My fill experience

[Guest guest]

Yup, is excellent. I've used her myself, and sent at least 20-

25 people there by now.

with every fill, you'll need to refine your eating a lot. REview and

Remember the basic band rules and foods, and you'll be fine. Try your

very best to minimize barfing and pb'ing, since every once chances

slippage, or leading to slippage later. Sandy RN

> Hi all,

>

> Well, I made a trip of it in that I traveled from the Seattle area

to

> Portland. I went to a ND down there who I had never read anything

bad

> about-- Fitzpatrick. It's funny with all of the concern I had

> about what the best first fill should be, it came down to something

> very individual. Of course, that is pretty much what everyone had

> said.

>

> So...she had some problems finding the port because it was pointing

> downwards. The x-ray bore that out. There was no considerable pain

at

> this time and I was not numbed up. She found the port and she ended

> up putting in 1.9 cc. It was kind of weird how we came to that

> amount. Here I was sitting on the exam table with a needle in my

> belly sipping ice water while she does the final adjustments.

> Unfortunately, I did not sip. I was thirsty, and before she

> could stop me I had taken a couple of big gulps. I think that is

> where the problem started. When she got down to 1.9cc I was getting

> worried that too much was coming out and that in the end I would

have

> no restriction. So keeping in mind all of the symptons of overfill

> she had just told me, I told her to stop and let's see what

happens.

> She had me go take a walk around the neighborhood which my daughter

> and I did. I decided all was well, and went back to the hotel.

>

> Well, as might be expected I could not eat anything solid that

night

> so I

> just had some hot water and lemon, and later I pulverized my pills

> and mixed them with water. To

> make a long story short, I spent the night PBing. I finally propped

> myself up with pillows and got some sleep.

>

> Lukily, she had suggested I spend the night in Portland since I was

> so far

> away, and it turned out to be a good idea. I went back the next

> morning and she took out .9 cc and I have been fine ever since with

> good retriction at night. Before the fill I could eat anything in

> seemingly endless quatities.

>

> So foolishly I tested that last night and found I could not eat

> anywhere near as much as before. In fact, I was rewarded with a

night

> of PBs and chest pain. So today I am going to stick to liquids and

> give myself a break.

>

> All-in-all I am happy with this fill experience and the doctor who

> did it. There was no flouro, but the result seems good. She was

> caring, concerned, and she took the time to talk with me, which is

> really important to me. Plus, she really seemed to know what she

was

> doing and did not get outwardly bothered when she could not find

the

> port at first. Like I said, that part did not hurt. But after the

> poking

> around the day before, the unfill did.

>

> Brett

> Frering--midband

> 07/09/04

> 341/321/207

> first fill 09/24/04 1cc

[Guest guest]

Yeah! I am glad you had a great experience. 2.4 seems like a lot so be careful and go slowly into mushies. Can you email me with a first fill weight so I can update your records please

M.

3/1/05

280/194/160

http://www.tracyslapband.com

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Debby B.Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:58 PM Subject: my fill experience

Was just great. Except for me getting lost and having to go over the long Tampa Bay bridge twice......and then missing a turn on the way back, and oh yeah, drenching rain and traffic the whole way back...LOL. Other then that everything went great. Dr. e had no trouble finding the port with the flouro and topped off my tank with 2.4 cc. That sounded like alot to me. Is that about normal??? She said my band was in a good position too. It took about 3 minutes once she got to the hospital, she was about 25 minutes late. The needle stick was really nothing and I am a VERY BIG BABY with needles. I can definitely feel a difference right now. I was sipping water all the way home and i'm no longer able to take big gulps. I feel like if I took more then just a little sip it would be uncomfortable for me, so I won't try it. I hope I am finally on my way to losing those lbs.

To Deb H...Dr. e's phone is:727-584-7666

Jody, How did your fill go today?

Debby B

[Guest guest]

Hi Debby,

So glad we got our fills on the same day...how fun! All went well, I only got 1.8cc and feel like that might be right for me now. I tried the 2cc but when he had me sit up to drink....I could not feel it going down. I was worried about it and have to laugh because it was really nothing. My doc didn't do fluro but only stuck me once and got the port. I weighed 256lbs and feel pretty good about that since I also have my period and feel a bit swollen. I went to the store and got the soups and things to do for three days as recommended by the doc. What kind of time frame did your doc give you? This doc feels like the ones that are successful end up having fills every 6 to 8 weeks..so we will see.

All else is well...Fall seems like such a busy time...keep in touch....Jody my fill experience

Was just great. Except for me getting lost and having to go over the long Tampa Bay bridge twice......and then missing a turn on the way back, and oh yeah, drenching rain and traffic the whole way back...LOL. Other then that everything went great. Dr. e had no trouble finding the port with the flouro and topped off my tank with 2.4 cc. That sounded like alot to me. Is that about normal??? She said my band was in a good position too. It took about 3 minutes once she got to the hospital, she was about 25 minutes late. The needle stick was really nothing and I am a VERY BIG BABY with needles. I can definitely feel a difference right now. I was sipping water all the way home and i'm no longer able to take big gulps. I feel like if I took more then just a little sip it would be uncomfortable for me, so I won't try it. I hope I am finally on my way to losing those lbs.

