BabyGotBack

We have all been where you are!!! Some peoples doctors prescribe them something for the anxiety. Everything will be just fine!!! I am day 10 post op and doing fantastic!!! I never knew I could live without being a slave to food and overeating. I am free from the bondage and you will be too!!! Just go back and read these posts from the beginning and it should really help!!!

I felt like that, the night before. I was even envisioning my daughters faces, them crying and saying "why, mom was perfect the way she was". I couldn't sleep over it. So, I suggest taking a sleep aid the night before. Of course, everything turned out wonderful!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: And, here I am !!!

Dr. Ortiz requires three full weeks of liquid stage (meaning it has to be able to go through a straw) . I skip the mushy stage. The best thing I have had is Tortilla Soup with shredded cheese pureed. I had some Campbells soup clam chowder and I got so excited I ate the whole bowl (15 oz) and now I feel sick, bloated and nausous!!!! I didn't know you could over do it on the liquids. I am not going to eat the rest of the night, I feel awful!!! I had some Cam

Hey Guys!!! I have been out all day due to the kids having the day off!! I am glad you all benefited from the letter I was sent from Dr. Ortiz staff. They are awesome. I had some pureed Campbell soup Clam chowder, creamy enough to drink from a straw, and I think somehow I ate to much. My stomach hurts and I feel nauseous.. It is really called Laughing Cow, my bad!!!! It is with all the cheese!!! HEHEHE

I asked for info on erosion from the Obesity Control Center, Dr. Ortiz's clinic and got the following response. Aren't they awesome!!!!!! I also was given the following contact info was given to me also for any other questions regarding the lapband and for us to actually get it from the makers of the lapband "I have also never heard of routinely having the band replaced after 10 years. I would think that Inamed/Allergan would be able to answer that question, since they are the manufacturer of the Lapband. You can contact Don Mills (Sales Administrative Mgr) for Allergan at 800-624-4261 Ext. 4546 or email him at mills_don@allergan.com " I am so impressed and keep on getting more impressed as I go on my Lapband journey, with Dr. Ortiz and his staff. I get immediate responses to my questions and don't get any type of run around. Dear Friends and Colleagues:<O</O After receiving numerous calls and email regarding the latest speculations about erosions on the boards I feel obliged to post some facts that should be of some relief and informative at the same time. There are very few reliable sources out there on Gastric Banding complications except the series that are published in the medical literature. My colleagues that post on these forums will agree that my team and I are considered one of the foremost authorities in gastric banding complications and treatments in the world and as such our intention is that our ongoing research results in a safer gastric banding procedure for everybody. Folks, Lets start out by doing the math. Band erosions are not increasing as one would think. They have actually diminished noticeably in the past number of years. What is increasing is the number of patients having the procedure along with the ability to communicate this fact through forums such as this one. A surgeon that has performed 100 procedures may have 1% erosion, which is equivalent to 1 patient. While a surgeon with 3000 procedures under his belt will have 30 erosions, but this still represents 1%. Also the awareness of it's existence has prompted us to look for them purposely through endoscopic studies. We now recommend that every band patient gets an upper endoscopy around 18 months after the surgery. For a surgeon to know exactly how many of his patients bands have eroded he would have to scope them all. Endoscopy is the only way to prove an erosion since some erosions are asymptomatic early on. Erosions are unfortunate adverse reactions of gastric banding. They are also poorly understood. The term erosion has been popularized recently in the literature as one of the complications of gastric banding. It suggests the wearing out of the