Blazn

WOW - how unfortunate if she did miss your port!!! Was this with Fill Centers USA? That sure is expensive for her to miss! I hope she did not miss it and you will have GREAT restriction! Please keep us posted!!

Extremely!!!!

I have had fills done both ways also. Although Darlene (fill centers USA - Moultrie/Roswell, GA) is excellent and accessed my port without fluoro on the first stick, there is some security there when drinking if you are watching it flow through. I am happy with both of my fills though!

Well, welcome to the group! LOL. Glad it was not painful though - unfortunately most of mine were, but I have learned the in's and out's now so hopefully no more PBs!!

Very, very good article!! Very accurate information!

No - not yet! I am acutally getting back into the clothes I bought while passing through - from big to bigger. I have bought a few things - on sale of course! I am trying to refrain though because I hope everything I can wear now will be too big in a month or two!! My mother in law gave me a gift card for a local clothing shop but I am trying to hold out and use it later!! Thank you all for all of your nice comments!! I am not perfect and there have been days when I have been "bad"!! But I do try! I am half way to my goal and am excited about the weight I have lost but I know the road ahead of me and I am committed to this journey!

The fill went great! Here is my update with details. http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?show...amp;#entry40666

Ok - not much difference between last month and this one. Only lost 4lbs this month but I had my second fill yesterday - so let the games begin!!!! These pics were taken 7/15 (which is actually 2 days shy of 4 months since being banded) Weight 182lbs. These are pre-op. 224lbs.

Valeen, I, like others on here, am a nurse and I promise you that your BF will not regret using Dr. Ortiz.

Holy Moly!! Why are you freaking out.....am I not reading right or does your ticker say you have lost 67lbs. Why would the band not work for you. All you have to do is work with it. It is not a miracle but it comes close. I had some of the same fears as you at first....OMG what if I eat around the band? What if I stretch my pouch? What if - what if - what if? But what if it does work?!?!? What if I am healthy?!?!? What if I work hard, do my part, let the band do its part, and I lose my excess weight?!?!? Think positive!!! You CAN and you WILL do it!!! Your will power will be stronger than you think. I used to never count calories! I ordered whatever I wanted when I ate out! But now I have a book in my car with ALL of our local restaurants and the nutritional information to the foods they serve. I now have the motivation to make healthy food choices and you will too!!

Oh - I encountered the same situation right after I was banded. I called several physicians around my area and most were very nice to me - at least until I mentioned Mexico. The only one I found that would take "Mexican patients" was in Brunswick (about 2 hours away) and they wanted $2500 - I did not even ask if that was per fill or for all fills or for a year. I just said thanks and hung up. So I use Fill Centers USA and I am so thankful! I love Darlene and would not change my provider for anything!!

OK - so I had my second fill yesterday. I met Darlene in Moultrie (Fill Centers USA). Because she could feel my port so well and because I have had absolutely no problems since my first fill she went ahead a did my fill without flouro. She did great. Just a small pinch when the needle was inserted. I had 3cc in a 4cc band on my first fill. Darlene went ahead and put 1cc in the syringe and when she pulled out my original fill she only got back 2cc of my original 3cc. She was not concerned. She said this happens all the time - fluid may be trapped in a ripple in the band and she said she rarely gets back the entire amount. So she pushed all 3cc that was in the syringe in and I drank water. I could feel it backing up and I was a little short winded so she backed off a little - 0.4cc. The water went down. She pulled everything out again and this time 3.4cc entered the syringe. So 2.4cc of my original 3cc fill and her additional 1cc. We tried it again with all of it in there and it backed up again so she backed off 0.4cc again. So she put 3cc in and pulled out the needle. So how much do I have in my band? Well if you count all of my original fill plus the addition of this one I would have 3.6cc. But Darlene said they don't look at it like that. They only count what they pull out and put back in. So I have (again) 3cc in my band. Which I am very happy with!! I did very well on my first fill - losing 19lbs in 10 weeks. That's 1.9lbs per week. Darlene recommended I stay on liquids last night and this morning and advance to soft - full liquids (mashed potatoes) - this afternoon. So I will give you guys an update in a couple of days on my restriction.

I can see it!! I love cats but my eyes are already itching!!

I still can't see them - is it just me? - I can't even see MM's!

Still can't see - sorry.

First and foremost, welcome to our group. Its not a large forum, compared to others, mostly due to this forum actually being through Dr. Ortiz's office but any and all bandsters are welcome here. There are several here that are a vital part of our group that were not banded at the OCC that we love. Anyway - we always welcome the testosterone in the group - and we love a sense of humor which you obviously have!! Good luck and keep us posted.

Yummmm, I had steak last night. We used to always eat Ribeyes but they are loaded with fat so now that I am a lot more health conscious we eat Sirloin. (I'd love to eat Filets but they are a lot more pricey.) This is an insert of Ruby Tuesday's Nutritional Info of their Steaks. This kinda gives an idea of the fatter steaks. Calories / Fat gm / Net Carb gm / Fiber gm Steaks* Petite Sirloin - 7 oz...................................... 206 / 5 / 2 / 0 Top Sirloin - 9 oz........................................... 256 / 6 / 2 / 0 Peppercorn Mushroom Sirloin................. 604 / 36 / 14 / 2 Bayou Sirloin.................................................. 439 / 21 / 5 / 0 Rib Eye.............................................................. 591 / 35 / 5 / 1 Premium Aged Prime Sirloin.................... 544 / 30 / 0 / 0 Sirloin & Louisiana Fried Shrimp............ 628 / 22 / 40 / 2 Sirloin & Bistro Chicken.............................. 739 / 34 / 20 / 1 They do not serve Filet Mignon or T-Bone so I found this nutritional info on calorie king - Calories/Fat/Carbs/Fiber Filet - Lean - Broiled - 3oz. : 164/6.7/0/0 T-Bone - Lean - Broiled - 3oz. : 161/7.4/0/0

Cincy, I felt this pain too. But I think everything is okay. About two weeks out if I bent over or moved a certain way I could feel the port pulling. But keep in mind that your port is attached to the abdominal muscle and the swelling should be going down now. So the port is probably settling. But keep us posted.

7/14/08 I just thought I would go ahead and post an update on me. As you can see on my signature... I have only had 1 fill in Roswell - 3cc in 4cc band. Large first fill and have had great success with that. But the weight loss has slowed down a bit and even stopped some weeks. I would be up a pound one day and down two pounds the next. All in all I have only lost about 4 lbs in the past month (which is okay but it could be better). The main reason I am going for another fill is I am still able to eat way to much lasagna. LOL. I love it!! And I have not problems eating it! I have pretty much cut bread out but if I wanted a small piece I could eat it. No problems there - unless I eat enormous bites or eat too fast. I am not expecting a large fill - nor do I want one. I mean I only have 1cc capacity left in my band. I am very anxious to check things out also, like how much fluid is left in the band, if I have stretched my pouch, etc. Some days (as most of you) I have more restriction than others. Some days things get stuck and I have to throw it up, but not often. Doritos do not go down well and I love them. But I have had to ward them off. Ohhhh the pain!! I had posted a few weeks ago about counting calories versus carbs, etc. I have increased my protein and decreased my carbs and things seem to be going better. I have actually lost 2 lbs this week (which makes me question whether I need a fill or not.) I will leave it up to Darlene but I think I do need like maybe 0.2-0.3cc. Just enough to top it off. So...I head out to Moultrie tomorrow afternoon. My appointment is at 7pm (after the doctor's office that the Fill Center is in closes). Darlene usually only does fills in Moultrie once every 2 months and will be there in August but is on my anniversary. I only live about an hour from Moultrie and 4 hours from the Fill Center in Roswell so Darlene said she would meet me to do a fill. Thank to Darlene!! So anyway. I will post an update in this topic tomorrow night and let you guys know how it goes. Till tomorrow.... ***UPDATE*** 7/16/08 OK - so I had my second fill yesterday. I met Darlene in Moultrie (Fill Centers USA). Because she could feel my port so well and because I have had absolutely no problems since my first fill she went ahead a did my fill without flouro. She did great. Just a small pinch when the needle was inserted. I had 3cc in a 4cc band on my first fill. Darlene went ahead and put 1cc in the syringe and when she pulled out my original fill she only got back 2cc of my original 3cc. She was not concerned. She said this happens all the time - fluid may be trapped in a ripple in the band and she said she rarely gets back the entire amount. So she pushed all 3cc that was in the syringe in and I drank water. I could feel it backing up and I was a little short winded so she backed off a little - 0.4cc. The water went down. She pulled everything out again and this time 3.4cc entered the syringe. So 2.4cc of my original 3cc fill and her additional 1cc. We tried it again with all of it in there and it backed up again so she backed off 0.4cc again. So she put 3cc in and pulled out the needle. So how much do I have in my band? Well if you count all of my original fill plus the addition of this one I would have 3.6cc. But Darlene said they don't look at it like that. They only count what they pull out and put back in. So I have (again) 3cc in my band. Which I am very happy with!! I did very well on my first fill - losing 19lbs in 10 weeks. That's 1.9lbs per week. Darlene recommended I stay on liquids last night and this morning and advance to soft - full liquids (mashed potatoes) - this afternoon. So I will give you guys an update in a couple of days on my restriction. **UPDATE** 7/17/08 So today is two day post-2nd fill - LOTS of Restriction!!! Praise the Lord!! Darlene actually recommends no solids until tomorrow but she said since she was only filling me to 3cc's like my first fill that I could advance a little faster. So tonight I had some grilled pieces of chicken and a few (very well chewed) pieces of pasta. I could only eat about 1/2 cup and I was stuffed!! WOOOO-HOOOO!!

WOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! You can definately tell a HUGE difference. You look amazing Bobbi!!!!!!

Lock 27, you are doing GREAT!!! Like MM said, if you are still losing weight I would not get another fill. If you are able to eat more than a 3rd than you were pre-band that it might be indicated. But I am guessing that if you are getting hungry after two hours of eating then you are not eating that much. Just remember to drink, drink, drink. I know a lot of people say coffee is not good for you but sometimes I find that if I am hungry and water does not seem to help that if I drink a cup of coffee with a little non-dairy creamer and Splenda it really quinches the hungar! Please keep us posted and congrats!!

Great article, Michelle! Thanks!

Sorry - I could not see MC's pic or MM's so maybe this one will work!!! Beautiful MC!!!

I had to read the post a couple of times because I though the same thing as you but I think MM is saying that the woman brought the sandwich with her....had her fill....ate the sandwich afterwards....and then got another fill (since she was able to eat it with no problem).