Patricia France

Hi Everyone! It has been a LONG time since I have been on here! Next month it will be 5 years!! Here is some info on me: I was 250 lbs when I got the Surgery; through Tricare (military) while stationed in Vicenza Italy. Surgery was done by Dr. Favretti and Dr. Segato on the economy. I have a 10 CC band. I have had about 4-5 fills, I honestly cannot remember because I got a fill that was to tight and we had to unfill it. My lowest weight was 155 (as far as I know) Since I stopped working, I have gained 10 pounds and I can eat 2 plates at a buffet if I am super hungry or depressed. I was in a size 22 and I am in a size 9 (barely) right now. I am going on Wednesday February 20 2013 to get another fill. I will be turning 30 on April 2nd, so hopefully I can change my eating habits again and get back on track. I will be going to Las Vegas too, so you know I have to look good! My husband will also be home on leave from deployment for 2 weeks, and I want to look good for him as well It is amazing the things I have learned from this surgery. How to eat, what to eat, what NOT to eat (like raw carrots), and how much confidence I have gained! I still have people ask me if it was worth it, and yes, it is!! I would do it again in a heart beat, AND reccomend it to anyone! Anyway, Hope everyone is doing well with their bands!! Trisha

How is everyone doing? I'm proud to say that I am at a respectable 160 pounds and holding. I'm also in a size 10 which was my over all goal. I need to tone up but otherwise I'm happy! Started at 250 and a size 22.

I got a fill on the 17th of July and on the 20th I went to a BBQ, I am not sure if I at too much, cause I cant eat a lot right now anyway, and i also had some alcohol. I woke up at 2 am with severe pain in the back and in the front like someone was kicking me constantly, it was very bad cramping, like I had to use the bathroom, but I didn't, I went to the Er and while I was there I swear I felt my stomach turn and the pain stopped and completely went away. I don't know what is going on. They gave me a shot for muscle contractions in my stomach and prescribed me muscle relaxer pills to take when needed. I am sitting here right now and my back is beginning to feel sore again so I think I will take one of those pills! I have contacted my surgeon and if I cant see him today I will see him tomorrow. I hope to GOD everything is alright and that I didn't mess anything up. Time to stick to just liquid for a few days for fear of eating anything solid! Has anyone had this happen before or heard of it? :ohmy:

Hi everyone. I desperately need some support! I have the worst nutritionist possible, and half the time she is never here anyway! I am in Vicenza Italy and my husband is military so she is literally the only nutritionist we have. I have only lost 35 pounds since being banded March 20th. For some reason I cannot lose weight anymore! I am always hungry and I just got a fill last month! I did a 5k the other day and I didnt lose anything then either. I am eating what I am supposed to but then I get so hungry afterwards that I just give up and eat something else that I am craving. Not like pieces of cake or anything but I will have a few chips or a few nuts. I am surprised that everything I have eaten goes down just fine, but in a way I wish it wouldnt! I have never PB'd or really thrown up from eating. I feel like I have stretched the band or something. When i wake up in the morning I can feel that its tight.....I am just stuck in a rut.....My husband isnt a big help either! He is always asking, want to go have chinese or do you want a glass of wine, Seriously STOP ASKING! Then he gets upset with me and says he doesnt know. BS. Sorry, if anyone has any suggestions on what I might be able to do....I would love to hear them! I guess I should get another fill. Oh yea I am trying to order the bodybugg system but being that we are overseas we might not be able to. I hope I can get it!!!! Trisha

My husband is in the military and we are stationed in Italy. I went through Tricare and they said I would go through Dr. Franco Favretti and Dr. Segato here in Vicenza Italy. They were both wonderful, very professional, they both spoke perfect English and there were no complications! I would reccomend these Dr's to anyone who is thinking of getting this surgery. The have done thousands of lap band procedures and his statistics are very very good. You can look him up on : LAP-BAND: Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery and click on surgery team in the paragraph to the right. Dr. Favretti has many American Patients. Vicenza is only about an hour from Venice, so you can come get the surgery then go see Venice!!:sneaky:

I am so glad I found this thread. I have been having panic attacks for about 3 weeks now, every day was another symptom. It started with being light headed then tingly then tired, weakness in my arms, then I thought it was MS then a Dr. told me no it wasn't. Then I started to tremble, I have been trembling for about 2 weeks now. I looked up Parkinson's and every other reason I could have for trembling. At first I thought it was because I was losing weight too fast so I went to several Dr.s and they did blood and urine tests and said I was dumping some sugar and protein in my urine and it could cause me to tremble. So I believed him for about a day, but he didn't tell me how to stop it. SO I started eating the way I had before the band to "fix" things but it didn't help, it stressed me out more. One Dr. had given me Xanax to calm down and I thought he was nuts cause I was light headed! Well, I went back to ANOTHER Dr. and he said I had sinus issues and gave me some stuff and it really helped with being light headed, so now I am o.k. with that. Now I am just Trembly. I googled it and I have come to the conclusion that I have Generalized anxiety disorder. The Trembling gets worse when I am upset, stressed, scared, anxious, etc. When I am with friends I am o.k. I am still worried about it and I want an MRI to prove I am o.k., but I don't think they would do that. I have started to take the Xanax, but it makes me soooo tired and it only lasts a few hours. I go see my psychiatrist tomorrow to make sure it is just anxiety and nothing else. I am scared about going, but I need to know so he can put me on something that will stop the trembling. Sorry this is so long. I needed to get this off my chest and see if any one else had an experience like this!! I have literally seen 5 Dr.s to tell me I am o.k. but I still don't believe them!:coolgleamA::confused2:

