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Wow Kelly I think that was the right move and knowing you could go back in a few weeks for an adjustment is a good feeling. Being able to see your band and know everything is fine is such a relief. I felt more restriction a few weeks after my 2nd fill and I do'nt want to be too tight, even those first few bites remind me I have a band, slow down. I'm so glad to hear from you. It sounds like you have a concern and caring doctor. 39!!!

Well Hello! Claire I read about osmossis where some of your fill does not come out, evaporates?? On my second fill (blind) we didn't get exactly what they claimed was put in on the first fill(done by another Dr.) We did see some air in the syringe the dr. claimed it was in the needle and theres alway risks of leaks...I only have had 2 fills and am up to 3.5cc's(I'll be doing the corversion to mls). So far today we went SF and had seafood, I couldn't eat half my plate. Chocolate ooooo just had some thanks to XMAS Try not to eat too much. Sarellano Did you just have your band placed resently, this Dec? The 3rd week got me, could eat anything, try to get your protien in!!! Once you get a fill, restriction... I called quite a few places and always mentioned that I have an AMI band with a titanium port, Can I get I fill? Your first fill should be done under flouro. Obesityhelp.com has listings of bariatric doctors for starters. I have a great fill dr. in San Jose CA. Dr. McKeen(southbaybariatrics.com) The Obtech address is in the UK I have all the info at work but I believe its know as the swedish/swiss band??? AMI aka AGB. I had to pull teeth for info and Obtech does not respond to my e-mails..... I'm still VERY happy with my band. I'm so glad to hear from all of you. I'll wright more soon.

Correct! Dr. Sanchez has someone who picks you up from the airport-to the hotel-to the hospital...back to the airport. There may be several people to pick up here or there so theres a bit of waiting but your all there for the same reason. I flew out of San Jose CA, stop in Huston- into Monterrey flight cost me $560. RT check expedia..cheap tickects... I went by myself but there is room for a guest in your hotel room and in the Hospital. Pack lite, you don't want to carry heavy luggage back after surgery. I brought a few waters and some gatoraid, it came in handy the day after back in the hotel and till I got home. My other half was supportive "Your Health comes first" was his concern. Others could'nt understand why I wen't to MX and by my self. If you use this tool correctly Your husband will see the difforance. Its good your looking into fills , also decide what kind of band you want and demand it. (I have and AMI) I am also still paying for my band via credit cards. Dr. Sanchez did a wonderfull job!!! Good luck I understand your planning, once I decided the band was for me I made it happen. When your in the airport think of me, I'm with you all the way Good luck

Gabby I had my surgery done in Mexico, and both fills that I'v had in California they won't look at my insurance. I have Blue X PPO. I always try to get them to use my insurance, but they won't. My fills were done by difforant dr.s, the last only cost me $75.00 thats because it was this dr.s first blind fill he had ever done. I don't know if he'll charge me that again, right now I'm at 3.5cc's and have fair/good restriction. I don't know if I was any help.... good luck. It sound like you might have a blanket deal, fills included with surgery if your already approved for the procedure? Get the details. again good luck!!

Hi Claire I have an AMI band and I'm always compareing my band effects/events and situations to other bands and have very simular results except fill amounts. Have you had a fill yet? how much? and do you feel restriction? Welcome to this Forum.

Alexis You look Grand!! congratulations! You are such a insperation. Boobs are for baby's and pleasure....If you have them, use them, LOL. My sister had large reductions based on back pain and her insurance paid out in full, we have a history of breast cancer which she/we fear and have lost our mom and sister. I'm the only one in the family that understands her fear and why she did it. She is also obesit. I did do research on obesity and breast cancer and the only thing I found was it effects afro-americans in menopause. On the news just yesterday "new research" says exercise can reduces the chance of breast cancer. They didn't say why but I believe its to reduce the fat around the breast cells. I do get off topic sometimes but remember to do self exams. It still affects 1 in 9 women. Its so good to hear from you Alexis and see you too! You look Grand!

JNJ OK Prime rib has enough fat as 3 big macs Just thought I'd say that before Donali... I'm having fun! gotta love me.... Prime rib is the worst.. It is sweet! but so is life!

Oh Sue Here I told the ol' man to buy Inamed stock..... As an AMI banded. I'm curious to how JNJ has posssibly Obtech, CJ medical under them. Please tell me what you know. please I have related so much of this Forum. I and my band feel simular to all your experiences. As I compare my band to most they are usally Inameds. I do see so many simularities. Believe me this morning I said Donoli's right "Don't lay down directly after you eat, Waite 2+ hours, I'm just a sponge here. Tonight I had Prime rib! 2 inches took me 20 min...PS I had a glass of wine before dinner oooh I love horserdish and garlic. had to take home a doggie bag As far as fills I'm 3.5cc's (sweet I think) and my fill dr. knows all about my band and the only other difforance besides the band itself (size etc..) is it has a titanium port, I'm good with the pkg. that I have. Tonight people told me I'v thinned, even in the last mo. yet maybe 4 lbs. I'm still happier!!! my self esteem is climbing finally. Thanks in advance for any info....

Carmen Good for you! Thats wonderful, Keep it up.

Obtech may be a distributor?? Its listed with C J Medical on my band which is an A.M.I. known also as a swiss band. The AMI is 11mm tall can hold 9.75cc's total. The Inamed(FDA approved) is 9mm tall.(don't know how much it will hold) note Inamed has a 11mm band also, which is not the FDA approved band, but is also use by some Mexico doctors.

I just got off the cycle! I try and do an hour non-stop, twice a week. If nothing else my legs will get thin:rolleyes: Does chaseing kids count as excersize?

