Infoblog

How does it feel when you hit your "sweet spot"? I don't know if I'd call what I got very "sweet".

Martha

I used the Cosmetic Fee Plan and got a loan really quickly.
http://www.amerifee.com/cosmetic-surgery-financing/index.asp?
info=103984A2F6
I filled out the online app and received a call the next day. I
worked with my Dr.'s rep to work out the details but the whole
process took about two days.
Please email me if you have any questions.
Steph
Dr. Rodriguez - Mtry, MX
10/03/03
299/243/???

I have to self-pay and I'm looking at all my options. I seen a lot
of excellent comments regarding having the surgery in Mexico,
including it be significantly cheaper there. I've a called a few
docs here in Michigan to ask if I have the surgery in Mexico would I
be able to see them for fills. They've said no. Is there anyone
from Michigan that has had the surgery in Mexico and has a doctor for
follow-up here in Michigan? Thanks.

I have seen links to sites that will finance the surgery. Has anyone
used them? Can we use them for surgeries outside the US? (one of the
sites I went to asked you to put in your zipcode for providers in
your area)
Any comments would be GREATLY appreciated!

Beth,
My twin sister and I were banded in December and chose the standard
package. The hospital is small but very clean and the nurses were
wonderful. (There have been two or three nurses that have been banded
there and they thought it was very adequate.) As I see it I am glad
that we saved the money. We were in a little pain and quite honestly
slept for most of our stay... I don't see the purpose in spending the
extra money for some grand room.. IMHO...
Jamie

As I hear it, save your money for the new wardrobe!

Has anyone had surgery with Dr. Kuri and choosen the standard
package? What did you think of the hospital (San Fransico hospital)?
I'm trying to decide on the package...Thanks!
Beth

Monday Dr. Martinez gave me my fith fill. Because of my hiatal
hernia and complications with a "lazy" esophagus, the doc's
have been quite consertative with my fills. Up until Monday I
hadn't hit my "sweet spot."
I'm confident to say that alas, I feel the proper amount of
restriction. I can easily get liquids down throughout the day. At
night it's a little easier, yet I'm comfortably restricted.
Dr. Ortiz and Martinez have really come through for me. Their
prudence regard to my hernia, their patience and caring attitude
has made my banding experience the best it could be.
Lorane
Dr. Ortiz/Martinez 9/19/03
205/Weight report next week/ 150

Will Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez be there?
Lorane
Dr. Ortiz 9/19/03
205/180/150

Why does it say advertisement? I'm not advertising !!!

ADVERTISEMENT
Hello group, I don't post often but I thought I might see if I could
get some help here. I have gout as I'm sure alot of fat people have.
Well, the thing is that a High Protein, Low carb diet is one of the
things that causes gout to go active. Since that is what most
bandsters try to do (high protein, low carb) then I thought maybe
someone would have an answer for me. Question, is there anything I
can do to get rid of the pain besides going to the doc? I talked to
my doc yesterday (Band Doc) and he said I could take the prescribed
meds for gout (.6 mg of colchicine twice a day)but that I would need
to keep my stomach lubed with Malox. I guess I can deal with the
pills but the malox thing I would rather not have to do. Any
suggestions?
Thanks,
Don
10/20/03
451/406/200
-45

we will stop by the hospital and check on you that evening and help you however we can

Jamie, that is such a very nice thing for you to do. I wanted to go visit the other band patients who were in the hospital the same time I was there and I felt like death warmed over and didn't do it and now I really regret doing so. I was not on the same floor as they were , that's why I did not pass any of them in the halls, walking up and down, up and down. I would have liked to meet the ones I didn't meet at the doctor's office. I wish I'd have gotten to visit with them in person more. That would have been fun for me and bonding with a banded person is such a good thing. I think if anyone can find a banded friend to just sit and visit with it's a big help. I know I found a banded live friend at my support group and I felt like I found a new mother. I am older than she is but still it was a comfort to get to have a real person there that you can touch and talk to. You are lucky to get to have your sister to go through this with, I wish my sister needed a band so
she could do it with me.

Martha

Suzi,
My sister and I are trying to arrange to fly in on the 22nd so that
we get filled on the 23rd by Dr. Kuri. If we get in on the 22nd we
will stop by the hospital and check on you that evening and help you
however we can. I know that I had another bandster stop by the night
of my banding and I was greatful that she did. I hope I can do the
same for you.... Please email me if you have any questions or
anything like that....
Take care,
Jamie

Sheri, don't be scared, those Mexican doctors have this whole trip down to a science and they take care of you . Don't worry about that. Let them know you are coming alone and tell them to take good care of you and they will. All you have to do is show up. Between now and then, just plan to have all your soups and popsicles, and jello, and pudding, and Crystal Lite, and apple juice all on hand for when you get back. Make your soups ahead of time and freeze the broth in small freezer bags so you can take it out as needed and you will be all set. You will never regret this I'll bet. I've lost almost 40 lbs since Sept. Not the most but at least I didn't gain 40. That's a step in the right direction. Good luck on your journey.

Martha

So you've been wondering about the Texas Bandster Bash...heard some
rumors but haven't seen where to sign up or where to get information?
Here's what you've been waiting for! If you take a look at
www.texasbandsterbash.com it will tell you about:
· The gorgeous location we've chosen, the historic Tremont
House on Galveston Island, and the alternative we've worked out to
stay in the sister hotels nearby.
· The registration cost of only $70 / Bandster, how to register
and information on how to make your hotel reservations
· Events and opportunities like one-on-one personal fitness
sessions with a certified trainer, a weekend long clothing swap and a
hot blues party Friday night.
· Lots of presentations from doctors and other medical
professionals
· Makeup and fashion advice
· Plenty of fellow bandsters on all stages of the journey
Please take a look and register today to join us for a great time. ;
We look forward to seeing you there!
Erika Vaughan
Chairman, Texas Bandster Bash & Wellness Conference
294/199/150
Dr Spivak 9/30/02

Hi everyone!
I have a date for surgery on the 22nd. Is anyone else going to be
banded then??..I would love to hear from you. I am going to make the
trip alone..hubby has to stay with the kids. I am a lil' scared.
Any advise would be great. Thanks..
Sheri

Hi everyone,
I am looking for a fill doctor somewhere in West Virginia. I hope
someone can help me.
Thanks,
Peggy

Words to live by dan. LOL!
Elizabeth
pre-band 1/9/04 This FRIDAY!
264/who knows!!!!
"just because you CAN cram it down there doesn't

I was cramming in both. But I didn't have a fill until five months, as
was VERY restricted from the beginning, and got used to cramming in
too much stuff. I'm still learning that. The most important thing
for me to remember is "just because you CAN cram it down there doesn't
mean you SHOULD cram down there".
dan
Sunday, January 4, 2004, 5:36:33 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

It showed on the fluoro when I had
my first fill.

So you did it before your first fill? That's a surprise and let that be a lesson for newbies. Wonder what you were cramming down there? Soft food or solids? I know that before you go for your first fill, you do eat more and more and if you are doing that and realize it , then you can go get your first fill , but since one has never been through this before , it's hard to realize that you have gradually begun eating more and more. That's something people need to be aware of by the sixth week after surgery. It seems to me that the doctor's had my diet plan all mapped out until the sixth week and I barely got to have solids before it was time for my first fill. I went by the six-week date on that, was too stupid to know any different.

