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I keep getting e-mails that I haven't been on line in a while and decide to check out whats been happening, what a difference! I wish this group had been on last year! I got preg. after having my band for a year and about 20lbs. from my goal weight. In my 3d month I was still having a lot of morning(all day) sickness ad at work got horrible pains and then could not stop vomitting. At the hosp. I was admitted and had to have my band removed, it had slipped. My son was fine and was born in April and is truly a blessing, our 3d. The Dr. in the hosp. told me if I rushed back in before losinf the baby weight he might be able to get me another, but it didn't happen. So now I'm 45lbs. away from my goal weight...but I have a beautiful son.

:sick Well, I haven't posted in a while for I have been very happy with my band and living well with it. I got my band in August of 2005 by Dr.Ortiz and was very happy with the result. I went from a size 18/20 to 14 and never had to have a fill because I still had pretty good restriction. I found out I was pregnant in the beginning of August this year and I really wasn't too worried because I had seen that a lot of people had successful pregnancies with the band, and, hey I hadn't even had a fill that needed to be taken out....... Well, I've had a lot of "all day sickness" with this(my third) pregnancy. My first 2 were not like this. Anyway this past Thursday shortly after lunch I got incredible pain in my stomache that escalated in non stop vomiting. I was admitted into the hospital and they ruled out my gall bladder with an ultrasound and put in an awful thing, an NG tube. This stands for nasal gastric tube and goes through your nose to your stomache and drains any contents to stop the vomitting. Finally a very nice gastric Dr. got involved and diagnosed my problem. My band had prolapsed and my stomache had gotten kinked up in it. So it had to be removed immediately. After the surgery I felt immediately better, no pain or sickness other than surgical sights. So I am relieved because it was a horrible 48 hours. I now have to try to get through this pregnancy without gaining too much weight, which really worries me. But the important thing is the baby is fine, we had an ultrasound right after and it was moving and waving at us. So I can deal with a little weight. One other thing I thought was interesting is that my Hartford, CT. surgeon Knew of Dr.Ortiz and thinks very favorably of him. He actually praised his surgical knowledge and style. I guess a bunch of the doc's around here were trained by him. He is also going to become my physcian after the birth and will hopefully be able to give me a new band. So thats my story

Good question. I hadn't located a Dr. up here because I planned on going back to Dr.Ortiz. I routinely go on his web site and chat board and have his book and knew that at a year post op he advised patients to have a flouroscopy. This happened to be when I found I was six weeks pregnant. I work for 2 different hospitals up here and am surrounded with physcians, the one bariatric Dr. I first approached was very negative about low BMI peaople having the band...so quite frankly I decided I only wanted to deal with Dr.Ortiz. I'm pleasantly suprised by this new Dr. and his views, I'd rather not have to head back to Mexico with a new born.

Thanks everyone, and your right Teresita, I can certainly count my blessings. And good for you Esmerelda! I hope I only gain 23lbs! I got down to 181 before the pregnancy and am already at 190! And that was with the band. But the baby's health is the most important thing, so I guess I can deal with it. I just need to be sensible and try to avoid all those carbs that were so hard to eat with the band......

Hi! My BMI was 36, I had no comormidities, so went to Dr.Ortiz in Mexico. I had my surgery on 8/19 and am down almost 40 lbs. and am very happy with my decision. I haven't had a fill yet though, one of the few. I still find it hard to eat sometimes, and I'm losing on average about a pound a week so I'm happy. I can't imagine how much I'd lose if I did have the fill....

Hi! My BMI before surgery was 33. I was 214 the day of surgery and now I'm down to 189. I haven't had a fill yet, some days I can eat anything, but others are still hard so I don't plan on getting one any time soon either. I really do watch what I eat and I exercise a lot, with weights so I've lost lots of inches due to muscle. I'm averaging about 1-2 lbs. a week now. But there have been some weeks where nothing has come off, then boom- 3 or 4lbs! Getting the band was one of the best things I've EVER done for myself!

Hi! I had a BMI of 32. My family history is horrible and I knew where I was headed if I didn't get my weight under control. I went to Mexico and Dr.Ortiz. It is the best thing I've ever done for MYSELF! I'm down to 192lbs. now and I had my surgery on Aug.19 of this year. I haven't had to have a fill yet, I still have a lot of restriction without it. But I really watch what I eat and I exercise a lot. Good luck!

I love my bare minerals, I've used it for almost a year now. I had a problem with cakiness and dryness at first too Kathy, but I found the secret is to practice a few times and use very small amounts of the powder because it really covers well. And all that tapping and swirling is actually necessary to get the brush accurately loaded. But it dosen't take too long once you get the hang of it and its worth it. I hate normal foundations, this stuff feels so natural and lasts forever!

God, I'm so glad I'm not alone! My no-no's: 1. Drinking wine with Sunday dinners at the inlaws 2. Eating way too fast and not chewing enough 3. Having a cookie or brownie about 2 times a week 4. Sharing those damn orange cheetos with my kids 5. Not exercising enough 6. Too much alcohol, period. I love red wine and margaritas! Talk about empty calories...

Hi everyone! I'm really impressed with your weight loss! I'm down 26lbs. now, but I haven't scheduled a fill yet. I am still losing about a LB. or sometimes 2 a week and I still have a hard time eating sometimes. I had 2 episodes this week with lunch, a PB and an urp as Delara calls it. So I'm going to wait to schedule my first fill. But I feel great otherwise and can really tell the difference now, down only one clothing size, but still...

Well, who knew? Here I thought I was a horrible bandster because in the past 3 weeks I had, at least thought I had, PB'd about 6 times. Turns out it was urping mostly, only one true PB. I get that stuck in the back of my throat feeling as I'm eating and immediately bend over to URP it up. With the PB there was a lot more pain involved. But I confess too, Kare, last week I orded wings and a salad and after 4 wings knew I had a problem and went to the bathroom and urped it up. I was kind of pleased to avoid the calories and didn't eat anything else that night. I even made the comment to my husband that I always wondered how bulemics did it. I know that's awful but I did. But I haven't had an episode all week so far.

Yes! Unfortunately Lane Bryant is about one size off on everyone else, I just bought a size 14 pair of jeans that fit a little snug from there, but when I tried Old Navy I was a 16 or 18, depending on the cut. And as far as I know its always been that way, even in 2000. But doesn't it feel good to put something on that used to be tight and is now too loose?!!! You go girl!:Bunny

I'm actually very sad at the moment and it is a direct result of a failed bypass surgery. I just got off the phone with my mother who is probably going to be admitted into the hospital tomorrow due to a failing, possibly rejected, kidney. She had had a stomache bypass many years ago to lose weight and it worked. However, as a result of malabsorbtion of protein and vitamins she ended up in kidney failure. After a 2 year battle she went on dialysis which did not work well with her due to port malfunctions and closings. After 20(yes, over 20) surgeries for ports they put her on the top of the transplant list. 5 months later she got a transplant and now, almost 5 years later, this. And that is not the whole story either. It was really a nightmare. She was in a wheelchair for almost a year and had to have the bypass reversed before transplant so gained a lot of weight. She really went through so much and it was just horrible and now she faces it all again. So I would never, ever have the bypass surgery. Sorry this was so long.:think

Ick! I had my first PB 3 days ago and guess what it was from? BREAD. I had 1/2 a ham sandwich and really chewed. But no go. I couldn't even finish the half, the pain was so bad. On the other hand the PB wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. What an experience.

Believe it or not this was my biggest concern with the band, I had always had something to drink with my meals and afterwards, I couldn't stand having the food taste linger in my mouth or having dry mouth. But I have to say that it really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I just try to keep busy after I eat and time it so that I know exactly when its been an hour afterwards. A few times I've waited only 45 minutes. I try to have a small peice of fruit last to sort of sweeten my mouth, it helps.

Hi- I just wanted to say that I love this site, it's much more personable than the others and you guys have made me feel so much at ease with my decision to have the band. I can't believe that its only 3 days from now... Is anyone else from Connecticut? Also Jenna- I love seeing your posts, I am the exact size you were when you started! Height , weight,everything. It's great to see where you are now. Thanks everyone!

Hi Zoe! I'm still around, just not much time lately!!! I got my band on 8/19 and just started eating real food on this past Friday, Yahoo! I had my first PB though yesterday:(. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though. I'm down 21lbs total, but that has slowed now that I'm on regular food. Thanks for thinking of me! How are you doing? Good I hope! Bye, Vanessa

Hi! I live in Ct. and would like to mail some clothes for the relief, do you have an address I could send some boxes to?

HI all! I was banded on 8/19 and am ready to go crazy from this liquid diet!!!! I am so tired of broth and soup. And yogurt. But I really feel good other than that, I can really see a difference already, lots of saggy skin. EEW. But I'm so happy I got my band! I really feel as if I'm taking a big step in maintaining myself for the future.

So I was at work today and waiting for a patient who was running late and reading a book and chewing some gum. I'm in my 2nd week of liquids post banding and feel like I have really icky breathe and a bad taste in my mouth all the time, so I drink tons of water but the gum was really helping. Sugar free of course. Anyway my patient finally popped in with his family and startled me into moving around really fast and getting things together for his test. About five minutes into the test I suddenly realized I had SWALLOWED my gum! I didn't even think twice about it when it happened but then I started panicking because I remembered my band and I got worried. Really worried. However it's been about five hours and so far so good. Has anyone had an experience with swallowed chewing gum?

Hi Heather! I just had my band put in by Dr.Ortiz on 8/19 and I think I made a great choice. They were all extremely friendly and I had very little pain all things considered. My scars look great and its only 2 weeks out. I have a 2 year old son and a 3 year old daughter so I haven't exactly been lying around since coming home. I also went back to work 4 days after surgery and it was fine. The worst for me was the first 3 days post op, but regular motrin worked well. I still can not pick up my kids because they weigh too much. But it really has not been bad at all! And I'd do it again.

Thanks guys. I read over my instruction sheets and nothing about gum. I had some soup a while ago and it went down fine. And I don't have any gas, so, thank heavens, I guess I was lucky on that one! I think I'll move on to breath mints.

I'm a cardiac sonographer, which means I use ultrasound to image the heart. I work full time, but for 2 different groups and travel to 6 different offices throughout the state of Connecticut. I spend about 15 hours a week in my car, talk about gas prices! I am so blessed to have found something as a career that I absolutely love!:Bunny:Bunny:Bunny

When I had my surgery on Friday Dr. Ortiz actually told me about these centers opening soon. He and Dr. Martinez are traing the people to do the fills, which means they will be using fluoroscopes which is good. He told me he still wanted me to come to see him for my first fill, just so that he can see how the bands's workinf for me and to make sure its really done right, but after that these centers should be fine.

Well, I'm back in the states and banded. I had my surgery 2 days ago(8/19) with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. There were 5 of us that day, although one lady was actually getting a hernia fixed and a new band placed. Everyone was extremely nice and professional and although there was a small language barrier with a few nurses, everything went wonderfully. I can't say enough about Dr.Ortiz and the others. I have never been given a Dr.'s home and cell phone number with adamant directions to call if anything bothered me or seemed wrong. I work in health care here in the states and I have to say that they exceeded my expectations. Now if only my pain would go away! It's not too bad, just limiting, and I can't wait to become healed so I can really start working this band!:Bunny:Bunny:Bunny Ness