Alfie

Hi Dr S, Thank you for being down to earth, professional and willing to share. I have a few questions; did you perform all the surgeries in the pictures that you showed us? Also, being that I am 54 1/2 years old, would I also benefit greatly from some of these procedures such as a lbl and bl? Or are the risks increased with age or maybe not as effective? Lastly, is there a "facial" procedure that can be done simultaineously with one of these surgeries? I am not terribly wrinkled but the part under my eye brows seems to have drooped somewhat to now cover my eyelids. Also, under my chin (although I don't have a turkey waddle) seems to need something or another :thumbup:. I live in Queens and look forward to meeting you when my weightloss is completed. Regards, Alfie

Hi there, I was worried about the same thing. As other people have said, it isn't magic. That being said, I do notice a big difference when I do "go off" what I should be eating. I find that it's not a forever thing like in the past. Even when I do go off I can get back on in a matter of a day or two or even the same day. This have never been possible with me in the past. Although my weight loss has been slow, I know it will continue. Everyone is different but this has been my experience. Regards, Alfie

I am 5 mos post op and find that I burp the most when I lay down. A while back I actually started a thread about this too as I would burp so much when I would lay down and continue for a least 45 minutes. It was driving me crazy not to mention that I was keeping my husband awake. For some reason I think it had to do with being a tiny bit too tight as it had subsided somewhat now.

Hi, I have very good restriction and although I've had to slow down quite a bit, I haven't ever had to wait 1 or 2 minutes between bites unless I didn't chew enough and got stuck. Then I kind of have to wait until it goes down before I take another bite. In my case, some days I can eat a small salad, for example, in 15 minutes. If I'm very tight (days do vary for me) then it could take me like 45 minutes. Last night I had a chicken burger on a hollowed out toasted whole wheat bun and it took me about 15 minutes to eat it. Preband I would've inhaled it within a minute!! I think if I were any tighter, I'd probably have a problem but I am perfect as far as my restriction goes right now.

Hey Justice, You must be excited. July 8th is just around the corner. All the best to you with your surgery. From what I hear, you are in the hands of one of the best!! Regards, Alfie

Hey Kelly, Sorry, I didn't keep up with this so didn't see you post. You've really done well for yourself. Keep up the good work. I am coming up on my 6 mos bandiversary in July. Doing pretty good and I love my band..Regards, Alfie

Well, I can't say I hated exercise but I didn't love it. I started to go to Curves last year. Today was my 98th time I went and I guess you could say that I am used to going. I just made it part of my weekly regimen and I don't mind it because it's only 1/2 hour. Some people don't find it challenging enough but I am doing the "Smart" Curves which pushes me to do better (it's computerized and tracks how well I am doing). I sweat up a storm so for me it's good plus it's very close to my home.

From what I know, it seems quick to get to 9 cc's. Is your band 10cc? Sounds like you are still too tight. If it were me, I'd go and get another cc out. You may not be losing because you can't really eat the "band way" when you can only eat soup. Hope that helps. Regards, Alfie

Hi Nancy Glad you're happy with your results. I wanted to ask you if it is normal to ask the doctors to see pictures of surgeries they have done? Also, did you have to go to Mexico 2x's; once for consultation and once for surgery itself? Thanks in advance. Regards, Alfie

Typically, when I get a fill, I am very restricted for a few days then I loosten up a little. However, this last fill which brought me to 6.5 in a 10 cc band, for the first week and a half I had so-so restriction then suddenly BOOM, I've had really good restriction for the last 2 weeks; the best I've ever had. I love my BAND!! Woot Woot

I have very good restriction (except for last night heh) and I'm at 6.5. If you notice the 2 individuals that posted before me that have a lot of cc's and are not too restricted don't have a BIG amount of weight to lose as others. Lighter weighted people have less fat around their actual stomach so that would make sense. Just like when we lose weight we need fills because the fat around our stomach decreases.

sometimes I eat string cheese as a snack and it goes down pretty easily. Cottage cheese is good too as even it it gets a little stuck with me, it will go down in a few seconds. I eat a lot of soft cooked fish such as salmon...if I cook it just a little too much, it will get stuck. Surprisingly, salads go down good for me (lettuce/cuke/some kind of fish or chicken/w oil and balsamic vinigar) as long as I eat it slow and chew, chew, chew!! PS I can tell you what doesn't go down too good...what I just had for breakfast...1/2 toasted whole wheat bagel with 1/2 egg and slice of bacon...still waiting for it to go completely down heh

Yep same here and it lasted for about 2 weeks! It started the very next morning before I left the hospital.

Hi Darie, Well you certainly went through a lot. I know you're glad it's behind you. I stuggled a lot with the post op diet too. I wound up eating early but of course I don't recommend being non compliant like me. Forturnately, I was none the worse for wear. The doctor told me that the main thing that is a concern is vomiting so near after surgery because retching can cause the stitches on your band to come loose and can also cause the band to slip since it has to "settle" and heal. Also the liquids helps to rest the stomach so I've heard. In the beginning I was getting so little calories that I was getting very dizzy but I've heard that happens to many people. The protein shakes should help a lot. This time will soon be a memory. I wish you all the best on your journey!!

Hi there, don't be discouraged. I have a 10cc band and have 6.5 cc's in it and am only getting restriction now. I'm not sure if this is the same band but mine is by Allergen (sp??). You mentioned that you would only be getting fills of .1. Does that mean that it is that band that only actually holds 4cc's? Again don't be discouraged; it takes time.

I've had 4 fills and they were all painless. Mine are done by a PA who does all the fills for the office. All day Fridays he's doing fills so I would consider him very experienced. From the time he begins to look for the port until the time I am sitting up to drink water about a minute goes by. I'm glad your later fills were better experiences!

When you have good restriction it becomes difficult to eat and drink at the same time. Well at least that's what happens to me. If I drink when I am eating I get stuck and that's not fun. Regards, Alfie PS Bye the way, we're neighbors. I live in Richmond Hill :confused_smile:

my fill guy said that sometimes they can't really get ALL the fluid out so that it is a guestimation on how much really "evaporated". I don't understand either why if you had no restriction at 1 cc that he would bring you back to 1 cc. It makes no sense. I'd call him on that one and insist on an increase with no charge since he didn't give you anything different. Why wouldn't he even give you an extra .5??? Weird..Is your band a 4cc band? Hope it gets straightened out. Regards, Alfie

Hi, is there a possibility that he could have taken out the cc's instead of putting them back in? It's weird and I can't think of anything else. I would definately go back and let him check. When my "fill person" gives me a fill, he takes out what is in there and then pushes back all of it plus what he wants me to have (to avoid sticking me twice). Maybe something went awry during that.

Today I had: Breakfast: (on the go) 1 string cheese/yogurt Lunch: 1 leftover chicken (franchese) cutlet and broccoli Dinner: salad/baked flounder/green Beans

I had my first experience with acid reflux the other night. I never knew what acid reflux was but I had gone to bed right after eating and the same gross thing happened to me. I had such a burning in my throat. I went to the drug store and picked up the generic brand of Prilosec. It really helped plus I won't be eating right before bed. I do think you are too tight and because you are not able to eat your 3 small meals, you are probably more hungry when you can eat at night. If I were you, I'd get a slight unfill. Regards, Alfie

I have a 10cc band and the first fill I got was 3 cc's but I couldn't swallow water so he took out .5. By the way, after 3 days I had no restriction whatever which continued to happen until I got up to 6.5. Now I am at that level and I am able to eat the "band way". All the best to you! Regards, Alfie

You've done so well; congratulations!!

Hey there, Yes!! You are starting with a clean band slate so look ahead and know that this was a learning experience for you. You learned from what happened to you so that if you see signs of this on your journey again, you will know better. Best of everything to you. Regards, Alfie

I agree with your frustrations. The whole point of the band fills is to slowly get you up to a restriction that is comfortable to you. While it is not a magic bullet the whole point of it seems to be being overlooked by the doctor.