mary1234 Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It has been 1 1/2 years since my surgery. I have lost all of my weight (within the year mark) . I was 192lbs the day of surgery - I now weigh 126lbs at 5'6". I just wanted to give you all encouragement that this was the best thing I have ever done. I have not had one problem with the band since I have had the right amount of fill. I am one of the ones with a low BMI to start with. I believe it was 30 or 31. So - if you are questioning whether to do it or not - DO IT! STICK TO IT! WORK WITH IT! and Live the life your waiting to LIVE! Dr. Ortiz is a fantastic Dr. BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEWCOMERS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAMMIE Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It has been 1 1/2 years since my surgery. I have lost all of my weight (within the year mark) . I was 192lbs the day of surgery - I now weigh 126lbs at 5'6". I just wanted to give you all encouragement that this was the best thing I have ever done. I have not had one problem with the band since I have had the right amount of fill. I am one of the ones with a low BMI to start with. I believe it was 30 or 31. So - if you are questioning whether to do it or not - DO IT! STICK TO IT! WORK WITH IT! and Live the life your waiting to LIVE! Dr. Ortiz is a fantastic Dr. BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEWCOMERS! WOOOO HOO!!! WTG MARY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest marys Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 wow mary - congrats - you must feel and look terrific. can you share your fill history? I'm similar to you in BMI and had surgery in Nov 05 but have had no success at weight loss - I may get one more fill but that will be my last - I have spent close to 15,000 and have lost about 5 lbs. but again, all of us are different. just curious what your fill history was/is. thanks, mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mary1234 Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I received surgery April of 05 and only lost minimal weight with the first fill maybe 10 lbs, if I can remember right - by the time September came it was only around 5lbs. It was in September that I went and got another fill - it seems 2.5 and 2.7 are my key fill zone. I am at 2.3 right now - but I can tell you this. 2.5cc is when I lost all of the weight - within 3-4 months really. I was a size 12 (closing in on a 14) in September and by January/February I was a size 8. I really was touchy with fills. 2.7 worked for me, but I was strictly on fluids (not at all healthy for you) and Iwas abusing the band - I became selfish with wanting to lose weight really fast. It was very unhealthy and I was extremely weak - We went down to 2.5 and it seemed to be the magic number. The weight came off at 2lbs a week. I found a doctor here (dr. ortiz trained him) where I live who does the fills for me - so we played with it once every month to find the magic number. I feel guilty sometimes as I see how hard it is for some people. I just wanted to check in with the forum and give some encouragement. If you need any help, email me and I will gladly share what I can. The trick is to finding the right amount of fill. What weight did you start out at? Height? and where are you now? What state do you live in? I'll see what I can find. Best of luck and look forward to hearing from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest marys Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Hi Mary, Thanks for writing back so quickly. I've been in touch with another woman who is struggling and we have discussed being too tight as a way of getting the weight off - yeah we all know it's not 'right' but we are also all desperate (or at least I am) ok here is my weight/surgery/fill history. I started at 183 but lost to 179 day of surgery and i am 5'2 - i want to weigh about 125. Surgery November 18, 2005 (Dr. Ortiz) 1st Fill 1/14/06 = 2.3cc's 2nd Fill 6/27/06 = lost to 2.2 filled to 2.6 Unfill on 7/13/06 = 1.8 3rd Fill 8/23/06= 2.0 4th Fill 9/11/06 = 2.2 I just started medifast today and its horrible but i'm doing it for 2 weeks -i weighed 173 today although i was staying around 168 even after my last fill (Have't lost anything since that fill - now have gained 5) I will probably try 2.5 next time and that is it. to say that i am discouraged is an understatement - i am a failure at the band too - that really stings. I live in Utah and have gotten all my fills in Tijuana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mary1234 Posted October 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Please don't go too tight. It will only damage the band and yourself also. IT IS VERY HARMFUL! I am interested to know what you are eating? It is easy to forget what liquid calories are, since they go down the easiest. What is your daily intake - please let me know = breakfast, lunch, dinner- and have you ever felt restriction with the fills? At what point? I look forward to hearing from you - I am going to look for another post from a girl named SHELL - she was a great help to me. At that time, I was in your situation. I will search the forum and send them to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happygirlinca Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 It has been 1 1/2 years since my surgery. I have lost all of my weight (within the year mark) . I was 192lbs the day of surgery - I now weigh 126lbs at 5'6". I just wanted to give you all encouragement that this was the best thing I have ever done. I have not had one problem with the band since I have had the right amount of fill. I am one of the ones with a low BMI to start with. I believe it was 30 or 31. So - if you are questioning whether to do it or not - DO IT! STICK TO IT! WORK WITH IT! and Live the life your waiting to LIVE! Dr. Ortiz is a fantastic Dr. BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEWCOMERS! Mary, I am due to have surgery on 11/1 w/Dr Ortiz. I'm 5'7" and 235. I am on the liquid diet right now and really having trouble loosing weight. I'm afraid they won't take me if I can't loose 12 pds before surgery. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregNE Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Mary, I am due to have surgery on 11/1 w/Dr Ortiz. I'm 5'7" and 235. I am on the liquid diet right now and really having trouble loosing weight. I'm afraid they won't take me if I can't loose 12 pds before surgery. Any ideas? First, Happygirl, are you being strict on the liquid diet? And what shakes are you using? Second, have you called or emailed Dr Miranda? She should be able to help get the weight coming down. I am sure you will be able to go forward anyway.....while losing a few pounds pre-op helps, your BMI is not so dangerously high as to be as risky as some of us. But keep at it, don't give up.....attack the first 5lbs,l when those 5 are gone, then worry about the next 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 Happygirl, Dr. Ortiz told me that he has only had to close one person back up without putting in a band, and that person had lost ZERO weight prior to surgery. There was simply no room for the docs to work. I think that as long as you lose SOME weight, you'll be okay. I didn't lose as much as they wanted me to either, but I still got a band! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now