Penni60

I love the singing. You were a little off key though Lisa. BUt I overlooked it. Too much virgin mary's .

Hello Debra: Where are you??? Are you OK??? Don't make me come over there. Didn't you just hate it when you mom would say that??

Get Jessie Ahroni's book from amazon.com Here is the link: [ame=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0595311148/102-8263312-9040100?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance]Amazon.com: Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: Achieving Permanent Weight Loss with Minimally Invasive Surgery: Jessie H. Ahroni Ph.D. A. R. N. P.: Books[/ame] Great book for people thinking about the LAP BAND. I personally did research into both procedures and elected for the band because it was reversible and had less complications.

I am gonna have to bring a dribble cloth to surgery Friday. I am gonna put a bib around my neck and wait for him to ask why that is there. LOL!!!!!! I am gonna get my sweetie to take a pic of Doc and myself before surgery. LOL!!!!!!

Hey guys I found this pic on the Community Memorial Hospital website of Dr. Billy. IT really doesn't do him justice but you get the picture. Dr. Billy, who has done more than 400 bariatric operations on patients ranging in age from 17 to 70.

Slip on shoes a must. If you are not planning on going back to TJ for follow up care then get a list of surgeons that will accept you as a patient from your surgeon.

Have you called Medicaid and asked if they cover the surgery and then ask them for a list of docs that perform the surgery?

Here is what I have found and my opinion of why being banded and Crohn's Disease are not suggested. Of course it depends on what other co-morbidities you might have. In Stephanie's case the doc thought it was beneficial for her to be banded than to not be. In my personal opinion, due to the steroidal treatment of Crohn's disease as well that can cause complications and increase risk of erosion and infection since that family of drug tends to suppress the immune system. This is the website I found the info below: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/crohns/ What are the complications of Crohn's disease? The most common complication is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs because the disease tends to thicken the intestinal wall with swelling and scar tissue, narrowing the passage. Crohn's disease may also cause sores, or ulcers, that tunnel through the affected area into surrounding tissues such as the bladder, vagina, or skin. The areas around the anus and rectum are often involved. The tunnels, called fistulas, are a common complication and often become infected. Sometimes fistulas can be treated with medicine, but in some cases they may require surgery. Nutritional complications are common in Crohn's disease. Deficiencies of Proteins, calories, and Vitamins are well documented in Crohn's disease. These deficiencies may be caused by inadequate dietary intake, intestinal loss of Protein, or poor absorption (malabsorption). Other complications associated with Crohn's disease include arthritis, skin problems, inflammation in the eyes or mouth, kidney stones, gallstones, or other diseases of the liver and biliary system. Some of these problems resolve during treatment for disease in the digestive system, but some must be treated separately. For More Information Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016-8804 Phone: 1-800-932-2423 or (212) 685-3440 Email: info@ccfa.org Internet: www.ccfa.org Pediatric Crohn's & Colitis Association, Inc. P.O. Box 188 Newton, MA 02468 Phone: (617) 489-5854 Email: questions@pcca.hypermart.net Internet: http://pcca.hypermart.net Reach Out for Youth with Ileitis and Colitis, Inc. 15 Chemung Place Jericho, NY 11753 Phone: (516) 822-8010 United Ostomy Association, Inc. 19772 MacArthur Blvd. #200 Irvine, CA 92612-2405 Phone: 1-800-826-0826 or (949) 660-8624 Fax: (949) 660-9262 Email: uoa@deltanet.com Internet: www.uoa.org

Welcome O31: As someone that was banded in Mexico (and had a positive experience) I would HIGHLY suggest the follow up care set up locally before going to Mexico. It is just easier and gives you peace of mind to know there is someone locally to call in an emergent situation than to have to rely on the intial surgeon and his staff. They are on their own time frame in Mexico and what is emergent to you is certainly not emergent to them. Well some of the docs anyway. I can only speak to my experiences. Good luck. I would contact Inamed and get some suggestions from them regarding docs in your area for surgeons and after care.

Just be thankful you didn't rip a stitch. LOL!!!!!

Wish I had thought of that. Too cute...

HOLY MOLY!!!!!! You look awesome. I am sooooooooooo proud of you. Forget that boyfriend you have many more to fend off from what I can see.

