La_madam

I'm in Mission Viejo, Orange County

Oh Darcey, Iam so sorry to hear this. But at the same time Iam so greatful that you have such a wonderful Dr. in Dr. Ortiz. Amazing he stopped his vacation to come in and help you, no Dr. here in the U.S. would do that, you call them while on vacation and their exchange would just tell you to go to the E.R. Darcey does he know why the band slipped? Or what may have caused it to slip? Band or no Band Darcey, I hope you still will come here for support. let us help you through this difficulttime like you have for so many of us here ((((BIG HUGS TO YOU))))

Iam sorry to hear you are so discouraged. Here is a helpful site that may help tp answer your question about another fill http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm Well all knew going into this that the band was not a magic wand, it is a tool to help us. There are other issues you need to look at, like emotional eating or mental hunger, how do you do with those things? Are you eating more Proteins then carbs? Staying away from the junk food? Drinking a minimum of 64 oz of Water a day? All of these things are very important to us bandsters for success. Dont get discouraged, yet you only have 1.5 cc's in your band you may need another fill Remember the saying, Just because we can does not mean we should.There are plenty of days when I can eat, but it doesnt mean I should. This is where your head has to come in an do some of the work. We can not rely on the band to do it all. I too only have 1.5 cc's in my band which does not mean you and I have the same level of restriction just means I have 1.5 cc's in my band. Hang in there. Dont give up!

When I have the proper restriction,I have to remind myself to eat. I do not even think about food. If the occassion does arise, I will drink a 20 oz of bottle of water and most times that will work, the other thing is to keep yourself busy. Find a hobbie, keep your hands busy, knitting, quilting, coming here and posting, reading etc...

I love this board! Great ideas and helful hints keep coming and coming.

looks like you are losing just like you should be 1-3 lbs a week isthe average in 8 weeks you have lost 48 lbs and you are concerned? Hmm..what other diet have you tired in your past and lost 48 lbs in 8 weeks? You are doing awesome! Dont get down on yourself

Hiccups means you need to slow down, you are eating too fast.

Best of Luck to both of you.I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow for you both

Any of you expereincing a tighter band with this heat wave and humidity that is going across America right now? I know for me, this week my band has been much tighter ever since this heat wave & humidity started here in Cali, my hunger is completely gone, I have to remind myself to eat just so I get in my protien and decent calories Craziest thing..but I'm lovin' it!

Anne great job on the wieght loss. 1 lb a week is great. I'll take that any day. Also getting a new fill always rejuventes me, it is like a fresh start, I hope the same for you too

Hi Anne, I have 3 boys and go to work at 4:30 am and get up at 3:30 am and I own a restaraunt. I work 5 days a week and do all that you just mentioned, mind you my boys are older then your girls but I still find 20 minutes a day for me. I do my arm exercises everynight with my free wights while watching TV or right as I lay down for bed, I ride my stationary bike for 3 miles at a time..It can be done. Its about you making time..and following thorugh with it. You are important too and you desreve the 20 minutes a day for you dont you think? Make it a priority

Flower, it is normal to have no restriction when you have NO fill...it is also normal to eat when you have NO fill. Relax! You will know soon enough if your port has flipped or not...if it has you get it fixed, if it hasnt , you get your fills. No need to consume yourself now with worry and stress, not a darn thing you can do about it until you go in for the fluoro, you will make yourself carzy stressing about it. I'm sorry you are gooing through this but the best thing you can do for youself right nwo id to relax and wait for the results

Brittany, this was one of my biggest concerns too but I will tell you my experience on this was amazing. I was not even hungry for 3 weeks after surgery. There is swelling from surgery, you have gas from surgery. Food just did not even appeal to me after surgery. I know everyone is different, but it is nothing like trying to do it now before the band, it is much easier after surgery because of the swelling and gas . You wil lbe able to do it, we al ldid, the good thing is you will have your mother doing it right along with you, no better support then that! Good Luck, are you using Dr. Ortiz? He was my surgeon and I have to say I have been blessed with his care and kindness over the last 15 months I drank all juices, chicken broth, Jello, popsicles, Protein drinks, skim milk, chocolate skim milk, gatorade

Hey Chris, you are very welcome.. I am a happy patient of Dr. Ortiz. Your daughter is in good hands with him, he has banded alot of teens. Kylie and I have PMed eachother. I have offered any support I can to her. If she has any questions she can contact me and if I can answer them I will.

How is yourprotein intake? Low Protein will make you tired How is your Iron level?That will also make you very tired if it is low My iron level is low which makes me extremely tired so I now take a pre-natal Vitamin which has helped alot

Sue, best of luck to you with the DS...you will still come here right? We need your knowledge and wit here.

Christina, sounds like your first fill experiece was very pleasant..that is so great to hear. Have a great time wherever it is you are going next week, I think you did the wise thing not getting that extra .5 cc's since you are going away... It is better to be safe then sorry.

I have no problem with reflux and I have good restriction, I can eat or drink before bed and no problems The only problem I had was gastritiswhich is totally different from Reflux and it was only during the day for 1-2 hours between 1-3, I am now totally clear of that.

For me, if I chew my food very good and take small bites, I do not feel the food pass through the band and it seems to stay longer in my pouch , it is only when I forget to chew or take too big of a bite that I get the horrible feeling in my chest and then feel it pass through the band and my pouch does not stay full very long.

One of the symptoms would be your Dr. not being able to access it. The fluoroscopy will let him knowfor sure if it has flipped, until then try to remain calm. My girlfriend had a flipped port and she had corrective surgery in TJ to fix it, she was in and out of the hospital the same day

Smart daughter you have. as parents we teach our children that lying is not a good thing. You are an adult able to make your own choices. If those around you do not understand or support your decision, that is their problem not yours. Dont worry about what others may think or may say..you are doing this for you and no one else

Dannies Darlin, what is your current fill level? Once you PB it is wise to fo liquids for 24-48 hours to let the swelling in your esophagus and stoma subside, if not it just becomes a vicious cycle. PB..eat..PB eat.Iam sure you are very irritated if you have been PBing often You have to eat to lose weight. Since you are not eating nothing but cereal and milk could explain why you are not losing. Cereal and milk are liquids and soft foods I have posted this info on so many other threads but her is something from Inamed and it is dierctly from their hanbook it is valuable to your situation With the Lap Band system in place, you should be able to eat only small ammount so the food you eat should be as healthy as possible. Do not fill your stomach pouch with :junk: food that lacks vitamins and other important nutrients. Your meals should be high in protein and vitamins and low in carbs. Solid food is more important then liquid food or soft food. The lap Band system will have little or no effect if you only eat liquid or soft food. It passes through the stomach outlet very quickly and does not make you feel full. Here is another excerpt form the book If the adjustment (fill) results in too tight of a stomach opening you could have a hard time eating most foods, sometimes this causes people to avoid solid foods. They may drink liquid meals or soft food meals and this may result in weight gain or no weight loss. A band that is too tight may cause reflux symptoms and can also cause frequent vomiting. You know having just a little ammount of your fill removed can make a huge difference in being able to eat hard proteins & solids but still allow you to lose weight. I hope this info helps you

Jello or Jelly? For jello You can put 5 gallon buckets surrounded in ice ..the ice surrounding the bucket should allow it set, you will have to use lots of boxes jello for a 5 gallon bucket. I did this once for a party I had but nor for the reason you are asking it for.. it worked for me I used a big ice chest & set the bucket in the ice chest before I added the ice and surrounded the bucket with the ice then made the jello. It did not set as well as the normal way to make it in the regrigarator but it solidified enough for what its purpose was.

In Mexico, cheaper doesnt always mean better. I did NOT mention my doctor in my earlier post but since you mentioned his name I will tell you Dr. Ortiz is the Dr. I used and Iam very happy with him, his staff and the aftercare I have recieved from OCC Best of Luck on your decision

Here is a few numbers you can call in your area to see if they will take on patients banded in Mexico You can also email Don Mills at Inamed and ask him for a list of Dr.'s in your area and start calling them all Don.Mills@inamed.com Drs. Daniel Jones and Benjamin Schneider (617) 667-2845 or (617) 667-0115. Boston Nicole Pecquex, MD, and Kevin O'Donnell, MD, please call Michelle Gurel, RN, at (617) 562-7474. Drs. Scott Shikora, Mike Tarnoff and Julie Kim (617) 636-7505. Drs. Michael Jiser, MD, Roy Shen, MD, and Rebecca Shore, MD, Flanders, Surgical Weight Loss Coordinator, at (978) 287-3532. West Springfield Viriato M. Fiallo, MD, and Burritt L. Haag III, MD, (413) 736-3163. For more information, please visit our website at www.pvsurgical.com.