Dawn NH

Thanks!!! They are looking for MS.....I have been talking to my Dr. about this for about a year and my vision was just added to my issues that are being tracked. Do you have any issues from your MS that affect the band? I just had a lot of nausea today and that had me a bit spooked.

That is good to know!!! Thanks!!!

I am having an MRI next week and was wondering what others may know about compatability of the port with MRI. My Dr. said it is compatable, and I FULLY TRUST HER, but I was reading about MRI's and wondered if anyone has had one since having the band? My MRI is of my head so it will not be near my port.

Are you a bander that everyone knows or closet - that only family and a few to no friends know? Everyone knows Why? That is the type of person I am. I am a very open person and I would not be happy keeping the information to myself. I do not talk about it all the time, but if someone has questions I will answer them. Has it worked out? yes Would do it differently if you could? I would not do anything differently. I love my band, and I had a lot of support from others during the six months of no weight loss. When I would get frustrated, others would remind me that it would work, I just had to wait.

Thanks to all who responded!!! I had some issues getting into the forums and then I went on vacation. I am doing a lot more than I was before and I know that is something. I am trying to add walking in the morning, and I may join the YMCA as I have a 7 year old son who is going to need to get some energy out when school starts again. I am looking for a realistic plan, so that it lasts. We do not have space for any equipment in the house yet,though my husband and I are hoping to finish the basement and then there would be room. Until then I am going to have to start doing something.

My Dr. wants me to exercise 7 days per week for one hour a day. :omg: I really need to increase my exercise as I am not doing anything on a regular basis. I am wondering what others are doing and how often? I have a 7 year old child, I work full time, my husband works full time and goes to school so time is very limited. :phanvan

My first fill was not painful. My port tilted and I needed to have one done under xray and have not done one since. I have had a total of three fills, two did not hurt and the other only hurt because my port tilted and my Dr. did not know that it tilted until the xray. Good luck!!! It should be fine : )

I was banded at CMC in December 2005. My insurance required a six month medically managed weight loss, so I do not know how long it takes if you are self pay or have another insurance. I know that there have been some staff changes at CMC's program so that may be part of the delay as well. I am very pleased with my care and would do it all again at CMC

I think that each person is different. WhenI am eating too little my body goes into starvation mode, so I have to watch my calories. For me a week on liquids and I stop losing and can actually gain.

I had no restriction until after my second fill, then I had a little restriction. After my third fill I had restriction and all the "fun" that goes with it. I am six months out from surgery and have only had restriction for 2 weeks now. I have only lost weight since then. But to your question was this a waste of money? For me, I would do it all over in a second. I have been frustrated over the past six months, who has weight loss surgery and wants to see the scale go down, then up then stay the same? BUT......I only went back up what I took off during my liquid stage and then I stayed at the day of surgery weight for five to six months. That would NEVER have happened without the band. Someone told me to expect it to take six months before losing weight given the way my Dr. does fills and not to give up. That was great advice as it took just about six months for the fills to be right (I have 2cc in a 10 cc band) The down side for me is learning how to eat now that I am six months out and have restriction for the first time. But it is great to see the scale go down, and know that this time it is going to stay down. Hope this helps!!!!! One last thing, remember that everyone is different, some will lose slow, some fast. Just think about the positives to come, such as the weight coming off and staying off.

My Dr has you come into her office, and lay down. She feels for the outline of the port, then has you lift your legs up and hold them. This makes the port stand out more. Once she has that she gets the needle with one hand, keeping her other hand on the port outline, and has you lift your legs again and then can usually insert the needle into the port. The process is very cool when I think about not having the visual x-ray to go in, but if your port is tipped as mine is the process is a bit painful : )

I have had three fills total. My first fill was great, no pain easy. My second fill was terrible. It hurt and took several attempts to get the right angel into the port. It was however successful once in the right place. My third fill, there were seven attempts in my Dr.'s office, none painful, and then she sent me to have a fill under x-ray. It is amazing to watch the process. you can feel my port, but where you feel it, and where they access it are very different. The fill under x-ray was quick, and painless. I am not going to allow several attempts in the office again, now that I know how easy it is under x-ray. Just wanted to share so if others have painful or difficult "blind" fills, x-ray is an option and it is wonderful!!!!

I have just started to lose weight, six months after surgery , but I think I am going back into starvation mode. This happened when I was on the liquid only phase. I was just filled a week ago, and lost 9 lbs the first week, then went down 11 lbs, but am now going up a little. I am not eating more, I am having a hard time eating at all. I have talked to my surgen who does not want to unfill just yet. She wants me to revisit my diet guidelines and see nutrition. Anyway, my question is does anyone know what to do to stop starvation mode? I do not want to gain back all my weight again , which is what happened during the liquid phase.