janed

HI everyone, I am looking for a fill doctor in Austin. I have just moved here from LA. and need to find a doctor that will do fills on me although I was banded in Mexico a year ago. Help!!!

That happens to me, but at night i wake up pb'ing. I had a fill about 4 weeks ago and it must be too tight, but i don't want to get any taken out. I have a hard time following the rules. Taking pea size bites and chewing like a turtle. I guess i am my own worst enemy. We need to be careful becuase from what i understand the burning in the esophogus is not good at all. Keep me posted how you do and good luck.

mariee, So I guess you don't know much more now. Did any of the tests conclude your esophogus was okay? I was banded in Mexico, so it is not real easy for me to get in and see just any Doc. Its only a 6 hour drive,so I plan on going soon and figure out what is going on. Mean while I have lost about 10 lbs in a week because not much goes down. I stay hydrated, but still thirsty. It is a crap shoot as someone else mentioned. One night salad is great, the next night it comes up. I guess its the price we pay for going this route. Its not an exact science. Our bodies do strange things. Please keep up posted how you are doing. And anyone else experiencing these problems please email.Thanks Janed

HI, i know you posted this a couple of weeks ago,but i'm just signing in after being off for a while. I seem to have the same problem you do. I was banded in Jan 07. I kept 2 cc for about 8-9 months, then all the suddden i would wake up at night gagging. Milk would actually curdle in the band overnight ( yeah i know too much information). I think stress may cause the band to get tighter, or actually the top of your stomach near the esophagus where the band is wrapped. I finally had fill taken out and gained about 25 ibs. After getting fill put back in, i seem to have a slow leak. I recently got a fill hoping it would stay in. I have 2cc and can't keep anything down. I'm miserable, but don't want to get any out. I'm scared i may have trouble with my esophagus too. How are you doing? So I guess i also need to know symptoms of erosion, and can it effect your fills?

If you can still drink liquids, i would wait a couple of more days. But i'm no doctor. I just know that the band can change quite a bit and it is important that you get fluids down.

He charges $235, maybe a little less now. That is with or with fluro. If you go to the Austin office they do not use fluro, but in San Antonio they use it. He is a great doc. You may also want to check into Fill Center USA that just opened an office in Austin. The price is more on initial visit, but down the line maybe cheaper.

did you ever find out about Dr. Patel? Curious myself, I was using him for fills and thought he and his staff were outstanding...

I used dr. Patel. I really like him and his P.A. They are great and have great prices. One thing that is unique about his office I find is they really care about the mechanics of how the band is working and just don't want to give you a fill and send you on your way. I was very impressed and recommend. They have offices in Austin and San Antonio.

yes I am in Austin. I have found a fill doc and very pleased. Best of luck with your surgery. Its a piece of cake....lol

I would say as long as you can get liquids down, try and wait it out a bit. But, if you do have to pay everytime you get an adjustment, you may want to have a slight unfil before the window they give you is up. (i'm just assuming by what you said cost is a factor). I don't really think you should be in pain.....make sure you chew extremely well. Should be mushy when you swallow. Especially if you are tight. Good luck. :eek:

I am just about at my goal weight and my port is very visible. I heard this is not veey common. It did change positions as I lost the weight. It is now located about 2 1/2 inches over and to the left of my belly button. For the longest time I thought it was scar tissue, but nope, it was the port. I can see it, cant tell what it is, just looks like a lump. I don't care. Small price to pay. Start weight 218 banded 1-19-07 current weight 163 5'7

I have been banded one year. You will be as good as new in no time and today will feel like a lifetime ago.......Good luck and don't worry ,the pain your feeling is normal. As long as it is somewhat tolerable. I was playing tennis 2 weeks after surgery, just to show you how we all heal different. Janed

I have been banded now for 1 year. I had my first fill 6 weeks after my band and it lasted for about 10 months. The last 3 months of the fill it was very tight and I would throw up just about everytime i ate. I would even wake up at night gagging if my pouch wasn't completely empty before going to bed. Very strange. I finally had some taken out then a little put back in and now I am completey unrestricted and have gained 10 lbs in a month. MISERABLE.......Has anyone experienced such strange results....

Marion, I have an appt with Dr. Patel in 2 weeks. Is he good about find the port with out problems?

I just got a call back from Dr. Patel office that is in San Antonio. The nurse told me they will be coming to Austin now. I have a fill scheduled for Jan. 29th. The cost is $225 with a 7 day window on going back for adjustments. Not to bad on the price. I asked her if they take Mexico patients and she said yes. Has anyone been to Dr. Patel? What is your feedback.

I am also interested in finding a doctor in Austin that will do a fill on someone being banded in mexico and that is reasonably priced. This is not my first fill. i've been banded almost 1 yr. and had some fill taken out b/c i was too tight and have gained 10 pounds.

Probably don't need to worry about Pb'ing on liquids. I still pb quiet often and have been banded 6 months. I haven't quite figured out what to eat and not eat. I think I have got complacent with the band and forget not to eat so much. I have lost 45 lbs and very happy. Avoid PBing at all cost you don't want your band to slip. The key will be when you are on solid chew very well and take baby bites. Good luck.. Jane d

Yes, I know all about the impatient part. But now I look back and time has gone by. I was banded on Jan. 19th 2007. I was playing tennis after 2 weeks. After about 1 week I never experienced the gas pain again. I know everyone is different, but I did have an easy recovery. Just take one day at a time and you will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel before you know it. banded Jan. 19th start weight 212 weight today 170 Goal weight 150ish

So glad to hear you 2nd surgery went well. Best of luck!! You have nothing but GOOD ahead of you now. Janed

I was banded by Dr. de la Garza on Jan 19,2007. I have no complaints. I am doing great. The hospital and staff are wonderful. Jane d

I agree with you Doddie. I was banded 1-19-07 and only my good friend who is a doctor knows. Unless you want to tell people, it is none of their business. My mother would have been negative,not to mention totally freaked by the surgery. Of course she has never had a weight problem, so she would never understand the mental strain it has on me. I don't owe anyone an explanation and if I had told close friends and family I would have had to defend my decision. I just wasn't going to even open a can of worms. I get asked by everyone how I'm losing. I just tell them smaller portions and more Protein. Jane d

I was banded in Mexico and went through litenfree. I was charged $8000.00 total and I paid for my airfare. I have lifetime free fill, if i want to fly to mexico. The only thing that makes me mad is that i did not have $8000 and went through a medical lending agency and that is where I probably paid to much. After all is said and done I will have paid over$10000. But it is a small price to pay to have my sanity and my life back. I'm sure what you paid is relative to most Mexican surgeries. Jane d

Is there any such thing as a Protein supplement in pill form. I don't think I hit 60 grams a day. I can't eat much meat,and the little I eat doesn't add up to much I'm sure. I read somewhere if you eat more than 25 grams of protein at a time it is wasted. The body won't absorb it? I'm not sure, just asking....... Thanks Janed banded 1-19-2007 s212/c179/g150

Go with your gut. Once the band is on you will want to work with it and not against it. I struggle sometimes with wanting to eat a big juicy steak, but I just have to look in the mirror, see my results and I am just fine. If you go through with it you will get a whole new perspective on food. You won't be able to eat like you do now even if you wanted too, so I don't think the struggle will be as bad as you think. Best of luck. Jane d