Penni60

I agree about the "OTHER BOARD", I visited long enough to post about the possibility of starting an L.A. support group. BY the way i have received ZERO responses. BIG surprise. The feeling you get when you read the boards is just creepy. I love the warm fuzzy feeling I get here on this board. It is truly like a family and not like it is a competition which is the feeling I get there. I dropped the membership from that board. So if someone wants to talk about a group they can just try to find me.

I pretty much hibernated on the couch when I got home. I had a taxi take me to the San Diego train station about 2 hours too early and had to sit there till it was time to board. Then the 3.5 hour train ride which really wasn't all that bad. I was just tired and sore. My sweetie met me at the Van Nuys stop and then home. Where I immediately fell asleep till the next morning. I did not do a whole lot that first few days. I did try to walk around the block but that was way too much exercise for me right then. I just took it easy and played up the "fix me some Soup, bring me some Water, rub my feet, help me take a shower, etc" cards. LOL!!! I have a really really GREAT sweetie. He pampered me the whole time. Darcy, you will do wonderfully. I am still so excited for you.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! What an absolute beauty. I love the name. Is there a meaning with that name?

HI Julie: We weighed the same pre-op. I have lost 39.5 lbs and 23 inches thus far. I was banded on April 6, 2004. You are doing really well. Good for you. Keep up the good work.

Soups, all kinds that don't have Pasta or rice in it. I like the organic Soup you get from Trader Joe's. Gatorade - makes for a great alternative to Water I had hot tea every night before bed. Might want to invest in some bandages just in case you start to leak like almost everyone else has. LOL!!!!! In Lisa's case get some KOTEX. LOL!!! Love ya wink wink! I know I am forgetting something.

Sultana: I would probably go on liquid diet till you can be seen by the doc.

Mary: First, I am an RN. Secondly, you should certainly follow up with your cardiologist. Anything I say in this post is my personal opinion and you should always talk to your doc about any health related concerns. Just to clarify. OK, the Tachycardia definition is not exactly accurate. In simple laymens terms your heart rate is above normal range. That is the definition of Tachycardia. Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rate which Tachycardia can fall under this category simply because the rate is increased but not necessarily abnormal. I would hope also that the blood pressure you mentioned was actually 70/40 and not 40/70. The cardiologist will want to know what your diet is consisting of. What medication you are presently taking? Including any herbal or natural medications. What supplements you are taking? Are your blood levels normal? Did the ER do any labwork? Anemia can sometimes cause problems like this. Dehydration can cause tachycardia. Are you drinking enough Water? Your chemistry lab work (ie: Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, etc) can cause some of these symptoms you experienced if they are too high or too low. Can you look back at all three episodes and see if they all have something in common. Did you eat or drink something just prior to the episodes? Do not put off the cardiologist visit. Keep us posted on this matter. PS: I highly doubt this is related to your Band. The only thing I could even remotely think it might be related to your band would be if the tubing migrated UP and is irritating the heart muscle. That is highly unlikely and would greately surprise me. I have not heard of this being the case.

Donali: I get what you are saying totally. Oops the valley girl came out some. Back TIffany Back. IT is amazing to me that we ignore health related problems for ourselves but will be like a mad hen if it is one of our loved ones. I experienced some chest pain prior to being banded. (DO NOT IGNORE CHEST PAINS EVER). I did ignore mine. I took antacids and said it was probably just gas or indigestion. Then My boyfriend has some chest pain. I rushed him to the ER and it was a good thing I did he had a heart rate of over 220 and his BP was immeasurable. He was headed for a heart attack. He is OK now and this happened pre banding for me. My heart related pain was due to my obesity. And I did go and have a ECHO, EKG, Treadmill test which all were negative but it took me 6 months to get the tests done. Long story short let's all take better care of ourselves.

OOOOH you are too smart. LOL:D

Hey guys anyone out there in the So. Calif area that would like to get a Support Group going? I know there is a support group that meets in Orange County but how about getting one closer to maybe the Los Angeles Area? Some people will go to both and some will go to one or the other. We could have annual Bandsters Conferences down the line with guest speakers and the like. I am willing to work with someone to set up the meetings and get them up and running. Let me hear from you guys out there.

Hang on a min! ARGH!!!!!!!!! OK Lola here. I am waiting on Towanda and Delarla to come and help you with that problem. HEE HEE HEE (rubbing her hands together in anticipation).

If you can call it enough! I want a steak and a plate of fries with cheese all over it. AND I WANT IT NOW!!! Grr!!! OH crap! $%^&*( There she goes again. Caught Lola running out the door. Thank god she is gone now.

Your excitement is just jumping off this board and instilling itself into me. Shhh you won't care that your belly is flapping. You will be asleep. LOL!!

