bjkgriffith

I love to drink. I drink Margarettas and wine. The BIGGEST problem for me is that not only can I eat more when I drink, but the whole next day or 2 my esophagus is so irritated that I can barely eat anything without spasms. Anyone else experience that? Barb

Vera, I need to talk to you about the Sanchez bash. Email me at bjkgriffith@aol.com and we can talk. Thanks Barb

Donali, Isn't there another option for you? A mid-band or can't you have the band put back on after the healing process occurrs? Barb

I live in Upstate NY, between Buffalo & Syracuse, NY, but I travel to NYC to get my fills - My doctor's name is Brian L. Katz, his address is 1010 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028 and his telephone number is (212) 879-6677. I personally love him. I had my surgery done in Mexico in Aug. 2003 and have been the NYC three times since for fills. Good Luck. Barb

Are any of you experiencing esophageal spasms? I usually get them after 2-3 bites of anything. It is terribly painful and am going to have an esophogram (sp?) tomorrow. But in the mean time I just wonder how many others are experiencing this and thinking that they are done eating? I have read that there is a medicine called Nifedipine (which is a muscle relaxant), but Sadie (from Mexico) told me to get some Motilium/Domperidone, and I am also wondering if anyone knows if there is a difference in what the 2 medications do. Thank you all, Barb

Thanks girls, I spoke to Sadie (in Monterrey) yesterday and she recommended that I start with fluids, then soft, then try some regular food. She also says if this continues after this week that I should have .3 cc removed. Thanks again. Barb

Is any one out there so filled that they can only eat 2-5 bites of something before it gets so painful in your esophagus that you can't stand it? Then I end up throwing it back up. This has been happening almost daily for about a month now. I have lost about 15-19 lbs., but have great difficulty in not trying to go back after vomitting to try to get some food down. I am going to try to go back to Protein shakes, bars, and some softer foods to try to heal my esophagus. Any one else having that trouble? The only way that I can get any food down is to drink hot tea with my meals and even then sometimes it won't work. Hi Vera. Barb

Hi all, banded 8/1, officially 7 mos. out and only 23 lbs. lost. I have been a very slow loser. I have the AMI band and just had my 4th fill on Feb. 23rd and FINALLY FEELING RESTRICTED. So hopefully I am on my way to "loserville". Vera, I can't wait until I get under 200 again. I haven't been under 200 since 1992. Barb 8/1/03 Dr. Sanchez 252/229/140

Donali, Leo, Vera, Thank you all for the input. Vera I will call you. Donali, I try for the most part to follow the bandster rules, but not always to the letter. I truly believe that because I had to go to Mexico and have no support here from a nutritionist or even a doctor that weighs me when I go for fills, might contribute to my problems......I have no accountability - except to myself. I am also going to Curves, reading Dr. Phil and listening to my hypnosis weight loss tapes every night....What else can I do? I was told to have the doctor draw all of the saline out when I go next Monday and make sure that it's still in there and then add another 1 cc, and if too tight (which I doubt), draw back out .5 cc. Again, thanks for the help, maybe my head in not in the right place yet...that's the reason for reading Dr. Phil - so I can GET REAL! Barb

I am having such a time with this AMI band. Any suggestions? I have 7.5 ccs in it right now and have only lost a total of 24 lbs. in 6 months. My siblings are now saying that I should have the gastric bypass. Is it common that whben you have the AMI band, you can go this long without losing much weight? I am very, very discouraged. I called Mexico and Sady said that I may just need a "tweaK", so I have another fill appt. scheduled for Feb. 23rd. Hope this works or I don't know what else to do. Barb

Christie, It really depends on what type of band you have. I have the AMI band and have to travel to NYC for my fills, but there is a doctor in Ithaca, NY (Dr. Mecenas) who does fills for the lap band that is approved here and there is also a doctor in Port Jervis, NY (Dr. Kwon). He does fills for all kinds as well. Good Luck, Barb

Vera, You are such a sweet lady.

Yes, this is all very true, but what happens 3 months out - 2 fills later when you are still gaining weight. I go for my 3rd fill on December 1, 2003, and unlike alot of bandster - I have told my colleagues and EVERY EYE IS ON ME! I am getting very frustrated. I was restricted for about a week or two after my 2nd fill, but now am able to eat preband. What is a girl to do?

Hi Jeanette, I found 2 doctors to do my fills, the 1st one wanted to try to control the weight loss with diet and I felt that if I could control it with diet ..... I wouldn't need the band. So I found another doctor that is 5 hours away from my house, but he is really nice. I have had 2 fills, but am not restricted yet. I have the AMI band , which is bigger than the lap band, so I have 5.5 cc right now and am scheduled for another fill on December 1st. Hopefully that will do the trick. Thanks for asking. I have not had any significant weight loss as of yet......still waiting. Barb

I will post after he calls. Thank you all for trying to help. Barb