VegasGrace

I chose a surgeon based out of Tijuana, Mexico. I really liked him as he is very skilled and knows all the ins and outs of the lapband. Dr. Huacuz. Just do the research on any doctor you are considering. And ask them- not the nurse, not anyone else...ask the surgeon if they have had any patients with complications. Your answer should be yes. If they say no, immediately take them off the list as they are not trustworthy. There is a % rate of complications and theirs should be on that level. My twin sister's doc had patients to die even, but they were tough cases to begin with. He is well respected in Maryland. That was too far for me to travel so I went to MX.

Someone just posted a doc in Denver for less than 10k. But that's not SLC. I found plenty of sites but none disclose the costs. Good luck on your search!

Hi! You seem to be just like me....those same pounds gone but then reappear. But with me it seemed like I gained more weight than I lost on any given diet. SLC area....I'll do some checking. I am not insured and had to go the self pay route but I traveled for my procedure and my follow doctor is in SLC.

He spent the least time on it because it brings him least profit. Find another doctor as he pulled your leg. You can have sweets. It won't harm you. But with any WLS, you ...and it's YOU.... have to make better choices in life. But let me tell you...I had a soda today. Had dental work including a wisdom tooth pulled and since I can't eat...I had a coke w/ tons of ice...felt really good. Frankly, don't go to a car dealership to find out if you want to buy a car! They are just salespeople....just like doctors. This is business. Do the research on your own...go to those meetings and find some support group meetings as well. After you decide you want the band...then go shopping for a doctor. Good luck!

Anesthesia! There was a youtube flick going around the boards showing a fill - super wrong! The doc didn't use anesthesia and the needle was suspect. If you have an Inamed band, the approved needles come in white and blue packaging that has Inamed on it....if it's not there....you are being shortchanged...also if you don't get anesthesia...you are being shortchanged. Hate you went thru this, but hang in and next time ask for anesthesia.

Dr. Rojas....$365 for the first and I think it's 165 for each subsequent visit. That includes an adjustment! Hope that helps. (much cheaper than those around here!)

Don't be scared, kelly. Just eat before flight. The few hours it takes to get from LAX to BWI....anyone can go without food that long...no biggie. Your flight to Arizona would be shorter.

My doc said it does....after disclosing that I have used the barf bag a time or two flying or driving thru Utah to Vegas and back....

Hate that for you. Vent away! But if someone would have offered me to wait and play jump through hoops of flame...and they'd cough up the 8 grand....I'd have done it. But, it was the best $8,000 ever spent! No more blood pressure pills, migraine meds, wasted money on diets and shakes/pills/exercise equipment.... was so worth it. Just hang in and hang on!

Hi, I love Pilaties. Well, used to. When I was on Atkins years back I did the Windsor Pilaties program. I got down to 136 and my shape was perfect. But after moving out of the country and back in....having an extra 100 lbs on me...I just couldn't get back in the swing of things. But I do remember liking it, finding it easy and fun. This resort town I used to live in had a Pilaties place...had machines/tables...whatever. Was really ritzy. Before you buy one, new, I'd check out Craigslist or other classified...you could save yourself a bundle.

1) Let the band do it's job. By virtue of getting the band in place doesn't result in restriction. For some it does, however....what a bonus! 2) Allow time to heal and remember the Lapband System begins to work with adjustments. So, if you don't lose an ounce before your first fill about 6 weeks out...don't stress over it. But many diet during this time and lose weight. (my doc said if I could have been sucessful at dieting...I wouldn't need the band - but many can diet either pre or post op, but that doesn't mean I'm a total failure) 3) Stay close to your chosen physician, heed the advice and direction. 4) Let the band do it's job....let it restrict your food intake. During the weightloss period of the system learn the band, learn what you can eat; and then when you go on maintenance keep your portions controlled.

Hey, good question. For me, and this is just for me...I don't even think about fills. I really never did. I just knew I had to have restriction (took 2 fills) and then when I passed goal had to stop loosing (2 unfills). Now, I weigh every few days or weekly and if I ever see the scales at 142, I need to diet. If I diet but the scales go up to 145...then I know I need to go back for a fill. I fluctuate between 137 and 141. But most people go up and down a few pounds anyways.

Many do! Don't understand it myself....I didn't lose any weight preop or post op. But 10 weeks later I lost my first ounce. Go figure! But hope for the best (losing weight without adjusting the lapband) but prepare for the worst (not loosing weight until you adjust the band) I see your time is fast approaching....good luck! And keep us posted.

Wow, that is a task sometimes. I don't like to eat in public. I ate lunch in the car today (doing some traveling on the interstate) and my kids asked me to lunch. I got a drink and when the food came, I grabbed a fry or two...just to look like I was eating. When I want pizza Hut buffet, I have to get it 'to go' because salad is hard on me. But don't sweat it! I like to order potatoes (sweet potatoes are my fav) and something cheap when I go out to eat.

Hi, and yes...it's actually normal. If you slime after one bite, I recommend chewing your food better. Try this for a day or two. If you slime after 1 bite then you are indeed too restricted. If however, you find chewing your 1 bite well and you don't slime....just do that from now on. But you really should be able to eat 3 bites w/o sliming....so try that if you can get it down by chewing well. If not, see your doctor to have a little taken out of your band. Good luck!

Hi, I think Highland Family Practice does the surgeries...in SLC. Dr. Muse has been given rave reviews and many writeups about him were found when I did the research, local papers and TV stations. Good luck and welcome to Utah!

Hi, I just learned from the doctor that my excessive sliming was stress related. So not only is the band a good indicator of being full...but can tell you when your stress level is going up. I had an unfill but over the past few days I'm sliming alot....again. But instead of running for an unfill, I'll work thru the stress. Meditation is great. Dananah, PB is productive burp. I don't do this but many on here burp frequently. Sliming is what I do. The esophogas produces slime to help with digestion, banded or not. When you have restriction, the mucus can linger in the esophogas longer than normal. It's purpose is to carry the food down or bring it back up. Want to make it clear that this is not vomiting. The stomach is not involved with sliming, but someone can vomit and slime at the same time.

Today while traveling I stopped at Taco Bell. Preband I would have ordered a #7 or a #4 (large drink, taco, w/ either a mexican pizza or crunchwrap) and a side of Beans or rice- or both. Today I ordered a small drink, 1 taco, and 1 soft taco. My thoughts were this is way less than preband so it would do. After 3 bites of the soft taco I was done. An hour later on the interstate I opened the taco and just took a pinch of the cheese. I was surpised as I thought I'd be able to eat what I ordered. Hope this helps answer your question about how much someone can eat. Everyone is different and sometimes every day is different. But I ate half a taco and was full.

No, I said that when they interview doctors and they ask the question if there have been any complications with any of their patients...if the response is 'no'.....that's when they should take that doctor off the list for lying. The response you should hope for is, 'yes. The band is a weight loss surgery that has risks associated with it. And the things that can go wrong are ___________." and they may just tell you about certian patients they've had...without disclosing names and such.

Yes, you are not alone. I went thru a month of what you are describing. But I took a different approach. I ate 2 bites and walked away. Then an hour later, ate again. So, I ate like 5-10 times a day. And yes, I was fatigued, depressed, irritable...even hostile. But I had to do it. This 'withdrawal' from food helped me with my addiction. If you take that approach you must stay close to your doctor. Not everyone can do this and it isn't recommended. So, before I get blasted for saying it....I already said it's not recommended. For you, I'd recommend an unfill and take it easy. The band isn't for everyone and when they say you eat less food....they aren't kidding! But you should be able to eat 1/2 - 1 cup without a problem. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the post. I know in that link the patient wasn't able to talk for himself and I hate this has happened. Everyone researching doctors should also gain info on complications with other patients. The surgeon who did my sister had patients that had complications and even died. He wasn't above his percentage; however. The risk of complications is so much percentage and death so much. This doctor took on hard cases many other surgeons wouldn't touch. The one that stuck out in my head was this 16 yr old boy who had multiple heart attacks, was 600 lbs....was going to die. The only thing that could save him was WLS. His parents took him from one doctor to another and they all said he should just prepare to die. Well, my sisters doc agreed to do the surgery to try to save him. (there had been other patients that similar things happened but they lived and now are healthier) Well, it wasn't meant to be as he died a week later. Everyone has to understand the complications of WLS and the type they get. Risks vary with the type of procedure....don't take any WLS lightly. Many will die from obesity and obesity related complications anyway...WLS can help. Thanks again for the post and everyone get all the info on any doctor, not just the good things. And if you have a doctor tell you there has been absolutely no complications with any of his patients...run! don't walk away.

He's cheaper than most docs around here. $349 for the first visit and $165 for each visit after that. And that includes the adjustment fill or unfill.

Oh, and to add..... larger people are discriminated against as well...as news shows going undercover pointed out. Boy, it comes at you from all angles!

Sure racism still exists. The place I lived before back in the US, white people were discriminated against. When I lived in VT/NH, I was considered a 'flatlander' and shunned just because I wasn't born or raised there. Where I live now, I'm different as I don't have a husband and a zillion kids. So, yes, it exists and in all aspects of life, not just color of skin.

Sure, Highland Family Practice up in SLC. Dr. Muse. go to www.fillcentersusa.com