Pittsburgher

Thank you karen.

So yesterday I had a xray done to confirm weather I have a Realize band or a LapBand AP standard. My Dr actually had both in my surgery note. Anyway My Xray showed I have a tilted band. The office called to see if I was having any problems eating, or with.nausea. I am not, so they want me to get an upper gi on friday to check it again. Not sure what this means. Please help.

Yes I was worried going in, and when they kept taking a million pics but in the end im so glad they did everything they did. That was my first time with a fill under fluro, pretty cool.

Ok so today was the day. I had my upper gi done with the dr and PA in the room with me, I felt so special lol. After the 100 images I felt like they took, and all the diffrent angles they did, my band is fine. They did say my band is in a diffrent position then post op, they said it could be from my anatomy. But it did not slip, it is where its supposed to be, just angled diffrent then there used to seeing. My port is downward, but they can still get to it, the dr actually gave me a fill with fluro while we were already in getting the upper gi to get a closer look. The dr said there is absolutely nothing to worry about. After my fill I could see the barium going down much much slower, hopefully I will notice a diffrence now. I now have 6 cc in my band. I will follow up in 4 wks and the dr said they might do another upper gi just to see if anything changed. Im very pleased with the caring of my dr . I wish I had took my phone back with me to take pics or video because It was awesome images.

Congrats!!!

Thanks for your reply! Im not sure what is going on yet, I always over worry about everything. Im trying to be calm until friday when I get an upper gi done, hopefully its nothing to worry about, but I will let everyone no.

I would say yes . If anything happens you should know what kind of band you have. I asked and I got my answer for my medical info. Always nice to know.

That is how my surgeon does it, she makes the decision which band to use during surgery. And yes the note could have been clear. I have no problem with the note mistake, it happens. On my xray it showed my band tilted. I looked at the xray and it was kinda side ways. Im sure that is what is concerning her. But I have no symptoms. Im not trying to get myself all worked up. I will worry on friday when i get my upper gi. The PA and NP will both be there during the upper gi.

In regards to the surgery note, my surgeon has a pre written note she uses. In the pre written note it says Lapband AP but if she placed the Realize band she would erase the Lapband AP pre written text and write in Realize . In my case she did not erase the Lapband AP part but still put Realize as well . So my note actually says I have both a Lapband and Realize. My surgeon looked at my upper gi following surgery but it was not very clear to see what actual band was there. So she just had me get another xray. Now they confirmed my band. But the xray shows a tilt in my band. They called immediately to see how I was doing. And asked if I would get a upper gi. I have confidence in my surgeon. And think it was just a mistake on the surgery note. But for my sake will get a upper gi done on friday to make sure.

Girl you look great!!! Melt away!!!

So I had a 2 for 1 appt today, first one with my Dr's PA that doesnt like to give fills. I stayed the same weight since last visit (5 weeks ago) so we talked about why I was hungry, the frustration of only having 1 fill (in july) , how to fix my hunger issues....etc....so she kindly gave me a .5 cc fill. FINALLY!! But i still dont like her that much. Ok now I see my surgeon. Dr Courcoulas is amazing. I discuss the torture of the PA not giving me fills, i told her the PA said that they dont like to fill the band past 5cc and ask if this is true? The look on her face was priceless. Answer NO not true!! So my surgron said there are actually 3 PA's at the office. She said Marianne the PA i seen is very very conservative. But she does not want me to see her. She said Amy a diffrent PA is a little more aggessive with fills. And i will be seeing her instead. All of the things i told my surgeon about was like she had no clue what her PA was doing to.people what torture! I am finally glad i did this and its being tooken care of . To make it so bad the PA Amy told me that as long as I was ok with it the bariatric coordinator would give me a call and discuss this same issues with her to try to make things better. There are people on this forum that are going through the same thing regarding fills...please switch to Amy. She already told me that if i think i need a fill i can have one, i shouldnt be told no. I am the customer. I am so glad i did this now maybe my band can help me a lil bit more instead of me feeling like im doing all 100% of the work.

Oh I no. I chose my surgeon because she is the best. She is a very busy woman I can see her anytime, but she doesnt do the fills. Im okay with that now, I was just seeing the wrong PA that refused to fill me correctly. Now that my surgeon switched my PA I can get properly filled. I want to see my surgeon, and go to where I had my surgery for my care. Plus I have UPMC insurance as I work for UPMC and you must see a UPMC physician.

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas to my Lap Band Family!!!

I chew gum, almost daily. I drink from a straw as well, just not everyday.

Thats great. I wish mine would do that!!

Looks great. I may make some for work

Good luck!! Let us know how it goes

Thanks guys. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You just got to want to get there.

6 months ago today I was lying in a hospital bed newly banded and ready for the biggest change in my life. When I started my journey in January I weighed 259 pounds, I now weigh 187 pounds. I love my Band and all that it has helped me do. Some days we may disagree but I no in the end I no who's right lol. I can not wait to see what the New Year will bring me.

Looking good!!

I add low fat special k granola in mine everyday. It makes it not such a slider with crunch. It is one of the things I refused to give up.

Why thank you. I would do it all over in a heartbeat!

After a fill I am on Protein shakes for 2 days, then cottage cheese, yogurt, oatmeal for 2 days then regular diet. This is how my DR does it but everyones DR is diffrent. As far as the gum goes, I chew gum everyday, I asked my surgeon if it was ok she said dont swallow it. But again diffrent Dr's have diffrent rules.

Punch marianne right in the jugular lol. You are doing great!!

Congrats!! Its going to take a lifetime but im waiting to never have to count a calorie again haha.