nip50

I can't help with any info about your area, but I too was a self pay. Once I arranged the money I made my appointment. My surgery was 2 weeks later. I paid $17,400, but my doctor gives up to 5 fills per year at no additional costs (forever). Its quite reassuring to know that I don't have to worry about where I'll get my next fill.

In regards to time off. I had surgery on thursday and went back to work the following tuesday (1/2 days). I would suggest a full week for recuperation. Good Luck.

If you have a lot to loose, short time goals can be helpful. The thought of trying to loose 140 pounds is unthinkable to me. If I set a short term goal of 10 pounds this month, then I'm less apt to be frustrated. Also, you might try giving yourself a reward at those short term goal successes. Nothing too big or expensive.

You're right that we're all different in how atrial fib affects us. With me, none of the medications have helped and I believed I've tried them all. They say that for alot of people medication is all they need. No such luck with me. I also haven't had luck with electro-cardioversion. It didn't work and I never want to try that again. Good luck with your journey.

I've had atrial fibrilation since 2003 and have had 2 ablations. The first ablation helped quite a bit for about 2 years (I still had them, but not as regular) and then they came back more frequently. I had a 2nd ablation in September of 2006. This again lessed the frequency of my episodes but did not clear up my problem. With the last ablation, I had the procedure performed on a Monday morning and wasn't released until Thursday night. The doctor also felt that bariatric surgery would be beneficial. My surgeon was aware of my problem and told me that as long as I wasn't having an episode at the time of surgery that there wouldn't be a problem. I normally go 3-4 weeks inbetween episodes and we scheduled it about 1 week after one. Things went fine.

I've concluded that my atrial fibrilation is just something that I'll have to live with. Which many people do. It can be very frustrating. When I have an episode it lasts anywhere from four to fourteen hours in length. I just try and relax and stay down till it passes.

Good luck with both your lapband and your atrial fibrilation.

I never have trouble getting a chip down. Doesn't it figure? If it's good for me, I have problems. Like oranges are just miserable for me. But the bad stuff like chips are a breeze. Doesn't seem fair does it. I also have a lot of trouble with rice. I don't normally fix it, but had a couple of bites of my sons terriyaki chicken yesterday and was in misery. I figure the rice was awful sticky and must have clumped up. Won't do that again.

I will normally eat what I fix for my family, but do try to limit the carbs. If its something really bad I'll pop in a south beach entree or open up some Soup.

Kat - Try some Gas-X and lots of walking. The Gas-x really helped me. The Gas-x comes in chewables. Before you know it the pain and discomfort will be gone. Hope you grow to love your band as much as I do mine.

bamboobabe - Isn't Dublin east of Macon off I-16? Or am I thinking of somewhere else? That's a long way for you to go?

Mine was a little of this and a little of that. Part came out of savings, some I borrowed from a relative and then finally I charged a small portion of it. Now if I can only come up with more so my husband can have the surgery.

I also drink the diet swiss miss (25 cals) and love it. I add a little skim milk to it also. I'm not a coffee drinker so it warms me up on these cold mornings. I don't have any bloating problems with it. Also, I buy mine at wal-mart, they usually always have it.

dlyrical - You're doing great! How's it going since your 2nd fill. I noticed you have 7cc in a 14 cc VG band. I have the same band, but with only 3 cc's. I'm hoping to get another fill next month. Do you have much restriction so far?

Keep up the good work.

Mia - I want to jump on the bandwagon about Dr. B also. He's NO quack. Sometimes things happen for no apparent reason. I've read about many people who have had port revisions and flipped ports. Port revisions don't seem to be that uncommon. I would let Dr. B. work on me anytime. Besides my lapband he repaired 3 hernias at the same time of the lapband at no additional costs. I also haven't heard of anyone saying that their port revisions were performed at no additional costs.

I'm sorry that you have to go through this again, but I feel you're in very good hands.