gastric wall, but the actual process seems to be more of a foreign body reaction where the body tries to eliminate the implant. Erosions are not new and it has been known for decades and reported in the medical literature that various materials near the stomach or intestine can slowly penetrate the wall and ultimately be eliminated through it. Implants, sutures, staples, mesh, rings, tubing, cloth and metal all have readily penetrated the gut. <O</O Though the actual process is not fully understood we do know the following: <O</O - Most bands erode from the outer edge of the implant into the stomach. Sometimes it is the tubing and not the band that penetrates the gut. This would discard the suggestion that bands that are too tight erode. (Conversely we now know that bands that are too tight actually slip more often) <O</O - Surgical technique is similar around the world. Most surgeons in the US and the rest of the world learned the technique from a handful of international surgeons who proctored them. In turn these surgeons have perfected the technique and the principles of band placement remain the same around the world. <O</O - Erosions can coexist with an infection process. Even though it would seem that the infection can start at the port and then ultimately cause an erosion, our recent studies have detected mircopenetrations of the stomach at the initial stages of the erosion (soon to be published data) then most likely stomach bacteria tract down though the tubing to the port and contaminate it. Again these ongoing studies will shed new light on the process and hopefully someday will totally eliminate the risk of gastric penetration. <O</O - Erosion is not selective of one band or another. Sooner or later every brand of gastric band has been reported to erode. <O</O - Latin bands do not erode more frequently. For one the implant used comes exactly from the same company and are made of the exact same materials. Contrary to a controversial post recently published in a forum, responsible surgeons performing gastric banding in Mexico have a comprehensive follow-up protocol. Fluoroscopy and Endoscopy is routinely performed which means that we detect the erosions more efficiently and earlier when present. <O</O - When an erosion is detected the band should removed. This gives the stomach time to heal and in given time receive a new band. It is the patient's responsibility to tell the doctor of his or her symptoms. The sooner it is detected the better the chances of performing a laparoscopic and uneventful surgery with a quick recovery. <O</O - We also stress the importance of follow-up. Most erosions have no symptoms early on, so a routine checkup with your doctor is always the best option. NO NEED TO PANIC, erosions are still a rare occurrence, but if present when detected and treated early on the outcome is benign in nature. You will all agree that gastric banding has touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. It is the safest weight-loss procedure but unfortunately no procedure is free of complications. Even though erosion rate is very low, it still exists. When present it should be detected and treated promptly. The earlier it is treated the better the outcome. In some cases patients have actually received a second band after a brief period of recovery and thus having the benefit of restriction and weight-loss again. The only source of reliable medical advice is your doctor. Other sources of information only lead to speculation, anxiety and worst of all delay in treatment if needed. If you are to go out of the country for surgery, select a responsible surgeon that offers follow-up. Ask if he will always be available (my patients can reach me in a moments notice, they all have my cell#) Don't be enticed to go to the cheapest, usually they go hand in hand with poor to no follow-up. You must be able to trust the doctor you have chosen. We as Surgeons also have our official Internet forums where we exchange knowledge with each other having only your best interests in mind. Remember, ultimately it is your success that results in our success. My best wishes to all,<O</O Respectfully<O</O Ariel Ortiz Lagardere <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> __________________

