Brandy~

Hello Jen it's very nice to meet you. I have to say I love the bariatric center.. Mostly because of Bridget and Dr. Yarbrough. However, Dr. Yarbrough is leaving the practice to go to Corvallis I hear. I am unsure if he will be doing lapband or another surgery at his new center... He specializes in alot more than WLS. I have alot to say so I will try to keep it fairly short.... As much as I loved the bariatric center if I was self pay I would of went to Coos bay to dr. Terinsigni or something like that. I think for self pay here in Eugene its around 26k when you can have it done for 10k just a few hours away. I do not say this to undermind anyones accomplishments at the center I say that to save you money. My aunt and I are both very happy with the outcome and she went to Coos bay as self pay and my insurance paid for Eugene. That's an option u might want to weigh. However, You will have to decide if you wanna drive that far for fills or if the bariatric center will do fills even if they don't perform the surgery. I had my surgery on 4/23/08 and wouldn't trade my band for the world. I have lost 90lbs and have plateaud. I don't plan on staying at this weight forever but for now I am happy with it. I think once the summer comes and I get moving more it will work itself out. I didn't have any health complications going itno the surgery nor did any arise from the surgery or healing... so far I have had a pretty smooth sailing with the band so I am doing well. I feel great!

Hello and welcome to LBT. Here is a link to Oklahoma forum... Most if not all of the people on this link are from Oklahoma :mad2: Oklahoma Local Lap-Band Support - Lap Band Surgery and Lap Band Discussion Forum

Hello and welcome :mad2: Sounds like you're on your way to the Lap band now! I really think you will do great and those pills will be either minimal or gone very soon. I was fortunate enough I didn't have that many side effects from my weight prior to surgery. However, I have read all the great stories of people that get to go completely off their meds that it's truely amazing. Embrace this oppurtunity with open arms. You won't regret it

Hello! I am not from Texas but I wanted to stop in and welcome you to LBT and look forward to hearing about your lap band adventure :mad2:

Congrats! I am sure you will do just fine. Did you have this board as support 2 years ago? Do you feel you were more informed this time? I am just curious. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide on a road to a healthier happier you :mad2:

Congratulations on your date! Look forward to hearing all the great news you report back.

Hello! Congratulations and welcome to LBT! Ok first of all... It's great you have a supportive family. I understand what you mean by they don't know what it's like lol My husband is average size, my mother in 130 and my sister is about the same if not less.... T hey have all been very supportive of me and my surgery and they are always the biggest fans in the cheering section when I need back up. However, life as you know it will change.. since it can be tightened and loosened for the most part the changes will be gradual. I think for me this is why I have succeeded thus far. I am by no means a veteran. I still struggle to keep losing, get my Water, eat my Protein you name it. It comes MUCH MUCH easier now though than it did pre band. I havent had a fill since last October and I am doing good. I am sure that you will have much success on this trip and I hope that my experience has shed some light on it for you. There is always someone here on LBT willing to share a kind word or to give you back up in time of need.

Hello and welcome to LBT. You might look around at fill center usa or whatever they are they might have a location near there.

Hello Randy and welcome to LBT. I read your story and you have been through alot. Yes, dear ole moms are always the best motivators that's for sure. Your situation might be more complex than someone such as me that didn't have health issues going in... but all the same we're in this boat together. If you have any questions please be sure to ask! I am 100% Sure you're not the only dialysis patient that has gotten the band so you might be able to find a bandster buddy out there that relates 100%. I wish you the best of luck in your lapband journey and hope to see you around the boards :thumbsup:

Ok I had BCBS... I started my dietitian appts on 10/1 knowing that BCBS required 6 months. I did the seminar at the end of October. Did my surgeon consult in November. I met with my dietitian the 1st of every month until April of the following year. I didn't have to do any other testing or anything. My surgeon didn't require a preop diet just that I lose 5 lbs before surgery. My doctors office submitted for approval and we received an approval back in just hours. I also was outpatient for surgery and I think almost 100% of mine was paid.

What slider we talking here? Anythings ok in moderation... But were here because we don't usually exercise the in moderation part. If you're asking about it stretching I have a feeling you should back off the slider foods. I feel that anything can stretch the pouch because if it's a slider you eat it faster, you fill up and probably keep going.

If one ever got close enough to Oregon I might consider it. Or I could totally use Vegas as an excuse to go see LBT friendds and Partay... Oh Lulu!

My port started right above my belly button and slightly to the right. Since I have lost the weight its about 2 " under and to the right of my belly button lol. It's weird but doc said it's fine.

What a wonderful reaction! You're doing awesome keep up the good work.

Great job!

Not everyone needs it... I could live with what I have but I probably will have a tummy tuck atleast. I have a small droop of skin on my lower stomach but nothing extreme. I plan on having another baby though so I will wait a few years.

Oh man my DD who is about to turn 17 went to Ireland, london, and germany for a while recently.... She is now talking of wanting to go to Italy for a summer. She wants to be a chef so she would like to study there. I need a 2nd and 3rd job for this one lol

I learned that no question is a silly question since getting the lap band so here is my question... Obviously I have been banded a year now. I need to have a laprascopic procedure done so that I am able to conceive.. However, it's $400 non refundable just to go in to see the fertility doctor to get this answered. I am trying to figure out if there are any issues with having another laprascopic surgery after having the band and if the tubing or port would be an issue.

Kim, Please ignore the bickering on here. Fortunatley not all of us are like that. Onto the band. Every month for me is different sometimes I have to go on full liquids for a day and then other times I can eat like more than usual around TOM. If it is only happening during this time I lean more towards the fact that it's hormone related. Have you had more stress or anything lately? It's amazing what can affect the band out of the blue. I wouldn't rule out slippage but I wouldnt put it at the top of the list unless you are having alot of heartburn or stuff coming up at night or you're experiencing this alot more than just around TOM. Are you going to your regular appts with your surgeon even if you're not getting fills? You just ask for a flouroscope or whatever to double check it. Best of luck :thumbup:

Thanks for the response. I am not sensitive to fills thankfully. My biggest fear is unfilling. I plan to find a doctor that will work with me and the band during pregnancy to make sure I get enough that the baby is healthy but not enough to get all my weight back lol

I think ultimately its up to the surgeon.. But the surgeon takes into account that the physcologist is trained to spot mental / emotional issues that might arise after an event or life altering event such as lapband surgery. Alot of people are like ya so what life altering by losing weight. It's a HUGE emotional journey.. I think almost everyone should have some type of professional help to fall back on for the journey. I wouldn't trade my band for anything but it's not always ups there's downs with it.

Ouchie I am sorry to hear you had complications Mine went very smoothly... I hope you're doing well now. Welcome to LBT

Oops wrong forum!

WOW sorry to hear that you had an overfill. That's very common and sometimes you don't know you're overfilled till days and weeks late. We all react differently to fills. Some instantly feel too tight, Some have swelling that eventually goes down, others wait weeks then the stomach gets irritated and then swells. I have a great doc that seems to do quite well with my fills. He puts the needs in and has me stand up and he fills the band completely. he has me take a drink of water, he slowly retracts the saline from the band. When I tell him to stop he leaves the fill where it's at. I just say stop when I feel the water begin to pass through the band.

Sorry to all the mods. I was just irritated with her. That's all. It's gone :thumbup: Thanks! Lulu- Yer right atleast you're house bound and you have some acreage between you and the world. Fortunate for me I do not read the news or watch it. I like being naive to what is going on with the world (Except when I read up for voting) I try not to fall into the media trap. What few numbers I have seen on accident appeared to be much lower than the average flu virus so I dunno what the hype is and probably don't wanna.