feliciadawn

Thanks, you guys! My juicer (got it on Amazon reduced to only $30 bucks!) It works awesome, it's a black and decker. It only takes small amounts of fruits/veggies at a time and you do have to cut them fairly small, but that's the only downside. Clean up is easy as long as I rinse everything out right after using it, I don't really even need to use much soap, just rinse with hot water.

P.S., the only thing I didn't like was not enough face time with Dr Ortiz, he came into the room and talked and joked with us for a minute, and that was it. I didn't see him after the surgery at all, and only for a few minutes before. I know he performed the surgery because I woke up and saw him as he was unstrapping me from the table, but that's it. Dr Martinez talked to us afterwards and gave us instructions, etc, and he's great, his is also the cell number they give you if you need to contact a doctor after surgery. Dr Ortiz seems very, very busy (to be expected, I guess)

I was banded by Dr Ortiz on 10/28, so about 3 months ago now! He, and his staff, are incredible! I love them all. The nurse doesn't really speak English, but she is extremely sweet and motherly, Dr Martinez and Dr Ortiz are both awesome, I woke up from surgery to Dr Ortiz standing over me, unstrapping my arms and I felt wonderful, I said "I love you" in my drugged stupor, and he said "I love you too" haha! Anyway, going back down there for my first fill in just a couple weeks, I waited longer than they say for the fill, but I felt fine and was still losing weight so... I did call them a couple of times with concerns after I got home, and they ALWAYS got back to me promptly and were extremely nice and concerned. I stayed in the hotel for 4 nights, three of them after the surgery, and the ride home still sucked (i'm in Vegas, so we drove). I would suggest staying a few nights at the very least. I'm flying back to San Diego for the fill. I just cannot say enough good things about Dr Ortiz, the lap band, and the entire experience so far.

So I had black bean Soup for lunch, homemade. I probably ate too much, thinking it was like regular soup and forgetting how dense it was. Anyway, now my band hurts..or my esophagus hurts..or something. It feels like it's too tight and i need to burp, but nothing comes up when I do, basically it hurts where I burp. Drinking hot coffee now, which seems to be helping, but this sucks and it's kind of giving me a headache. Anybody know what this is? Banded 3 months, no stucks, no vomiting, no fill yet.. thanks!

I'm in the same boat as you! I will be 33 this year, still single, not that many friends. I'm a bit reclusive and I need a lot of alone time, but really, I haven't dated in a couple years now. I've been working on myself, and now that I've got that figured out...it'd be nice to have a guy! I was also on some sites, OKCupid and Plentyoffish.com, I would either get no messages, or the ones I would get were from freaks and losers (not to be rude, but..) I've been thinking about trying Eharmony, but I tried it once before (about 10 years ago) without much luck. Seems like all guys care about is how hot you are and how fast you will sleep with them. I got so sick of it that I took myself off all the dating sites, they just made me feel bad about myself. I don't like church, I don't like bars and clubs, and I work with mostly women... I'm interested in writing so taking a writing class which starts soon, and starting back at college in the fall. Maybe I'll meet someone there. I also signed up for a few groups on Meetup.com, we'll see if I actually make it to any meetings..haha.. If I hit 40 and i'm still single, my plan is to adopt a kid on my own. I'd rather be happy and alone than be miserable with someone I "settled" for.

Throwing up is NOT normal and you should not be doing it. It could make your band slip and ruin the whole thing. I was banded 3 months ago and haven't thrown up once (maybe i'm just lucky?) had some anti nausea meds from my doc, the kind you just put under your tongue, also I purchased some anti nausea liquid from Wal Mart, it tastes a little like liquid Jello and works great! Definitely call your doctor and have him give you some anti nausea meds though...and I don't know who wrote the post up there about suppositories, but that's just disgusting. Why would you put yourself though more uncomfortable and/or embarassing situations? Just get some anti nausea pills and you will be fine. Also, try warm chicken broth with a little cumin and lime, cumin really helps soothe the tummy. The gas can cause nausea as well, so get yourself some gas meds, Maalox worked best for me, it's great for gas, reflux, and nausea. Keep it in the fridge and it tastes a little less icky. sorry this is such a long post, but this is really important. Make sure you get what you need from your doc. I was on pain meds for about a week, anti nausea for as long as I needed ( I quit at about 2 weeks, I think) and anti reflux for three full weeks. Make sure your doctor is doing his/her job! Also, do not do sugar free anything. It makes nausea worse. I was on clear liquids for one week (no Protein Shakes, just broths and watered down juices) and then creamy liquids for two weeks. No chewing for three full weeks. I made a lot of homemade broth (mostly chicken) with garlic, basil, cumin, ginger, lime, etc, whatever I was in the mood for. Cumin, ginger, and garlic really help with nausea as well. I also ate tons of popsicles, I loved the jolly rancher ones. Some other soups I did, which made me feel like I was getting a little Protein, was bean with bacon (just the broth) and split pea, I watered them down and ate just the broth. Good luck! I hope you feel better! I'm down 45 lbs since surgery 3 months ago, haven't had a fill yet, and have never worried about sugar free anything..the chemicals will just make you sick. Also make sure you are taking a good Vitamin with Biotin in it to prevent hair loss. I take an apple cinnamon flavored one from Vitamin World, it has a ton of veggie and fruit extracts in it, then I also take an extra Vitamin C and Calcium every day. Stay healthy and take care of yourself!

I just bought a juicer and have tried a couple different varieties. Just wondering if anyone has any tasty, healthy juice recipes and if anyone has any advice. I'm a little worried about consuming too many calories with the fruit juices. Haven't tried veggie juices yet. I figured after I get a fill (haven't had one yet) it might be harder to get down certain fruit skins and raw veggies, so I thought this would help me get more nutrition. Any advice would be great!

I suspected I had a hernia, and I did! I've had breathing issues for about 10 years, it always felt like something was sitting on top of my diaphragm, it was the hernia... I also had esophageal adhesions I didn't know I had - from having bad asthma and some pretty bad bouts of bronchitis over the years. Had swallowing issues where sometimes food would get stuck and I'd have to burp it back up...this was BEFORE the band. Since I had the band and the adhesions and hernia repaired, I can breathe better and I have not had ONE stuck episode! I can eat steak (chewing it really well, small bites, of course) again without having to burp it back up! I LOVE my band!

So, I've eaten pretty much whatever I want from around the time I started solids to now. I've just been unable to OVER eat, and I just don't want a lot of food! It's incredible! I've lost 44 lbs since about 2 weeks before my surgery in October and I've had no fill yet! This is the best Christmas present I've ever had. Usually at Xmas I gain at least 10 lbs and it never comes off and I just get fatter and fatter.. Merry Christmas, everyone!

I was banded in Mexico and here is what I used COMFY pants with as loose a waist as possible - wore this on surgery day, after surgery, and for about 2 weeks after. Bought some polyester stretchy pants for work Big, baggy, comfy shirts Slip on shoes Baby wipes (you may get diarrea) lotion chap stick lap top, books, Ipod, stuff to do. You might not want to do anything but lay around and watch TV. Gas-Ex! Tums! Anti Nausea liquid - you can get it at Wal Mart or Target, it's like 3 bucks. I only had to use it a couple times, but it helped ALOT....prevented me from throwing up, which could cause the band to slip. I will always keep it on hand. Your doc will prescribe a strong reflux medication, anti nausea, and pain killers, but get the Tums and stuff for extra. Food: First week (clear liquids) chicken broth - I would mix mine with cumin and lime, the cumin is good for nausea Gatorade recovery (g3, I think?) Protein Water special K protein water Vitamin water beef broth Veggie broth Coconut water, for me was a life saver. It tasted good and helped my tummy. I would mix garlic or basil or whatever herb sounded good into the broths, helped alot and made the tummy feel better. Garlic and Cumin and many other herbs are good for digestion and stomach upset, and it made it much more tasty. Popsicles. I ate them all the time. Jolly Rancher ones are the BEST! Don't worry about sugar free. It's gross and you don't want to fill your body with chemicals when you are recovering. It'll just make you feel worse. Same with Jello 2nd week (creamy liquids) bean with bacon Soup broth (added extra water to make more broth) split pea soup broth (same) Protein powder I loved Target brand "Nutrition drink" - tastes great and gets some protein and Vitamins pudding, I liked it with a little whip cream on top creamsicles fudgesicles

I am SO SO SO happy with my band. Was banded 10/28/11 by Dr Ortiz in Tijuana (the most amazing dr in the world) No problems whatsoever. Followed my 3 week liquid diet militantly, also did 2 weeks of liquids before surgery (this was the hardest part of the whole thing.) I haven't had a fill yet, going back down next month for a fill and follow up, but I'm down 43 pounds. It's amazing to get full on so much less food. I don't eat like a trucker anymore, and then look around for seconds!! I also had a hernia and esophogeal adhesions, which the dr also fixed. I had been feeling badly for years, breathing probs that had always been diagnosed as asthma by US doctors. Felt better the minute I woke up from surgery. Been breathing better, I can walk and climb the stairs without getting as out of breath. I have about 80 more lbs till i'm at my goal, but I know I will get there. It's definitely worth it. It will be the best thing you've ever done for yourself. It's Xmas and I haven't gained 1 pound.

My doc said one hour before and one hour after. Seems like they all have a different answer and I am so SICK of that. Everything to do with the band has a different answer depending on what doctor you talk to. Just go with how you feel. I try to wait 15-30 minutes after I eat...I don't worry about the before.

Thanks, i'm not worried about it. It's not my port, I know exactly where that is, in the muscle on my left side. Maybe it's just scar tissue... I actually kind of liked the idea that it could be the band, it was kind of neat to feel it there. Anyway, thanks for all the input! I'll ask the Dr when I go back.

So, no pain, no probs, no pb's no vomits...ever!! Banded 10/28/11 and scheduled to go get a fill in january. Anyway, when I lay down flat, I swear I can actually feel my band. I think its where my sternum would be, right above and between my ribs, under my bust line. When I run my hand over that area, there's a hard lump that feels like an extra bone. Am I a freak or can anyone else feel their's? I think I can feel it even better than my port!