I know I saw her there. I am gonna have to join her with Lola. LOL!! That would be fun. HEE HEE HEE

Teresa: Yes that is the same Penni walking with Pam. We are having a ball. We walk, TALK, go to Coco's share a breakfast of omelette and fruit, TALK, TALK some more, drink our water, TALK, and oh yeah TALK. Well you get the picture! :D

Thanks Donali I appreciate it and so does Lola

Seanmama: Here is what Inamed says about fills. So your doc can take his questionnaire and shove it where the sun don't shine. I still need a name. I am gonna have to hurt Penni if someone doesn't give me a name soon. ___________________________________________ Hello Penni, I received both of your e-mails. The answer to your question is that band adjustments (fills) are not based on a specific schedule and the frequency is left up to the surgeon depending on the patient and doctor's approach to patient management. Here are some general thoughts. The first fill should occur after the swelling and edema from the surgery has gone down. Obviously this can vary from one patient to another and varies from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. Some surgeons believe that frequent small fills are more effective that larger fills with more time between fills. Both approaches can be correct. Surgeon decide for themselves the best course for patient management. We do recommend that adjustments occur when they are needed not according to a preset interval. When a patients weight plateaus for a period of time (how long depends on the surgeon) then that is a good indication that an adjustment is needed. If a patient finds that they are able to eat more than previously, then that might be an indication for a fill. Naturally if a patient is unable to eat a normal band diet or seems to be over restricted that might mean that a looser adjustment is needed (there are other reasons too). Rarely, a patient will not ever need a fill. As long as the patient is losing weight then a fill would seem to be unnecessary. If you are losing weight after two months and have not had a fill, ask your surgeon when or if you need a fill. It is likely that you will not need a fill until you stop losing weight for a period of time. However, your surgeon and you will be the best judge of this. Best wishes for success with your band. Regards, Don Mills INAMED Health ________________________________________

Below is the response I received from Don Mills at Inamed regarding protocols on fills. ________________________________________ Hello Penni, I received both of your e-mails. The answer to your question is that band adjustments (fills) are not based on a specific schedule and the frequency is left up to the surgeon depending on the patient and doctor's approach to patient management. Here are some general thoughts. The first fill should occur after the swelling and edema from the surgery has gone down. Obviously this can vary from one patient to another and varies from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. Some surgeons believe that frequent small fills are more effective that larger fills with more time between fills. Both approaches can be correct. Surgeon decide for themselves the best course for patient management. We do recommend that adjustments occur when they are needed not according to a preset interval. When a patients weight plateaus for a period of time (how long depends on the surgeon) then that is a good indication that an adjustment is needed. If a patient finds that they are able to eat more than previously, then that might be an indication for a fill. Naturally if a patient is unable to eat a normal band diet or seems to be over restricted that might mean that a looser adjustment is needed (there are other reasons too). Rarely, a patient will not ever need a fill. As long as the patient is losing weight then a fill would seem to be unnecessary. If you are losing weight after two months and have not had a fill, ask your surgeon when or if you need a fill. It is likely that you will not need a fill until you stop losing weight for a period of time. However, your surgeon and you will be the best judge of this. Best wishes for success with your band. Regards, Don Mills INAMED Health _______________________________________________

I have an email out to them asking about their recommendations to surgeons on fills.

Could have been a Brown Recluse. They love dark places. I agree with Donali I would go get it looked at. I will chip in for the cost as well.

Sounds like a spider bite to me. I would be mindful of your symptoms and if they worsen I would go to the ER and have someone take a look at it. Better to spend the $20 than regret it later. Normally I would say to put cold or either warm compresses on it but without knowing what caused the problem to begin with I hesitate suggesting that. You could take some Benadryl and that might help with the reaction you are seeing. I would also suggest some Advil or something like that but with our situation of being banded that can get dicey sometimes. So use your own judgment on that. IT would help with the pain though at least somewhat. Advil would help with the headache as well. Is the tiredness NEW or do you think it is just from having a busy day? Is the tiredness more intense that usual? Is there anything different about the headache opposed to others you have had in the past?

Donali: Thanks bunches. I did post to Smartbandsters and Bandsters but couldn't find gradbandsters. Any suggestions? What about that name?

She is searching for a name. Any ideas? OUCH!! She just poked me and said "Tell them to make it a good one!"

I am two months post op and have yet to get a fill. I feel restriction and can eat only certain things without getting into trouble. I have decided unless I start to gain weight or no longer feel restriction or some other unforeseen issue I will not get a fill. I am still losing weight at about 1 to 2 lbs a week with my band empty. So, I am perfectly happy to continue like I am. At this point, the only reason to get a fill would be if I want to lose weight faster. I don't so I will keep it as is for now.

I missed the part about the co-pay. I think you should DEMAND that returned as you did not See the doctor nor did you receive treatment. You simply filled out a questionnaire. That does not fall under the co-pay umbrella. Now I am really Pi$$ed off. LOL!!