HealthQuest

They are competent, caring, and professional. I recommend them.

I had to respond to this. First and foremost I must say the same doctors did my surgery and I am very satisfied. That being said I also must say that sometimes when people don't tell us what we want to hear we get upset. Remember, this procedure have not been around that long and they are now seeing the long-term effects of the band on different patients. Therefore, I would do more empiric research than listen to the advise of laymen on this forum when it comes to a prognosis given by someone who is qualified and experienced. That being said, don't you believe if they wanted to they could take your money and not care what happened to you 5 yrs down the road?

Hi Melanie, I had my band on the same day as you. I've also been having some of the same problems. I eat real food though, no sweets. I haven't had my first fill yet, but knows it will make things easier. I have heard the thing about the band being dry, but don't really believe it because a dry band would absorb moisture from your body. We are not dry inside.

Hi, I am trying to lose appx 80 lbs by the exact same date for my sister's wedding. Wanna be each others support?:clap2:

I had mine in Mexico on 1127/06. $6,800. Doing just fine.

This has always been my problem, whenever I get on the scale and the numbers are not what I'm expecting, I go on an eating binge. Well, it hasn't failed. I've done it again. So now I've vowed to never get on the scale again. Maybe at the doctor's office, but that's it.:embarassed:

Quite frequently, the band is choosen based on Dr's preference. Case in point, according to your ticker I weigh more than you do, but got a 4cc band.

I'm in. I hate water, so this is definitely a challenge for me.

Congratulations:clap2:

I've been a self-professed chocaholic all my life. If it had chocolate in it I was in. Well since banding I can't stand anything chocolate, not even the protein shakes. I now hate the taste of chocolate. This band is weird.

I have my fill scheduled with fillcenterusa here in GA. It will cost me $500. for first fill w/fluoro + 8 hour round trip drive. But I figure it beats going back to TJ. After that fills w/fluoro cost $355.

Anyone that misses a port several times is incompetent, and you should not have them doing your fills. This just doesn't happen to be their area of expertise, take it from a nurse. That's the reason I've decided to pay the extra couple hundred dollars to have mine done under fluoro. I'm very competent with accessing ports in cancer patients, and wouldn't even risk trying to access my own. If my band is pierced, I may go postal.

Hi, you can put neosporin on the incisions. The first 4-7 weeks is just about healing, not weight-loss, so don't worry yourself about getting a fill. Also each person is individual and your Dr. will "play" around with fills until you reach your "sweet spot." Also, I don't know what you mean by cheating, but the only one you will be cheating is yourself. If you eat what you shouldn't you can cause the band to slip or worse and end up losing your band. BTW, I also didn't want to tell anyone about my surgery. Only 2 people knows. My best-friend, and my daughter.

Good luck & God bless.

So what if Christmas is ruined. There will always be more. That's the reason I did not tell anyone I was having this surgery. Just went got it done and returned to my life, with everyone none the wiser. I'm usually a loner and don't need the hand holding thing. We are all rooting for you.

Thanks Kat, all is well. I don't own a scale so I don't know exactly how much I've lost. But I sure feel better and look quite a bit smaller. Don't ask why I don't own a scale, because I don't know. I just never got around to buying one. Guess subconsciously I couldn't handle it.:cry

Hey Kaboom, have hubby read some of these threads and maybe he will feel better. Just like you need support to have the surgery, he needs support because he is scared of losing you. I don't know what I can say differently to hubby to make both of you feel better, but if you would like I've had the surgery 2 weeks and would be glad to put any fears he may have to rest. Just send me a private message and I will give you a phone number to contact me. P.S. ignore the weight shown. I've lost more I just don't know how much yet.

Hi, I'm an ICU nurse, and know about being on your feet to 12-14 hrs at a time. I went back to work on day 4 post-op, and I had a rough time, and I have a very high pain threshold. That being said I believe a week would probably be fine, but just don't overdo. I also have a 5mth old granddaughter who weighs about 17 lbs and carrying her was painful. I am now 2 weeks out and doing well, but not quite back to baseline. I can't tell you much about the gall bladder surgery, but I have heard of them using the same scars, provided there isn't much scar tissue. Good-luck with your decision, and feel free to ask your questions. We bandsters are a pretty supportive bunch. I myself have gotten alot from this site pre-op, and still do now. P.S. I need to update my weight-loss but haven't weighed in a week.

Today I've decided to start this journal because I am feeling so darn bad about myself. I feel out of control, eating, smoking, and feeling lousy. I should still be in full liquid to soft food stage but had salmon and mashed potatoes today (alot of it too). Why can't I control myself? I had this band to help me, but I am not helping it do what it's supposed to do. Guess I'll not eat anything for the rest of the day.

Today I've decided to start this journal because I am feeling so darn bad about myself. I feel out of control, eating, smoking, and feeling lousy. I should still be in full liquid to soft food stage but had salmon and mashed potatoes today (alot of it too). Why can't I control myself? I had this band to help me, but I am not helping it do what it's supposed to do. Guess I'll not eat anything for the rest of the day.

Over the past month there have been some pretty angry bandsters on ready4achange forum regarding Dr. Sanchez and I wonder if that had anything to do with his murder. That would be a terrible shame.

When I was 19 yrs old, I asked an older co-worker, whom I admired how much she weighed, she must have worn a size 4-6, and her answer to me was "I never weigh I watch the size of my clothes," I don't know why, but I've never forgotten that. I look 40-50lbs lighter than I actually weigh, and wear size 16-18 @ 240 1bs, and know people who have the same weight and wear size 22. So even though I have a goal weight, I will be watching my clothing size. I don't want to wear less than 8, even if it means I weigh 160. I have huge heavy muscles, and I am hoping this saves me from the sagging skin.

OK! I've posted my funny story, and life goes on, or so I thought. I started out not knowing when to stop eating, now I don't know when to start. First day home (today), I had 2 jellos, 10 0z gatorade, 2 cups of broth, a glass of water, 1 cup tea. This is not nearly enough nutrition to keep any living thing going. I did also take my chewable multivitamin. I just am not hungry, and don't want to find out what PB feels like. However, I have been getting what I describe as "spasms" that make me catch my breath, and my throat feels like there's a frog in it. Burping seems to help. What gives? y'all.

At your weight you shouldn't have to be on such a strict pre-op diet. It is for people with larger abdomens who need to lose the fat around their livers so the Dr. can work. I just had to stop eating 10 hrs before. But if that's what your doc told you, go with it.

:Banane17: :Banane48: :girl_hug: :girl_hug: :girl_hug: :girl_hug: :girl_hug: There