~MyNewLife~

Hi,

I think its the full moon. This week has been weird for alot of people. As far as eggs, I have never been able to eat eggs, gets stuck everytime, morning or night. Eggs is a NO NO food for me unless they are EXTREMELY runny! I too have had the sore throat thing, almost feels like I want to hack..lol something up! I am able to eat food. I agree talk to your doc and go on liquids. Please keep us informed.

Carrie

Hi,

Well I just wanted to tell you the best advice I got was sip sip sip and walk walk walk.....The gas x strips did not help me at all.......ok, now....

The other side to this is that I am almost 10 months from being banded and I know this is going to sound STRANGE, but when I get hungry my left shoulder will start hurting. I dont have "tummy" hunger any more, my shoulder always lets me know. The cure to this is that I drink something warm and it seems to go away or I will nibble on something. This usually tends to happen between 3 and 6 in the afternoon. If it gets really bad around the 6 oclock dinner time, I will have to eat to get it to stop hurting....

Good luck!

Carrie

Hi!

I was also banded in TJ by Dr. Ortiz/Martinez. I did do my research for a couple of months before deciding to go to TJ and to the OCC. There are several doctors who perform in TJ, and in other Mexico cities, however the OCC was right for me. I did not go on price, could have gotten it cheaper with other docs. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez is the best in my opinion, you might have seen him on Opra or the Doctors, he has been on both. The facility and the treatment are cleaner than most Hopitals that I have been to in the states. You are going to hear alot of bad things about Mexico, but if you have not been there and or had dealings, I dont know how you can go on that. You need to research the doctor of your choice, no different from the states. Most of the US doctors were taught by Mexico Doctors anway, as a matter of fact my fill doctor did her internship in TJ at the OCC with Dr. Ortiz and Martinez. You do need to make sure you have aftercare lined up. There are several Doctors that will not see you or who want to charge you an outrangous price just because you went to Mexico. I feel that doctors should want to help, just because insurance wont pay and you dont have 16000+ for surgery, they punish you for getting it done at a rate that you cant afford. The OCC staff picked me and the family who went with me up at the airport, was there waiting on me, took me to the facility, to the hotel the next day and back to the airport. I never had to travel by taxi, unless I wanted to do shopping etc...I stayed at the Lucerna and it was AMAZING, I had everything but a red carpet layed out for me there. If I had to do it again, I would do it in a heart beat! As far as being treated different ohhh yeah way different than the states. One more thing to add, Im not sure about anyone else just speaking from my experience, but in the states I was going to be banded and sent home the same day. In Mexico you stay overnight for observation,whether you are ok or you have or not. I dont do anthesia well and I did get sick from it. They check on me the entire night and the next morning took me and checked my band before I left to make sure everything was being that I was sick from the anthesia. Im not saying that would not have been the case here. I just wish some people would do there research before speaking. I know ALOT of people that have been banded here and are just as happy as I am with my results! Good luck to you, sorry this was so long!

Carrie

I have not been on this sight in a long time. I just wanted to stop in and see how everyone is doing. I have done good with my weight loss, but honestly I thought It was going to be alot easier than what it has been. It has been a life changing journey, but one that I would do over again in a heart beat!

Take Care,

Carrie

I think you might have misread the OP's post. You might want to go back and read it. The OP isn't whining about loosing weight too slow lolz!!!

hmmmm....I think I did read it correctly. OP stated that they have ONLY lost 15 pounds in two weeks.....THAT IS AWESOME to loose 15 pounds in two weeks. That is what I was stating to OP......Not to get discourage.

You will bounce between 2 and 3 pounds, lol this is just the beging. It takes 3500 caloires to gain or loose one pound. Soups are LOADED with sodium and salt will make you swell and retain Water. good luck!

Carrie

I was banded on April 10th, down 26 pounds. I was told today by me hairdresser that my hair is falling out at an alarming rate. She suggested I see my doctor about my thyroid, but I know it is the lapband. ANyone dealt with this? How did you stop it? Any suggestions on Vitamins? I would appreicate any and all input.

