Marlluvia

I had previously posted this question, but on the wrong forum. I think I may have a flipped port because I was able to feel it round and flat on my left side, but now it just feels like a slight bulge. I am concerned and was wondering if there are any major complications from a flipped port. Will I need surgery to have it repaired? I'm already upset with my slow loss and now this. Any words of encouragement are welcome. Thanks.

Hello, I am looking for a doctor in Houston that works with UHC. I know for certain that Spivak and Spiegel no longer accept UHC. Does anyone know of a doctor who does? I have only in-network benefits. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Gracie

I'm having an endoscopy done on 8/17, my doctor suspects erosion. I've been having discomfort, not really pain in the upper left abdominal area and back. This has been going on for about 2 months. I should have gone earlier to see the doc, but thought maybe it would go away on it's own. If erosion is found, the band will be removed. If no erosion is found, the doc says it can stay in. The doc did a complete unfill and the discomfort is still there, so I suspect erosion is more than likely the culprit. Along with the discomfort, I also had reflux starting about 2 weeks ago.

I started out at 257 with size 22 pants and 2X blouses. I am now 218 and wear size 18 pants, and size 1X blouses. I am 5'3", but alot of it has to do with how you carry your weight. I have a big belly and hope to have PS one day. I could probably wear a 16, if it weren't for the belly fat.

My MIL saw me 10 months after surgery and wanted to know why I looked so thin. She asked if I was sick because when she last saw me I was so fluffy and rosy cheeked. What the hell! I guess she was shocked to see I was losing weight after seeing me fat for as long as she can remember?! My DH, mother, grandmother, and myself were chatting at a family bbq and my mother out of the blue stated that she had such a beautiful daughter. I was embarrassed by her comment, but felt good. At which my grandmother, responded, yeah and you better keep that weight off because you have such a good looking husband. Talk about going from feeling good to feeling like a total idiot. What in the hell does that have anything to do with my weight. Was she trying to imply that my DH would leave me if I regained my weight, I think not. I've been fat for the last 15 yrs and he's been right there to support me.

Wow, I just came across this thread today, and boy do I have lots to say on this issue. I will try to be brief. My parents came from Mexico almost 38 years ago, and became US residents legally. My father and mother learned English, not fluently, but enough to get them by. My father is a successful business owner and has done well for himself and his family. There are some of us, who aspire to be successful and live out the American dream, as any other human being does. In addition to my parents, my husband is also from Mexico, and he also came to the US legally and is a hard working individual. On the other side of the coin, we have family members that are first generation immigrants, and are taking full advantage of the welfare system. My sister-in- law is receiving assistance and I was fuming mad when I found out. Her live in boyfriend brings in good money and she is also employed. While her income is well below the guidelines, her boyfriend's money isn't. Not to mention, they drive a newer car and receive child support from their ex's. Well, when I called and yelled "FRAUD" to the government agency, they very politely informed me that my sister-in-law was abiding by the rules. She was, as the gov. agency likes to refer to her, a separate household. By that I mean, she is not legally married to her companion, so his income and vehicle, under his name, does not count as part of her income or assets. What a bunch of BS. So to make a long story short, our government makes it so easy for abuse to take place. I could go on and on, but it just upsets me to much. The government needs to think long and hard before they make a decision about immigration. It's not fair that US citizens, have to pay huge amounts of money in order to obtain medical treatment. While those that are here illegally, can just walk into a hospital and have everything paid for. That's my 2 cents.

July - Labor Day 2007 Challenge Name.............................Starting….Current…...Goal….....To Go losingjusme........................293...........2 94............266...........29 juliegeraci...........................226......... ...226............206...........20 areellady.............................251.5....... ..247.5.........230...........17.5 punkeyb88..........................306.............238............225...........13 Chris_NJ.............................326.......... ..322............290...........32 PaulaD................................222......... ...222............200...........22 MM.....................................248........ ....248............230...........18 sdakotaRN...........................255........... 255............230.........,..25 Babygrl1234.........................224........... 224............199............25 faithmd................................312........ ....312.............285..........27 Jan421................................267......... ...267.............247...........20 Metalband...........................203.............201.............183...........20 tann............................223.........223. ........198........25 Banannie......................182..........181..........162.......19 Josette........................322..........322..........299........23 chickatee......................217.........217..........199........18 beachgirl......................270..........220..........155........65 Marlluvia.......................220..........220..........200.......20 I'm in, I really need a good swift kick in the a$$. I have been a slow loser and my one year anniversary is this Wednesday. My doc won't be to happy to see me with a weight loss of only 15 lbs since January. Oh well :bored.

I can relate to everyone here. I've been on a plateau for the last month, even after a fill on May 5th. I thought surely the fill would help, but that was not the case. I'm wondering if maybe I'm to tight? I don't have problems eating, with the exception of breads and sometimes chicken. Other than that, I can eat just about anything. I'm going to start exercising more, maybe that will kick in the weight loss.

I'm not exactly sure what is causing my slow weight loss, but perhaps the lack of exercise. I hit a plateau for about two months, and then I lost 2 lbs. I also find that when I try to eat less, I don't lose. I may not be getting enough nutrients and then my body holds on to everything I eat. I have never really had a bad stuck episode. Maybe about five times since July 2006, but nothing severe. I have never PB'd or slimmed. I only have 2 cc in my band and will hopefully get another .5 cc this coming week. Any weightloss at this point is a good thing, I just don't want to go back to where I started.

My doctor charges $200.00 for fills in his office, but for fluro it's a whopping $785.00. Ridiculous! Needless to say, I had to get my fill w/o fluro for the time being.

Thank you WABB, I will call them and hopefully have some good news from them. Thanks again for you help.

I meant to put Texas in my post, and instead put U.S. I would appreciate any help. I have called about a dozen Drs. in Houston, closest to me. No one will see me. Any help would be appreciated.

Well I'm just here to tell everyone that you don't have to go to Mexico to have problems or run into a brick wall of sorts. I was banded in the U.S., had my insurance carrier changed and now no doctor in the U.S. will take me as their patient. Their reason being: I did not do the surgery. How screwed up is that. My port has come undone and I have yet to find a doctor that will help me.

I am most definetely a part of this group. My surgery was July 2006 and I lost 18 lbs right after surgery and stayed there for about 3 months. I rec'f 1st fill in Oct 2006, and lost about 4 lbs. I got a 2nd fill in Feb. 2007 and have lost 8 lbs, which is about a lb a week. I am planning on having a 3rd fill in May. I started exercising this past week, 3 days of low impact aerobics for 30 minutes, and 2 days of walking for 45 minutes. I think my biggest problem is wrong food choices. I would appreciate any suggestions or comments to help me out.

I only told my hubby, immediate family, and two close friends. I didn't want to be pressured in case it didn't work out. I have lost 30 lbs and it's kind of depressing because nobody at work has even mentioned it. My family notices and I'm thinking surely people at work have noticed also. However, I may need to lose more for it to be noticeable.

I'm glad you're doing well. Take it easy and rest. I was also interested in knowing if the band was removed via laproscopy? Thanks.

Congrats Julie, That's a great accomplishment. I'm also on the slow losing side, but happy with it. Keep up the good work.

I totally understand where you're coming from, I tend to overeat myself and have lost about 30 lbs since surgery. I have made wrong food choices and have not exercised, so that I'm sure has contributed to my slow loss. On the other hand, you may just need more fill. I have 2 cc in my band and can still eat. Not like I used to eat, but still a good portion. I don't ever get stuck and I don't know what a PB is, nor do I get reflux. Best wishes and keep us posted.

Has anyone here experienced a flipped port? I'm almost positive mine has either turned on it's side or completely flipped over. I used to be able to feel it completely flat and round, and now it's hard to find and feels like just a slight bulge. I have not gone to see my doctor yet, but I'm concerned if there are any major complications from it, and how in the world did it flip? Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I'm already upset because my weightloss has been so slow, and now this. Maybe I posted this in the wrong forum. I'll try another one.

Thanks Susan and Valarie, your info helps me. My insurance paid for my surgery, but since then, my doctor does not accept my new insurance and I will probably be self pay. Maybe the doctor will repair it or replace it with minimal cost to me, or at least I hope.

Thank you for responding, I will be self pay also, so if there is no harm in it being flipped, I guess I can wait a while to have it fixed.

Well everyone seems to be doing great. I am a slow loser compared to many of you, but I am content with what I have lost. I rec'd a fill in Feb, but can eat only a little less than I did since the previous fill. Maybe I have not reached restriction, but I don't want to risk the chance of being overfilled either. I am going in for another fill in April. At that time, I'm thinking I will ask the doctor for only .5 cc. The reason being, during my last TOM, I felt extremely tight, and my restriction fluctuates from day to day. Odd, but true.

My insurance was billed for @ $37,000. I was in the hospital for about 30 hours total. I think it's quite steep for $91,100. It may be an error though, because my insurance was billed twice for my lapband, but was corrected before they made any payment.

I didn't have one put in.

Hey Ladies, I teach PK and was banded last summer. I had time to recuperate during summer months, but I had no problems in the classroom. I have to agree that being so busy does take your mind off being hungry. I have the convenience of having a potty in my room, so that does help. Other than that, no biggy. Best of luck.