Infaith

Jack...you are AWESOME!

WHOOWHEE Michelle! I just thought about you today knowing that you had your band placed sometime in April 2 years ago. Great job. You are a definite success story!

Hey Karen, I'm so sorry I've been out of touch lately as my own life has had some big bumps lately too. Much love and prayers going your way my friend! Keep in touch.

Hello fellow Oregonians! I am once again considering getting rebanded and have found a Dr. Koning in Bend that will do fills and aftercare, but (understandably so) will want copies of records from my last band and get this all set up before hand. I'm kind of excited about the idea. I have no problems with going back to Dr. Ortiz in TJ for my rebanding...in fact I prefer to. But aftercare is such a hassle, but so important. Anybody heard of Dr. Koning? Thanks.

Hi Crystal, I haven't been around here lately due to my own life crisis so I'm not sure what's happening with you BUT I have a really bad attitude right now with the medical industry so if you need somebody to help you confront a nasty attitude nurse/doctor or other I am your woman. Just say the word. As for you supporting us....it's supposed to go both ways. Sit back and let other support you. We love you.

Hey, I just found this thread. I am getting rebanded April 12th! Can I join too?

Oh definitely Jonathan! Of course when I had my band removed I was 15 pounds dehydrated (230) when I know my regular weight at that time was 245. After my band removal surgery I was 255, but that 10 pounds came off with drinking lots of water. Take care guy!

Hi again Janelle, My sister did a lot of research and she went to Ortiz. I was very skeptical (she's the brave one) and it wasn't until after our mom went with her for her surgery and then I watched for 6 months before deciding it was something I had to do to save my life. I love Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz leaves the smallest scars I have ever seen! I've had doctors compliment how nice they look. He is also extremely caring. He gives his patients his personal cell phone number and you can call him direct at any time. I called him during his vacation when my band slipped and he was so good to me when he had to remove it (it had slipped way down on my stomach). Last I knew Dr. Ortiz only used the Inamed band which as I understand it is the only band used or allowed in the U.S...unless that has changed. Dr. Ortiz is a dual-citizen of U.S. and Mexico. I am really looking forward to being rebanded. I love the control it gave me. Took away a lot of my appetite or at least my brain type. Take care. Talk to you soon. Darcey

Hi Janelle, I also reside in Eugene! Dr. Koning is at Advanced Surgical Care, 2084 NE Professinal Ct. Bend, OR 97701 541-322-5753. Hope this helps! When are you planning to get banded? By who?

Hey, I appreciate this info too as I have to have an endoscopy the day before I get rebanded in April.

YES...in fact I AM doing it again!

I am going to be rebanded April 7th...WHOOWHEE! Has anybody here gone thru this? I mean I had my band 7 months, lost 55 pounds. Lost my band, gained almost 55 pounds and now am going to try again. Just curious is there is anything different about the "second time around"?

Ooops, sorry!

Thanks Vera...I actually was never sure of your whole story. When I came on here I remember you having a terrible time getting restriction. My doc only deals with Inamed bands. I loved my band and it worked well for me...like I told Jonathan...I really believe it was not the band that made me sick, but a virus that was going around where I work (my aunt works at the same place I do). Gwendolyn-thanks for the info and good wishes. So you feel good about being rebanded? I went back and forth for many months and now know that it's what I have to do to save my life. Crystal-you can hijack my thread anytime! Thanks and I missed you too. BTW, your picture is awesome. You are gorgeous!

Actually Jonathan, I really did just catch a stomach virus. My aunt (I found out later) had the same thing and she doesn't have a band. We both were vomiting horribly and could not keep even Water down. Unfortunately it made my band slip waaaaaayyy down around the middle of my stomach with no chance of it slipping back up even after the total unfill. I don't know if I had got back to my surgeon within a couple of days whether it would have made a difference or not. So I don't think originally it was my band that made me sick and I'm not sure the outcome would have been any different for me except I wouldnt' have been in such pain for so many days.

My first band was removed due to extreme slippage. I caught a nasty stomach virus that had me violently throwing up for days. Thought I would be okay if I had all my fill taken out and I kept "trying" to sip fluids. My biggest mistake was waiting too long to call my surgeon. By the time I called him and he insisted I fly in the next day (after being hydrated at a local hospital and emailing him pictures of my x-rays). He didn't know if he could save it or not. It was too late. My band was down around the middle of my stomach and my stomach was purple. Another day and it would have been perforated. He removed it and my port and told me IF I wish to be rebanded I would have to wait 6 months to heal. When I go in April, they will do an endoscopy just before surgery to see if I'm okay to reband.

Carolyn, You betcha! I wrote off my original banding and airfare (my hotel was included in my banding price). Then the next year I wrote off my band removal and this year I will write off my rebanding and hotel and taxis and whatever else I can get a receipt for! Who is your doctor?

So sorry I'm late with this wish, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GREAT AND WONDERFUL FRIEND!

A HUGE welcome back Becky! Okay, okay Crystal (Vines), I'm here. Darcy, you can call off the search for me, but we need to work on Teresa. The last time I heard from heard, she wanted to meet for coffee and I couldn't go! Darn! I know I've been away because I lost my band last summer and I've gain back pretty much all my weight :welldone2: BUT, I've scheduled a rebanding on April 7th with Dr. Ortiz in MX and I've met a doctor here in Oregon that is willing to do my aftercare and he thinks Dr. Ortiz is a really good guy. WHOOWHEE! Celebration for reunions around here!

Darcy, Darcy, Darcy......SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!! You have been so missed. Look forward to catching up.

I'm same as LaMadam...had some phantom restriction at first and now it's like I never had it. It's been 7 months for me.

I had my band removed on a Thursday and flew home on Friday by myself. Yes, I felt restriction for awhile, but then oops...nothing and now I'm way back up. Gonna fix that though-getting rebanded April 7th! WHOOWHEE!

Jonathan....JohnQ is right! You ARE NOT A FAILURE! This is an ongoing process guy and we are here for you. And I know you have always been there for us....always an inspiration. Take care. You are in my prayers!

Congratualtion Josephine! That is awesome. You broke into Onederland! I am getting rebanded in April. I can't wait! Keep it up girl!

Thanks Paula! You are such a sweetheart. Yeah....my new appointment for rebanding is April 7th...yes the magic date. I have gained so much weight back, but I know help is on the way! I am planning to meet Dr. Koning on Monday at a seminar he's doing in Eugene. Then I will contact Dr. Ortiz about sending him my records. It will just feel better to have help closer to home. I can either drive to Bend (2-3 hours away) or my sister (who is a flight attendant) can get me on one of the many daily flights to Bend or Redmond for $25 so I can be there in a few minutes. That way I won't wait so long for help like I did last time. I promise to stay more in touch this time. Thanks again.