poopgirl

Ok, so I had my surgery in November of 2008. I just wanted to share my experience with this whole ordeal. I lost most of my weight within the first six months (mainly due to all the vomiting that I was doing). I also gained new health problems. GERD is my main concern. I had hair loss. My teeth are rotting. My finger nails have become extremely brittle and thin. The night coughs are a new problem to add to my list. Another concern of mine is that every time that I went in for an adjustment, I would see a different doctor and they would give me different information. One doctor would say I needed 7 ccs of saline while others said 6 and others 5. I have no idea how many ccs my band needs. They are the doctors, they should be telling me. Anyways, I have horrible night coughs (started in January of this year). I haven't had asthma in over 15 years!!! Then this year...WHAM...I had an asthma attack due to the night coughs!!! My last adjustment I had 6ccs and requested they take out 2. I haven't had coughs but I can eat whatever I want! So I went back to fill me up to 5 ccs. The night coughs started again. Wheezing every night!!! So I had all Fluid completely removed from my band. I'm dieting on my own now. After my surgery I thought I would have been given instructions for after care...NEGATIVE!!! I had to research everything for myself using the internet and through trial and error on what foods I can or cannot eat!!! I'm very disappointed with the service that I had received from my surgery center. I called 1-800-GET-THIN and ended up at the Beverly Hills center for Top Surgeons. Three months after my surgery, my doctor was fired!!! Also, the Omidi brothers that own Top Surgeons in Beverly Hills, had their medical licenses suspended and revoked!!! You can google them for yourselves!!! Dr. Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi. Overall, I would NOT recommend the lap band surgery for ANYONE. If you want to lose weight, just do it with pure diet and exercise. Now if I have done something wrong with my lap band experience, please advise. I haven't met anyone that has had a weight loss success from the lap band. If you have had a success story, please do share!!! I didn't pay 15k to have this stupid implant in me for nothing.

Starting weight 285lbs 11/2008 Plateaued at 215lbs 09/2009 H E L P

Ok, my dad went to see his doctor to see if he should do the lap band surgery or some other type of geriatric surgery since his PPO insurance covers it, but his doctor told him NO!!! It was his primary care physician that told him he is not stable enough to have the surgery performed. I told him to get a second and third opinion but he believes whatever his doctor tells him. What do you think? My dad is 64 years old He is 5'8 He weighs 330lbs He has been obese all his life Now for his current health: He is taking blood thinners He is pre-diabetic and takes Byetta injections (as recommended by this same primary care doctor) He was diagnosed with CHF about 15 years ago and is on meds for that He had back surgery twice...last one was March 2009 and takes a gazillion pain killers (but I really think he is addicted to his oxycodone and somas) He is an alcoholic (consumes daily) He has normal blood pressure (120/80) I'm no doctor but I think if he was stable for the same back surgery twice (within a year apart) then he should be able to have a simple laproscopic procedure done! Oh yeah and one more thing...he has a fear of surgery....aka...general anesthesia.

Wow! To go through that must have been a nightmare!!! I want to see another center and doctor so badly but when I did my surgery it was completely out of pocket because I did not qualify for the surgery through my *** medical plan. They said I was NOT obese, just overweight, and to be covered for surgery, I needed to be "obese". Well anyways, I will continue searching for another place to go to that won't cost an arm and a leg. Especially now that I weigh 215lbs, no medical insurance will consider me obese and cover my fills.

Wow!!! So fast!!!

Thanks!

How long does it take for your adjustments? From start to finish?

Wow the people on this forum are really something else! Suspicious? What is suspicious about creating an account then posting two topics? Am I supposed to post none for a week or something? Didn't know there was a rule about how many posts I can put up.

What is not legitimate about my post? I attended an orientation to learn about the lap band surgery at the 1-800-GET-THIN center in Beverly Hills, CA. They scheduled me for surgery two weeks later. I was told that the implant would be surgically placed in me. I was explained to in detail that I would have a port in which I would get fills done. After my surgery, two months had passed before I had my first follow up visit. For those two months, I thought I had the band tightened and I had found out during my visit that there was no saline in it yet. Not my fault they gave me wrong information before and after surgery. The medical licenses that were revoked and suspended occurred after my surgery date. And yes there was no post op care period. Extreme FAIL on their part. Two years later I received a letter in the mail from the surgery center which included a list of what foods to eat and to avoid. That same month I went in for a fill and I received a different list of foods to eat and avoid. I only can do what's given to me as far as following instructions. But two years later seems very unorganized on their part.

I would say that your eyes are deceiving you.

I reside in Los Angeles, California...can anyone recommend a good center to me that is not affiliated with 1-800-GET-THIN? I appreciate everyone's feedback. Since 2008, I have seen over 14 different doctors for my adjustments and every single one of them has given me different instruction as to what to eat and what not to eat or how many ccs I should have in my band. Over ½ the time that I have been in for an adjustment, my fills take about ½ an hour because the doctors cannot find my port! Is this normal? I have seen videos on youtube of lap band fills taking under a minute!!!! AMAZING!!! Guess I am seeing all the new doctors fresh out of med school! HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA I think I will give it another shot and call tomorrow to get a fill. Oh...I did have a question if anyone knows...is it ok to chew gum or drink from a straw? Some doctors tell me yes while others are telling me absolutely NOT! So I'm utterly confused! O_o

I have never been able to go below 215lbs...been over a year now. I don't gain anything but then again I'm not losing anything. I guess I'm just destined to be fat the rest of my life. I am 5'10 and weigh 215lbs.