La_madam

For most insurances to even think about touching you, you do need to have a BMI of 40 and have co-morbitities is what I was told ..I had the BMI over 40 (42) but no comorbitities. I was a self pay in TJ Mexico becasue my insurance company said NO so instead of haggling with over it with them for months I went to Mexico..4 months later down 40 pounds ..I'd probably still be going back and forth with my insurance company 4 months later.

Intant you are correct in a sense...but for those of us in Southern California where the border is just an hour and a half away....Mexico at the price of 8995.00 all inclusive worked out great for me. I checked many surgeons in my area and there was no way I could afford 17,000-25,000 for my surgery(17 being the lowest I found and 25 being the highest I found in my area without driving an hour and a half the other way (north) not to mention the lack of experience these US surgeons had with band placement . I'm very happy with my surgeon, aftercare and my decision..just becasue it is 15,000 in the US doesnt always mean it is best either. Most US surgeons have not done many bands yet where as my surgeon has preformed over 1000 so there are difinately pros & cons to both sides. Through my research most Mexican doctors have preformed many more band surgeries then American doctors. I have peace of mind with my Mexican surgeon being an hour and a half away and having preformed over 1000 of them P.S. for the record I did not go through a patient coordinator either I just called Ortiz's office and spoke with his receptionist who scheduled my surgery and faxed me all the paperwork, she was the sweetest woman ever!

Very well put Alex I eat until my hunger pains go away and it is true sometimes I am satisfied for longer periods of time then others depending on what I ate. My band is the strangest thing sometimes..there is no way to figure this band out. One day I will have total restriction and the next day none! One day I can eat something and the next day try and eat the same thing and can't. So bazarr..but like Alex said I'm just going with the flow and losing so I'm happy .I can still eat real food and lose weight with no weighing or measuring my foods...what a great feeling!

Penni I'm glad to hear you daughter and son in law are safe. you are a great mother to offer help from so far away! I'd do the same thing too knowing how I am..I dont know if I could live with my mother in law either!

Audrey Absolutely amazing! You look fabulous...what a fantastic job you have done, you have got to be so proud of yourself.. thank you for sharing your pictures and giving inspiration to all of us.

Marie What a great NSV!! Thanks for sharing that with all of us. It has given us all a little more hope and ispiration. Congratulations to you!

Good Morning This is a great idea..I just got off the scale and posted on the weekly scale challenge a loss of a 1.5 lbs. Not bad since I'm in full swing with my period and feel like a bloated pig right now but I know it is from all of the exercise I have did last week. I really kicked my exercise in to full gear last week. I'm all up for this challenge. My starting weight is 224 Today I will drink all of my Water, eat healthy with good food choices and no snacking and EXERCISE (water aerobics/walk) 45min-60min Best of luck to everyone else. I wish you all success!!

This week was a pound and a hlf loss for me...not too bad since I'm in full flow with my period. I normally gain at this time of the month but I know it is because I have really kicked in the exercise. So Darcy you may be right, just get out there and exercise and you will lose, your attitude is great, your not down on yourself, you realized what needs to be done and you are going to do it. Hey Darcy, Lisa Penni and I have a challenge going this week of our own ...to eat healthy make good food chopices...drink all of our daily water and exercise everyday..why don't you join us with this challenge, maybe the extra motivation will help you?

Leatha is so right on with what she said about the hard Proteins. I know for me when I eat soft proteins like scrambled eggs and sausage it goes through the band quicker then when I eat the hard Protein like a hamburger patty or chicken breast. This just was verified today when I changed my breakfast routine to 1 scrambled egg and a hamburger patty from my norm of 2 scrambled eggs and 2 sausage links. The hamburger patty lasted so much longer in my pouch. I do have the occassional esophogas spasm on my firtst bite at times and experience the golf ball feeling but I wait about 3-5 minutes for it to pass and then continue eating. I was also told for those of who are very restricted in the morning to drink a cup of hot tea and it will help open you up so you can eat a little earlier and a little more and won't gorge so much at dinner time when your band seems wide open. The full feeling that we used to experience pre band is now gone, I have yet to ever fill that feeling since being banded, that in itself takes a little getting used to and trying to figure it out in your head. Since you do not get that full feeling anymore you do not know when you are really full..I now eat when my tummy growls and it is true hunger not mental and I eat until I'm satisfied and the growling has stopped..for dinner tonight I had a can of tuna I was satisfied. for breakfast I had a hamburger patty and 1 scrambled egg, for lunch I had 1/2 of a chicken fried steak & a scoop of cottage cheese and was satisfied. doesnt sound like much but I was satisfied. with my 1.1cc's of Fluid in my band. Alot of this is mental for me, I ask myself all the time am I truly hungry or do I think I'm hungry? When my stomach is growling then I know I'm truly hungry! Good Luck Gail and dont get discouraged..you will figure this band thing out..I'm still learning after 4 months. This board is very helpful!

I'm all about this challenge!! Penni & Lisa you are on! Penni love the good deed idea, I'm a firm believer in random acts of kindness..Its something I live by! I'm all for it I started my Water aerobics full force last week..3-5 times a week 45 minutes a day. I eat pretty healthy now with no in between Snacks but I know I can do better getting my water in and working out harder...this is going to be great! Can't wait to weigh in tomorrow for my weekly scale challenge and then start this new challenge. Such motivation, I love it!

You are welcome ..glad you are going to put them to good use... 20's WOO-HOO to you!!!!! Congrats on that!

Most doctors want you to wait 6 weeks for a fill to make sure you are all healed properly but there are doctorswho will do a fill sooner. . My doctor told me I need a fill when I am no longer losing 1-3 pounds a week for 3 weeks following all of the bandster rules. If you are exercising, eating right, making good food choices and drinking all of your water every day and are not losing 1-3 pounds a week for 3 weeks then you may need a fill is what I was told. . I had my first fill at 9 weeks post op and have done real well with it. I have lost 1-3 pounds a week since then. I'm for the most part following all the rules.

Wow you both look great! Glad you two finally met. I was not so fortunate to meet up with the famous Delarla while I was in Vegas due to family problems. But looking forward to meeting you both in October

Hey Lisa I will challenge you.. exercise and eating healthy sounds good to me!

Is it me or has anyone else lost the control since banding to hold in your farts? mine just seem to sneak right out in the most awkward places lie in the mall or when I'm walking around a public place. I live in a house of 4 men I'm the only women so my boys get the biggest kick when mom lets one rip with the rest of them. But seriously, I have noticed this past week I'm so gassy. I do not get it, my eating hasnt changed. More gassy then post op. I now have next to my bed enough Gas X to feed all of you girls....and no my farts don't stink either

Lisa..maybe Penni is barely eating in front of you since the 2 of you have that bet going? Could be huh?

Compliments from your spouse are a wonderful thing! We all need that from our significant other . My husband is constantly stroking my ego and it does feel good! What a great NSV!! Good for you and good for him that hefinally noticed

Carol..looking at your starting wegiht , were started at almost the same weight. After reading your tips on Water aerobics and what you eat..I have lots of hope I will be as successful as you. I do the water aerobics every night in my pool, I just got out of the pool after 30 minutes of aerobics.I have all the gadgets to do it with my best friend is a wter aerobics instructor and has given me many exercises to do as well as helpful web sites on it.... and I eat almost exactly what you do everyday minus the alcohol, I have yet to drink since being banded. I have had a couple bites of ice cream since banding though . Thanks for your post, you have inspired me!! You have done an awesome job and you desreve lots of praise! Please post some pics if you have them!

Way to go Carol! That is so awesome.. you are definately my role model. 102 lbs since December is fantastic! Congrats!!!

Kepping your family in my prayers!

They way you are with words, the physch eval will be no problem, you will have those docs convinced in no time...piece a cake! Good luck to you

Leatha..Im sorry to hear of your news..but lets keep our fingers crossed that it is nothing serious going on with your gallbladder and atleast you have some answers and can maybe get a little relif from that. Keeping you in my thoughts.. I hope you feel better soon and your results prove nothing serious.

I'm fine with any color T-shirt or writing size 1x BIG FAT LOSER $20

Fluoro for me..I feel more comfortable seeing and actually knowing the fill is going into the right place and he has hit my port. My doc only uses fluoro.

Delarla, that is so funny you say that. I told my husband last night that it seems like at night afterI eat dinner I have more gas then I have ever had in the last 4 months...I have been so uncomfortable the last 2 nights, with horrible gas pains and cramps..This has been going on now for atleast 3 days. Hmmm..maybe we both are dying