Tangoempress

HI There I was wondering if anyone has any experience of having their band surgically adjusted after slippage. I have been so fortunate with my band, had it installed in Sept 06, with Dr. Ortiz, Mexico and have reached my goal 155lbs. However during the last 9 months or so I have had various incidents with major acid reflux that have been addressed by unfills, bottom line, now I am out of unfills. I am not able to eat anything but liquids and still have some reflux issues and a whole lot of retching. My Dr. here thinks that my band has slipped but wanted to wait a month after my complete unfill to see if it adjusted itself. But its now 2 weeks later and I am not able to eat enough to maintain my weight. I am down to 147. I am not sure if my insurance would cover a surgical adjustment or if necessary a complete removal. It may well be that I will have to go back to Dr. Ortiz. So I am looking down all avenues and would welcome any input. Thanks Tangoempress

I had my band done in Mexico, Dr. Ariel Ortiz, Tijuana. But I see Dr Bradshaw in Asheville for my fills, though every time I see him he tells me he will no longer see patients who had their bands installed somewhere else. Hope this helps.

I ws banded last September and things have been pretty straightforward for me up until now. Until the last fill 3 months ago I am n ow at 2.7 in a 4cc band I felt no restriction at all and could eat pretty much anything in fact I felt like I could eat too much. After the fill I felt like the restriction was as it was supposed to be and there was a definate difference in what I could eat. My weight loss has been slow but steady when I behaved and did what I was supposed to do. I have lost 51 lbs and I am 15lbs away from my goal. The last few days I have had this wierd thing going on at the top of my esophagus Its kind of like when you try to swallow too much and you get a kind of lump in your throat. Wierd to describe but it has me freaked, also I can't eat very much at a time. Maybe a 1/4 cup and I have to eat that really slowly, and then come back after a while and eat some more. I am having serious thoughts about slippage..... I had already canceled my appointment for a fill on Tuesday. (I also cancelled the previous fill appt) I think I am close, but this recent stuff has me spooked. I don't think I have been overeating, though I have had the odd glass of champagne and I can't think of any instance that might have caused a slippage and I am not in agony or even discomfort except when I eat. I have been reading the forums but they don't have too many clear cut signs of slippage other than not being able to eat or drink anything. The only other thing I thought it might be was a hiatal hernia. Also, does anyone else have major gas issues? I am not exactly sure where gas is generated and thought that if it was in the stomach rather than the intestines that this might contribute to possible slippage. It probably just as well that I live alone....I would have driven them out otherwise a la Water for chocolate Ha Ha. This forum was a great resource when I was exploring lap-band and I don't regret the surgery one bit and I welcome any insight you might have that would help me get over this hump - or lump. Enjoying the journey.

Hi Celeste, I just cut up the salmon into small strips and mix it into any egg recipes. I add about 1/2 ounce per egg used. I add a couple of slices of smoked salmon to veggies I have previously broiled, (I like to char them a little) with a little olive oil salt pepper and any other favorite seasoning, (Mrs Dash, garlic salt, rosemary sprigs etc) put in a tortilla and nuke in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This is a great quick and easy meal. It has a lot of flavor when cooked and can liven up left over rice, or pilaf or even Beans. If all else fails I will just roll up a slice and enjoy it straight from the pack.... Allison

Smoked salmon is my wonder food of choice right now. You can have it straight, or with a cracker or a thin piece of toast with non-fat cream cheese and capers. But I also cook with it in all sorts of egg dishes and omelettes, with grilled veggies or salads in a wrap. As long as you don't have sodium issues - its got all the right stuff. 2oz is about as much as I can manage at one time. Allison Amount Per 1 oz, boneless Calories 33.17 Calories from Fat 11.02 % Daily Value * Total Fat 1.22g 2% Saturated Fat 0.263g 1% Polyunsaturated Fat 0.282g Monounsaturated Fat 0.574g Cholesterol 6.52mg 2% Sodium 222.26mg 9% Potassium 49.61mg 1% Total Carbohydrate 0g 0% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Protein 5.18g 10% Alcohol 0g Vitamin A0 % Vitamin C0 %Calcium0 % Iron1 %Vitamin D0 % Vitamin E1 %Thiamin0 % Riboflavin1 %Niacin7 % Folate0 %Vitamin B-64 % Vitamin B-1215 %Phosphorus5 % Magnesium1 %Zinc1 % Copper3 %*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Hi Lyn, I will try and make it. I have a tango thing on Saturday night but I would love to stop by and meet you all though I am not on solid foods yet. Allison:)