This was the issue I feared the most with the procedure.

Thanks!

It is due to lack of Protein. I eat/drink around 90 grams of Protein a day with 64 oz of Water. This not only helps with your Hair loss but helps with hunger. Protein helps you from being hungry. Good luck and I hope this helps!

Carrie

For those of you that have been banded:

Did you think that the weight would just fall off the minute the band was in place? Be honest now. Cuz I read so many posts on the list that go something like: I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and have only lost 15 pounds. What am I doing wrong?

I am not banded yet, so maybe I will feel the same way, but I think that I understand that this is not going to be the magic pill that will cause me to be the slim, size 6 I know I am inside. Certainly not in the first couple of years. But, I just seem to see a lot of folks that get a little whiney when they haven't lost the 100 lbs they want to lose in the first few months. I am wondering if some of us set our expectations really high and then can't understand why the weight isn't coming off. It isn't bypass surgery and yet, some seem to want the same rapid results with none of the side effects.

I may be asking for a beat down here, but I am curious.

Elgrad

OK You want honesty......You want to know what you are doing wrong because you have only lost 15 lbs in two week! ARE YOU SERIOUS! That is ALOT of weight in two weeks. If you read the "band" rules you are suppose to loose one to two pounds of week. You did not get big over night and you are not going to be a size 6 overnight! I was banded in November and have lost 60lbs total including preop diet. I was one of the one who thought it was going to fall off, but let me tell you I WAS SO VERY WRONG! I have had to bust my ass daily to get this weight off. I exercise almost everyday, doing p90x currently, was walking 3 miles a day and was watching everything that went into my mouth. I did not think i was eating "enough" caloires until I started a food jounel and wow was I suprise. So now on top of all of that I do a food Journal to keep my caloires around 1200 a day. I also strive to get in around 90 grams of protien a day with 64oz of Water a day. I dont want to sound discouraging, but It only gets harder to get the weight off. If you have lost 15lbs that is so WONDERFUL. Also remember the fills are going to help as well. Alot of people think the tighter the better, that is not true. You can be too tight were your body holds on to the food and you will not loose. Also it can cause your band to slip. All I am saying is be patient and get rid of the scales! They are the devil and will keep you totally stressed and obessed out! Stress will keep your body from loosing as well! I hope some of this makes since and has helped! Good luck to you!!!!!! You ARE dong GREAT!

Carrie

I have been going through the same thing and this is what I have done. I decide to stay off the scales except for Mondays and Friday. Mondays to see how "bad" i did over the weekend, to know what I need to work on the up coming week and Fridays to see what I did throughout the week. I have also started keeping a food journel as well. I think you really would be suprised at how many calories you are eating in a day if you truly count everything you drink or put in your mouth. I have also started eating around 90 grams of Protein a day and drinking 60 oz of Water each day. I take two Fiber bill at 9am and 3pm and chromium once a day everyday. I eat everythree hours starting at 7am(Protien Shake) snake (protein Bar) at 10, lunch around 1, snack (bar,cheese,or almonds) at 4 then dinner before 7. I eat the same time everyday. I walk 3 miles at least everyother day. I started this pretty strict a week ago, going on week #2 and I lost 4 pounds last week. I was stressing so much over everything, I decided to relax and do what I was suppose to, choose the right foods and write down everything stay between 1100 and 1200 calories a day and it worked for me. I truly think the protien water and 1200 calories is the key! Good luck and I wish you the best!

Carrie

Wow, I too cant believe I have missed this thread!

You know you are a bandster when NOW you believe that there are LapBand Gods and You NOW pray to them.....

PLLLLLLLLLLLLLeasssssssseee let this go down, from now on I promise I will Chew Chew Chew Chew....lol

Carrie

I like to leave myself notes around the house, especially at my desk and on the refrigerator and other places near where I do work. Any suggestions for some encouragement? I am still lingering in "Insurance Purgatory" and I have been really sick for weeks. I could really use some uplifting. (comedy is always appreciated, also - I have a pretty quirky sense of humor! )

Thanks! You are all awesome! Finding this place has really helped me over the last year of trying for surgery. I am just starting to wear down a bit.:thumbup:

You know, this is not a nice one or inspiration but I saw it on a bumper stick and it is SO funny, It stated:

" I may be fat, but you are ugly and I can Diet"

Well I started the pouch test and then went in for a fill yesterday and found out I had a stretch pouched and inflamed stomach. So I got a complete unfill and am on liquids for two weeks to heal.

What I thought was interesting is that the nurse told me that healing takes two weeks and you need the have the band unfilled to take the pressure off and allow the inflammation to clear up. I thought the 5 day would help me shrink the pouch (I assumed it was enlarged) but it probably wouldn't have been enough.

Also it was interesting to learn that .6ccs of liquid had gone away. I'm not sure if it was because I had someone else do my last fill. The nurse said the band is somewhat porous and

can lose fill over time. I didn't know that.

Britt

Britt,

I am just wondering, why did you think you had a stretched pouch. Can you explain if you felt anything different...

Carrie

I love the Lettuce Wraps at PF Changs, so I made my own version of them. Heres the recipe and the nutrition info that i obtained from the nutrition website. I made the turkey last night and it was fantastic!!! I was not able to eat 2 full wraps, but did eat one and a half.

Enjoy!!!

Rhonda (aka TklMeSkinny)

Lettuce Wraps - Makes 4 servings

½ lb ground chicken, turkey, lean hamburger, or pork

½ Cup finely diced carrots

½ Cup finely diced green peppers

½ Cup finely diced broccoli

½ Cup finely diced mushrooms

1 Tbsp soy sauce (use low sodium)

1 Tbsp Lee & Perrins sauce

1 tsp Montreal chicken seasoning

1 tsp Garlic Herb seasoning

Salt & Pepper to taste

Fry all together in a fry pan, breaking up the meat into as small of a piece as possible while cooking. Suggest that you use low sodium soy sauce.

Nutrition Info:

Ground Turkey:

Calories: 121

Fat: 5

Carbs: 8

Protein: 13

Ground Chicken:

Calories: 116

Fat: 4

Carbs: 8

Protein: 13

Ground Beef (90% lean):

Calories: 164

Fat: 6

Carbs: 8

Protein: 19

Ground Pork:

Calories: 202

Fat: 12

Carbs: 8

Protein: 17

Wow that sounds great! Well an update, I have had my second fill and there are some thing I can not eat now. I miss my eggs in the morning. I cant eat in the mornings, too tight, so I drink my protien shake for Breakfast. I have kinda hit were I am not loosing so much, so I have started this week eating a Lien Cuisine for lunch and dinner. This way I can have calorie control.....ohh and CHICKEN DONT LIKE ME:cursing:....EAT MORE FISH...lol

Good Luck!

Cause I haven't been losing. I am down 30lbs....!! Son't get me wrong I am happy about that. Clothes fit so loose, and I am offically in 16/18 size clothes......

That to me is the best feeling. But since I am not losing I am very embarrassed.

I did call up my doc, and asked to speak to the nurse to explain my situation. I have 6 cc's in, and no restriction. There are some foods that I feel restriction. But it quickly passes. So I know I need a little more. So in explaining this to the nurse she was very happy to rechedule my appt for an appt with the doc and to follow that........a FILL.

I hope this helps me.

I am sure this is what I need!

Keri

Hi and Congrats on you weight loss, you are doing great. I am currrently on my second fill and I am pretty tight. I can eat and as always have to stay away from the no no foods, but I do have great restriction. I can not eat eggs, chicken and other meats. I have to chew chew chew and eat slow. This fill is VERY different from my first fill. I have a 4cc band and have 2.5cc in it. I have started drinking a Protein Shake in the am for Breakfast because I am very tight in the am and cant eat. The restrition is nice, however sometimes it is hard to get in my calories. It has also been very hard to tell when I am full, without getting to the point of the feeling like I am starting to get stuck. This is a learning process and I am sure we will all find out what works best for us! Good Luck on your Journey!

