juliek

Hi, I have to pay my regular co-pay for fills, which for me is $10. My insurance covers the rest. I can feel my port, but it doesn't stick out so it is not noticible to anyone else.

I would get the fill. I would also be sure to take very, very small bites based on what you said, that seems to be the cause of the tightness when you first start eating. Let's us know how you do with the new fill - remember to do liquids the first day or so.

I also pretty much agree with bandedmama. While it is certainly not the best word to use, it is fairly accurate based on the defination. I do agree that we tend to get discriminated against! Frankly, if I went into my bariatric surgeon's office, and they had small chairs in the waiting room, I would have turned around, left and found another doctor. That is just plain insensitive, esp considering the business he/she is in.

Hi, I am having a problem and I am not sure how concerned I should be. I haven't been able to keep anything down for a few days now (my last fill was at the beginning of April, no problems then at all). Then starting tonight, every time I layed down, I would cough up this nasty greyish black stuff. There are black flecks in it that look almost like coffee grinds. I remember reading something similar from someone before but I can't find the post - has anyone else had this happen? I am trying to wait until morning to call the dr, but I really feel crappy. Thanks! Just wanted to add that I have had to have small unfill in the past, however, the symptoms I have now are nothing like I had then, so I don't think my fill is too tight.

Good question, I was just thinking about having one done. I would have "gastric band" put on it, I think. I was asking my regular dr about this and she thought it was a good idea because if you are ever in an emergency situation, it would be helpful for any dr to know you had it done. What does everyone else think?

EXCELLENT!!!! Give yourself a big pat on the back!!!

I went to see my surgeon and she wasn't convenienced that the diagnosise given in the ER was accurate. She did a small unfill and scheduled me for additional tests. I must say I haven't thrown up once since the unfill, so she is probably right on.

Congrats, welcome to bandland! Woah, surgery and online the same day? good for you, things have come a long way in the year since I had my surgery, I was in the hospital overnight.

I don't have any advice, other then that which was already giving, seek legal council immediately. But I do want to offer my prayers that the best interests of that baby will be served, and that the biological mom has an epithany and signs the papers with no hassles. My heart goes out to you in this situation.

I think a lot of it depends on the person and on the type of band they have. I didn't feel a whole lot of restriction until after my 3rd fill. Don't get me wrong, I was definitly eating less, but still felt like I ate more than other people were. And there are some who have restriction with no fills at all. Not a lot of help, I know, but you pretty much have to go by what your body tells you.

Wow! 4 oz? Man I eat more than that after 4 fills. Doesn't seem like enough, as the other have also said. Once you get your complete restriction, the urge to snack goes way down.

Good luck with your decision. I love my band, the port doesn't bother me at all. I can feel it and it does take some getting used to, but you do. I only wish the band had been available when I weighed 240, then maybe I would have never gotten to 366 (that was my all time high, I lost some of that before being banded).

I told/tell anyone and everyone. I am very excited about it and happy to share. I get a lot of support and have only had one person imply I was taking an easy way out - set her straight and that was the end of that.

I had my gall bladder removed in April. I didn't have stones, so my pain was different then someone who did. I had a HIDA test that show the gall bladder was not operating efficiently and had "sludge" in it. The ultrasoudn will show stones, but not other problems. Definitely get it checked out. My pain was on the upper right side, under the rib cage. Good Luck - BTW - I was banded while experiencing this pain, didn't affect that at all. Some doctors will also remove your GB at the same time as the band, so worth getting it checked out.

Pasta can be a problem. Any food that expands with liquid, pasta, breads, rice, etc can get stuck and cause issues no matter how wet or chewed they are. I would be careful with them. Congrats on your weight loss!

I haven't had a problem with straws, but I waited about 4 months before using one. You get more air when you drink with a straw, so that could initially cause some gas problems on top of the gas you will have from the surgery. I would say wait a few weeks, then give it a try and see how you do.

Best of luck tomorrow! The band has been the best thing for me as far as weight loss goes. And the more the weight comes off, the better I feel, more self confidence, etc. Let us know how you are doing!

Hi, I saw my surgeon last week for the first time after my scare with the blood and she believes that I am too tight, she took out some of my fill and I haven't thrown up since last week - woohoo! She also didn't totally agree with the accessment that they gave me in the ER so she scheduled me for an Upper GI in 3 weeks (she wants to give the inflamation time to heal) to check the band, esphogus, etc out. Can I tell you what a relief it is not to throw up everyday! It got so I didn't even thing about it anymore - BAD, BAD, BAD!!!!! Funny because I really didn't think I was too tight - I had to have an unfill in the past and these symptons were different. From now on, I will be paying more attention to the little things.

Excellent! Keep up the great work

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great day!

:happybday2: Happy Birthday! Hope you are having a wonderful day!!!

I had very little restriction before my first fill. That is actually pretty normal. You should see a big difference after the fill

Good luck with flying - at my highest weight - 366 I never had to purchase 2 seats. As the others said, the isle seat is the most comfortable as you can scrunch up a bit in it.

HEHE at the paperclips! Good for you, keep it up!

Hey that is great! My winter coat was soo big it didn't do any good at all - Keep up the great work!