Hi Lyn, I'm back and banded after a really positive experience in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz and Co. Are you still planning to get together this weekend? Allison

I might give Dr. Bradshaw a call today and see if he will take a patient who has been banded elsewhere. Seeing as this is faily new to Asheville ...he may or may not be open. Dont forget to register with Eric for the mission thingy. I'll see you next month. Allison

Hi Lyn, Is Dr. Bauman in Asheville or is he in Charlotte? I looked in the phone book and couldn't find him. If you are planning to go to the Mission meeting next week you need to register 828-213-4100 or email Eric cfoejh@msj.org to let them know you are coming. I won't get to this one as I will be in MX getting banded. This time next week it will all be over. Yippee But hopefully will be at the one in October. Allison

Hi Lyn, Glad to hear you are feeling great. I must admit the liquid diet is the most daunting part so far.... but we can do this, and look how well you have done so far. Hang in there. Allison

Kathy, you are a wealth of information. I am going to check the forum for fill doctors in the area before I decide what I am going to do. Tonya, the meetings in Asheville are at Mission Hospital in the learning Center. The coupld of meetings I have been to have been a mix of lapband and RNY, and on both ocassions there have been speakers so there was no time to break out into discussion groups, nut there were about 20-25 people there. Some who had already had surgery and others who were waiting. When I told them I was going to MX, I asked if I would still be welcome at their support group and I was told yes, so I will probably try and stop by, though September I will miss it as I will still be in MX.

Hi Tonya, The meetings are at 6 pm. I am actually a morning person, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a hand full of other folks who are civil at 6 am Ha Ha. Anyway I will keep everyone posted on my progress. I know finding a local doc might be an issue, but we are so close to GA, SC & TN I have got to believe there is someone good out there. I think I saw someone mentioned in Dalton GA/Chattanooga area which also wouldn't be out of the question. Thanks for the info Kathy, for what it costs for fills here, it may make sense to go to MX and work on my Spanish at a language school while I am there.

I don't have my fill doctor lined up in NC yet. Any suggestions. I thought for the first I would use Dr. Ortiz but I would be interested in knowing the cost of fluoro in Mexico. I would like to hear from other folks in the Asheville area. I have been to the local supoort group at Mission. Does anyone else go there?

Hi There, I have been lurking on the discussion list for a while and I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. My name is Allison and I live in Asheville, NC and on Sunday Sept 3, I head to San Diego and from there to Tijuana, for a lap-band from Dr. Ortiz. I am a borderline case as far as my insurance goes, high on the age scale and low on the weight side and I am not interested in gaining any more weight or wait to have some life threatening condition like diabetes in order to come within their guidelines for acceptance so I have decided after a lot of research to head for the Border. My family physician supports my decision to do this surgery though she is not yet aware that I am going to Mexico to accomplish it. So I am starting my pre-op liquid diet this weekend hoping to drop some weight before surgery. Now that I have my ticket etc I am quite excited but also a little nervous I am very glad to have this discussion group which is such a resource for what’s ahead. Thanks everyone for sharing.

Does anyone know of doctors in Costa Rico? I have friends there.

Hi Liz, Does Dr Ortiz do your fills too or did you find a doctors will to do that for you in the US? What I am trying to determine before I spend $1000 for my first surgeon visit and psych tests is whether I should just direct all my energy and money towards doing this out of country as I am assuming the costs here would be a lot more.

Hi There, I am also someone who has dealt with weight issues my entire life. I am at the top end of the age scale at 55 and the low end of the weight at 221 with a BMI of 35. I have Cigna Ins and I have a supportive GP, but it does seem ridiculous to have to go through the hoops that Cigna wants you to go through, 6 months of supervised medical discussions with your doctor etc., when there is a high likliehood that they will deny because I don't have heavy evidence of co-morbidity issues. My local hospital's case worker does not seem to be very hopeful of my being approved for insurance. This hospital has yet to be consider a Center for Excellence for bariatric surgery they think by early 2007. I am waiting for my first visit with the surgeon and I have been reluctant to attempt to really lose weight until that meeting because I know he will want me to demonstrate that I can in fact stick to a regime. Although I am still exersizing regularly since May. I would love to hear from others who are borderline, especially those who have managed to get approved. My dilemma is whether to stick with this or try and work out the finances to self pay. I welcome any comments and suggestion. Thanks