AZdutchgirl

Hello, I live in Tucson and am thinking about having the lap band done. Does anyone know of a doctor in Tucson and about follow up care and fills? I hate to have to go to Phoenix all the time for that. (2 1/2 hr drive) My BMI is 34.3. I already called my insurance (PacifiCare) but they don't cover lap band. :angry I have a mechanical heart prosthesis and am on 20mg of Coumadin (blood thinner) per day. I am a fast metabolizer and need this much to stay stable. My OHS was 8/2000 and the Aortic Stenosis was congenital. I am doing well after almost 7 years now. I hometest with the Protime. My husband is terrified of the lap band surgery and the artificial device that is put in my body because I already have an artificial heart valve. Will the body eventually reject the band? Anyone here with the same medical condition? Any comments?

Hi... Thanks for writing. I haven't been on this site for a very long time as I am never going to do the lab band surgery. As a matter of fact a very close heart friend of mine here in Tucson nearly died last year of a terrible infection that she developed after Lap Band surgery. They had to remove the band as it couldn't be salvaged. It took her months and months to recover. They had to give her heavy doses of antibiotics and because of that she lost most of her hair and the hair has not come back the way it was before surgery. This experience made her terrified to do the surgery again so she's not going to do it a second time and tries to be happy with her size. Personally, I am doing very well and feeling wonderful most of the time. I am doing the best that I can with working and being a wife, mother and grandmother. I bought a CHI machine and that has done absolute wonders for my health. It balanced my Lymphatic system and Hormones and I am feeling so much better. I also had Cellulitis in my left lower leg/foot and the swelling from that is almost gone in the 5 weeks I've had it and I've had this prtoblem for the past 8 years and it wouldn't go away. All the doctor could do was give me more antibiotics. YUCK!!I have so much more energy. I call it my little aerobic exerciser and it brings lots of oxygen to my muscles/body so I am feeling so much better. Everything has improved, even my moods. And since I've bought this little exerciser 5 weeks ago I've lost another 7 pounds without even trying very hard. If you are interested my website is: www.chinow.com/chriswink Thanks again. Christina

Julie & Dutchgrl59, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to my message. With all the reading that I've done on the boards the scare of complication made me change my mind about having the band implanted. I can still change my mind again if I chose to do so, but in the mean time my doctor and I have made an agreement for me to come in once a month to see him. They'll put me on the scale (very difficult thing for me) to see if I am losing weight. By doing it this way I will be held accountable and I need that. Without them forcing me I would NEVER go on the scale at home. Well, the last time I saw him was April 24th and I had lost 3 pounds in about a month. That's about what I could expect to lose with the band I think. It got me excited and with the reasonable food plan he suggested I think I could actually achieve my goal in a year to 18 months. He also suggested I go for some cognitive therapy as I was abused as a child by my father and made to feel bad the way I look. I took the cow by the horns and made an appointment right away. Was able to get in within 2 days and so far I have had 2 sessions. I need many, many more, I was told. It is NOT the weight that is the problem. I see my regular doctor again on the 22nd of May. I am still on the boards reading posts, but since I am not going to have the band I don't post much and think I cannot be of support to anyone here. My friend in OR actually got another fill on the 30th and she is doing much better, so she tells me. In the beginning you simply don't know how many fills it takes to get the correct restriction. But after 4 months she's lost close to 40 pounds. She has another 120 to go and from what I've read it could take another 2 years for her to lose that. I asked her to be patient and kind to herself and not to get discouraged. It took years for all that weight to be put on so it will take time to take it off. Another friend of mine is going to get the band in June some time and we live close enough so I can be of support to her. Like me, she's also on Coumadin (Artificial Heartvalve) and they will bridge her during the band surgery with a Heparin drip and she will go to the hospital 2 days before surgery and has to stay 2 days afterwards, just to avoid complications like stroke or clotting. I appreciate all you people's kindness and support. Hugs, Christina

The best tasting Protein powder on the market is Jay Robb's whey protein. http://www.jayrobb.com/ You can get it in vanilla & chocolate. I like the vanilla the best, and if I want chocolate I just add cocoa. It has 24 grams of protein per scoop and it tastes heavenly. It has "Stevia" as sweetener so no artificial sweeteners. You can buy it on his website or at a health food store. I buy mine at a local health food store and make mine with goat milk and frozen strawberries. There are recipes on the container as well, but I still like my own the best. Enjoy!! AZdutchgirl

