Constance

Um, I lied to about 12 people and I don't regret it for a second. It is none of anyone's business but yours! You can never "un-tell" people. I personally did not want to be under the microscope about what I was having for lunch, how much I'd lost or gained, etc. Just read the threads here - there are countless bandsters who say they regret telling people. The very few people in my life who DO know even get on my nerves examining my every move. Listen, do what you need to do. You are not telling a lie if you say you need some time off for a minor surgery. You can even say "it's embarassing, so I'd rather not go into details". Or, like someone else said, just take one or 2 days off. Don't feel guilty! You deserve privacy!

I think you should send a seriously threatening letter. What nerve! You probably don't have legal recourse. But what you DO have is the internet! Please post your experience everywhere you can, on every board you can! It is the best way to get justice. Other prospective bandsters will see your plight and he will lose business. The internet is a powerful thing! I'm so sorry for what you've been through. This is a great place for support. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sure with all the knowledge and resources here you will find a doctor who can help you.

Everyone is different. But it is pretty common to feel less and less retsriction after surgery. You might have some initially post-op and it could last a day or a year. I think most people need a fill after the first 6 weeks. The period between surgery and the first fill is often referred to as "Bandster Hell" because even though youve had surgery you find you have no restriction. Just don't overdo it. But if you are following the rules, you're fine.

Rlittman: I know it sucks when people say this because it seems like surely what you doing will work. But maybe youa ren't getting enough calories to lose weight. Your resting metabolic rate is probably at least 1000 calories. Any less than your RMR and you can really slow the metabolism. Just a thought. I know it sucks not to lose!

Do a search on Huacuz using the search bar at the top. You should find some info. I personally used Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I researched a TON. I wanted the best surgeon I could get for the best price. He was definitely in the top of all the Mexcian surgeons I researched. Great feedback, great price, great reputation. Definitely look into the Mexican Bandsters group in Yahoo Groups. You can search the archives and find things several years old...things some docs might hope you DON'T find! The internet is a great tool. Gather as much info and you can. And don't be afraid to ask for patient referrals from the office. They shoudl be ahppy to provide with you names and contact info. Good luck!

Banded on a Thursday, F, S, Su , Mo off. Then back to work Tuesday. Basically a long weekend. I was a little tired and sore that first week back but not too bad. I pretty much just sit all day. It helps to recline your chair a tad, too. It takes the pressure off of the port area. Just don't plan anything physical that first week. You can do it but you get tired fast -- esp. when you're only on liquids.

Cool! I hope everything goes well. That's great you;ll get a new band for so cheap, too! And that is great you get to keep your port -- what a drag if they had to dig one out and put in another. no thanks.

Alexandra, and everyone, thanks for the clarification. I see the risk of losing touch with the proper portions and body signals. I will try and be very attentive to that as time passes. Chelley, I'm hoping everything works out with this doctor you found. I've followed your journey on LBforum and I know it has been a really difficult journey for you. Hopefully you can get some answers!

Geez I know! Now I'm worried about the pouch dilation too. And I've only been banded 1 month. How DO you know? How can you prevent it? I don't overeat, but from one bandster says it sounds like you could be overeating and not even know it. Seriously?

Pebbles, here is a big ol' hug! Ok, wait, maybe sort of gentle hug since you're in pain. Girl I feel for you! That whole scenario sounds miserable and you have every right to complain. Try not to be so hard on yourself though. You've gone through a major surgery -- 2 actually -- and it ain't easy! I say (and this may be an unpopular opinion) have that ice cream, but skip the smokes. The cigarettes can actually set you back in healing inhibiting the growth of new cells yada yada...but the ice cream? Have it! A scoop won't kill you. Even 2 scoops every day for a month wouldn't be that bad. Do whatever you can that helps you soothe yourself. Hang in there. Can you watch some DVDs, or are you into Sudoku? Crosswords? Can you ask your mom to buy you a bunch of gossip rag magazines? That stuff helps me when I'm confined to airplanes and whatnot. Can you go to YouTube.com? There are tons of funny videos. I especially love the news bloopers. I totally laugh out loud at them even though I've seen some of them 10 times. Keep your spirits up...the rough part will pass! edited to add: sorry to bring up the smoking. I used to smoke and I KNOW how hard it was to really actually never ever smoke.

Agreed. Seajoan, you summed it up perfectly.

Good question. I think you've done a great job so far with the explanation. You might add that they give you medicine that makes you sleepy and you'll be very sleepy when you get home. ? Maybe you could make a comparison to kids' stomachs. That they're small and can't hold as much. And that you'll have a stomach like a kid and you won't eat so much. That could help him understand the small portions and the little bites. I think it is great that you have shared it with him!

Telly that is so cool you are doing it! And thanks for sharing your pics. You really worked you a$$ off and deserve to rock it to the fiullest. Please give us every detail of the surgery when you're done, ok?

Aw candy! No need to have guilt. It can be really hard to eat small amounts when you have zero restriction. I'm sure your pouch is fine. It takes long term overeating -- not just a few weeks -- to do serious stretching. You will be fine. Think of all the hundreds of bandsters here who've said the SAME thing about eating too much before having restriction. I think the only thing you should focus on is moving forward. If the fill tomorrow doesn't give you the right restriction then try to keep your intake down. Or try eating less but more often. Don't stress - we're here for each other!

badmadmama, I found the list from the first august bandsters thread. But when I would try to paste it, all the formatting went away and it was just one paragraph -- impossible to read.

I thought the same thing...hunger actually sort of HURTS now! I was really freaked out when I started on mushies. I was hungry all the time. But now that I've moved on to solids I feel full much sooner.

Also this from the Mayo Clinic: Sudden, steady and moderate to intense pain in your upper middle or upper right abdomen. This may signal a gallbladder attack. The pain may occur one to two hours after eating but may also occur at other times — even at night. It can last from 15 to 30 minutes to several hours. Gallbladder pain starts in your upper middle or upper right abdomen and, on occasion, may shift to your back or right shoulder blade. After the pain subsides, you might have a mild aching or soreness in your upper abdomen that can last for up to a day or so. Gallbladder attacks tend to occur infrequently — weeks, months or even years apart

Ok, here is some stuff I just found on gall bladder attacks: Sporadic pains in the middle of the upper abdomen, or just below the ribs on the right side. The pain may spread to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades. The pain can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting and sometimes excessive wind. The attack can last from a few minutes to two to three hours before getting better. The frequency and severity of attacks is very variable. Attacks can be triggered by eating fatty foods such as chocolate, cheese or pastry. It can be difficult to distinguish the pain from other diseases, such as: gastric ulcer, back problems, heart pains, pneumonia and kidney stones.

ahh, Libra I totally relate. I had a good weekend. Still not sure about a fill. It seems as long as I do dense chewable food, I fill up pretty quick. I took a hike yesterday and felt so embarrassed by being out of shape. That will change!

WHen you say you side, whereabouts exactly? Ribs, waist, lower? Gall bladder attacks are usually right between the shoulder blades. I know b/c I thought I was having gall bladder issues but my doctor said it was muscle strain from pulling weeds every day -- but that it WAS in the same place one would feel the gall bladder. Anyway, I felt like an idiot. Does it seem to change if you have eaten? Is it near your port?

I'm one of the non-burpers. Oh how I wish I could burp! I did the other night and it felt SO good. Pretty much whatever I swallow, air/food/water, it doesn't go anywhere. Which I guess is good - no pbs yet. Do you guys think there is a correlation? Having too much burping and PBing? And vice xersa? Like maybe if you have an especially spasming esophagus or something? Don't you love my succinct medical vocab?

From what I learned in my research (and disclaimer, that is MY research, others may disagree) Dr. Rumbaut was the best in Mx - if not in the top 5 in North America. However, his price was one of the highest for Mx. But he has amazing feedback and a virtually flawless record. There was some bad feedback I ran across on De La Garza. I'm sorry - this is terrible - but I don't remember exactly from where or what it was. I just know that I started with a list of 6 Mexican surgeons and boiled it down to Sanchez, Rumbaut and Ortiz. For me, I went with Ortiz b/c it was a direct flight & fairly priced. But research and make the best decision for you. Many people are very happy with de la Garza.

I find if I really load up on the water before I start eating then I feel less thirsty during the meal. I have to remind myself to drink a bunch before I eat. But overall, I think I'm not getting as much water as I used to with the new rule. I used to drink two or more large glasses of water with everything I ate. If something is especially spicy, I take a little tiny sip. Like a straw full. What is that, 1/2 a teaspoon? I doubt that will wash out the contents of my stomach.

Wait, so kutia got 5 ccs and GE Mom got .5 cc ? That's a huge difference for a first fill.

Faybie, I'm glad I'm not alone. I just had dinner and I'm not full. OK, well a little, I guess. Yet, at lunch I was full from a cup of soup. SO ... I don't know about a fill yet. My restriction is there sometimes and then poof, it goes away. I know everybody posts about this stuff. It's funny how you read and read and read and then you're like "hey, how about that. It is happening to ME" and then you want to write about it! Even though we've all read it before, somehow once it happens for me, I want to share!