Re: Alone in ALaska(Sandy)

[Guest guest]

---

In , " Sandy " <MoonshadowRN@...>

wrote:

Sandy

I had my surgery Dec. 23,04. I weighed 253 on my surgery day, last

month I was down to 183lbs, as of this morning I weigh 191lbs.

My band is a 10cm and I have had great restriction in the past.

My weight loss slowed down to a stop in April I felt very little

restriction/ That is why I went to the Dr. here in Alaska.

I have been really watching what I eat but as you can see I have

gained 8lbs and Im really worried.

Thanks for your help Sandy, I really appreciate it.

Mel

>

> Mel, you didn't give us a lot of needed info to help you, so i

looked

> back at some of your past posts: Banded about 17 mo ago, lost 70 #

as

> of last month, used to live in WA and moved to Ak.

>

> however, i'd still like to know...have you EVER had good

restriction?

> I'm betting yes, becuase you have lost so well.

>

> How long has your weight loss been slow or stalled out (or is it,

> even).

> Yes, it's possible you have a leak, but we need this added info to

> make suggestions. A leak is not the most likely reason.

>

> We also need to know what band you have - do you mean the 10 cc

band

> (the Large VG band) or the small 10..0 cm band, that holds 4 cc?

> There is a big difference, and I'm guessing you have the 10cm band

> tht holds 4 cc, if you have about a 3 cc fill now.

>

> also, what was your start weight, and where are you now?

>

>

> It's never a good idea to allow anyone to " poke and poke " at your

> band. if someone cannot get it on the 3-4th try, that should end

the

> session. Every poke risks tubing puncture, and if they cannot get

it

> in 3-4 tries, it's unlikely they will, in that session.

>

> I believe there are a couple docs in AK by now, and I'll ask

around.

> But, you're right, that good and expereinced ones are hard to come

by

> in rural and out-of-the -way places. There are still whole states

> with no band surgeons or fill people, and people living there have

> extra Band needs they must accept and deal with. It is expensive

and

> inconvenient to have to fly somewhere for fills, but that is what

MX

> patients do all the time, if they want to do well with their bands

> and wt. loss. There is just no choice!

> Let us know more, and then we can advise you better.

> Cheers - Sandy R

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi

> > I was wondering if it is possible that i have a leak in my band.

I

> > had a fill about a month ago and i cant even tell that i have a

> band

> > in my stomach. T

> >

> > The Dr. here in ALaska is not the one who did my surgery and he

had

> a

> > hard time finding my port hole.

> > He dug and dug and dug. Before he gave me my fill I had some

> > feeling of the band but I knew i was in need of a fill. I was

> hungry

> > all the time etc...

> >

> > since i have had my band filled it does not feel like I have a

> > band. Im going home to Portland Or. at the end of August and I

> > have a Dr. appt. with my Dr. ( Dr. Hong)

> >

> > I have been working really hard at making the right food choices

> and

> > I have not gained but I have not lost either.

> >

> > I know Im going to sound like a complete fool but what should I

ask

> > my Dr. when I see him. I wnat to get this problem resolved while

> Im

> > there because I do not plan on going back to the Dr here in

> Anchorage

> > again. I feel like he may have puntured my tube or something. I

> > dont feel comfortable with him. Unfortunatley he is the only Dr.

> in

> > the whole state of ALaska that can do fills.... UG I feel so

alone.

> >

> > Mel

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Ok, thanks for the added info. Sounds to me that you simply need more

fill. as we lose as well as you have, the fat around our stomach goes

away, and the band becomes looser. We need regular fills to keep it

snug, so we continue to lose well - as we also continue to improve

our eating and food choices.

Alaska is not a grat ploace to be for fill docs, sadly. I thini there

are only one group of Surgeons in Anchorage even doing bands. The AK

peopke I know all return to Seattle or their own docs for fills. I'm

sending you the email of a good friend, Pat O, who lives in

anchorage - i just hasd lucnh with her last week. She is doing GREAT

and looks WONDERFUL. she is in Ketchikan, one of my favorite towns up

there. At least you'll know you're not so alone up there!

Sandy R

> > >

> > > Hi

> > > I was wondering if it is possible that i have a leak in my

band.

> I

> > > had a fill about a month ago and i cant even tell that i have a

> > band

> > > in my stomach. T

> > >

> > > The Dr. here in ALaska is not the one who did my surgery and he

> had

> > a

> > > hard time finding my port hole.

> > > He dug and dug and dug. Before he gave me my fill I had some

> > > feeling of the band but I knew i was in need of a fill. I was

> > hungry

> > > all the time etc...

> > >

> > > since i have had my band filled it does not feel like I have a

> > > band. Im going home to Portland Or. at the end of August and

I

> > > have a Dr. appt. with my Dr. ( Dr. Hong)

> > >

> > > I have been working really hard at making the right food

choices

> > and

> > > I have not gained but I have not lost either.

> > >

> > > I know Im going to sound like a complete fool but what should I

> ask

> > > my Dr. when I see him. I wnat to get this problem resolved

while

> > Im

> > > there because I do not plan on going back to the Dr here in

> > Anchorage

> > > again. I feel like he may have puntured my tube or something.

I

> > > dont feel comfortable with him. Unfortunatley he is the only

Dr.

> > in

> > > the whole state of ALaska that can do fills.... UG I feel so

> alone.

> > >

> > > Mel

> > >

> >

>