On another note, you were wondering about fills. I am one who hasn't had a 2nd fill. Elizabeth will not do a 2nd fill if you loose more than 2 pounds on average per week. I have been wanting a 2nd fill since mid December, but had averaged 2.5 pounds per week. I'm hoping to get my 2nd fill on the 13th of February. It's going to be close as to whether she'll give it to me or not, but I feel I really need one. I'll be sure to wear extra heavy clothing for my next weigh in.

Good Luck and keep us posed.

I have a long way to go, but am pround of things so far. The first pic was taken yesterday with a 64 pound weight loss.

I'm getting closer - I hope I make it.

name.............starting#......current#......goal#.....togo#

Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19

Anna2766____.......232............232..........220.......12

TxArcher...........360............353..........345........8

Candle.............218............211..........207.......4

Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25

chickatee..........188............182..........175.......7

Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10

cQQlgirl...........220............217..........210.......7

Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2

georgiagirl........275............265..........260.......5

Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13

Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20

Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15

Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16

jfran..............187............181..........177.......4

Jillrn.............176............176..........166.......10

Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13

juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8

KarenG.............207............194..........189.......5

keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12

kjl315.............237.5..........231..........220.......11

legster............223.5..........212..........199.......13

LessnLess..........172............168.5........164.......4.5

liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8

Manatee............188............178..........175.......3

Mandyjo............191............187..........180.......11

metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12

MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15

nip50..............250............241..........238.......3

Rainer.............264............253..........248.......5

Redtulips3.........248............233..........226.......6

RenewedHope........228............215..........210.......5

rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8

Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7

Skinny_Jill........195............190..........180.......10

Stacy73............230............223..........222.......1

SueMagoo...........230............224..........220.......4

Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5

Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15

Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4

SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4

Trystelle..........219............211.5........205.......6.5

Twilight...........206............194..........185.......9

uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10

want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11

wombat712..........154.8..........148.6........140.......8.6

__________________

Very Sad - I woke up to the news of his passing this morning. He was such a wonderful person and leader. We will all miss him.

Kat - One week! Sounds great. Hopefully you'll be as happy with your band as so many of us are. I was also banded by Dr. B. Really like him and his staff a lot. Do you live in Albany or somewhere close by? I'm over in Douglas. Keep us posted and let us know how things are going.

That's how I loose my weight also, in spurts. I'll loose 2 or 3 pounds in a day or two and then nothing for a week or two. It can get a little frustrating. Sometimes when I go down that two or three pounds, I find that in a couple of days I go up a pound. What I really need is a fill. I've only had one, maybe next month they'll give me number two. Can hope anyway.

For some of you using the Quaker weight control, you might want to try wal-mart's sugar free like msdaneen mentioned. It's great. I am an oatmeal lover and really enjoy this. It also has alot less calories than quaker's. In fact I had some quaker still in the cupboard and thought I would treat myself to it the other morning and I didn't enjoy it as much as wal-mart's brand. I think you might be surprised.

Another 2 down.

