TRANAM1955

HI, Yes, I had the surgery on Tuesday and flew home from Los Angelos to Georgia on Friday. Had a lay over in Denver. I did ask for wheel chair assistance and limited the amount of time I had to walk and wait in line. (Be sure to have cash on hand to give out to those that wheel you around ) No discomfort on the flights. I went to work and drove 300 miles 6 days after surgery. I was fatigued but not sick.

I was post op 16 months and began having reflux and band tightening especially when stressed. I had lost 102 pounds and developed pnuemonia and when I went for a 6 month check up and my band has prolapsed. I had no idea my band was not in good shape. I knew I was under a lot of stress and figured it made my band tighten, but the doctor felt my high weight loss made the band slip. I had an unfeel and healed from the pnuemonia and had my band removed and replaced on November 24th. I gained about 14 pounds during the unfill period but needed to get my body healed and ready for a 3 hour surgery. I had my 1st fill with the new lap band on January 6th but it was not tight enough. I was a little leary to start off too tight. I am self pay and now have $35,400 invested in my lapband but it is so worth it. Now I have another fill scheduled on Feb 24th and will get it tighter and not be so fearful. I will just go for check ups every 3 months and not wait so long. Good luck on your journey!!

Doctor took x-rays and an EKG to rule out heart issues. He did discover I was low in potassium so I am not taking pillsw for that. My white blood count was low, too. So I have to take the meds this week and let him test the blood next Friday. The pain around my rib cage appears to be arthritis and is getting better taking all these meds. He said my buddy looked great on the x ray so that relieved a lot of stress on my part.

Well...I am trying to keep my little "buddy" calm. I am going to take a nap after being at the hair salon for 4.5 hours. My blonde is now a brunette and I am very stressed about that. Dunno' what happened. Anyways, it is not too bad. Kinda' looks good! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND FOLKS!!!

HI Folks, I am 16 months post op and have lost 91.5 pounds and reached my first goal target weight last month. I am still loosing and will follow basic lap band food plans and see how much more I loose. I work in a very stressful field and started noticing when I get stressed to the max, my lap band tightens and is more restrictive. This has occurred 5 or 6 times in the past 6 months and my band has been checked carefully by my doctor and looks "great" in his opinion. About 2 weeks ago, I was concerned...not really upset about a work issue, and low and behold, the stress METER kicked in and I had to resort to soups and liquids. Then the past few days I am eating as usual. I do watch what I eat to insure I don't aggravate my band, but I am curious if other bandsters have a Stress Meter like mine? Thanks for your input!!

HI, I had such a wonderful, loving, comforting mini dauschund who was my best friend for 13 years. I could always count on her to greet me with a wagging tail and sitting beside me every evening. She slept with me and went everywhere I could take her when I traveled. She grew old with grace. However, congestive heart failure took her from us on earth, but her spirit still lives on! I did get another mini dauschund a couple of months later. Could not stand the quietness and empty feel of my condo and he has helped me get over the loss. HOWEVER, he is quite the rounder and hyped up sorta dog that TD was 13 years ago. I forget that not only did she get older, I got older :thumbup: so having a puppy has been a shock to my quieter lifestyle. He is a sweetie though and is giving me the love and support that TD did. Bless you and your family!!!

HI, I flew to San Diego from Georgia to have my surgery done in Tejuana. Dr Kuri and his staff was awesome and I would do it again in a heart beat. I flew back 3 days after surgery and did very well. Be sure to have loose clothing because I did swell quite a bit. In fact, I weighed 13 pounds more when I returned to Georgia than when I left. Kinda' freaked me out. But, 15 months later and 88 pounds lighter, I am very happy with my "Buddy". I still have only a slight fill from the original lap band and must have found my sweet spot because I only eat small bites of anything I want and it satisfies me. I am happy at 170 but I can tell I am still going to loose, so we will see what my weight stablilizes at. I am not buying a ton of 12's or 10's because I think they are going to be too big. Good luck!!!!

HI, I am 15 months post op and have lost 85 pounds. I still have hunger pains at times, but one of my nurses told me to make sure I eat Protein 1st to satisfy my hunger. I used to eat a lot of crispy foods and Soups. Now, I try to eat a protein item, even if it is just a couple of bites and it will make me feel full. My stomach growls at times just to remind me it is there If your fill is not enough, you will know in a few weeks. Usually after a fill, you are supposed to be on liquids and soft foods for 10 days or so. Call your doctor's office and ask a nurse about your situation. The lap band is our tool to assist us in not eating the large amounts we used to eat. Good luck!!!!

I was at my son's enjoying an afternoon at the pool with the grandkids. I was 4 month's post op and thought I could chew a small bite of hotdog. Wronggggggggg!!!! I started gagging and just could not get comfy, so I decided to drive home. I only live a mile from the son's family so I did not put on my seat belt as I was "sliming" in a glass and just did not have the desire to be strapped in. Well, low and behold, the nice police man spotted me and pulled me over. I rolled the window down and said, Officer, do you know anything about lap bands? He said, No!! I said, well, I am throwing up profusely and proceeded to show him my "slime" glass!! He was not impressed and proceeded to write a non seat belt violation and as he handed me the ticket, I "slimed" in my glass and said, "Hope you don't have to throw up any time soon"!!!:lol::party::party:

I was on strictly clear liquids the first week after surgery. I also developed a cold and coughed a lot and just knew I had ruined my port and band. ( self pay here ) But, my surgeon did a great job and it has been my best friend for the past 13 months. KEEP THE FAITH!!!!! AND GOOD LUCK!!!!

I was aware there could be complications with wls, but I chose to take the risk and thank God every day for my Mexican Lap Band Surgery. Good luck to you!!!!

My experience with Dr Kuri and his medical team was excellent!!! I have lost 82 pounds and quit smoking in this past year!!!! Life is good!!! I want to loose another 20 or 30 pounds and feel it will come off in the next 3 to 4 months. I paid a local doctor to take me as a patient!!! $2225 and have had only 2 fills and 1 slight unfill. USA FILL CENTERS were too unreliable for me to chance their cancelling appointments as I was 5 minutes away after a 2 hour drive. I would return to Mexico in a heart beat if something happened to my band. Good luck on your journey!!!

HI Everyone, It is so hard to believe a year has nearly come and gone. Life with lap band is not all fun and games, but I am sure I would have been hitting 300 by now at the rate I was going. I have only had 2 fills and am going for a consult this week. I don't think I need a fill, but I want to check the status of my band. No real concerns other than some PB'ing or gurgling. Usually when work is stressful. I can't say that I eat a lot of meat but there again, my intake is according to my stress level. My band reacts to stress severely. I feel great though! Congrats to all of us who are succeeding. I am grateful I took a chance and flew to Tjuana and used Dr. Kuri and his team. Great experience for me!! Good luck to you snow bound folks!! Georgia is having some nice weather :smile2:

Just wanted to send a Merry Ho Ho to all of you....I am very grateful for this forum because it helped me decide to have the lap band surgery and gave me strength in the months after the surgery. Thanks to all of you for sharing your LapBand journey with me and others!!!!

Always check with your doctor, but I experienced something similiar and just KNEW I had ruined my band....But, our bands are tougher than you think and chances are you just twisted something and it will go back. Stick with the post op food and check with doc tomorrow. Don't stress out over it because stress affects my band more than anything!!!!!

Hi...when I get stressed, my lap band tightens up....and I have trouble eating anything other than Soup. I have been relaxed the past few days and have eaten a lot more than usual. But back to work tomorrow and a stressful week ahead will cause me to not eat much solid. Good luck!!!! My band is 9 months old.

HI Folks, I have not posted in a while but wanted to update everyone on my progress. I am loosing slower than some but am pleased with my weight loss of 60 pounds in 9 months. I also quit smoking on May 5th, and am still smoke free, too!!!! I have only had 2 fills. My stoma is a little sensitive to eating any food early in the day and lunch is a hit and miss. I do not eat meat very often, but do get plentry of Protein with nuts and cheese. I eat more comfortably at night. Stress is the #1 factor in how my lap band works on a daily basis. When stressed, it is difficult to eat anything other than Soup, but then again, I try to eat what is nourishing to my body and what satisfies me. So, as far as I am concerned.....I would go to Dr. Kuri in Tjuana tomorrow in a heartbeat to have this procedure done again and am so grateful to not be weighing 258 pounds this holiday season. Merry Christmas to Everyone!!

HI Folks, I don't post much....banded March 20 and have lost 44 pounds. Kinda' slow, but stopped smoking in May and I know it slowed down my efforts. Stress is still an issue - no comfort food, no smoking, no drinking, etc....I have to say I am not committed enough to counting calories and I need to do that!!! Give me a little kick in the butt!! I use Dr. Rose at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga as my fill doctor. Pricey, but he does use a fluro every time. I have had 2 fills and it has been a little hard getting used to the 2nd fill. My stoma gets irritated easy, but eating soft foods are not conducive to loosing weight. So, I am trying to get an attitude adjustment and get serious. Thanks!!

Hi, At one time, Dr. Kuri was promoted by BeLiteWeight but they parted ways. My visit was an awsome surgical experience and the hospital was new and more like a resort rather than the hospital. I had no complications from the surgery and am still doing great. I would return to Mexico if I had any complications that required surgery and ask Dr. Kuri and his team to perform the surgery. I did have to find a local doctor that charged $2000 to accept me as Mexican patient and so far I have had two fills. Great doctor here, too! I quit smoking in May, after a 30 year habit of 3 to 4 packs a day, so I have only lost 44 pounds in 5 months, however, I COULD HAVE EASILY GAINED THAT AND MORE, so I feel blessed. I have a sensitive stoma and do not eat well in the mornings and usually do not eat until late afternoon and all evening. That is something I have to work on. But, I think Dr. Kuri's rates have come down substantially since he is not jobbed out by Beliteweight, so I would definitely talk with Dr. Kuri before you make any decisions. Good Luck!!!!!!

HI, At your young age, weight loss would be so much easier with the lap band than at a later stage in your life. When I was your age, I lost 92 pounds in 8 months and maintained a slim figure for a few years - would go up and down - and finally in my mid 40's, the weight crept back up to over 200. In my 50's, I hit the 250 mark and could tell such a difference in my well being. My lap band has become my "voice of reason". And yes, after being banded for nearly 5 months, quitting smoking - 3 to 4 pack a day habit for 3 months, I have had some emotional challenges. I have always used food as a comfort and the band will not let me do that. I have lost 38 pounds, most in the first few months, and it has slowed since I quit smoking. However, I just had my 2nd fill this past week and I am optimistic that the weight loss will start up again. My band has become a friend, buddy and sounding board that tells me that I just can't eat a big hamburger, fries, and deserts. So, I want to encourage you to seek counseling, meet with a qualified lap band surgeon and start on your Journey!!! :clap2:

HI Folks, I have to treat my fills like the initial procedure. He wants me on clear for 2 days, liquid for 2 days, mushies for 3 to 4 days. If I am able to eat solid after the 7th day, I can continue, but if I am too tight, back to Clear liquids. Seemed to work for me! Good luck on your journey!!

I had a great experience in Mexico. I did have to pay a local doctor $2000 to take me as a Mexican Patient...and I have only had one fill. Weight is coming off slowly but surely!!!!

Proud for you and glad you enjoyed your cruise!!

LOL...I had to chuckle as I read this new post...the stress has been a big factor since I quit smoking in May. I have been so stressed my only option has been to sleep!!! I was going to work, coming home, and do only neccessary household chores, finish emails and go to bed. When I traveled, I would be asleep in the hotel by 6 pm. So....I finally went to my Medical Doctor and said. "Robert, this is not working, I am so stressed I am gonna bust"...and I voiced my concern about starting back smoking when I attend an educational training in Conneticut in August for 2 weeks. At 52, I do not want to resort to bad habits...so, for the first time in my life, I am taking Zannax. Low dose and hopefully short term, but I can not pick up any of my old vices....DRINKING, EATING, CRAZY RELATIONSHIPS, SMOKING, ETC...I am a "snow white" at 52...lol...but I can work my way through this with a strong relationship with God, a way to vent my feelings ( on this forum ) and taking each day as it comes. I am sure I will seek counseling to deal with all these frustrations, but right now my work load is heavy, and it is difficult to schedule appointments I can keep. September should be better!!!! Good luck to all of us on this emotional but rewarding journey!!!!