wannabelean

No weight loss as of yet.....not one pound! But thanks for the reply. I go for my second fill tomorrow... I'll keep you posted.

I am in the same boat as most of you. First fill was 1.6... no restriction... I am a little disappointed that it is going to cost me $150 for another fill, but what choice do I have... I was banded on February 3rd and I have lost NOTHING!!!! I go for a second fill on March 28th... hopefully I'll have better luck with this one. I only wish it was under flouroscopy!!!!! It seems more accurate that way.. Good luck to all and let me know how it works out for you.

Can anyone tell me what the average fill is that would be needed for me to feel restriction? I had my surgery on February 3rd..., I had the smallest of the Inamed bands put on and had absolutely no restriction...... Lost no weight.... went for my first fill and had 1.6cc's put in and still feel NO restriction. I was reading that I should only be able to eat 1/4 cup of food at a time.... as it stands right now... I powered down a hot dog at my kids baseball games with No problems.... I could have eaten more, i have eaten almost a whole quesadilla.... etc., etc., etc. The problem is... I keep thinking I should eat as though it will be my last chance to enjoy some of my favorite foods and therefore I am gaining weight. I want my journey to weight loss to begin... but I really want to have the aid of restriction to help me curb my appetite and begin my healthier eating! Thanks for any advice.

I was definately one of the lucky ones. My husband actually knew someone who was considering lap band surgery and asked me what I knew of it.... At the time I knew nothing, but after a little research... I asked him how he felt about me having the surgery. His response was perfect.. I would never keep you from doing something you really want to do. We researched it together.. traveled to TJ together and the rest is history. Of course... I am only one month out and I haven't lost any weight... so I feel a little like a big dissappointment to him that he has spent so much money with no results (my words). Regardless he has been nothing but the best about the whole procedure!!!! I did not tell my mom and dad until after I had the procedure done.... My mother did not take it well... however she now understands .....but she still would have preferred for me to do it the impossible way!

Hey Sarah, I just read your post and realized we are almost neighbors. I live in yorba Linda, CA... anyway, do you go to Dr. Rumbault for your fills? If so, what time do you leave in the mornings and what time do you get home? I am trying to plan my first fill and I just can't figure out how long I will be gone for. Anyway thanks for your help. Hope you are having lots of success so far.

Does anyone know of a fill doctor in Southern California who will see patients who were banded in Mexico. I have heard of Dr. Billy in Van Nuys, but I do not know how to get a hold of him.... I am also not sure if he will see patients who have been banded in Mexico. The problem is Dr. Billy is just as far from me as Dr. Huacuz in Tijuana. Now I know why everyone mentioned that we should set this up, prior to surgery. however I always thought I would go back to Dr. Huacuz in TJ for my fills, but I have read so many posts with people talking about over fills, it would be nice to have someone close by. Please help!

Does anyone know of a fill Doctor who will see patients banded in Mexico? I think I read somewhere that Dr. Billy will. Does anyone have any information on how I can contact him. The problem is.... he is just as far from me as my band doctor in Tijuana..... Anyway, I would appreciate any information anyone has.... I am definately ready for my fill. Now I know why people say you should set this up before surgery!!!!!! I just thought for sure I would go back to TJ... but after reading all of the posts of those overfilled, I feel as though it might make more sense to find someone locally who would be willing to see me.

Hello friends, I am trying to plan my fill with Dr. Huacuz, but I am curious as to whether or not I can make it to Tijuana and back before 3:00pm in the afternoon. I live in Orange County and travel time to the San Diego airport would take me an hour and a half. My only concern is getting back and forth across the border. It is just so unpredictable. Any suggestions or ideas??? Are there some days that are easier than others?:help:

My experience has been so extremely different from everyone elses I just wonder if I even have a band. I never had ANY GAS at all. I actually have less gas now than ever before in my life!!!!! I feel completely normal and have absolutely no restriction what so ever. I can drink and eat anything and feel just the same as always. I have lost nothing.... I have gained nothing. I was banded on Feb. 2nd and I am hoping to have fill soon if I can get the copy of my medical record from my doctor! I am hoping after my fill I will finally see the results of my great expense! Good luck to all of you who are suffering so. I wish I could make the pain go away, but trimming 20 to 30 pounds will soon make you grateful that you went through this agony! Keep in touch! :paranoid :eek:

Hello Fellow February Bandsters, congrats to those recently banded... you really amaze me... going back to work the day after!!!! Wow!!! It has taken me quite some time to get used to my port site... it bulges out just slightly... is that normal??? It was hard to get comfortable with at first, but we are acclamating well now. I also could not wear a bra for the first week and a half because of my incisions. Ever since I took my stitches out my incisions are healing beautifully and I can finally wear the bra again!!! Thank goodness! I also would like to recommend using Maderma for the scars where the incisions were. It is really helping them disappear! Good luck to all and keep in touch. Michele

Hey now... you probably won't get this until it's all over, but let me just tell you.... in this world there are dreamers and there are doers.... I have always been a dreamer, but three weeks ago I became a doer... and I am only looking ahead!!!! It's natural to have sleepless nights and major fears... but look 10 years down the road.... does that not cause you any fear? I found the best way to stop worrying about surgery was to distract, distract, distract... I honestly did not think about my surgery until they wheeled me in, and as I started to get petrified with fear, my doctor took my hand and the next thing I knew I woke up and was on my way to recovering. So wipe away your tears.... the recovery was really not bad AT ALL!!!!! And as for the farting.... I had NONE!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!!!

I have a BMI of 31, but I am only 3 weeks post op...can't tell you if it was a good option yet, but I must say, I am thinking yes, in that I have been on liquids only for three weeks and I have only lost 5 pounds, it just proves to me how difficult it is for me to get the scale to budge!!!! Anyway, I used Dr. Daniel Huacuz in Tijuana and I was very happy. They were very professional, nice new and clean facility and wonderful follow up. hope this helps. I'll let you know if I lose after my first fill. Good luck

Hello, I was banded Feb 3rd, and I too am in a similar situation. Absolutely no restriction. It's very frustrating because you feel perfectly normal and feel that you could eat anything! I eat soft boiled eggs, yogurt, slim fast shakes, oat bran mixed with apple sauce and lots and lots of clam chowder.... Hopefully that helps you... but I too CANNOT WAIT to feel some restriction. I have only lost 6 pounds and I am eating SOOOO much less. It's nice to know I am not the only one!

I also used Dr. Huacuz in Tijuana.... He was fantastic! No complaints here. Good luck.

Thank you, I will definately try some of those!

hello! Just wondering if chicken noodle soup would be considered a mushy in that the chicken is so soft????? Also, without any restriction, does anyone have any suggestions on how much I should be eating. I was banded on the 3rd of Feb, and have felt no restriction at all. For breakfast, I have been having 2 soft boiled eggs, lunch yogurt and dinner some form of soup... today I made homemade chicken noodle and I wanted to find out if it was considered mushy enough????? I called in to the doctor, but I thought I might get a pretty quick response here. Lastly does anyone know if SlimFast Ultra would be considered a protein shake???? Lots of questions as you can see.... Please help:confused:

Hello, we are almost..(not really neighbors). I live in Yorba Linda. I was banded on February 3rd by Dr. Huacuz. So I was wondering, if you have been happy with your decision so far. Any complications, discomfort??? Have you had a fill? Are you losing? Did you lose prior to getting a fill??? As you can see I have lots and lots of questions. I am still in the liquid stage of the diet, which has been REALLY hard!!! My husband took my stitches out for me last night, so I am still a little sore, but overall eveything is going fairly well. Are you returning to Dr. Kuri for your fills?? There is a doctor in the Chapman Medical Center in Orange that will do your fills, it is $350 for the initial visit and $125 per fill. Anyway, hope you are well on your way to the new you!! Keep in touch. Michele from Yorba Linda