Hi there! They are wonderful, they both speak very good English and he is very professional and will answer any questions you have. The first day they have you drink nothing but tea and water. Then usually its the next morning that he does the procedure. I woke up and they were pulling a tube out of my throat so be warned of that. Everything went fine, the anesthesiologist is the head of his department and he will do everything pain free and he is very nice. You will be sharing a room with between 1-3 other people, but its ok. The first few days were hard because of the gas they put in your stomach and it felt like I was punched in the stomach. They want you to walk as much as possible after the procedure as well. The nurses are very nice too and you can press the button for help as much as you need and they wont get upset lol. You might need a lot of pain meds afterwards, because I think they only use tylenol. Its ok, they are wonderful and I feel very fortunate that Dr. Favretti and Dr. Segato did the surgery, they are the best in the world I think. Also, when you are up there on the 7th floor look at the huge posters on the wall, it gives all their statistics on the surgeries they have done. I hope it all goes well for you!!!! How long will you be staying after the surgery? I am sorry I keep rambling! Talk to you soon I hope! Ciao!

I am in Vicenza and just got banded by Dr. favretti and Dr. Segato on the 20th of March. Hoping to find some people close to me!

Hi everyone, I am in Vicenza Italy right now, but grew up in Pensacola. My parents still live there and my mother wants to get the band as well. She is retired Navy and she says she has to pay a copay. Does anyone know if there is a hospital at Eglin AFB that they could send her to? Anyway, I went to Tate and Catholic HS, then graduated from PJC adult high. I got banded March 20th 2008 by Dr. Favretti and Dr. Segato Vicenza Italy. Ciao! Patricia France

I am glad to have found this forum! I love sushi and especially sashimi! Now I know I can go eat some, and even better, fish is awesome for you! :sad_smile:

Hi all, I have Tricare prime in Europe. I went to see my Primary care Physician and asked for the procedure, he sent in the request that day, then Tricare in Germany approved me to go meet with the surgeon off post and then he said yes then he had to send it to germany and Tricare had to approve me again. All this took about a month and I was banded on the 20th of March. We have a nutritionist here on post that we can see. I loved it, it was so easy to get approved and there was no copay. Tricare just started covering the lap band Feb 1st 2008. Apparently I was the first spouse to get it here that was covered, so that was pretty cool.

I got your picture on my email when it notified me of the new post. They do look really red, mine were a bit itchy but nothing like that! I would definitely try some topical anti itch cream around the incisions first.

Hi all! I have found that the Vitamin gumballs are the best! You just chew them for 10 minutes and you get all the Vitamins you need. Here is the website where you can find out where to buy them. They arent the best tasting and it takes time to get used to it. it was great to have especially during the liquid stage. Where to buy Regular Vitaball I hope this helps someone!!!:purplebananna:

Hello all, I was banded on the 20th of March, I am glad to be a part of this group! How do I get one of those pictures that says banded in March with the shamrocks?? I am down 23 pounds!!!!!

Hi there, yes I was light headed and dizzy and no one could tell me why, I had lost 13 pounds in only a few days after the band, I am still a little dizzy I am a little over 2 weeks post op.

I seem to be the only American living in Vicenza who has had the lap band! I know I am not really, I hope to find others here who have gotten it!!

I just got banded on thursday 3/20 and when I eat my yogurt or any thing else for that matter I feel a little bit light headed, is this normal? I am getting worried and it feels like someone is sitting on my chest its kind of hard to breathe. Am I OK??? :crying:

Hi all, I have been researching the lap band procedure for a few months. I have been going to a therapist for depression about the way I look and then I learned that my insurance provider Tricare (military) covers the procedure! I am stationed in Vicenza Italy so I am going through Dr. Favretti. I am very excited for him to do the surgery, I trust him 100% considering he is one of the ones who helped make the Lap band and he has been doing it since 1993! I met for the first time yesterday and he was so nice and confident. He says he can do the surgery within the next few weeks if I like. I still need to get used to the idea and work out all the details with my husband and children. This is life changing for me and I couldn't be happier!!!:laugh: