iluvmycat

I was banded by Dr. Cirangle Nov of last year. I have been extremely happy with him and his whole team. You do have to give them the $5500 up front, BUT you never have to pay for a fill your entire life (or I guess as long as their practice is around). I like that Dr. Cirangle travels... I live in the Salinas/Monterey area so I don't have to go up to SF for fills... he comes down once a month. Everyone will have their own reaction and experiance with their doctor... from the moment I met him I knew he was the one I wanted to help me with my journey.

Hi all... I have searched through the threads to see if someone else had posted about this, but I give up and will just ask!!! I was banded 11/26/07 and (knock on wood) haven't had any complications. I had my first fill three weeks ago. On saturday night I ate too much... I hate fish, a little broccoli and two helpings of salad (it was sooooo yummy). I probably ate a cup or so total even tho my doc told me not to eat more than 1/2 cup total. A little while after I ate I started to feel tightness around my band which was a little uncomfortable but not unbearable. So I started feeling around my stomach just pressing my fingers into the skin. I can feel like a really hard lump right around where I think my stomach and band is... it is probably around golf ball shaped. It doesn't really hurt, but it is tender when I press on it. I also had a really upset tummy later that night...i never threw up, but it came out of the other end (SORRY!). I called my doctor on Monday and he said that I probably just ate too much and my tummy is swollen a little bit. They said to call back if it starts to hurt... I was out shopping this evening and it kind of felt irritated... not in pain... just uncomfortable. Has anyone else experianced this? Is this lump just my band. I have lost 30 pounds so far and lost a lot of inches in my stomach... so maybe I am just feeling things I have never felt under all of my "fluff". Sorry to ramble... just curious.

I felt the same way you did before my first fill... well actually until about 2 weeks after my fill. Something just kicked in and I just started to loose weight quickly and with minimal effort. I defintaly notice a quicker weightloss when I am excersizing as well. Right now I am averaging about 3-4 pounds a week, which is a BIG change for me. I am not hungry as much as I was before my first fill and my meals seem to last awhile longer, I don't have the urge to snack. I hope it goes the same for you... I love my band... I am about 9 weeks out from surgery and have lost 30 pounds so far!

Thanks annielkd... that makes sense. I had an appt with my doctor on the 25th of Feb... I will have him check it out anyways.

Actually what I am feeling is just below my rib cage on the left side of my belly...

I am doing pretty good so far. I don't really have any pain in my tummy area. I am having horrible shoulder pain... I guess from the gas used during surgery. It is just in my left side and hurts really really bad. If I get get out a good burp (or something else) that releases the pressure a bit. The gas-x strips aren't really helping either.

Hi all, I am all set to be banded on the 26th (the Monday after Turkey Day)! I am so excited! I think I have everything I am going to need after surgery. I went through the list posted on this site and got pretty much everything on there (except the toilet tongs, hopefully I don't regret that!) I will keep ya'll posted! Melissa

Hi all, I do have to say that everything went really well yesterday. I arrived at the hospital at 7am and my surgery started right around 9am as scheduled. I am not sure how long I was in surgery but it was around 1pm when I finally left the recovery room. Yesterday I was having horrible shoulder pains which I guess is common. I didn't sleep very well at all last night, especially since I had to sleep sitting up. Today the shoulder pain has subsided, but my tummy is hurting now. Today it hurts to sit up. I am having quite a bit of gas pain, but the gas-x strips help with that. I am going to go lay down again because it is hurting to sit here at my desk, but I just wanted to check in with everyone! Hope everyone is doing well! All my best, Melissa

I got approval from my insurance company today!!! WOOOHOOO! There is an opening on the 26th so I could possibly be having my surgery in less than two weeks!!! There is only one thing that may hold it up. My doctor said I have to be off birth control pills for a month before surgery... it will only be 3 weeks on the 26th. I am waiting for a call back, so I am hoping and praying it is ok to have it done!

I just got off the phone with the doctor's office. My surgery is scheduled for Nov 26th! I can't believe how fast this has happened, I attended a seminar on the 20th of Oct and just a little over a month later I will be able to start my new life! I feel so bad for everyone who has had to fight with their insurance companies... I thought I was going to be in for a long battle as well.

My surgeon's office submitted it to the insurance company and the office called me as well to tell me the good news!

I have Blue Cross PPO. Everything was submitted on Monday and I got the approval this afternoon. My BMI is at 40 with no other major health problems. I am surprised it was so quick!

I have completed all I need (nutrition evaluation and a psych evaluation) and the paper work has been sent to hopefully get approval from my insurance. I am hoping and praying that they say yes. The insurance specialist at my doctors office said that my insurance usually gives approval within 5 day... so by Friday I should have an answer!!! I am hoping to be banded the Thursday or Friday before Christmas... this will be the best gift I have ever gotten! Wish me luck!

I am so excited... my consulation with Dr. Cirangle is scheduled for November 5th!!! I met him at his seminar this past Saturday and told him my goal is to have this done by Christmas and he said he didn't see a problem with that (even in having to deal with my insurance). YIPPIE!!! I can't wait. I am so ready for this!!! :whoo:

Good luck!!! I come here for encourgement and information... as I am not yet banded... but hoping to be be xmas. Where are you in CA? I am in Salinas (Monterey area). Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

Hello to everyone in the forum. My name is Melissa... I just turned 30 in July. I have been heavy my entire life... about 5 years ago when I was at my heaviest (302) I went on weight watchers and was able to loose 115 pounds with what seemed like minimal effort (it just took me a little over a year). Since them I have put over half of the weight I lost back on. About three years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's (Hypothyroidism)... ever since then I have been completly unable to loose weight even though my throid levels are all perfect now. I have tried every diet known to man and I am tired of it! I've been to see my PCP and he ran all my labwork again and every thing tested great... I am completly healthy on paper. I feel horrible though and I think it is from lugging around all this extra weight. All I want to do is sleep and I am easily winded. My knee is bothering me again that I had surgery on last year. My doctor thinks that the lapband is a great option for me... now I just have to convince my insurance company of that!!! I am getting a sleep study done in the beginning of November. I am attending a seminar this Saturday as well. I am really excited and after ready some of your stories I think this is really a good option for me. I am getting married May 31, 2008 and I don't want to be a fat bride. I want to be as healthy as I can be for my husband and for the children that we will have as well.