kimberlyann2009

I too was self pay, went to Mexico to have it done, and being from Ohio, going back to Mexico for fills is out of the question! The fill center USA is already a two hour drive (one way) for me. The first visit was like $350.00-that gets you "joined". You get a fill, a consult, a nice book and now your a member. Now you can go to ANY fill center USA in the country and get a fill for $165.00. I didn't think that was too bad. They weigh you, and talk to you, and tell you to come back when you need to. They have a referral program, so if you do want to join, maybe I could "refer" you and we both could save a little off our fills. Why did your doc's abandon you? Were you not losing like they thought you should?? Or what? That sounds like bull*** to me! Even the Mexican facility told me to come back for free fills for a year...its just not practical....obviously! The fill centers are contracted established facilities. The one I go to is a Plastic Surgery Clinic that has contracted with "fill centers USA" to do fills for them, for people like us. Who have moved, or have gone out of the country, or their docs abandon them Fill centers trains them to do the fills. They are nice wonderful and caring, just not like "real" aftercare. No judgment, just doing the fills--ya know? Its nice in a way because I don't have to answer to anyone,,,but bad in a way,,,cuz I don't have to answer to anyone LOL Keep in touch! Wishing you success and health! Love to all K~

I have gained and lost the same 4 pounds for over a month. I think age and BMI has alot to do with it. The eating out of boredom needs to stop as well. If I stay real busy, I don't eat. Maybe I should paint the house. lol i have recently joined a rec center and have been walking and swimming for excersize. Hope that helps out. I have only had two fills, and very little restriction. Some days more than others. ?? I go to Fill centers USA for my fills, so I have very little after care. Its up to me to make the appointment and go get the fills. I think I should have another fill. Maybe that will help. It seems I have less restriction AFTER the second fill ? Keep up the fight! K~

There are days when I am not sure about the band. I too feel like I am dieting, and the weight has just not been coming off like I had hoped. I read here more than I post too, and the support is wonderful, but I too compare myself to all of you and then feel as if this is not working for me. I have had two fills and feel like I have very little restriction. I get hungry alot and can eat quite a bit, have very little issues with getting "stuck". Since my second fill, I feel even less restriction. The 22 or so pounds I have lost were almost all pre and post op. I lose a few and than gain a few... Maybe I need another fill? Good luck to all of you, it sounds like everyone is doing GREAT! Love to all K~

hmarko, Could you be PG? :sifone: K~

Hi all.. I have been MIA awhile, but have been keeping upwith all of you. I have only lost about 22 pounds since my surgery, most of which, was pre-op and post-op. I feel so discouraged. I have had two fills so far, and after the second fill, I have no restriction. I can eat pretty much anything! I have not had anything "stuck" or had any trouble with any food since the second fill which supooosedly put me at 3.2CC in my 4CC badn. It feels like less than before...Is that possible??? She did draw out the original fill amount and then "re-filled"?? I dunno. Maybe it has slipped?? or stretched??? I thought the weight would come off and its not. If I could diet and excercize on my own, I would not have gotten the band in the first place. Forgive my rant. Any good advice? Thanks all- K~

Melissa, Maybe you have a 10CM 4cc band..like mine. It sounds like it.

Wow--I agree with that! 4 pounds on a 3 week cruise isn't bad at all. I would be proud! I gained 12 pounds (pre-band) on my 1 week all inclusive resort honeymoon! LOL I think your doing GREAT! K~

I am not feeling much restriction with 2cc in my 4cc band. Very little actually. How are the 2cc's treating you now? I think I will wait through the Holidays before going back for more fill. But the scales aren't moving, and I am hungry alot.. Take care- K~

It kinda scares me a bit to see I am at half capacity and not feeling it. Could it have slipped??? or my pouch stretched??? Or are we all just that different? I am 20 pounds down total, but most was lost in the first 2-3 weeks. Kinda now just gaining and loosing the same 2 pounds--up and down--of course I weigh myself everyday and I know thats probably not good, but I have too...lol I have noticied that maybe I am not as hungry since my fill yesterday. So maybe its working. I hope so. When she had me swallow water till I could feel the restriction, I felt nothing--at all. No slowing down nothing. Maybe time will tell. K~

I too have a 4cc band. It is 10CM in Diameter, but only holds 4cc of saline for fills. I got my first fill yesterday of 2cc and so far am not feeling any restriction, of course I am still on liquids. I had thought my band held 10cc of saline, but not so. Where did you get your lap band? I had mine done in Mexico. So far I am pleased with mine, not loosing alot of weight yet. But feeling good. K~

I had my first fill yesterday, after an hour of poking and prodding, she finally got the needle in. There is some confusion about the fill quantity of the band. I have a 10CM band and was told it holds 10cc liquid, but yesterday they told me it only holds 4cc????? Anyone know anything about this? They put in 2cc yesterday and I feel nothing...hmmmm K~

Hi all-Just got my date for my first fill. Its next Tuesday (11-3) in Troy Michigan -Fill Centers USA. I have not lost any weight since about a week after my surgery, and I am hungry about every 3 hours, so hopefully this fill will help! I am excited and nervous. Thanks for all your input on yours and I will let you all know how mine goes. Love to all- K~

