Ap Bandsters

[babyblue71us 0]

I totally understand where you are coming from having self paid your surgery. After I found out that my insurance would not cover the surgery unless you had a BMI of 40 over for 3 years, I was sure I would not be covered. But I think the "weightloss Gods" were looking over me that day, because the doctors office called back and said that I would be covered! I was so estatic. I guess they must have seen something in my doctor's notes that would warrant cover it.

But anyway, what I was getting at was that I was already making plans to pay some things off and get a loan to have the surgery at the beginning of 2008. Just goes to show you, where there is a will, there is a way!

That first week was the hardest for me, I will admit. By the end of the week, I was so hungry and so tired of the gas pains in my shoulder that I was actually thinking "OMG, what have I done". I just had my first fill yesterday and have to do the Clear liquids for a day, full liquids, and then soft foods again. I thought I was finished with this! LOL

Anyway, keep me posted on how the band is working for you. I am down around 15 pounds, in a month and a half.

Sharon

[Candle 11]

I just went in for my first fill today (9/14) and I asked what band he used (because I did not think of asking before hand) LOL He told me it was the AP and that it had 4cc of saline in it at the time of surgery. That came as a shocker to me.

I had a fill of 2cc today, so we will see how things go.

Sharon

I have the APS band too but I'm pretty sure it has no Fluid in it yet.

How are you feeling?

[jfran 0]

I am 4 months out from surgery and I have an APS band. I have had great results and I haven't had any episodes of sliming or pbing (knock on wood). I don't know if that has to do with the new band or if I am just lucky. Congrats to the newly banded!

[Chris61 0]

I just wanted to let everyone know that things went well for my wife who had the band on 9/12/07. I have been busy and have not had a chance to post. I am also going to get the band on 9/19/07. We are not sure the date when her sister will get hers at this time. Here are the details of how things went.

Here surgery was moved back from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. So we got to the hospitial at 1 and got check in. They took here back and she go dressed for surgery and they did blood work. Then they took us to the surgery waiting area. They did not allow us to go back into that area. ( I think the reason was are young daughter was with us and there was not enough room in the area for 3 people) they gave us here glasses and she went on into the pre-op area. I saw the doctor before surgery. They did not start surgey until 4 P.M. she was done by 5 P.M. the doctor came out and said it went well and that she was given the new AP regular which is about 10cc and has soem Fluid in it. She was in recovery until about 6:45 P.M.

Then she was moved to her room. Well to say the least that was crazy because it was also shift change and you can iamage how that was. We left about 7:30P.M. that night. Also she could not have nothing to drink or eat until after the barriam swallow test. (We found that out the next day). We new that the test was happing but not that she could not eat. So she had the test on Thursday morning and she passed it with flying colors. So we thought she could go ahead and start drinking and eating but it was another couple of hours before they did anything.(The reason is the nurses will not do anything untill they have a written signed report in the file). So she was complaning of nausea etc. so they kept giving her meds for it. She was able to get up and walk around etc. and she was able to start drinking and eating. We thought that she would be out of the Hosp. by say 3 P.M. but that was not to be the case. Here is another thing that we learned. The clock for the 24 hours does not start when you come in. It starts after surgery and when you get into the room. So they were not planning to let here go before 7 P.M. but no one told us that before hand. The doctor came in a couple of times and check on here and then came back around 5 P.M. and said that she could go. So by the time we got her dressed and all the paper work done it was right at 7 P.M. I brought here home and she is doing fine now.

As far as care at the hospitial was ok. It took a long time to get food etc. when they told us they had it on the floor.(The nurses were busy since the rooms were filled) I think that was part of the reason why she was having problems with nausea etc. Then another thing that was upsetting was how the nurse approached with having to give more meds for infections etc. and saying because you are still here. Well now as I look at it, if you would have brought the food right-a-way we might not have this problem.

So with that said now things will be easier for myself on Wednesday the 19th and for her here sister when she has it done. I did say that I will have a jug of Soup ready for when I can eat and not wait on them to bring it. I think that if would have had it there and ready for when the paper work was in place she might not of had as much nausa as she did. Just iamage what it is like to not eat for almost 30 hours and having legal drugs in your system. No wonder you have nausa.

