polyrose

I was just banded on July 18 in Mexico, and its now day 6, and my belly still feels really tender. It is swollen, and takes great effort to roll over in the bed at night. I was amazed that there are 5 small incisions. I somehow expected only 3. Oh, well. I had been forewarned about the gas, and brought two boxes of gas-ex, which has worked pretty well. I'm dismayed that when I weighed myself this morning at home, I had actually GAINED weight (from the previous week!) However, others on this forum told me that this is not uncommon, and just persist. It does feel like my body is betraying me. . . . . How can I eat nothing for an entire week, and actually gain weight? Onward! Polly

I was banded on July 18, so I'm at exactly 6 days post-surgery today. I'm having a very different experience from you. My belly is still VERY tender, and my journey onto the scale today showed me with a GAIN of a half pound. I've been really faithful to the clear liquid diet, and am really annoyed and frustrated that I have not lost 15 pounds. As for the Protein drinks, I'm using a brand called Bariatric Advantage, and it actually tastes quite good. I mix some stevia (a natural sweetner with no calories) and other sugar-free syrups to vary the taste. I also put ice-cubes into the blender, and it comes out tasting like a very nice malt. I don't mind drinking them at all. I was living on them for a week before my surgery, and could happily return to that. I found Bariatric Advantage protein mix on a site called doctorsbestweightloss.com Its kind of expensive, but really worth the investment, since it has no fat, hardly any sugar, and 27 grams of protein. Good luck!

I was banded in Tijuana MX on July 18. I live in MN, so this was my "vacation" this year. My BMI is 33%, and I successfully lost 10 pounds prior to July 18. I've been carefully following the clear liquid regimen since July 18, and walking every day (at least an hour, sometimes more, although often slowly due to some pain.) I jumped on the scale this morning hoping to see miracles, and was greated by a GAIN of half a pound. How can that be? It strikes me as a very cruel joke to pay all that money (I am self-pay), travel to Mexico. endure a week of pain, and eat nothing, and end of gaining a pound! Any advice? Am I somehow retaining fluids or is it swelling from the surgery site? Am I drinking too much liquid, or the wrong kinds? What could cause this awful result? I'm feeling mighty frustrated right now, and second-guessing my decision. Maybe lap band isn't for me afterall, OR my body is just going to be exceedingly stubborn about this!?!?!?! HELP? Polly

I was banded on July 18, and have faithfully done Clear liquids for seven full days. I have walked (albiet slowly) for at least a full hour each day, and rested as I need to. I jumped on the scale this morning, and was dismayed to discover that I am a half pound HEAVIER than I was a week ago. What could possibly be causing this? Although my belly is still somewhat tender and swollen, I don't think it should account for a GAIN of weight? i'm beginning to wonder if the success that others seem to have is going to elude me, even when I follow the rules? I'm crabby and disappointed after being so hopeful. It seems an especially cruel joke to travel to Mexico, pay for my own surgery, endure a week of painful body, and be rewarded with a weight gain? Am I the only one this happened to? Can others suggest what I might be doing wrong? Frustrated and upset, Polly

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't quite know exactly what to expect from my body right now.

Rachel, Thanks for your response. I made it through Day 1 of pre-op diet and did lose a couple pounds in 1 day. Maybe it won't be as hard as I was telling myself.

Thanks for the response. I did make it through DAY 1 of the pre-op and was greeted with a loss on the scale this morning. Maybe it won't be as hard as I imagined.

Greetings! I just made the big decision last night to schedule my banding for July 18 with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. Since my BMI is only 33% and I have no co-morbid conditions, I decided to be proactive and lose the extra 70 pounds, instead of gaining another 30 so my insurance would pay for it in the US. Dr. Ortiz came highly recommended. This morning, I have begun my pre-op diet and am expected to lose 10 pounds in the next 3.5 weeks. That's about 3.5 pounds per week, which seems somewhat unlikely. Can anyone tell me if the surgeons will really cancel your surgery if you only lose 5 or 6 pounds? I'm a tiny bit concerned about flying to CA only to be told I cannot have the surgery. I look forward to participating in this forum for support as I make the journey to a healthy body. Lap banding is the only thing in the last few years that has given me any reasonable hope of losing their extra weight. Polly

Greetings! I just made the big decision last night to schedule my banding for July 18 with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. Since my BMI is only 33% and I have no co-morbid conditions, I decided to be proactive and lose the extra 70 pounds, instead of gaining another 30 so my insurance would pay for it in the US. Dr. Ortiz came highly recommended. This morning, I have begun my pre-op diet and am expected to lose 10 pounds in the next 3.5 weeks. That's about 3.5 pounds per week, which seems somewhat unlikely. Can anyone tell me if the surgeons will really cancel your surgery if you only lose 5 or 6 pounds? I'm a tiny bit concerned about flying to CA only to be told I cannot have the surgery. I look forward to participating in this forum for support as I make the journey to a healthy body. Lap banding is the only thing in the last few years that has given me any reasonable hope of losing their extra weight. Polly

I'm considering Lap Band surgery in Cancun Mexico and wonder what others who have been there have to say. There are two places I'm considering. Cancun Gastric Band with Dr. Fernando Ceron or Ameri Med Hospital (Lap Band in Cancun) with doctor(s) Ariel Ortiz, Lee Grossbard and Nick Gabriel. Please let me know if you've had any experience with these hospitals and doctors or any other places in Cancun.