You are so right!!! That is excellent advice! Thank you for taking the time to share your insight with me. I believe I read somewhere that you had your band removed. I am sorry and I hope that you are continuing on your journey to good health despite your set back! Best Wishes.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am just saying that I have been without "chewing" food since February 2nd and I would have thought after having Three Squares and many, many, many snacks every day for the last 38 years.... the difference in intake would have just caused the weight to fall off!!!! I have also read many posts where people say that they are down almost 15 pounds after surgery... this has not been the case for me. So when I say I am discouraged, I guess it would be better to say that I am REALLY READY to start on my weight loss journey!!!!! I was banded on 2/3 so I am two weeks away from my first fill... and at this point I think I am ready for it. The liquid stage is growing boring!

Okay, I hate to be a kill joy here... but I am beyond frustrated! I have only lost 4 pounds and I have not had a single bite of real food since Feb 1st... What's up with that? Am I the only bandster that feels discouraged at this stage of the game... when does all of the food restriction and weight loss begin????? I am really anxious to see the results of my LIFE CHANGING Decision!!!!

Hello. I was just wondering if anyone knows of a fill doctor in the Southern California Area, that might be willing to take on a lapband patient who was banded in Mexico. I have spoken with someone from Dr. Oliak's office in Orange who said they would be willing to see me, but I wanted to explore all of my options. Also has anyone used Dr. Oliak???? I have been banded for two weeks and definately think I will be ready for a fill at four weeks! Thanks

Hello neighbors. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a fill doctor in the Orange County area. I have already spoken with Dr. Oliak who would be willing to do my fills, however, I want to explore all of my options. I was banded in Mexico and I really don't wan't to go back across the border for maintenance. I would even consider fill Dr.'s in Riverside or LA County. I am anxious to get my first fill, in that I have only lost 4 pounds after the liquid stage!!!! I am on week three, but I am trying to plan ahead. Anyway, hope you can help... and if anyone has had experience with Dr. Oliak I would be curious to see if you were happy. Thanks!

Can anyone answer a few questions for me. I was banded on Feb.3rd and I feel pretty good so far, but I don't have any restriction at all when I drink liquids. I thought most people felt restricted just after surgery. Also, my doctor recommended only clear liquids for 2 weeks, but I am feeling the need for some protein, due to my lack of energy... I have e-mailed him as well and I am waiting to hear back from him. I am also curious as to whether everyone can actually feel the band or the port inside them? I feel it there....hmm... anyway, please respond, it's hard not knowing what I should and shouldn't be feeling.

60#s with no fills!!! That's great. I had my surgery on Feb 3rd with Dr. Huacuz. I really liked him as well as his staff. I am in the liquid diet stage and I am completely depressed because not only have I not eaten since 1 week ago, but I have no energy and I have lost NO WEIGHT!!!!! What's up with that?????? It hardly seems fair. I am concerned that something is wrong, because most people have reported that it has been really difficult for them to swallow even liquids right after their surgery, and I feel absolutely fine. I feel like I could probably eat just as I could before the surgery. What do you think, should I be concerned? AS for the weight, I'll just have to wait and see. You are definately an inspiration, keep up the great work and stay active!

Hi everyone! I'm from Yorba Linda, California... I had my band put on last Friday, and I too am having a tough time with the clear liquid diet!!!! I also have some pain where the port is. Is this normal????? And most importantly WHO AND WHERE IS Dr. BILLY?????? I keep hearing about him. I was banded in Tijuana due to my low BMI, but I am contemplating trying to find a local doctor for my fills. Any suggestions? If it doesn't work out, I'll just drive back across the border for my fills and oggle Dr. Huacuz again.... That man is gorgeous!!!!!! AND I'M HAPPILY MARRIED!!! The girl who had her surgery after mine came out of her anesthesia swearing that she had just been operated on by the "Chip and Dale" guys!!! It was pretty hilarious.:couch2: