catfish87

Heres a copy of a recent one. It's an 80-20 plan. Fluoro Fill bill.pdf

I'll keep you in my prayers Donna....stay as strong as is possible. Hugs

Todays ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/349018188 29.59 miles 1:47:58 time 16.4 Avg 949 cal

Hi TxSonicguy...sorry for not providing a more detailed answer earlier. Fluoroscopy is similar to a live XRay that some doctors use while doing a band adjustment. I am an advocate of it....from personal experience. Using fluoroscopy allows the doctor to actually SEE your band placement, restriction level and much more... Not all surgeons have this device/machine readily available at the locations where they perform fills It's a bit more expensive....BUT, read on here from folks who've had 4,5,10,20 etc fills and/or UNFILLS....then compare the costs. I've never had an unfill due to being "too tight"..... But, I was able to get to correct restriction, for me....ONLY because of the fluoroscopy. More details are in "my story". I'll provide you with a copy of the short video of what my last trip to the doctor SHOWED....perfect restriction....for me. Here's a link to my surgeons page describing fluoro. http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

And just to add to the conversation, unless they can SEE (fluoroscopy) what they are doing......it's just an "educated" guess.

Congrats on a job well done!

Congrats on a job well done!

Thats CRAZY! My insurance is billed $700 for nut visit, fluoro guidance, adjustment, etc, etc. And they pay about $365 I think. ALL adjustments are done with fluoro at my surgeons office....I wouldn't want it any other way. I can get you my exact bills if interested....

His story is amazing.....he started at 501 lbs. Where there's a will, there's a way. Kuddos to him! http://www.bicycling...g-bike?page=0,1

Yes...only you can decide. Hopefully, with lots of good information to help you make your decision. I've told several people recently, I don't get on here to try and sell anyone on getting the band. The companies that manufacture/own the band have plenty of public relations folks to sell/promote the band....thats what they get paid for. They don't need me to do that....although I would IF ASKED, because it has been nothing short of lifechanging for me. Almost four years after getting banded, I get on here to still learn what works and what doesn't for successful bandsters...also what to avoid from folks who aren't successful. And just share my experience...

I can relate to the "having second thoughts" part of your concern. I know I did! Second, third, fourth, etc.... even after discussing it with my PCP and then eventually meeting my surgeon/staff at the seminar. It's certainly not something to rush into without being sure. Get lots of information, and discuss your concerns. For me, I took a good look at my history....I was continuing to fail at dieting and getting to the point where my failure would lead me to SERIOUS health issues. And being tired, exhausted all the time. I've lost a lot of weight in the past....then said just one piece of bread, one donut, one bag of chips, etc. I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. Those diets have one goal in mind....to reach the END of them because they suck. Then what??? What do we do after the diet? For me, it was back to the same old, same old...even more because I was in deprivation mode during that diet. So after much research and talking with people who actually had the band...some successful, some not, I decided it was my best chance at changing paths on that road I was on. I knew I had to try something besides dieting for the rest of my life. I'll say this...I've been frustrated, mad, depressed, and Hungry along my trip down this road. But once you get to a good spot with your band.....it works! There is no question in my mind about that. It won't necessarily be easy to change your eating habits...at least from my experience. Being morbidly obese wasnt easy either. Think about that...MORBIDLY obese. The experts use that term for a reason. I have my life back, thanks to my band and a wonderful team of professionals at my surgeons office, who NEVER told me it would be easy....just that it would work! I wish you much success in whatever your decision is. Never, Ever give up.

I slept in a recliner for the first few ( 4-5 ) nights.

Just hang tough for a bit, let your body completely heal from surgery. Then is when your surgeon can start adjusting.....and hopefully get you to that "green zone" you'll hear referred to so often. It may take one or two ....or possibly more adjustments, until you start to "feel" the effects of the band. Again...just do your best, eating the types of food your team allows. Best of luck and Never, Ever give up!

Don't worry....it's totally normal after you start healing and any surgical swelling goes down, that you won't "feel" anything....similar to prebanding. Hopefully, tomorrow when you go to see your doc, he/she will expain that by discussing when you may get your first adjustment. Until you start getting fills and get your band adjusted correctly, it'll mostly be just like before....a diet. Just do your best!

I'm sorry to hear of your bad experience with the fill! Hopefully, you won't have to go through that again and your doc will SEE what they are doing the first time....using the fluoro as they ended up doing this time. Maybe suggest it to them...very nicely of course. Best wishes

Well done! Congrats!

Congrats! Wishing you all the best and much success.

WOW! Bingo! My thoughts exactly Jim! When I socialize ( eat, drink and just be "normal" ) now....NOBODY would even know...unless I tell them, which I do often. Or maybe when I'm drinking beer. I do that slower now

First, congrats on your success! I'm hoping your upcoming test show what is causing your loss of restriction and it can be corrected easily. I did not have an esophagus stretch, but did have another issue that caused loss of all restriction. VERY similar symptoms to what you describe. ( you can read about that in "my story" ) Fortunately, my issue was easily detected and then corrected, after it was found with fluoroscopy. How long has it been, if ever, since you last had a fluoroscopy? Was the loss of restriction "overnight", or was it more of a gradual thing? As far as gaining weight when your band isn't working....quit beating yourself up!! Thats why we had surgery to begin with...we aren't good dieters. And you are taking steps to determine the cause. Good for you! I wish you the best. Never, Ever give up.

Todays ride: 31 miles 1:57 hours ~1000 cal

The nutritionist at my surgeons office and I were talking some time back (really she was talking and I was just listening, thinking yea right) about me doing some kind of "impact cardio" as she called it, to help with longterm health of bones, etc. I haven't ran in over 20 years,..at Ft. Bliss, TX in 1993 to be exact and I did NOT like it back then. But I see so many people running and hear lots of good health benefits from it. And I read on here from some of the fine folks about how good they feel after running.....Hmmmm, what am I missing out on? I cycle a decent amount now and I feel healthier than I EVER have in my life....could I possibly tolerate running...let alone ENJOY it? I wanna find out! "Mix things up a little" as some of the most successful folks describe on here. So this morning after I got home from work, I said "ITS TIME"...time to see If I could make a go at it. We used to HAVE to run 2 miles back in those days, so I said that's gonna be todays goal.....I really didn't think I'd ever run the whole two miles. Now to you Pro's, my pace was probably laughable...but I did it. "Ran" the entire 2 miles without stopping. I think I shall continue to do this running thing, at least occasionally....not just because of what the NUT said....but from all the good things I hear about it from folks on here. From folks just starting out, those doing a "5KM", to people I see doing marathons on here and all in between.....Thanks for the motivation!! http://connect.garmi...ivity/346478133 Distance: 2.00 mi Time: 22:25 Avg Pace: 11:11 min/mi Avg HR: 163 bpm Calories: 382 C

Great job! Congrats!