futuremodel

I experience the same pain.

I might not give you the healthy advice but I was where you are now and I was eating all the right things but not consuming enough calories and not loosing weight. One day I decided to eat a candy bar to give myself the calories. After that I began to lose weight again slowly.

Im 3 weeks post op and have lost 18 pounds and I feel good about the results. I rarely feel hungry and usually eat just to get my calories in. For the moment I live in Europe and its been easier for me to not gain any weight since I've lived over here the last 4 months because of the different style of cooking here. Well in December I will be visiting the states to see my family and my mother is already preparing all my favorite Southern foods for my arrival. I'm scared of gaining weight but I want to enjoy myself on Christmas and the New Years. BTW I haven't told any of my family that I been banded, only my husband knows and I prefer to keep it private. Would you suggest that I get a fill before I go home or that I take the risk and see if I can maintain the way I have been eating thus far?

I'm wondering why Americans more often do not consider the lap band procedure overseas? From reading others posts on here, I think America put people through too much to have the procedure done. In my opinion it is a way of collecting money. I'm an American and I live in Europe now and had my procedure performed by Dr. Chris Bruyne in Belgium. I don't regret anything about the process. First off I had to approximately $5,600 dollars for the package that was offered which included 3 night stay in hotel for your companion, my two night stay in the hospital, taxi ride from the airport and to and from the hospital and all test, X-rays and lab work. The hospital was clean and the nurses were attentive and I received all the pain medicine to make me feel as comfortable as possible. Maybe it's the paying out of pocket that throws people off but I believe if its something you ready want then you'll save for it. At the end all I had to pay for was the meals my husband ate at the hotel and for our plane tickets (most times you can find tickets from the states to Europe for about $880). I'm a medical student now and I really wish America would catch on to the idea of stop wasting peoples time with their psychological and constant doctor visits, denials by the insurance companies and I can go on and on about how we are slowly advancing in medicine due to others chosen "Ethical" precautions and just do the procedure... BTW I can't wait to loose my weight because I'll be going back for a breast lift and tummy tuck; which is also much cheaper here!!!!!

@bromo,I don't make statements without assuming I'm going to met with resistance. I feel if you cannot handle others statements then you shouldn't post. I'm not saying the care there is of less standards but I having lived abroad in numerous places and have witness the things that occurs in the health care field and it is my opinion that a lot of Americans have a negative outlook on (international healthcare) anything that isn't American. Its as if most believe life does not exist outside of the U.S. of A.

@54Shirley If you are suggesting that Dr abroad are not up to the U.S.A. standards I would have to refute this. If you haven't noticed many Americans doctors are internationally taught.

@violet953 my family has a way of telling how to spend my money and about the things I dont need. They would also start begging me for money. I lost almost 100 pounds on my own without the band and they would get on my last nerve by telling me I dont need it.

My post was not me judging those who chose not to get surgeries overseas but a question of why if it is available why wont more people consider it. However, I was judging the United States medical practice procedure and being that I will soon be in the field and I have a freedom of speech I am well within my means to say that there needs to be some improvements.

As for me I do not live in Belgium but my Dr does my fills free in Hungary. I can understand those that might worry about complications and maybe its different in America than in Europe but Dr tend to network over here and I can go anywhere to receive my fills. I also researched where I might go to receive fills when I return to the states and I have had no problems finding Dr close by that will fill my band. As @Shellyac my first language is English and the hospital all of the Dr and Nurses spoke English...we are a world without boarders and most countries are quite familiar with the English language. Im not speaking for all Dr in all countries but the Dr who performed my surgery is the number one lap band Dr in Europe and has performed 1000s of surgeries and has had no complications in performing the surgery.

Anyone knows where to get a fill in Hungary?

Do you know a place that does fills in Hungary?