LAP-BANDERS! WHERE WERE YOU????

Yup...that was me! Sorry we didn't get to talk more. My message was aimed for the Orlando folks so I hope I didn't offend any out-of-towners. I know travelling is expensive these days. The other lady I sat with got sick because of lunch and was gone for awhile to throw up and get some tea. I got info on vitamins and plastic surgery...that dr. schuster does good work. I just keep thinking how unfair it all is. Okay, we have to pay $$$ for the surgery and give up anything that tastes remotely decent. Then we have to pay more $$$ to cut off excess skin and we're supposed to remain cheery and positive throughout all this. God Bless those who have gone thru it and come out well adjusted at the end. I guess it's better than the alternative...but, shesh, I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for those who now have lost too much and have to gain!!! We all have crosses to bear I guess. As I prepare to go for my 2nd surgery on Monday, to re-position my port - I'm thinking, when will it be my turn to catch a break? All the lights at the end of my tunnel have run out of batteries! But, I digress, yes I was sitting up front. Sorry for the vent. Do you get to any of the support groups?

Shelley, I was there. I sat next to Mr. Granola when he was doing the slide shows. I had one a brown and white print shirt. I enjoyed the presentations and am looking forward to the next part of my journey. I, too was disappointed in the amazingly small amount of banders there. I would have loved to have had a get together just for banders to discuss our issues. I was also disappointed in the food choices they had for lunch. I don't think they were very bandfriendly. I did decide that when it comes time for my plastics, I will go see Dr. Schuster. I had a wonderful chat with him after his speaking and fell in love with him. He seems so caring. I also really enjoyed the psychologists talk on body image. She is close in proximity to my home, so I think I am going to schedule an appointment with her for myself and my daughter. I think when we were leaving the hotel you said you were going to the $7 shoe store. Did you buy anything? LOL Good luck on your surgery. And I am sure the lights in your tunnels will burn bright again!! Take care! Maggi

Maggi: Thanks for the reply and the kind words! I started answering someone else and took off on a tangent! I do remember you and almost fell asleep driving home so I never made it to the $7.00 shoe store! LOL I too, have made a note of Dr. Schuster for my future skin removals - he was quite charming! Dr. Jawad(?) had good info on vitamins but was putting me to sleep! I just found the other messageboard for just lapbanders and saw familiar issues so I'm feeling a bit better. Not sure how I didn't see it before but thanks to Amy, who gave me the link - I can now speak with other banders. I have another friend who had the band done 4/16/07 and she's already lost 23lbs....I'm so pleased for her! Ironically, I coached her from the beginning, gave her info on my doctor, talked her thru the process and there she goes! I feel like a proud mama! You know, no matter how big I got I've never had an issue with body image! Seriously, I've always managed to find nice clothes that fit - worn makeup, fixed my hair and nails so it was never an issue for me! I've always wanted to be smaller-not thin - but again, as I've never lacked for male companionship either, it's just not been an issue for me - my motto is " Only a dog likes a bone, and even he buries it! " So, you take good care and keep in touch. Maybe we can get to another conference and meet again. Will let everyone know how surgery 2 goes! Kind Regards, Shelley

Hello, Well this will be a tough decision for me to make re the surgery. I am considering the lap band surgery instead of the gbypass, please tell me what you think. And why do you need to adjust or move your port? If you do not mind me asking, I just need to gather information to make a firm choice. I have already scheduled my surgery for June but I am bouncing back and forth on what I should do. Can you give me some input? Thanks, Tanya/ need help

Hello Tanya: Well the deal is the "port" where they put the saline to fill your band, is apparently attached to a muscle which in theory should not move. Due to my "anatomy" it moved and thus my port was lodged upside-down. Since finding out about this and speaking with other banders, I have found that there are a lot more of these out there than was suspected. They certainly never discussed or mentioned this possibility in any of the pre- or post-op meetings - in fact, when I mentioned it to my doctors admin person, she said she never heard of this happening! We now know that was a blatant lie, and she's in a different position at the office now. So, none of this gets me my fills. Finally, 6 months later the doctor admits defeat as I *****ed about having to pay 150.00 for every 'supposed' free fill! He said he had to go back in and reposition the port. So, Monday I had the surgery. Thank God, I tolerate surgery well. I went back to work the next day and so far am doing okay. It took me 45minutes to eat 2 fish sticks and a few slices of tomato - after throwing up - but, now, I finally feel some restriction, so I'm not complaining at all! If your insurance covers the surgery and this happens, they'll probably pay to fix it - if not, like me you will have to pay cash- the doctor will do it for free - but he doesn't own the hospital or anesthesiology. I hope this helps. Good Luck!