Michelle You look great!!! Do you feel lighter? Does your head spring forward...LOL

Congratulation Roberta Wonderful weight loss! Check out Robin down on the "Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery" forum.

Nancy I apologize for talking over your thread. I hit my own nerve. I was sitting here looking forward to New Years, Going on a party boat (with sis in law whos flying out from Chicago) and about 11 others in the SF bay and just wondering what if....................My self esteem hasn't been all that high lately. Anyway I want to hear about whats going on with you. I'm trying to make plans to do stuff and its not easy, any advice? I wearing Black I'm serious.

Well said Bright There's the restriction in your mind that says " I'm ganna get sick if I don't stop now." I can only eat so much turkey, fish or chicken and feel it starting to fill into my esophagus. I feel full before I feel satisfied. My lap-bone is connected to my brain-bone, Sue your so funny!

Marsha I had Dr. Sanchez and stayed at the same Hospital and the same Hotel as Sue. It sound like the same trip as Hers and everything she says is correct. Cost was $10,850. Good Luck:cool:

Hello All I'v been really sick for a few days and been mostly in bed but I have experienced some greater restriction in the last week. I believe it was Donali who said she got more restriction 4 weeks out from her fill(correct me if I'm wrong). My last fill was on 11/21/03 and I'm up to 3.5cc's note I have an AMI band which is taller then an Inamed band. I make these references cause I also study the differences and similarities if any among bands. Anyway during Thanksgiving I was able to eat alittle of everything with some restriction, I take vitamins cut in half every morning, I even have a carbonated water occasionally, not a problem. Then this last week I can't seem to keep small amounts of chicken, turkey and some fish down, chewed well. So I'v gone to yogurts, protein shakes... and really chopping food up. The worst episode was the meds for my sinus infection(Z-Pack) where I was to take 2 pills the first day then 1 there after. Well I chopped them in half and drank them down with a ton of water, there I was 15 minutes later on the bathroom floor with OBSTRUCTION, something was stuck and it hurt. All that could go through my mind was "here I go to the Hospital.. should I try and throw up" it finally passed, 10 minutes later again on the bathroom floor, the pain was intense!! Theirs something about a nice cold bathroom floor LOL. Well it happened a total of 3 times, the other half of the pill?? Now I'm crushing pills and learned a lesson. Boy am I restricted. The other thing I noticed is I don't feel very hungry maybe cause I'v been sick? I just thought I'd mention my experiences and also for those not noticing any restriction after a fill, just give it alittle more time. Then again everybody's different.

Sue I'm laughing so hard. 2 of my friends called me Brenda Vaccaro.

Thanks Donali "Is it a cold that you have? It is very possible that the additional mucus will make you feel tighter as well. " Sinus infuc tion with the flu... Very interesting, Mucus I have! I'm feeling much better thanks, You should hear me talk I sound like minnie mouse, I had no voice 2 days ago. Thanks again

Anne Back in June, I did call my insurance co. to see if they covered lap and was told with "medical review". After reading and speaking to others regaurding the approval process, I realized my chances were slim, I'd be fighting all the way and could take (I'v heard of 6 mos., a year).. to get aproved. I didn't want to wait, I didn't want to get fatter. I was missarable and knew I wanted a band. I didn't know of any extremly qualified doctors in my area either. So I made more calls to patients of Dr. Sanchez and decided to go to MX....I'm so glad I did, I feel better each day. Lately I'v heard of people being approved in just a few weeks, but not those with my ins co. A new doctor opened his practice near me the day I had my sugery. I use him for fills, he says alot of people want the band but there not getting the ins approvals. So with time I'm seeing more advances in the Lap Band world. I hope the Insurance companys will come up the the bat.

Thanks Barb, My AMI buddy! Sandy I too had a BMI of 41 and knew the Insurance game would be tough, BUT I have put in a claim as soon as I got back from MX, Blue Cross wanted Doctor op notes, which I provided, then they just rejected my claim. So I'm trying to get some kind of appeal/explanation of future problems that I may incounter if I were to continue to be obese and the family history of obesity... Eric, Ann-Marie husband, says a lady in Minn. got her Insur. to pay 50%, so its worth trying harded to recover some of my expences. If you think you might put in a claim, make sure you get all your paper work before you leave MX receipt of amount paid doc op instructions your band type and its s/n Have them e-mail copies as well. Some other patients of Dr. Sanchez have had a hard time geting all the info they need once they've come back into the US. I have got everything that I have requested, not a problem. Dr Sanchez himself is one of the best lap doctors there is! He is truly wonderfull. Good luck

You are BEAUTIFUL! what a smile.

I know of a great doctor in San Jose, Ca. Dr. Robert Mckeen www.southbaybariatrics.com He charged me $75.00 for a (his first) blind fill. He did remove most of my first fill,(check for leaks) then gave me a fresh fill. Good luck

So Happy for you:D

Quick When I decided on Dr. Sanchez in late July and spoke several times with Ann Marie. (Had some blood work done.) It was a matter of getting an airline ticket and telling them when I was coming. I flew in on 8/13/03 at 10:30 pm, was picked up by Alex the driver, brought to a hotel, had surgery 12:30 pm on 8/14/03, spent the night in the hospital, spent the next night back at the hotel, then left 6:00 am on 8/16/03 back home. Was back to work monday 8/18/03. Dr. Sanchez has been very busy! also look into finding a fill doctor in your area, one that fills MX patients, ask if they fill AMI or non-Inamed bands. You might want to demand an Inamed band with Dr. Sanchez. I have an AMI and am very happy with it and have a great fill doctor. Good luck He is one of the best doctors!! his staff can be a bit busy at times.