LeslieMush

i have been banded for a bit over a year and get occassion port pain. one doctor said it had been placed 'too high'. great... anyway, it is nothing bad enough for me to get it surgically fixed.

i think that having your first fill almost a year after your banding is NOT the norm. The needle thing is no big deal, believe me...good luck with your consult with dr. abkin... you will like him. he is better than his associate dr. bertha. you can contact me off this site if you want to @lchilenski@hotmail.com

:help: I live in Sussex County and am looking for someone to go to the gym or the YMCA with. I currently am not a member of the 'Y' or any gym, but would like to be. Thank you!

:help: Iam looking to get breast lift, lipo and maybe a tummy tuck. Can anyone recommend a top notch plastic surgeon in the NY/NJ (preferably NJ) area? How muc do these things cost? Does insurance pay for anything( I have AETNA)?

anyone from New Jersey that could recommend a top notch plastic surgeon in the NY/NJ area, for lipo, breast lift and possibly a tummy tuck? and how much do they cost? Insurance ( I have Aetna) pay for any of it?

I got mine removed in 1998-after losing some weight (not much) on the Nutri System diet.

anyone have a template of a food chart? I used my last one and have no more left. Really was not thrilled with that one anyway... email me @Lchilenski@hotmail.com thanks! ~Leslie

Let me tell you about the Psychologist that Dr Abkin suggests you use-(down the hall from his office). He was soooo clueless.:eek: A waste of money. You are going to have to get a psych eval with whomever doctor you go to, so if you have to pay for it, you might as well go to a psych who is knowledgable, has a clue and does not charge you an arm and a leg... the nutritionists in Dr. Abkin's building are very good, though. I was very pleased with them. I paid $325.00 for 3 visits. The psych was $175. and that was in August 2005. My insurance reimbursed me for the psych. Still waiting on reimbursement for the nutritionist.... Check out Dr. Gritsus. He trained with Berta/Abkin. Works out of Chilton Hospital in Pompton Plains, NJ (can't say enough good stuff about this hospital). His office is in Lincoln Park, NJ and he has one in Ridgewood, NJ (Valley Hospital is also an excellent hospital). I had Dr. Abkin do my surgery, as he took my insurance. I really like him. Didn't care for his partner, though... no bedside manner... he made me feel like i was bothering him. so i would NOT recommend Dr. Bertha. Good luck on your search...

quick question...anyone have a probelm with hair loss since beingbanded? If so, what did you do about it?

this sounds like a great idea. I don't get on as much as I'd like to , but i will try. Accountability is what it is about and owning up to yourself. It is not easy, but i have come to far to screw it all up now! B-Tea w/2 equals, tried 2 pieces of pancakes(just to see if I could tolerate it) and then P-A-I-N ( i guess that is on the DO NOT EAT list) L-2 choc Italian ices S-Lots of Tea w/Equal or splenda D-1oz. chx with tbls mashed potatos and tbls spinach Not too much liquid, except my italian ice ( I can use that as liquid, can't I?), and lots of tea... I need more protein, i know.... don't understand how everyone can eat so much- I cannot eat rice, bread, pizza, pasta of any type, pancakes...i throw up or have bad pain. I guess this is good, as I shouldn't be eating them anyway???

Thank you for the info!!! I too drink this protein drink. I hate the shakes, and found this drink to be actually quite good! ( I like the blue and purple flavors). I get a 20% discount at GNC with my Gold membership, but it still is expensive to get all these drinks. And I agree with you about the bulky glass bottles. I try to drink 2-3 bottles a day, but usually end up finishing 1. I am not getting enough protein from my diet and have found that drinking these really helps, with the 40 grams of protein per bottle. I will contact them and see what they can do for me, as far as ordering a few cases. Thanks again!

I was banded 8/29/05. I have not had a fill yet. I think it may be time to get one, as I am getting more food and liquid down than I have before. Is it time?????