Nykee

Newhope) Nykee, please be kind to yourself! 40 pounds is a lot of weight - gone, girl, for good. Go pick up a 40 pound bag of dog food and see how long you can carry it around. girl) LOL.. good point... I can barely carry my purse! NewHope) (but not w/meals or 1 hour afterwards). Have you tried tracking your meals on www.fitday.com? It's free and really helps show you where the calories are going. girl) Thanks for the site! and all the support!

alexandrea and Jack, I really hate Water.. I know it sounds so whiney...BUT I have tried to incorporate water like hundreds of times.. I havnt suffored for it thus far (I dont think) Is there anything directly linked to the band that i should know about as far as water goes? Thanks! loves

Megan, Thanks for the info on fills! That answers a lot of questions for me concerning them. Megan) I know that you drink milk, but have you noticed that even skim milk is 90 calaries a serving? That means that you could easily drink 1000 calories a day in milk if you drank 8 glasses of milk instead of Water. Just something to think about. girl) I do, and I always have.. I used to be able to drink a gallon of milk a day and also like a half a gallon of juice. I can barely swallow my pills with about 4 ounces of juice in the AM. I am hoping a fill will also do what that does in the AM. megan) You deserve mostly pain free success- just like the rest of us. It sounds like you may have some old tapes playing in your head that might need to be addressed on your journey. We all do/did. girl) I know.. I know thanks for remimding me!

Kima, thanks for saying i was pretty..

LaMadam) you are only 5 weeks post op. How are you able to eat pizza yet. I was banded by Ortiz a year ago and I was not allowed solids until 6 weeks post op, did he change his post op diet? girl) I dunno if he changed it.. I was told in week four I could try solids, to eat my Protein first and then veggies, then carb.. as I can tolerate. I can tolerate a slice of pizza.. so I eat it. I have 5 kids and pizza is big here.. LOL... LaMadam) You have not had a fill yet, once you get your fills and have good restriction, you will be on your way to weight loss, remember the first 6 weeks are for healing, any weight loss during this phase is a bonus, I'm sure Dr. Ortiz told you that didnt he? girl) NO he didnt tell me any weight loss here was a bonus.. but now I know from all you nice people. HE did tell me to come in for a fill like over and over.. They were so impressed with my 41 pounds of loss, I think they werent very worried about me.... I have tried for 15 yrs to be concerned with what I eat.. and failed to do so.. I need restriction, not calorie counting.. or it will never happen for me. BUt I know if I get enough restriction, it will be fine! Lamadame) TJ to have Ortiz/ Martinez do your fills, they are very agressive on their fills. Dr. Ortiz use flouro and will fill you by how they see the baruim flowing through the band, they will not over fill you however you will have restriction, girl) I am soooooooooooo glad to hear that!!! Thanks for the info!! lamadome) Do not be foolish and have it so tight you can not even swallow your own saliva, Ortiz and Maritenz will not let that happen anyways, he will most likely make you go and eat a meal after your fill girl) I am not.. BUT A MEAL?? I couldnt even hold down ice chips before I went home last time. I had hoped it was tight and I would not need a fill but I guess it was just swollen

I wanna subscribe to this thread. Thanks I weighed last friday. I was 375.. but I am not gonna change my ticker for one pound. I have to drive to another town to weigh, I like to try to do it every week or two. I think weekly is over kill. But after my fill, I will be very interested in whats going on with my weight!

I am suprised at how many people have met their loved ones from dating services. Thats neat. I wish the best for you Megan.. Sounds Amazing!!!

