Kayford

:faint: Thanks NANA for the cool info. I really don't think I have a slip. I go back for a fill on 09-11 and right now I am tight in the morning, a tad loose at lunch and by evening very loose. I have never had any REFLUX but just wondered if 5 fill and 4 unfills = NOT GOOD. As soon as they do the unfill I can tell but it takes about 3 days for the swelling to go back down. Then gradually I can eat more and more and know I need a new fill. Dr. Malley always reassures me and says we will find my sweet spot. I have accepted the part that breakfast and lunch will be tight to make me about right in the evening. Right now lunch is just right. So I think I know what my sweet spot will feel like but I may not have for 3 meals a day. Thanks to all for the info.

WE have a land band buddy in Chicago that was banded with us last fall in TJ. She had lost over 40 when they found she had cancer. They told her the weight loss had helped her hormonal issues. She must have had a hormone sensitive type breast tumor. So they say her progress with the band and the weight loss was helpful to her cancer tx. I would not think it would be an issue unless you could not get proper nutrtition and then you could have an unfill if needed. Hang in there and BEAT this thing. Kay

Good Luck. I am so happy things are under control. You take care and keep us updated.

Hi Kelli, I was banded last NOVin TJ Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I had a hiatal hernia repaired with the band placement. Dr. Ortiz asked me about reflux in a preop visit and I said not much. I realize now that I really did have quite a bid of reflux. NOW- I never have indigestion type symptom's. I had one pain shot right after surgery and that was it and did not experience any hernia repair related pain. I know that probably does not make you feel any better does it? I had a great experience. I had very little port pain, no gas pains, a little pain in my shoulder that was gone in 24 hours. It just seems we are all so different. Did you ask the doc about your pain? I wish I knew more about it. I just wanted to let you know that I did not experience what you are going thru. Hang in there. Maybe when you get thru this pain you will not have any reflux and will get to enjoy that bonus benefit. Kay

DR. C, I found this note on a lapband site. When did most doc's start using this new technique and do you use it?:focus: I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico Nov 05. I am just wanting to feel comforted by knowing he probably used the newer technique. I know he trains docs so he should know his stuff. Thanks in advance for your help. Prolapse of the Stomach Prolapse or slippage of the stomach underneath the band occurs in 1-2% of patients due to the use of the Pars Flaccida technique. The Bariatric Center uses this technique, in which the band is 'fixed' in place higher on the stomach and part of the stomach is sewn over the band. This technique drastically reduces the incidence of stomach prolapse. Kay

Thanks. That makes me feel better. I have not any reflux but have been unfilled every time except my FIRST FILL. I put off the unfill last time for 3 weeks and got dehdrated and then had to go get magnesium infused. I complained to my PCP about how fatigued I was. He checked my level and it was low. I felt better as soon as I had the unfill but it took awhile to get my energy level back. Thanks for all you do for us bandsters. WE can tell you really care. Kay

I was weak at first, then would get dizzy in the evenings and finally got to where I just had zero energy. I had the fill partially removed on Wed and was infused the following Tues. I was starting to feel somewhat better right after the unfill but was still lethargic. I could tell the unfill helped. It was the fatigue that clued my PCP into checking magnesium. :hungry: I am doing much better now. Of course I am not super restricted in the evening but I will just have to work around that by making great food choices. Thanks for your interest. Have a good day.:eek:

I recently wrote in about being super tight in the a.m. and only being able to eat a little at dinner. Well,,,,,,,,Dr. C said maybe I needed a small unfill. I had gone for 3 weeks like this and finally did go to Dr. Malley in KC for an unfill. They would have told me to come in but I was hard headed and thought it would work out. They took .1cc of a .2cc fill out. I did not have reflux or indigestion sx's just could not get food down until evening and then whole meats did not want to go. I got sausage down (1/3 patty) a couple of times and thought the band was going to loosen up. I got super weak during these 3 weeks and went to my regular PCP after my unfill. When I told him about the fatigue and weakness he said that could be low magnesium from poor nutrition. He ordered a magnesium level from the lab and YES I was low so I had a magnesium infusion at Heartland Regional Medical Center here in St Joseph yesterday. Be careful you all as trying to live with a band that is too tight is not worth it. I am learning everyday how far you can push it. Plus it has not been worth it. I went from 226 down to 219 and after the unfill I am back to 224. I felt terrible but I am on the mend now. Thanks Dr. C for answering my original inquiry.

Hi Dr C, Just wanted you to know I am feeling a lot better. I am still super tight in the a.m. and pretty tight at lunch but fine with dinner now. We may have trouble getting my dinner as tight as I would like and still be able to drink and eat just a little of something at lunch. Do you think I will find the "soft spot" sometime soon ?

Marc, I am a medical professional myself and I chose Dr. Ortiz as he had banded over 3000 of us and I was self pay. My insurance plan here at the hospital excludes any "bariatric surgeries"! I found Dr. Ortiz to be gifted with his hands and his surgical technique. He also has a wonderful bedside manner. Dr. Martinous who does the port work is also a wonderfuly doctor with a great personality. The banding was a breeze for me. I was up the next morning and ready to go to the hotel Lucerna and I was the 3rd surgery the day prior. My Mom went with me and she even told DR. Ortiz she was proud of me as she figured I would be "wimpy." My port area was sore when I walked or bent over or turned over for a few days. I had some shoulder pain the first day if I took a big breath. Other than that is was really not painful. I did not even take any pain meds. They did give me something for anxiety prior to surg and I was super nervous as I had never been under anesthesia prior. I did fine on the flight home to Kansas City. You are in good hands with Dr. Ortiz!!!!! I could not even tell I had anesthesia.............the anesthesiologist was talking to me and that was it. I woke up thinking it was a dream. There were 4 of us banded that day and each had different levels of pain, etc, so I am sure each of us is unique. Good Luck.

Dr C, I have the syndrome where I can never eat Breakfast and barely get coffee or warm tea down. I do Soup for lunch and then by dinner maybe I can get something solid down if I do some warm broth first. Is this common? I hear it is---- but my fellow bandsters that I email with daily sure don't have it. I do occasionally see a post where a bandster will say they basically eat just dinner. If Dr. Malley removes some of the fill then I am too "open" and can overeat in the evening. Will I have to deal with this until I get my weight off? I look at food diaries out here and think................man,,,,,I would love to eat breakfast. Then I tell myself oh you really don't miss it that much except on the weekend. Does it affect us if we really can't eat all day and just do dinner?:eek: I was tired post banding and then lost 25 or so and got some energy and now I am getting a little lethargic again. Could this be why? What % of your patients have this syndrome. Thanks in advance for answering my question and all you do for ALL of us bandsters. KC bandster Kay

How many of you out there have this syndrome that I call...............can't eat lunch or breakfast and then can eat a little dinner.......?????? I just wonder how many of us there are out there?????? Kay

I borrowed from my 401 K and had mine done with Ariel Ortiz (obesitycontrolcenter.com) and his staff in Tijuana. My payback is $85 every 2 weeks for 5 years. I better be wayyyy skinny before this loan gets paid off. Be sure to post after you get more info, as we will want to hear how things went. Kay

I thought I read where were you banded. I see now it says WHEN--- I was banded Nov 18 but did not get my first fill for 9 weeks post op. Dr. Ortiz said I could get f/u care but he did not want my first fill until 8 weeks post op and by the time I called it was 9 weeks. I was 258 originally and down to 244 with the preop diet of shakes for a week and then back to 255 when I got banded.

I was banded in Tijuana by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. Down there Dr. Ortiz did my hernia repair and placed the band and Dr. Martinous placed the port. I am still on insulin but not taking nearly as much. I get my fills in Kansas City with Dr. Malley and he is wonderful. I swell after each fill and I am super tight right now. I really should run down and have a little taken out. Sometimes we bandsters can be a little hard headed. Kay

This is amazing...........we started out at the same weight. 255 was where I was when I got my first fill. I was 226 on my last fill and 221 today. My last fill was July 5. I have had to have an unfill everytime except my first one and now I am debating if I need to go. Since Dr. C said I should I do think I need a small unfill. I sure am glad to meet somebody that is like me as I read about it but none of my banded buddies have it. They sure don't tell you everything at seminar. They did tell me diabetics like me lose slower and men lose really fast. Thanks for the scoop Gadgetlady, Kay aka Kayford

I went to Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana. He was wonderful. It was $8500 and that included hotel. You had to take care of airfare. I spent one night at his surgical facility but they still paid for my hotel room for my Mom to stay in. www.obesitycontrolcenter.com I had very little pain and was pleasantly surprised. I was up and ready to go to the hotel first the next morning and I was the 3rd surgery the day before. I would highly recommend them. I was a self pay and got wonderful care for $8500. Your friend just needs to email them and a rep will call her back. Tell her good luck. Dr. Malley in Mission Ks does my fills as I wanted a local doc for after care. He has been a Godsend to me. Kay

I would go out to malleysurgical.com and check out Dr. Malley's site and find out when they have their next seminar. I do believe that United pays for the lapband. My insurance did not so I went to Tijuina to Dr. Ariel Ortiz but Dr. Malley does my post op care and fills. Let me know what you decide. GOOD LUCK, Kay

Hi, I had a hiatal hernia and they fixed it in surgery before they put the band on. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuina and he said he had to fix it prior to putting the band on. I had not had an endoscopy and did not think I had much heartburn but now I realize that I did. I never have any heartburn now. So I would say if the hernia prohibits them from placing the band correctly then he will have to repair your hernia when he gets in there. Good luck and let us know how it goes for you. :confused:

Dawg, How often do you upate the stats? I sent my info but don't see any change in Dr. Ortiz's stats yet. Thanks and keep up the great work. :help:

Dawg, I was banded Nov 18 2005. I was banded in TJ Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I get my fills in KC with Dr. Stephen Malley and I have had no complications so far. Add me to the poll please. They used an Inamed band. :faint:

I bet you need a barium swallow so they can check the placement on your band!!

Productive burping. I really don't "PB" I just throw it up.........

Go out to this site >>>> obesitycontrolcenter.com I went to Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana. He was wonderful. He even had to do a hiatal hernia repair on me and it was still only $9,500. I pulled my money out of my 401K. My payback is about $85 every payday which is every 2 weeks. I am a Registerd Radiation Therapist and just could not swing Dr. Malley's fees and was pleased with my surgeon. Dr. Ortiz does the placing of the band and Dr. Martinous does the port work. They are both super nice doctors and very personable. Check out the site and let me know if you have any questions. I have heard that Dr. Dunshee in Topeka is a little cheaper than Dr. Malley. I have not regretted a dime I have spent on myself so far.

Have you ever had the doc do an "unfill" on you? I have had to some removed after my last 2 fills. I am apple shape. Do you think it matters what shape you are. I have had 3 fills and 2 unfills so far. I have 1.50 cc in now. Why do think I have so much trouble? I even eat Soup for the first evening and the next day post fill.