La_madam

SOmetimes not eating enough is the problem..your body goes into starvation mode if you are not eating enough and you will not lose.It will hold onto every morsel of food you put in it. Also you had the period where you were not able to keep down water or any food..so my point is well validated here, now that you are putting food back into your body, it is conserving it since you starved it for that period of time when you were too tight. It will pass once your body adjusts to it..it's probably in shock since the troubles you had earlier. Hang in there~

I tell everyone and anyone who asks.. I want to help as many as possible and get all the info I can about the band out there. I have had 2 customers of mine go and have the surgery becasue of me and also have another customer making the arrangements right now to have it done. My friends keep telling me I need to go to work for Dr. Ortiz and I keep telling them No thanks, its not about making money off people, its about helping them. You done good Nancy

Hi Marlent.. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz also..Congrats on your band and good luck to you..No not everyone gets the same fill..don't worry Dr. Martinez is the master of fills. He will fill you just right from what he sees under the fluoro and with the barium. You're in good hands oh and you are normal to feel hungry during the pre fill stage..we all have been there. Becki..cute post Good for you on the 10lbs and the 16 inches. Keep it up!~

Number 3 !!

It gets easier Zoe..I told my Dr. on Monday that I finally feel like I'm eating to live and not living to eat. I only eat when I am hungry.. and stop when I am satisfied and NOT stuffed....Part of it is for me that eating is almost like a chore since I have to eat so damn slow and chew my food until liquid form..with the tiniest bites. Eating is not as enjoyable to me as it once was...dont get me wrong I still battle the chocolate and have a bite of it every once in awhile but other then that I stay away from the junk food. I want this so badly to be thin that nothing is going to stop me, this is the first time in my life where I feel like I will never put this weight back on. These 66 lbs are gone forever!!!! I'm lovin' my band

Hi Melanie I had the fear of what it would be like after banding ..but I have to honestly say that I am doing great..no emotional eating or head issues. Maybe I did not eat for comfort, I dont know all I know is that this band is working for me with no issues! I wish you the best with your band. It has definately changed my life for the better, my kids are happier, my husband is happier. Ive always said that if I'm not happy how can I make my family happy..With my band and my weight loss..I'm happy so the rest of the family is feeling and seeing the results of it

WHy are you waiting until after Thanksgiving? "major" acid Reflux as you put it, is not good for your band or your esophogus. Usually when a Dr. wants you to go in for an unfill it means NOW! I know there is no way that my doc would let me wait a week. Don't jeopardize your health or your band...if you continue to have the reflux..go in sooner. Please!

Great News Rica! That is something to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving

Blossom..WOW! you are one of the few who was alllowed chili's, fixin's and desserts just being 2 weeks post op.....Lucky you I was still on clear liquids at 2 weeks post op with a week of full liquids after that, then 2 weeks of mushy's and then I was on solids. I was told no food for 3 weeks so my band can set in place and I can heal because any food in my tummy would have to digest and the digestion process is such a grumblin, rumblin thing that I did not want to risk slippage since my band was not set into place and I was not healed al ltheway by having to digest any food prior to being 3 weeks post op..so interesting how every Dr. has different post op instructions, it varies so much between Dr.'s...Anyways. I tell everyone and anyone who asks how I have lost my weight..as a matter of fact one of my customers this morning asked me and I told her, she has all ready called Dr. Orti'z office...she said she has been watching me get smaller and smaller, she is overweight by about 80lbs..so for me, the more I can help and the more I can educate about the band..The better! That's just me though!

What are the chances of that? Having a shrink with the band? Looks like it was meant to be

Teresa Congrats on your first fill..I'm sure this will kick start your weight loss again. Glad to hear everything went well and everything is where is should be with your band. The reassurance is great! I had my own reassurance this week with my Dr. ..it sure puts ours minds at ease doesnt it?

Maybe it was the batch of bands Lopez used that year is the reason for the erosions?? It is strange that all 6 were banded nearly the same time frame. This is why it is so important to report these incidents to Inamed so they can track all of this....Dr. Ortiz trained Lopez so does that make his techniques wrong? I have not heard of any cases of erosion from Ortiz since I have been banded( doesnt mean there arent any) but it is just very odd to have this many with one Dr. in the same time period.. Like I said it could be a bad batch of bands??

WOW! What a difference Ginger...you look great Way to go!!

Yeah! Ryans and official bandster Congratulations Ryan..cant wait to hear all about it..

You are beautiful Blossom..use one of thosepics for your avatar!

I'm so sorry to hear of your erosion.I can only imagine how you are feeling. I was a self pay in Mexico also and could not afford to ever get another band, losing my band would be devastatingto me.. I think it is NOT a coincidence your band has eroded. I know of 4 women who have had erosion with Lopez in the last 6 months who had their surgeries over a year ago to a year ago and now hearing this, you and the other woman makes 6. I spoke with my surgeon about this on Monday who is also a Dr. in TJ and was once a partner with Lopez and asked why certain Dr.'s have more cases of erosion then others and he told me very bluntly it is in the technique used in the original surgery when the band is placed. Erosion I was told is less then 1-3% with the studies my Dr. hs done but some Dr.s will have more cases then others because of technique. When was your surgery date? There are 2 other women here on this board who had erosion and Lopez was their surgeon also. I'm sure they can help you answer any questions. Again, Im very sorry to hear of your erosion. I wish you all the best..

Ok Marie,, you just brought tears to my eyes with your post. I have not been fortunate enough to meet all of you who were in Galveston( looking forward to the time I do though) but Marie you were so right on about your description about Ginny & Leatha..The three of us hit if off so great in Vegas. Both of them had me laughing like I havent laughed in a long time..I just love them!

My 2nd fill has been very good to me (25lbs in 3 months)..My weight loss started to slow down so I made an appointment 2 weeks ago to get my 3rd fill yesterday..but lo and behold after I hung up the phone from making my appointment, my restriction kicked in again and my weight loss has increased in the last 2 weeks. So needless to say I went for my appointment yesterday , did not get a fill but just a check-up. All I can say is these bands are so fickle! Restriction comes and goes like the wind for me! Everyday is a different day. yesterday restriction..today not so good restriction. Who knows why, all I know is I'm losing weight, my band , port, pouch are in great shape so I'm going with the flow. If for some reason my restriction is gone for the holidays, oh well, then it is time to adjust my head and let it do some of the work instead of adjusting my band. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it

Marie it is nice to see a face with your sweetness you are always portraying here on the boards...sure looks like you all had a great time. I cant wait for all of us to get the chance to get together and meet. Everyone here is like my family

Hi Linda I'm glad you made it home safely..and even more glad to see you here. This site is awesome..you will just be happy with all of the love and support everyone here offers. How are you doing so far with your fill? We were at Dr. Ortiz's office until 8:30 last night. my girfriend that I was with had to have port revision surgery due to a flipped port so after Dr. martinez saw all of his patients he took us over to the clinic where he preformed her surgery..what a long day! She was able to get her fill no problems.. Well I hope to see you around here often..Best of luck to you with your band and I hope this fill gives you the restriction you wanted.

Lisa what a great picture of you and Chris..you need to use that for your Christmas card this year..it is beautiful! Glad you had a great time..you definately deserved it with al lyou have gone through. Dont sweat that 6 lbs..I cal lthat fluff weight, it will be off in no time .

Leatha..I love the long hair in the first pic you posted. Unbelieveable how far you have come in this journey by looking at all of the pictures you have posted You look great Leatha, you have done so well with your band. Very proud to know you Isint Leatha the sweetest? I just love her.

Totally normal..I had the same questions and concerns aboutthe burping..I wil ltell you what I was told...it is the gas trying to get out through your diaphram but since you are most likey still swollen that is the reason for the pain. I experienced the exact same thing post op from 1 week until 3 weeks post op. It is also the reason you can't burp... I do not know about the white foamy stuff though , I never experienced that part. As the swelling subsides the pain decreases and you will be able to burp. Hang in there~

:banana :banana :banana I MADE IT TO ONE-DERLAND!!!!! 199.75 1.5 LBS LOSS FOR ME THIS WEEK Congratulations to all of you losers this week...Way to go Darcy, Greg & Betty. You are al ldoing fantastic! WOO-HOO!!!!!

What a great time you girls had..I'm jealous. Looks like it was my kind of party, just hanging around in Pj's..However I do not do Karoke unless I am drunk..Love the pictures. Lisa and Paula you both are beautiful!