PAMMIE

WHEN MY FRIEND LOST HER BAND, THE INSURANCE COVERED SOME OF THE BILL. THINGS THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO DO WITH THE BAND, BLOOD WORK, DEHYDRATION ISSUES, ETC BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

YOU AND YOUR TEETH LOOK AWESOME GIRLY

YOU LOOK WONDERFUL LISA!!! DID YOU CHANGE HAIR COLOR?

ARE YA POSTING A FEW PHOTOS WHEN YOU RETURN MS MICHELLE?

AFTER THE INITAL APPOINTMENT AND $349.00, IT'S 165.00 FILL CENTER USA WILL DO AN UNFILL "IF" YOU CALL WITHIN 72 HOURS FOR FREE OR IT'S ANOTHER $165.00. IF YOU DON'T REQUEST FLUOROSCOPY, THEN IT'S NOT DONE. IF REQUESTED, THERE'S ANOTHER CHARGE FOR THAT AS THERE ISN'T A MACHINE IN THE OFFICE. (I'M GUESSING IT'S NEXT DOOR AT AUBURN GENERAL) A FRIEND WAS BANDED LOCALLY BY DR FOX AND JUST LOVES HIM FOR NOW, AND THESE PRICES, I'M STICKING WITH THE GALS AT ARLINGTON.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP MICHELLE

LOL ANITE, ENJOY THE WEATHER AROUND THE POOL

HI NELLIE, ANOTHER WA STATE HERE, AUBURN. I WAS BANDED AUG 2006. I WENT DOWN WITH A FRIEND THAT WAS BANDED ALSO. IN NOV OF 07 MY SISSY FROM TACOMA, WA WENT DOWN BY HERSELF. SHE KEPT ASKING "ARE YA SURE IT'LL BE OK" LOL IF FOR ONE MINUTE I WOULD'VE THOUGHT SHE'D HAVE A PROBLEM, I WOULDN'T HAVE SENT HER DOWN THERE ALONE. YOU'LL DO GREAT!!!

THIS IS LIKE 5 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. I'LL GIVE THEM A CALL AND SEE IF I CAN'T RUN DOWN THERE TOMORROW AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION FOR US LOCALS

THOSE OF US BANDED HAVE ALL BEEN THERE WITH THE SAME EMOTIONS AND FEELING. YOU'LL DO GREAT!!! =D>

VERY CUTE!!! =D>

HERE'S MY PIC ON DR NYTES SITE: http://www.nytesurgical.com/index.cfm/Acti...ocedureNameID/3

FINALLY UPDATED AFTER DR NYTES APPOINTMENT ON FRIDAY http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?...s0tysj&Ux=0

OH TELL ME IT WAS AN END PIECE LOL I LOVE CARROT CAKE

MICHELLE, THE BLOUSE CAN BE YOURS TOO WHITE HOUSE BLACK MARKET HAS THEM BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THEM ON LINE, JUST IN STORES JP IS NOW 80 AND JUST AS QUICK WITTED AS EVER. THE STORIES HE TOLD WERE HILARIOUS!!! TAKING A DRINK OF "HI-C" ON THE AIR, "BOY'S AND GIRLS THIS WILL HELP YOU GROW BIG AND STRONG" AND VODKA HAD BEEN ADDED WITHOUT HIS KNOWING IT LOL OR THE TIME HE MADE AN APPEARANCE AND A LITTLE GIRL KICKED HIM IN THE SHIN. "YOUR NOT JP PATCHES, JP'S IS BLACK AND WHITE!!!"HIS SHOW STARTED HERE IN 1958. HE SAID THEY NEVER TAPED ANY SHOWS TILL ABOUT 1964. HE JUST LOOKED GREAT AND IN GOOD HEALTH. AS I KID, I'D WATCH HIS SHOW EVERYDAY AND ON MY BIRTHDAY, I WATCHED HIM LOOK INTO HIS "I SEE YOU TV" AND JUST WAIT FOR MY NAME TO BE CALLED. "PAM, GO LOOK IN THE DRIER, I THINK THERE MAYBE A SURPRISE FOR YOU THERE" AND OFF I'D RUN

I FINALLY GOT TO MEET ONE OF MY CHILDHOOD TV HEROS TODAY JP PATCHES!!!

I HAD MY ONE YEAR CHECKUP APPOINTMENT THIS AFTERNOON WITH DR. NYTE AND WILL POST A FEW PICTURES. THE SCAR THAT I HAVE LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! I COULDN’T BE ANY HAPPIER WITH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I HAVE A VERY SMALL “DOG EAR” ON MY LEFT SIDE THAT WILL BE FIXED WHEN I HAVE BREAST AUGMENTATION DONE THIS SUMMER. MY BOOBS AREN’T BAD ENOUGH FOR A LIFT, YET I HAVE MY GRANDFATHERS BARREL CHEST THAT HAS DRIVEN ME NUTS FOR YEAR. WITH A LITTLE IMPLANT, DR NYTE SAID IT’LL BE THAT LITTLE SOMETHING I’M LOOKING FOR. JUST LOOKING FOR A PERKIER ME WITH A LITTLE HELP DR NYTE IS ALSO BUILDING HIS OWN SURGERY CENTER WHICH SHOULD BE OPEN THE END OF JULY. SO ALL SUGERIES WILL BE DONE IN THE OFFICE