Donali said: Yes I did!! I would do this every month. LOLOL!!! Terry said: OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I am laughing so hard right now I am gonna have to go pee. LOLOLOLOL I have done this. But to my Mom. I get really close to her and put my arm around here and then let er rip. Then run. She just laughs and laughs.

This is not unusual to lose some hair during this process. Make sure you are taking in enough Protein. The vitamins should help too. If you are really concerned then go see someone about it. I know there is Rogaine for women now you can get over the counter. My hair is not falling out any more than it did before the surgery. But I started with a thick head of hair so I probably wouldn't know until it was gone. LOL!!!! This too shall pass.

We should just have a crying, screaming, ranting, hitting (bring nerf bats), raving mad, fits when we are all in Vegas in October. Hey Lisa know anyone on the police force there. I am sure we will get calls. We have to forewarn them of our ritualistic dances so we won't get arrested. We can have a ball. Take all our frustrations out. Get our emotions out. LOL!!!! Then go home and do it all again next month. LOL!!!! I just love all you guys.

Hey just a statement and looking for other input. I got a fill on Friday the 9th of 1cc. I felt restriction drinking Water. I know can guzzle water with no problem. I haven't started mushy foods yet so I might still have restriction but was just curious about how much I should try to eat my first time after the fill. I know I should take it slow but I usually just put enough on my plate to eat to fill my pouch and no more. Now I don't know how much to give myself. Any suggestions? I know this has been asked many times before and I am just not listening. LOL!!!! Donali, where are you.

She wanted me to let you guys know that she is missing all of you and that she has gotten an appointment with her Gastroenterologist on August 13th. HOORAY!!!!!! She is having some computer problems and can't wait to get back to us and share her pearls of wisdom. We miss you Lisa.

So, I went to see Dr. Billy on Friday the 9th of July. I showed him the protrusion thingy on my belly. There are pictures of it somewhere on this site. Do a search for "Protrusion thingy". ANyway, he said it was due to the tubing being bunched up in that area. He can fix it with a quick surgery. I have called the Insurance Coordinator and she called my insurance co and lo and behold they WILL cover the surgery. The only thing is he is out of network but I would have paid the whole cost just to get this fixed. I have talked to the office nurse and just waiting on a date to schedule it. I want it done this week or Monday of next week. I have family coming in from out of town at the end of the month and I wanna be able to enjoy the visit. While he is in there he is planning on doing a revision of my port as well because it is tilted. That made it hard to access the other day for the fill. So, I will keep you posted on the surgery date. Isn't it amazing that you call someone and get an answer right then or they actually call you back. LOL!!!!

Teresa: We all have those days. IT will pass. I still love ya.

Too funny!!!!!!!!

Por Nada

You know I just wanted to post this little tidbit of info for everyone. I was told at the facility where I have my band placed that there is this Texas based Claims company that will file the necessary paperwork if you were self pay to see if your insurance will cover the banding. I am in the process of this right now. My insurance co did NOT deny the claim they are requesting my medical records and hopefully will have an answer one way or the other soon. I self-paid for my surgery because I did not want to wait for the process of insurance acceptance / denial. I know some people can't do that but for those of us that can afford to just pay for the surgery and then try to get reimbursed this company is awesome. I will proved the contact person I am working with and the phone number. They can get you started on the process. Renny Griffin and her number is 713-937-1875 ext 12 Good Luck.

Blossom: I love that name. Welcome and here is to a quick positive response from your insurance. Good Luck!!!

The fill amount is what is injected into the bladder that is within the band. As this Fluid is injected into this bladder the opening from the upper pouch into the lower part of the stomach is made smaller. I think it was Donali that described it best as squeezing a balloon in the middle. You hand is the band and as you squeeze tighter it makes the opening smaller between the top part of the balloon and the bottom part. The squeezing is the band being filled with fluid. All docs use a different fill amount. I got an initial fill of 1cc. I have heard other people getting different amounts. So it varies.

I love it "Berpitha" that is such a riot. I think "Betsy" and "Berpitha" have been talking. I have noticed lots of burping lately too. LOL!!!