Wendy, So sweet of you to post and leave such a positive message for me. I really appreciate this! As for losing weight on my own, I am totally focussed at the moment and that hasn't happened before. I know I can do it! 60 pounds isn't really that much and what else would I do in the next two years?. I still have to eat right anyways whether I have the band or not. I know a person who got the band in January of this year and she's not losing that much weight. She's disappointed! She's lost almost 35 pounds since her surgery and she has another 120 to go. (Wow) She hasn't had any complications, so that is good. I believe in God and what I've read on the forums about the complications and troubles people had with the band I know God was whispering with that little voice in the back of my head that I shouldn't do this surgery. Some of the stories got me real scared. I know God is a loving God and only wants what is best for me considering my heart condition. My appetite has greatly decreased in the past month and I believe this is an answer to my prayer. I prayed and asked him to help me with this weight problem because I cannot do it alone. I need him to give me the strength and motivation. I believe this is the way he wants me to do it and I am A okay with that! :D I feel so content and happy! Best of luck to you as well. Hugs, Christina

I use the Jay Robb Protein powder and I buy it at the healthfood store. It is absolutely delicious and I just love it. It has 24 grams of protein per scoop. It comes in vanilla and chocolate, vanilla being the best. Don't know if it comes in strawberry and haven't seen that flavor. Enjoy!

<p>I use Jay Robb's Whey Protein and it has 24 grams of protein per scoop and it tastes delicious. It has "Stevia" as sweetener, so no Splenda. </p> <p>I use 8 oz. of goat milk and add 1/2 banana and approx. 5-6 medium frozen strawberries. It also has a few recipes on the container. You can buy the Jay Robb products at health food stores.</p> <p>Enjoy.</p>

I've decided that I am not going to do this surgery after all. I've already canceled my appointment with the surgeons's co-ordinator. With my mechanical heart valve it would be too much of a risk I think. I don't want to be stupid and die to be thin. I have read and read on several of the lap band forums and this surgery is not without risks folks. Some of the posts scared the snot out of me. All the complications and difficulties that people had with the band afterwards made me think twice. I don't think I could live with that, and once it is in it takes money again to take it out. I also read some of the Memorial pages but most of the people that didn't make it had the GB though and were morbidly obese. My BMI is 34.3 right now and for my health sake and preventing future problems I need to lose 60 pounds. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I'd ever have to lose 60 pounds. I don't have serious problems yet only that my cholesterol is high. (234) I don't have high blood pressure or diabetes. I have to do it this way and am determined to succeed. So I take 18 months or longer, what else would I have been doing? I have already started and no one is getting in my way. Not even my friend Darlene who loves to ask me to go out for a treat with her. I just hope when I get to where I need to be that I can keep it off. Like I read on so many posts with the LB and the GB you still have to fight to keep it off. You can still gain it all back if you don't watch out. There is no guarantee! You still need to eat right, small portions and cannot endulge in sugary junk. Wish me luck! Love & hugs, Christina

Kaelin... No, I don't believe so. She lives in Astoria, near the coast. Portland would be the closest and she insists on someone that does the fleuroscopy (sp). I believe she now goes all the way to Tacoma or Seatle, I am not sure which. She tries to combine it with business trips for work so her boss pays for gas and hotel. She pays $375.00 and I think that's a lot of money for a little Fluid.

Dear Foodstampchamp, Thanks for the welcome. I am here every day learning about the procedure and figuring out if I really want to do this. There are a lot of pro's and cons. But with this site on my side I should be able to make an informed decision. Knowledge is POWER...

Patty... I used to love Indonesian foods when I was still living in Holland, but I am not good at cooking it. I can make Bamie Goreng and Nassie Goreng and that's about it. It is also difficult to find all the necessary spices. We often go to Thai restaurants because they usually make a great Satee with chicken or beef. Peanut sauce often leaves a lot to be desired. Since I live in a warm climate I often come across Dutch tourists as well. It happened just a couple weeks ago when I was at the gas station near my house. It was fun talking with them for a while. They were so surprised that I still speak the language fluently after being away from the old country for many years. Have a great weekend too, Christina

Could you please tell me the name and address of the doctor in OR, and I will tell my friend so she won't have to go to WA anymore and pay the high price for a simple fill. Do you know for sure this doctor accepts patients who have had their surgery in Mexico? Please let me know asap.. Thanks, Christina

I know someone from OR who had LB surgery in Tijuana, Mexico and goes to WA and pays $375.00 per fill. Ouch!! There are no doctors in her area at all, so she's stuck! I guess they don't want to take chances so you pay more. Hope you find someone closer. I feel for you! Take care, Christina

Hi there, Thanks for answering my post. What does your ID mean? Neveragain.. Want to tell me? I have an appointment with Dr. Monte Schwartz. (Camp Lowell) Do you know him? Please tell me what you know about him so I can make an informed decision. Thanks, Christina

I made an appointment with the Bariatric doctor's office this afternoon and the appointment is May 1st. I first have to see the surgery co-ordinator but that is fine with me. I have my thougths though and am kind of scared because of my heart condition and the meds I take. But I will see what they say. Maybe I don't even qualify. Will keep you posted. Christina

