georgebals

Hi. The LVRJ did a story of a reporter trying to get her head fixed (face lift). That she didn't need. One of Drs. is Hankins. She rates them. Would like to talk to you about walk in September. The way it's going for me, I'll:thumbup: have to save my pennys now for PS in 2 years. Good Luck. Hasta Pronto, George

SWCC patients. Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Tracy Hankins will have informational on Plastic Surgery. Saw this today at my appt. Hasta pronto, George:thumbup:

I just found this site today. It features all that Realize site does, plus a 7 day a week phone number. It's ad is right here on LBT.com. I hope this helps in choices. I will try calling in the morning. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Hi! Once the band is in it's our job to know when we need a fill. Thats the hard part. I mostly say I have not had a fill yet. Ask your Doctor what kind of band you have. If it's Realize you can go to RealMySuccess.com & have personal weight loss site. I think you can do this with lap-band also. Learn to know everything about fills. If you need it, get it. I have several support groups. I go to support group meetings over 5 x a month. This is a brand new science. Buy this book " Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band". It has Helped me a lot . I hope you reach all your goals. Good Luck. I think in 5 years time our bands & book will be history and weight loss will be different. Now I think it's 80% band 20 by-pass. 3 years ago opposite. I'm just starting on my weight loss journey. It's been fast,slow,hard,easy & lots of fun. Again Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I had the Realize band installed in me 1/15/08. You are the 1st person I heard of that has a choice. I can't spell the new lap-band brand (something like Alergen). My clinic does both. To my understanding Realize is a 9cc band, & lap band brand has 2 sizes. Realize has been permitted in U.S. for about a year & 1/2 + the new lap-band brand band about a year. Even though they have been used over a decade. I talk to doctors, fill nurses & company reps about successful weight loss. Bands have different ports. Lap-band has compartments in band. They don't or can't give details or percentages. I've lost over 122 pounds, no fills. One lady at my clinic out a year with no fills. Dr. Curry of Ohio reports several males w/o fills with realize. Your surgery is the same day as Vegas Girl. Good Luck to you both. It's a coin flip choice. You will do well either way. Be ready for the fastest changes in your life(style). Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

This is the best post I've read. Thank You Very Much! Very best of Luck to You. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I was Morbidly Obese. That alone is a major health issue. The pain of my lap band was very minor. Compared to my other surgeries, spine fusion, rotator cuff & ankles this was pain free & easy. More than losing weight is the new lifestyle. It took me over 10 years from 1st seminar to being banded. I had to lose lots of bad habits. You will do just fine! Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::wink2::thumbup:

I am copying this from Robert W. Sewell, M.D. F.A.C.S., & Linda Rohrbough's book. WLS with the AGB, page # 159. This all sounds too good to be true? A surgical procedure that "cures" high blood pressure? Well, the fact is that if if your blood pressure falls to normal after AGB surgery, hypertension can return unless-- are you ready this?--you get regular exercise & eat a sensible diet. This is not rocket science! I hope this book helps you. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Don't forget to measure inches every 6 months they add up quick. I add this to my OCDs as i weigh my self LOL. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

My appt. is today at SWCC. I weigh in once a week anyway, as clinic scales are only ones I consider accurate. I leave my questions the Fill nurses or Brian Grace. Dr. Soong gets my questions at meeting. I have called RealizemySuccess web site they could not give me numbers I wanted. Through LapbandTalk I found new sites & Dr. Curry of Cincinnatti,Ohio. He says several males he has, have gone as long as I without a fill with realizeband. I want to get Europen records as Realize has only been in U.S. 1&1/2 years. I pay close attention to failure of bands & Drs. I have not saw any with Realize. I will to find out if Realize is the only band they put in men. I only found out which band I have 2 months ago. Would you ask Dr. Teng what his feeling are about Realize are? I have your sugery date marked down & the Best of luck to you. My baby sister has degrees like you in Health. She use to work for J&J. She had a by-pass surgery that went bad. She is all right now, but wishes she had a band. She is my in house expert! She came to Las Vegas to help me with my spine fusion surgery. She worked on a study with my Dr. He hurt his back installing hardware in mine. I use to be huge. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Guys lose weight easier than women. Guys eat so much more than women. Women live 5.5 years longer then guys. Rules are different each Doctor & clinic. They are all based the same. Mine are measure out 4 ozs. food 3 times a day. Exercise & attend support meeting. If I was to do it again, I would demand Realize band. I'm finding out that it works better for guys. Get this book pre-op. Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band (at Borders). Main thing is getting your head in right place. Good Luck. Banded 1/15/08, by Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson. Lost over 122 pounds forever. Best day of my Life was losing morbid obesity handle. No fills. Losing it in Vegas! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I thought you already had band date. Good luck where ever & who ever you choose. There is also a new Dr. in town. If you can attend Dr. Teng's support group do it. I have not met Dr. Teng, but he sounds a lot like Dr. Fisher, which is good. Dr. Fisher started Surgical Weight Control Center (SWCC) I have not met Dr. Fisher either. You know I'm SWCC all the way. I think Dr. Teng's group meets 1st Tuesday each month. SWCC meets at 6pm 2nd Wednesday & 4th Tuesday each month for band groups. I also go to Dr. Segura's Weighty Matters 1st Wed. $20. She is a very good psychologist, open group. People at this group have a lot more experience than I. I can share my weight loss books & inside skinny on all. Let me know! I have a lot of faith in you girl. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup: P.S. The world has changed a lot since your friends by-pass:thumbup: After 3pm SWCC 7/31 I'll be self pay also. 8/16 dinner @ PF Changs has girls from both Doctors & more. Dr. Hanna(newbie) has a seminar on 8/16 at 10 am. It's Dr. Segura that showed me where my head had to be pre-op & has to be post op.