To Deb H...Dr. e's phone is:727-584-7666

Jody, How did your fill go today?

Debby B

[Guest guest]

Congtatulations Debby! The bridge you mention...is it Skyway

Bridge? That is one scary bridge to cross at night. It's beautiful,

but I'm afraid of heights and the wind, man you can hear it. I've

gone over it a few times but haven't seen it in 3 years. Do you

know the history of that bridge? It's very sad. A freighter ran

into it in 1980 and a lot of people died as a result of the bridge's

collapse. A school bus full of adolesences was crossing the bridge

the moment it was hit by the barge and they all died along with

other cars that plunged into the water. This one they made it even

higher. Here's a link if you want to read about it's history and

such. The pics are awesome...it's one high bridge and remembering

it brings a chill to me. Anyway, congrats on your fill! I'm having

mine on Saturday.

> Yeah! I am glad you had a great experience. 2.4 seems like a lot

so be

> careful and go slowly into mushies. Can you email me with a first

fill

> weight so I can update your records please

>

> M.

> 3/1/05

> 280/194/160

> http://www.tracyslapband.com <http://www.tracyslapband.com/>

>

> _____

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Debby B.

> Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:58 PM

>

> Subject: my fill experience

>

>

> Was just great. Except for me getting lost and having to go over

the long

> Tampa Bay bridge twice......and then missing a turn on the way

back, and oh

> yeah, drenching rain and traffic the whole way back...LOL. Other

then that

> everything went great. Dr. e had no trouble finding the port

with the

> flouro and topped off my tank with 2.4 cc. That sounded like alot

to me.

> Is that about normal??? She said my band was in a good position

too. It

> took about 3 minutes once she got to the hospital, she was about

25 minutes

> late. The needle stick was really nothing and I am a VERY BIG

BABY with

> needles. I can definitely feel a difference right now. I was

sipping water

> all the way home and i'm no longer able to take big gulps. I feel

like if I

> took more then just a little sip it would be uncomfortable for me,

so I

> won't try it. I hope I am finally on my way to losing those lbs.

>

> To Deb H...Dr. e's phone is:727-584-7666

>

> Jody, How did your fill go today?

>

> Debby B

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Funny you should mention that freighter accident. It's just what I was thinking as I crossed the bridge. I don't think it's the same one, but I'm not sure. I was on the 275 bridge. Is that the same? This thing was miles long and only high in the very middle, and not real high either.

I'm just glad to be home. It was a long day.

Debby

[Guest guest]

Yup, that's the one. It's suspended by taxi yellow cables. It's beautiful. It seems really high to me, but it's only like 170 or 190 feet high. It is painfully long though. Anyway, welcome home.

From: "Debby B." <debbyb32901@...>Reply- To: Subject: Re: Re: my fill experienceDate: Thu, 6 Oct 2005 19:13:05 -0700 (PDT)

Funny you should mention that freighter accident. It's just what I was thinking as I crossed the bridge. I don't think it's the same one, but I'm not sure. I was on the 275 bridge. Is that the same? This thing was miles long and only high in the very middle, and not real high either.

I'm just glad to be home. It was a long day.

Debby

[Guest guest]

That's great news Debby-she's the one I'll be using for my fills too!

Getting banded April 2006

my fill experience

Was just great. Except for me getting lost and having to go over the long Tampa Bay bridge twice......and then missing a turn on the way back, and oh yeah, drenching rain and traffic the whole way back...LOL. Other then that everything went great. Dr. e had no trouble finding the port with the flouro and topped off my tank with 2.4 cc. That sounded like alot to me. Is that about normal??? She said my band was in a good position too. It took about 3 minutes once she got to the hospital, she was about 25 minutes late. The needle stick was really nothing and I am a VERY BIG BABY with needles. I can definitely feel a difference right now. I was sipping water all the way home and i'm no longer able to take big gulps. I feel like if I took more then just a little sip it would be uncomfortable for me, so I won't try it. I hope I am finally on my way to losing those lbs.

To Deb H...Dr. e's phone is:727-584-7666

Jody, How did your fill go today?

Debby B

[Guest guest]

With all of the horrible fill stories as of late, I thought that I

would share the wonderful experience I had with Dr. Vitello of Good

Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, IL. I had exchanged some emails

with Dr. Vitello and he was very insightful and had great

recommendations for some of the things that I had been experiencing.

He charged $150 for the fill and $175 will be processed through my

insurance company for the fluoroscope (which I may have to pick up in

the end). I misunderstood the use of the fluoroscope, I thought that

it was used just to locate the port, but it was used to ensure that

the fluids flow through the tightened band as well. I am so glad

that he used it, when we were exchanging emails; we discussed the

fact that many other bandsters were getting their fills without the

fluoro and at a great savings. Dr. Vitello warned me against

choosing a doctor that performs fills this way because it there is no

way to know the appropriate amount to place without watching the x-

ray, every person is different. Another doctor that I talked to said

that the majority of the " failed " surgeries that he sees are the

result of people not feeling enough restriction and getting

frustrated to the point that they either stretch the pouch or they

choose to have the surgery reversed ( I don't know if that is true

but I thought that I would share). I have heard some people say that

it is better to be conservative and get more fills; however, without

the fluoro how do you judge what conservative is?