Patty.. So nice to meet you as well. :) Sorry to hear about you little ones congenital heart condition. That must be hard on you because we mothers worry so much about our kids. Thank God he has no restrictions and can play like any other little boy. I wish him well. Patty.. are you Dutch by any chance? I am an American citizen but from Dutch origin. I have been here for almost 30 years. I love it! I still speak the Dutch language and my Mom, 3 sisters and 1 brother all live in The Netherlands. I have a husband, 2 grown daughters and 3 grandkids. I also have my thoughts about this LB surgery and to be honest it kind of scares me because of my artificial heart valve and the Coumadin I take every day. But as I said previously I am so tired of always thinking about weight. It is so frustrating. I want to be able to keep it off for good. Posts that I have read on the forums people have said they love their band and that it is no big deal. The weight comes off slower than with GB but it comes off. That would be so nice. I don't like diet food and don't believe in diets anymore. They don't work. I like to cook my own food. We go out once a week with friends and have a meal. Always careful what I choose. I have done WW twice so far but the weighing in drives me nuts. I lost 10 pounds the last time. I wish I would've stuck with it because I was down to 179. That was a couple years ago now. I made an appointment with the doctor this afternoon for a consult, but they want me to see the co-ordinator first before I see the doctor. That is fine with me. My appointment is May 1st. I will keep you posted. Heart hugs to you..

Thanks Patty and Elaine for replying to my post. Patty, I have heard of ToF but am not familar with the details. If you have questions and need support for your son, this is the place you might want to go: www.valvereplacement.com. There is lots and lots of info and great people on the forum. I've met numerous of them at the yearly reunions since 2000, including the person that started the web site. His name is Hank Eyring. He lives in Mesa, AZ. Elaine, I am trying to avoid having to go to Phoenix and if I go ahead with this surgery I would prefer staying in Tucson. I hate to be driving up there all the time for all the after care. It is a 2 1/2 hr. drive for me. My name is Christina. I am 5'4" tall and weigh 203 lbs. :help: :help: My BMI is 34.3. I just recently allowed the nurse at the doctors office to weigh me again when I was there to see him for another problem. Before that I refused to go on the scale and avoided it like the plague. I had not weighed myself in several years. I knew I was up there but didn't know exactly how much. I was hoping it wasn't over 200.:cry :cry :embarassed: :embarassed: When I was doing cardiac rehab in the fall of 2000 I was 192 so I gained 11 pounds in 6/12 years.:omg: I am in the very beginning of even thinking about WLS. I am so tired of thinking about weight 24/7, not being happy with myself, afraid to eat, clothes that don't fit right and WLS seems the only way and would be nice not to have to worry about weight anymore. I did have the courage this time to speak with my doctor about WLS and he is not against it. He said that it was not impossible but that I would be considered a "high risk" patient in regards to the Coumadin I take for my artificial heart valve. He would rather see me try get the weight off myself and buckle down on the suggested food plan and excercising every day. The suggested food and exercise plan he gave me is not unreasonable but will it work for me? I have not spoken to my cardiologist about WLS yet. I just saw him in Feburary and won't see him again until next year unless there is a problem before that time. I can always call for another appointment and speak with him about WLS. My DH of almost 30 years is very afraid for me getting this surgery because I am a fast metabolizer of Coumadin and I need 20-26mg+ per day to stay stable with my INR. My heart surgery in 8/2000 had to be redone within 11 days for that reason because the doctors had no idea that I was a fast metabolizer. They treated me like everyone else. Onze size fits all. (long story) I threw a clot and thanks to God it settled underneath the new mechanical valve and didn't move. Nevertheless, the surgery had to be redone. DH is afraid someone is going to mess me up and that I will throw a clot again, or worse have a stroke. I will have to go off Coumadin for this surgery and they need to bridge me with another drug like Heparin or Lovenox. They cannot leave me unprotected. I got a referral to see a Lap Band surgeon/specialist here in town yesterday but still have to take the time to call and make an appointment. I haven't called right away because I am a bit apprehensive myself as well and am thinking is it worth the risk? Am I just choosing the easy way out? How did everyone else feel before their surgery and how did you all proceed? Ooh, and will the body eventually reject the band? I was in Phoenix at a WLS (GB) seminar last year with a friend and that is what her surgeon told the audience that evening. His opinion is that the lap band will eventually be rejected by the body (about 10-15 years) and the surgery will need to be redone. Hugs, AZdutchgirl

I can understand that you people don't have the same condition that I am dealing with but not to even say a friendly "hello" and welcome a new member to the site is beyond me. I have waited several days now for someone to come along and say: "hey, welcome to this site. We are here for you".