54Shirley

To the person in CANADA: With the Health Care that you have ! Come to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit ! * They have excellent surgeons there, and they are a center of excellence. They will be able to take care of all your aftercare. Canadians flock by bus to see the bariatric surgeons. So trust me when I tell you, you would not be alone. Sometimes I think there are more people there from CANADA then the States. Your Ins. is gold. I don't know why anyone would consider Mexico for the band... It's your business totally. I just hope you know that if anything will go wrong, and it will "it's plastic!" that you have to go back to the surgeon who did your work. Because know one else wants to touch someone else's mistake. It's very hard to get another surgeon. I KNOW ! All I did was move away from my area and I can't get anyone to touch this "it has a leak" If not I have to go back to who did my surgery, or have it removed. I am waiting, and hoping that they call me and set this up. They say they haven't forgot me, we will see. I would suggest someone that will monitor your fills Not a fill station that's who put a whole in my Port. I will have him replace it with a newer band I guess. We will see. I will post if someone else takes me in for repair. In the meantime I hope you consider someone in your state. Good Luck Shirley. Dr. Jeffrey Genaw Henry Ford Hospital "Center of Excellence" Detroit, Michigan.

I had surgery in 06, and am still burping. You have new plumbing ! The air has to be able to flow free, or you would feel uncomfortable, maybe stuck. So a good long hard burp that you can feel from the bottom up is a good thing. So I guess you better get use to it.

Are you counting your calories? Even though I am banded with a 4cc band "yep that's old" I still keep a diary and try not to eat over 1200 calories. I give myself a window just in case we should go to a restaurant, and you really don't know the calories. So I try to stay between 900 - 1200 calories. If I go over ten at that restaurant, I won't kick myself for it. Go to calorie counter.com and look for calorie king. They are the most accurate I think. Just type in what you had to eat "weigh your stuff, and measure like 1/4 cup" It will tell you your calories, and keep track of your Protein also so you don't go over, because then that can cause weight gain also. Good Luck. Shirley Banded 10/31/2006 Henry Ford Hospital

It's been a while for me, but I drank MUSCLE MILK LIGHT. I order on ebay just type in muscle milk, and you will get people that have flavors galore. It comes in a powder form, so you need a shaker bottle. I still buy Cookies N CREAM, chocolate Peanut Butter BLEND, strawberry CREAM, vanilla CREAM. That's for my Protein, and it's good for you. Also I get my best prices there threw dealers, and occasionally you will see something that is going to expire with the date, "it's still good." so you will see some cheap prices then. I bought sugar free pudding cups, cottage cheese, oatmeal, scrambled egg, mashed potatoes/gravy, thicker Soups, trust me you have things in your kitchen that you have hearty to eat. Another good one is cook 1 cup of rice, when it's done, just kill the heat, and add a can of cream of mushroom soup to it, and mix well. No Water at all. This will last you a while, and any cream of soup will work. Just don't eat to much stuff. Banded 10/31/2006 Henry Ford Hospital

Lap Band sends you the tape when you hook up with your surgeon, and they want you to see what your getting into. Tons of info ! My surgeon told me when it comes, make sure you watch it ! I was glad I did.

First of all it starts with your brains... It's up to you to use this device "tool" to your best ability to try to loose weight. Now that means a small amount of food per meal. You should feel full, and then stop,,, don't eat anymore. The tool was surgically implanted, and it's up to you to use good judgement when you eat, what you eat, how much you eat. By getting fills, you will control what you can swallow, and how much. You have to tell real hunger "like stomacg growling" from head hunger... Hope this helps some.

Ibuprofin can eat away at the band I was told, by my surgeon. Tylanol is suppose to be the only thing we can take. Stress can make that tighten up even more. So,,,, try to relax if possible ! Call your Surgeon, and let him know, maybe he will give you something for pain.

Not a problem at all !!!!! If you have ever heard of MUSCLE MILK, you would probably here ugggh ! Well I am here to tell you that if you by MUSCLE MILK by the flavor that you want, and in powder form. "NOT IN A liquid, OR TIN CAN." You will be a lot happier. Go to ebay, and type in Muscle Milk "I buy the lite" You will see alot of different suppliers on there, and they have a lot to choose from. I buy Cookies N CREAM, chocolate Peanut Butter, strawberry CREAM, vanilla CREAM. There are more to choose from trust me. I didn't care for CHOCOLATE, CREAM BRUILEE,AND BLUEBERRYS N CREAM You will also see people at great prices because the expiration date is coming up. There still good.. I buy all my stuff on ebay, I wouldn't even think about the junk in a Health food store. Take a look, you won't be disappointed especially when you find someone with 13, or more flavors. I was banded in 2006 at Henry Ford Hospital. They even tell there patients to use MUSCLE MILK, as well as a good multiple Vitamin. FLINTSTONES COMPLETE WITH CHOLINE. This stuff will give you a boost ! i do about 4 a day

Welcome to Band Land ! I read your post,and don't be to dissapointed about the weight. Do to surgery it's only water, you'll know when it is comeing off, when you pee like there's no tommorow.

