kilcollins

Nope it is right where the band is I have an appt tomorrow at 9:30

Ever since Last Wed. I have had a very hard time swallowing. I was very tight, and it has loosened some now and I am able to eat some, but when I eat or drink, I get a sharp pain in the band area. I have 1.4 from a 1.8 because it was too tight about a month or so ago. I am just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I did have dilitaion back in July and was unfilled all the way for about a month and 1/2 and then a refill to 1.8. after about a month, too tight, and was unfilled to 1.4. I am trying to stick it out to see if this will go away but it has been almost a week. I am losing weight of course, and I don't want to drive to see my Dr. Does any one have any answers?

I too have not been on here that much. I did have a pouch diditation and all of my saline was removed. For 7 wks I could eat everything I wanted to and I gained 7 pounds back. I then got a fill on the 14th of Sept. and I was doing fine until this weekend when I got super tight and the choking at night etc.. I have placed my self on liquids and I feel much better today. I think I just had been eating too fast due to fact that I have to retrain myself to eat right again. If I can't get back to solids by the end of the week, I will go see my Dr. So lesson learned by me!

Hello fellow October bandsters! It has been a very long time since my last post. I have been very busy setting up my salsa business, and in the mean time I have lost 41 lbs! I started my weight loss journey on Oct. 9th in TJ with Dr. Ortiz. I am now getting fills in Nashville with Dr. Houston. If you all love salsa (FAT FREE AND NO SUGAR) very low soduim. I make pita chips out of pita bread, baked in the oven with pam on them. Our website is www.bulldogsalsa.com we also have BBQ sauce, dry rubs, smoked seasalts, jellies and we roast our own coffee. This is why I haven't been here for a while! Please check us out. Our salsa is fresh, not canned! I am excited to see how well the October Bandsters have been doing! Way to go! I know that my blood work comes back better than it was when I was a kid now! I feel so much better with that weight off. Great Job everyone!

We are members of East TN riders club and on the 14th we had BOSB (begining of the season bash) where we donated some of the products we sell to raffle off. My husband loves to ride the dragon, but I get motion sickness and don't do well. I love going over to deals gap, my best buddy is the manager there. I am sure we will be going over in Aug. Can't wait for the rally!

If any bandsters are planning on coming to the national HOG rally in August in Knoxville, I would love to meet up with you! We live in Maryville which is about 20 minutes away. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz on Oct. 9th 2006 and I have lost 41 lbs. I was 226 at 5'3" and had terrible health problems. I am now so much better and went for a ride yesterday for the first time since my surgery! It was awesome not having to have my husband help me put on my leathers and it was much more comfortable for me in the long run. Please e-mail me and let me know if anyone will be there.

Look at www.fillcentersusa.com and there is a center there that takes any bandsters!

I was banded on October 9th 2006. It has been a month and 1/2 since my surgery and I am having gas pains. I am thinking that this is because it is a one way value and the gas is not able to come up and out. I took gas-ex and it seems to help, but just wondering if anyone else out there has this problem and does it go away? or is this something I will have to live with while I have the band on?

Hello October bandsters! I had my surgery on Oct. 9th with Dr. Ortiz. It has now been about a month. I am down 18 lbs total. I am scheduled for a fill with Dr. Houston in Nashville on the 8th of Dec. I am really lucky to have found him. There are Dr.s out there who take advantage of Mexican bansters. I am a little nervous about afterwards, but also excited to get on with my weight loss. Hope everyone is having good luck with their weightloss!

I want to thank whomever it was who told all of us here in TN about a dr named Houston. I have just scheduled an appt. with them. They are charging an upfront fee, but it isn't like Dr Ray here in Maryville where I live. I am very angry about the fact that they want 1500. yes, 1500. upfront before they will even see you! That is like going to a dentist with a filling that fell out and having the dentist say, well, I didn't fill it so I will need 1500 upfront then another 500 to fix it! Again, thank you to the person who recommended Dr. Houston

I will be going to vote early also. I have to wait until Saturday. In Washington state (where I used to live) you can mail in your ballot and that is how they want you to do it. Here in TN, you can go in early and vote, 8-4:30 and 9-12 on Sat. You bet I will be there! I am SSOOOOOOOOOOO hoping for change. We have a real hot race going here and I am dying to see who wins!

only one person has said to me that I am " coping out" I have had more support and well wishers. I really talk to people about the band, especially if they are unhappy the way they are. I guess I want everyone to know that there is another way besides gastric bypass if they are scared like I am of that surgery. I was just banded on the 9th and everyone is amazed at how I feel and look. I am down 18 lbs, (with pre-op) and holding steady. My body will fight me tooth and nail to hold onto this fat! I know it will be slow going, but I didn't put it on overnight. And yes, people can be cruel and mean, but you have to remember, you did this for you for your own reasons and besides that, WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK! Just get healthy!

good luck to all who will be banded this week! I am one week out now and I feel great! didn't need any pain pills take enough pills as it is. can't wait til week 4! hope everyone has as great a time as I did.

Isn't it funny how we all have different diets to follow afterwards? I am on clear liquids for a week and then I can go to anything thru a straw for week 2 and then in week 3 it's mushies and then finally in week 4 SOLIDS!!! I have been having slim fast and the yogurt smoothies which really help with the so called "head hunger". I have lost 16 lbs since the 2nd, 10 on the pre-op and then 6 this week! I have been feeling awesome! Went shopping day after, and came home, cleaned house, defrosted freezer, decorated for halloween, grocery shopped for hubby and just been trying to stay busy so I don't think about anything but getting skinny! banded Oct. 9th Dr. Ortiz 226/210/140

Well I made it! It was one of the best times I have had in a long time! The surgery went fantastic, the center was more than I could have expected, the shopping was awesome and I jsut can't say enough good things about Dr. Ortiz and his wonderful staff. Mrs. Ortiz chased down Dr. Ortiz for me so I could get my book signed by him! She brought it back later that afternoon for me at the hotel. IF ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY THINKING OF HAVING SURGERY WITH DR. ORTIZ, AND HAS ANY DOUBT, PLEASE ERASE IT NOW! If you want to talk about my experience please PM me and I will be glad to give you all of the details about our trip! I had the time of my life that's for sure! I feel great, made some habenero jelly today. Went shopping for groceries for hubby and me and been cleaning house and doing laundry today. Had surgery on Monday. I want to thank everyone posting here for all of the help and suggestions and ideas that I will now be able to use since I am now officially a BANDSTER!