tommaney

You said your mouth was filling up with liquid--you mean you aren't swallowing your own spit? I know that my stomach swells some right after a fill. Then it subsides after a day or two. Then again maybe what you're experiencing is in part heartburn...I'm not sure what that feels like exactly either. I think as long as you can get down liquids you are ok--but if you can't don't wait too long and risk dehydration! hope you feel better soon.

Welcome! I'm a NorCal girl too--just farther north in the Fairfield/Vacaville area. I was done by Dr. Husted in San Francisco. I'm not sure about the left shoulder pain. I definitely had it for a little while. I've read two theories--one that it's gas from the surgery, the other, that the band is near a nerve to your shoulder. I've really no idea what's really up. Post something if you find out the real reason, I'm curious! Best of luck to you and your band journey!

kiz--when I was deciding on doctors, I was wary of the doctors that said they did lapband but, as it turned out, really only backed Gastric Bypass. I ended up going with a wonderful doctor who has a wide array of WLS experience (he does Lapband, Duodenal Switch, Gastric Bypass, Vertical Sleeve, and VERGITO). He also specializes in Revision surgeries (revising WLS on patients from other surgeons that didn't work). His motto is "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." That is, if a doctor is only skilled at one or two surgeries, then he/she may only see patients as fitting into his/her skill set. Please do your research on everything available to you so you know you got the surgery that is best for you in the long run. You deserve the best!! Two good websites for more infor are ObesityHelp and also my Dr's site, www.johnhustedmd.com .

My Dr. told me I had a deep port as well. As I was told, it's good in that it reduces the chance that the port will be visible down the road when you've lost a lot of weight. I was pretty sore too when my Dr. was initially feeling for the port. Your fills shouldn't be a problem if your Dr. knows what he or she is doing. I ultimately had my first two under fluoro so he could determine exactly where the port was and how it was laying. I've only been poked with that fill needle once per fill--not like some who come out feeling like a pin cushion. If you ever feel that way--request the fluoroscopy. It's better to be safe than being poked a bunch of times and risk puncturing a hole in your tubing.

My port has been very deep and a bit tricky from day one, so I have had 3 fluoro's done--2 of them we did fills but the last one revealed my port was tilted downward. Sad but I'm glad we found out. Based on the last fluoro pic, my Dr. was able to study exactly how it was positioned and come up with a better access angle. The next time I came to his office he accessed my port freehand/using a shorter, less bendy needle. Actually, I thought it was really interesting to look up and see a picture of my spine, the port, and other unidentifiable innards.

I've had 3 Brazilians--would definitely do more if I could afford it! The 2nd and 3rd ones where significantly less traumatizing than the first. I wanted it all off though--don't particularly care for the landing strip, or whatever type that's called. The clean feeling afterwards made my want to run nekked through a field of wildflowers....ok TMI. The advice I got was to remember to gently exfoliate the area in the days after to avoid ingrown hairs. Those lil' things were the only real setback for me. A bit of Hydrocortizone helps if you get them.

I think requesting a fluoro would be good for your peace of mind/feeling of being proactive even if you don't expect it to reveal a problem. Not finding something could actually be useful information! Also, I know that we'd definitely know if our band suddenly slipped...but isn't there such a thing as a slow slip? I don't know if that would apply to you, but it would make sense that it's less perceptible. I remember my doctor mentioning this when we were discussing some different techniques of securing the band to the stomach. I'm a lap band struggler too--thank you, btw, for spearheading that forum category awhile ago!

With my 3 fills, that's pretty much what I've done--very light breakfast or lunch before the fill, then easy does it the next couple of days. That way, during the fill, you don't feel weighed down with food. I can't just eat nothing beforehand, though. I'd be crazy cranky at the appointment :cursing:

I had the same advice--3 weeks before any submersion in water/soaking in a tub. I actually decided to wait longer because my incisions were healing slowly and I didn't want to compromise them. Of course, maybe it will be the other way around with you and you're a spectacular healer...maybe that will justify going in a week sooner!

Myfunlife...if you do decide to go with the surgery route, please make sure you consider and research the other restricive and metabolic surgeries (Vertical Sleeve, Duodenal Switch, VERGITO) so you go for something that will really fit you and your new life. You can check out descriptions/flash animation of the procedures I mentioned as well as Lapband and RNY at my doctor's website: www.johnhustedmd.com. Some doctors only do lapband/RNY so they don't talk about all the options out there available. Just want you to be informed as possible! Best of luck to you and your journey to better health!

The three things i had to do were EKG, Chest Xray, and CBC w/differential blood test. Didn't have to do the Endoscopy or other tests because I'm 26 w/no comorbidities. Best wishes to you with your tests!

Yes here on the glue--looked a lil' scary right after surgery (i called it my Franken-belly)--but no worries on bandages. Resist the urge to pick at the glue!

I'm having the same problem Starrr...When I asked the Dr's office they said to make sure to take a daily Vitamin. Beyond that, Nioxin (hair product?) is supposed to help thicken. They also said go to local GNC or whatever you have and ask for a hair/nails supplement. Good luck and i hope it gets better! Oh yes, also remember that if you're under a lot of stress, that could be contributing to the hair loss!

I'm right with you, Chiqui. I have minimal restriction with 2.5cc's. I had my surgery in November '07, and I can still eat a whole cup (more if it's salad) of healthy food. I hope they can find your port with the xray and access it without making you feel like a pin cushion : )

So sorry! For some reason the number appeared on my reply with a lil' flag next to it but apparently it didn't translate! Here it goes again: 415-722-4182

I don't know how much he charges for a fill, but my doctor, Dr. Husted, is in private practice in SF and has office hours in Fairfield as well. This is his assistant Lori's number in case you want to check it out:

Thanks poodle...I'm going in on Monday to see if my Dr. can acess me with a straight needle just on the chance that the port is very very tilted instead. Even if it IS just tilted, part of me wants to have the revision because I'm afraid it will only get worse. Thank you for sharing your story!

If your Dr. can call a prescription in for you, my Dr. gave me Reglan at first, then Ondandseton (expensive, but it's the big gun for nausea) when the Reglan didn't work. I caught the flu right after my surgery and got dehydrated too--so the Rx anti-nausea stuff was absolutely key. Good luck and best of health wishes!

Have any of you CA Kaiser members out there had your bands done in Mexico/by other US doctors and had Kaiser do your fills or revisions? I have Kaiser (NorCal). I might have to get a port revision but since I'm self-pay with the band I may not be able to afford more money for this second surgery with my private doctor. I'm so worried I won't be able to get this fixed. I've only had the band for 6 mo. and 2 fills.

thanks sandy and snowbird...but my band was done in San Francisco by a doctor in private practice. Since I'm still in my first free year of aftercare, I don't think he has fees for me--but the problem is that the hospital (California Pacific Medical Center) has fees. They charge $365 just for a fluoroscopy session--and that's a reduced rate! I doubt the hospital fees for a revision will be anywhere near what the original operation cost, but I was hoping that I might be able to turn to Kaiser as a back up plan. Thanks for your input!

I found out a couple of days ago that my port has flipped...has anyone dealt with his/her flipped port without revision surgery? :thumbup: I haven't heard the full plan from my Dr's office yet. Just wondering how others have experienced the problem.

Bizarre....I went in yesterday, 5/27/08 and found that my port had done a 180 too! I'm 6 months out but have only had 2 fills. I don't have a revision surgery date yet but I hope it's soon. Good luck tomorrow--wish you speedy healing! Remember that a flipped port may be easier to deal with than a slipped band...

NC413...SO GLAD to hear that your flipped revision went so well. I went in yesterday for my 3rd fill and found that yes, my port had done a 180 like yours. Now I'm waiting for a speedy surgery revision date. Good luck to you and here's to no more complications!

No worries Lena, this may be TMI but it took me 11 DAYS! Pain meds can really slow down your system. When I called in about it they said as long as I was able to pass gas I was okay. Also, I had a LOT of glue going on and I was very gentle in the shower so I bet it took a month for everything to fully come off without me picking. Good luck and be sure to get enough liquids in--don't be like me and get dehydrated!

HI Lynn--that experience sounds terrible and I'm so sorry you had to be subjected to lies and sarcasm. Completely unprofessional. I've head good things about Dr. McKeen. You might want to look into my doctor as well, Dr. Husted, who actually left LapSF for his own private practice. He does still have his office hours at CPMC in SF but he has actually started his office hours in Fairfield at the Sutter Medical Clinic (nice, clean, really new clinic!). I'm actually going there this friday for my first fill and he is planning on doing it under fluoro there. I don't know about Dr. Husted's policies on bands done in Mexico or about how much he'd charge for a fill, but it's worth a look at johnhustedmd.com. Or, 415-722-4182 for his main assistant, Lori. She has dealt with the lapsf staff herself too and can commiserate with you. There is something not right about the patient contact people with lapsf. When i was contacted by lapsf while i researched doctors, I had actually chosen Dr. Husted already based on competitive pricing and experience. When i told them that I had already chosen Dr. Husted, I hung up with the pt. coordinator and thought that would be the end of it. However, about 5 min later she called me back and tried to tell me that Dr. Husted never did lapbands. She was actually very rude about it. It went something like "well I have worked with him many times and i can tell you that he absolutely does NOT do lapbands." Of course, that went against my research and what all of his helpful staff had told me, so I politely told the lapsf contact woman that I'd check on that and get back to her. I did, and of course, he had been doing them for years. In fact, he had never worked with this person who had claimed to have because she was hired in by lapsf and not personally by him. The lapsf coordinator basically was guilty of slander. I notified Dr. Husted and his staff and they were both not surprised by this behavior, which suggests to me that deceptiveness is not new with at least one member of their staff and was part of the reason why Dr. Husted left lapsf. I've heard one other complaint type story involving the personality of the doctors with lapsf but that was on the obesityhelp.com patient profiles. I hope you find someone that will do your fills professionally and with great care. Check out the California thread because I could have sworn that someone confirmed there that Dr. McKeen does do ppl with bands done by other drs. Good Luck!