AngieB

I have a little restriction in the mornings, other than that, I wouldn't say I have much at all. Made an apt for July 6th for my second fill. This time I am not going to drink muc before I go to see if it makes any difference. I've been drinking 60-80 oz of vitamin water daily. Have not lost a single lb. That stinks. I am ready to see something, that is for sure. I was really hoping for some restriction after this first fill. Only thing that makes me happy is my stomach is getting use to the squeeze I guess. haa haa haa. How did your fill go today? Hope you got a good one! Angie

I am so glad you talked to Dr. So. I bet having the chat set your mind at ease more. I am so glad to hear you won't be getting a fill to soon. Why even chance it!?

Sounds like he is a wise one. Hard worker, saves money, and is generous! I would be proud of him too. You have to stand back and look at what a great job you and your husband did raising him! I will agree he is a very handsome young fellow. What is he going to school for? Nice that he will be staying local so you don't have MAJOR withdrawl symptoms! Ha ha ha! My boy is just a babe so I have no idea how it must feel to have one ready to leave the nest. I am so glad you are feeling better about yourself too. Why shouldn't you! You look great and will continue to look better and better as time goes by.

Lena! You have a very nice looking family! (Good to put a face with your name.) You look great!

I am glad your flight was not bad. That is awesome! Day 5! Woo hoo! Now you are on the other side!

I know! LOL I have been holding steady so that is a blessing. At least I am not gaining! My scale at home still loves me! LOL

Before I had my surgery, I had called the bariatric Dr.s in my area. I was calling for prices and to verify that they would take on a Mexican banded patient. I found one Dr.s office who treated me poorly and that would not touch me. I'd call around to see what your options are. Most people are very understanding when you share your reasons for going to Mexico.

I believe your flights are broken up a bit so that is good. My flights ended up being back to back due to delays. Ended up running to catch my connection. Made it by the skin of my teeth. Bad weather made for a bumpy flight. I was pooped when I arrived home. Even got emotional when I saw my baby and hubby. That is what made my flight home a challenge. You should be okay!

Karen! Congrats! I love seeing posts like yours. So worth it. I say that the worst part of the trip for me was the flight home.

I have one friend who had her band slip. She cried when they took it "from her" out of her and said she would have rather died with it in her. She had her band placed again 6 months later. (had to wait for healing) She is not the dramatic type, and she meant what she said. She is also taking super good care of this band, because no Dr will give you a third band. Angie

I spent time doing my research before taking the plunge so to speak. I am glad I chose the surgeon I did. (Even read his book.) At any rate. I found out that Dr. Ortiz and Martinez are the top surgeons in their field. Not only have they been doing this procedure longer than any the US Doctors, they have placed over 6500 lap bands. What that tells me is that he has seen a lot of anatomies’'. Which leads me to believe they have been there done that. I was impressed when I saw him perform the procedure on the internet as well. You could tell he does this for a living. Made it look like childs play. I watched other surgeons and did not get the same feeling. When you begin doing your research you will find out so much about him and the procedure itself. Call the OCC and get a list of the Dr.'s who Dr. O and M recommend for there patients once on the state side again for aftercare. Start there. They have seen there "work" so to speak and will be able to speak to there abilities. This is a forum for the OCC, anyone is welcome here, but you will find most here are their patients. I am a self pay, and although there are other places that will offer lower prices, I choose to go the OCC. If I could have had a surgeon in the US and my insurance would have paid, then I would have had it done there. If money and insurance was not concern, I would have choose Dr. O. HTH Angie