name.............starting#......current#......goal#.....togo#

Anitak33...........245............218..........199.......19

Anna2766____.......232............232..........220.......12

Cagstorm(txarcher).360............357..........345.......12

Candle.............218............213.5........207.......6.5

Cerrin.............350............350..........325.......25

chickatee..........188............184..........175.......9

Cookielover........202............202..........192.......10

cQQlgirl...........220............220..........210.......10

Faithmd............306............301.2........296.......5.2

georgiagirl........275............272..........260.......12

Hollyberries.......298............298..........285.......13

Hoppingto..........350............314..........294.......20

Irishmae11.........233.8..........234..........219.......15

Jennie1976.........290............251..........235.......16

jfran..............187............181..........177.......4

Jillrn.............176............176..........166.......10

Jsrico.............255............178..........165.......13

juliegeraci........220............220..........210.......8

KarenG.............207............197..........189.......8

keekahari..........220............217..........205.......12

kjl315.............237.5..........232..........220.......12

legster............223.5..........216..........199.......17

LessnLess..........172............172..........164.......8

liz_hager..........202............198..........190.......8

Manatee............188............180..........175.......5

Mandyjo............191............187..........180.......11

metawnny...........252............252..........240.......12

MJRouse84..........274............233..........218.......15

nip50..............250............243..........238.......5

Rainer.............264............255..........248.......7

Redtulips3.........248............234.5........226......8.5

RenewedHope........228............221..........210.......11

rharriet...........367............256..........248.......8

Sades..............229............199.7........189.......10.7

Skinny_Jill........195............190..........180.......10

Stacy73............230............225..........222.......3

SueMagoo...........230............224..........220.......4

Sunny112...........145............145..........140.......5

Susan4794..........240............240..........225.......15

Suzzzie............303............294..........290.......4

SWEETY.............180............174..........170.......4

Trystelle..........219............219..........205.......14

Twilight...........206............197..........185.......21

uxbus5.............240............240..........230.......10

want2lose..........236............236..........225.......11

wombat712..........154.8..........152.2........140.......12.2

Mia- My port is about 1/2-1" below my incision. When I had my first fill I got the impression that it's not normally right at the incision. Good luck with work today.

I've been banded since 10-11-07 and am surprised that I never found this link before. I've browsed the Utah site, but never noticed this one before. Glad to finally have found you. I live in south Georgia and it's a totally different world out here. I'm originally from Oregon and my husband's from Utah. Now we're right in the middle of the baptist bible belt and it's extremely challenging. Many of the churches around here are very anti-LDS and the first thing someone asks you when you first meet is "What church do you go to?" It was a rough adjustment when we first moved here, but thankfully have finally adjusted (it took almost 10 years).

Anyway, I love my band! Its been one of the best things I've ever done. I only wish that I could have done it a few years earlier.

For my first week I was also just on clear liquids and didn't have any of the Protein drinks. Many of us just suffered thru it. I probably started the Protein Drinks around day 5. I also live in a small community so didn't have as many choices. Anyway I did use the Protein powders that I found at wal-mart and also the low-carb slim fast. I probably preferred the low-carb slim fast. When you're buying at wal-mart be sure and pick the one that is lowest in carbs and calories per serving.

Good luck with your journey.

Congrats! The first week or two are always the roughest. Have you started full liquids or are you still on Clear Liquids? Once you move on to full liquids and have Protein drinks that might help with the leg cramps. I know when I get leg cramps it usually means I need either potassium or magnesium, but I'm sure everyone is a little different.

As you're browsing thru the lapband site you might want to notice the Georgia banders link under support groups. I was banded in Albany and there's sure to be alot more up around Atlanta. Keep us posted as to how you are doing.

Mia, do you absolutely, positively have to go back to work on Monday? You don't want to rush it if you're not up to it. I had my surgery on a Thursday with plans to go back on Monday. I ended up taking Monday off and only worked 1/2 days that week. Some of that was without pay since I ran out of sick pay. Don't push yourself too much.

Mia - I used the wrist band constantly the first 2-3 days, then just when I started to feel nauseated. Make sure you keep the gel on it, it bothered me more when it dried out too much.

Jeanne you stated that Sams has them in 12 packs. Where are they located? Are they in the freezer section or what? They sound great and I'm going to Sams soon and want to get some.

Victoria - Your story sounds quite similar to mine. I was banded on 10-11-07 and have lost 60 pounds. I have 3 cc's in a 14 cc band and only one fill. As long as I am loosing at least 2 pounds average per week they won't give me a fill. I'm hoping for next month because the weight loss has slowed down this month. I do notice a slight restriction, I can't eat quite as much (1 slice of pizza vs 3) and have pb'd 2 or 3 times (eating too fast), but other than that I can eat all foods with no difficulty. I have been extremely happy with my journey so far.