Again thanks to everyone for all your advice, help and prayers. I will let you know how my surgery went.<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[tpagern 2]

I go to the dr tomorrow. I will ask if I have any Fluid in there, I didnt think there would be any in there yet. Does everyone have fluid already in their aps band?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I go to the dr tomorrow. I will ask if I have any Fluid in there, I didnt think there would be any in there yet. Does everyone have Fluid already in their aps band?

Not sure. What I do know is that in the placement instructions it says you can add fluid at the time of surgery unlike the other bands where you shouldn't add saline.

[tpagern 2]

I was wondering where you saw the "instructions" ? I will ask the dr today, I have an appt but would love to read instructions on the aps band. Thanks

[docsdeb 0]

Hello Wannabe thin.

I too have a surgery date with Dr. Zapata and am very disappointed to learn he does not use the new AP band. I am self pay also and really can't afford the extra 6900.00 to have it done locally. My surgery date is only 10 days off and the reservations have already been made. Now I too am in another dilemma as to what to do. I would definitley rather have the newest availabel technology put in me and not suffer the after affects that the others have with the older band. What are we to do???

Let me know your thoughts or what you have decided to do???

Docsdeb

[tpagern 2]

doc told me it was better than the old band today. he said no slippage in the new bands so far done in dallas. they apparently do lots in dallas. No Fluid in there yet, I go back in three weeks for the first fill. I would want the new band if possible. I was afraid to go to mexico, didnt know who would do my fills and i sure couldnt keep flying back to mexico for those. Just had to cough up the whole amt. luckily I got a low interest home equity loan.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I was wondering where you saw the "instructions" ? I will ask the dr today, I have an appt but would love to read instructions on the aps band. Thanks

I think I read it on the manufacturer's website under the section "For Medical Professionals". There was a section about how to surgically place the band and various options the doc has. There was also a section on filling that particular band but it was pretty standard.

I was just trying to learn a bit more about the band and see how it was different and if the placement varied much. It seemed pretty much the same as the other bands except that for this band it was acceptable to put a small fill in during surgery.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Hello Wannabe thin.

I too have a surgery date with Dr. Zapata and am very disappointed to learn he does not use the new AP band. I am self pay also and really can't afford the extra 6900.00 to have it done locally. My surgery date is only 10 days off and the reservations have already been made. Now I too am in another dilemma as to what to do. I would definitley rather have the newest availabel technology put in me and not suffer the after affects that the others have with the older band. What are we to do???

Let me know your thoughts or what you have decided to do???

Docsdeb

I understand what you are saying and to some point I agree with you but there is a flip side to that coin as well. There is the old band, tried, tested, and true. Everything is known up front. The new band is a bit of a an unknown, isn't it? I mean, the thinking that it *might* cause fewer slips is so far an advertising gimmick. There aren't enough people banded with the new band to know if that is accurate or not so at this point it is a theory.

So the upside to the old band is known information. The downside to the new band is there are some unknowns and the kinks aren't worked out of it yet.

I'm kind of old fashioned and I like knowing up front what to expect. I know lots of people like the "new and improved" versions of various products but I'm not one of them. Not in cases like this.

I don't think there is anything that will be bad or dangerous about the new band in comparison to the older ones but the reality is that fewer slips and such... that's only theory at the point. Not fact. After people have had these bands for a few years then they can begin to come up with facts and stats.

I wouldn't feel bad about getting the older band, it's a pretty good product and does the job quite well.

[andreerichards1 4]

I have the small Ap band

[LadyLee 3]

Has anyone had slippage since they had there band put in? Doctor told me yesterday when I went for a upper GI due to one day on bad pain that my band had slipping slightly and to wait two weeks and see how I feel? Help

[LadyLee 3]

I would like to know where to find the info on the AP Band and how new it is?

[tpagern 2]

i went to the lap-band.com site. My dr also told me today that the new band has ridges in the balloon, this is suppose to be better around the stomach which causes less slippage but also hopefully less erosion. I would get the old band if it mean that or nothing... I didnt even know i WAS getting the new band until I was told in recovery. JUST GET THE BAND. In 5-10 years they will probablly come up with something ever better. DONT WAIT.