Lindsay - You seem to be a shoot from the hip kind of gal, and I can respect that. In that respect we have a lot in common. I would like to point out that although I feel you have a valid point, I think everyone here can understand the LACK of feeling restriction. Not to long ago you were asking about , how soon is too soon for another fill. This being said, I know you understand that and the urge for that helping hand we are all striving for. Not saying it is right, but I know for myself it is easier to be on the right path, in this case eat the right foods when things are going well. All of us are at different levels of growth. What I mean by growth is nutrition, and living a healthy lifestyle. For me, I come here for support, and to learn about my personal journey that lies ahead. I come here for encouragement as well and to build friendships. You have posted some great information about nutrition, and so I know that you are more advanced in this area. I for one am grateful for you taking the time to educate me as well as others. That being said, I am a newly banded person. I have been loosing weight slowly, or not at all. I have not felt the "restriction" so many speak of. At times this can be a real challenge for me. I am a beginner, I am doing my best to follow the rules to this new life style. Not drinking with meals, eating proteins first, keeping portion size in mind as well, and drinking water or liquids, taking a vitamin ect. I am also a person who educated myself on the lap band before the procedure. I have asked many questions, and read literature as well. ect ect That is why I come here to learn from others. Knowing all that I do, I am still my own worst enemy. I make poor choices that hender my weight loss. A good example of this would be, I am great during the day, then evening comes, and I faulter or stumble a bit. What is even worse, is I often, more times than not get up in the middle of the night and eat. Have done it for years, not an excuse, just the truth. I am like a complete addict. I have a supportive husband who has helped me during this night time cylce. I find myself getting edgy toward him and even sneak more in my pursuit of food. Crazy to want to stop something so bad, but still repeat that same behavior. When I go through cycles when I am not sleeping as well, I am my own best friend. I can for lack of better words gain control over my compulsion to eat by talking myself out of it. When I am in a heavier sleep, it is like I am not awake enough to remain in control of my impulses. This is a work in progess for me. I know whole heartedly I am killing my weight loss success. We all have different stories. I consider myself a strong/weak person. I have a very strong personality much like yourself. Hence the reason I am typing this. I think it would be wise for all of us to remember we all vary in degrees of knowledge. It doesn't do anyone a bit of good to be scolded. I for one can scold myself better than anyone I know. I do recognize it takes all kinds of individuals to make a successful board, but a bit of tolerance and understanding go along way. When I read your email it seemed a harsh to me. Maybe I am taking what you are saying to much to heart because of my own struggles. Very possible. All I want to do is point out that we come here for help. We share out successes, milestones, and struggles. I know for one, if I put my truth out there and was met with a reply such as yours, I would feel like crap. When I feel bad, I tend to make self defeating choices. Personally I appreciate replies that are helpful, or that educate me. I once posted a qustion, and your reply was, do a search. That topic had been covered a billion times over most likely. Being a newbie, I had not a clue. I didn't even realize until you pointed it out that there was a search feature. You were awesome, and even linked a helpful thread for me. That is what I hope we all strive to do for each other on this board. I hope you can see what I am saying here. Well wishes, Angie

WAY TO GO! I am so impressed! You look so great and I am sure you are feeling it too! Sabrina - you give me hope and inspiration! I can relate to you so much. I have missed so many functions because of my fat girl mentality. I have myself locked in the fat prison and am so ready to get out. For right now I am setting on the side lines but my hope is that will all change in the coming year! I am so glad you shared your vanity, because I am the same way.

PMPL! (pee my pants laughing) oh my goodness! Hee hee I am still snickering. I do have an evil streak.

I'd try sparkpeople.com It's a good website.

Bump! Because I think this thread is great! You might be a bandster when it makes you happy to get a needle poked into your belly! Ahhh restriction!

Okay, now I am going to have to search and bring back the thread "You might be a banster if...." you carry a zip lock baggie in your purse! LOL This is great stuff and hey, you can't make this stuff up!

Robbyn - I am feeling great, thanks for asking! I can tell in this morning that the liquids I am drinking are taking a slower route. Not like it is stopping in my throat or backing up so to speak, just flowing down the hatch a bit slower. I will have to see how solids feel when I get back to that stage. I am going to stay on liquids for as long as I can to jump start my weight loss. I have not had a huge scale victory. That is not saying I have not been loosing inches. I have been suprised that my body has not shed more weight given my portions ect. (I am doing my best not to question it and accept that my body is holding on to the weight - even though it blows my mind.) At any rate, Dr. Mc even said she could tell I was loosing because of where my port incision was and where she located it. I just took my ruler out and measured the needle mark and where my incision is. Mind you I am in a sitting position, but it is 2.5 inches lower than where my incision was. Amazing! So that is the victory I am holding on to. Go a head and laugh! Yes, I really took a ruler out and measured my tummy, while working! Ahh the life of a new bandster! I am doing great. I am ready to run run run. It is not like after surgery. I did have a tensy wensy bit of discomfort last night from the poke. Best described as a hmmm will I ahve a bruise sortness. Sometimes it is hard to say what you want in writing. I am more of a face to face person, easier to communicate. I returned back to work after my apt and had no trouble doing so. Oh Robbyn, I look forward to sharing more "skinny updates" with you! I am ready to pack up and ship off these old cloths! Someone will be a happy camper to get all my cloths as I loose! Woo hoo! One investment I will not be sorry to see go! How are you doing? Has the gas fully left yet? I had a weird hicup after surgery, but no gas pains. I had gas when I started solid foods again. Wow! I was like an air tunnel. TMI warning.....at first it was non smelly air, then that changed, and the stinky gas followed. I was thinking to myself, gosh, I sure hope this is a side effect that will be short lived. It was, and I was relieved. Don't get me wrong, I would have been happy to treat the gas if it stayed, but happy my body adjusted to "normal" again....and so is my loving hubby! LOL *blushes*

I had my first fill yesterday. (June 1, 2009) I arrived early so I could check in to the access center. I had to chuckle because the TV in the access center was set to the Jerry Springer show. Now honey that is some drama! LOL Pay my $50.00 and go upstairs to meet my new Dr. Almost as soon as I checked in Michelle came out to take me back to pay the $1000.00 fee. Within 2 minutes I was in a room meeting with Dr. McBride. She is very nice and a fellow bandster. She has had her band for 6 years. Cool! As expected Dr. McBride did an upper GI, and took pictures of my band to "make sure it was placed correctly." Everything was great. (I had no doubt that it would be, thanks O.C.C. Dr.'s and staff.) She also inflated my band to make sure it was okay, and then pulled the fluid out. I was glad she did this because I will in theory get better fills. All the air would have been sucked out. Then she put in 1.5 cc's of saline, and slowly backed it out until the barium was not getting held up. To my surprise I only needed .7 cc's to start me off. She had the table tilted upward while taking out the fluid. It is pretty neat to see the barium flow too. With the table tilted upward, you get a better fill because you are in a better “normal” position. You eat up right so it would make sense that your fills be tested in the upright position. I am officially off and running! She did advise to have liquids for 2 days, then soft foods, lastly on to solids. Dr. Mc also told me there was not need to rush back to soft or solids. As long as liquids are satisfying me, I could stay on liquids as long as I would like. Better weight loss this way. We will have to see how it is going! The staff at the University Medical Center is very nice, pleasant and helpful. I hope this will work for me. I have some very poor eating habits. Oh, and another thing, she was surprised I did not have any diseases, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, cholesterol, ect. Most people who have this procedure in the states have these issues. I am happy to say I do not, and that is another big reason as to why I am doing this life style change. I don't want any health issues and my family has several in there history. The entire apt and drive to and from took 1.5 hours. Not to shabby. The next time will be faster, as I will not be meeting with the Dr first.

Oh, I know what you mean and I have not even had any work done myself. YET but I can see how my husband would be AFRAID! LOL That is a great price! So awesome!

You are doing great! If you don't have any head hunger, then my friend you are in a much better place than me! Oh and really, the needle is not mega thick, it's like the size of any standard writing pen. Muaaah haa haa haa! Totally kidding!

Lena - I say live on the edge, shake things up! Stay at the Lucerna! LOL What are you getting done at Cosmed? Or is this visit a information gathering session!?

Hi BellCurveBabe- This Dr. charges a package fee up front. I will get 4 fills for the up frint price of $1000.00. Each fill after the four will be $125.00. For the later it is broke down as $75 for the office visit, and $50 for radiology. Each Dr in the area was a different price. I was supprise at how much they differed when I was calling around. I get my fills local and have to drive less than five minutes to get there. Very nice! I would have loved to go back to the OCC, but for me, it was not practical. Away from my family, time off work, cost of airfare, transportation and hotel stay. It would be a considerable difference in price. Paying the lump sum up front may be more expensive in the beginning, but it deffinatly closes the gap fast. Soon it will be a cost savings to me to do it this way. I wish you SUCCESS in finding good after care if you are not planning on going to MX for your fills/adjustments. I did all my searching before I got banded. I need to make sure I had a Dr who would take a MX banded patient. In my area, there was only one Dr. who would not touch me with a ten foot pole. His office was the only office I was treated poorly at, so to me, I didn't mind that he was not a Dr. I was considering. How are you doing? Have you started solids yet?

Arianna - I don't think that the Dr.'s instructions are "typical" however she goes by her experience and puts that together with her doctorly advise. I have really bad eating habits and liquids have proven to be a "issue" with me. For example, was up in the middle of the night last night eating a small bowl of cereal. Went down fine, it was soggy. Admitting this makes me feel like cr%p but hey, it's the truth. By admitting I have a problem I am addressing 1/2 the battle. I got on the scale this morning and vuala - I am down a couple lbs from yesterday. (insprite the gosh darn cereal.) I am going to do my best. Arianna - I don't have food issues during the day, it's in the evening/night that kick my butt! Last night after I got home I was walking around lost, thinking of food. Another pathetic confession. Let's hope and pray I can address my terrible eating habits and get better one bite at a time. (I was secretly hoping last night I would be to tight to eat the cereal and feel something negative to teach me a lesson.) At anyrate, I am on this path and I am praying I tranform for the good. The Lord knows I need to do something.