Thank you.. Well I almost never drink Water.. (I drink skim milk, (lots of it) it has plenty of water) and I havnt been keeping track of the Protein either. (I forgot) I dont want the fill to be too tight.. but I keep hearing how people keep going back to get more and more fills.. I dont really understand.. does the stomach expand or what? I will never allow my self to vomit more than a couple times.. before I get the hint and not do anything that would make it happen again. I do that now, I could of PBed by now and I make sure I dont. I was just fine drinking tomatoe Soup a dixie cup at a time... and a popcycle or two a day.. I can handle that.. (thats when I was watching my protein too.. I drank some proten shake stuff..) I guess I am worried that they see my larger than most size... and wont give me a tight enough fill because like you said 'erosion' and such. How do I convince them I can easily live on tiny amounts of food and would NOT PB and allow vomiting and all that? I was restricted for like two weeks like that and I was fine, I was like BRING IT ON!!! I didnt care.. Sometimes I swear, I thrive on suffering. I surely feel I deserve to. Patience! I know! My whole story may change once i have the fill..

whats up?? Do people need unfills to have surgery? Why are you getting these unfills? What were the problems you had?

I have weighed about 400 pounds for many years. I got the band on Feb. 14th. I lost 40 pounds before I left. I have lost no weight since. I DO have restriction, though its not much. Example.. I can eat a peice of pizza.. I used to eat two or three peices. I can drink about 12 ounces of milk at a sitting, i used to drink about 30 ounces or more. I just have to chew real well and eat slow. I havnt had a PB since the first day I was home. Sometimes I have felt alittle funny and knew immediately to stop. I am NOT a fan of pain of any kind. The Pb's I had in the hospital felt like horses trampling on my chest. The thing is, in the past 15 years, it has never worked for me to cut my portains of food and loose weight. I dont know if they think I USED to eat a whole pizza (like some very obese people do) and now since I can only eat one slice its a big difference. Becasue its not. I never ate a ton of food to begin with. I have three herniated discs and cant walk much on my own, I have been going to Water aerobics, BUT honestly I do not see how much it can help when my back hurts too much for me to get my heart rate up.. I need to go in April for a fill.. I want them to make it really tight. I am going to TRY to explain to them that I will be able to handle it just fine. I wont ever come back for a unfill unless I am dehydrating or such. I do not have to money! To go get a fill or unfill is costing me like 500$. My sister has already said to me "this just seems like a big waste" When she found out I havnt lost any weight yet. Then she saw me eating a chicken Fajita and said "YOU can eat that???" I said 'yeah, its just takes a while' and "I need a fill!' Thing is that normally I would have gained the 40 pounds back by now... And I havn't.. so in a way.. IT IS WORKING??!! Do you agree? Any advice? I kinda feel alone or like I am lettng people down. I have even had people ask my loved ones if I am skinny yet.. First of all, I wont EVER be skinny. Second of all, its only been 5 weeks! I just wanted to vent, Thanks.

I was told to loose 40 to 60 pounds a month and a half before surgery and if I didnt It would be cancelled, and in fact if I misrepresented it or such, they would know i hadnt lost the weight when they got a look at my liver... if my liver was too fatty and didnt indicate that I had lost the weight.. they would pull out, I would owe the anastesiologist and all the money but the band implant.. etc etc.. Sooo needless to say I was scared. I lost the 40 pounds in a month.. ON MY OWN.. I was tooo scared not to. If you go on a low carb or liquid diet till April 11th, you should be fine. Also, I was in the hospital for 3 days.. And they wanted me to stay longer but I had a flight to catch.. I dont understand the get out the same day approach.. BUT many have done I like the idea of you going to a motel afterwards... good luck

These stories are so funny! I am at a month now and no PB yet.. I chew real well and I am so scared of feeling that feeling I felt in the hospital.. (horses trompling on my chest) I am going to get a fill in April I hope..

interesting thread! I was one of those people who farted and burped less than everyone else.. NOW.. I fart and have little burps all the time... ALL THE TIME!! And everyone notices too... My bragging and putting down of all those who farted so much more than me is now over! lol

I had the flu the week before I went in.. I was still sick when I went Everything was fine for me.

Its not gas! LOL I know what gas is.. I cannot complain to my doctor about every little thing, I will wait and see if it passes I guess. Or does something else worse than stinging... I was hoping if someone who had gotton a hernia before would come in and tell me about the symptoms.. thanks though

Hi.. I am getting so worried. First of all, I was feeling a pain right under my large inscission. A ripping/tearing pain on my left side. It hurt when I slept on my side and when I moved in a certain way.. people here told me it was normal and I was releived. BUT NOW.. I am having the same kind of pain but about 8 inches lower than it was before and no where near an inscision and actually seems to be in just fat. (my lower stomach thats all flab) And it hurts when ever I shift my self, like to stand or sit up. Is this normal too.. To have that pain that low as well now? The pain I was having before is gone. (the pain in my large inscision area) Thanks for any advice.

Nykee: You live in Oregon I assume by your signature right? And are you planning on going back to Ortiz for the fills? If that is true then you might want to consider finding a doc closer to home to keep costs down. My insurance covers half the cost of my fill visits. They also cover half the cost of the office visits as well. Funny most of the insurance co won't cover the band, although I think that is improving, but they will cover the aftercare for the most part. They even covered my port revision surgery. Too funny. Anyway, just a suggestion. ........................................... Yes I was planning on going to Ortiz for the fill. I heard it cost more to have it done here than to fly there, but I am going to do some research. My insurence will not cover anything. So far the plane cost 250$ The shuttle is 100$ (and I dont know if thats one way or roundtrip??) and I dont know if I can get down there and back in one day or not.. so there would be a motel. I still plan on telling who ever MAKE IT TIGHT!!! I can handle it!

I had acid reflux almost daily.. I havnt had it since the band.. day 16

My belly looked like I had been in a major car accident.. with my seatbelt on.. ya know.. lol The bruising is almost gone, my inscissons so small I cant imagine they will ever look bad in years to come.

I stayed three nights. I was only surpose to stay ONE! I had complications with my band being swollen and I had to be on a lot of antinflamitories... The day I left I had drank some sips of grape juice and puked it all up... BUT MY Plane left that day and I HAD TO GO HOME!! So I just got up and said "I gotta go" "I will be fine, I know what to do" I didnt have the money to waste on changing my flight. They said my band was tight, but it only meant I would loose more weight and have to be more carefull.. I had a hard time at home for a few more days but nOW I am Just great! I am on day 16, and I drink tomatoe Soup everyday and popcycles and my favorite thing in the world grape Juice.

My band is great... Not a problem so far... I am at day 15.... My biggest worry is getting the money to go get a fill..

Well, When I start to eat..I am sure I will experience it again...

Hi.. Thats a muscle relaxer ..... I have valium, I am prescribed one a night, but I dont really take it unless I am extra stressed or worried and cant relax to fall aslleep. Maybe I should start taking one nightly just for this pain? The thing is I take 30 mg of Morphine a day (time released) and Viccodan (about 4 a day) and you would THINK these pain meds would take care of the pain. (they are for my back pain, I cannot walk with out the pain meds) They take care of my back and make it manageable.. but this pain in my gut seems to be unaffected by the meds... BUT! I am not gonna worry, many have said they had pain..Its only day 14. I weigh 374 now.. and well thats pretty heavy and my stomach is really weird shaped and bumpy in that area where the port is....and my tummy has all kinds of strain to it, especially with three herniated discs in my back... the way I have to rise and turn and sleep and drive and such, probably irritates it daily. Some people say they can even feel the port and some pain months later. I can handle that... I know what 100X worse pain is.. Its more of a worry than anything LOVES

Thanks for telling me your experience.. I am on SSI, and my insurence didnt pay for it (it was excluded, no way to fight it) I got some back pay and used it to get my band. I will NEVER have the money to deal with any problems, so this info is very valuable to me. Thanks

I coulndt have eaten on day four if I tried! I was able to have like 9 ounces of fluids. It would take like a half hour to drink 2 to 3 ounces of juice. My instructions were First week only Water, tea, clear broth, Jello, popcycles, juice, gatorade and pedyalite. NEVER ALLOWED carbinated drinks EVER AGAIN! Second and third week Add Protein shakes of 30 grams a day. Yogart and slightly thicker soup with NO chunks at all in anything. Fourth week Solids... start mushy and slow and see what you can tolerate. Chew thouroughly. DO not drink with your meals EVER If you have pain, like burps and gas and chest pain (pbing) STOP eating!! Go on liquids for 24 to 48 hours and try solids again.