hagerteresa

I heard Lisa mention something about needing a passport to drive over the boarder at the end of this year. Nobody knew if it was going to be fact or not, so who knows?

Laura, Call Dr. Eubanks at Portland Surgical Specialist. He is the sweetest nicest guy and will take patients from other surgeons. His current price is $250 for the initial consultation and fill and then $150 for all others. If you need flouro it is an additional $100 but he doesn't need to use it every time. That is only if your port is at some wierd angle like mine and they can't find it easily in their office. The flouro office is just downstairs. His phone number is 503-353-3005. Best of luck and tell them I referred you. It seems like I have referred them about 20 people and one of the people I referred to him has also referred another 20 people. I don't think they have any kind of referral incentive but I figure it wouldn't hurt to let them know that happy patients are getting the word out. Best of luck to you, Teresa

Hi Jack, I don't feel like I get any real warning signs. I also experienced PB's pre-filled though. I can go for weeks without having any PB experiences and then have a few in a weeks time. Most recently I got a bad head cold and had a terrible time getting commonly eaten foods down. When I sit down to a meal, I will hesitantly take a few bites and try to chew well and see how it settles. If it settles fine then I can safely continue with my meal eating slowly and chewing well. There are times I have to wonder if I chewed something well enough and those are probably times when I am starving and just dig in without thinking and occur in those first few tentative bites. I don't know. My band can be a little fickle. Ussually I can safely make it to a bathroom to spit up the offending item but once in awhile it has caught me off guard and I've had to make embarrassing decisions. Last time that happened at Costco from a bite of cracker. I love to get samples at Costco but can't just pop them in my mouth like I used to. I have to slowly collect them and take several bites. I actually consider this a meal when I get the costco samples. Anyway I forgot to chew a cracker with a dip on it. I igored the subtle warning signs. By the time I was done at the cash register I litorally had to run for the NEAREST garbage bin. I was trying not to gag while waiting for my purchase to complete. Fortunately my PB's are more of a spit up normally and nobody even noticed me spitting in the bin. The warning signs for me include a discomfort between my shoulder blades, sometimes the sliming but not always, just a general something is not right discomfort. It is often subtle and I can accidently ignore it and other times it can be excruciatingly discomforting. I had to pull my car over three times in a 20 minute period last week when I had that cold and couldn't eat very well. I never actually PB'd but I had the most painful cramping in my upper back, hot and cold spells, a horrible dryness in my mouth. It was startling and I couldn't decide if I should call an ambulance or not it was that bad. I was all by myself too. Ends up by the end of that 20 minutes whatever it was cleared and I felt as right as rain. Never happened again either. Like I said though normally I don't PB at all and then will have a few minor incidences for a week or two and then none for awhile. It is only very occassional ones that are so startling for me. On another note though, recall that car accident and my port discomfort. I finally was able to get my primary doctor to refer me to get checked out by the band doctor and I was able to get an okay from my car insurance so next tuesday I am getting it checked out under flouro. It doesn't hurt anymore but strangely enough I was never able to lay on my stomach for long before the accident and now I can for much longer periods of time. My port had been tipped up on its side when I got my first fill under flouro. I am wondering if I didn't pull a stitch or something and maybe it has flattened out some. I don't know but will definitely feel better having it checked out. I may try to get a second fill at the same time. I only got 1 cc back in early November and really could eat pretty well until this cold kicked in but now it is getting better and eating is a bit easier. I haven't really lost much since that initial fill either. I don't know if I will yet or not but will see what the doc thinks too. Teresa

Thanks for sharing that situation with us. That is terrible! I would be outraged!!! Have you told your surgeon what he did to you? Before I had surgery I contacted my insurance to find out if they would cover complications even though they wouldn't cover the procedure. They said they would on a couple of different occassions. If your insurance didn't pay for the origonal surgery they might pay for the repairs. Sorry you had to experience this problem, Teresa

Lauri, I sure hope they figure this out so you feel better soon. We miss you!!! Our thoughts and prayers are definitely with you. Sending you lots of hugs, Teresa

Great input Sue! I couldn't agree more. I enjoyed doing my research for the band. Good to see you back Sue, Teresa

You are not even expected to lose any weight before your first fill. Your supposed to just be healing now, any weight loss during this time is a bonus. Your only supposed to lose 1-2 lbs a week later. Your doing great! Teresa

Hi Again Tony, I made sure I had a doctor lined up in my area before I went to Mexico for surgery. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't been able to find one that would take me and who also charges reasonable prices and has a wonderful bedside manner. I have also not had any real problems with my band which makes it all more smooth. I have only gotten one fill in 8 months (that is kind of unusual I guess) but am going to go get my port checked out soon because of an auto accident. Since its a couple of hours away and I probably could use a fill, I may go ahead and get another one then since they'll have me on flouro anyway. If its affordable and possible, having a local surgeon might be a great help to you but it also works out well for many people who chose the Mexico route. Best wishes, Teresa

I recall that guy that was trying to sell his organs on ebay. I would happily sell the ones I could live without or have harvested. I would donate too but don't have the extra money to take the time off of work for recovery. It just seems like more people would happily offer their marrow or kidney or whatever if there was a little more incentive in it for them. People get paid for donating their eggs and sperm. How do they get out of "illegally selling their organs?" Curious... I am always amazed at what people come up with to sell on ebay.

I tried to do one once but since I am still a long ways from goal it really didn't look to far along. I will try to do it again. I basically got all the way designing my last one and went to my user cp and tried to paste the link into my signature. When I went to look at it, it just had the letters and numbers to the link but not the actual ticker. I knew I had done something wrong. I was astounded when I was off for a couple of weeks, came back and the forum was FULL of tickers. WOW! Anyway thanks for the info Marie. Best wishes, Teresa

I also loved the article. What an inspiration! Teresa

Hi Tony, Nice to meet you. I am a 30 year old, 5'2" female weighing 362 lbs when I got my band in Mexico. I was and am very happy with my surgery and my current progress. I liked my surgeon overall but he has also been subject to lots of issues regarding erosion and communications problems. I don't know if I would really refer people to him or not. His price is typically $7k-$8k and the hospital I had mine done in did have an ICU. The facility was called Oasis of Hope hospital. I found many of the hospitals down there have websites with pictures of their facilities. If I were to do it all over again I would have gone with Dr. Kuri but I know there are several other very good surgeons too. There are a few other Kuri patients on this forum so hopefully one of them will see this and get back to you. My surgeon was Dr. Lopez Corvalla. Best of luck to you, Teresa

Trish, I feel your pain. I was right in your shoes before I got the band. When I finally had surgery I was 30 years old, been heavy my entire life and weighed in at a mighty 362 lbs. 8 months out and 82 lbs later I feel better and better. I know what my goal weight should be but I'll be thrilled just to keep the scale going down. You'll get your chance one way or another girl. I remember doing my research and seeing everyones progress too and SOOO wanted to be there with them. You'll find a way. Teresa

I told you he was a nice fellow. I wish you would have sent him regards from me. I wonder if he remembers me and his experience in Oregon? I totally idolize him... I loved him on the show and was rooting for him on both episodes. Anyway cool that you got to meet him. What is going on with the get together at your place in March? Also I was wondering if you had any spare time to help me find good cheap travel tickets. I want to go somewhere warm and tropical for a week ANYTIME this year but on a budget. I don't really care where but was thinking Mexico (flight and hotel), Hawaii (just flight-we have family to stay with there), or Florida? I don't know... Just somewhere where we could relax enjoy the sun and have a good time with lots of Water and snorkeling. If your too busy, just say so. I am going to try to get in and chat with a travel agent tomorrow. I looked at all the websites I could find but nothing jumped out at me. I won't get the money in hand to pay for it for a couple of weeks anyway. I sure miss hanging out with you, Lisa and the Vegas gang. It seems so long ago... Best wishes, Teresa P.S. I tried to download one of those adorable tickers the other day but couldn't figure out how to get it in my signature. Any ideas?

Hey Ryan, Glad she is finally comfortable. My thoughts are with you both and I hope you have an uneventful trip home with her tomorrow. The poor thing... Best of luck to both of you and please get some sleep! Teresa

Hi Angela, I'm so sorry about your dilemma. I know how bummed you must feel but a baby is a wonderful thing too. My hubby and I would love to have one but just haven't yet. I have a friend who is banded and has been for over a year and is pregnant doing great but I don't think any surgeon would put an expecting woman under. Even my pregnant friend is having major gall bladder problems but they won't surgically fix it until after the baby is born. Definitely talk to your surgeon and insurance and make sure the plans are at most delayed but not cancelled. I personally get the depo shot and love it, no worries or forgettfulness for 3 months at a time. Let us know what happens and hope your feelings change about wanting a baby. If they don't I know there are a bizzilion people out there who would love to adopt including ourselves. Teresa

Hello, I weighed in at 362 when I got my band and 8 months out I've lost 82 lbs. I've been very happy with the procedure for the most part. Best wishes to you, Teresa

They are a United States business and I'm in the sueing mood too. I have heard too many complaints about the situation. Lisa works in the law firm, maybe they'll take us on. Ann Marie (I believe is the founder of belighter) either lives in Las Vegas or California now. All the information is on their website www.belighter.com. I'll pm Lisa about the possibility of class action suit or ask my attorney on wednesday when I see him again about my auto accident. Teresa

My husband and I had a couple of really cute pics taken of us over the holidays but it has been so hectic with me gone that we hadn't gotten them posted. I'll try to get him to do that this week. T

Hi everyone, It feels like forever since I have directly got to chat with all of you. I was inn-sitting at the bed and breakfast for a couple of weeks and their computer is ancient and slow. It never seemed worth my time to dink around with their dial up but since I have been home I felt behind in the whole forum. I also am taking an astronomy course for kicks mostly and my hubby just had his 2nd carpal tunnel surgery. Needless to say, I haven't really been able to catch up on lapbandtalk completely yet. Lisa, I really don't do anything specifically to lose weight. In fact, I feel like I have been pigging out all weekend with my hubby laying around wanting snacks every ten minutes. I do TRY to make some good choices in my snacks but also still allow my daily chocolate fix. One trick I do to make extra snacking less convenient is I dish up my serving and put ALL of the fixings away. That way if I do want to come back and have more, I have to get it all back out again. That sometimes really does deter me from having more. When I was inn-sitting I couldn't stay out of their fancy chocolate collection (we put them in the guest rooms when they don't go in my mouth) and I found havarti cheese and crackers made for a blissful meal. I don't think those incidences positively influenced my loss but ??? Otherwise I am not doing anything else much different. At my own home I cook more and like to think it is nutricious. I still eat on small plates, etc. I just seem to get on these long plateus and then BLAM... I finally get another decent loss. My best advice is to focus on the solid protein and let everything else be secondary. Best wishes, Teresa

I'm glad I am not the only one out there who feels this way about that company. I knew Anita Jordon (the first little email in response to Kristies) and she was a total die-hard support belighter and ann-marie fan. I have no idea why the email got sent to me. It seemed to be emailed to me from Anita but we had actually had a disagreement several months ago and had stopped all contact with each other at that time. I wonder what the unmentionable circumstance is? Oh-well, I just found the whole thing curious and knew some of you had used their services as well. I wonder what the possibility is for doing a class action suit against the company? Best wishes, Teresa

Hi Lisa, Hope you finally heal this time. Glad you got a port back in temporary or not. Best wishes Teresa

Well, I finally got past the holiday plateau and lost 4 lbs since the last time I had weighed (it had been awhile) and am now down 82 lbs. I was pretty happy about that. Lisa, you got your new port? SWEET! Teresa

Hi Lyle, It does sound like great fun. I'll have to look at ticket prices though, Teresa

Hi Trish, Just look at what you have too look forward too, that is such a lovely pic of you at 230 lbs. You remind me of myself a little bit. I started my band journey at 30 years old and 362 lbs. I'm still a long ways from 230 but much closer than I was 8 months ago. Best of luck getting all the final approvals and would love to hear more from you as your band journey progresses. Teresa