agreatknead

Hi, I was banded in Tijuana by Dr. Francisco Gonzalez. It was a great experience and I think he did a wonderful job. I am getting my fills locally and that Dr. seems to be very good and really "with it"! I don't have a ticker on my signature, haven't figured out how to do that. I started at 245 and weigh 202 now. Hoping for that last 3 lbs to go fast so I can be in onederland. I know how it is with the ice cream. Some times you need the calories so that your body doesn't think you are starving. At least it doesn't have much salt in it! Keep up the good work. You might be set right where you are and not need to go back anymore for fills. That would be great! Sally

Intolerance is just another form of ignorance. As with so many things in life, if you really haven't experienced it, you don't understand it. Try to have compassion for your co-workers that live in their small little world. Your anger doesn't do anything to them and it only makes you feel worse. You are doing so great, just be the change you want to see in the world and remember the best teachers teach by example. Good luck as you journey to the beautiful, healthy new you! Sally

Hi, I have 2.5 in a 4cc band and it seemed to tighten up some after the fill until about 6 weeks later. I'm sure the sodium could have some effect on the tightness but if you can't eat solids by now you might want to consider a slight unfill. My Dr. wants you to eat normal after a fill and doesn't suggest liquids or even mushies. I know this is a little unusual from what I read but it seems to have worked for me. Just remember this is not a quick fix and you will be eating this way for the rest of your life so don't make it too hard. Good luck your weight loss is amazing. Sally PS: I was banded in Mexico also.

Hi Anthrochika, I had my surgery in Mexico in April and I'm jumping up and down I'm so happy and I've only lost43 lbs. 65 lbs with less than proper fills is remarkable. You should be so proud. I live in Michigan so we are quite a ways away but we can always write if you like. I have had a couple of bad incidents this last month with sliming but I can tell you that they were mostly my own fault. Eating too fast and not chewing enough makes a big difference in that teeny tiny pouch. Sounds like you have found a good Dr. that you trust so follow his advice and you should be fine. In fact you are fine, you just need to believe it! Blessings, Sally

I am so sorry my post came off that way. What I was trying to say, and I guess I didn't do a very good job of it, was it didnt even seem like a needle to me. It was a little pressure and (like osmosis) I was done. I didn't mean to seem flippant, just wanted you all to know how easy it was. Tension can always make pain more intense so do your best to relax, these people are very experienced at what they do. That is the best advice I can give. Please forgive me for seeming not to care, I care very much for all of us. Sally

Looks like this thread has kinda fizzled out. Dr. Gonzalez did my surgery in April/08 and I though he was great. Just wondered how to connect with others that have had him do their surgery. Sally

The first thing to do is stop worrying. If you didn't know they were going to use a needle you would think the fluid just went in my osmosis. I do know that some people have problems but that is the rare few and the tension you hold by worrying doesn't help the procedure. I am in and out in 5 minutes. Three fills and never a problem. I now have 2.5 in a 4cc band and I don't think I will need a fill for quite a while. Just think of the people that have to get insulin shots everyday and because you have the band you may never find yourself in that predicament. So take it easy and don't forget to breathe. Blessings, Sally

Hi Jaime, Glad to hear you told your Dad. Sometimes parents and friends think LBS is like bypass and totally unreversable. It seemed to ease my daughters mind to know that in the worst case they could take the darn thing out. Kinda like a divorce from your band I guess. No cutting, no rerouting, just a small little pouch. It sounds like he will be watching you but not saying too much. I blend right in with friends at a resturant. They really don't say much about how much I eat. Every once in a while I get a "wow, thats all your eating" and I'll just say yes, and it pays off nicely, I'm down another size this month. They shut right up! Your going to have a great journey, you will feel better and your father will think you are even more beautiful (if that is possible). Blessings as you head out on this great trip. Sally

Re: Last of 2008 Weight Loss Challenge <hr style="color: rgb(217, 217, 217); background-color: rgb(217, 217, 217);" size="1"> Name...............Starting................ Current.......Goal..............To Go agreatknead.......237......................205...........180...................25 areellady...............189.......................189............159.. ................30 BIGB......................342.......................342............300 .................42 BellaPerdente.........287.......................251............200.... .............51 Boos02..................258.......................226............200.. ...............26 BrownBear.............240.......................240............200.... .............40 Claudine................250.......................250.............225. .................25 Bunkey1965...........194.......................192.............170.... .............22 Dionna113.............199.......................199.............160... ..............39 FeliciaLevy75 ........240.......................240.............190................5 0 GillieBean..............304.......................304.............264. ...............40 Hollie ...................154.......................154.............125...... ..........29 Jeni 85..................182.......................182.............160..... ............22 Josie74.................260.......................260.............215. ...............45 klmsilva.................216......................216.............190. ...............26 legster..................183......................183..............160 ...............23 linksmom..............251......................251..............200... ............51 Liquidbluegal.........225......................225..............199... ............26 Liz_hager..............161.....................161..............130... ............31 lotzasunshine.........292.......................292..............250.. ..............42 Luu2008................230.....................203..............153... ............50 MELISSA AGUIRRE..266....................233..............160................73 Melody2006...........223.....................223..............173..... ...........50 odizzzydori............242.....................242..............199... ............43 paige65.................252.....................252..............208.. .............44 srknepler...............285.....................285..............255.. .............30 Sunshine2.............177.....................177..............160.... ...........17 stevegoad..............370................341.............. 267.................74 Truediva...........299................285...........235............50 __________________

Hi Stacy, Guess it is just stuck food and our body telling us to S L O W down. Good luck on the process of getting banded, no matter what, it is worth it! I just took a bunch of clothes to the consignment shop because they are too big, yeah. I will never go back to that size again. Sally

Thanks, I'm feeling better now. Guess I will tough it out a little longer and try to behave myself better. I'm not eating much but sometimes I do get really hungry and want to just gobble it down because I'm in a hurry. Crazy schedules keep me from eating on a regular basis so it's either eat when your not hungry or go another 3 or 4 hours and be really hungry. It's all good though, I'm the incredible shrinking woman, yeah!

Here I sit, sliming in my wastebasket at work for 2 hrs. It's OK, it's a one person office. I had to turn away 2 clients (I'm a massage therapist) because I though I could eat a chicken leg, about the size of a pigeon leg, real quick and get back to work. It's my own fault but I'm still wondering about a slight unfill. I have 2.5 in a 4 cc band and my last fill was 8/7. I'm so excited to be 4 lbs away from onederland I hate to slow the progress but this is the second time this has happened (real bad) since the last fill and this is an absolutely horrible feeling. I probably just need to go lay down on my massage table and forgive myself for being an idiot! So much for finger chicken, it's back to a knife and fork for me. Thanks for letting me vent, I would be thankful for any recommendations. Sally:unsure:

Just one more quick comment to let you know many of us have "been there, done that". I get comments quite a bit like "did you get a different hair cut?" or "are those new glasses?" I just want to yell at them "no dummy I've lost 40 lbs can't you tell." But sometimes those are the things people notice when they think you look different. Hang in there, its all good. One day soon you'll knock their socks off and they will think you lost it overnite!

I don't think too many people notice a huge difference after the first fill. My first fill was 1cc in a 4 cc band and I already had some restriction just from the band. I was able to eat without a problem. Unless you are going on a vacation thats all inclusive and the food is really important I would go ahead and get the fill just to keep yourself on track. Best wishes and enjoy the vacation.

First off, congratulations on the weight loss. Sometimes we just get comfortable with the amount we are eating and don't want to get a fill, everything is going along just fine except we aren't losing. That happened to me, I was just banded in April and didnt really want to go get that 3rd fill, the one that "really" restricts! But I did and I am restricted. Not too much but more than before, had about 2 bites of my favorite food in the world, spagetti made from scratch and there just was no more eating it. I was done. Try Papaya for the reflux, it is wonderful. Comes in pill form, just pop a few in your mouth chew them up and wait for the burps to come to ease the pressure. They are great and work with the acid, not against it. Good luck, I know you will work it out. Sally

Hi, It should be much easier getting a fill Dr. when surgery was done here in the states. Mexico is another story, they are much more pickyyyyyyyy! Check some of the Barix clinics in your area. The Dr. I use works for Barix and he is great. Also less expensive that Fill Centers of America. I would think most lap band Dr. would take you on since you have had American surgery done. Just pick up the phone and keep dialing till someone says yes. It wont we as hard as you think it will. These guys want to make money and we are the income stream.:thumbup:

Just a little trick that might help. Use your mind to take yourself beyond the surgery. envision this; now you have had the surgery, you have had a couple of fills, you are starting to get restriction and you have really started to loose some weight. Your clothes are getting loose, you don't feel hungry and when you do eat a little bit makes you completely satisfied. At first your friends (that don't know about the surgery) say "did you get a new hairstyle" or "is that a new outfit" or "you look great today". As time goes by they say "have you lost weight?" You move with an ease you only remember from years ago. Hold this picture in your mind and in your thoughts and everything will go smoothly. Don't focus on what you don't want, hold the "feeling" of what you do want and it will be here before you know it. Good luck even though you don't need it! Sally

HI Deanna, I see your aka is "supermom". As you go through this process try to remember you need to put yourself first even if only for a little while. Your husband might be afraid this is just what is going to happen and he is used to you being the "supermom" for him and the kids. You have gotten some great advice on the forum here so there is not much I can add except I went by myself to Mexico and had no one there for support. Yes, I could call my husband but he was a couple of thousand miles away and we just couldn't afford for both of us to make the trip and everything went fine. There is great support at these surgery centers and really caring people there to take care of you. Don't worry, things will shift. It's not nearly as hard as I though it would be. I had a flight of several hours the day after surgery and a 2 hr car ride and I had very little pain (only took 2 pain pill for the whole process) and was back to work the following day (and I'm 58) Just remember you need to do this for you and you will be fine. Blessings, Sally

I have a 4cc band. I had surgery in Mexico and everything is going fine. I have had 2 fills of 1 cc each and feel pretty comfortable with the restriction I have now. I think those with a 4 cc band usually get fewer fillsto get to a good point of restriction, at least it worked that way for me. Congratulations and good luck.

Hi Janell, Just a note to let you know I have read of others with 4cc bands that have over 4cc's in them. My band is 4cc and I have 2cc's in it at this time. I seem to be pretty restricted most of the time. I might get another fill in a couple of weeks but don't be disappointed if you need more, everyone is different :-) Sally

Hi Jiss, Are you banded or just considering it? It is nice to have you here. Tell us about your journey. You will have lots of companions here. Sally

Coffee has lots of acid and I think the problem they are concerned about is erosion down the road. I don't Dr. coffee and my Dr. said that was good but I also should avoid spicy foods or things that are very acid. I am pretty sure that a cup of coffee in the morning to get you going should not be a problem, its those 1 pot a day people that need to be careful. Good luck on your journey.

Sounds like you need an unfill. You shouldn't need to be on mushies 10 days after a fill. Call your Dr. and let them know whats going on. Probably just a little unfill will make a big difference. Good luck.

HI Angel, Which Barix clinic do you go to? I get my fills at Barix in Holland, MI but I had my surgery in Mexico in April. How have you done since you surgery? I would love to hear your story. Sally

Hi Amanda, Remember this, when you expect someone else to act or respond differently than they do you have just given them all you power. Don't allow his response or anyone else's to take away from you what you possess. You ARE incredibly powerful and you are taking the steps to make yourself and your life better. Yes, it would be nice if he were more supportive but on some level he is doing the best he can. Men have a hard time expressing themselves sometime, you know that Men are from Mars bit? I went to Mexico by myself and did all the research without anyone's help. My husband was very supportive but we just couldn't afford to both travel that far so you can do it, girl! Take back your power, you have so much to look forward to, I wish I had done this when I was 24. Take care and know that we are all rooting for you. Sally