c7777christine

He is the top two Dr's in mexico! The hospital is amazing! Rodriguez teaches American Dr how to do this banding. He did mine on 2-5-08. I've lost 70 pounds with the Realize band. He is now doing Allergan only which is better. You get to restriction much quicker and cheaper. Try and get the 4cc band if your stomach is small enough. My cousin and her friend just went to him last month and they even got fills right after surgery. Little fills they aren;t even hungry! i was starved for the first 3 months! He really is the best. I think he's done more than 5,000 lapband surgeries. And now there is a special for 6500.00. And you stay in a hospital like a four star hotel for 2 nights. Here they send you home the same day. They pick you up at the airport or at the border. Go through Jessica at Jessica@mylapbandsurgeon.com She is the best and after a year out she calls me and helps me with me problems. Go to Rodriguez forsure he is awesome! 7777christine@gmail.com

I have the realize band! What a piece of shit! I have 9cc band and have had 11 fills. Self pay up to 15,000. And I had it done in mexico. My Dr Rodriguez now won't even do realize. It takes to long to get to restriction. Got to sweet spot once then 3 days later swelled shut totally. Now my new fill /dr through fill centers of america can't seem to get the water out. I'm supposed to have 6.2ccs in my 9cc band. Now I have to go to a radiologist for another 350.00 to see if something is wrong. If so I'm going back to dr Rodriguez in Juarez to get the 4cc allergan band. I've lost 70 pounds with a little restriction. I work out like crazy and can't wait to get to my sweet spot. I want this band to work ! I had surgery on 2-8-08. I'm at 173 but thought I'd be at 145 by now. hang in there big banders the 9-14 bands can take a long time to get to restriction. I think my dr tried to put air in with the saline and thats why she couldn't get air in or out. Hope I don't have to go through this all over! At least my Dr will do it for the cost of the band and anethesia. still another 4,000. Arrgh Chrissie

I'm a year and two months out with 6.2cc in my realize band. I'm having tons of issues too! I've never gotten to the sweet spot. They almost got me there then I swelled totally shut and couldn't even get water down! now i have to spend 350 to see a radiologist to see why they can't get the water out. lame I have lost but I excercise a ton a starve. My new dr gave me a diet pill until I can get to restriction phentetermine. it's helped a lot to take the edge off. I know she can go to 10cc's. that sucks for her! I really feel for her. if I have an issue I'm thinking of going back to my Dr in mexico and getting the 4cc allergan band. it's what i should have had in the first place. My Dr Rodriguez in juarez mexico isn't even doing Realize bands anymore due to the fact that people are having such a hard time getting restriction. It's still a good band, just not for me. I feel your daughters pain. Hope things go better. Chrissie Oh I've lost 70 pounds and would like to lose 30 more.

I Know how you feel!! I had surgery 2-5-08 and am down 40 pounds. I didn't have restriction at all until June after 7 fills. I thought my band was broken. What your going through is bandster hell! It sucks! Having a band and no restriction. You think your going to lose weight the day after your surgery. Wrong! My weight loss has been slow and steady. Now it's better because I'm not starving all the time. I have a 2 year old and no gym within 40 miles. I try to do push ups aerobics anything to move a little around the house more than normal. It is very hard to do anything with a one year old! Especially if your still breastfeeding. Don't be to hard on yourself. I met a new friend in the hospital. She and I email every week. She has been such a support. But it's been hard not to compare. She had restriction right away and was down 100 pounds in six months!! Very unusual for the band. She did out weigh me by 120 pounds but still. So try not to compare. She also has massive lose skin to deal with down the road. What matters is the weight is off for good even if it takes 2 years. Make sure your getting all your protein. Hang in there! Chrissie

I get migraines when I eat aspartame, splenda, nutra sweet etc. Any fake sugar product really messes with me. Sometimes I even get diarrea. After surgery I just forced myself to drink the protein. But yes I feel the effects of the fake sugar. Good luck! chrissie

I'm from Alaska and she sure has changed things in our state very quickly! She has stopped the good old boys club. And many of our politicians have gone to jail! She is very strong and not afraid to take anyone on. We will miss her up here. Chrissie

I had the same issue. I bought power plus protein bars with 30 grams of protein. Take little bites. I got them down no problem. Plus they are good for you. After I lost another 11 pounds my food doesn't stick as much. Plus i'm getting more used to the band. It's taken me the whole 6 months to learn how to eat different. good luck,chrissie

That Blows!!! What a dick! You hang in there. I hope you have some good girlfriends you can count on. The first 6-8 weeks can be tricky it's good to have a support system. If it makes you feel any better i was engaged twice and didn't meet my husband until I was 35. He is the best most wonderful man i've ever met. You will find mr. right. Thank god you didn't marry that asshole. Hang in there. The first few days your in shock you'll be ok. And stronger down the road. Chrissie

I went to mexico with Dr. Rodriguez in Juarez. The whole experience was awesome. I paid 7700 for everything. They do take credit cards. This Dr has done over 5500 bands and is really experienced. He has low problem statistics. You don't want to gain back all your hard work! It's not your fault! Hang in there.

Your so lucky! I'm 6 months out and only down 35. I didn't get restriction until about a month ago. So congratulations! keep up the good work! You could be down 100 by the end of the next 6 months. Thats exciting! Good job!

I have the same band as you. You won't really lose weight until you get to good restriction level. It took me 7 fills. All people are different. I just wish someone would have told me I would be hungry for so long. I've lost 35 pounds in 6 months. Only really had restriction for about 2 months. This is a big step. You could be having a little depression. The protein drinks are hard. I finally went with pro-complex from GNC. It tastes ok and has 60 grams of protein. Give yourself a break. This is a big life change. Explain to people your in the healing stage and have no restriction in your band yet. Normal weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. Slow but steady. You can do this remember it's long term weight loss not a race. It took me a long time to really believe this. Of course we want the weight off now! Try a different powder you don't want to have hair loss. Best of luck. Chrissie

I had Dr Rodriguez too!! What a great experience! Don't listen to people who put mexico down. It was the best hospital experience of my whole life. Even the language barrier was fine. Just talk slower and use simple words for what you want. I will go back if I need plastic surgery. Good luck

I do liquid the day of. Then 3 days of full liquids. If food sticks a lot after that I go back to mushies and liquids. Good luck! I think some people have more sensitive stomachs etc.

I had Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Juruez mexico. The hospital was like a spa! He was truly one of the best! The staff was wonderful! Just google hospital angeles in juarez. Good luck!

Thats awesome! Hope that will happen to me! I'll give it a try. Keep us posted. Chrissie