princessaktmc

I'm looking into getting a revision and no longer have insurance that will cover it. Has anyone gone through Dr.Elias Ortiz or Dr. Almanza in Tijuana for their revision? What was your experience?

Hello. I got my band in 2009 also. It worked Great for awhile. I had 2 kids with the band . I had to get my port replaced about 3-4 years ago and then had problems again with the port 18 months -2 years ago but couldn't afford to get it fixed. So I've been unfilled this past couple of years. I started having left upper quadrant pain and went to the doc and my tubing had completely come detached from the port and is free flowing in there pushing on things causing pain. So although I don't want to spend the money on it right now as we recently bought a house, I can't live in pain either. I'm set to have it fixed May 18th. I'll be starting all over again, in a sense. I'll try to keep you updated and will wait to hear your updates.

Have a great weekend!

Thank you phat2finn for replying. I went to the doc and had an x-ray done and found out my tubing came completely undone from the port and is just flopping around free pushing on stuff causing the pain. I still dont want to fork the money out right since we bought a house recently but I can't live in pain either. So they have me scheduled on May 18th to get it repaired and thus will have a working band again. I'm going to go slow with it this time and not be aggressive with fills like I was before. Like you I want to be able to eat at least a little. I don't miss eating less than a mouse every meal. Since my band hasn't been functioning I have changed alot of eating habits to more natural things and cut out dairy for the most part. I have felt great up until this pain.

Anyways don't want to talk your ear off but wanted to say thanks and give an update.

Have a Great weekend!

Hello. I got my lap band in 2009. Initially it was great. I lost 140lbs at my lowest weight. I've had 2 kids with the lap band. A few years back I had to get my port replaced and again about 18 months ago I found out my port needs to be replaced again. Not having the money to replace it this time I've been without restriction besides what the band itself gives you. I gained ALOT of weight back and have finally plateaued and been at my current weight for the past 6 months. I now have good insurance and am trying with either getting it repaired or getting it removed.

My question is do any of you ever have random pain on your side where the port is or random pains shoot across your stomach under your rib area? Also, I've been getting painful gas more often and other random weird things/feelings. I'm a healthy person and not on any meds and don't need to be on any meds. Do you have any random unexplained things too?

Any input or thoughts would be great.

I understand what you are saying and for me the issue with weight gain ,which i am NOT in any way obsessing over, is more of a mental factor i guess. When i started my lap band journey i was 320lbs and heavy like this my whole life and in less than a year i have dropped 140lbs!!! That's a huge accomplishment to me!! So the thought of putting on 15+lbs, even though its a Excellent reason, is really scary especially after my whole life of trying I'm down to a small and healthy size. Think about it: if you had just worked your butt off losing 140lbs and you are feeling AWESOME how would you feel if your doctor said ok now i want a 20lbs weight GAIN...It would be a little frustrating mentally wouldn't it?... Not sure if you understand what i mean but mentally its scary....I know its for a good reason and i want the baby and myself to be healthy more than anything!! This reason being said I'm not obsessing over the weight gain and i cant lie i had my frustrations at first but after letting it all sink in I'm ok with it all now...

I too had EXTREMELY bad morning sickness with this pregnancy. My doctor has had me on several different sickness meds and we've tried alternating them and now i'm taking Zofran twice a day and i still throw up atleast once a day. I am now 14 weeks and it is startin to ease up a lil thank goodness. I just had a little taken out of my band several days ago and it was more because my stomach was a little irritated from throwing up so much i think i was a little too tight from all the irritation. Other than that i had no problems. DEFINITELY talk with your doctor/surgeon first to see if he has any concerns.

Hope all goes good for you!!

I did not like nectar at all...I use Syntha-6 vanilla ice cream flavor cuz it is so versatile...I use ice Water and the Protein sometimes i add Peanut Butter or coffee with liquid stevia or my bro drinks it with ice, water, a lil vanilla extract and stevia kinda like a vanilla milk shake...