They say that the carbonation in soda can make your pouch expand and cause your band to slip. Also, I don't know about you, but before surgery I know that if I drank soda, I could always eat more. If I was eating junk food and drinking soda, I could eat and eat and eat, but if I tried it without soda, not only did I not really want as much, but I got full faster. Soda is SO bad for you...they've done studies, and the stuff can melt metal if it's left sitting in it for a long time..especially coke. anyway, I loved diet soda but I've given it up..it's not worth it to me. I drink LOTS of water, sometimes I drink apple juice, but mostly water. I stay away from sugar free stuff. Just another chemical your body can't recognize...I've read that it actually makes you GAIN weight because your body doesn't know what to do with it. Water, juice once in a while, lots of coffee, tea, and iced tea. I love hot drinks.

I take the papaya enzyme now and then (average about once a day or so) after a larger or too greasy meal, or just after any meal when I feel sort of icky. Just had chinese for lunch, and even though I couldn't eat much of it, I felt kind of sick. Took 3 of the chewables and feeling better already! Nothing's been stuck yet, so I don't know if they help with that, but they do seem to aid digestion.

I talked to my doctor today, he said it is normal. He said gas gets trapped in the band, and also it could be slightly inflamed and is still healing. He said drinking while eating can make it worse, and to make sure I am chewing and chewing and chewing. Anyway, it's a relief to know it's normal!

Every single thread I go to, I cannot read the posts at the bottom of the page. It's a bunch of scrambled up gibberish, and all of the lines run together. This just started when the site was re-done.

I have been banded about 1 month, just started regular foods this past Friday. Since I started regular food, I sometimes get this lump/bubble in my throat (or maybe esophogas?) Everything is going down fabulously, no stuck episodes and no vomiting, but this is getting really annoying. It feels like gas, and if I have a "real" burp, the kind from deep in your stomach, (gross, I know..sorry) it goes away for a while. I'm assuming it's gas, but worried it's reflux. It seems worse at night when laying down. Anyone else have this? I emailed my doctors, but thought I'd post here too. thanks!

Just ate again and the damn feeling is back. I hope this isn't how it's going to feel everytime I eat. It's not "stuck", but i'm not sure if it's reflux or gas or what. Anyone else have this issue?

Just went to the midnight showing of Breaking Dawn (awesome, by the way!) then to breakfast for our first meal! I had maybe 3 small bites of scrambled eggs, half a sausage, and 2-3 bites of grits. Everything went down well, it's been a couple hours, and I feel like I have something stuck in there. Feels like an air bubble. I was scared to eat, so I only ate a very little. I didn't feel terribly full, but I wasn't hungry anymore and a mouthful of grits felt like it just went down and stopped...is that what stuck feels like? I dunno..nothing came back up, water and my nightime pills (in halves) went down fine, so I don't think i'm stuck. Maybe i'm just panicking? It was my first real food in about 5 weeks, since starting the pre-op diet. I am afraid to eat!

I was banded by Dr Ortiz in Tijuana. He had us on 3 weeks of liquids, 7 days of clear, and since we were in MX most of the first seven days and the hotel had yummy homemade chicken broth and tortilla soup broth and popsicles, we did pretty good. After the first 7 days of clear, it was full liquids for two weeks, so protein shakes, creamy soups, etc. Friday is my first day of real food! I'm kind of scared to eat! LOL!

Just to add to what I said before...I think it's totally understandable not to want his parents or his family to know, it's none of THEIR business. BUT, you really should tell him, especially if the relationship has already progressed to the point where you are spending Thanksgiving with his family. He should and probably will understand. Don't worry! He will probably be happy you are going to be getting healthier! If he's not happy for you, he's REALLY REALLY not worth it, please find someone who appreciates you for who you are!

If you can't or won't tell him these things, what kind of relationship are you going to have anyway? Seriously, if you can't be honest, you have nothing. If he doesn't understand or doesn't like that you are doing this for yourself, he's not the one. It's hard to hear, I know, but if you can't trust each other, it's time to move on.

Give yourself a break! 1.5 miles a day two weeks after surgery is amazing! I will be at three weeks post-op on Friday, and I will have been on liquids for 3 weeks (not counting the two weeks before surgery!) My doc told me no working out (except walking) for three weeks, and liquids only for three weeks. Sooo...take a rest! Don't push yourself so hard. You will lose the weight, but you have to let yourself heal and (my doc and my mom the nurse says) it takes months until you are healed completely, sometimes even years. I'm not expecting the weight loss to take years...but I see the band as sort of like piercing your ears times 100. It took a loong time until I could wear heavy, dangly earrings without pain, and until the ears were completely healed and I no longer had to worry about them closing up. I think the band is sort of like that. Just let yourself heal! Personally, aside from a few short walks, I haven't worried about excersize or calories at ALL. I'm drinking until I feel full and i'm relaxing and sleeping a lot and I've lost 33 pounds! Just went back to full time days at work on Monday. You just have to do everything gradually and have patience with the process.