LoriBecky

We don't want you to feel restriction with liquids. They should pass through your band quickly. The barium, which is very thick will stop at the band momentarily. But soups, shakes, etc should go through. If you have restriction with liquids, then your band is too tight. Give it some time and let me know how you are doing and remember to chew chew chew (chew to goo) once you start back on solids!

Is this mostly in the morning? I feel I have more restriction in the morning and did better with warm liquids then.

You all are a part of our family! The Band Family. Maybe we need a song! hahahaha We are family... I have all my bandsters with me LOL

Hi Teri & Kyle, I'm so glad all went well! This Lori, I was/am you patient care coordinator. Please keep me posted with your progress and feel free to contact me anytime with questions!!

Support and coordinate travel with other January Fill patients here. here's a link to the great post by Marys about bus/trolley rides Bus/Trolley Info Don't forget if you can coordinate with other patients to arrive at the airport at the same time, you can share the cost of our fill transport. Its $130 and can carry up to 6 passengers. Just get yourselves coordinated and schedule with Rene at the clinic.

If you have a January surgery date... you can support each other here... maybe even plan to meet on surgery day. Disclaimer: While this board is generally a safe place, please use caution when coordinating travel/meetings with other patients.

If you have a December surgery date... you can support each other here... maybe even plan to meet on surgery day. Disclaimer: While this board is generally a safe place, please use caution when coordinating travel/meetings with other patients.

Don't forget - part of the reason for the floro is to make sure we hit the port with the needle and don't puncture tubing. that is the biggest reason we see people come back for a port replacement - a U.S. doc puncturing the port or tubing doing a blind fill. So be careful. This is still rare... but much more likely with a blind fill. We are trying to be more aggressive with fills especially with the VG band, but we do like to err on the side of caution. A band that is too tight can cause a slip, it can also cause you to become malnourished because you are unable to eat. There is no perfect fill number that fits everyone. If only it were than simple... I believe Dr. O has started putting in a small fill with the VG band at the time of surgery. This is something he has started doing recently. It isn't in all patients, and he determinds during the surgery which patients it will benefit.

I know it can get a little discouraging sometimes - not seeing a lot of long term success stories on the forum. What I've found to be true is that when someone is past the initial stage of a lot of questions with the band and they are having success and they no longer have questions.... they don't need us anymore! I've been asking long term bandsters to please come back and post, but people get busy with their lives, and most are so much more active once they've lost weight, they dont' have the time to sit down and keep us posted of their wonderful success. I know that has been true of me as well. When I had my hysterectomy 3 years ago I was incredibly active on a forum on that topic, but once I was healed up and was doing well... I haven't gone back to post about how great I'm doing. There are many more success stories about the band than problems with the band. I'm really trying to encourage people to come back and post. Remember newbies... when you are doing great and are being successful with the band... remember people here still need to hear how you are doing and need your encouragement!! Don't forget about us! By the way... I'm doing great since my surgery in June - couldn't be happier and would do it again in a heartbeat

Hi Sorry I haven't been on the board as much lately, Dr. Ortiz has been keeping me very busy! I would be very happy to answer any questions you have about the Lap Band procedure. Feel free to call or email me anytime! I'm also happy to give information about a wonderful plastic surgeon in Tijuana that Dr. Ortiz recommends.

Come on teens.... I know you're out there! Don't be shy! Other teens need your support! If you are a teen with the band and would be willing to email with other patients, but don't want to post here, email me and I'll help you get in touch with other teen bandsters (or future bandsters)

You need to wait 6 weeks for your first fill. This gives your body time to heal after surgery and for all the swelling to go down from your stomach. I know this can be a trying time, you don't feel much restriction but it really is best for you to wait for the 6 week mark. Start watching for cheap flights and schedule your fill right at 6 weeks

Hi Lady, I think we've been emailing back and forth already - it really is OK to call and ask questions - don't feel like you are wasting my time, that's why I'm here You might want to check out the newly banded section of this forum to see how other patients experience at the clinic was

OK... I thought I'd copy and paste Chelley's explanation of her first fill experience - she did a great job explaining exactly what happens Goodmorning! Okay, I'm a ninny ... the fill experience was so easy that I can't believe I was ever even worried about it! The whole thing only took about 15 minutes and not nearly as uncomfortable as I had imagined. In fact, a shot in the rump hurts worse than the accessing of the port. I was very pleased with my fill experience. I received 2.8cc which is a huge fill. The doctor performing the fill (Dr. Romero at the Obesity Control Center) was very informative, telling me what he was doing each step of the way and even put me at ease with his bedside manner. The procedure was sterile - he swabbed by abdomen with betadine and I observed him opening sterile needle, syringe, and glove packages. The port is accessed while you are lying flat on the exam table under flurososcopy. One stick was all it took to access the port and it stung a little, but was not painful. After the port was accessed, he sat me up telling me not to worry about the syringe in my belly that it wasn't going anywhere and it did not move and it did not hurt but was a little odd seeing a syringe sticking out like that! The doctor was meticulous in making sure to visualize the barium flowing through the banded area of my stomach to make sure I got the best fill possible. I was able to watch the whole thing with him and was facinated. I was asked to drink some sips of bottled water in addition to the barium to make sure liquids were flowing through the banded area. I honestly did not even feel the needle being removed from the port. There wasn't even need for a bandaid. After the procedure, I was instructed to continue to sip the bottle of water while waiting in the lobby to make sure I could drink water without any trouble. Mom and sister had their fills too and all of us agreed there wasn't anything to it! We got to meet several patients who were there for their surgeries and that was really cool getting to talk to the future lap-banders!

Actually the question I was asked was about the rapid port - which isn't approved for use in the U.S. yet so Inamed won't give me any information. The standard port isn't used by OCC - it is larger and has a higher profile. The Low Profile port is what Dr. Ortiz uses. It is smaller and thinner, about the diameter of a quarter and about 3/4 of an inch tall - so you don't feel it as much and it doesn't bother you as much when you do things on your stomach. 25.4 mm diameter by 11.9 mm high. The standard port is 30.47mm diameter by 14.7mm high. I hope that helps

Make sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise programs!

Its because the board has been around longer and is being "advertised" in more places. We are trying to get the word out about our GREAT forum... unforunately the SNERTS hear about it as well and we get spammed. Just call on me.... SuperLori and I shall save you hahahaha or at least delete the offensive posts

Cleo - it sounds like you might be too tight. If you are PBing frequently, please call Dr. Martinez on his cell phone!

As you know, this isn't what is recommended at the clinic - so follow at your own risk

Ok December surgery patients - I know you're out there

Definetly call Dr. Ortiz or Dr. Martinez, all patients get their cell phone #'s! Use it!

depending on your pre-op weight, or if you are struggling, Dr. Miranda allows many pre-op patients to have a Lean Cuisine type of dinner... so I would call her!

the port site will remain tender longer than any other site for your surgery. Not only is it the largest incision, it also goes through the most tugging and pulling during surgery, and... there is a foreign object stitched down in there. My port site bothered me until about week 4 or 5. Not painful so much as a pain

hmmmm Physicain in training...sounds like a title I could live with hahahaha or maybe Band Goddess I love it when you guys ask questions that I need to go to the top for... its a learning experience for me as well CalKev - sounds like you are doing GREAT - keep it up... or rather down

Hi Tess, Glad I was able to help When the phone rings at 10pm on a Sunday... I figure something must be up!!