Welcome to the Band Board!

[Colette Grower]

Glad to have this advantage. I will be at Wed. meeting. I finally think I need a fill. I get hungry two hours after eating. I still have resistance. But I seem to be able to eat a little more and it goes through a little faster. My friend out here is having the same experience.See you Wed. 

[roxannewillard]

Hi, I just got back to AK. Wish I would have stayed warm longer. What is it about winter that makes me want to hibernate? Since I've been back all I want to do is eat and sleep! Guess I better get to a meeting huh? I feel like I've been doing pretty good, it's almost been a year and I'm down about 70#. But I'm worried about this holing up state I've been in lately. Any suggestions? I'm open.

[KimarieH]

Hi I am a new member looking into the surgery's i hope to be meeting you again soon Dr.Todd, I have tried to write to the message board before but I am not sure if it posted ha-ha   I am mentally ready for this and definitely ready to begin a new way and healthier life with my children.

[Colette Grower]

It really pays to pay attention to how I feel. I was hungry and needed a fill. Now I am back up to par. Thanks to Dr. Todd. This is a great program and the support keeps getting greater. It was a really good meeting yesterday. I know I learned a lot.

[Colette Grower]

I need help. How do you post and start a new topic. I had a question? What is the life time of the silicone in the band?

[Lil Kim]

Hi Collette.

At this time the board is set up so that only administrators can start a new topic. Dr. Todd would like to keep the boards one long thread. So... just keep your questions coming on this thread...and we'll get to them!

As to the life of the band...I'll leave that one for the Dr. to answer.

[KimarieH]

well I guess I get to reply to my own post  I received a dissappointing phone call from Dr.Todds office it was good until my insurance questions came up, Yes I do have medicaid but I also have MEDICARE Well we can't do medicare patients yet. I understand the reason but yes it is a great disappointment, and a set back for me But I will keep trying.... I have 7 children 5 are grown and out of the house but these last 2 are 13 and 10 so I have to keep trying and hoping

[Michael A Todd, MD]

Hi, Bandistas!  We are trying to keep the Band Board limited to one active topic.  It is difficult for us to follow more than one... There is no recommended functional life of a LapBand.  Some patients have had them in since the early 90's without problems, and there is no recommended date to change them out.  If someones band is working for them we plan to pretty much leave it alone, rather than checking the fill on it periodically.  That should extend the life of the band even more.  If it's not broke, don't fix it...See you all on Band Wednesday.

[Colette]

Thank you. It is great to be able to ask questions in between meetings.Thanks for letting me know about new topics. At least I do not think I am dumb. I spent 30 minutes looking. And then came to the logical conclusion. Duh!Why don't you just ask. LOL The band has become so much a part of me that I don't always think about it anymore. Which is great. 

[Colette Grower]

Hey guys!! We need to get posting. The General Board has lots of stuff. Bandsters need to speak up. This is great but we need to start using it. This is a chance for us to talk to one another and support each other. I really want to hear the stories other people have to tell. I am a nurse and I work for the State of Alaska. Also I love my job because I feel like I provide a service to the whole state. I have been a nurse since 1969. We came to Alaska in 1972. I heard about the band a number of years ago but no one was putting them in. Then a miracle happened. I was working and a friend came in. Her sister had the RNY and she said "I want to get this band and they are doing it here." I got all excited and contacted Dr. Todd's office. Unfortunately my friend never had it done because her BMI was too low. Here I am. I was banded in September 2005. I have lost forty pounds. I know that doesn't sound a lot. But it has made a difference in my life. With another fill I am going to lose forty more. Thanks for listening.

[Lil Kim]

HI!  Two different people have sent messages to the office today, asking for help on how to post. Posting is pretty simple, you just need to click on the reply button on the bottom of this screen.  A window should open that allows you to type in text and then hit "post" at the bottom.

Also, if you have questions, please do not use the "report to moderator" link to as them. Reporting posts to us marks them as inappropriate.

If you have a question, please give the office a call, send a private message to one of the administrators (myself or Mia)

I hope this helps some.

[KimarieH]

Hi Dr. Todd I have a question I have Medicare and Medicaid Insurance Now when you have Medicare they say that The doctors that is going to be doing the procedures have to be on this Center of Excellence program are you going to be one of these places soon? I really don't want to leave Alaska to get this procedure done. My family is here. and I want to be here, but I just don't know how long it will take for here. And I don't want to get discouraged  Thanks for your time.

[Lexie M.]

KimarieH we are working towards becoming a Center of Excellence..they are thinking it will take between another 6-12 months.  Sor far noone in Alaska is a member.  Its hard to be patient when we want something so badly, but unfortunately we have no choice.  Also I stopped by to remind all you Lap Banders (or anyone interested in becoming one) that there is an evening LAP BAND Supoort Group Meeting tonight in the oofice waiting room.  Our dietician and one of our nurses will be there.  It will be held from 6-7 pm.   Its open to the public.  Come and join the group.

[Heidi]

Hi,
I've had my surgery in April 2006. My main problem is with acid reflux. I often wake up at night because of it. Does anyone else have the same problem? I wait at least 2 hours after eating to lay down but it doesn't seem to matter. Any suggestions?

[Colette Grower]

Not to worry. The staff is great but this is something that you have to work on. I have a 4cc band since September 2005. I have lost 40 pounds. Awhile ago I realized I was hungry after meals. So I got a fill. I had 2.2 in the band and Dr. Todd bought me up to 2.7. However, I think I may need a little unfil. I have had a terrible time with coughing all night and reflux.  I took on a lot of changes at the time and also was depressed. The new medications made the reflux worse nd I had medications changed at that time. So I have tried a number of things, no eating after 7 pm, high pillows, low stress food. My PCP added upped does of Protonix.

Furthermore, early on last year I had some reflux but conservative measures took care of it. I was drinking 2 cups of hot tea at night. This no longer works. The office suggested I eat just puddings and applesauce for supper for awhile. The pudding made it worse, and ice cream made it worse. But when I go in for the unfil I have a lot more information about how my body is reacting. I give them the info and have an idea of what needs to happen. This is a process and we learn as we go on. We can do this but it is a slow learning process. I just do not give up.I think of it as part of my life journey.