EMAIL FROM DR ORTIZ I RECEIVED: Dear Friends and Colleagues: After receiving numerous calls and email regarding the latest speculations about erosions on the boards I feel obliged to post some facts that should be of some relief and informative at the same time. There are very few reliable sources out there on Gastric Banding complications except the series that are published in the medical literature. My colleagues that post on these forums will agree that my team and I are considered one of the foremost authorities in gastric banding complications and treatments in the world and as such our intention is that our ongoing research results in a safer gastric banding procedure for everybody. Folks, Lets start out by doing the math. Band erosions are not increasing as one would think. They have actually diminished noticeably in the past number of years. What is increasing is the number of patients having the procedure along with the ability to communicate this fact through forums such as this one. A surgeon that has performed 100 procedures may have 1% erosion, which is equivalent to 1 patient. While a surgeon with 3000 procedures under his belt will have 30 erosions, but this still represents 1%. Also the awareness of it's existence has prompted us to look for them purposely through endoscopic studies. We now recommend that every band patient gets an upper endoscopy around 18 months after the surgery. For a surgeon to know exactly how many of his patients bands have eroded he would have to scope them all. Endoscopy is the only way to prove an erosion since some erosions are asymptomatic early on. Erosions are unfortunate adverse reactions of gastric banding. They are also poorly understood. The term erosion has been popularized recently in the literature as one of the complications of gastric banding. It suggests the wearing out of the gastric wall, but the actual process seems to be more of a foreign body reaction where the body tries to eliminate the implant. Erosions are not new and it has been known for decades and reported in the medical literature that various materials near the stomach or intestine can slowly penetrate the wall and ultimately be eliminated through it. Implants, sutures, staples, mesh, rings, tubing, cloth and metal all have readily penetrated the gut. Though the actual process is not fully understood we do know the following: - Most bands erode from the outer edge of the implant into the stomach. Sometimes it is the tubing and not the band that penetrates the gut. This would discard the suggestion that bands that are too tight erode. (Conversely we now know that bands that are too tight actually slip more often) - Surgical technique is similar around the world. Most surgeons in the US and the rest of the world learned the technique from a handful of international surgeons who proctored them. In turn these surgeons have perfected the technique and the principles of band placement remain the same around the world. - Erosions can coexist with an infection process. Even though it would seem that the infection can start at the port and then ultimately cause an erosion, our recent studies have detected mircopenetrations of the stomach at the initial stages of the erosion (soon to be published data) then most likely stomach bacteria tract down though the tubing to the port and contaminate it. Again these ongoing studies will shed new light on the process and hopefully someday will totally eliminate the risk of gastric penetration. - Erosion is not selective of one band or another. Sooner or later every brand of gastric band has been reported to erode. - Latin bands do not erode more frequently. For one the implant used comes exactly from the same company and are made of the exact same materials. Contrary to a controversial post recently published in a forum, responsible surgeons performing gastric banding in Mexico have a comprehensive follow-up protocol. Fluoroscopy and Endoscopy is routinely performed which means that we detect the erosions more efficiently and earlier when present. - When an erosion is detected the band should removed. This gives the stomach time to heal and in given time receive a new band. It is the patient's responsibility to tell the doctor of his or her symptoms. The sooner it is detected the better the chances of performing a laparoscopic and uneventful surgery with a quick recovery. - We also stress the importance of follow-up. Most erosions have no symptoms early on, so a routine checkup with your doctor is always the best option. NO NEED TO PANIC, erosions are still a rare occurrence, but if present when detected and treated early on the outcome is benign in nature. You will all agree that gastric banding has touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. It is the safest weight-loss procedure but unfortunately no procedure is free of complications. Even though erosion rate is very low, it still exists. When present it should be detected and treated promptly. The earlier it is treated the better the outcome. In some cases patients have actually received a second band after a brief period of recovery and thus having the benefit of restriction and weight-loss again. The only source of reliable medical advice is your doctor. Other sources of information only lead to speculation, anxiety and worst of all delay in treatment if needed. If you are to go out of the country for surgery, select a responsible surgeon that offers follow-up. Ask if he will always be available (my patients can reach me in a moments notice, they all have my cell#) Don't be enticed to go to the cheapest, usually they go hand in hand with poor to no follow-up. You must be able to trust the doctor you have chosen. We as Surgeons also have our official Internet forums where we exchange knowledge with each other having only your best interests in mind. Remember, ultimately it is your success that results in our success. My best wishes to all, Respectfully Ariel Ortiz Lagardere

I KNOW AT THE TWO YEAR MARK I SHOULD HAVE ONE DONE WHICH IS COMING UP FAST. DID YOU RETURN TO MX TO HAVE IT DONE OR?

AT THE HOTEL, SERVICE WENT IN AND OUT FOR ME. I NEVER ANSWERED THE PHONE, JUST REDIALED AFTER I MADE SURE I HAD AT & T SERVICE INSTEAD OF MX SEVICE

IT TOOK ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO SLEEP SOUNDLY AS THE PORT SIGHT WAS SORE. TURNING OVER I JUST PICKED MYSELF UP TO ROLL OVER.

GREAT POST MIKE. IT'S HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS JUST HOW FICKLE THE BAND CAN BE AND TRY AND EXPLAIN THAT TO OTHERS

A FRIEND OF MINE IS GOING DOWN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE FOR BREAST IMPLANTS. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE

YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!

THEY WEREEEE 350.00 BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO CALL AND SEE IF THE PRICE HAS GONE UP OR DOWN