is a link that might help you to understand this better. http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/tectec.html Keep us posted on what develops!

Go right ahead. I sincerely believe there should be an all-out campaign for continuity of care for the lapband patient. Without follow-up care (for life) the band will only be labeled as just another 'snake oil' type promise. I find that very sad.. :think

LOL. Seems like she's backpeddling when someone said her house! lol Houston is definitely do-able, or any other place in Texas.

It may be that you have restriction enough for this to be your initial sign of fullness. I had the same thing and eventually learned this was my body telling me it was time to stop. If you have restriction - Congratulations! Not everyone does. Try to become aware if this happens after a few bites. If so, sounds like the band is doing it's job! Welcome to the board!

I took pics the day I left for surgery and after. Then, I lost them somewhere in LA . It's okay, I guess. I had others that show my miserable-ness, but I am disappointed that I lost the ones of my returning from surgery. I'm sure whomever found them got quite an eyeful too. lol. This is part of your life. Even though we all hate it, it IS who we are or have been. We are all caterpillars, wrapped in our cocoons. In the not too distant future, you'll break through and begin to fly. So stretch out those wings and get ready, girl! Thanks for posting your pics. You have now crossed the threshold of moving forward and you can never go back to being a worm again!:eek:

Welcome Cort!! So glad to have you here and congratulations on the decision to reclaim your life! We have all been right where you are, so we understand how you are feeling. Let me just say that I too, was dying a slow, torturous death having had blood clots in both my legs and lungs, cholesterol of 306 and severe swelling in my extremeties. My top weight was 250, for a 5ft body and I simply could not stand one more pound. I have since lost 67lbs and although I've had some minor bumps in the road, I am very pleased that I've been banded and hope to finish my journey soon. Please feel free to browse all the great info and ask anything you feel we might be able to help you with! Good luck to you on your banding journey!

Many US docs will not touch a band that is not placed by them, moreover, if they do, they often will not touch a band that has not been FDA approved. I have, however, heard of fill docs (who don't do surgeries) and free standing Radiology centers who will fill any type of band. I'm not sure how widespread that is, but I know of some here in Texas. It's a bit of a gamble to go out of the country and just hope that you can find someone to do your aftercare AFTER. After my experience just moving from one state to another, I'd sincerely beg of you to make certain you have aftercare BEFORE you are banded. Even then, be cautious as I have heard of people who made phone calls and got a 'yes' from some offices only to be turned away once they returned from being banded. This is a situation I hope Inamed is working on, but it doesn't seem to be getting resolved very quickly. Truly, as more and more people get banded, this is going to create a widespread healthcare problem. Doctors move, patients move, life happens and we're still banded. Some concessions will have to be made in order to provide continuity of care for the banded patient, regardless of where/who banded them. I'll climb off the my soapbox now..

Woohoo Betty!! I'm so excited for you! We're getting down to countdown time! I hope you're stocking up on shakes and Jello and popsicles and soups! Please let me know if there is anything I can do! I sent you my phone numbers (in PM) in case you just wanna call sometime!

Very nice meeting you also, John! I'm just sorry I missed the show. I do hope we can all get together again in the not too distant future! Thanks for putting up with us! Leatha

Vera, I wonder if you'd mind sending the actual pics to email since we can't save them from the PhotoJam? Those are really some good photos. my email is leatha_g@hotmail.com if you don't mind. Thank you! Leatha

Thank you Vera!! That is absolutely the neatest thing! And the music and embellishments give just the sort of feel of the whole weekend - fast and lively! Quite a difference from my existence a year ago! Thank you all for a great memory making weekend!

Cute pics!! Thanks for positing them. You're gonna do great!

Kelly Ann, Your sentiments are exactly how most of us felt before embarking on this great journey. Yes, it's quite common to be fearful. It's surgery - life changing surgery. It's a big committment to regaining your health and your true spirit. You'll find that the surgery itself is generally not too debilitating. Now and then someone comes home with swelling that causes them some discomfort the first few days, but mostly, everyone comes home and recovers quicker than they anticipated and besides the hunger that tends to rear it's head after the initial healing days, things get back to normal within the first couple of weeks. By my 5th day, I felt like a new person. Walking is your friend. Even if it is just in circles around your living room, this is the one thing that will help you the most. You sound as if you are truly ready to make this committment and I wish you only the best!! Keep coming here for support and encouragement. We've all been right where you are and we'll be glad to help you in any way we can. Good luck! Let us know how it goes for you!

Welcome to the board and best of luck to you on your surgery!!

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I would think that since alcohol is an irritant and can cause gastritis and esophageal irritation, this could set the stage for erosion. While I enjoy having a margarita or two on occasion, I wouldn't encourage it on a regular basis. That's a good idea, Penni - about drinking water to flush it through.

Darn, Ginny. Sorry to hear about the ticket. I guess we have more in common than we thought. lol I just got one last week, myself - and my winnings will have to go toward defensive driving or a $190 ticket, too. Dat's me, lethal leadfoot...