I was worried that, with my sensitive pouch and my restriction

following surgery, that I would swell to the point that I would not

be able to keep anything down. Dr. Vitello assured me that he was

just an email away and would arrange to meet back at the hospital if

swelling occurred. The initial fill was too much and the barium

would not pass through the band but after a little adjusting, we

found that I was good at 1.2 cc, which surprised me because I thought

I was going to be one of those people that had to get multiple small

fills. Anyway, it has been a week and I feel great. I just thought

I would share my 2 cents. I highly recommend the fluoro for the

peace of mind. In the end, what costs more, multiple fills to adjust

for an over/under fill or paying slightly more to make sure that the

appropriate amount of fluid is injected? Also, I choose Dr. Vitello

because of his availability, something to think about in the event of

swelling after the fill.

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for sharing I got a lot of nervous calls today

There are many many good doctors in the US and I personally know a

lady from 3 of the fills centers in Arizona : Hall and she is

very good. lots of experience, many patients have had fills

with her.

Unfortunately it looks like some of them have no experience

Nina

>

> With all of the horrible fill stories as of late, I thought that I

> would share the wonderful experience I had with Dr. Vitello of

Good

> Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, IL. I had exchanged some

emails

> with Dr. Vitello and he was very insightful and had great

> recommendations for some of the things that I had been

experiencing.

> He charged $150 for the fill and $175 will be processed through my

> insurance company for the fluoroscope (which I may have to pick up

in

> the end). I misunderstood the use of the fluoroscope, I thought

that

> it was used just to locate the port, but it was used to ensure

that

> the fluids flow through the tightened band as well. I am so glad

> that he used it, when we were exchanging emails; we discussed the

> fact that many other bandsters were getting their fills without

the

> fluoro and at a great savings. Dr. Vitello warned me against

> choosing a doctor that performs fills this way because it there is

no

> way to know the appropriate amount to place without watching the x-

> ray, every person is different. Another doctor that I talked to

said

> that the majority of the " failed " surgeries that he sees are the

> result of people not feeling enough restriction and getting

> frustrated to the point that they either stretch the pouch or they

> choose to have the surgery reversed ( I don't know if that is true

> but I thought that I would share). I have heard some people say

that

> it is better to be conservative and get more fills; however,

without

> the fluoro how do you judge what conservative is?

>

> I was worried that, with my sensitive pouch and my restriction

> following surgery, that I would swell to the point that I would

not

> be able to keep anything down. Dr. Vitello assured me that he was

> just an email away and would arrange to meet back at the hospital

if

> swelling occurred. The initial fill was too much and the barium

> would not pass through the band but after a little adjusting, we

> found that I was good at 1.2 cc, which surprised me because I

thought

> I was going to be one of those people that had to get multiple

small

> fills. Anyway, it has been a week and I feel great. I just

thought

> I would share my 2 cents. I highly recommend the fluoro for the

> peace of mind. In the end, what costs more, multiple fills to

adjust

> for an over/under fill or paying slightly more to make sure that

the

> appropriate amount of fluid is injected? Also, I choose Dr.

Vitello

> because of his availability, something to think about in the event

of

> swelling after the fill.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

You are very lucky to live near a fill Dr. and one who

uses flouro. Most Drs. in our region do not use

flouro because they have enough experience to do them

without.(their receptionists say) They say they

really can't tell any more by looking at an x-ray than

by letting you drink water and feel it go down. I'm

not sure I agree with that but so far it has worked

for me. If you live out here in the hinterlands you

either have to take a chance on the closest Dr.(a four

hour drive for me--which ever way I go) or go back to

Mexicali, a major cost in time and money but at least

there would be peace of mind. Anywho... I hope

everyone doesn't panic but does complain and be

assertive if the fill doesn't go as it should!

I can't believe that a lot of people would have their

band removed because of 1 bad fill! That doesn't make

any sense to me.

Penny

Penny Manville

Walden, Colorado

DOB 9/26/05

230/184/135

1st fill 12/9/05 1cc

2nd fill 1/27/06 0.5 cc 1.5 cc total

5'4 "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Oh, I just thought of something my fill Dr. said to me

about having the band removed. We were discussing

what might happen if my daughter's band would happen

to slip. She lives in Casper, Wyoming, about 2 1/2

hour drive from him. He said since there were no Drs.

in Casper who do lapband surgery or fills that if it

slipped the Drs. there would not mess with it and

would just remove it! He even said he would be

tempted to do that too, if he didn't know the patient.

Maybe that is what 's Dr. was talking about.

Something to think about.

Penny

Penny Manville

Walden, Colorado

DOB 9/26/05

230/184/135

1st fill 12/9/05 1cc

2nd fill 1/27/06 0.5 cc 1.5 cc total

5'4 "

__________________________________________________