La_madam

Happy Birthday Megan, I hope you have a great day!

Hey Zoe, Happy Birthday! I hope you are enjoying your day :cool:

NYkee, call Dr. Martinez on his cell phone, he will answer it and be happy to answer all of your questions. He would not give you his number if he didnt want you to call, it could be something so simple, let him put your mind at ease.

Penni, what a year huh? Didn't it fly by? Congratulations to you. You have done a fabulous job. You have accomlished many things since your band like your 5k and the 57 lbs gone forever! WAY TO GO!! You have been very supportive of others here and that is very much appreciated. You look beautiful. Keep it up, by this time next year imagine where you will be :cool: Pretty exciting just to think about it dont you think?

Thanks Everyone for the Congrats and the kind words. What a year!!! Who would of thought I would be 85 lbs lighter and still enjoying food, not having to measure my food, weigh my food or count points, shop for diet foods, or take those crazy diet pills any longer. I think I have gotten that monkey off my back once and for all. I can not say I have been perfect, I do have bad days, my weakness is chocolate. From a size 22 to a 12 in a year. I am so happy and so proud. I have had a some what uneventful journey so far except for my 2 weeks of esophagitis back in November. I have had 3 fills to date and am trying like heck to get to goal without another one.. I love my band, what a life changing experience this has been for me. Thanks to all of you for all of the support you have given me the last year, all of you have made a difference for me, your support has been a very big part of my success. :cool:

Juli, as long as you are losing 1-3 lbs a week, and if you do not feel deprived from food right now I see no need for a fill. Save the fill for when your wieght loss slows down and you are hungrier.. Our bands only hold so much, why use it all up so soon into your journey. If it were me I would not get a fill. I have been banded a year and have only had 3 fills. I stretch mine out, when I tihnk I need a fill I use my head more then the band. Just my opinion. You are doing great! Congrats! Here is a great site to learn about when you need an adjustment, it will help you http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm Good Luck :cool:

Marleen I would love to hear of your story as well as many others here. Please post about your journey 3 years is fantastic.

Jonathan you have come up with some great posts today! I ate my last meal the night before surgery( Carnitas, Beans, Rice, Tortillas), but have enjoyed the same meal many times over since surgery, just in smaller quantities and it tastes a whole lot better. Again thanks for such a great post!

I have to concur 100% with what both Penni and Marie stated. You need more calories..1200-1500 a day is what my target is... Not to mention if you are only eating 600 calories and exercising 4x's a week an hour at a time you could be losing lean muscle mass which is not what us bandsters want to do. Up your caloric intake this week and see what happens Hang in there we all have been where you are at, I'm frustrated attimes and I'm a year post op

Jonathan Very well said! On this Monday morning after no weight loss last week, this is just what I needed to read Thank You!

Great Job Paula! No weight loss for me, stayed the same. PMS this week and I have some Water retention going on :angry

I will second that Roxana, I feel the same way about Dr. Ortiz.

Thanks for the info! I notice when I eat lots of Protein I get the bad breath And Marie they do make the breath strips for dogs, like those listerine strips you buy and put in your moth and the dissovle, I use them on my older dog.

My scars look great! As a matter of fact the 4 small ones I can barely see, I have to look real close to find them. The larger incision just blends in with my stretch marks, it is only about an inch at best, has healed over beautifully. I have a very tan stomach so my scar doesn't look bad at all, I do use sunscreen over it so it does not turn dark brown. People are amazed when I show them my scar on how good it looks and how small it is. Every doctor has the basic 5 incision technique but all Dr.'s scars range in size a bit and how they stitch them closed. My doctor used glue to close my incisions no stitches.THe scars are not bad at all. Nothing to really worry about, in the big picture of things it is worth it in my opinion

Val, Congratulations on your new band... each day gets better, as the swelling goes down, the liquids will go down easier. Hope you feel better soon. Hang in there

http://www.uclabariatrics.mednet.ucla.edu/resources/resources_videos.htm http://www.thebariatrics.com/the_surgery.htm Paula both of these will show how the band works on video

Hey New Life, Congratulations on your band. We are neighboors, I live in Orange County California, send me a PM, maybe we can meet sometime, I would love to meet a local bandster and have a band buddy close by

Hi Angie, Welcome. I hope your journey is a huge success

I eat bread every once in awhile, it just cant be real doughy. I can do pasta and rice very slowly with tiny bites. I have very good restriction I think.... 2.5 cc's but I am extremely careful when I eat breads, rice, & pastas. Each person is different. Someone can have less fil lthen me and can not tolerate bread or some will have more fill then me and can tolerate bread. You learn as you go, what works for you and what doesn't

Lucerna is a very nice hotel, the satff is very friendly and they all speak perfect English, the food at the restaraunt is fabulous and they also have chicken broth & jello for after your surgery.

BigMom, some of the sypmtoms I was told by my Dr. os not having the ability to keep anything down without vomiting, however I know Leatha had her band slip and did not have that symptom. Chronic PBing can also aide in slippage. I would call your Dr. and let him know of your concerns. Maybe he can give you something to relieve the cough a bit

Sounds like you are having a ball. Great NSV Penni!

Sensy, it sounds like you area little too tight. If you have reflux and you are Pbing more then once a week you should call your doctor and have a little bit removed. Frequent Pbing is not good for the band and can result in slippage, having as little as .2 cc's can make a huge difference for relief but still keep good restriction. If it were me I would go in and have a little taken out. Good Luck to you

I'm right there with you Paula on that one !

Hi Vera, so glad you are home safe and sound & happy too that you are all fixed up and have restriction