NM Sunshine

I think my scale and my doc's scale are conspiring against me. Both say I have either stayed the same or have gained.:confused: Just bummed. Had a fill last week and don't feel any restriction.

Hi everyone, Thought I'd add a post to see how everyone is doing. It's really comforting to know there are other 60+s out there. I think we may have different issues than the younger people. I also think it is harder, much harder for us to lose weight. I could lose real fast when i was younger, but these days I fight for every pound loss, even with the band. I had my first fill a week & 1/2 ago and don't feel restriction. I've lost a couple of pounds but have remained the same for the last 5 days. Anyone with similair experience?

sweethazel how do I find the 'people who post just to post' thread? What is it under?

bubbleb Did you just get a fill? If so, then could the tightness be stomach swelling? Did your doctor say it was OK to be that tight for a long while?

jesse55, christene, Blueeyedkitt, sweethazel and whoever I have missed :confused::girl_hug::girl_hug: Perhaps it would be best to just ignor WASBAs negetive posts and only respond to her positive helpful posts. That way we could sort of 'drain the poison out' jessie55 thank you and I'm glad I've been a support for you. So many good people have helped me too. We've taken a giant step for ourselves and :clap2:for our new start in life.

I have never thrown up nor have I PBed. I think that is because I haven't ever been restricted enough. After the surgery I would get these terrible stomach pains about 1/2 after I ate sometimes. I think that was something getting stuck. Cannot wait until I feel that 'sweet spot' fill:hungry:

ISaBubbleHead No one wants to hear your babbling. Go back to your own threads.

I had my first fill a week ago; 4cc in a 10cc AP band. I felt restriction the first few days, now nothing. It is REALLY dissapointing. I'm having to diet hard just to keep my weight stable.

I was curious about band erosion, so I did some searches and came up with Band erosion studies found band erosion in 3% to 7.5% of those banded. Also erosion stats will be very low for surgeons that haven't been doing banding for very long and higher for surgeons who've been doing the band for many years. We don't know the real stats because lap bands haven't been around very long and erosion is something that happens (if it does happen) later on. Mayo Clinic said this: 'Moreover, intermediate and longterm complications can be substantial, with reports of band slippage, gastric perforation, band erosion, and malfunction requiring reoperation in up to 20% of patients.' This is from another study: In conclusion, intragastric band erosion is a major complication of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, often leading to additional surgery. The prevalence of this complication will probably increase over time because patients may remain asymptomatic for long periods and because band erosion occurs long after band placement. Radiologists in charge of postoperative evaluation of patients after bariatric surgery should be aware of the characteristic imaging findings of this underreported complication to detect it at the earliest possible stage.

poohlvr That's Ok. I found out that the AP band wasn't available until June or July 07. VG must be just the band before that.

jimmyjoe Others may have had a different experience. Mine was that I was so tired and needed a lot of sleep during the first week. I don't think I could have done a 1 hour drive let alone a 5 hour drive 2 days after surgery. Also these days driving through the border takes a good hour. Driving from USA border to MX is without a customs stop. If you fly in someone will pick you up at the airport and take you back to airport. Dr. V will arrange that for you. I think you will find a one hour flight ticket to be real cheap. When you figure in the cost of ticket and your gas milage, you might be surprised at how cheap that ticket will be. Just remember to get the ticket early. Google Orbitz for ticket prices.

WasaBubble Go to my handle and check out what I have posted. Mostly they are about congradulating someone or asking for help or giving someone help. Help meaning things like stuff getting stuck in pouch, certain pain, support and so on. I do come to Dr. G's defense because I truely believe he's being unfairly treated. I was so frightened about this whole banding thing in Mexico and I was treated right. I was treated better than I would have been treated here in the USA. Also Dr. G did a great job, my PCP was very impressed by his work.

notmzperfect you need to get Prilosec from drugstore and take two pills. Should do this daily for a while and chop up your pills. Getting things stuck is bad. It can cause your band to slip.

BUBBBLE what do you mean by lapbandit claiming Dr. G was a horror for a surgeon. That sounds completely untrue from the posts I have read. Lapbandit seems completely happy with Dr. G and it does seem funny that you have been on this forum since March 2007 but, have posted almost 5,000 posts. I type fast myself.

jennypoo How come you suddenly show up on this thread? You are the one who started this rumor. There is no reason to believe that the quote you sent is not falsified. I'm waiting to get a reply from Dr. V and will post the stats I get

I have just e-mailed Dr. Valenzuela asking for the erosion stats. What are other typical to good doctors' stats on erosion?

WASaBub I read the posts at the thread you sent me. Now I can see where all this 4% erosion rate rumor originated from. Is it possible that this one person who quoted Dr. Valenzuela (Dr. Gonzales' Clincal Co-ordinator) added the 'erosion rate less than 4%' to Dr. Valenzuelas' email??? I know that there are people who work for doctors to discredit other doctors. Everyone on this forum who've been banded by Dr. Gonzales are VERY pleased with him and his team. I don't know of any 'she' patient co-ordinator that Dr. Gonzales has. You say that your doctor has a .0016% erosion rate. That leaves me suspicous that you may be working for your doctor to slam Dr. Gonzales.

WasaBubble Here's the stats I got from Dr. Gonzales clinical Co-ordinator Dr. Valenzuela MD total complication rate including infection, slippage, body rejection, erosion, reflux and all other minor complications is less than 3%. I'll check out that thread you talk about.

Wasabubblebut I know someone who was banded by Ortiz and he did not respond to her about post surgery problems. She was going to go to him for her fills but, was so furious and untrustful of him that she goes to another doctor in MX for her fills. Also I have heard from others that Dr. Ortiz treats them like an assembly line. Where did you get this 4% erosion stats with Dr. Gonzales? I've heard you say that before and have not been able to find out where those stats come from.

Wish the poll wasn't closed. I was banded by Dr. Gonzales of TJ, Mexico. He & his team are tops. I am going to him for my fills. Great aftercare.

jimmyjoe, Good Luck to you. I don't think you will be sorry for your choice. I think you will be in agreement with the rest of us who've been banded by Dr. Gonzales, that he is tops. I don't think another surgeon can beat his aftercare. After the surgery you will realize that aftercare care is EXTREMEMLY important. I have heard stories about the horror of some doctors aftercare. I hear that Dr. Ortiz (the one who currently does the most lap-bands) treats you like an assembly line. And that he doesn't respond to you if you need him after the surgery.

turtlewind I read that after the six months, it becomes hard not to exercise. That you will feel a strong need to exercise. Herghost I am same. I had my fill 4cc in a 10ccband last week. At first I feel restricted, now I don't. That is how you are surpose to eat. Always remember (after the water) that it is protein first and no liquids for 1 hr. afterwards.

kmmhmom I just got a fill last week and went back to regular eating a couple days after.

judy That is where I met Laura this last time. You'll wait in street in front of MacD

DrPhil You will feel even more sure of your choice when you experience the aftercare. Believe me you don't get the same treatment from other docs.