Without a doubt,in U.S.A., Mexico & Belize have the best politicians MONEY can buy! Hasta Pronto, George B

You are right. I think its a 95% success rate with weight loss surgery. I couldn't have lost my weight without the band. It's your body, life & band. Yo-yo dieting will kill you. To me the band is not a diet. I eat what I want to. I eat 4 oz. meals 3 times a day. I try to make good choices. It is a struggle day to day. Well worth it! It's a tool to help you learn to eat correctly & amounts. I'm finding it's all in my head. Don't bother trying to cure your sister. Your new full time job is losing weight. Exercise & go to support meetings=weight loss. It's real basic, eat right, exercise, go to meetings & have band installed. Best day of my life was losing morbidly handle. Banded 1/15/08. To date I have lost 121 pounds forever. No Fills. GO FOR IT!!! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup::eek:

Good Luck to all in Life & weight Loss. It took me 10 years from 1st seminar to being banded. The band was not an option open to me then. My realize band was not offered until about a year before I was banded,1/15/08. I needed the time to get other surgerys out of the way. I had to Break bad habits. I am amazed at people that raise family & work & are successful with weight loss. There are great books that came out just this year. There are almost to many support groups in the Las Vegas area. I guess this is the case in most citys. I have not missed any. The best Day of my life was losing my morbidly obese handle. Lost 121 pounds. No fills! By Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

The Monte Carlo Poker Room Freeroll Tournament is now being held each Saturday at 2 P.M. As always, I will pay for all the ladies dining expenses when I cash 1 of these events. Caught 3rd 7/19, $400, no one to buy dinner for The room is my 2nd favorite support group.Would someone call poker room & tell them not to mess with George's monthly dinner. Dinner Group is my favorite. At 10 A.M. on 8/16, I am going to Dr. Hanna's weight loss seminar. Anything anyone can tell me about this Dr.? Anyone interested in hiking? I go to Red Rocks a lot. Willing to try anywhere outdoors. Pre-op 352 pounds, just weighed in at SWCC. I've lost 121 pounds forever. Jennifer (fill nurse, stabber) told me we will wait + not do 1st fill. Everyone else from Babareeba's 7/13 should have had 1st fills by now. Wish all the best of Luck. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I just came from weighing in at my local clinic. Surgical Weight Control Center. I weighed 352 pre-op. I lost 121 pounds. I have not had a fill. I talked to Jenifer our fill nurse (stabber), she said I would not need a fill at my next appt. on 7/31. Your's is the same question I asked when I 1st came to this site. My other posts contain information & web contacts about no fills. I've had people tell me I was pre-filled=But I only had restriction in the hospital. They say I'm afraid of needles=But this is my 5th surgery & I donate a lot of blood. There are more people with the Realize band that are successfull at weight loss without a fill. Realize has been on the market in the U.S.A. for about a year & 1/2. I would like see Europen history of Realize. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band is Everything You Need to Know Before & After Surgery to Lose Weight Successfully. It says so on the cover + is. It's sold at Borders. On page # 159 it says this is not rocket science. It's not. I go to a lot of support group meetings. These are attended by the most beautiful women in Las Vegas. It's a learning experience. World Class Doctors & exercise. All these things & weighing portions make my job easy. I still struggle everyday. My best day was when I was no longer,& never to be again, morbidly obese. Good Luck, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

