julieburns

Perfect timing for me. This really helps. Thanks Michelle.

Hi Amy: I too live in PDX. Do you have a specific reason you want to go to Salem? There is a Dr. that comes to PDX 2 times a month from Eugene and does the fills. My friend uses her and says she is good. She is also cheaper than the fill center. $190 1st fill and $170 thereafter. No fluoro but I don't think they use it in Salem. If you want her number just send me a PM or you can look up her number on this site under the Fills section. I think the post is one that's titled..Fil centers in the USA and it has a list of quite a few docs all around the US. I too would love to meet some fellow PDX'rs and even possibly have some sort of get together sometime.

I too am curious about the fresh start stuff. It sound like a dynamite amount of protein in such a small liquid amount. I wonder if it is too much protein at once like they've talked about on the forum. I'll be curious to hear from you what you find out bout it.

Yes I do to a mild extent. I've been putting lotion on it everyday and massaging it to help break down the "hardness". Not a hard massage or anything just a little. Call the docs if you are not sure yours is the same or just need some reasuring.

Yes I am currently sitting at the free computers at the Hotel Lucerna. I had my fill today at about 3:00. I posted on another thread how it went. I'll say here to you it was a piece of cake. Didn't hurt except for a slight "pinch" when the needle went in, lasted about 3-4 seconds at most and then no more "pinching". I go home tomorrow and thought I'd have time to shop but I have to be picked up at noon for my flight that leaves at 5 pm. Oh well, I'll just get out by the pol in the am and save money for my next fill trip.

Pbing is throwing up food that gets stuck, sort of. It is accompanied by needing to spit alot of saliva and a range of discomfort to pain in your chest/stomach area over your big incision. It's when you've not chewed something properlyand/or eaten too fast. It's no fun when it's really bad, so try and avoid it by chewing, chewing, chewing and pausing between bites for a few minutes.

I would just give them a call and see. They are always happy to answer any questions, especially ones that we here on the forum may only be speculating when we answer. Go directly to the source.

Stormy you are too cute.... changing to not gulping is not hard. It may take 1 episode of near Pbing to change it if you don't do it on your own though. My first and only experience of almost Pbing(just slimed...i.e spit up saliva a few times) has cured me, I hope , from gulping ever again. No harm was done but a valuable lesson. Now as far as drinking with meals that's a bit tougher. The best way I've found is to just not have any beverage on the table or near me when I eat. If it's not handy to grab I will not get up to get a drink because then I remember I can't drink while I eat. It sook me a few weeks to get used to it because as you I always drank with my meals but now it's not so bad. Many things in life are much tougher!!! Breathe, relax, don't stress my friend!!!

Sor sorry to hear of anyone Pbing. Hope it's your first and last.

Thanks again Yorkiemommy for a gret recipe with a beautiful picture as well. Since I too am on liquids for 3 days (as I'm thinking you are too) I"ll try this when I get home. Still here at the Hotel Lucerna. How'd your fill go? Dr So did mine and it went great. More details to come.

Yes I am actually at the Hotel Lucerna right now!! When I read those comments I had to reply and report to someone before I could get the chance to tell about my fill. The fill was nothing at all. It only "pinched" for about 3-4 seconds and then I could not feel the needle in. Of course they use the fluoro so Dr. So got it the first time. He then sat me up, with the syringe still in place holding the saline and had me drink barium (a liquid media that shows up on x-ray, not too bad tasting really) a few sips at a time and then would add small amounts of saline after each sip. I did this 4 or 5 times and then he said OK, we're done. He put in 1.8 cc and explained the MAX is 2.0 cc. He gave a very nice description of why the 2.0 cc limit and what he sees that tells him to not put anymore saline in. I then sipped on a small water and was done. Simple as that..I pray for restriction :sun_bespectacled: Gotta go for now as someone wants to use this shared computer here at the hotel. And Mona I'll M you my address. I'll be home late friday.

