StacyinDE

Missy, Wow! Sounds like you and your family have really been through the ringer lately - I am so sorry to hear what a rough time you have been having. Best wishes for your dad and grandma. I'm glad your band is okay and those muscle spasms can be a killer, super painful, been there, done that! Maybe your doc can give you an antispasmodic to help you out with them. I hope things start to turn around for the better for you and your family, and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Take care!

I have the 11 cc VG band too, and am now at 9 cc. I have pretty good restriction most of the time. I think when I go back next week I'm going to get a little more. My surgeon told me that everyone is different and some people need one or two fills in the first year and some need as many as six or seven. I guess I fall into the latter category since this will be my 5th fill. I'm hoping just a little bit more will get me to my "sweet spot". I can't imagine that I would need many more fills since I'm almost "filled up" as it is, we'll see. I think I have less sensation in the nerves there in my stomach from some neuropathy from diabetes so I think that's why I'm one of the ones who may need to just "fill er up!" to get the full restriction. It was very frustrating in the beginning when I'd get a fill and would have restriction for a few days and then be starving again :pop2:. I noticed a huge difference after my third fill, the last one was to just "top it off" because I thought I was eating more than I should, which I am doing again. Good thing these bands are so adjustable!! Good luck with yours, it may take a few fills, but you will get to where you need to be!

They do take BCBS PPO, that's the type of plan that I have, too. I would give them a call, let them know you'll have BCBS after July 1st and get scheduled for a consultation. When you have your consult, the doc will discuss the options with you (lap band or gastric bypass) tell you the pros/cons and give you their suggestion for what would be best for you. It's a very informative session and the docs there are great. They have been doing these surgeries for years and years. Dr. Peters just got named Head of Bariatric Surgery at Christiana and he assisted Dr. Irgau on my surgery. The docs always assist each other for every surgery -- you really get double your money's worth, two very experienced doctors working on you together. Dr. Irgau did me, my mom four years ago, and my Aunt on May 1st. There are a lot of people who come up from downstate and go through this group. Here is their website....Welcome to CHRIAS - Christiana Institute of Advanced Surgery They are having information seminars on June 6 and June 20 according to the web page, you might want to go to one -- I believe they are free of charge, too. Feel free to contact me if I can help with any other questions you might have!

I am currently having a situation with a lifelong friend who has always and forever been the "thin" one and now our roles are almost reversed (I am by no means "thin" yet but. . . .) she has been gaining steadily over the last several years and now we are within 10 pounds of each other. Her weight continues to go up and thankfully, mine is still going down. She is having a very hard time with this as she is supposed to be the the "thin" one, not me -- I'm supposed to stay fat, forever. It has, as you can imagine, really put a strain on our friendship. She claims to diet and exercise constantly but when we are together and there is food involved, she makes all of the wrong choices for "dieting" or eating healthy and tries to get me to do the same. She gets very aggravated when I tell her I can't eat the cheesesteaks, thick-crust pizzas, mega fries and strombolis anymore. I've tried to explain to her that it will get stuck and cause me tremendous pain, not to mention all the other fun stuff we go through when something clashes with our band! I'm not sure how this is going to work out, but right now, it doesn't look too good. I'm really hoping she can come to terms with her weight gain and not be so negative towards me for doing something that is improving my health. It has to be hard for her, having such a role reversal, and I know all too well how being overweight and unhappy feels.......I've had years and years of practice. I've offered to exercise with her, share recipes, whatever, but she's not interested. The thing that really got to her was when her 7-year-old said "mommy, Stacy is skinnier than you now, you're getting really fat!" I know that really hurt her feelings, too. I feel really bad for her because I know her struggle, but she doesn't want to work at losing weight together. I don't know, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Have you called CHRIAS (Christiana Institute for Advanced Surgery) with Dr. Irgau, Dr. Wynn and Dr. Peters (302) 892-9900? They are great and very helpful. There is also great follow through and support through the PMRI programs at Christiana and St. Francis. Are you upper or lower DE? Do you have insurance or are you self-pay? For self-pay through CHRIAS, the band is $6000 for the surgeon and about $15-16,000 for the hospital and unfortunately, as my sister-in-law found out the hospital is not willing to take payments so you would need it all up front. She also spent about $3000 in presurgical testing. I have insurance and paid (including copays) about $700 total out of pocket. With a BMI of only 34, I don't know if you'd qualify through the insurance company, but with a comorbidity of Type 2 diabetes, you might. My suggestion would be to call Dr. Irgau's office and talk to them. They are very helpful and should be able to answer your questions. There are a few of us from Delaware on here, there is another thread under "locations" or something like that where a few of us have posted. Good luck!

I have had 2 c-sections and was banded six months ago with no problems. The scar tissue should not be an issue since the band surgery is done higher up, above the uterus. My port is about an inch or so up and to the left of my belly button and that's as far down as they go. Good luck to both of you! :confused:

I have an 11 cc band. I got 2 cc during the surgery and at my first office fill (6 weeks postop) I got 6 cc more, which was a little too much so he took out 1 cc leaving me at 7 cc total. I've had four fills now and am up to 9 cc; I go back in two weeks for my six month check up and I think I'm going to get a little more. My surgeon usually gives 5 cc in the 10 cc and 11 cc bands for your first fill, and of course after your fill you get to do 24-hours of Fluid and then 24-hours of mushies, but it works out well because after a fill I usually can only do fluids anyway. My port isn't tilted, but he said I have a lot of scar tissue around it, which is normal but makes it harder to get in the port. Apparently, in the beginning the scar tissue is hard and over time it softens up and makes the fills easier. I've not had any fills under fluoro but I have had them bend the needle and have to use a new one. Fortuntately with the local I've never felt any pain though it's been an experience!