Martha

I stretched pouch and esophagus by cramming in too much food all the
time. I don't know a lot about it. It showed on the fluoro when I had
my first fill. On last fill it was OK, since I'd been good. Like most
other muscles you stretch (think of various parts of your lower
anatomy), the return to a normal size eventually after being
stretched, assuming they're not SO stretched as to be permanently
damaged.
So I try really hard not to cram too much in, to quit before I really
know I'm full, etc. My esophagus is naturally weak, so I probably
stretch easier than most folks.
dan
Sunday, January 4, 2004, 5:16:33 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

yeah, you can stretch it. been there, done that.
as to why the doc says you can't, well.....maybe they don't know.
dan
Sunday, January 4, 2004, 3:07:47 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Can you elaborate on this subject for our information? How does one stretch the pouch, how did you? Tell us all you know about this subject, how did you fix it? How did you know it was stretched?

Martha

And I'm the Queen of Sheba, too. Except when I'm Napoleon.

Dan, they must be new, so don't be "busting " their bubble. LOL

Martha

And I'm the Queen of Sheba, too. Except when I'm Napoleon.
Sunday, January 4, 2004, 1:43:39 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Sunday, January 4, 2004, 12:01:05 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
d
I've heard lots of people have names for their bands. Some are male,
some female. I've never named my car or anthing else like that, so
never thought of naming my band. I'll have to think about that....
dan
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Hi Martha,
Do be careful if you eat any bread. It balls up and, well, you can
guess what happens. I haven't had bread in a year! Rice can be a
problem for some also. I've been reading your posts and I get the
feeling you are eating too much, or not chewing enough or you're
getting the feeling you "just want to eat". I think if you had too
much fill, you wouldn't be able to eat too much of anything. You
would be in pain. This fickle "bastard" or "bitch" (whichever),
won't give in so you might as well go with it and enjoy the
rewards. Love your posts!
Ardie/Fl.
// I was wanting to have a little bread too. I guess what I want
and what I get are just going to be two different things. //

This is the best advice/information I have seen posted yet!!!!! It is very complete and informative, it matches my experience to date and answers several questions on what to do next. Thank You Brad
iamyuneek <iamyuneek@...

I have been banded 2 years, these answers are just my opinion from what I have read and what I have experienced.

Sylvia

When do I get my first fill

A: If you are not losing weight then about 6-8 weeks out.

How many fills do I need

A many as it takes.

Personally I needed two fills to lose 100lbs.

How does it feel to get a fill

A: Just like getting blood drawn, doesnt hurt unless you get a dodgy fill giver.

How much fill do I get

A: Depends what type of band...and how much fat you are carrying arount your waist.

With the Inamed band, and if all is well, I think Dr. Kuri puts in about 1.5 for the first fill.

What is going on when I get a fill

A: your stoma gets smaller to allow less food to pass

How does your body react to a fill

A: When you are receiving it, usually nothing at all. After the fill you may, or may not know for a few days (sometimes longer) if you have the right restriction, nobody seems to knows the real cause of this phenomenon.

How do you eat right after a fill

A: Liquids only for at least 8 hours, (some say longer) then try some protein and see how you go.

What diet do you use after a fill

A: After liquids experiment a bit, but the protein must come first. If you find yourself in the soft calorie syndrome then you are too tight.

How much do you eat after a fill

A: Ask and answered in the last few questions I think, but eat your protein first and let your band tell you how much.

When do I get my next fill, how long do I wait.

A: If you have stopped losing weight for 3 weeks or more and your

fill has obviously loosened, then it's time.

What do I do if it's too tight

A: If you cant drink more than a sip of water, then get some taken out immediately. If you can drink but can't eat or you pb nearly every time you eat solid food, then give it a 3 -4 days to see if you loosen up, if not get some taken out immediately.

How long do I wait to get an un fill

A: See above

What if I throw up, some or a lot

A: If this goes on too long, you are in serious danger of harming your band.

Do I drink with meals

A: No it washes the food through making you hungry faster. If you are stuck and need to wash the food through, then you are eating too fast or too much.

What is PB, is it different from vomiting

A: P.B is what comes up from the throat/esophogas. Vomiting is from deep down.

What does it feel like before I am going to PB

A: Pain in the upper chest, a stuck feeling, or it could happen spontaneously especially if you bend down.

How long do I wait to eat after I PB

A: The advice for this varies enormously, but I would say stick to liquids for at least 8 hours and then try some protein.

What do I eat after I PB

A: Liquids with no lumps.

What if I have no restriction after a fill

A: Wait at least 10 days, and then if you are still not restricted go back and get about .2 cc's and see how that works for you.

How long do I wait for my next fill

A: A fill is not automatic, you only get one if you need one.

Martha

I have been learning a lot reading everyone's posts the last couple
of days. I had my first fill 12/31 and so far cannot tell much of a
difference. But I'm going to wait 10 days like someone said (was is
Ardie?) and see what happens. I also drink small amounts with my
meals but didn't think about how that might affect how quickly I
become hungry again. So there's another piece of helpful
information. It really is a journey isn't it?
Louise in Omaha
11/18/03 Rumbaut
238/214.5/150

You don't drink with meals for the same reason you don't eat ice
cream. Either way you're consuming a liquid that goes right through
the stoma and doesn't really fill you up. The liquid washes the solid
food through rather quickly so you don't get full until you've had a
lot more. It is also possible that you need a fill.
dan
Sunday, January 4, 2004, 8:44:47 AM, you wrote:
g
g
g
g
g
g
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Dan, yes, I do go to a Band weight loss support group, but I've found out that sometimes they don't know what they are talking about. Like, the leaders of it who work in Dr. Snow's office said you can't stretch your pouch. How wrong is that?

So, I think I have to take all information and assimilate it and use what I think is right for me. Why would a band doctor's office say that? I also talked to Don Mills of Inamed, who is not a doctor, and he disagreed as well. He says if you continually pack the pouch you can stretch it. I thought you could stretch it. But I thought it was a whole lot easier than it must be. I kept thinking all those soft foods I put in it during the first six weeks of healing were probably stretching it out, but that is not true.

Martha

Not sure who i am talking to but you are too too cute. making me lol. Thanks for your words. Being on the losing side. Do you kn ow how much you have lost? When did you get banded. Just wondering.
Debby
Being Banded 3/15/4
Tijuana/Dr Vewrboonen

Assume that the weight support group you refer to is a BAND group. If
not, listen to the advice here instead of it there. If they're
bandsters, yes, listen, as they know you personally....not that we
don't. I'll agree that you just need to learn to live with the fickle
bitch and accept that you can't eat in the morning. Just drink in the
morning, and eat later as, when, and what you can. If you barf, do not
eat solids for at least 24 hours.
dan
Saturday, January 3, 2004, 6:48:17 PM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
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d
d
d
d
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

I am head of the Psychiatry Department at the University of Texas at Galveston John Sealy Hospital.

Is that more than you wanted to know. LOL why do you ask?

Martha

Hi Wendy,
When we drink with our meals we compact the food hence, letting us
eat more then we should. Drink your water or tea or whatever right
before you eat then wait for about an hour after eating before
drinking any thing.

I'm DYING to know what you do for a living Martha!

I just went for a ride on my bike again, and man, I can barely walk, I'm really wobbly, I must have no muscle in my legs at all. I had to rest just to get off the bike. Man, talk about out of shape. I was surprised I could ride it at all , I thought my muscles would be too sore, but I made it home again, I had to pray all the way up the driveway though.

I'm slowly eating some solid crab meat now. So much for soups today. I thought I'd try just a few pieces and see how it goes. One piece went down ok and now I've eaten half a second piece, am going to wait a minute to see how it feels. I'm not going to recite each bite, aren't you glad!

Martha

if we listen to him and do our job properly, we WILL earn that big bonus at the end

Sylvia, I guess I don't think of eating a piece of hamburger meat as the same as having a real hamburger. I was wanting to have a little bread too. I guess what I want and what I get are just going to be two different things. Can you eat no bread at all? When I was in the restaurant yesterday , a man a table next to me ordered a hamburger and they brought it out and it had a really thick piece of meat on it and it looked so good, but I was into wanting to get my fish down, to no avail. If I'd have expected to throw it all up, I could have at lease enjoyed downing half a hamburger and throwing it up.

Well, I will watch and see if I can get some solid food to go through with the new method I have in mind . I thought this band was a "bitch" and you called it a "him", hmmmm, wonder if there is any significance in that ? Did you notice ? LOL , I'm all for changing the band's nickname to "bastard".

Martha

I am ready to give into the band rather than insist on my planned way of eating. I'm tired of throwing up, I guess I was too stubborn, or just didn't think of doing it any other way. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

A:

LOL Martha..I think you have now realized the band is the boss, and if we listen to him and do our job properly, we WILL earn that big bonus at the end :-) However, you eventually must eat some protein, so if you find you can still only get soups down without a p.b by this time next week, then you should imho get some taken out.

Yes I eat good hamburger, but I have to chew the life out of it and I would rather put some sauce on it than cheese, but if you need the cheese go ahead, but forget the bread.

I have also read that you should not take more than 20 minutes to eat a meal...in other words if it takes you 20 minutes to eat half the burger then you are done, take the rest home or put it away for the next meal. Personally I find that one the hardest, if I I feel the food eventually pop through, I want to go back and eat the rest, but that is a case of fighting the band, not working with it.

Who said this was easy..lol

Sylvia

Martha

I have been banded 2 years, these answers are just my opinion from what I have read and what I have experienced.

Sylvia

When do I get my first fill

A: If you are not losing weight then about 6-8 weeks out.

How many fills do I need

A many as it takes.

Personally I needed two fills to lose 100lbs.

How does it feel to get a fill

A: Just like getting blood drawn, doesnt hurt unless you get a dodgy fill giver.

How much fill do I get

A: Depends what type of band...and how much fat you are carrying arount your waist.

With the Inamed band, and if all is well, I think Dr. Kuri puts in about 1.5 for the first fill.

What is going on when I get a fill

A: your stoma gets smaller to allow less food to pass

How does your body react to a fill

A: When you are receiving it, usually nothing at all. After the fill you may, or may not know for a few days (sometimes longer) if you have the right restriction, nobody seems to knows the real cause of this phenomenon.

How do you eat right after a fill

A: Liquids only for at least 8 hours, (some say longer) then try some protein and see how you go.

What diet do you use after a fill

A: After liquids experiment a bit, but the protein must come first. If you find yourself in the soft calorie syndrome then you are too tight.

How much do you eat after a fill

A: Ask and answered in the last few questions I think, but eat your protein first and let your band tell you how much.

When do I get my next fill, how long do I wait.

A: If you have stopped losing weight for 3 weeks or more and your

fill has obviously loosened, then it's time.

What do I do if it's too tight

A: If you cant drink more than a sip of water, then get some taken out immediately. If you can drink but can't eat or you pb nearly every time you eat solid food, then give it a 3 -4 days to see if you loosen up, if not get some taken out immediately.

How long do I wait to get an un fill

A: See above

What if I throw up, some or a lot

A: If this goes on too long, you are in serious danger of harming your band.

Do I drink with meals

A: No it washes the food through making you hungry faster. If you are stuck and need to wash the food through, then you are eating too fast or too much.

What is PB, is it different from vomiting

A: P.B is what comes up from the throat/esophogas. Vomiting is from deep down.

What does it feel like before I am going to PB

A: Pain in the upper chest, a stuck feeling, or it could happen spontaneously especially if you bend down.

How long do I wait to eat after I PB

A: The advice for this varies enormously, but I would say stick to liquids for at least 8 hours and then try some protein.

What do I eat after I PB

A: Liquids with no lumps.

What if I have no restriction after a fill

A: Wait at least 10 days, and then if you are still not restricted go back and get about .2 cc's and see how that works for you.

How long do I wait for my next fill

A: A fill is not automatic, you only get one if you need one.

Martha

Sylvia, do you ever eat a hamburger? Is that junk food? Sometimes I'd like to have a hamburger, a good one like at Chili's restaurant.

That's a better quality meat. With cheese.

I think this morning, I'm doing a little different. I drank a cup of chicken noodle soup and , of course, it went down fine, I think I will do soups today and see how it goes. I ate a few of the noodles too. No problem. If I can just give it some rest and then start over and try it again, maybe it will be better. I hate to take some fill out just yet. I think I can try eating smaller amounts more often during the day until it loosens up some more. That is what I'm wanting to try anyway. I want to work with this if I can. I am ready to give into the band rather than insist on my planned way of eating. I'm tired of throwing up, I guess I was too stubborn, or just didn't think of doing it any other way. There is more than one way to skin a cat.

Martha

You are right Martha, eventually you dont have to think as hard. Newly banded l also found it hard to stop eating fast and eating junk food. But over time I found that the the barfing was not fun anymore (was it ever?) so it gradually became obvious to me that eating the fast food was just not worth it, and eventually I stopped even thinking about it. I could pass it, smell it, and have someone eat it next to me, and I still didn't feel the need to eat it.

Martha to be honest I envy your fill level, but I am a little concerned about you hon, if you are still throwing up everytime you drink let alone eat, then you need to get a smidge taken out..it is just not worth the risk. Remember, you can always get a little more down the road if you get too loose. This is not a race it's a journey, it may take some (like me) longer than others, but we get there in the end just the same. :-)

Sylvia

You have to think about it every time you eat for the rest of your life. Hey, maybe people six months out don't have to think as hard as this, you think? These are good topics for 3-6 month banded people:

Martha

Yes, I eat beans all the time. Well, lots of the time. All kinds of beans . They all seem to go down ok. But I thought you had to eat them in combination with rice to achieve the protein from them, now, that doesn't make sense to me, but I thought that for some reason. I am able to mix a small amount of rice with refried beans and get it down ok.

You sure are right about eating too fast if you think you are hungry. I have to be very careful about that, although I am really not hungry, if meal time is late, I think I should be hungry and will attempt to eat too fast , too many spoonfuls going into my mouth too quickly, and chewing now so well, and swallowing too large of bites. All bad things to do with a good fill. I hate having to eat like a human! I am still of the mindset that to hog it down is a good thing. It sure takes a long time to relearn these old habits. You have to think about it every time you eat for the rest of your life. Hey, maybe people six months out don't have to think as hard as this, you think? These are good topics for 3-6 month banded people:

When do I get my first fill

How many fills do I need

How does it feel to get a fill

How much fill do I get

What is going on when I get a fill

How does your body react to a fill

How do you eat right after a fill

How long on liquids or soft after a fill

What diet do you use after a fill

How much do you eat after a fill

What is proper restriction and how does it feel

When do I get my next fill, how long do I wait

What do I do if it's too tight

How long do I wait to get an un fill

What if I throw up, some or a lot

Do I drink with meals

What is PB, is it different from vomiting

What does it feel like before I am going to PB

How long do I wait to eat after I PB

What do I eat after I PB

What if I have no restriction after a fill

How long do I wait for my next fill

Am I doing normal or not

What else do you think of?

Martha

Wendy, this is my opinion. One is supposed to eat solid foods so they stay in your pouch longer and make you feel full longer so you are not temped to eat more. If you drink with your meals, it washes the food through the pouch, emptying it too quickly before your next meal is due and therefore making you more hungry. That's the theory of the deal.

Now, here's what else I think. Did you think you were going to escape what else I think? Well, what I have done is allow myself three meals a day. I drink with those meals because no matter what , that's all the food I allow myself so if I get hungry , it's my own fault. Ok, so much for "thinking". In reality here is what I feel . I don't get hungry, even when I have not eaten for two days. With my recent second fill, it is so tight that I can hardly eat at a meal , much less drink anything. So I've had to eliminate drinking with eating, because I'm so busy throwing up, what's the use. So what you have to do is use your best judgment and if you are careful and don't eat too much food, then you can drink, if you feel hungry between meals, don't drink with meals, if you don't get hungry between meals, and you drink with your meals, that's not going to hurt anything. Some people take a sip or two with a meal but don't really do any major drinking, like a
whole glass of something, just a sip or two along with the food, to help it go down I guess. So there you have it. As much as I know about it anyway including my experience with drinking. It is something that will not harm you to do or not do and it's something that you need to experiment with to see what works for you. (Isn't that the way with this band business, to each his own)

Martha

Okay, I have a confession to make. I ALWAYS drink with meals and I
need a review on why I shouldn't. I'm getting my second fill a week
from tomorrow. I've been shifting between minus 28.5 and minus 33
pounds for the last couple of months. I've also eaten too much ice
cream. But now I'm getting off the subject. I really just want some
feedback on the liquids with meals part.
wendy
rumbaut 8/5/03

Amen!!! And it's even a big help to those of us who might go through
this kind of thing in the future.
wendy

I'm so glad you said this! It makes me feel better.
wendy

Blair,
Thanks for the encouraging comments about your experience with Dr. Ortiz,
his staff, and the facilities.
I'm heading to TJ with Dr. O this coming Thursday and surgery will be on
Friday the 9th! I'm very excited and not nervous at all. And it helps to
have reassuring thoughts from folks like you who have been there already and
had the surgery!
Suzanne in Denver

No, you can drive but do stop every hour to walk a bit and stretch
those legs as you don't want blood clots to occur. If you feel fine,
I wouldn't see why you couldn't go back to work. Just get up and
move around and not sit for any length of time. Good luck and enjoy
your forthcoming journey into Bandsterland!

ADVERTISEMENT
I went in about 8:00 am this morning and had the surgery. EVerything
went well, and we have been very blessed with the great treatment
and facilities of Dr Ortiz and his group.
His mother has been great! She ran us around to all the preop stuff
yesterday and kept our schedules straight. The hotel was very
upscale, hot, safe water and everything. There is a restaurant next
to the pool which serves some of the best Chicken Linguini (final
real meal) Ive ever tasted. I slept like a rock on the soft mattress
and pillow. Even got a little HBO late night (which IM sure you can
put two and two together.
It has been great working with the several other patients down here
right now. It is awesome to have Lorane here with us because she had
already had the surgery, which specifically calmed all the nerves I
had going into it. Her son is awesome too. We share alot of the same
political interests, are about the same weight, and I suspect have
gone through the same types of things in our lives. I am going to
try and talk him into running for Congress some day, but he will
have to leave Massachusetts to do that. Our kind dont fare too well
in Mass. Heck, they dont fare very well in my home of Washington
either.
Anyhow, it has been a great trip. Everything has gone as planned and
the facilities are great. I would encourage everyone to follow the
Dr Ortiz route when considering this process. You get what you pay
for indeed!

Well, I think I'd stick with it for a while. Be SURE you are eating
VERY slowly, and chewing VERY well. If memory serves of your last
bunch of messages, you can eat sometimes. If so, you should be ok. If
you're feeling like you're not getting enough nutrition, you could get
some liquid protein drinks, or when necessary wash things down. This
fill is definitely tight, though not like the last one. My esophagus
is weak and I essentially never PB, but I've sure gotten stuck on very
little bits of things that normally go thru fine. I think it is just
more learning and accepting what I can't control. And I'm always
pissed off when I'm not in charge of everything. Oh well....I can
keep on learning.
My previous too tight fill left me in pain 24/7, and that was why I
finally gave up on it.
dan
Saturday, January 3, 2004, 4:09:04 PM, you wrote:
d
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

I'm not a doctor and don't have a clue other than what I've already told
you, maybe it's the same thing but the pain indicator has just moved to
your jaw, or maybe you have hoof and mouth disease. LOL Maybe someone else
will come up with a good answer.
Martha

Nobody said a word to me about driving, but I guess if you felt like going to work you could drive, but I really think a week for the surgery and recovery is cutting it close. I was too sore to go to work three days after I had surgery. I think my friend who had gastric bypass but laparoscopicly, drive after two or three days. She drove her kid to church, she didn't drive all day. I don't think the work of a desk job is what would be my problem, it's that surgery takes a lot out of your stamina, and you will be very , very tired by the time you get home from work, just getting up and taking a bath and getting dressed is a major event when you just had surgery. I thought two weeks was hard enough to act like normal and I didn't feel completely recovered , l00% , just like I did before surgery, for a month. But a lot depends on what condition you are in and how bad you have to go back to work.

Martha

I use to get the shoulder pain, also, and used it as a signal to stop
eating. I still have a twinge there sometimes. That is quite different
than the jaw pain. It is more like I have chewed and chewed and chewed,
when I haven't really.
Joan

I am planning on having the surgery in March. Are there limitations
on when you can drive, return to work, etc? I had planned on taking
only one week off (the week of the surgery), I work a desk job so
physical labor won't be a problem...
Any info would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!

Yes, I was told that , by a doctor, that it is from some organ having
stress and it doesn't have a way to express pain directly to the brain so it
takes some other route. I forgot what organ it was , the diaphragm I think
it was. So it may route the pain through your shoulder, or your back, or
your head, or your neck. So it could happen that you are just under any
kind of stress that may cause it or maybe pulling on the diaphragm, twisting
or something. Most of us have a stitch of our stomach stitched to the
diaphragm, that's why it is involved, that is to help the band stay in the
proper location and not slip. Sometimes eating a little too much or having
too much in your pouch can cause it. I used to have it in my left shoulder
all the time, but it finally went away or I just never get to fill it up any
more. But it's full tonight and it doesn't hurt, but sometimes it was a
very powerful pain. That may be the cause of your jaw pain. We are
learning all kinds of stuff tonight, aren't we?
Martha

and thank you too Connie for sharing what is going on with you, this kind of sharing is really a huge help to all of us who are going through this thing right now. See, I thought I was the only one having this much trouble and because all of you shared your stories, we find that it is just a part of adjusting to the band for each of us in our own way, but with a little help from our friends we see how we can handle different things and learn not to be afraid to try something else to see if it works for us. There are just no hard and fast rules that can be laid down in gold , are there? Well, I feel lots better now, with a full tummy and a full brain, now I'm going to figure out how to make this work for me and not have to get fill taken out after all.

While I can't get into a size anything I will say this, my house keeper put one of my husbands sweaters in my closet by mistake and I put it on just to see how close I could get to fitting into it and ha, it fit me better than it did him. He was swallowed in it and It fit me and was a little large on me and it was a men's size Large. Not even extra large, just plain large. I see my bra cup size way too big now, I can carry my whole purse in there instead of just a wallet, and my legs are skinnier too, my pants that used to be too small to get on at all are already loose, so I think I'm losing some inches too. I need to drink my water so the fat can be washed away. Even my wrist watch is loose now. So I guess I best not do any griping. I best count my blessings.

Happy New You in the New Year of 2004.
Martha

Well, I could eat the ice cream that fast, too, but don't. I don't do it
often but when I can't get anything else down and really need to feel that I
have eaten, I'll take an hour and eat a pint, or half of one. I've also
bought some frozen raspberries and put a little bit of ice cream in a bowl
and a bunch of raspberries. They have such a strong, good flavor. I can
savor those slowly. By eating slowly I can satisfy my need for the feeling
of eating.
One other thing. Sometimes, when I have eaten only a little [and often when
I get the stuck feeling] my jaw hurts. Anyone else have that happens? I
haven't chewed enough for that to be the cause.
Joan

Hello Kim!
I'll be having surgery with Dr. Kuri in February also.
I am leaving on 2-15 and having the surgery on 2-16.
I am so excited and can hardly wait for the banded journey to begin.
I am from Denver. When is your surgery scheduled for?
chat later.....
Lisa

You are worse off than I am I think. I could eat a pint of ice cream,
lickety split. I have not and would not but I will eat 4 sugar-free
popsicles at a time, Stuff like that would go down fine. Liquids will go
down, pureed runny will go down ok. LOL Macaroni and Cheese will go down,
that may mean spaghetti and meatballs may go down, now I have to try it. I
have not been as brave to eat stuff as you have. I will have to get past
this painful time and try some new stuff. I heard you could usually eat
bread that was toasted. I haven't tried that either, but I could have a blt
. I love those. I love quesadillas too, but have not tried those. I have
eaten corn chips, corn chips go down very well and don't cause any pain.
Lots of dips can be eaten on a corn chip. Nachos too. I guess you don't
eat ice cream very often or how would you have lost so much weight already.
I think eating all the soft food has not helped me lose fast , but Dan says
I've done ok, but everyone wants to do better than ok I think. I think you
are very controlled to eat a few bites at a time. I guess I am going about
this stage wrong, I am trying to eat three times a day at meal times, and I
am going to have to eat more often a little tiny bit, if that's all that is
going to stay down, until it loosens up. That makes better sense to me now
that I see what you are doing. I just added 4 oz of sugar free pudding, 4
oz of sugar free jello, and 4 oz of strawberry yogurt to my macaroni and
cheese and I'm feeling pretty stuffed and I love that feeling, full tummy.
That is all I had all day and had to eat that for dinner tonight but it all
went down with no pain, but it was all soft stuff.
Martha

Yes, I can eat grilled sandwiches for instance, but wouldn't try soft bread.
Sometimes it takes me all day to eat a patty melt, one small bite at a time.
I can eat a small amount of rice. Have had quesadillas a couple of times
and have no trouble with nachos if I go slow. In fact I can slowly eat a
small bag of Doritos. I often eat in town, as I live alone. I will order a
cooked sandwich, eat a bite or two, take the rest with me, then take a bite
or two every half hour or so. If I am really feeling hungry I sometimes eat
ice cream which has caused no problems. Takes me about an hour for one of
those little pints.
Joan

Kathy,
that is very good advice to wait on solids and relax with a liquid
for a couple of days I have to do this after I have a rough day or
two.
Eating is a hassel to me lately... I fear food. Hmmm Imagine that.
On somedays I believe tha the bathroom & I become one. I am learning
that Yes Dan my band is in control not me at all. So I agree also
that they are fickle bitches!
Martha thank you for sharing I got some good advice from people
writing and I feel like I can handle this again. Especially when I
see the results. Also I would like to add... I hung around the 200
lb. mark for almost 3 weeks before I finally tipped the scale to
199. I didn't think I would ever see the 199 mark. So I can so
relate to the slow losing but the inches are just melting and if the
panties are getting bigger then so are other things and you just
have to be patient. I have lost alot more inches than pounds! I am
wearing a size 12 and weighing 185. I still have to pinch myself on
that! Just keep on doing what you are doing and pratice some of the
things being advised to us. You are a true inspiration to so many
people on ths board! God blessed us with your wit & humor
Have an Awsome 2004!
I will make sure to check in to see hhow you are fairing with this
fill.
Connie Botello

I did not have to eat fast even --to throw this up and yes I was in pain while waiting for it to come up. I thought I was being careful to chew really well since it was a solid I was trying to get down. I just think this fill tightened and left me like this and "the fickle bitch" has a grasp on me. LOL

Martha

I think I will take your advice starting tomorrow, as I already tried the macaroni and cheese and it went down like it was made for me. I don't understand that. I ate about a cupful of it and not one pain, I am a happy camper but I sure would not have tried that on my own without it being suggested, I'd dare not put pasta past my lips. But I was sure glad to see it go down. I think I will drink a protein drink in the mornings and do soup for lunch and dinner for a few days and see if anything comes of this. I am also going to discuss it with the weight support group and see if they also have some good suggestions. Thanks for your input, it's good advice.

Martha

Kathy, I've had this fill a month now, isn't that long enough to wait for it to go down? I guess it's inflamed from getting too tight and maybe I have not given it enough time between bouts

Martha

Martha, The throwing up is not good at all. After a bout of
this....like at the fish place, you need to go on warm liquids for a
day. The barfing definitely makes your stoma swell, and anything
you try to eat after that is going to come up also, and it will get
worse and worse. Give your tummy a rest, the swelling will go down,
and in a day, or a day and a half have something, just a little,
chew to dust , and take it slow! This fill may not be too tight,
just go slow at first and drink lots of tea and broth for a few days
and see how it goes. Good luck. Kathy
I don't think all

Popcorn is easier than pie to eat. just don't eat the entire bag, but I've
done that too, I've eaten a large popcorn at the movies too. Popcorn goes
down very easily. I drink diet soda straight from the bottle, all of it,
slowly . That seems to be no problem but I don't drink a ton of those .
Maybe two a week.
Not only does my heart sometimes beat faster, but sometimes I actually feel
like I am going to faint dead away. Never do, but for a second it sure
feels like it. When the pain is at it's peak, and this is not every time,
just occasionally. Sometimes the pains are worse than others, sometimes
they are just twinges, and then you have those like above where you just
don't think you are going to draw another breath. I never thought of it as
food being stuck, I always just thought it was having a hard time going
down, but I always thought it was on it's way down. Then when you have the
ones that aren't going down, you just seem to know , they feel different.
What is it about those? What is different feeling. I think it's that after
you wait a minute, the pain doesn't let up and you know it's coming back out
.
That macaroni and cheese sounds wonderful. I'm going to make me some of
that in a little while. That is another soft food though, but it's a long
shot for me. I may be able to get that down, but that's pasta. I have not
tried pasta except a bite or two in soup. You have no problem eating pasta?
What about breads? What about rice, can you do rice? I have eaten that KC
Masterpiece shredded chicken and beef and it went down easily, but I have
not tried it since this tightening of the band lately. I don't think all
this throwing up is a good thing. I'll bet I've thrown up about two or
three times last week. This must be what those people who throw up their
food on purpose feel like.
You just can't imagine how this conversation has helped me feel like I'm ok.
Thanks so much.
Martha

Martha,
I got my second fill in mid-November. I didn't have the problem too much at
first but it is there nearly every day now. I just ate some Krafts macaroni
and cheese [I cook up about 1/3 of the macaroni and add all the cheese].
The pain in the chest occurred at first bite. Then I waited until it was
all gone, took another bite, some pain, waited, repeated. After about four
or five bites I could finish it. I don't stop eating for the day if it
actually comes to PBing. I wait for 5/6 hours and try again. Often the
second time during the day is ok. I feel like I am getting enough food. I
don't have any trouble drinking if it is not right after I eat. One of the
things I have noted is that when the food gets even slightly stuck I not
only feel pain in the center of my breastbone, but my heart beats a little
faster. Do you have this problem?
I am not ready to take out any fill yet. Although I am not losing fast, I
am losing and I really want to get it all off. I can say that I am looking
forward to returning to the amount of my first fill after losing the weight.
By the way, I can't even imagine eating popcorn, although I do drink sodas
after letting the intitial fizz disapate.
Joan

Dan, what do you think, should I get some fill taken out too?

Martha

Joan, I think I have what you described. Today I got water down early in
the morning so I thought, "Hot Dog! It's my lucky day, I'm going to be
able to eat lunch so at 2 pm I went to "lunch" which actually was my
breakfast. Anyway I was still doing fine with drinking water and tea. I
ate three very small pieces of fish and one taste of a baked potato. I
started vomiting and did so continuously while my husband sat there and ate
two huge bowls of vegetable beef soup and drank a pitcher of tea. I kept
jumping up to go vomit, excusing myself to restaurant patrons in the
bathroom while doing so. I kept telling them I was not sick , just had this
band that was not letting me eat. I did not want them to think I had some
bug they may catch or that the food in the restaurant was bad. Anyway I
threw up about five times over that tad of fish, where all this comes from
, I don't know. Anyway. I ended up with no food in me again. I am afraid
that I'm going to have to go get some fill taken out. I'm throwing up way
too often and getting no food down. I feel fine otherwise. And I'm not
losing any big amount of weight, just playing back and forth with one
pound. That is the pits of the matter. However, I went to get a massage
this morning and the masseuse said it looked like I was losing more weight,
maybe some inches are coming off and haven't shown up on the scale. I know
my underwear is all getting baggy, but who can see that?
I did not think about waiting for the first pain and stopping today, I just
knew this was going to work today. I guess I should have been even more
aware. I did stop and wait at one point , waited for the vomit to come up.
I only took a half a sip of tea after one of the vomits, but it came up too.
I'm getting where I'm scared to put anything in my mouth any more. That is
not good. Well, I read about things like this happening and I guess I
just have to see what happens. The doctor won't be in his office for two
days , so I will wait it out until then and give them a call maybe. Or
maybe I should just tough it out and see how long I can go like this.
Joan, how long have you had this situation like this and do you try to eat
the same day if you PB? Or do you only drink liquids the rest of the day?
Or does it make any difference what you do? Is your situation because of a
tight fill or have you had a fill yet? You think I should just wait it out.
Thanks so much for responding to this as it sure helps to know others have
to deal with this and to learn how they handle it. I know that sometimes
I've sat at the first twinge of pain and waited for food to go down, and it
does and I can finish a whole meal, but it seems like I have not been able
to do that with this fill in the last couple of weeks. How long would be a
good length of time to wait this out. (See this would be a good discussion
for a 3-6 month bandsters web ring.) But , Newbies remember this, just in
case it happens to you and it is not all that uncommon to happen somewhere
along the way.
Martha

" Of course for any of these questions, it is always best to ask the
Wow! I've heard these Mexican doctors will take calls. I'm an RN
and am used to being screamed at by doctors when you call about
THEIR patients during off hours! And when you call during hours, it
takes days for them to get back to you!
I actually emailed Dr. Kuri and got a response within an hour. I
think his English is just fine and we should get along great! I was
amazed by the quick response!
Why can't we get such good care here in the US? LOL!
Thanks for your replys! I really appreciate the help.

Saturday, January 3, 2004, 8:54:26 AM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
That sounds fantastic. People should expect to lose one to two pounds
per week, or four to eight a month. So you've done great,
particularly for a holiday month.
Happy new year,
dan
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Saturday, January 3, 2004, 8:34:43 AM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
Sounds good. I had some cream soup about 11 am, and just ate a bit of
salmon, and ate too much of it, or too fast, so it is kinda stuck, but
will go down eventually.
d
Yup. You're not in charge, the band is.
d
d
d
Hey, ya gotta be old to have such adventures, right? I've sure had a
lot of them over the years, and hope for many more to come. Just
don't want to repeat this one.
As to fill amount, I think I'm tighter than I was. The numbers never
perfectly add up. So I don't worry about the numbers, just the
results, and I'm happy with them now.
dan
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

You've lost over fifty pounds in under four months. You're doing
fantastic. As you lose weight it will be easier to feel you port.
That's normal, as there isn't as much padding around and over it.
As to varying ability to eat, that's just life with a band. Some days
or times you can eat a lot, other times very little. You just have to
learn you're not the boss, the band is. Yeah, it is irritating, but
it is the way it is.
Add to that the extra food over the holidays, maybe foods you've never
tried before with the band, and that makes it even more strange and
difficult. Doesn't sound to me like there is any reason to go to
doctor over what you've described.
dan
Friday, January 2, 2004, 11:51:13 PM, you wrote:
C
C
C
C
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Hi!, My name is Lou and I am a nurse practitioner located in Wichita,
KS. I provide aftercare needs/adjustments for adjustable gastric bands.
I will accept patients who have been banded outside the US on a case by
case basis.

Hi Bandsters: I am leaving for Monterrey very early in the morning 01/04/04 and want to say thank you. Thank you for all the information you provide on this site. Between you and my patient advocate I feel confident I go into this knowing what is necessary for my travel to Mexico, the surgery, and the post op care. Yes, I am still nervous and on edge:) God Bless and hope to see you on the thinner side of life.

Beth in Tacoma

Hi
I have had surgery twice in Mexican hospitals. They are clean and efficient. However, they are nothing like a hospital here. I am choosing Dr. Kuri's new hospital because I think it will make me feel better to be somewhere a little more modern looking. Personally,I'm guessing the surgery and care are probably the same. I hear some of the hospitals are staffed by nuns. I assume they are very kind.

Hi
I am planning on having surgery with Dr. Kuri in February. It looks like I will be traveling alone from San Francisco. Is anyone going to be having surgery in February with Kuri? If so, let's talk.
Thanks,
kim

Martha,
My band is equally erratic. I find it is often very tight in the morning,
but not always. I can get soft things down, but not always. And the "not
always" is totally unpredictable. Yesterday I had two bites of a soft
mushroom and chicken Chinese dish I get from the Safeway deli and was PBing
for half an hour. And I had never had problems with eating a small
container of this dish before. And it was almost noon. This morning I
tried tuna mixed with mayo and cranberries [one of those 6 oz foil packages]
and had no trouble eating the whole thing at 9:30 am. Go figure.
I, too, am losing the weight but agonizingly slowly. This just seems to be
the way of the band for some of us. I don't think it is anything a doctor
can fix. I just have to be more aware and avoid the temptation of taking
one more bite after I get the first tinge of pain. [The problem with that
approach is sometimes the tinge goes away after a few moments and I can
finish the meal. I can't tell the difference between "not one bite more"
and "wait a moment and we will let you have another bite"
Joan

Yah, What she said !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pauline T.

Connie, I have a friend in your shoes too. She's never had a fill and is eight or nine months from having been banded. What to do in a situation like our is to drink the protein drinks and take your vitamins, if you can drink something ok, then you will not suffer from malnutrition. My friend's has lost close to 80 lbs and says she thinks soon she is going to need a fill. As the fatty tissue in your stomach dissolves, your band will loosen, until then drink the stupid protein drinks and on days that you can eat, then eat as much as you can. LOL. That's my philosophy. What does your doctor say? Can you call and ask him, or email. Where did you get your band? Goodness, you were just banded two weeks before me and you've lost lots more than me. Of course , I did not have any restriction until this month. I don't want to do something yet about this because I wanted to lose some more weight, but it's still poking along, and going up and down every day. I'm going to
have to not weigh every day, but I weighed 239 at the doctor's office when I got this fill and that was with clothes on and this morning without clothes on I weighted 231.5 and I have two more days to go before my month is up. I guess that is ok but if my clothes weigh 2 lbs, then I've only lost six pounds this month. I guess that's better than gaining through the holidays, but I didn't get to eat like a pig this holiday, I had very little food. Well, I'm not upset about that part, I'm just wishing I had the same restriction that I had the week after I got this fill. I could eat with no pain. It's the pain part I don't like.

One other thing that my friend had been trying to do was stuff too much liquids down too fast. She was drinking humongous glasses of tea all day long, they must have held 48 oz. each, and she was having big problems just because of that, and she was foaming at the mouth, throwing up , couldn't eat, but they figured out what she was doing and told her to not try to drink so much , and even then , she has trouble getting food down, and only eats what looks to me like about a half cup of food at a time. We always go out to eat Mexican food after our support group meets every month. We mostly visit and pick around in our food now. I used to eat mine while she pecked. I miss that part. LOL. Some parts of the day now, I can't eat three bites so I'm not putting too much in. I'm worried about eating soft or creamy stuff all the time. I don't eat much of that though either. Maybe someone will talk to us about this stuff. We will see.

Martha

Hi...I'm new here (actually not new, I've been lurking for months,
I've just never posted) and will be getting banded in the near
future (hopefully in Feb). I've pretty much decided on Dr. Kuri but
I have a few lingering questions:
Does Dr. Kuri speak English? I only worry, because my Spanish isn't
that good (although I'm trying to brush up before I go).
How do you go about paying? Cashiers Check? Do you pay it all up
front? I've saved hard and I do have the cash, so I don't need to
do the credit card thing (Thank goodness)
I'm also interested in hearing about experiences regarding the
different packages...is the deluxe package worth the extra money? I
think the only difference seems to be the hospital...what did you
all think of the different hospitals?
About Fills, does anyone know of a place in South Florida that will
do fills for mexican bandsters? Just wondering...I will go back to
Tijuana if I need to.
I know I'll have more questions before Feb. You all are so
supportive...I hope to help others as you have helped me (once I'm
banded ofcourse)
Thanks in advance for your help!
Marsha

I was listen to a radio talk show tonight....and they had an editor
from time-life on that does nutrition and science. She said the
fastest growing surgery among teen girls was stapling or gastric
bypass. The host was talking about self control and exercise. and
the editor was saying that although obesity was not strictly a
disease, it was a combination that naturally thin persons did not
understand. She also said that the bypass for teens was a lifetime
metabolic altering proceedure and they should consider much less
traumatic proceedures first...like the adjustable lap band. the
host blew right by that one....but the editor came back and said
insurance should consider the lap band first before stapling. I
thought with such a powerful advocate, maybe the lap-band was
starting to gain credibility. It is great to be on the leading edge
of science! Happy New year All! Kathy from Concord Ca.

Kathy, it would have been greater if insurance would have paid for our leading edge. I've heard that lap bands will be the choice for weight loss surgery in the future above gastric bypass. My friend who had gastric bypass about a month after I had my band has lost more weight than me but she is throwing up a lot. They are going to go back inside her to look for something causing the vomiting.

I am able to drink water this morning so I'm looking forward to lunch. It still hurts a little to drink water but it is going down and not coming back up this morning. Maybe this fill is going to loosen up a little .

I'm beginning to see why Dan calls it a fickle bitch all the time.

Dan, so you ended up with the same amount of fill you started with this round? I guess you got home ok. You had quite an adventure, for an old man. LOL.

Martha

Sorry about all this hoopla guys but I was in Florida for the
holidays from the 17th..I guess that is about the time it started
right? The owner of this board must have been on vacation too.
I have axed mizz blow - thingy as we have a no tolerance policy
toward offensive names, period.
I shall read on and take care of any other business but I m aware
that this has settled down and I have no wish to restart it.
Thanks to all for your patience in this matter, lets hope that there
are no repeats.
Sylvia

Martha,
I can't wait for someone to answer you. I was banded in Sept. and
recently my band has done exactly what you are going through. The
only diference is I have not had a fill yet. I get so darn
frustrated about eating. I never know what is going to work for me.
I have seriously thought about going to see a Doctor about this. I
kind feel wierd about it all of sudden. I feel like things just get
stuck! and whew they need some relief. I have Pb'd quite a bit
lately. Yet I can't seem to figure it out. I have lost quite abit of
weight & I really am enjoying that factor. Something else is I can
feel my port now and it is a strange feeling not that it hurts but a
minor achy in my rib cage?
If someone out there has an answer I would like to know as well as
Martha.
I was hoping I wouldn't have to go to the Dr. being the Holidays and
my hubby is outta work. $$$ are a bit tight. But I am getting
worried about not getting enough nutrition how about you Martha? It
is all rather odd. I know somedays I can eat and then others nothing
wants to even slither down? what gives?
Connie
9/12/03
-53 lbs

I think my fill is getting too tight. I am unable to eat solids . I can't eat in the morning at all, I can barely get water down in the early morning. I haven't even been able to eat solids for the last few days. I'd just as soon not eat as to try now. It hurts to try to eat. Last night I PB'ed popcorn, after my dinner of l/4 cup jello, cottage cheese, and pudding. I probably ate too much popcorn, but I'm not getting much down this week. I have resorted to buying a few protein drinks, I may have to actually drink one or two of them. Today, I can't get soft stuff down. I was hoping I'd get looser. I was really lose the first week after the fill. What happens that causes this to tighten up after a few weeks? Seems like it'd be the other way around. I think I'll have to go to liquid diet for a few days. How long should I get this a chance to straighten itself out here?

I started riding my new mountain bike today. Ha, ole fat-so couldn't even get two blocks and back without her legs turning to jelly. I was glad going home was down hill.

Martha

This is getting abit on the old side. If you dont want to go to Dr. Kuri
then dont, but stop trying to beat this subject to death. We all have our
differences of opinion lets just leave it at that.

I flew in on Thursday - did the pre-surgical stuff and spent the
night before in the hospital (more like a hotel suite), surgery on
Friday, checked into a hotel on Saturday and did the barium swallow,
then flew home 9:00 Sunday.
My recovery was Sunday and Monday. I went back to work on Tuesday.
I have an 1 1/2 hour commute each way and my job is driving a desk
all day - very sedentary. I got up several times during the day the
first week to stretch my legs (my mom - an RN - made me paranoid
about blood clots). I'll admit the first 2 weeks I was fatigued at
the end of the day but not as much as I would have expected after
just having major surgery. I also have 2 little boys under 4 - they
go a long way towards fatiguing me - just their care and upkeep.
I made 4 weeks out today (1/2/04) and have felt almost 100% for at
least 10 days now.
Good luck!
Laura

Hi Lorane,
I will be thinking good thoughts for Cameron on
Saturday. I am so happy for both of you. Isn't it
amazing when you put something out there and it all
just comes together for you. You are so wise. He may
have balked if you had approached him first.
Give Dr O, and my favorite Dr M (just because I know
him better), my best.
Mary M
--- inspirationalist2000

Let's see, one day to travel there, if your surgery is scheduled the same day , then if not, one day for surgery, and one day to hang around at the hotel and one day to travel home, home three days to recuperate. That is what some people do. I think a week home after surgery to recuperate is more reasonable. Are you wanting to go back to work?

I liked this better, but it doesn't suit everyone's needs: One day to travel there, one day for surgery, three days in hotel to see if all goes well, one day to travel home, two weeks recovery time, one month from date of surgery energy returns. This is all allowing that nothing at all goes wrong, no infections, no excessive swelling so that you can't drink, etc.

A lot depends on how old you are, what condition you are in, how much exercise you are used to having, how you get around, how fast you heal, how independent you are. That's why everyone is different. If you have a lot of muscle in good shape, you will do much better than some others who have not moved much in ten years and only have fat, if you weigh 400 lbs, it may be a little harder to get around at first than if you weigh 200 lbs. See it's just different for each of us. Most people seem to think recovery time after they get back from Mexico is about a week. I didn't feel like moving around a lot until two weeks but I could after about three days, but felt the very best after one month. I felt like I had energy again. You are going to tire easily during the first week of recovery and you will need to rest more during that week, people with sit-down jobs where they don't have to do a lot sometimes go back to work before a week is up and they say they are really
tired at the end of their day and just go home and go to bed. But they do it. So, I guess if you feel like it or need to go to work that soon, it's possible to do. If you have two weeks off from work, you can go get the surgery and recover enough to go back to work if you have a sit down job.
Martha

Hi, my name is Veronica. I'm just starting my journey towards the
procedure. I'm 191 lb and 5'5". I have so many questions about if this
procedure is right for me, etc. I had liposuction two years ago, but I
just started gaining weight again. Some people recommend a tummy tuck
also as weight loss surgery, but I'm not very sure about it. I
understand one manages to keep weight off with the LapBand than with
any other procedure, is this right?
I'm here for support and to learn about this, and conclude if this is
right for me.
Thank you for all your help, Veronica

Hi, That is great. I live in the central mass area, and there is a

Hi all!
I need to get an HONEST answer re: exactly how long the whole
recovery takes.
1. How long would I plan on being in Mexico - from arrival through
surgery & release?
2. How long will I need to be off of work once home? Realistically?
THanks so much! Susan

Hello my dear bandster buddies,
My son Cameron, age 21, has decided to get the band. We are
going to TJ tomorrow for pre-op. He will be banded by my
wonderful surgeon, Dr. Ortiz on Saturday.
Cameron will be leaving our home in California to go back to
Boston U on Thursday evening. I wish I had more time to take
care of him before he leaves, but he's wise for his years and
should be A okay.
It would be wonderful for him to make bandster contacts in the
Boston area.
Please say a prayer for a successful and effective surgery this
Saturday for Cameron.
Many blessings and wishes for a healthy & happy New Year.
Lorane

Just a side note. La cantina de los remedios is actually a chain. Its a little more than I like to pay but I love the place. I lived in Central Mexico and we had one in our city.
Dan Lester <honu@...

Martha,
Thanks for always having helpful advice. I really appreciate it!
Louise

GREAT NEWS!
The morning after I posted my message (Men's success stories
needed) my son came into my bedroom and asked to be
banded!
It's as if the my post combined with the energy of the group gave
him whatever he needed to "go for it."
I am forever grateful for all of you caring people and for your quick
response to my query.
Many thanks and may we all have a happy, healthy, lean New
Year.
Lorane
Dr. Ortiz 919/03

Well, Weezie, give it a few days and see how it does. Mine did not feel very restrictive for a few days either and now, it's pretty restrictive. I still can not eat solid food in the morning, and very little the rest of the time. I've had pain every bite I take for the last several days. I don't know if it's the weather or what, but it's not much fun to eat. Today , I'm trying to get only solids down, but it's slow going. I'm doing turkey salad now. One bite every five minutes. No crackers with it. Just the salad. My husband made the salad. It's good, but man, this is hard. Water is going down good today. I have some sugar free popsicles that I'm about to go get, just to have something that I feel like is going down. The doctor told me to come back after a month from my last fill and he may tweak this just a little, well, "No Thanks" . I think I have plenty of fill. I just need to stick to solids and leave the soft food out. But I think I'm not getting
to eat three meals a day so I feel like I need to eat more than two cups of food a day. I guess I ate about a half cup of turkey salad so far, but I'm still working on it. I'm trying to get a cupful down.

If you don't get some restriction feeling by two weeks, then schedule another fill. By the time the appointment comes , you'll know for sure if you need more. That seems to be a nice good healthy fill you got this time. But you may need more. Neither of my fills hurt . I think they put some deadening juice on it before they did the fill and so there was no feeling at all.

...There, now, I got all the turkey down.

Martha

everyone north east and south of California are looking form places to get fill. I call them ''filling stations'' what do you think? I have found a great Dr in Chicago as a central place. Debby

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!
I had my first fill yesterday, without fluoroscopy. It went really
smoothly and didn't hurt a bit. We ended up putting in 2.4cc's,
which seems like a lot, but I can't feel a difference. I thought I
felt some tightness when it was put in and when I drank the water it
felt a little gurgly so I thought we were at a good spot. But last
night and today I can't tell any difference at all. How does it feel
when you have a good amount of restriction? I went to a party last
night and had a fair amount of food, more than I should have had, and
didn't feel like I was being restricted at all. I'm really
disappointed. I need a good fill to help me regain some control over
my eating, because I have not had much control over the holidays.
Thanks everyone for your support!
Weezie in Omaha
11/18/03 Rumbaut
238/214.5(at least I was last Sunday)/150

Happy new year,
I've been working on my website content for the last several days, and
have been wanting to compile a list of "bandster slang". If there is
one somewhere on the web already, I've missed it. I'm not thinking so
much of the medical terms (though imagine could include a few of those
too) as the slang terms. I've listed a few below, not even in
alphabetic order. Would appreciate contributions of others, too. And
feel free to post them to me personally, as I'll post the final list,
or a link to it.
PB
BB
SAGB
AGB
RNY
marble poops
TT
38 Long
pouch
pannus
PCOS
PS
DS
Well, some of those are medical, some are abbreviations, but they're the
types of things that people often ask about when old timers use them.
I'm sure there are many more, and any contributions appreciated. Fire
away, please.
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Thursday, January 1, 2004, 8:29:46 AM, you wrote:
d
d
d
d
Yup, I've eaten there all of this trip, except for a couple of snacky
things at the mall. Got a box of sweets for Gail at the mall, plus a
purse, etc. Like to eat at "Cantina de los Remedios" down the street,
too, but didn't on this trip. For those who don't know the name, that
is "the yellow restaurant by the Lincoln statue".
d
Sure. I'm glad to be here, but will be happy to be home late tonight,
about 1100 pm.
dan
Dan Lester, Boise, ID honu@... www.gailndan.com/lapband
Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, 4/28/03
323/223/199 Age 60

Dan, I stayed at the Lucerna too when I was banded, it's a very nice hotel and the service is great, my husband loved the little restaurant to the left of the lobby as you come in the door. They fed him well and things he liked.

Are you anxious to get home?

Martha

Hi,

Due to conflicts with my schedule, we had to change my surgery date to Mon Jan 5. I leave for TJ on Sunday.

Lisa

Happy New Year to all! I have been out of town, posted a little
while in the New Hampshire Mountains and in the other beautiful NE
states. I weighed myself before I left town and had gained 7
pounds! I'm happy to report that 7 pounds has left (it was water
weight) and my second fill date is set with Dr. Snow on Jan. 7th!
I know this fill will do the job. After reading all that Dan has
gone through I'm very thankful to get through the holidays enjoy the
meals without gaining a pound, and slowly approach my "sweet spot"!
Never the less, I am sooooo excited that I am banded. This time
LAST year I was trying to save, save, save! This time NEXT year I
will probably only be in archives, and a distant memory!
Tonight at the church we had a dinner and I only allowed myself to
eat one plate of food. I forced myself to not go back for a second
plate because I was not full. Once I reach my "sweet spot" I will
become full after eating a cup of food and I can't wait until that
day comes!
Kimberly
9/30/0