I was told to not heat up Protein too much or it will lose its effectiveness...lukewarm or a lil warmer but not to hot...it would be horrible to think your getting your protein but your really not

The shots are not quite the same consistency that regular Protein is so it doesn't fill you up like regular protein does. Yea it would be a good way to get your needed protein in on the go but i would rather drink the ready to drink premier chocolate drinks from costco or something like that if your in a hurry or need one to go. Most of those shooters or "clear" Protein Drinks are soooo nasty!! They leave a weird kind of coating and flavor in your mouth after wards....I have been told also that you really only want about 30grams of protein in at a time or it really doesn't do much for your body unless ya a body builder or something lol I usually have about 30grm Protein Shake throughout the day never within 3-4 hours of each other...Hope it helps

I have been really frustrated with Protein Drinks lately lol they are getting old and FAST....So i have been trying to find other drinks and stuff or even different ways to use the protein..I came across this website called Nashua Nutrition and they have all kinds of stuff..They are a website actually tailored for weight loss and bariatric eating/surgery...I haven't ordered off there yet but i think i am going to try some things...Almost everything they have has atleast 15grams of Protein per serving and very lil sugar....including smoothies, teas, cocoas, coffees, Snacks, Breakfast items and so on...Anyways the website is:

Nashua Nutrition

I also found today at my local health food store flavored Stevia drops..I got an apricot one to put in my smoothies and i got regular stevia as well just for everything else..lol..Well i just wanted to share what i found...:Banane20:

If anyone has any other creative ways to get protein in or other protein items that are good please let me know oh yea my doc doesn't want me to have anything with milk in it...Makes it a lil harder :Banane20::huggie:

Have a Blessed Night!

Hey Everyone

I really like the Syntha-6 chocolate Peanut Butter Protein and was wondering if anyone has tried any other flavors from them? I found a good deal for several flavors on Ebay (New of course) and am curious of how the rest taste...The flavors i am interested in are: Caramel Latte, banana, Mochachino, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Mint and the strawberry Milkshake...

I also after posting this stumbled onto another Protein Drink they have called BSN Lean Dessert...Anyone tried it? It sounds AWESOME!!! Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Coconut candy Bar,Banana Nut bread, Chocolate fudge pudding, Banana Cream Pudding and Whipped Vanilla...Yummy...

I have been slacking when it comes to drinking my protein lately and i think it is i am getting bored of the same stuff..So i wanted to order several different kinds so i won't become bored and i can continue to drink my protein..

Thanks for any help...

For some reason the foods that i cannot have or that my band doesn't tolerate well have not been an issue....I used to drink milk like crazy...several big glasses a day and my doc doesn't want me to drink it right now because of the extra sugars so i haven't drank it until the other night i wanted a drink of milk so i got one and i didn't like it....it was REALLY weird..I mean i used to drink close to a gallon a day....Its seems as though my tastes have changed...I used to hate Sauerkraut before surgery but now i love it...:scared2: Don't worry things will happen for the better in due time...

I used to be concerned about plastic lawn chairs the most..When you go to BBQ's or things where they are the extra seating...I would rather stand because i am never sure whether they are big enough or if they are sturdy enough...But i am on my way to kickin those thoughts out of my life...

Don't worry you will reach your sweet spot...I have 7.50cc's in a 10cc band and am feeling the restriction but i have had several fills and my doctor is pretty aggressive..You will get there it just takes time and patience but when you are there you will know for sure:thumbup: Just remember everyone is different so it may take a lil more fill for you to be restricted compared to someone else...Just hang in there...Don't be scared about your band already being half filled...there are a lot of people who it takes almost the whole band restriction to feel it but it eventually happens for them...Like i said everyone is different..

I got a fill last Tuesday and i can definitely feel i'm too tight and have been having heartburn like crazy even waking up in the night or early morning with a bad acidic type flavor in my mouth and medicine, even the prescription stuff, isn't taking it away.. so my doc said to come in Monday and get a lil taken out...I hate to get any taken out cuz i am stubborn but i know its not good to stay like this...I have lost 7lbs since Tuesday and even though i like losing weight i don't want to lose it like this...