I had my surgery in MX on 9-17-09. I had a very nice experience. If you would like to know more, I would be happy to share my experience with you. Kimberly

WOW--Got your fill already. Let me know how its feeling for you. I will be getting my first one this coming week (hopefully). I know you can meet your goal.:closedeyes: Take care. K~

Amanda--wow you are doing GREAT 43#'s down! My weight loss is kinda bouncing up and down a few pounds lost than gained. Looking forward to my first fill to see if that helps. Keep up the good work! K~

Hi Clevelanders- I am newly banded Sept 17--and was hoping to get in touch with bandsters from my area. Also, was wondering if any of you know of any Doctors in the area that will do follow up care/fills??? Hope to hear from someone :cursing: K~

Well one thing I know for sure is--you can't beat the price of having it done in MX. I have great insurance that I pay a bundle for ( a 90-10 plan), but they won't TOUCH anything to do with weight loss. The cost of the surgery and two nights with meals there was $5000.00, plus the airfare for my husband and I, about another $500.00. I think the quality of care was excellent-maybe even better than the states- efficient- and quick. I had a nurse that checked on me every half hour throughout the night, the first night after surgery. My husband slept in the same room with me in the next bed. I had blood work and an EKG before my surgery. It all seemed very simplified. One nurse was pulling on my compression hose as another nurse was putting in my IV. I WALKED to the operating room, and WALKED back--that was a little odd.-but all in all--it was an experience that I would have to say was better than surgery in the US. No long drawn out paperwork, waiting...bull... I landed in San Diego at 12:30pm and was in surgery across the border, at 3:30...WOW. Out of recovery around 5pm. The clinic was clean, and the care was genuin. The issue now is--do I have the fortitude to do this without alot of after care. Do we really need all the follow-up, and the special monitering--and the constant doctoring??? I know if something serious happens, I can go to the ER. I do have a phone number of the doctor and clinic where I had my surgery as well as a patient advocate who is available to answer any questions. My band is Allergan FDA approved, I received the S/N and card and all that. I was sent home with pain meds and anti-biotics, and antiseptic spray to keep the incisions clean. I had to take out the stitches myself-(Thank goodness my daughter is a RN) I will keep you informed on the rest of my journey--anyone with questions--feel free to contact me, I will be happy to talk to you. Love to all K~

I have had laproscopic surgery before and know full well about gas pain. (IT was horrible) After my lap band I did not have ANY gas pains, and thought I was VERY fortunate! But now--4 weeks post op, I am getting these chest pains. It now has moved to my upper right side, and is worse at night. It helps to lie still. I just sure hope this goes away! Thanks for all of your concern and advice!!! Love to all K~

((II asked about the hernia because I think it is common and that tends to hurt more post op (I think but I am not sure i didn't have one - just from what I read here). Normally you have more restriction in the morning less at night. So what happens if you do your surgery in mexico and need support do the fill docs in the US support that? How many incisions do you have? It could just be that they may not have gotten rid of the air they blew into you which may take your diaphragm longer to heal... do you have the left shoulder pain still?)) Hmarko~~ I am not sure how much "support" the fill center will offer. I have not gone there yet, it is a 4 hour drive for me. I talked to my Family Practice doctor, and she does not offer lap band support, but will moniter my general health--etc. (She thought it was a good idea that I have the surgery). I never had alot of gas/shoulder pain after the surgery--I was pleasantly surprised by that--I have 5 incisions that are very small and healing nicely! Just this pressure thing in my chest, it seems worse at night, when I lay on my left side, or move wrong. This--"no follow-up" support, post op is kinda strange--you all on here are my post op support!! :scared2: Thanks for being here! Love to all! K~

I was banded on the 17th, and am still having pain in my chest, like a pressure. It is worse on the left side. What is "referred" pain?? Does it go away? Will a fill make it worse. I haven't had a fill yet. And the pain doesn't seem to matter if I have eaten or not. K~

Yes I eat. I am eating mainly soft foods in small amounts about 5 times a day. This tighness feels worse at night. If I do have a hernia, no one ever told me! I have not had any problems with food getting stuck, or coming back up or anything, but I stop eating after just a small amount because I am afraid it will hurt. But then I am hungry again in a few hours. Do you think it is the band I am feeling??? Almost feels like over taxed muscles (but I have not been excersizing yet). I just hope this goes away. K~

PS-Where is that "first fill" thread. Have we all moved over there?????

I have not scheduled my fill yet. I had my surgery in Mexico and and kinda "on my own". I will go to Fill Centers USA for the fill, when I decide too. I was thinking of having it in a week or so, but the chest tightness has me a bit concerned, I really don't think it is "restriction" I am feeling, because I can eat quite a bit..lol. But on the other hand, a fill may get the weight loss going again. So I just don't know! I seem to loose and gain the same 2 pounds for over a week and a half now...even though I am eating less. K~

Hey all! I have not had my first fill yet, and am not loosing anything. My chest contantly feels tight, like I can not take a deep breath. It doesn't matter if I am hungry or full. I am afraid a fill will make this feel worse! Anyone else feel this? I am 4 weeks post op today. This feeling has been there since the surgery, and I thought it would get better by now, but it isn't. Any ideas or suggestions??

Thanks for the tips. Lets see if my "Ticker" works! K~