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I can so relate, I to went thru some personal experiences and food has always been my comfort. Keep your head up, you can always go the sleeve route you will ask yourself why I didn't do it sooner, I WAs scared Of change,.the what ifs, I haven't been on lapbandtalk for over a year, your post sounded just like me. I had to let you know. check into the Sleeve I encourage you,.it will be worth every move,.and you will not have all these worries. Its a 360 change from the band, wish I knew about it before I got banded.

I just wanted to give a bit of encouragement to all of the banders, as a previous bandie myself, I read all the affects of the band good and bad, all the Liquids, throwing up, fear of slippage, constant reflux, back and forth with fills, unfills, tight to tight, measuring each bite, and soooooooooooo much more. Don't get me wrong the band works, I lost 100lbs, however; there is a major downside, they slip, they cause constant problems, I was soooooooooooo desperate to lose the weight and keep it of I refused to tell them Dr,.how sick I really was,.finally after months and months of throwing up, and not bring able to even swallow my own spit, the Dr sent me to have UGI, I was horrified when he told me I have to have it removed, it had slipped so bad it was affecting my nearby organs, ie: esophagus, intestines, and bowels. Even though dr explained the severity of the situation I was trying to figure out when I could have it replaced or fixed, Dr, explained there was so much damage to my stomach that it was not possible, all I could do is cry, I had lost all this weight, 100 lbs,followed every rule given to me survived all the side affects, that's when he suggested and advised me about the gastric sleeve, I was all ears, I was expecting the band to be removed and the sleeve to be completed I was to happy, however; that's not how it works,.due to the damage of the band I had to wait 5 months to have the sleeve. I had my surgery March 25 2011, the surgery is short and sweet and Way way less painful than the band, and the best part is the portion of the stomach that is removed is that it contains the hormone that tells u your hungry, that in itself was great news. Done of the same rules apply for the sleeve as it did with band, ie: liquids, for 3 to 4 Weeks, to let your new tiny stomach adjust, then full liquids, etc, as time goes by you're able to eat as anyone and everyone without gaging, throwing up, fear of the BAND!!!! Yes, you eat very little, but its very liberating to be ale to eat what u like,in small portions. Its been over a year and Im the happiest I've ever been, I still am losing not intentional, its just a natural response to eating in very small portions, and I eat all the foods I liked before, ive also made lifestyle changesthis does not come without my own effort, I don't drink during any meal, that was a hard one, I don't drink soda, I still have a burger, but of course I only eat 1/4 of it, or 1/4 of hot dog, or a 1/2 slice of pizza, but let me tell you its the best few bites Of my favorite food, all while still losing weight,.and enjoying life... 150 lbs from 321.

I tried to post last night I thought it worked. Lol I was banded in 2008 it was a great moment in my life, I lost 100 +lbs. I followed the rules to the T.... I did the fills and unfills. Yes, traumatic, but I did it. Still happy I was not a hepher. In 2010 I started to have problems, couldn't swallow my own spit, after a fill, them another unfill, the I vot serious reflux, to the point of ER. Finally at the end of 2010 it was time to have the band removed sure to a serious slippage anda mass of other problems, to no fault of my own or the Dr. he was one of the best banders. In the end my personal belief the band should only be temporary max 2 to 3 not only due to my experience, but thru the exp of a multitude of others. Since then in March 2011 I had a revision gastric sleeve, one of the best decisions i've ever made, no more fills, unfills, side affects, posdible slippage, throwing up, reflux, meds, for reflux trips to the Dr, etc. a year 1/2 later I'm down to 150. A total weight loss done my journey began of 171. I've never never had 1.single issue writhe the sleeve. I'm n a size 6 and happy I got the band object out. And to add, the removal of the band was quite traumatic that was only supposed to be a45 minute surgery, but due to the slippage and the erosion it caused in other organs it was over a 2 hr surgery. Dr zane from kaiser made a enlightening statement to me that day, that as long as bands are being installed he will stay in business removing and revising nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo matter who or what Dr inserts them, the band should only be a temp fix. Check into getting a revsion. The gastric sleeve. How this helps.....

Whew! it's been forever since I have been on here. Missed all of the March bandsters..... I have been so busy.... How is everyone doing? I am so excited:lol: about the success of my band, it's so much better than I thought. I had a fill April 26th on my Bday..., didn't hurt at all, but I will say that is very different than the surgery, that's a whole different ball game.... As of last week "saturday" I have lost 51lbs :thumbup:since my surgery 2 months ago, and I have gone from a 18/20 lane byrant to a (14) anywhere... .... Yippie!!! :smile: of course I didn't do it with the band alone, at first I started walking for an hour a day then I joined my local YMCA and have been working out at the gym 6 days week for 1.5 hours day, most importantly I have cut out white carbs.... thanks to some good advice... How's everyone else doing?

Wow! That's great too.. ! Congratulations..... I have been working harder on this, cause I will be seeing my husband in 5 weeks, and he doesn't know of all the new changes I have made.... I am so excited..... I am doing my own BODY MAKEOVER<! Just wish I could do the 10 years and younger show.... lol... It would be easier... I have been tanning everyday so I have gone from LILLY white to a medium tan, and I have a chemical peel appt, as well as Laser hair removal, and a Body wrap, and a custom hair appt., totally changing that, currently bleach blonde "going honey natural" and a teeth whitning.... ... This stuff is expensive, but I haven't seen my husband in 8 months... and since my life has always been about how BIG I was I figured I would treat my self.. Good luck......... and way to go on your loss......

Hi, girl! great to hear from you. Sounds like your doing great., Me too... I had such a great time, and it was so nice meeting all of you.. Yea., I am enjoying the creamy soup stage.. hmmm. Potato soup.., etc... baked potato soup.,... Well, keep in touch... I'm sure we will all be going for fills around the same time. Do you plan on going to Dr. A for your fills? Dr. Aceves Mexicali, Mexico

What sort of research did you do on him? I would highly suggest you do research before you use this DR. do your reasearch.He is cheap for a reason..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did and I chose not to use this Dr. Do your research... Go to wasabubblebutt thread on how to search for a mexican dr. it is vital to your health and extreamly important.......................................!!!!! Please!!! I had my surgery on 3/7/08 and I have lost 10 lbs and I am feeling great.. If you want more information pm me. Dr. Aceves MD Mexicali, Mexico

HI, well Dr. A and most dr.s will tell you not to have any meat until your 31st day. Your really not supposed too.. but did you get the packet Yolanda gave us with the diet plan? pm and I will help you there so much you need to know.. I will give you my number>

HI, I had surgery 3/7/08, with Dr. Aceves wonderful experience,,... Did I meet you? I went looking for everyone who had surgery same day... :eek::grouphug:

Hi, girl I was there looking for you, I had my surgery same day. I had such a great time.... I gave everyone a balloon... Where were u? How are you doing? I have lost 7.8 lbs.. and feeling wonderful...

Basically, you need to think Atkins diet, plus at least 60 to 70 grams of protien, whey chocolate is really good., I used 2% milk., or you could use 1%, cut out all carbs., ie: low fat yogurt, protien drinks, protien bars, lean meats, fish, grilled chicken only.. keep your fat and carbs to a minimum.... again think Atkins... I did this for 7 days before surgery...thanks to some advise and I am doing great, I had surgery on 3/7 and so far I am doing awesome and I have lost 7.8 lbs.. Hope this helps, good luck. and don't worry its not as bad as you think.... :huh2:

Hi, congrats!!! Oh! I had a great time, it was not as bad as I thought.. after surgery I went to my room, and was ready for a shower and I went walking through the hospital and I met so many woman that had there surgery the same day, and others getting ready for surgery. I really had the easiest recovery, I feel blessed and very lucky I was in such good hands, the staff at Almater Hospital in Mexicali, Mexico they treated me "us" like royality, they put us in the Hosptial Suites with "Plasma tv" leather couch, refrig, etc.. HUGE room fit for a queen and all of the staff was sooo nice and was there when you needed them and even when you didn't they would check on you, even the Dr Aceves made it a point to come and see how I was doing., I met all the Dr's on the team.. I did have fun with it though too.... I felt like a teenager again, walking around in my pj's to all the other girls rooms... I made silly balloons with there names on them, and put a BIG smiley face on it, this was our OLD stomachs!!!!!:cool2: Tried not to make everyone laugh, cause it would make our stomachs tense..., heee. my friend came with me and she is a class clown..... Ok, as far as the big scar at the top, yea the big one is the sorest one, and it takes more time to heal, as far as it popping I assume you feel the "bump" or it looks a little "bulgy" that's normal, that is supposed to be your port, but you can shower and use a clean washcloth and pat it only, with Water and antibacterial soap but dont' soak in the water or don't let the water soak your tape, it sounds same as mine, but I am not a Dr., so if you feel like you need to call go ahead., but it sounds just like mine... You sound like your doing great, keep up the good work.,, I have lost 7.8 lbs since my surgery friday 3/7/08, I just need to figure out how to change it on my ticker..... Have a blessed day!:huh2:

Hi, All March Bandsters..... I am not ashamed to put my face out there girl...... I am proud of my band, Banded friday!!! yeAAAAA,Me!!!!! .. Here's me and my baby girl Tayller....... Dr. Aceves Mexicali, Mexico..... 3/7/08 surgery date..

How soon could I eat this., I assume when I go to solids in 30 days. right?

Hi all March bandsters, Wow, what an amazing experience. I was banded on friday, and I am home and feeling great on sunday. I met so many people at Hospital Almater, were awesome., wow... Sergio, my first nurse, christopher my 2nd nurse, and of course DR.ACEVES.,awesome surgeon and so professional, but yet so down to earth... Wow., I have never been treated so good, I wanted to stay... ha.lol, but I have kids.... I have so much more to say and I will later right now I need to relax more. I plan going to work in the morning. OH, and I must say hi! to a few people that I met while I was there , they were having the surgery "lapband: Hi., Cindy, Kathy, Karen, Haily, Barbara, Shirly, did we have fun or what girls, felt like a slumber party ha:lol:.... oh, don't pop those balloons "stomachs":tt2: I gave you.... So, glad you all were there to share this new beginning... with me.and me with you... Good luck all of you. I can't wait to hear from you...........