I asked for info on erosion from the Obesity Control Center, Dr. Ortiz's clinic and got the following response. Aren't they awesome!!!!!! I also was given the following contact info was given to me also for any other questions regarding the lapband and for us to actually get it from the makers of the lapband "I have also never heard of routinely having the band replaced after 10 years. I would think that Inamed/Allergan would be able to answer that question, since they are the manufacturer of the Lapband. You can contact Don Mills (Sales Administrative Mgr) for Allergan at 800-624-4261 Ext. 4546 or email him at mills_don@allergan.com " I am so impressed and keep on getting more impressed as I go on my Lapband journey, with Dr. Ortiz and his staff. I get immediate responses to my questions and don't get any type of run around. Dear Friends and Colleagues:<O</O After receiving numerous calls and email regarding the latest speculations about erosions on the boards I feel obliged to post some facts that should be of some relief and informative at the same time. There are very few reliable sources out there on Gastric Banding complications except the series that are published in the medical literature. My colleagues that post on these forums will agree that my team and I are considered one of the foremost authorities in gastric banding complications and treatments in the world and as such our intention is that our ongoing research results in a safer gastric banding procedure for everybody. Folks, Lets start out by doing the math. Band erosions are not increasing as one would think. They have actually diminished noticeably in the past number of years. What is increasing is the number of patients having the procedure along with the ability to communicate this fact through forums such as this one. A surgeon that has performed 100 procedures may have 1% erosion, which is equivalent to 1 patient. While a surgeon with 3000 procedures under his belt will have 30 erosions, but this still represents 1%. Also the awareness of it's existence has prompted us to look for them purposely through endoscopic studies. We now recommend that every band patient gets an upper endoscopy around 18 months after the surgery. For a surgeon to know exactly how many of his patients bands have eroded he would have to scope them all. Endoscopy is the only way to prove an erosion since some erosions are asymptomatic early on. Erosions are unfortunate adverse reactions of gastric banding. They are also poorly understood. The term erosion has been popularized recently in the literature as one of the complications of gastric banding. It suggests the wearing out of the gastric wall, but the actual process seems to be more of a foreign body reaction where the body tries to eliminate the implant. Erosions are not new and it has been known for decades and reported in the medical literature that various materials near the stomach or intestine can slowly penetrate the wall and ultimately be eliminated through it. Implants, sutures, staples, mesh, rings, tubing, cloth and metal all have readily penetrated the gut. <O</O Though the actual process is not fully understood we do know the following: <O</O - Most bands erode from the outer edge of the implant into the stomach. Sometimes it is the tubing and not the band that penetrates the gut. This would discard the suggestion that bands that are too tight erode. (Conversely we now know that bands that are too tight actually slip more often) <O</O - Surgical technique is similar around the world. Most surgeons in the US and the rest of the world learned the technique from a handful of international surgeons who proctored them. In turn these surgeons have perfected the technique and the principles of band placement remain the same around the world. <O</O - Erosions can coexist with an infection process. Even though it would seem that the infection can start at the port and then ultimately cause an erosion, our recent studies have detected mircopenetrations of the stomach at the initial stages of the erosion (soon to be published data) then most likely stomach bacteria tract down though the tubing to the port and contaminate it. Again these ongoing studies will shed new light on the process and hopefully someday will totally eliminate the risk of gastric penetration. <O</O - Erosion is not selective of one band or another. Sooner or later every brand of gastric band has been reported to erode. <O</O - Latin bands do not erode more frequently. For one the implant used comes exactly from the same company and are made of the exact same materials. Contrary to a controversial post recently published in a forum, responsible surgeons performing gastric banding in Mexico have a comprehensive follow-up protocol. Fluoroscopy and Endoscopy is routinely performed which means that we detect the erosions more efficiently and earlier when present. <O</O - When an erosion is detected the band should removed. This gives the stomach time to heal and in given time receive a new band. It is the patient's responsibility to tell the doctor of his or her symptoms. The sooner it is detected the better the chances of performing a laparoscopic and uneventful surgery with a quick recovery. <O</O - We also stress the importance of follow-up. Most erosions have no symptoms early on, so a routine checkup with your doctor is always the best option. NO NEED TO PANIC, erosions are still a rare occurrence, but if present when detected and treated early on the outcome is benign in nature. You will all agree that gastric banding has touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. It is the safest weight-loss procedure but unfortunately no procedure is free of complications. Even though erosion rate is very low, it still exists. When present it should be detected and treated promptly. The earlier it is treated the better the outcome. In some cases patients have actually received a second band after a brief period of recovery and thus having the benefit of restriction and weight-loss again. The only source of reliable medical advice is your doctor. Other sources of information only lead to speculation, anxiety and worst of all delay in treatment if needed. If you are to go out of the country for surgery, select a responsible surgeon that offers follow-up. Ask if he will always be available (my patients can reach me in a moments notice, they all have my cell#) Don't be enticed to go to the cheapest, usually they go hand in hand with poor to no follow-up. You must be able to trust the doctor you have chosen. We as Surgeons also have our official Internet forums where we exchange knowledge with each other having only your best interests in mind. Remember, ultimately it is your success that results in our success. My best wishes to all,<O</O Respectfully<O</O Ariel Ortiz Lagardere

I also felt like that and did!!! I called it the Un-Diet!Audree

How are we all today??? Today is post of day 10 for me and I feel great!!! I am back to my old self but much better!!!! I have 11 more days of liquid stage, I don't get a mushy stage for some reason. I still have very good restriction. This morning is the first morning I don't wake up feeling like someone is squeezing my stomach. I had my Gano Mocha coffee with a cup of soy milk for Breakfast and felt very satisfied as usual. I think I will keep up this practice. Maybe add chocolate Protein shake mix to it or carnation breakfast but hot in the mornings. When I can add solids, I think I will add a little egg if I can tolerate it. I feel thinner. My pajama pants are not super tight like they were before surgery. I still have not weighed myself and don't know when I will. How are you all doing??? Audree

Thanks Tulip!!! We will go on this journey together!!! How are you doing with your liquid stage? Eating anything interesting?? Audree

I actually use a coffee called Gano coffee. It is supposed to be a healthy coffee and tastes really good. You can get it online. Just do a search for Gano Coffee.

No you wont!! That is my breakfast every morning since being banded, except I use soy milk for the protein!!! I am too restricted in the morning to have anything else. Audree

My husband is my support and is very excited for me! I chose not to tell my two step daughters, 19 and 15 and two daughters 5 and 7. Parents don't have to tell their kids everything. We have a right to our privacy. My mom was also not supportive in the beginning. I had to come to a place that I didn't need her permission or need her validation with my decision. Now that she sees I am doing so well, she is asking me, how am I doing, am I not eating enough, am I taking Vitamins, will I become anemic... But, she is not being unsupportive about it. Audree

Yeah, meeting for lunch would be easier! Also, some people who diet don't eat dinner. I had a friend lose 60 pounds by not eating dinner. It made it hard to meet up with friends and evening dinner parties, but she didn't bend her rule for anyone! She kept by it for a long time, but has regained her weight. I even saw on the Discovery channel a woman who lost by doing the "Reverse eating diet". She lost a ton of weight by eating a HUGE and I mean HUGE breakfast, Soup and salad for lunch and like a small bowl of Cereal for dinner. Her husband met her after she lost all the weight and didn't like that they NEVER went out for dinner together (if they did, she'd order, box it up right away and eat it for breakfast). We can tell people we are on the NEW REVERSE DIET!!! hehe I'll even try to get the info on it!!! The other thing I am telling people is to kick off the New Year, I am doing a liquid fast, for physical and spiritual reasons. I am not only saying it, I am doing a lot of praying and interceding for people. Audree

Congrats Madden on losing 2 SIZES!!!!!!!!!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: That is an awesome accomplishment!!!!And a BIG deal and a big change!!!! I am also excited about joining you all on the Beach, South Beach that is!!!:hungry: Who wants to start? You can start with out me, I dont' want to make you guys wait another week and a half!:faint: I am also a very upbeat person like you!!!

How are you doing DeckedOut???? Audree

Lets see.....My friend told me about it a year ago, but I didn't think about it for myself at the time. She then one day asked me, when I was crying about my dieting and recent weight gain, why I didn't look into banding. She told me to come on here. Nov. 22 was the date I joined and started asking my questions, made my decision about choosing Dr. Ortiz, bought his book, my financing that I had been trying to get for home improvements that had not gone through for 6 months was now "miraculously" coming through now, for such a time as this..... I scheduled surgery for Dec. 18 but had to reschudule since the money didn't come in in time, a few days too late. Resceduled for Jan. 5 and had it done!!! So, my time line from the date I even considered it for myself to the time I had it done, was only about 1 1/2 months!!!!! Had my money come through, when I was hoping, it would have gone to wood floors or granit countertops!!!! Audree

"If God be for you, who can be against you" I felt the same in the beginning, wanting my mom's approval. But, in the end, it is my body. My husband and mom thought the same thing before I had my tummy tuck, what if it was psychological and I still wouldn't be happy. Well, I was and still am very happy about it!!!!! I proved them wrong!!! My mom was not to thrilled about me getting banded, but I told her that it was what I was going to do and needed positive support. I also felt that God had provided for me in a timely manner for me to do the surgery. I told her my husband and I had prayed about it and we had both gotten peace about it, the peace only God can give. She left me alone after that and started just saying nothing about it, which is better than trying to talk me out of it. She has also seen me struggle all my life and was seeing me once again starting to gain it back. I only told one friend from church, but also just relocated from that church to another church. A fresh start in a bigger church! I don't know why God orchestrated it that way, but He did lots of things and changes at the same time!!! He is good!!!!!

Well, what I did was get as educated as I could, was on these boards a lot asking questions. I bought protein water, Nectar protein drinks, Better Than Boullion, Wolfgang puck gourmet chicken broth, crystal light in different flavors, drinkable yogurt, jello cups, creamy soups as in split pea, chicken mushroom. I bought Dr. ORtiz's book Lap Band For LIfe and read it three times, I stocked up on convenience food for my family. I know a freind who is getting gastric bypass and she had to take classes for six months before her surgery. This group was that for me. These people have helped me to know what I was going to deal with mentally and psychologically. If I had not been prepared, I would be freaking out. Sometimes I see posts here, people newly banded, panicking and saying they want to get the band taken out. It makes me wonder how much they were prepared in advance mentally. My surgery was actually supposed to be earlier and had to be postponed, but I think it turned out better that way so I could learn the things I needed to learn first and know what to expect. I feel like I was very prepared for what I did and that is why I have been so at peace and happy!!! I hope that helps!! Audree

Where do you buy Myoplex? I bought one at Target, but it is not as good as the one I had. I have not had any protien shakes except for the Nectars. Today i had the Strawberry Kiwi with soy milk and it was good. I have two weeks to go and need ideas!!! Thanks,Audree

I have just been saying I have a touch of the stomach flu or don't feel well!

Dr. Ortiz told me if that ever happened to call him on his personal cell, which all of his patients get in their little white folder. Tell her to call him. Did she just get a fill? She may need an unfill. Thanks for the encouraging words! Skinny Cow is a cream cheese type cheese, only low cal and delicious. I am a stay at home mom right now, but will be starting back to college online in a few weeks!!! Audree

Don't worry.I actually gained 5 pounds over the start weight, I was supposed to be, lost 4 on the week of preop and it was still okay. I only had to drink Protein shakes for Breakfast and lean cuisine lunch/dinner. Every doctor has a different pre op, but it is all good!!!

Actually, Dr.Ortiz is affiliated with them both! I got his book and it says it is one of his clinics, so you are in good hands!!! You will be great!!!

I am in the same boat as you. I am a lower bmi and people think we can just lose it on our own. Well, I have been dieting for 21 years and obviously can't. That is why when I finally decided to do it, I didn't tell anyone. My husband and a couple of girlfriends know, one was banded a year ago and told me about it. The mental anguish I had to live in everyday of my life. The way it affected my family when I dieted, again!! Just because we are doing this as preventative measures, against the dieseses that come with being overweight. In my family diabeties, heart diesese, high blood pressure, breast cancer all are made worse by being overweight. So, I see this as taking care of me, before I got that far. I was on the upswing, on something I was calling the Un-diet, totally binging and tired of dieting. I was definitely on my way to the 200's again!!! I did this for me!!!! I am the one that has to live in this body and I should be able to make choices to be the best me I can. So, do you. I get all my talking about the band, out here with my band sisters who understand me. I don't need to talk to anyone else about it, well except for my supportive husband. I am choosing to make positive environments for myself and keeping around positive people. Most people are either ignorant of banding and talk about it from a stand point of knowing nothing about it and no one who has done it, jealous, afraid of the thought of a thinner you and how they think you may change, losing their eating out buddy, losing their fat friend, etc. the list goes on and on.. I did talk about it in the beginning to people to see what they thought, but I didn't go back and tell them my very personal decision. Why should I? And if they would ask me if I did it after all and I thought they would not be supportive, it is my perogative to keep it to myself and say, no but I am thinking about it. I choose to not give them power to make me upset, discourage me, make me feel like I have to defend my choice. This is a good place to find supportive friends. That is why I love it here and all the wonderful women (and a few men too!) here!! I don't regret for one second getting banded. And although I am only 9 days post op, I already feel a freedom I never knew could exist for me. I can't wait for my journey to unfold. I feel a peace I have never felt before. My tortured mind is at rest. The real "me" will emerge and I know she will come all the way out this time. I dont' have to almost get there, just to be pulled away from success by piling alll those hard lost pounds back on so fast. Audree

When I had my tummy tuck I had those twinges and when my husband has a vasectomy, he had those twinges. We were told that they were nerve pain, due to a nerve being cut. There is no way to keep from doing it, since we have so many. It goes away with time. I think it is the same thing, at least in our experiences. Audree