Oh mu gosh bless your heart you are a worrier my friend. No doctor in the US will turn you away if you have an infection and it's serious, no matter what/where you've had anything done. Emergency rooms cannot turn away anyone with anything serious or they are in big trouble. If the incision at all gets reddened I think the best thing to do is like thesuse said and put some type of OTC antibiotic ointment on it a few times a day and it will heel. Yes people can get an incisional infection but it is rare with this type of small incision and in the area it is in. Usually more often you get an infection of something like a cesarean section scar because of the fat roll over the incision that keeps the area "moist". I bet Dr. O's infection rate is minimal at best if he's even had anyone get anything serious. Ask him if you are concerned but I would not fret!!! Well said Phoenix!!!

:lb24: both of you. Keep it up!!

Thanks for you willingness to not blow it for me. After thinking about it though I don't want to stifle anyone's fun time posting about it after it's over no matter where you live. I'll just be sure not to read the thread until after I've watched the show. Just be sure to post it under the BB thread and it will be no problem what time you post. Thanks again and this way we're all happy!!

OH man I wish I wouldn't have read this far. I am on the west coast and have yet to watch tonights episode so now I know the end. I'll still watch it though because my husband and I have watched it faithfully for years. May I ask the east coasters to PLEASE not post the show's ending until after midnight on show night. :secret: Thank you so much if you can do this I don't want to be rude or out of line is asking this or anything else. but just so it doesn't get ruined for us west coasters. Or I can just not read the threads to BB until the next day. I can easily do that so either way. Just asking. Love this post!! I'm taping the BB after hours on Showtime to just have on when I'm at home doing nothing.

It can take anywhere from 2-4 or 5 fills to reach the "sweet spot". It varies from person to person. The "sweet spot" is the amount of fill in your band where you have the best restriction that lasts and causes no problems while you lose weight.

Hey Mona: How great of you to post a pic. I like this clothing exchange topic!!

Thanks for the best wishes Cathy and Dawn.

It wasn't as bad as it sounds. I think it just scared me more than anything. Boy did I learn my lesson. I vowed I'd never do that. Another lesson...Never say never!!

:lb10: :lb24: What great progress!! To both you and Grammy ....YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!!!

On NO Trina liquids do not stretch your pouch, they go right through for sure. No worries! Yes I agree the inconsistency is at best frustrating. As Paula asked I wish the OCC would print some CLEAR and CONSISTANT GUIDELINES that are all inclusive for each group of eaters. Maybe if more of us would email or call them or perhaps any moderator reading this could request this. It may take awhile but sure would be nice.

Did you call? Have you made an appointment? let us know.

Thanks for that info. I wonder what Dr. Miranda or Dr. Ortiz think. I know they are hard to digest and this makes good sense. But no nuts forever........and ever again. I'd be ................NUTS!!!!!!!!

OMG yesterday at work I was so busy running all over the place, over 14,000 steps, and I had no time to eat or drink. I was starving or at least felt that way and I know my blood sugar was low. So I gobbled some moist chicken down in about 3 bites and barely chewed it I was in such a hurry and as I swallowed it I though to myself I was in trouble. I felt it as it went down my throat very slowly and then stuck!! Oh it hurt so bad all the way down and then also in my pouch. I stopped from eating anymore and wanted to take a drink to get it down but didn't as I've read that can make it worse. Yes I actually had to go in the bathroom and now I know what "Sliming" is. I've never had this before thank goodness and it only lasted a few minutes but man it isn't something I want to repeat. And I won't Lord willing. Anyway just a big lesson to me that at work I am vulnerable to eating too fast and I must be careful. Luckily I didn't really throw up because I was also worried about getting my fill tomorrow. I only slimed 2-3 times without much effort (perhaps TMI but I know some of you know what I mean) so I think I am ok and did no damage that might have caused swelling. I am playing it safe today and just having liquids and MAYBE a small portion of something mushy. Anyway just thought I'd share.

TOO cute!!!