Let me start off by saying how frustrated I am. Today is my one month bandaversary, and so far I have lost 30 lbs. This is great- I know, and I am very excited about it. However, I have been dieting. I am very careful about what I eat, and for the most part, am not starving (much) anymore. I consume 800-1100 cals a day (I change it up to keep the body guessing- thanks Bam) and for the two weeks have been on a rollercoaster. Down 29, up 1, up 2, up 3, down 1, up 1, down 2, same, same, down one, same, same, up, down, you get the picture. I am working my ASS off, and my question is, how am I going to lose weight with my fills if I am eating the same now as I will then? In fact, I am forcing myself to eat more than I am hungry for now just to get in enough calories for day. Someone guide me through this with some "I was the same way" encouragement. Tell me what you did to get past this, and how later will be different:scared2:

Wow, I think I posted this same post..lol

First off let me start off by saying CONGRAT ON 30LBS..That is GREAT!.. Before I had my first fill, I did not loose NOTHING for 3 weeks and I was very frustrated. I thought ok I need a fill. I got my first fill and for the first four days it was great and then I felt like I have never had a fill. I could eat ANYTHING! I was not eating as much as I use to, but anything I put in my mouth I could eat. So two weeks later, I get my second fill. In those two weeks I had lost 3 lbs, which is good. In my mind I thought it was bad and what I was eating was WAY to much. I had to stop and think thqt what I was eating was really not that much compared to what I use to eat. I think we all have it in our minds that we are only suppose to eat two bits and be full. I have GREAT restriction now, but on the flip side of things I have to really work hard to get my 1200 calories a day. I have learned that this is a tool that you have to work with. I now can not eat eggs, chicken, pretty much have problems with anything solid. I have to chew chew chew and eat VERY slow. I get that "stuck" feeling very easy. I think somtime that I would rather have to have the "Self Control" rather that the "stuck" feeling after eating a couple of bits. I have learned that with anything in life, this takes WORK and good choices. Again 30 lbs is GREAT! Keep up the good work.

EXCELLENT POST!! You all have encouraged me to not give up! I am tracking my food on daily plate and have not gone over my allotted calories for a couple of days. They told me that i should lose 3 pounds a week by doing this, so I am giving it a shot. If this works I will decrease my calories even more. I am also taking advice and thinking again about my chewingI did schedule a dr. appt for 2-12 to discuss all of this..

There has been alot of GREAT advise given to you. In my opinion, because EVERYONE is different, you need to listen to your body. If you give it a GOOD try and eat what you are suppose to eat, exercise and you are still not loosing, you need to speak with your Doctor. There may be another reason or something medical going on with you body that is not allowing you to loose. I have a friend that had Gastric Bypass and still is in the 200 lbs range. She struggled for sooo long and got very frustrated because she was not loosing. She found out that she has a very bad Thyroid issue. Dont get frustrated. This is only a tool, not a MAGIC BAND. We did not get fluffy overnight and We sure are not going to get skinny overnight. I am a newbie per say and I have done very well, but I HAVE HAD TO WORK MY BUTT OFF to not eat the no no foods and to exercise:mad:. I paid for this surgery myself, Insurance would not cover. I think alot of people including myself thought that ok I am going to get this band and the weight is going to fall off, not true. You still have to make the good food choices and have SELF CONTROL. You have made the BIGGEST step yet, you have gotten banded, Now you can work with this GREAT tool and get the weight off. Like someone else said, make a list of questions to ask you Doctor and if you dont feel like his solution is going to work, FIND ANOTHER DOCTOR.

This BAND WILL WORK!!!! :thumbup:

This has been a VERY Interesting thread and I hope you keep us posted, we are all cheering for you!

thank you all for replying and being kind! It took me a long time to REMEMBER that I had to chew my food, so for the first while I would forget to chew and things would get stuck. I can't really get chicken down to well. That gets stuck almost always. But now I usually remember that I have to take my time and chew.

I am always in shock to hear someone say they have never pb'd. this is a common occurrance for me and don't understand how some don't ever have it happen? hmm

What do you mean by "eating around the band"? like cheating?

I am just so thrown by the NP saying that I SHOULD feel that stuck feeling. Do you all feel that as your "full" feeling?

Also, how much do you all drink if any with your meals?

Im sorry you are having such a hard time. I have some questions I would like to ask. Are you eating at least 1200 calories a day, are you drinking with your food and are you getting in 60 grams of protien a day. How much food and what foods are you eating. I hope no one judges you, we are all here for the same reason, for support!!

HI, I was banded Dec.23 2008 did great first two weeks.Then the hunger hit called my doctor he decided to fill me at four weeks Jan 21,2009.I had my fill and ate 8oz. of fish that evening.I am still starving what do I do? I have gained 7lb since surgery I am so frustrated.

Hi Mark,

Dont get discouraged. Maybe you need to start a food journel to see what you are getting. I will say before my fill and with my first fill, I could eat anything and chew like I did not even have a band. It is very important that you weigh your food. Im not sure how many calories you are suppose to have, but I have to have 1200 calories a day with 60 grams of protien. Are you eating all of your calories not over but just the right amount. If you are trying chaning up the foods you are eating. Try going from chicken to red meat. Are you getting ALL of your protien. I think protien is the key. I have found that this band is not a magic band and you have to work VERY hard with it. It is like you are on a diet, you have to watch everything that goes it, but that is ok. You will then make better food choices and intern will loose the weight. Also I take Fiber pill EVERY day, one at 10 and one at 3. This helps out SO much with the hunger pains, please try this. I did not think it would be but trust me, your body will start tell you, uhmm hello time for your Fiber pill....lol. I hope this helps, again DONT give up. The hardest part, making this decision to change your life, you have done. The band will help if you work with it!

Good Luck!

Sorry I also was going to ask, I know you are tracking your food, are you getting enough protien. Also are you getting enough calories. They say if you dont get 1200 calories and 1500 if exercising that your body will hold on to the foods you are eating. Try also changing your food up.

WOW 30 pounds is GREAT!!!

I will say that I was banded 11-14 and I too was dieting befor my first fill and after my fist fill I was also dieting. I just got my second fill on friday and I hope this helps. To be honest I have read alot of storys and I think we will be on a diet from now on per say. Dont look at as a diet, look at it as better food choices. I can put anything in my mouth, but I HAVE to stay away from the NO NO foods because I have found out just how easy they go down. chips and dips are EVIL!!!

I would say to you keep up the good work and be proud that you are doing as good as you are doing!

Heather

Wow are states and band date are almost the same! I see you are doing great, just wanted to say keep up the good work!

I was banded 11-14-08 and even with my first fill I could eat think crust pizza, not the best choice of food but I was out of town on business and that is what I had for lunch. I did however have my second fill on friday so I dont know if I would be able to eat it again or not.

Hi Froggi,

Please update...I am happy to report I had my first fill on 01-09-09, got 1.5cc in my 4cc band and my current weight is 228. How are you doing?

Hi I was banded on 11-14-08, my preop diet was 262, My surgery weight was 246 and my current weigt is 228. I had my first fill 01-09-09 and I have 1.5cc in my 4cc band.

Good Luck everyone!

Both of them sound great. I think I might have the chili for lunch tomorrow, I hear Wendy's has great chili!. The other sounds good for dinner. Breakfast is always better at night. Are you guys going by oz per serving or you trying to get s certain amount of carlories in a day or both? I have not lost in two weeks. Some people say you have to have 1200 calories a day to loose. Im not sure, no eating anything high in carbs or sugar, no eating much at all. Do you think this is why I have not lost?