I would like to weigh in. 352 pre-op I was banded by Dr. Atkinson & Dr. Soong. 4 ounces on scale is what we are allowed, 3 meals a day(SWCC). I've talked with Dr. Teng's band people & they told that they can go to 1/2 cup (measuring). These are the Doctors that do most of the banding in Las Vegas. A new place to me that is banding is Dr.Hanna. I will try to contact him & attend his seminar. Banded 1/15/08. Lost 120 pounds. Dr. Curry of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has great web sites & on line seminar. He e-mailed me that he has several guys that have gone as long as me without a fill with RealizeBand. Dr. Emery will do my blood work next month. At first he told me to have by-pass surgery so I could lose morbid obesity quicker. He is on band wagon now. I will stick to 4 ozs. weighed. Good Luck All. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

You did the right thing & Good Luck. The 1st 3 weeks was my hardest part (liquid diet). I weighed 352 pounds, 55.2B.M.I. Best day of my life was losing morbid obesity handle. A book that just came out that has helped me a lot. Weight Loss Surgery with the Adjustable Gastric Band. ISBN 978-1-60094-002-6. I was banded Jan. 15th 2008. Realize band. No fills yet! Lost over 120 pounds. You sound like you know where your going & how your going to do it. Again Good Luck from Sin City, Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup:

Hi leknigh, Since I been on Lap Band Talk, I've been trying to find out the number or percentage of banders that are like me & have not had a fill? Dr. Curry answered my questions when no one else could. He has web sites that are very good. Dr. Curry took the time to e-mail me. I also saw his seminar online. My 5th seminar & the best. I learn a lot each seminar. Would you tell him Thank You for me. Also I moved outside (lower 48), from Alaska, Like the Good Dr. You are going to one of the best. I've read about him + all are words of praise. Good Luck! It all gets better with the band. Get your head in the right mode pre-op & hold on tight. Hasta Pronto, George

Thank You! I have a lot of practice at getting operated on. I have a lot of help. Support groups are very important. You are 3 times more successful at weight loss by attending support groups. Doctors & there is a long list of them have been world class. Exercise & weighing out each meal. There are new books every day. I sleep good now. Each lost pound is a 4 psi difference in the torture you put your back & joints. This comes to millions of lost psi. Dr. Curry can give details of Realize band(he has several no fills/Realize banders):tt2:. I have been real Lucky. No fills yet. I got to thank Dr. Soong & Dr. Atkinson for installing Realize band in me. Good Luck to all. Hasta Pronto, Geo:thumbup: P.S. One of the best days of my life was losing morbid obesity handle!

I have a Realize Band & feel very lucky to have it. The best spokesman I found is Dr. Curry of Cincinnatti, Ohio. A fine bariatric surgeon. He has several web sites. He has answered questions for me that nobody else could. Banded 1/15/08, 6&1/2 months later 120 pounds lost + gone forever. Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup: SWCC LAS VEGAS NEVADA

In between Doctors appts.,I come here LBT. Talk with fill techs & gastric by-pass people. I learn a lot about weight loss from by-pass people. By-pass mostly did not have a choice. One shot. The band gives me so many choices & chances that were not there a few short years ago. It took me over 10 years from 1st seminar to banding. I'm getting a lot of parts added to my body. Most are made by Johnson + Johnson. I getting in & out of surgery smoothly now. My band was the easiest. I need a few more surgerys. My next visit to my clinic is 7/31/08. This will be 1 of 3 fills I get covered under medicare if I choose. After that date I pay $175. If I do decide to fill=I have to change my daily pills + cut food even smaller. It's no BIG deal anymore. Losing LARGE in Vegas & Loving It. Hasta Pronto:thumbup:, George Good Luck Whatever you choose! This is the fastest ride I've been on.

Dear Babysoftly, I don't think I'm unusual. I made up my mind pre-op that me & band would work well together. I am very lucky.I was taught that pre-op was the right place to get head for post-op. I have not had restriction. I love my job. Pre-op I put in my head that I would eat 3X4oz. meals a day for life. Exercise & sleep well. I registered my band on RealizemySuccess.com. I called Realize & they told me they don't have that info + realize is only 1&1/2 years out. Here at lap band talk, I have found several. There is another guy at my clinic SWCC in Las Vegas who has not had a fill. Dr. Curry of Cincinnatti, Ohio e-mailed me, he has several males with Realize Bands that have not had fills. Realize is a 1 size 9cc band. Whatever! It's your band baby, body & Life. You get a fill when you want or need one. Banded 1/15/08.I have Lost over 120 pounds with the help of Realize, Doctors & Support groups. No fills yet. Band is a good tool. Don't get hooked on (un)Fill needle Good Luck!! Hasta Pronto, George:thumbup: