2thebeach

i am in the same boat-- i feel hopeless and ashamed- i was self pay too- almost the exact same as you - the first year was good, then my band was too tight - now its like i dont have a band at all. :thumbdown: i dont know what to do :thumbup:

hi there :thumbup: im 5'10" adn i order thru catalog or online from "Long Elegant Legs" they are a little expensive but hte quality is very good, and they have great stuff:smile2:

i have the same story as you and alot of others here. i gave UHC everything they said they wanted and then some... letters from 7 doctors and an attorney that was heloing me with the appeal process- so-- they changed what they required, and i gave them that, then they changed again! i beliece that whatever i gave them would not be enough ever! and my policy states it is a covered service! what a waste of time and emotional energy all that was- surgeryloans.com saved me-- i got my band last august and have lost 50 lbs and have 50 more to lose. i make a monthly pmt and its the best money i ever spent! good luck dear dont give up on getting the band

please dont worry about the incisions. i have 4 tiny ones and one that is maybe 1 inch long- ( i have one of those 'scar solution' band aids on in right now) i do not mind the scar tho- without it i would not have my wonderful "tool" that will make it possible for me to be at a healthy weight. good luck- im happy for you :thumbup:

help? i have an appt with dr maese in dallas texas in a few weeks -i was banded and had my first fill in mexico- but cant go back for every fill.(wish i could ) i have read some negative things about dr maese and am doubting my descion to go there now... has anyone had experience with him? please help ? i would really appriciate any info on him. its been 7 weeks since my first fill and im really ready for my 2 nd fill:hungry:

i take belly dance lessons also.. dr ortiz said it should be no problem for the band or the port. i have never felt any pain or discomfort while in class. i started taking lessons years ago before i got soooo big, and now that im losing, im starting back up again. ( im still big, but getting smaller so i figured what the heck) :cursing:

hi eapth-- congrats on getting the band soon. after your surgery you will probably be on strict liquids for a time- your doc will tell you when- but the reason why they cant fill right away is that your new "pouch" tummy will need time to heal- very important -and will help you avoid band slippage and other potential problems i the future- also, you will not feel the full effects of the band until you have had enough fills that you have hit the "sweet spot" - and that may take several fills- some get to the sweet spot with 2 or 3 fills- and for others it takes 5 or 6 or more fills. i have had 3 fills so far and am just now starting to feel the restriction that i want. as you can tell by the "slow losers" thread it is a long process and the weight loss can be very slow. but it will happen :eek: i remeber when i finally got my surgery date.. i got so excited that i cut up my lane bryant credit card! lol... like i would be skinny right away i know now that it takes time but it is the best and healthiest way. congrats again!!!!

Thanks soo much for the advise on unjury and body fortress. i will try them both. nubeginings- thanks for the sweet words and encouragement-- i have 90 lbs to lose and it will come off- just like i put it on- one pound at a time :eek: ----i bought a (cheap) exercise bicycle and that should help alot too ... please keep posting your progress too. since i have the 10 cc band i kinda expected to have to get 5 or six fills before i got restriction that lasted past 10 am but after my 3rd fill... wow! what a difference a fill makes! i have great restriction until after 3 pm. and even after that i am really limited t how much and what i can eat i expect i need need another fill or 2 in the future but for now i am grateful for how this feels. i joined weight watchers last month ( i did not tell them about the band) to help me make better food choices and for the weigh ins.

i could not possibly get one down until the evening time- they are so thick- i will try drinking one for supper and see if that 'jump starts' me -

nubeginings- hi there i was banded 8-17-07 by dr ortiz in tj. and i too have not lost much since my surgery. i got my 3rd fill last weekend and i THINK? im at my sweet spot. i got my first fill in tj and i got 3 ccs. next i got 2.5 cc's for a total of 5.5 cc's . last weekend i got 2 cc's more for a total of 7.5 cc's .. and i think for now im at my sweet spot-i can hardley eat 2 or 3 bites of scrambled eggs for breakfast and have to almost force down some chicken or beef and soft veggies for lunch and cannot eat very much for my evening meal. i have to drink my water very slowly but i do get all of it down. i have NEVER pb'd or slimed - i can tell if i had not chewed something well enough tho- i guess this means i am at my sweet spot- i understand that as i lose weight i will probably need another fill or two. i really enjoyed your quote" dont stop 5 minutes before your miracle" i have been very discouraged reading abpout others that were banded the same month as me and they have lost 50 lbs and i have not lost hardly any i will hang in there:) i hope the next few weeks let me know if this is my sweet spot

you'll get there i have a 10 cc vg band. banded 8/17/07 - i got 3 cc in my first fill- no restriction. 2.5 cc more with my 2nd fill- still very very little restriction. 3rd fill (lastw weekend) got 2 cc more for a total of 7.5 cc. i have good restriction in the morning and early afternoon. i FINALLY can that the band will work i will have another fill Jan 12th. - my fill doc says i can come once a month until we find the sweet spot. so i hope to start losing some inches soon:)

i found a wonderful doctor about 30 minutes form my home and she is PERFECT! she uses flouro and lidocaine so you dont feel the needle and she is just WONDERFUL! im so gratefule to have found her and that she is in east texas!

any motels near or on broadway in tyler. ( the office is located just off broadway. I LOVE DR STEPHANIE! i have had 2 fills there so far and she is PERFECT!

:confused:Does anyone have any experience using Dr.Jayaseelan in Dallas Texas for fills? thanks

i use dr stephanie eijsink. she is in tyler texas every other weekend for fills, and is in college station texas the rest of the time. she has a lap band herself and uses flouro and is AWESOME!..

thank you so much for your honesty . i found dr stephanie in tyler texas about 1 hr from my home and she is super!!!!! im so sorry that you have had a bad time and i hope you get better soon,

her name is dr. stephanie eijsink and she is AWESOME! she is in tyler every other Saturday to do fills .. her number is (903) 520-8847. her husband Han will answer the phone and make your appt. she does flouro and she is so great:)

i found her number from your earlier post. im soo excited! thanks again

thanks so much for the info.. do you have her phone number? i tried to find her and scott and white says she is not there anymmore and i cannot find her in tyler texas either. how do i contact her or hans? it would be so nice to have a good fill dr close by thanks again

congrats on your band! im from east texas too! i was banded on 8-17-07 and will gave my first fill oct 4th.

no! they are not the same! please visit dr ortiz's forum and you can talk to his patients and staff. these are real people just like you and me, not fake 'patient testimonials'. after MUCH research i have chosen dr ortiz!

hi B! im getting banded on august 17th too!!!!!!! by dr ortiz in tj mexico.. wee-hee for us! i really enjoy reading everything i can about what to expect- the good and the bad, how are you doing on your pre op diet?:hungry:

hi liz, are u going to dr ortiz i tj?