At my first 6 weeks checkup after surgery i actually gained 6 lbs lol I was frustrated but after i started to get fills the weight started to come off...5lbs a week fa a couple weeks then 3 lbs then 1lb...I just went for another fill and am hoping the weight will start to drop off again...Some of my weight loss is from the pre op diet..I lost 19lbs during that 10 days...So don't feel bad...Things will get better!!!! Just have patience my dear....I know its hard because i want it to happen now but it took awhile to gain it so i guess it will take awhile to lose it...

When i was on my period last month it felt tighter to me...I thought maybe a coincidence but i don't know..lol I have only had my band for almost 3 months but to me it did seem tighter around that time of the month and i am 100% healthy...They say that hormones don't have anything to do with our bands getting tighter but why does it do it then? They also can't explain why our bands are tighter in the morning either so go figure..lol Hang in there things will get better...

Always keep ya head LOOKING UP^^^^

Idea/Question...:cursing:

You said they taste kind of like unset jello...Well what do you think they would be like if you actually put them in Jello and let it set? Kinda like Protein jello...Do you think it would taste ok still? It sounds like a great idea to me but Ive never tried it either lol

My doc has me lay down and put the needle in the port and puts a lil saline stuff in then i sit up with the needle in my port and he has me drink Water to see if it goes down ok then he puts more in and i drink water again..This goes on til i start to have a hard time or kinda do the gurgling thing lol

I actually have gallstones and have had them for over 10 years with out a problem. In 1999 is when i had a "flare up" I guess you could say and i went to the hospital and they wanted to take my gall bladder out but after doing some research and prayer i decided to leave it alone and see what happens. So when it came to surgery time the ultrasound showed they were still there and that i had A LOT but like i said i have had NO problems with them. So i told this to my doc and he said that we will leave it alone since i haven't had any problems. My doc does do Gallbladder removal at the same time of surgery because its all basically the same type of surgery (laproscopy).

So Hopefully this helps...Its really all a matter of your opinion and your docs. I feel that if something hasn't bothered me why go through the hassle of messing with it.:smile2:

I go to Dr. Fox in Richland...Not sure if he will do it but worth a try right.....He is an AWESOME doc..Here is the phone number..509-943-0710...If you don't mind me asking why do you want it removed?

Hey everyone!!

I just finished the Valentine's challenge and not only did i meet my 10lb goal i lost 4lbs extra totaling 14lbs YEAAAAA!! So i am gonna join the Easter Challenge... I am gonna lose 19lbs which will put me at 265...I have been dropping about 4-5lbs a week so hopefully it will keep on happening and i will exceed that amount for the challenge..

Here I go!!!

If i want fast refried Beans i too buy the can of fat free refried beans from the store and heat them up with some shredded cheese then i like to cut up avocado and tomatoes into them. MMmmmm they are so good that way and you also get all kinds of nutrients from the extra stuff put in them but if you just want plain refried beans and want them fast just get the cans of refried beans and add some seasonings in them or buy the pre seasoned ones and they taste good like that too. I still think the best way is to buy dry pinto beans and fast boil them which is put them into a pot and boil them for about 15-30 minutes but make sure you STIR them frequently then after that throw them in a crock pot and let em slow cook until nice an tender which is usually quite a few hours or if you have the time all day. You can add seasoning while slow cooking or after you take them out of the crock pot. This way is slower but you could make them like this while you aren't hungry and you will have a good supply made for later.

You most likely did not stretch your pouch...a few weeks after surgery before you get fills is kinda frustrating at times...I too had a lil restriction but for the most part could eat as much as i wanted..I even gained 6lbs between my 1 week checkup and my 6 week checkup which i then got a fill and lost the weight again..lol but i wouldn't worry i think you are probably just going through that awkward stage and after you get a few fills things will begin to get better..Keep your head looking up^^^

I too can't handle bread at times so i usually just stay away from it...I did buy a bag of mini bread all sliced up they were garlic and cheddar flavored...The mini bread is kinda like croutons but not lol They are yummy and mini so they are easy for portion control..I bought a bag of them by the deli Soup at Safeway or you may have a Tom Thumb (same store but different name for different areas)...I was also told that bread with more grains and nuts are a lil easier to get down...if you chew chew chew you may be alright..:scared2: