kgloverii

The sweet tooth thing is a huge consideration. If you are a huge sweet eater, most sweets go down very easily, and if you aren't mindful, you can really put yourself into a situation where you don't lose weight. My mindset has been one of eating normal foods, and it has worked very well for me. I don't diet, or count calories, because at my perfect restriction, I no longer have the food obsession. Don't feel pressured to make your decision quickly. Do all of the research until you feel comfortable with your decision. The band takes work. You will forever have to follow up with your doctor with this procedure.

Night reflux is often a sign of being a little too tight, it was for me. Even .1ccs may make a difference for you on that. GL!

I know for me, lack of fats make me prone to dandruff/dry skin. I take a fish oil capsule everyday and that has helped immensely with the dry skin, believe it or not. Tea tea oil shampoos will prevent dandruff, and I love the smell. Those are my secret...

Welcome to LBT! Great group of people here!

Update: I had my upper GI and saw my surgeon. Band is FINE. Thank GOD. They could not even see inflammation in the upper GI, probably due to the Motrin. I may have a SMALL ulcer, but that can be fixed with some Prilosec, no problem! My doc said that the Motrin is doing fine for the inflammation, so he said to continue on Prilosec for a few days, and gave me an unfill of .4ccs. He thinks that will do the trick. He said to go out to dinner tonight and (lol) celebrate with STEAK. He was just kidding, but it was good to hear I should be able to eat again.... I am ELATED. :thumbup:

The following link takes you to how to research Mexican docs... http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f200/researching-mexican-lap-band-doctors-101-a-43575/ Let us know if you have any other questions along the way!!

Because of your medical history, I would suggest a doctor that practices out of a hospital, and one that has ALL certifications... Look at the link on researching Mexican doctors. DO NOT listen to word of mouth on this board. Lots of people pose as patients but are really coordinators. Everyone who has lost weight thinks their surgeon is the best. You have a complex case. You need to find the doctors that have the tools to take care of you. DO NOT search based on price. All reputable docs are going to price at AT LEAST $7K and up to $9K. If you go cheaper, you're losing something by going with that price... Also, Dr. Kirshenbaum is in Colorado and charges $9950. That's really good for being in the states... Keep in mind the price for follow-up care too... And you have to find someone to perform that follow-up care. Having surgery in MX makes that a bit tougher...

I went from a 9-9.5 to a 7 1/2.

Thanks for the good wishes.... Heather, I've taken your advice. I have taken the liquid Motrin, and will continue to take it until I have my consult with my band doc on Monday. It is awhile to have to wait, but I am going to remain on liquids till then. I have decided no more 'testing myself' on foods... I have V8 (which I HATE, but will drink hot, like tomato soup), V8 splash, gatorade, hot teas, hot chocolate, assorted puddings and yogurts, and some baby foods like pear-pineapple, apples and blueberries, etc. I am also taking a multi as well as an Iron tablet since none of my foods have much Iron. I am also allowing one 'chewy' food... Cheetos. Bandsters far and wide know Cheetos are their own food variety and are the only thing I can get the 'chewing sensation' from, and know that they turn to liquid. :thumbup: Thanks for your optimism. I feel so much BETTER today, and it must be because of the liquids only. Not 'trying' foods is really making a difference cause of the no pain and lack of PBing. With the Motrin, my Upper GI should yield better results as well. :smile:

Hey guys, Well, I am a worried mess right now, and am trying not to be a basket case. I have been experiencing random tightness for a few weeks... it goes away, and then comes back. I attributed it to the band, being a fickle thing. And then last week, I got ridiculously tight. Couldn't eat hardly anything, but then, random things would go down like bologna, so I tried not to panic. I am now tight enough that only warm liquids are going down for the most part... It is a terrible feeling, and I am HIGHLY concerned that my band has slipped. I am scheduled for an upper GI tomorrow morning, at which point I will see my surgeon and hopefully all I'll need is an unfill... optimistically. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say a short prayer for me. I am just sick about this. Worried as ever. As self-pay, my options are not as open as people who have regular insurance coverage for bariatric surgery, so there are a lot of considerations...

I think that you need to see a psych before you visit a doc about bypass. You need to figure out WHY you are sabotaging yourself. Until you do that, you are doing yourself a complete disservice by getting another procedure when you haven't figured out your 'issues.'

Hi all, I have been taking Adderall for a couple years now for ADD. Over the past few months, I have been trying to take it more regularly, and have noticed that the day after I take it, my band is a LOT tighter. This is even when I pump fluids like crazy when I take it. I know Adderall dehydrates me, but it seems like no matter what I do, I cannot stay ahead of the med. Anyway, I am considering going to a psych to have them switch my meds to something else... even though I LOVE my Adderall. Does anyone else take ADD meds and have any odd side effects like I've described? Whether you do or don't if you feel comfortable, can you tell me what you take? Thanks.

Lellow, you make me look like supreme slow loser-loser. Amazing!!!!!

Susan, What a story of success! Congrats on your successes!

TickerFactory.com has the graph, attached to the ticker.... Just click on the link to your actual ticker page... and it will have a graph underneath the ticker.

I have a graph as of 2/1/08. My journey started on 10/22/07, at 235, but this gives you a pretty good idea... and it is pretty slow...

Isn't that awesome when people assume... LOL. I had some lady tell me "I wouldn't undertstand" what it was like to have a shirt not fit (she was returning a 2x at the store I work at). I was shocked... Go YOU on that AWESOME NSV!

Amen to that sister. I didn't need a 'tool' to stop me from eating. I needed something to take away the hunger. And properly restricted, I am a completely different person. I view food differently. I don't get that physiological rush from seeing food, and don't have the need to plan my next meal... Amazing how the brain can be rewired like that, eh? THAT was my Ah Ha! Moment with the band. When I no longer thought about food all of the time. I had a breakdown of joy...

I love love love my band. Just wanted to let you know that the responses you get are probably not the best to go from, believe it or not. You'll see a lot of people who are super new to their bands, or people who have had their bands and have had issues... that's why they are at this board. Most people who have had their bands for awhile, stop posting and go on with their lives... You'll also see a lot of people on here that are super 'pro-band' and anti-bypass... we tend to stick up for what WE chose. I see the benefits of both... Higher BMI's tend to do a bit better with Bypass. But if you can make good food choices and not eat around your band, be satisfied with eating VERY low-cal for the rest of your life, and you are willing to make your doctor-patient aftercare relationship a priority, the Band will do well for you. A lot of people don't realize that you lose more slowly with the band, or that you have to follow-up with your doctor regularly for really good success. On the other hand, you don't have the dumping syndrome, or malabsorbtion issues as you do with RNY. Weigh all of your options and ask lots of people... maybe even go to some support group meetings for bariatric patients to get a good picture. And PM me if you want to. I think I am fairly unbiased, in spite of my great success with the band. I've seen bypass do wonders for others as well. Good luck on your journey!

Carole, Just wanted to tell you I REALLY hope you get the aftercare you deserve... Sending big hugs your way!

Wanted to post some updated pics... the before and after are kinda crazy...

Thanks! I am so happy with my progress. It definitely went along a lot faster than I'd expected. And the pic I posted I see as a 'fat' pic now, LOL. Since I am only 2 pounds from my goal, I am almost inclined to go for even skinnier, but I am 'normal' now, so I will just take it easy and what happens, happens... Perhaps there is a size 4 in my future!! :thumbup:

Lellow, You and I are on the exact same page and our thought processes mirror each other. Your honesty will help a ton of people... people you don't even know... Congrats on being the walking advert of success!

Yeah, I would call billing ASAP. $450 sounds like what they'd bill to insurance, NOT to a patient.

I would highly recommend the DS, even though the side effects are a lot more than with the bypass. If you are not a rules follower, you WILL regain after a certain time. Regain with bypass is very common. Good luck with your decision!