hagerteresa

My friend tried Dr. Neil in Washington because she was having port problems. Her insurance was willing to help fix the problem but that doctors office refused to return her phone calls for months so she could schedule port surgery and didn't want to deal with insurance inconveniences. Once she did get a hold of their office they whined and cried about the inconvenience of billing the insurance for certain percentages of the procedure but said they would help her and get it figured out...2 months later she still has the same port problem and they haven't called her back and this is after she gave them almost $600 and drove 10 hours round trip to have it looked at. At one point the nurse practitioner told her that maybe she needed to go back to Mexico for port surgery!!! I had gone with her for that first visit to Neils office so I could meet him and get established as a patient in his office. Now she is going to see Dr. Tersigni for help. I was going to be Dr. Neils patient but after that whole incident I can tell he really doesn't care for his patients or their well being. I won't pay for that kind of service, especially after having such a good doctor. I have heard bad things about Tersigni and his bed side manner but at least he is willing to follow thru with helping my friend. AND he is the first band doctor who has even suggested that she have an endoscopy just to rule out erosion. Best of luck, Teresa

Hi Rebecca, Fills are a bit of a problem in Oregon right now. My beloved Dr. Eubanks lost his bariatric insurance due to a by-pass problem (from what I understand) and can't do fills anymore. He was an awesome doctor and miss him greatly. His prices were also very reasonable. I keep meaning to try and call his office again just to see if he is back in business again but doubt he is. Otherwise there is Dr. Tersigni in Coos Bay (haven't tried him, I think a non-flouro fill is $300 and flouro is available but only used if he has a problem accessing the port) There is a doctor in Klamath Falls too but I don't know anything about them and I know the Bend doctors don't take Mexico patients (or at least they didn't when I checked a couple of years ago). Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Best wishes, Teresa P.S. What part of Oregon do you live in?

Here are some pictures of my hubby and I on our vacation in Mexico. Somehow I survived a 7 night cruise without gaining but my poor hubby didn't fare so well...LOL.

I was told by my dentist that I would need antibiotics for appointments when I had a pin put in my broken ankle years ago, long before I got my band for the exact reason Donali posted. I feel safer taking them before my dental work after getting the band. I had posted something about this issue months ago. Teresa

Hi Bright, I remember you too and glad to see your back. I've been off of LBT most of last year too. Just got busy and wasn't losing. I hear you about the "triumph" of just maintaining. I need to get serious again too. Best wishes, Teresa

Poor little thing. I hope you all get thru it okay and I'll be praying. Teresa

Hi Leatha, Great news and so nice to see your smiling face!!! Keep up the good work! Teresa

Hi Penni, Sorry to hear about both yours and Michelle's experience. Hope you have a speedy recovery. Teresa

I have a good local friend who is experiencing the same thing (flipped port) and she is going to need surgery. She isn't concerned about the surgery part but the price. Evidently the ports they use in Mexico surgeries aren't fda approved in the U.S. yet so if a local doctor did it they would have to use a new port. Sounded like they wanted to charge something like $5000-$6000 for the surgery and port. They are finally writing a letter to the insurance to see if they might cover some of that. If not, the surgery is about $2000 in Mexico and she might have to go back there though she would prefer not. Great job on your loss! Teresa

Lisa, I'm in the same boat. I got out of my excercise routine when I got that nasty dog bite and haven't been able to motivate myself since. Even my family doctor nagged me about getting my weight loss going again. I haven't gained but have definitely stayed the same. Everyone even keeps telling me I look like I've lost but I have to admit that I haven't. I try to explain it away as toning up. LOL. I need to get back on the program. I still pb too often and have a tough time eating before noon but I have been a chocolate hog all summer. I've been avoiding the computer too (I've been working too hard and always feel too tired and behind to even turn the thing on). Glad to see your still here and I promise to get on here longer soon. Love and hugs, Teresa

My local band friend has had 4 children. Three before the band and the last one she had a few months ago. ALL of her kids have required a C-section. The only complication she has had in regards to pregnancy and the band is she just found out her port got flipped and is going to require surgery to fix. She thinks the baby was kicking it out of place but she also got some fluid build up under it after the C-section. Her family doctor punctured the spot to drain the fluid and it took a LONG time to reheal. She went to our newest fill doctor to have the wound checked out and possibly get a fill. He decided to do a fill when they found the flipped port but after having punctured into the site the wound healed right up after a few days. Kind of odd... Anyway what part of Oregon do you live in? Me and Tracey both live in the Eugene area. Best wishes, Teresa

MY LANDS YOUR LOOKING WONDERFUL!!! I couldn't believe the difference in your face!!! Glad your port revision went well. My port is driving me CRAZY and wish I could get it revised. Best wishes and hugs, Teresa P.S. Unless I magically settle this stupid car accident settlement (they haven't even started making me an offer and the accident was last december) then I'll be in the pity party brigade too. My only consulation is that I have a 7 night Mexico cruise booked for december. Unfortunately we have had a very expensive summer and spent all of our extra savings (vet bills, emergency type stuff) so now our cruise is payed for but all our spending money is gone... We'll have to figure that one out and once again I'm praying I can get that stupid settlement settled without getting jipped.

Ditto what Michelle and Vinesqueen says!!! Babs you are doing great and just having that 1 cc in there should help. I would just stick it out. I have contemplated going in for another fill myself but really KNOW in my head and heart that I need to get out of the summer bad habits (we have had company almost all summer from various friends and family members) and I have had none of my water aerobics all summer (because of a bad dog bite). I find I have trouble more often than I would like in regards to pb'ing and a hard time eating some foods at certain times of the day and have decided to not get a fill at this time. There are too many things I need to work on before getting another fill. I have another local band friend who is in the exact same predicament except she was pregnant all winter and spring, had her baby, went for a fill and found her port was completely flipped over and unaccessible. She is trying to get her insurance to cover it but doubts they will, she is also still paying off hospital bills from her babies birth so it won't be till next year that she may be able to get her port fixed. Like me, she needs to regroup and refocus. We are both going back to water aerobics next week and are going to work together to re-encourage each other. Anyway I know your situation is a disappointment and seems like a mistake but it really could be worst. Sending you a hug... Teresa

My port has been driving me nuts and I was a bit worried about it today. I am 16 months post op and have had mild irritations before. When I went for my first fill a year ago the doc found it was a bit tilted, after a car accident in december the doc said it was a bit more tilted but would be hard to prove it was because of the accident. I believe my port sits up on its side, so when I lay on my stomach it has a sharper than normal edge pressing against the skin. Today it just seemed a little bruised in that area and tender whenever I use my stomach muscles for anything (bending over, getting out of a chair, etc). Of course my mind instantly freaks to the what if's and erosion but I really think the port site is just annoyed from my feeble attempts at laying on my tummy. It always gets uncomfortable after I've been laying there for 5 minutes and I have to flip over. I had a long tough work day and I've been really sad and shocked about that hurricane. I'm probably just being hypersensitive about my port irritation. My port site has sucked in over time but has really stayed right below the stitch mark otherwise. When I was a new bandster I was always worried about my port site and signs of infection or otherwise. I am not normally a worrier but about that time several others on this forum who had used the same surgeon were having port problems and infections. Teresa

Thanks for letting us know about her most recent update. Gosh I feel for that poor woman. I don't know how she will even withstand the surgeries and chemotherapy she sounds so weak and deflated already. I will definitely pray for her. I can't even begin to imagine what her life is like right now.

Michelle, When are you coming to forest grove? I sure would love to get together if your coming into my state!!! Teresa

I am totally echoing Sarah's situation (Marimu). I have been at a nice solid plateau for what seems like all summer but ONCE IN AWHILE I'll go weigh and see a couple of pound drop. I don't take it personally when the scale stays the same nor do I beat myself up about it. I also feel I am probably eating to maintain rather than eating to lose... Though early in band life it seemed like I could eat anything and still lose... Not sure how that all works. Lisa, like you I'm just amazed at how far I have come. Unlike you though I was unlucky enough to be born into a family full of tall giants while I myself only grew to a whopping 5'4". Sad but true... Anyway we will all keep plugging along and do just fine. I went into this with the long term in mind and know most people with a substantial amount of weight to lose take 3 years or so before they accomplish it. I'm only barely on 15 months and have lost about 1/2 my extra weight. Best wishes and big hugs. Teresa

Hi Michelle, Thanks for the news and tell Babs we're thinking about her. Can't wait to see her up and around and posting again. Teresa

Hi Star, Sorry your not feeling so well yet. It really does get better... I recall waking up the next day wondering what the hell I was thinking and here I was in a foreign country to boot... Once I got up walking around it helped. Two nights after surgery I had to walk just to get around an airport to get back home. The next day I was shopping at Costco... It took a while before I could lay on my stomach and maybe a couple of weeks before I could bend over but it all did get better. Definitely keep ahead of your pain with the meds. Best wishes, Teresa

Oh, the tan one is 100% Corgi. He is just shaved right now. He is considered a "fluffy" which is basically a genetic defect in their coat so they get a lot of extra hair (more like a collie's) I find about twice a year that a good shaving makes him feel better. It also gives me a chance to make sure his weight is in check (you can't tell when he has is full coat) and make sure he doesn't have any strange lumps or bumps. We had always had two corgi's but we recently had to put one down because of a long term biting and aggression issues. She had been an abused rescue dog. It was a very hard lame decision. I had never had a hound type dog nor a mixed breed so Buddy is always amusing us. He is such a nut. The two of them are getting along really well. They just built a huge dog park down the road too so we are enjoying that. We were down there playing all evening last night. I live in Oregon.

We recently had my husband's 14 year old brother come and stay with us for a week (a yearly tradition) and we did a lot of fun activities including canoeing, rented a yurt at the beach and went down the Rogue on a jet boat. It was all a lot of fun. Here is a picture of KC, Me and Jim in the front row on the jet boat.

I was heavy all thru my childhood and was beaten up on, teased, tormented, etc that entire time from 1st thru 12th grade. Worst yet I was in the same school district in a small town that entire time so the same kids that picked on my in 1st grade were the same ones still doing it in 12th grade. I realized right after graduation, life would never be the same. I have never been picked on or insulted so much again in my life. I'm sure there have been people who have looked at me belittling or degrading since then and have even gotten some pity looks but nothing dramatic enough for it to matter to me. I don't know if I've ever been discriminated against in regards to jobs or services. I'm sure its possible but I've certainly never had any proof and rarely have suspected foul play in regards to my weight. I learned thru out the grade school years that sure life has moments that suck big time but you got to get over it and enjoy the good moments. You'll deal with that your entire life. It may not always be weight related but there are moments that life truly does SUCK because of one situation or another. You just have to believe that you WILL get thru it. I have heard of cases in recent years where a parent of a teased child sues over the abuse, but honestly I dealt with that kind of teasing and bullying for a long time and I truly feel like I persevered and am better for it. I know people that hit a bump in the road in their life and its a major catastrophie in their eyes. I hit a bump and I know its just a bump. Best wishes, Teresa

What a precious adorable little girl!!! Congrats on your banding and wish you all the best luck. Let us know how it all goes, Teresa

Hey Butch, You have done an amazing job and I'm so glad you found this website. Maybe we can help be that extra bit of support and encouragement you need. 390 lbs must feel a lot better than being 600 lbs... I started at 362 and feel thrilled to be at 266 now. I get a little passive about it too from time to time (actually all summer LOL) I'm so happy with my current success I haven't felt the same push to keep going but I KNOW that I can get motivated again. I don't really think I need a fill at this time but need to finish healing from a wound and get back in the excercise saddle. I love to do Water aerobics. I have heard of others who need to get the extra skin removed in the tummy area well before reaching goal because it can be such a problem. I'm sure your surgeon will recommend whatever is best for you. Hope you get that fill and continue on your journey. Teresa

Awww, thanks girls! I am happy with my progress. I've been at a stand still weight wise all thru the summer but I don't think I really need a fill. I couldn't excercise for a long time after that car accident last december and I'm STILL healing from that dog bite 6 weeks ago!!! Meaning I can't swim or anything or I totally lose the scab and it slows the whole healing process. It really must have been deeper than it looked because it has taken FOREVER to heal. I still get so sad whenever I think about that whole situation but I'm glad we have buddy to liven things up. Both of my dogs are sweeties now. I want everyone to notice how lovely Oregon is so you will all want to come and visit me... LOL. Anyway thanks for being so sweet and boosting my ego a bit. Love ya all, Teresa