Vera

I agree......

Who's the Manufacture? I have an AMI band which has a buckle like a tie wrap.

Hot!! Have fun.

Congratulations and welcome home. Keep up on your vitamins, you may start feeling weak. Your body will want to store fat instead of burning it. Some people feel fine the first few days then crapy. Walk when you can.

I'll miss your Honey-suckle blowing in the wind..... Don't let your Hulk Underoos get in a bunch.

Congratulations!!!

and the kink. The picture says it. I want to express my greatest appreciation to Dr Suesana and Dr. Sanchez. Dr. Suesana is an Excellent radiologist and surgeon. When I arrived in Monterrey Mx, I was sent directly to her for a full check under flouro. She had me sideways, both sides close-ups bending different ways at the same time using contrast and taking pics of the X-rays about 10 of them. She was concerned that the contrast wouldn’t flow in and out of my port freely. That evening while at the guesthouse, Dr. Suesana, Dr. Sanchez and some of his staff came to discuss their findings. This was quite impressive. All the doctors viewing my X-ray films. We all saw the kink. The next morning, in surgery I was greeted by all of the same people I saw the night before. Dr. Suesana preformed the majority of the procedure with Dr. Sanchez in tow. I was awake for the whole thing and felt every tug and pull as my port area was opened up and the exploration reveled this kink with a hole. The repair was conducted and port was accessed to insure easy flow and no other leaks. They were able to pull out 4cc’s and installed 7.5cc’s. Within 40 minutes I was sewn up with about and inch and half incision. I will write more, as I just got back home. I just love this great team Dr. Sanchez has. Wish he lived closer.

She Smokes Smooth ...Stands With a Fist. Had my first real meal last night, half of a small Santa Fe chicken salad and felt full. Pat, Your just starting out, 1cc first fill is average and you probably don't feel much restriction yet. Just have your doctor/radiologist remove the prior fill before adding more, that way you know some was in there. I don't want to alarm any one that leaks are common, they're NOT. The leak I had, Iv been been tracking for about a year. First formed a kink that was collapsing the tube that when I was getting my fills, saline would go in but none would come back out. Then I noted restriction was good for a few days right after a fill then gone. Kathy, The section of tubing removed was about an inch. They didn't need to add more tubing just put in a connector fitting(tiny straw), the tubing then slide over the connector from both sides and sew together. The total length of tubing from port to band is about 7 inches. To see a full band to port look on Inameds websight, all band are similar. Ask your doctor, he should show you one. Cost for this fix... Dr Sanchez takes care of his people, he didn't ask for anything. My flight was 411.00 round trip. Flouroscopy check and x-rays (1,300 pesos) $118.00. Hospital cost, out-patient surgery (25,000 peso's) $230. Dr Suesana and attending surgeon (25,000 pesos) $230.00, that's just a tip. Transportation around town and to and from the airport about $50.00. Guesthouse 3 nights free. Total about $1,050.00 OK I don't want people freaking out thinking you have a leak. Know your body and your doctor. Restriction can very from week to week. It's so nice having this banded family of such concerned people. Thanks :banana

Thanks Marie, I could aways use hugs! The other reason I missed my flight was cause they told me to catch the train to the other terminal....I waited 15 minutes for that train....It never came. Leatha is still on my cell's phone book from Vegas. She almost got a call but I would have been a bitch. Cycle started too while I was in the airport and none of the bathrooms have supplies. let it rain

Trica Yes, the kink caused the hole. The only reason you should become paranoid is if the doc can't get any previous fill(saline) out. If it's hard to get saline in or out, be concerned. But it's good to have your band checked under flouro at least once a year. My band looked prefect. No reason to change my band at all.

Hi Patty, I would have the band replaced. I just had some tubing repaired due to a leak, but if it was in my band. I would have had the band replaced. Good luck with your decision.

I'm so glad I had this fixed, I had been in denial that something was wrong. I want to give a special thanks to Lisa! She opened my eyes even with everything she's going through. Thanks Lisa. Becky, I asked for the tubing, before giving it up they took alot of pics of it. Tricia they didn't see the hole in the x-rays, only the kink. In the pic above the kink has straiten out all you can see is a slight bend. The hole was in the fold of the kink.

Renee I was banded 3 years after my colon was removed. I haven't seen my GI doctor in years. My band doctor was well informed of all my history. You will be having some gas issues, thus most bandsters have more gas issues then pre-band, reguardless of UC.

Penni LOL, I never PBed on protein. That was good

No Yvonne Long story...Port looks great, band looks great. I had a kink in the tubbing, at the fold a hole formed. I knew I had a slow leak, and I/we found it.

Hello Lady's I love all of you. Check out my Hole....post Forgot to mention my band looks great Dr. Suesana had such good close ups of my band. It really looks good, prefect, no slips, the barrium was showing a egg size pouch. Next time your under flouro ask to move around over to your right side(left side up)...it really show a great picture of the band. Maybe your doc's already doing this, too cool. I missed my flight in Dallas, customs is slooow. Then I was told to go to A11, even the screen showd A11. Got there, no C11! I don't like the Dallas airport. So happy to be home.

Wow Renee You have UC. I had it could'nt take the meds or prednisone and I never went into remission. Ulcerative colitis is ugly, I spent many nights crying on the toilet till I had my colon removed and my rectum reconstructed(I do not have a bag). Greg this proceedure does not work for Crohns. I've heard of doctors recomending the band for colitus, again the best to you, God bless you. I lost my sister to breast cancer 16 years ago and she still comes into my dreams.

Betty, your so sweet. You guys remembered me..(tears) I'm choked up. I was just checking my flight trying to get my boarding pass, it's 5 hour flight that I'm not looking forward to. But I'm looking forward to finding this leak and getting back on the wagon. I'm abit more nervous this time around, but ready to deal with this. I've been doing so much reading lately on several boards. A lady with a VG band, similar in size to my band the AMI, says she only gets restriction for about 2 weeks after a fill and is asking for an other fill within a month. I also talked to Don Mills a few weeks ago he says the VG band is for larger BMI's/Stomachs, where I was thinking it was the latest and greatest. Trying to do research on which type of bands erodes more often is virtually impossible. and there's what Sue said....most of us will only lose about 65% with just the band alone, GOT to sexercise (blossom) more often if I'm going to lose that last 30%. There's allot going on in my head and I'm probably not making any sense. So... If this leak is in the band, not just in the tubing or port, I will be re-banded. Deep down inside I want to be rebanded. I want an Inamed 10cm band. I have this large AMI band that is unserviceable in the states. Ya I could have lived with this leak it's quite slow, but I'm not going to. This is my last trip to Mexico for medical reasons. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers. Tricia thanks for all the PM's and for the weather report...cause now I know which flip-flops to bring, right Bright...as she sits in the snow. Carol, say hi to everyone at McKeen's support group meeting...wish I was there. I'll report back on Sunday night. Love you guys.

Hi Renee Congratulations both ways. I don't know anyone who has suffered cancer and has been banded. But I know cancer is awful and watched my sister battle it. Best of luck to you.

Hi Karen I was thinking about you as well. Sounds like your doing pretty good. Hugs to you too!!

Now That I think about it, If I'm compelled to tell others about my Lapband and he's around, he'll say "check out her port"

I'm so sorry you lost Niko. Thanks for thinking of us as family as well.

Try not to itch, Sharon Mine is also an outtie, My SO is in love with it??? Don't know why but he's allway asking to feel it.. It's a good thing

Sending prayers

I got an error message once the other day "you only have 30 minutes to edit" since then I'm double checking before submitting...get spell check tooo