Hi and welcome! Congratulations on getting a surgery date! I think we all have that fear at some point prior to surgery, I know I did. I kept thinking, I'll be the one person who does all this and then gains 30 pounds!! If you follow your doctors directions you and your band will be fine and you will be thrilled with your success. Good luck to you!

Hi! I just saw this thread and am excited to have found a group of Bandsters from December! :clap2: I was banded 12-11-06 in Delaware at Christiana Hospital. I do have restriction, and I'm currently at 9 cm of fill in an 11 cm VanGuard band. I am looking forward to "meeting" you all!

Congratulations! :clap2:

Hi there -- it looks like we're in the same zip code . There's a few of us on the "Am I Alone Here" thread.

Hi Melissa, Nice to *meet* you too! Dr. Peters assisted with my surgery and I've seen him for postop and fills -- he's a great guy. He also was recently named head of the Bariatric Surgery department at Christiana about six weeks or so ago. So, how are you making out? Doing well I hope! Kim - Hi! I missed your earlier post, nice to *meet* you too! I'm glad you got this thread started! Musicalmomma and I met on another thread -- great to see you over here too though! :biggrin1: Hmmm, we have to recruit some downstaters so Lee will have some company too!

Darn, couldn't edit. . . . . . my first in-office fill (6 weeks postop) I got 6 cc. He normally gives 5 cc at first fill but I was super hungry so he gave me an extra cc. That was a little too much so he took out 1 cc and that was much better. My restriction didn't last long though; I did notice more a difference after my second fill. I just found out I have an 11 cc VanGuard, not a 10 cc -- and as of 2 weeks ago when I got a fill, I now have 9 cc in my band.

My doc put 2 cc in my band during my surgery but then I couldn't get anymore till 6 weeks after my surgery. Maybe you didn't have much swelling so he/she felt it would be okay and your doc may do that all the time. If you're not sure, call and talk to your doctor, he/she should be willing to answer any questions you might have.

I didn't really start getting restriction feelings until after my second fill and then it only lasted a few weeks but after the third fill -- wow -- what a difference! I have also heard other people mention the same thing that you did - strange, I agree - but give it a week or so and then see how you feel, it may kick in with a vengence! Good luck!

Hi Katherine, Welcome and nice to *meet* you. Glad to hear things are now going well for you!

I know it's really hard not to want to scarf down everything you see right now -- I had no restriction at all about four days postop and had to (as many do) do 4 weeks of liquids -- that's what is referred to as "Bandster Hell". Call your doc or your nutritionist -- they can help! I couldn't do the Protein shakes because the smell made me physically sick, even the premixed stuff, so my Nutritionist had me drink milk, which helped a lot - 8 grams of Protein in an 8 oz glass (skim or soy milk) and it did stay with me longer. I was drinking swiss miss diet hot chocolate and mixed it with the skim milk and had a LOT of cream of chicken soup mixed with the milk. They even let me start eating cream of wheat the second week and what a difference -- 2 oz and I was full for hours!! That is what got me through, it was hard, make no mistake about it, but at least with some of the denser liquids the hunger was manageable. I asked for a fill at my 2 week postop visit because I was so hungry -- like before the surgery -- but I couldn't get a fill till I was six weeks out. So, though this is really hard right now, you can get through it, just talk to your doctor or Nutritionist and get suggestions from them. They really will want to help you get through this and be successful! Good luck!

Hi everyone! It's been a few weeks so I'm checking in . . . I'm trying to be better about getting online and checking the threads and posting! I had a fill and am down 6 more pounds to 216 - yay! I can't belive that I'm this close to Onderland! You guys have all been doing so great! Jacqui and Dwarden -- Congratulations on getting into Onderland -- that is so cool!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Hopefully we'll all be following you down there! Some of you guys are so close, only a few pounds way -- you can do it!!!! I haven't thought about treating myself when I get to Onderland because for so long it's never even been a possibility -- now that it is in sight, I'm dumbfounded and can't even think of anything to ask for, lol! A big hello and welcome to everyone who has recently joined this thread, it's great to see so many people here! Take care everyone and keep up the great work!

Hi Mary, I hope everything goes smoothly for you and you're banded in no time! I was a "lucky" one who got referred for the Lap-Band (for the second time, I had been approved 3 years ago and chickened out) and 8 weeks later I had my surgery! It was a different insurance company, and it still went right through with no problems what so ever. So, I am wishing the same good luck and problem-free journey for you!

Hi! Nice to *see* you and glad to hear you are feeling well!

Danielle, Congratulations -- what great news! Good luck with everything!

Congratulations on your surgery date and daughter's wedding -- how exciting! :clap2:

Oops! Sorry, spelled your name wrong and it wouldn't let me edit it!

Hi Sherree, Congratulations on getting a surgery date! Good luck with everything.

First -- Alexandra, good luck with the upcoming surgery, I hope you have better luck with the new and improved band! Second -- Yes, I would do it again too. I am five months out from my surgery date and have lost 42 pounds so far. Even with the negatives (no restriction postop and 3 weeks of Bandster hell!, no restriction after first fill or much after second fill, PBing, sliming, vomiting, eating too fast and wow, the pain that that involves!) I would still do it again because.. . . . . I would still be very unhealthy at 258 pounds with diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, joint pain, arthritis and cardiac issues just to name a few. Without the band I would not be diabetes and insulin free, back in a normal blood pressure range and having much less pain on a daily basis. The few negatives that you run into, in my opinion, do not nearly outweigh the benefits of having the surgery and being healthier. Not to mention just feeling better about myself because my size 26's now fall off and I'm wearing clothes I haven't fit into for 10 years but I kept in the hopes that "one day" I could get into them again. So, yes, for me, I would do it again in a heartbeat!