You and me both have something in common. A Leak for starts, that;s why the weight gain, and your surgeon can keep filling you, and it's gone. I have the same problem..... But you describe extreme pain. That's usually associated with Band Slippage. "BUT I AM NO DOCTOR !" talk to your Dr. about fluoroscopy, and replacement. They can see the leak with fluoroscopy, and they can then tell if the band slid down around the stomach "very painful." As far as a different surgeon?? you won't find to many that will touch someone else's work. I know this because I am still trying to find one. We moved, and we are a long way away from him, but if i have to,,, then i guess I'll go back, or have it taken out. I was banded 10/31/06 with a 4cc band, It blew with 2cc's in it????? How is that possible??? Had to be defective. I lost over 120lbs. only to put it all back on. You don't want to even go there.. When your Dr. puts the needle in the Port, take a look and see whats in it if anything. Ask him if you have to, to find out. Let him know that the fills aren't working at all, and whats next? This is a serious situation. If that band stays deflated, and food gets hung up on it, you could choke. If you have to go to the E.R. where he works, and tell them you are in pain. When they know you are his patient, they will find out whats wrong. If not the next day go to a different E.R. until someone tells you what's wrong. Like me I'm thinking total replacement. Don't let them repair it ! "it's like a flat tire, only gonna go again." Tell them to replace it. I wish you Luck, Shirley

Consider Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, It is a Center of Excellence. All there equipment including the surgical are for people up to 500lbs. DR. Jeffrey Genaw is Chief Surgeon. Sending this your way.

I try to stayunder 1200 calories a day. I give myself a window so that i try not to overdue it 800 - 1200 calories a day.

Look for a "EXCELLENT SURGEON" in your state or area. When you look up the Hospitals, Look for whats called "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE'" in Bariatric surgery. A lot of your Ins Companies will require that you go to a Center Of Excellence only ! After you have figured out who you want to go to "people here can give you feedback in your area, if you say were you are from" Give them a call, and you will attend a Orientation. In the meantime check out if your Ins. covers this, or maybe you are self pay? Let your family Doctor know so you can be set up for monthly visits Weigh inns. Your Ins. company could be a couple months of visits or up to 2 yrs. If you are self pay? You will still have to talk to your Doctor to see about tests that you might have had done that are under a year old. The surgeon will set it all up. But you still need to find out so you know what this whole process consists of. I wouldn't suggest Mexico... Because if anything goes wrong ! You have to travel back to the surgeon that worked on you. It can be hard to find a surgeon to re-do someone else's work. I know,, I am going threw that now. My Port or Tube leaks, and I have moved, so I am trying to get this surgeon to look at it, and hope he will re-do the whole thing. That way I can go to him for my fills... There are fill centers to go to, but if you see a surgeon in your area, they will do all your fills. Hope this helps. You will enjoy your journey. I'm sure. Just remember, this is a plastic tool, and it will break in time. So be prepared for Revision or Repair Surgery. It might take years, but eventually things need to be replaced. Welcome to Lap Land. Shirley Banded 10/31/06 Dr Genaw Henry Ford Hospital "Center of Excellence" Michigan

If you buy the right stuff, Muscle Milk Light is excellent ! Reg. Muscle Milk too. I buy Cookies n Creme, chocolate Peanut Butter blend, strawberry shake, Vanilla, and more. This is all in powder form. Go to Ebay, and enter Muscle Milk Light, or Muscle Milk, and check out the varieties that suppliers have. I wouldn't buy a liquid in a metal can, that would have to be nasty. This way you get a shaker bottle add the M.M., and Water. Shake and enjoy. The ones that I listed are excellent in taste, I have not tried the other stuff. So check it out, and see if it interests you.

The Doctors took me off the Naprison, and I hurt like no tomorrow. I got on Osteo-Bi-Flex, and it was like someone had oiled my joints, and my knees would move again. Once I had my knees replaced. Well,, no more aches, and pains. Ask your Dr. if this is OK to take, Mine said yes.

If you are looking for excellent Bariatric Surgeons. Then look into Henry Fords. They are a Center of Excellence Dr. Genaw, and Carlin are at the one on W. Grand Blvd.. In the Suburbs Henry Ford Hospitals also have the surgery there, like in Warren, Michigan. I went to Harper in 2006, and Dr. Weiner wanted to cut me open like a fish, and in exchange I would recieve a free tummy tuck ! I said no, I would rather have it done Laparoscopically. So I saw a specialist at the U of M, for something else, and he recommended Henry Fords. Said they have the Monopoly on it. So if anyone is in the state or area, or willing to travel to Detroit. Check them out. Shirley.

I had a Bone Density Test, and the radiologist swore I had a belly button ring in "I'm 56, so I don't think so" finally she said yep it's your Lap Band. Thought you would like to hear it.

Flintstone chewables with choline. That is the secret at Henry Fords Bariatric clinic in Michigan. Also it works. Check out MUSCLE MILK for different protein drinks. I buy mine on ebay. I like COOKIES N CREME, and CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER. G. L., Shirley

It's really not that hard.. I fill up a gallon ice tea jug "you know the ones with the spout and button to push down on." Every night I put that in the fridge for the next day. Any water that you use at all for jello, soup, taking pills, or drinking should come from that jug. When it's 1/2 gone your done. I even educated my surgeon with this plan, and it works. If you have a 1/2 gallon jug, use that if you want,but for your protein shakes,and more. G L, Shirley.

I have to see a surgeon about revision surgery next week. I am not interested in it unless I can get the FOBI POUCH "look that one up, and watch the difference on you tube. Otherwise I'm hoping they offer the sleeve. It does what the band said it was suppose to do. I'm not into Dumping and not getting your medication in if you need it, "AND YOU WILL" does not make me happy. Also I asked my surgeon about longevity 5 years ago when I chose the band. He just chuckled and said it's to new to tell. Every one that I new except for 2 people are dead ! Please take that into consideration. Also like he told me there's no going back. Long as he gets paid, it doesn't matter to him. People are in line to have surgery. I hope this helps some, But google Lap Band failures or mistakes, and see what comes up. Believe me we are not alone. They make it look like it's are fault, and it's not. The stuff is defective. Good Luck, I hope I hear what your choice is. Shirley.

I was banded in October of 2006. I have had nothing but problems with this band????? Started out that it felt like someone was choking me to death. Then how you eat, no water involved for a while. I couldn't do it, it felt like a heart attack every time I ate. My food was carefully measured out so I would eat under 1200 calories a day. I had a 4cc band, and I went to my Dr.'s office for a fill. I only had 1.8cc's in it so I felt like I was starving. He put in 0.2cc's, and it blew the band ! ! Now how can 2cc's blow a 4cc Band? Had to be defective. That's why all the problems... So I go in Next week to have it looked at, and see what they are going to do.. I hope they either replace the complete thing. Or I wouldn't mind switching to the sleeve. I now look at it as a tire on a car ! "SOMETHING IS BOUND TO GO EVENTUALLY, IF NOT,,, YOUR DAMN LUCKY".

It won''t hold a fill ! So I have to go in for testing next week, and see if they replace the port, the whole band, or go with something different all together.That even includes removal of the band. I had mine since !0/2006. I hate to see it go, but now it's useless, and everything gets hung up on it, even water ! if you can imagine that..

Research is always good. Have you considered the sleeve ! You loose weight a little faster, you can eventually eat what you like "BUT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF FOOD" , you are no longer hungry "That's my thing" I had my knees replaced do to weight gain, I lost 120lbs. by myself in order to get those knees replaced. Then Banded. Lost 28lbs., and the band blew on a fill. 4cc band blew on 2cc's "defective" I now have insurance again and will be going in this month to see what they want to do or change to. Just remember it is like a tire, it can go bad at any time. Then gl with getting it fixed especially if you have it done in Mexico. You have to go back to your original surgeon to fix there mistakes. "THAT'S THE WAY THE SURGEONS THREWOUT THIS STATE EXPLAINED IT TO ME ! So I'm letting you know that somewhere you will need follow up work. Check this with your surgeon.. Shirley.

Or if you eat something that's dry, and drink water then swallow the food so it slides down with the water.

If this helps ! My Doc has me g u l p a 12 oz. glass of water, if it can't go down, then to tight. But gulping was the key.