want2beme

Has anybody tried this? I bought 2 bottles and I love it. You take 2 oz in the AM and 2 oz in the PM... it equals 13 servings of fruits and vegetables and its in liquid form. It's 30 calories per oz and 4 grams of sugar per oz (for those bypass pts) ~ Mone-Vie is also a multi-level marketing program where you can become a distributor... so, that's what I did just so I can break even on the juice I'm drinking. It's expensive at $35.00 per bottle. Anybody heard of it or tried it?

So depressed.................... I'm almost at goal and I find out I have a slipped band. It's going to cost me $3500+ to get re-banded. I'm still paying off the last surgery. F&*K. !!! I have gained back 12 pounds so far. I just feel like dying. Really. I can eat anything and its the holidays. I'm trying to diet like crazy, but still don't know how! I am great on the lap band diet... but I'm just missing the band! I am totally deflated and depressed. I'm trying to drink coffee to poop, thinking about going on Whale Watchers again, liquid diet, shit, I don't know what to do! My insurance doesn't kick in till Jan and I have to wait for insurance approval after that. Oh yeah, and my tax return so I can pay my co-pay. Damn. This totally sucks ass. Is there a possibility I don't have a slipped band? I wish. My new doc, Dr. Billy says he wants to put the 10cc band in me, its designed differently and has a much better rate of succes (as far as slippage) ~ I am just going to die if I gain back one more pound. My lowest was 152. I am 168 today. Yesterday I was 166, and I'm trying to stay between 160-165 before surgery. I am struggling seriously and I don't know what to do. My best friend had bypass a year after I had my surgery. WE are at the same weight now. She is going to pass me up... she's doing well with the bypass, except she can't eat much at all. I'm thinking about doing bypass instead. The results are much better I think. I don't know. Any advice for a depressed chick who's gaining weight????? Dana

I am living with a slipped band right now. I have gained 12 pounds in 2 months and very depressed. My band slippage was due to being OVER FILLED BY THE DOCTOR! When the band was totally deflated, that thing 'fell'. Now it's sitting in a position where I can't get a fill. I have to have surgery to fix it. I'm freakin' pissed off too! Anyway, don't get over filled. Be conservative with fills. I tried to tell my doctor with my last two fills (well, his assistant) that I was too tight. She didn't believe me. 2 days later I couldn't drink Water. (bitch) Anyway, I feel ya... and I'm so sorry you have to go through this.

Hi. I was banded Aug 27, 2007 by Dr. Lopez in Mexico. A year later, I have a slipped band... or as one doctor tells me I do and another tells me I don't... Anyway, I was a cash payment and I am going to have Aetna through my new employer starting in Jan. The research I've done so far is this: 1) No waiting period 2) $2000 for out of pocket expense for In Network Doctor 3) $4000 for out of network 4) Found out what 'reasonable and customary' really means 5) Doctor Billy says aetna pts usually pay about $3500 out of pocket. My questions: 1) How long will it take for authorization in my situation? 2) Are there any NEW bands out that I should be looking into getting. (currently have the 4cc Inamad, billy says he wants me to have the 10cc J&J) 3) What diet should I be doing now that I have a slipped band and have to diet as a normal person! My stats: Starting weight: 255 Dec 2006 Before Surgery: 236 Aug 2007 Lowest: 152 Sept 2008 Now: 168......... and getting scared! I'll take any and all advice! Thanks, Dana

Yes! He will see pts from Mexico. In fact, is very familiar with a lot of the doctors down there, and friends with some. I saw his nurse on Monday and they emptied me out completely. I see Dr. Billy on Saturday (tomorrow) to look at xrays and a possible fill if everything looks okay. AND HE'S NOT A RIP OFF! I'm able to get my xrays from anywhere and bring them to him. Med7 is doing them today for $133.00. I had Dr. Machado quote me $1500. Bullshit! Do your shopping!

Could you give some more details about the oxygen being cut off? What does that mean? My friend had bypass and she's having problems like that, but I've never heard of it from the band. Who was your doctor?

I just talked to him for the first time yesterday. What a great guy. I'm in Sacramento, and I will be visiting him tomorrow in Ventura. I can't drink any liquid... my doc in Mexico is too aggressive with fills and I feel like I'm going to die!

YOU ARE ALL RIGHT!!! Well, this is where I'm at. I talked to a NEW doctor today... (mine is in Mexico and I've been trying to find one here in the states)... he said I am just TOO TIGHT! About 3 months ago I was at 2.5ccs. It was too tight. So, I got .5ccs taken out. That was too little. So, I went back and she said since I had lost weight, I needed more, so now I have 2.6ccs. That was on the 4th of Sept. Yeah, I haven't eaten much at all. I was on liquids for a while. As soon as I had 'real' food (tuna and beans), I started to tighten up. I am really swollen now. I have been able to get down about 10 oz of liquid today and that's it. The new doc says to get 40 oz down until he can see me, next Saturday. He explained it really well... he said, "A lot of doctors and patients rely on the band to do all the work and therefore over fill often. You need to find the right spot for you where you'll start using your brain, not your band, to make healthy food choices." It totally made sense. I have gotten in the bad habit of saying, "I need to lose 15 pounds, tighten me up!" And now look where I'm at! Doctor also says that the nexium and prilosec wont help shit if nothing will go down. That medicine needs to get to the bottom of your stomach to work. If your liquid is puddled on top of the stoma, it could irritate it even more! Again, totally makes sense. About the vinegar. I have heard it works for acid reflux... Because you are putting something acidic in your stomach, your stomach doesn't need to produce it. You already did the work for the stomach. I've heard weird medical remedies like this before too... like eat hot hot hot sauce if you have ulcers... it creates a coating in your stomach to protect the ulcers, like salavating. I know, off subject, but makes sense. But, I don't think the vinegar will help with lap band reflux.. this is all due to being too tight and that's it. The nexium didn't feel like it was helping me at all. The doctor said it wasn't doing what I wanted it to do b/c it was in the wrong spot. Well, I better try to get some of that liquid in. Thanks for all your help. I'll take on more suggestions, please!

Oh yeah, that unfamiliar feeling is called FULL.

It feels like you swallowed a cup of rice and its stuck like a clogged pipe and the only thing that will help is a plunger and draino.

I was told to have lean meats, no fruit with membranes, no pulp, no gum, no carbonation, no aparagus, no celery, no sugary drinks... I just can't remember all of it. I have a list, but it doesn't have everything on it. Just about everything that could be "pt specific", I have a problem with... So, I'm looking for the BIG list. haha

ONE MORE THING... my friends doctor has been banding bypass patients. Says after 10+ years, the stomach stretches and they opt for a band over their bypass. Just something to think about...

It depends. I had lap band and my best friend had bypass. We had opposite health issues and I think we both chose the best surgery for our bodies. I wouldn't want to go through what she did with bypass, and she couldn't have lap band b/c of her ulcers and GERDS. The list of reasons why is too long. I say, do your research on both and make a list! Seriously! Side by side... see what is best for you.

Yeah, my doctor is in Mexico. I have to work all week long too. I told her last time I was there, PLEASE DO NOT FILL ME TOO TIGHT, I cannot afford to visit any time soon. She filled me, had me drink tea in the waiting room and gave me two bariums. I was okay. BUT, any slight mistake on my part (diet), my stoma is irritated. I forget about the little things, like pulp... ya know? I need another list. Can anybody help me with a list of what NOT to eat on lap band!? Thx.