Dreamchasertx

Be sure to ASK them how much is in your band. If you've been going to the same doctor, they should know. If they don't, then they need to. They can take it all out and re-inject it so they'll know for sure. It's YOUR body, it's YOUR money.... don't be afraid to ask them! By the way, I have a 10cc band, and I had it filled about 10 times, finally getting 9.3 cc in my band. That was a little bit too much, so I went in and wanted .5cc taken out... Well, she took out the whole thing and then started putting it back in, starting me at 7cc again. No restriction at 7cc. Went back again and up to 8cc. No restriction at 8cc. Went back again and up to 8.3cc. Very, very slight restriction. So I'm headed back again tomorrow and going to ask her to put me up to 8.7 to 9cc. I feel like I KNOW my level after 3 years, and I KNOW what is best for me. Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself!

I have been to Dr. Stephanie about 8 times. She doesn't fill up a whole lot, but she is very nice. She charges $200, but if you get an appt online, you can go for $180. Her site is www.wellspringprocedures.com. Just a note: I was filled by her about 6 times, never full enough. I went to Dallas and had a fill, and it was too full. I did lose about 70 pounds, though. I went back to Dr. Stephanie after a year, only wanting her to take out 1/2 cc. Her normal procedure is to take out the whole amt, and then put it back in. She didn't get back to where I need to be. I've been back twice since then, and I've already gained 30 pounds in 3 months. I do like her a lot, but I'm not happy with my fills.

There is a fill doctor, Stephanie Eijsink, in Tyler. She does fills for $200 or $180 if you sign up for an appt online. Her website is www.wellspringprocedures.com. I have been to her about 8 times since 2007. She is very, very nice, but she doesn't put a whole lot in at once.

I haven't posted anything in quite a while, but wanted to add an update! I'm down to 165 lbs now, from 241. I didn't start losing really good until I got my last fill back in February of this year (09). It's a really tight fill, but it's really worked. (And it's usually worth it!) I'm still having days where I can't eat much at all, but it's because I get tired of yogurt or chicken and want to try a tortilla or something like that... doesn't work! But all in all, I'm very happy! The only thing that is bothering me now is that I have a new boyfriend (for a month), and I just don't know how to tell him about my surgery. No matter what, people look at you differently once you tell them (people that didn't know you before). They look at you like they're trying to see the weight loss. So I know it's going to change his view of me. But hopefully, with some advice from my friends, I'll be able to figure out how to tell him without it being a big deal... what a dilemma!

I haven't posted anything in quite a while, but wanted to add an update! I'm down to 165 lbs now, from 241. I didn't start losing really good until I got my last fill back in February of this year (09). It's a really tight fill, but it's really worked. (And it's usually worth it!) I'm still having days where I can't eat much at all, but it's because I get tired of yogurt or chicken and want to try a tortilla or something like that... doesn't work! But all in all, I'm very happy! The only thing that is bothering me now is that I have a new boyfriend (for a month), and I just don't know how to tell him about my surgery. No matter what, people look at you differently once you tell them (people that didn't know you before). They look at you like they're trying to see the weight loss. So I know it's going to change his view of me. But hopefully, with some advice from my friends, I'll be able to figure out how to tell him without it being a big deal... what a dilemma!

Just wanted to throw out an update! I got really depressed because I wasn't losing as fast as I thought I should have been. I was banded 10/18/07, and only about September of 08 did I really start losing. I'm almost down 60 pounds and everyone is starting to notice. I need another fill because I'm able to swallow too much, but I plan on doing that January 17. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me anytime at carlynsearcy@yahoo.com. I haven't had any complications other than feeling full and having to throw up a few times. Also, I've posted some pics of the hospital I was at and some pics of myself. For some reason, I still don't take full body pics, but I'll try to get something posted! I have a huge butt and thighs, so I hate taking body pics!

Well, today is my birthday and it's been 9 months since I had my surgery. I've lost almost 40 pounds, but I know it would be more if I would get off my butt & get some exercise! I work a full-time desk job, and the only exercise I'm getting is going to and from the parking garage... I have membership to 24-hour Fitness, and I went consistently for about a month, but then I stopped. I'm trying to get my motivation back. If there is anyone in the north Dallas, Garland or Mesquite areas that needs a band buddy, give me a shout. I'd like to find someone to work out with. I just moved here in March and I don't know anyone except the people I work with. I'm finding that I still don't like being in pictures. I took some of my trip, but have only had a few taken since then. I'll get them uploaded. I still say that being banded in Tijuana was the best! It was truly a wonderful experience.

Well, today is my birthday and it's been 9 months since I had my surgery. I've lost almost 40 pounds, but I know it would be more if I would get off my butt & get some exercise! I work a full-time desk job, and the only exercise I'm getting is going to and from the parking garage... I have membership to 24-hour Fitness, and I went consistently for about a month, but then I stopped. I'm trying to get my motivation back. If there is anyone in the north Dallas, Garland or Mesquite areas that needs a band buddy, give me a shout. I'd like to find someone to work out with. I just moved here in March and I don't know anyone except the people I work with. I'm finding that I still don't like being in pictures. I took some of my trip, but have only had a few taken since then. I'll get them uploaded. I still say that being banded in Tijuana was the best! It was truly a wonderful experience.

I've had three fills already, and I'm up to 8.5 cc in a 10cc Johnson & Johnson band. I only feel restriction when I eat bread, potatoes or sometimes eggs. I was banded 10/18/07, and with these three fills, I've only lost 24-25 pounds. I feel like it should be more. I know I need to exercise, and I'm only walking about once a week. I think my question is: should I be filled until I feel restriction on most foods if I eat regularly, or do you think I'm doing okay and just need to get my butt away from my office desk or off the couch? I go to Dr. Stephanie in Tyler for my fills because I was banded in Tijuana (absolutely fabulous experience!). She charges $200 per fill (under fluroscopy), so I'm debating on whether to go ahead and have a little more put in, or save the money. What do y'all think?

I'm back from Tijuana and it was the most wonderful experience! I've been trying to get my pictures & video online, but I can't get the video software to download onto my computer. I would recommend Dr. Lopez Corvala with my whole heart! He and his staff were so wonderful! If anyone has any questions, please e-mail them to me and I'll get back to you. I'm having absolutely no pain (I was banded on the 18th & this is the 25th) and am back to work. I'm on soft foods (right now I'm eating a yogurt with Protein powder mixed in.) I'm feeling hungry a little bit and wishing I could go for my fill right now! I had originally said that I would just start with Dr. Maese in Dallas to do my fills, but I had such a perfect experience in Tijuana that I'm thinking of going back there for my first fill. The hospital was beautiful, the girl nurses look and act like angels, and the guy nurses/anesthesiologist/etc were all so darn good-looking! I tried so hard to get one of them to come home with me! :eek:

I'm back from my vacation to California and Tijuana! I had my surgery on 10/18 with Dr. Lopez Corvala and spent two nights at the hospital, one night at the Camino Real hotel in Tijuana, spent all day shopping there and spent waaaay too much money! Then I went to San Diego to spend a night at the Paradise Point Resort. I haven't had any pain, no gas pains, no suture pain, nothing. I have had some diarrhea so I've been stopping that by taking Imodium. I'm back at work today and feeling very good, except tired, like I just took a vacation! I'm very pleased with my surgery, my doctor, the hospital, everything! I went into surgery at 241 lbs. I haven't weighed since the 18th and don't want to weigh until another week goes by. I'm so glad I had this done and so far, I wouldn't trade it for anything! Tonight I'm going to add some pictures and stuff to my journal. :whoo:

Cosita, I'm sorry you're not getting much support. I'm sure it's a very big deal to those that really care about you, but don't know all the facts. After I've started telling people about my surgery, I've found out about several people around here that have had it, so I've talked to them and they are all VERY pleased that they had done it. Maybe if you can find a success story up there where you live and let your family meet them, it would help. I've really kind of had the opposite reaction with my friends/family/coworkers. Every single person has been very supportive, and the more I felt that they support me, the more I've been telling other people! The only person who is not wanting me to go is my best friend. She is large herself, and had looked into surgery, but she didn't want to take the risk. Her insurance would pay for hers, which kind of makes me sick! But she said she's all for me having the surgery, she just doensn't want me to go to Tijuana. She was lived near San Diego when her dad was in the service and she says she's heard all kinds of horror stories about going across the border. But honestly, thousands and thousands of people cross the border down there, for shopping, vacations, to work, etc. Every time I mention the surgery, she purses up her lips and won't talk to me about it at all. But basically, everyone else has been very supportive. My sister is flying to San Diego with me from Dallas, and I'm actually staying the two nights in the hospital, one night in their hotel, and then I reserved a room at a resort in San Diego for the next night. I want to be close by the hospital just in case something goes wrong! But I'm getting all my stuff together today, and I've got my video camera and digital camera all charged up! I've had my suitcase packed for days! Oh, I forgot the one thing I did want to mention... Belite called and left a message for me last night that they were having some trouble getting the Inamed band through customs, which happens sometimes. They want to do the Johnson & Johnson band instead, which is $7250. I've checked out a surgery with that band, and it looks basically the same and is a FDA-approved band, so I don't mind the switch. The original cost with the Inamed band was $8000. I sent a deposit of $500 to Belite, and then I have to pay the remainder when I get to TJ. I saw some posts on here about pregnancy & the band... you might want to look those up. Just do your research really good and that way you'll be able to have ALL the answers when you're getting non-supportive comments from friends and family! :clap2:But I'll be your biggest supporter! It's a life change that we're doing! And it may be a little drastic, but if we could do it on our own, we certainly would have done that by now!

In reply to your post, I'm getting ready to head to Tijuana on the 18th! I'm so excited! The only thing that has worried me so far is that I went through Belite to schedule my surgery and I called the hospital just to kind of verify things, and they told me that they don't keep up with what Belite schedules for them, but that if Belite had me scheduled for the 18th, then the doctor would surely be doing my surgery that date. I'm going to be videotaping & taking pictures and I'll have them on my website so I'll let you know when I get them up. I'm going to try to do a YouTube blog, but I've never done it before so hopefully I can figure it out. I've got my plane scheduled for Thursday morning, and I'll be in Tijuana by noon on the 18th! I just can't wait! Cosita: If you'd like to contact me through here, I can give you some more details. I know exactly how you feel!

:car: I'm ready to go! I've been planning to have my surgery for a really long time now, but have only just convinced myself that it's okay to spend the money! My insurance won't cover any type of weight-loss program or surgery, so I'm on self-pay and have been really trying to save money, along with cashing in some stock options. I don' t mind taking the money out of my savings, but it sure did hurt to cash in that stock! But I figure that this is a much better investment! I'm scheduled for surgery on October 18, and I'm flying to California from Texas. I haven't told a whole lot of people about my surgery. I just don't want to hear a lot of "I told you so's" if something doesn't go right. But I'm thinking positive -- Like Oprah says, if you put positive energy out into the world, you'll get positive results! My weight loss ticker isn't going to be right until I actually go down for my surgery because I'm scared to weigh myself lately! But I've promised myself that I'll keep it updated and keep journaling my progress! I can't wait to say hello to the "new me" a year from now! Life begins (again) at 40!:whoo: