cmr

when I had my last fill I was too tight. My problem was that I needed to get the $ to go back to Mexico to get an unfil. I waited 3 weeks and WOW! I am at my sweet spot!!! So glad that I didn't have to go back to Mexico. The childrens motrin really helped....good luck to all in finding your sweet spot!

I just went back to Mexico to have a fill after 4 yrs. and NO restriction. It was an expensive trip but I think I am too tight. I can't get back there again until June.....can my band slip after 5 yrs?

I was banded in Mexico 5 yrs. ago and have no restriction any more. I am going back tomorrow and can't remember if we have to fast before the fill....can anyone help?

Besides being empty calories will a glass or two of wine a night hurt my band? Does anyone else out there do this?

dr. de la garza is wonderful! after care is great and free!!!!

high school teacher in texas here...... love this thread! Perry sucks! Bush is right behind him....."no child left behind" sounds good for a sound bite but in reality it is unbelieveably nieve. Cindy

I had to quit drinking when I got the band. I just couldn't loose the weight with all the empty calories. It was hard....still is. I have an addictive personality. I used to smoke 3 packs a day.....quit after being hypmotized (sp?) cindy

go to ticker.com

I get it occasionally as well and I take gas-x. It seems to help so I think for some reason that it's gas. I just don't know why it goes there??? My surgeon explained the shoulder pain after surgery could last up to 6 weeks but I have been banded since Nov. so what gives?? I know for sure that if I have anythong carbonated, my shoulder is going to act up.

I love dr. de la garza. he has a new cooridinator (as of may). her name is georgina. she replaced nina. was the mess up with her? cindy

what is the device called? cindy

You are in the recovery stage and I think that's normal but I noticed that you are used to drinking a lot of caffinated drinks. Have you also had headaches? I had caffine withdrawal at first and then started to drink tea in the morning....that helped me a little. cindy

maybe this explains some of the crazy periods that I have had lately. I thouht that it was premenopausal but now, after reading this post, I'm not so sure. My periods and pms are much worse but I have completetly stopped the hot flashes....maybe because fat stores estrogen???? I thought that I was just loosing lard that was making me hot, but the estrogen theory makes more sense. Thanks for this thread! cindy

Try having some hot tea or coffee before you eat. That sometimes helps me. I think that the heat helps to loosen the restriction a bit. Cindy

I am having a rough time going through menopause> Sometimes I am in my period for 14-16 days with terrible cramps. It seems the worse my cramps, the tighter my band is and I am having trouble getting anything but protien shakes down and not getting all the water that I need. When I finally finish with my period, my restriction is perfect so I don't want to get an unfill, especially if this is all going to be over soon ( I hope). The only thing that I can really do right now is get through this. Do any of you female bandsters have any suggestions? I have scheduled an appointment with the gynocologist but there is a 3 month waiting list. cindy

I had surgery with dr. le la garza in Monterrey. I don't know if that's who you are talking about, but if it is, he was wonderful!

:girl_hug: Does any one else suffer from fatigue right after fills. I know that I am not getting all the calories in that I need and I am just weak from it all. I tried to work out today and could only do about 1/2 of what I normally do. I just had my 3rd fill and am very happy with the restriction but can't get much down until the afternoon. I nurse a protien shake all morning and then have to really work on getting my water in. I can eat cottage cheese and blueberries for dinner but not interested in eating much else. My restriction picks back up after 8 or so and I try to get down another protein drink but I think my calories are probably around 800-900. Is there anything that I can do to help my with my lack of energy? Cindy

I asked my dr. about this and he said that if you normally tend to retain fluid right before your period that it will cause more restriction, but that it is only temporary.

I am perry -menapausal and I am trying to figure out if that is playing havic with my restriction. Anybody out there have this experience? I sometimes have a period for 10-12days. I think that it might be related to the amount of restriction but it is hard to be sure. Am I crazy??? I can't pinpoint anything specific but I just have a feeling that the two are connected.

this may sound a little crazy but mix it with no sugar, instant pudding mix. When I am really craving something sweet, I ust ricotta (part skim) a couple of heaping spoons of oreo cookie instant pudding and about 10 honey roasted peanuts. It's GREAT!

I actuallly took a deep breath while doing a fill with flouro and saw how it moved and my dr. explained how things go down easier with a deep breath. Never tried holding it but next time I'm in a bind I will. Thanks for the tip!

I have used it on and off for years. I now only use them on weekends occasionally when I have more unscheduled time. That is dangerous for me. I like the effect. It gives me much needed energy, but I know that if I take them too much that the effects are diminished.. My only side effect is that I don't sleep as deeply as I usually do.

I read it in '97 back then I was down to a size 10 and thought that I had conquered my weight problem for good. Boy was I stupid!! I remember thinking that the book was very depressing so I guessed that it hit a nerve. I would not want to read it again. Although it was well written it was too dark for me.

I'm in the same boat. I haven't told anyone at work either and I have to really watch it because if I eat too fast I PB and my sudden leave from the lunch table is noticed. I usually just say that something got stuck in my throat. They all think I have reflux, little do they know that the reflux is gone and that I am banded. All of the suggestions mentioned are great just remember to take tiny bites and chew, chew, CHEW!!!!!!

I just turned 51 in March. I was banded Nov. 05 and have lost 31 lbs. I didn't loose much until the 2nd fill but now I am averaging about 1.5 lbs per week. I really started losing weight when I finally gave up my wine and margaritas :confused: