Kandi5912

Diane I agree with everything you said when it comes to the 3 reasons of lapband. I could also add more....a lot of people still look for the quick fix and rush rush.....How much does Dr. Malley charge for his fills. I may go see him if my visit next week dont sound right with my Dr. I will be in Kansas City / Lee Summit / Overland Park for my kids Spring Break and I will be spending time with all my family in the area. Do he have a website? Thank you and Kat for your positive feedback..you guys are the BESTEST!!!! LOL

Hello everyone, I first would like to say to all, congradulations and good luck on this new life journey. I am proud that you all support each other and give encouragement and insight and we are all winners. I was banded on 4/30/07 so far so good. I have lost 75lbs..I have been to my Dr. continuously to get the right restriction...I get it then I lose it get then I lose it. But recently at the begining of this year my restrcition is begining to really loose. I have gained 5lbs and I find that I can eat more. Here is the deal, I have a 4cc band. When I go to the Dr. she fills my band to 3.1cc..I have restriction then in 3wks it is lost...when I go back to the Dr. my band only has 2.9 cc. We did the Radiology and fluro light to make sure that the band is where it needs to be and we also test to make sure that there was not leakage and there is not any. I am now at 3.4 cc but I think that I might be able to do a little more. She is going to Kentucky to talk to another band Dr she no and take all my information to see what is going on because this has become a routine now. We are trying to figure out what is going on. She made the comment that the lapband is not for everyone and dont work with everyone, however I believe it is as long as you do what you are suppose to do it will work it was working in the beginning. And I will not get a revision to have the RNY no disecting on me!! Could anyone give me some feedback or advise. I was thinking about going to see another Dr. to get my fills and answers. I was told that I might have to go up to 3.8 to have the restriction that I need. Do anyone no of any Drs in Indianapolis that is not at St. Vincent Bariatrics that are wonderful and well EXPERIENCED?? Please help!! THANK YOU

hey are you from Kansas City, I am from there now located in Indianapolis. Have you heard of a Dr. Malley he is suppose to be a good Dr in Kansas City. Have you had any unsuccessful weight loss. Is the band working for you? I hear that it do not work for everyone but I think that has a lot to do with the Dr. that is chosen.

Hey thank you guys for your imput and 2 cents!!! LOL!!! You all are really helpful. I havent really heard too much about going over the 4cc fill that one has, but I will look into it. I am talking to the band Dr who is known in Ohio for banding. He has emailed me some valuable information as well. I am going to ask him about the over fill of the 4cc. I go to my dr next Wednesday so I will see what she has to say or if she found out anything from the Dr that she was going to see in KY about the band. I have switched up my exercises of course to make sure I dont plateau...my goodness this is something else. I will check on Wendell Edward's post to find out some more information...thank you to everyone.

Thank you Becca, I wish I would have saw his name in the directory as being "top rank bandster" when I was searching for a surgeon. I will look to see if he comes up in my insurance directory. I already talked to my insurance company in regards to chaning Dr. and my fill / band issues and they are covering my 100%. I just hope that he sees other patients that he did not band. I go back to my Dr. on the 19th of this month and will see what she has to say. If I dont get the restriction that I need or if she dont not fill me and have the needed answers I am going to look into him. I might still contact him or his office just to no what I may need to do for a back up plan. Thank you Fishers is not far from me at all. Congradulations on your new figure!!!

Thank you Kat for your advice and help. I am going back in a week to see what she has in mind and get another fill because I am not restricted at all. I will keep you posted. Once again thank you for your help and encouragement. Keep losing!!!!

I think she don't want to stop there she is really knew to the band and I think that she is just scared she has done over 2000 pts and that is what she always say small increments but they just don't be enough. where can I find out about the band holding more than 4 cc. thank you for your advice

When you say dieting what do you mean. Could you give me some examples. My daily diet is actually great. I dont eat any red meat, I eat chicken (protien) bake or grilled, salmon and other fish, turkey and some seafood. Steamed veggies, fruits not high in natural sugar, no breads, no pasta, no starch at all. I eat salads, drink plenty of water (too much according to my bladder, no sweets at all, and I exercise 5 x's a week. 45minutes cardio, and 1 hour walking the treadmill. Next what do you mean when you say cost. The food or the Dr visit. If it is the Dr. visit I am grateful that my insurance pays 100 % of all my follow up visits and I have no co-pay. Do you have any other suggestions that you can through out that I can use to gather some information to put my plan together. How long have you been banded. Thank you for your feedback any and all suggestions are helpful.

No problem good luck and let me know your out come...give it a week..your welcome and I wish you well

Congradulations on your banding....I would suggest that you take the liquid vitamin by Centrum, you can get this at any Osco, Walgreens, Wal-Mart or CVS for about $9....as for a protien drink you might want to go online to bariatricadvantage.com they have a lot of fruity protien drinks if you do not like the milky ones...however my sugery center gave me the easiest protien shake to make and it is wonderful, you do not have to waste your money on all that expensive stuff and trying to find your taste...: 4 cups 1% or 2% lowfat milk you can even use skim milk if you like.....1 cup of nonfat driy milk and any flavoring you like...I use the Carnation Chocolate (they also have vanilla) you can find this in the coffee aisle....it is in powder form and you add a couple of scoops and it is good....I have also added one scoop of Whey to get that extra boost...It keeps you full plus you have all the protien you need for that day...this recipe supplies you throughout the day, which you should consume all during that day by sipping regularly it supplies 75 grams of protien....I dont know how your Dr. does but mine advise me to do full liquids...So if you can you might want to do full liquids at some point because you do have to get your metabolism going...also your stomach may still need to wake up from the anesthetic are when it start to gurgle then you will feel 100% better....try constant movement and walking....also go to GNC and get the liquid B-12 ($7)...your iron might be low and if so go to a Nature market like Wild Oats and ask for the liquid iron that you can mix with your Centrum Vitamin...I was like you for a minute at the hospital (my iron was really low)....well that is about all I can think of so far...good luck on your journey I was banded on 4/30/07 I have lost 25 lbs so far...slow process but well worth it!!!!

Every insurance and Dr. is different, If I was you I would do a lot of researching to make sure that you come out on the good end of the stick. If you find a Dr. that says that the flouro is included have them write it up and sign it....fills are not always done to get a fill....my insurance pays for it but my Dr. choose not to use it....just be very careful and make sure that you have your plan in place for after your surgery care....it's a lot to consider especailly if you are a self pay...good luck

Congratulations!!!!! I can wait until my fill which hopefully will be June 18th...I was banded on April 30....that had to be a weird experience for you...my Dr. advised me that for her fills they have you go to Radiology so that they can poke in the right spot and dont have to keep trying that way they can see the tightness of that band also....all in all....GOOD LUCK on your journey I believe that you will do GREAT!!!!

Thank you SOOOO much I am so excited!!!! I learned something about the fill. If you are continuing to lose the weight on your own when you return for your 6wks your dr will not fill you...the minute you can not control your hunger then that is when your dr will give you a fill....after surgery we really do not have a restriction at all, they are just preparing you to eat 2 oz etc for the first 6 wks because that is when you are suppose to get your feel...that way when the time comes for you to have your fill you would have adjusted to eating properly....most people realize that they have no restriction after 3 wks and that is when they start to eat whatever they want....so those are some things to keep in mind for those who are concerned about fills.

Hello, I am from Indianapolis, IN. I just got banded on April 30, 2007 @ St. Vincent Bariatric Center in Carmel by Dr. Christine Gupta. I went back for my follow up on May 7, 2007 and had lost 15lbs. The staff there was really great to me from the beginning to the end. As for the protien drink try the online bariactricadvantage.com..they offer samples before you buy. Also if you have a store called Sunflower Market they also have samples of all flavors - Supra-tein and fruit-a-tein. these protien drinks taste great mixed with water or milk...Well good luck to all!!!!

Hey that is great I was just banded on April 30, 2007 and when I went in to see my Dr on Monday, I had already lost 15lbs....WOW!!! I still havent been hungry and I am walking 1 hr a day, however I am getting all my protein drinks in as well as my water fluids along with 3 oz cottage chesse and other full liquids and tuna (and other fish products) I am allowed to eat...GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!

Hey sorry to hear that you are going through the depression mode. Did your Dr. prescrib you any medication. My dr did (they say they do this at the Bariatric Centers) because people that used food for happiness and sadness will go through a withdrawl. That is one reason why they give you almost a 6 month supply. I dont use mine because I never used food as a way out, I have just always been overweight. Do you have anything else of interest that could devert your mind from what is making you feel this way. Pick up the phone and call someone to talk, or do something that will keep you busy unable to get a chance to sit a think (think about the wieght that you are going to lose and how proud you will be of yourself). If all else do not work contact your Dr. they can help you get through this time of life changing atmosphere. Good Luck and I wish you the BEST!!!

Hello Jen, I was banded on April 30 and I have lost 20lbs as of Monday. Another friend of mind was telling me that her friend has the same dr that did my surgery and our dr told her at her 6 wks that she was not going to fill her because she was still losing weight on her own and restriction is not necessary at this time. Then there was another women who had her band in October and here it is May and her dr. still have not done a fill on her because she has lost 60 + lbs so far without the fill. We all are thinking that if your dr see that you are losing more without it then until you go in the office and your weight change to increase or stop at a stand still then that is when they will give you a fill. But the above ladies mentioned are eating whatever they want when they want and is still losing weight that is the part that I dont understand. I am like you EXPLAINATIONS PLEASE!! LOL

Yes that is understandable, you no what I did was ediets.com and they keep a paper trail of your progress. They used that documentation as my weight loss. I know it takes time but wait until the papers are approved your time for surgery is going to come fast. My time after approval is flying, that is why I am nervous and excited at the same time. Good luck it will all work well and I will give you the detail info on my step by step.

Hey Sandi, yes I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I am going this Thursday to get blood work, pulmonary function test, chest x-ray, upper GI, abdominal scan, and a EKG. I was told that it will take about 3 hrs...Then i go next Wednesday April 18th to a nutritionist class from 1-4:30 (yes 4 1/2 hrs)...Then I have a week of freedom to prepare for my surgery. As for the pre op diet, I have an option, I can do the liquid, protein and jello thing for 2dys or I can get this stuff that is prescribed by the Dr. the day before surgery...it is in powder form and I mix it with water drink it and be right next to a bathroom....they say it cleans you from head to toe!!!LOL I know the wait is something else. Mine took 1 month for approval then I had to wait on my dr to send my insurance a medical clearence letter (that was my hold up for about another month) now everything is in and everything is coming so rapidly....good luck with yours and I will make sure I keep you posted on what is taking place...good luck

Hello all I am knew to this forum. I am schedule to have my banding on April 30th 07...I was wondering if there was anyone who had bandind at St Vincent Bariatric Center in Carmel Indiana? If so how are you coming along, who was your surgeon and what are the after effects thanks.

Thank you SOOO much for your detailed information Karenb. Your feedback stopped a lot of my worry, and relaxed me by reassuring me that the test is to my benefits, and thank you for the good luck, I'll need it.

Hello everyone out here that is having the lap band done, has had it done and is thinking about having it done. I have a question in regards to the testing. I am schedule to have my surgery on April 30, 2007. I faxed my paperwork to my insurance on Feb 1, 2007 and am approved and ready. I was told that I would have to get blood work done, urine anaylisis, and a chest x-ray?? What in the world is all this for???? Why is a chest xray needed if they are banding your stomach and what all are they looking for in more blood work if you have already gotten your chlolestoral and thyroid checked at your own private dr. Could anyone tell me specifics of these test? thanks :omg:

OMG really how long you bleed??? WOW, I went under anesthesia before and didnt have to have all this done that is why I was wondering now if I can get more feedback I think I can get in a comfort zone. Really getting nervous now that the time is drawing near...thank you for your feedback