Turler

Hmmm...thanks for not sharing? LOL

mss: Thank you! Applause!!! You're not being insensitive. Sometimes things go wrong. It's not always the surgeon's fault. I'm sure there are cases where it is, but not all the time. And not every case is worth a lawsuit either. I don't know where you were looking or what you're talking about, but always remember you only have one side of the story. ~C

My toes are cute!

That would be cool. I may ask for one at some point just for peace of mind. I am worried about stretching the upper pouch/esophageal area. It's good to look in on this stuff once in a while. I got to see it on fluoro in the hospital after surgery, but I'd like to see it again. ~C

I agree. That is why I said it's BOTH! I like your idea of having another seminar after the initial one. I know that some offices are big enough, staffed well, lots of money, etc and maybe are already able to do this. I'm talking about the majority of the patient's that are left with questions they didn't even know they should ask about. I don't know that I have the answer, but I can speak from both sides of the fence (being a patient and a nurse) that improvements should be made in this process. I know that surgeons only have so much time to educate. I am like you though. I would NEVER dream of having an ELECTIVE surgery without researching it. Obviously if it's an emergency that's different. Just to say this: I know patients that have chosen the Lap Band simply because they were "grossed out" by having their intestines "touched" or "I don't wanna lose my hair" or "I still want to eat sweets and stuff I like and not have diarrhea". So in conclusion, the patient should be doing as much research as possible and hopefully armed with questions that they can take to their sugeons/nurses and ask! ~C

Nope. No fluoro. My doctor puts the port in the same place on every patient no matter what so that he doesn't have to hunt for it. I believe he only does fluro if a patient is having trouble or the port is flipped or something like that. I swear it was so fast! Over and done in seconds! I don't feel anything yet though. I keep waiting. I was worried that I would wake up today and wouldn't be able to drink or something, but I am doing fine. I haven't pushed it though. I am on call this weekend and I don't want to have my first PB during a surgery! LOL Ummm, I didn't know you had a group! I wanna play too...how do I get there? ~C

Yeah, I don't mind the talking part either. I just wouldn't put my face or any identifying things on here. If I ever do put a pic on here, I'd probably black out my face or something. Anyway, to each his own! ~C

I'm on call...sucks. Already got called in this morning. I'm on call all weekend. Blech. Btw, I still don't feel anything. I asked him if I should do liquids or something but he said no. I am taking it easy though, just in case. I don't want my first PB to happen during a surgery!! LOL ~C

Yeah...maybe we have 'Transfer Addiction' to our scales! LOLOLOL I just crack myself up! But really, I knew I couldn't stay away from the scale, but it's really not hurting me so far. I actually think looking at it every day keeps me in line. I am a 'gotta know' kinda girl. You are so far ahead of me already in the pounds lost department! I am so proud of you! I'll bet you look great! ~C

My husband's toes are ugly.

I'M FILLED!!!! YAY!!!! I don't notice anything...yet! I am so glad I got it though. I was all set to be pissed off if I didn't get it! LOL I'm so glad I didn't have to go all *bitchy* on him and kick his chair. It was so easy. I was braced for it to hurt like the chemo needles did. This didn't hurt a bit. He tricked me though and put the needle in when I wasn't expecting it...clever. I have a 4 cc band and he gave me 1 cc. I was surprised at how much I got. I was expecting something like 0.2 cc, ya know? Anyway, can't wait to feel a difference and start getting rid of some of this booty! WOO! ~C

Yes. It can be done. I have cancer and have already finished my treatments before I got my band. BUT, it's the only weight loss surgery I could have because of the 'adjustability' part. I can't imagine someone ever worrying about me being too thin, but if that or nutrition were an issue, they can unfill me for treatments. I hope you never have to find out personally! Best wishes! ~C

No, I don't think it's private enough. However, when I was researching the Lap Band, this site popped up. I will be forever grateful that happened as I love it here and wouldn't have all of you! I doubt I'll ever post a pic. ~C

L2L: Ummmm, I think your body is probably in shock because you've lost SO MUCH WEIGHT!!!! You are a rock star! Let your body catch up and you'll be losing again in no time. Hey, you need to let me catch up to you. I thought we were band buddies! You can't lose more than me sooner than me! LOL ~C

I'll respond to that! It's BOTH!! I think it starts in the office and tricles over into lack of ownership on the patien't part. I believe that the doctor's offices are not educating the patients properly!! There is also an element of patients needing to take responsibility for their own health and healthcare! I am a nurse. I am educated and I did a whole lot of research for my brand spankin' shiney new Lap Band (can you tell I'm excited?!). But there are things that I have learned on LBT from reading all the posts that I was never told about at the office! I take them to the office and ask, and they say, "well, yeah, that could happen" or "yes, you could have large amounts of saliva come out if you eat too much". Come on! These things need to be told. The good, the bad and the ugly! I am a firm believer in patient education. Help them help themselves. We are not stupid. Many have done their homework, but most have not (unfortunately). Also, many offices treat their patients like they are bothering them. Most appointments are short so there isn't much time to ask questions. Many times, patients don't know what TO ask. The seminars are fine, but often people are overwhelmed with choices...do I have RNY or LapBand? Which band would I choose? Dumping syndrome or fills? How about no surgery at all? Maybe I should try the liquid diet instead? It goes on and on. Once they decide they want surgery it becomes a whirlwind. Then if they do ask a question, they may get "well we told you all this at the seminar"!! Argh! I hear patients say these things and it frustrates me. So, you all are right. Some of the questions on here are ridiculous. I can't believe that someone who complains that they "can't breathe", are having "severe, crushing chest pain", pain in their side so severe they can't talk", etc. etc. can find the time to type it all on here and wait for answers!!!! Go to the ER. Period. I mean seriously? You can't breathe but you can type? Okay, I'm done venting now! ~C

LOL!!! Hi kids! Okay, I got my fill!!! WOO HOO!!!! He must have been on his to way somewhere else as his very beautiful wife and darling daughter were waiting in the office for him while I was there! It went just great! He gave me 1 cc (mL). I was so surprised! I didn't think I'd get so much for the first time! He said next time will be 0.5 cc increments until proper restriction is achieved! He had me do this weird sit up maneuver--which I thought he was teasing me about. It was funny because I didn't do it, and he was like okay...do it now! I laughed and did it and he sort of "grabbed" the port (this faux sit-up makes the port stand out). He then held on to it and had me do it again and at the very moment I did that, he put the needle in and injected the saline! I said "hey! You tricked me!" LOL It didn't hurt a bit and was over in a second. That was it. The whole appointment was less than 5 minutes! He said if I don't feel anything (restriction) by Monday, to call him and he'll give me another fill. Likewise, if I have any problems to call him anytime and he'll unfill. Cool, huh? Boy am I glad I got this. I don't feel different yet, but he said it should help with the hunger and of course the portion sizes too. I was so ready to be mad today (been kinda bitchy with the being hungry all the time thing), but I'm glad he saw me. Whew! L2L: Girl all I told them was that I was only off Tues and Fri and they didn't have anything open next week so they gave me my fill a week early rather than later! YAY for me! LOL ~C

SBG: Yes, I would call that Bandster Hell! I was allowed 4 oz., but hey, no difference really! This is why I want my fill so bad! I'm hungry and 4 oz. wasn't enough! I have since gone over the 4 oz. rule, but more because I wasn't measuring. It was like one day I was eating and next thing you know I had eaten way more than I intended and realized that nothing stopped me! My band wasn't "working" yet, so I could just eat and eat if I wanted to. Obviously I don't want to, so I quit right away! Up until then I was just plain starving! It was awful! But I've loaded up on protein drinks just because they make me feel full and last a lot longer than 4 oz. of food. Once I get this fill, I'm hoping that 4 oz will make me feel full or that I will get some sort of message between my band and my brain telling me it's time to stop eating! They are connected right? LOL ~C

OMG! I was so mad this morning! The office called and said they would have to reschedule me for another time. I said, 'okay, what time?'. They said, "we don't know, I'll call you back in about a week and a half"!!!!! WTH???? I said, "um, no, I really need this appt." she say, "why, what's wrong?" I said "I'm hungry! I've waited for this appt for a long time!!!!!!" She called me back and miraculously rescheduled me for 3 pm today. Oh I was ready to march over there and do the fill myself! LOL So, I don't have any news yet to share, but hopefull (if they don't call again) I will tell you after it's over today! Blund: WOW! I wish I were that restricted without a fill! I would never need a fill! I can eat quite a bit if I'm not careful. You be careful moving on to regular food! I'll be back in a few hours with an update and hopefully a fill!!! ~C

Yeah, I'm planning on it. I really don't want him to make me do that! But trust that it's for the best. There's a finite amount of room in that there band and it's better to use it when you need it. HOWEVER, tell him you are HUNGRY all the time. You are for the most part, right? And that the weight loss you've had has been from determination not from just not feeling hungry and not wanting to eat. Yes, I'm hungry! I plan on telling him this AGAIN!! And the other thing is the first fill sometimes doesn't feel like much, so don't expect to have perfect restriction either....it is better to creep up on the perfect fill than to be over filled... I agree. I am not necessarily in THAT big of a hurry. I want to do this right. I heart you J! You are so sweet! Thank you! ~C

So today I am scheduled for my first fill! Woo Hoo! I am so excited, but also a little nervous. I don't want to be turned down. I keep reading all these posts from people that went in for it and were told they've lost enough without it. I am worried about that. I do NOT want to have to kick his chair!! ;0) Then of course I have to worry about the 'overfilling' if I do get filled. I am worried about the after effects that if it's too tight and I can't drink water or something! LOL It's just all the unknowns for me! So exciting and scarey! Good thing though that my surgeon and I are both on call this weekend! ~C

I'm a little nervous about my fill today. I can hardly wait, but I have read several times on these forums that you may not feel the restriction until the next day or two. I will need to be so careful I think. I think maybe next time I won't do this on a Friday just in case I need to be unfilled (like so many). Well, I'm just excited about maybe, possibly losing some weight! LOL ~C

J You kill me! LOL Don't give up your day job! Weren't you just posting about the eloquence or gentleness of sign language or somethin' like that?! However, you always have good advice! I almost cried. I feel motivated even though you weren't talking to me! ~C

I tried the chat a few times, but I'm usually lost in there. You enter during conversations already in progress, so you have to read really fast and try to catch up. I don't care for it so far. Maybe an organized chat with a specific topic I'd like better. I'm glad you love Cincinnati though! ;0)

I'm still hungry. I think that's all I ever get to say these days. I go in tomorrow for my first fill--FINALLY! I am hopeful that it will help. I've heard that you don't always get restriction on the first try. It may take several fills to get somewhere. Dandy: Yes, you're in the right spot! We just kinda post when the mood strikes. We were much more active last month. Shame on us! We are still new so we should be posting more! ~C

Wow, you all have been busy today! ZZ- your fuzzy slippers are soooo cute! J- Convention? Sounds kinda fun, will think on it! TX- 1) girl you DO have big feet! LOL 2) I'm so glad your band situation is resolved! BP- Good luck on the new job! That would be a nice transition for you. I would love to bike to work, but I could never work all day being sweaty. I know people who do it, and they don't stink, but I would worry. Blech! ~C