LoisinStA

I was banded in Mexico in April of 2008 and have lost a total of 75 pounds. I have not had a fill in a long time and I think I am at a good spot with the band...Sometimes I don't chew enough or eat something that I shouldn't and throw up but it is tolerable. My biggest problem is drinking after I eat...I get thirsty and there is just no where for the liquid to go so it comes back up. I had lost about 60 pounds and wasn't excercising...then I got a job at a retail store and within 6 weeks had lost an additional 15 pounds and my weight has stayed within 1 pound up or down for the past 11 months...I am walking about 1100 steps a day. I have no regrets about having the surgery..I am off of blood pressure medicine and my diabetes drugs have dropped my blood sugar to a very good range. I have loose skin primarily because of my age...I am 61 and my skin does not have the elasictitiy that it had when I was younger...oh well...not that big a deal. If I win the lottery I might consider surgery.. Just thought I would throw my two cents in...good luck all...and hang in there...it does get easier.

I never had heartburn before my band...after a too tight fill I developed it and have been stuck with it ever since even though I have had the band loosened...I have had it tightened again and it is back in force...will probably have another little unfill. I cough and gag all night long and at some point late into the night or early in the morning I throw up...not sure if it is acid or bile. I tired taking prilosec and I guess it helped but then I stopped taking the pills and it has started up again...I am going to try to remember to take at least one a day to see if it will stop it.... It is so strange for me to have heartburn...I have had to stop coffee, spicy foods..things that I never had a problem with before my surgery...but I would not trade in my band for anything....BTW...I had my surgery with Dr. Zapata also....

Since my band, I have developed indigestion problems which has made me quit drinking coffee. I have a hard time feeling awake and almost drove off the road the other day going to work..starting investigating energy drinks when a nurse friend of mine talked me out of them. He suggested I try the energy drink put out by Mona Vie. I ordered them and they arrived today.,.in looking at the can it said it was "lightly carbonated" which I didn't know when I ordered it. Has anyone used this beverage and will the light carbonation be a problem for me...I have given up all carbonation...recovered from my Diet Coke addiction..don't want to stretch the band. If anyone has used these drinks...please let me know if it will be an OK solution for me.

There is finally a solution for a local fill in Jacksonville if you were banded in Mexico. Fill Centers USA has contracted with a local surgical group to do fills for us...contact Fill Centers USA for appointment...I went today and got a fill...so glad I don't have to drive to St. Pete or even Deland.

Thank you so much for your response. I will call the doctor's office on Monday. I will not mess around with this...I did buy some generic prilosec which I will take but will definitely go for an unfill. It's amazing to me that I can eat as much as I do and still be too tight. However,,your story was most compelling. I have to travel 1 1/2 hours for a fill but it will be worth it to get rid of this problem. Thanks again for your help....

I have a similar problem...started to notice I was putting on a few pounds so I got a little fill. Since then I have acid reflux...never had it in my life before. I am not too tight because I can still eat - probably more than I should. Starting taking Zantac but it doesn't seem to help. Read somewhere that I need to stop eating 3 hours before bedtime and drink fluid to clear out the pouch before bed. I am going to try that.

It was one of the finest medical experiences I have ever had. The doctor is wonderful and the people associated with him are great. From the time they picked me up at the airport til the time they took me back to the airport I was treated very well, well cared for and felt like they really cared about me. The hospital was cleaner that any i have been to here lately, the nurses didn't speak much english, but they anticipated all of my needs. Alma is a doll and very helpful. The best part was after i got home and was have some stomach trouble, I called Dr. Zapata on his cell phone and he called me back within 5 minutes and told me what to do...when was the last time that happened to you here in the US. Can't say enough good things about my experience.

Anne, No need to be nervous...it will all be just fine. Incisions are on my stomach...I think I have 4 or 5..they have all healed very nicely. You don't need to bring too many clothes wtih you...just make sure they are comfortable and loose fitting and wear comfortable shoes. Good luck and let me know how it goes. If you have any questions, feel free to email me privately.

Because my stupid health insurance company would rather pay for my diabetes and hbp drugs and complications down the road than pay for the surgery now. The cost is less than half in Mexico than what it is here in the states.

Congrats on your decision to go to Dr. Zapata. He is fabulous as is everyone involved in the process. I went by myself and met my sister there...she had the surgery the same time I did. It was fine to be alone...Things to bring with you...suckers...I brought sugar free and don't know how I would have lived without them. Wear loose clothes and pack very light. When it was time for me to leave, my flight was cancelled and I had to go through atlanta with a layover there for a little while. I took the pain pills as directed...I never needed a wheelchair, I was fine. I even drove myself home from the airport. As long as you take the pain pills you should be ok. If you would like more info, please feel free to email me privately. I would also be happy to talk with you. It was a wonderful experience for me...considering it was surgery. They took excellent care of me and everything went smoothly. I had my surgery in April and reached my goal weight (50 off) in 5 months. I have no regrets although it has changed my life and how I look at food. best thing I ever did...my sister feels the same way. Good luck and if you need anything, feel free to contact me. Say hi to alma for me::Lois from Jacksonville.

After about a month for being down 50 pounds, my morning blood sugars are more normal...117-125 down from the finger prick at the doc's office of 315. My blood pressure has dropped also...YEAH!!! I am hoping to get off some of the meds I am on.:smile:

I know what you are saying...I have gone from an 18 to 10 (sometimes 8) and was trying on some 70% off shorts yesterday. They had very limited sizes..I thought I put on XL and they fit just a tad snug. When I got home and tried the stuff on again...much to my surprise I saw that the shorts were a small!!! I would never have tried them on in the first place had I seen the size. Who knew??? Now I know why they were a little snug...I thought the XL were cut small. What a trip to know that I fit into a SMALL.

I am type 2, uncontrolled and headed for insulin. Had the surgery in April. Put my head in the sand and didn't take meds and figured that after I reached my goal - loss of 50 pounds, my diabetes would be in remission. Well, that did NOT happen. I've lost 53 pounds and when I saw my doctor last week my finger prick was 300 and my A1C was very high. I am back on metformin - had to get the liquid version cuz my band is a little tight and had trouble swallowing the pills and also back on my glipizide. Need to see doc again in 3 months. I thought for sure that the weight loss would make a big difference...now I only hope that in the next few months at my new goal weight (145 pounds, 5'5 1/2", size 10) and my meds I will see my sugars stabilize and maybe even become normal. I have not been exercising like I should so that is my next project.

I use a whey product flavored lilke vanilla cake mix from vitacost.com. I mix it with a cup of iced coffee every morning...run it through the rocket blender, add ice and YUM!!!! I have been drinking this for breakfast every day since my surgery in April.

My sticks out like an egg also...I am still wearing tops that are too big because I am self conscious of the "lump". I will need a revision after I lose the rest of my weight. I am down almost 40 with about 10 more to go. I am self pay...anyone know what it will cost to fix?

I was banded by Dr. Zapata in April. It was a fabulous experience from the time they picked me up at the airport to the time they delivered me back to the airport 3 days later. Alma is fabulous, the doctors are terrific, the hospital is extremely clean and hotel is nice. Everyone treated me very well and I would go back there in a minute. Say hi to everyone for me...Lois from St. Augustine, FL

I have lost almost 40 of the 50 pounds I needed to lose. I have a lump the size of an egg where my port is. I talked to my doctor about it and it seems that the way my fat was and is not now, the port is visible. I can have it switched out to a new "low profile" port or just have it buried deeper - both of which I shouldn't do until I lose all the weight I want to lose. If I wear a top that fits, the lump is visible so I find myself wearing pants that fit well (size 12) and tops that fit big (XL). I guess I will be facing another procedure to move the port so that I won't be self conscious about wearing tops that fit. I guess it is a small price to pay (on top of self pay for surgery) to feel good and look good.

Nervous that I will not get off meds or even reduce them I was banded in April partly in hopes of getting off my type 2 diabetes meds before having to go on insulin. I had about 50 pounds to lose. Unfortunately, my blood sugar levels are just a little bit less that before my surgery and I have lost 36 pounds so far. I am still running around 200 or more. I don't want to get on insulin. I joined the Y and am starting to exercise. My doctor told me that when I hit around the 50 pound mark is when I will see a change in my glucose readings...although I have read that many saw that change immediately at the time of surgery. I am a little nervous that this surgery and loss of weight will not affect my blood sugar and that I will be one of the few who did not get that benefit. Anyone out there that this has happened to?:tongue_smilie::cursing:

I was banded in April partly in hopes of getting off my type 2 diabetes meds before having to go on insulin. I had about 50 pounds to lose. Unfortunately, my blood sugar levels are just a little bit less that before my surgery and I have lost 36 pounds so far. I am still running around 200 or more. I don't want to get on insulin. I joined the Y and am starting to exercise. My doctor told me that when I hit around the 50 pound mark is when I will see a change in my glucose readings...although I have read that many saw that change immediately at the time of surgery. I am a little nervous that this surgery and loss of weight will not affect my blood sugar and that I will be one of the few who did not get that benefit. Anyone out there that this has happened to?:tongue_smilie::cursing:

Before you go, make sure you have made arrangements for where you will be getting your fills. Many doctors in the US will not work with you if you have had your surgery out of the country. I had my surgery in Monterrey, Mexico with Dr. Zapata. I live in St. Augustine, FL and found a doctor outside of Orlando to take care of me...I had it set up before my surgery so that when I got home I knew where to go for fills and any aftercare that might be needed. Good luck with your surgery - it was a piece of cake and having it done in Mexico was a wonderful experience.

I had my surgery done by Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico. I highly recommend him - the experience was amazing from the time they picked me up at the airport til the time they took me back 3 days later. I even called him after I got home with a question and he called me back within 5 minutes!!!

I have noticed the same thing - my band is very fickle. I have had 3 fills and was ready to go for a fourth when all of a sudden it tightened up on me. For the past 3 weeks it has a mind of it's own...sometimes I can eat, other times I can't. Some foods I can eat one day and not eat the next. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason so I just go day by day, or should I say meal by meal. I was banded on April 7th of this year.

I have eaten extra crunchy peanut butter on toasted bread, very crisp rye krisp crackers and occasionally on sliced apples.