bandiva

I went to Dr. Ortiz as well and highly recommend him and his team. They are very skilled and seem to really care about what they do. No worries! You are very lucky to get a partial refund, here in BC we are on our own.

I think it is normal to be quite gassy after surgery that is done laproscopically or however you spell that. Just keep doing what you are doing and stick to low acid liquids. I used the gasx strips and found them really helpful. You can do this....just one day at a time...it gets easier I promise! (Just be glad you have an office! lol):biggrin2:

Marcar35....I know what you mean about the band vs. gastric bypass. My doctor (gp) wanted me to have gastric bypass cause he doesn't think the band really works. It was really fun a couple weeks ago I went to my GP for the first time in about a year...he walked in the room, walked back out, then came back in and started laughing and said, I didn't recognise you! Sweet!

Andrew, thank you for your support and I know how you feel. To be perfectly honest, there was a time in my life when I thought I was 'above' WLS...I know now that it was really fear and jealosy, but at the time I was all rightous and would say negative things behind the other persons back. My, my, how I have changed. I now understand that it is a sickness and in my case I know it is an addiction. Thank God for the band! I am so happy, fit and healthy now. My life and my families life is so much better. I still battle my demons, but atleast I am not killing myself anymore.

Wow...lots of great points. Green, you nailed it on the head, and I am going to quote you next time someone tries to make me feel like s**t for my decision.

I think a lot of people think WLS is like cheating....and they resent our success. My feeling is that if it makes it easier so what! It is my choice. (So do dishwashers and microwaves). I think it is hard for the 'general public' to understand the desperation we have all felt.

Hey Mandi! Even with your slight gain you are still a SUPER STAR and a wonderful mentor. Glad things are coming together for you.

Just wanted to let you all know that Oprah is doing a show on teenage WLS. Hopefully she will be positive about lapband surgery. She interviewed my surgeon, and one of his patients and her mother.

Fabulous experience. Wouldn't change a thing.

Hi everyone! Sorry I havent been around in a while. I have been caring for my mom who is sick with cancer....no internet there. Congrats and happy bandiversary and here is to the happiest new year ever. I can say for sure that I would not have been able to be so solid for my mom if I was the mentally and physically unhealthy person I was last year at this time. I managed stress by eating and then hating myself. Now I manage stress by running or working out. It is amazing what a year can do. I did a little boxing day shopping and picked up a couple pair of levi's ....size 8!!!! They fit great, and I feel great in them! Have been sick this last week, came back to Victoria and went to the dr today. I have kidney, bladder and viral infection. Not fun. I thought it was my band cause I throw up ALOT, but turns out they think it is kidney stones. They are going to do a scan to see, in the mean time, I am just laying on the couch sipping on gatorade. Yuck. I am glad to read about you all and your adventures. Congrats on your successes in 2007! You did it! 2008 will be a wonderful year for all of us!

Hi! I need help. I had a fill the other day and I am back up to 2cc in my 4cc band. I am siiiiick. I sleep on an incline, take my hubbys pariet and try not to eat too late. I have lost 4 pounds in 3 days...not good. I feel horrible. I need advice. I have no energy and feel like I can't even go sit in emerg for 8 hours waiting for the doc.

Way to go Donna!!!!! Wow...120's, you must be teeny tiny!

Hi Everyone...Audree you look great! We still have to get together! I had a fill by a dr here and he was awful. So....when I need another I will come to TJ so I will let you know. Congrats!!!!! xox

You are doing great. Make sure you are eating solid foods and not too much liquid after eating...keep it up. You have the rest of your life to get used to your band!

I dressed up for halloween and went out dancing...and had a great time...sober. I wouldn't have done one of those things last year at this time, never mind all of them. I love that I am more social now.

I went to a clinic in washington and it was great. I think it is northwestfills.com. Also, Dr Woodhead does take Dr. Ortiz patients (that is what Woodhead told me) and Dr. Amson in Victoria can likely be talked into it. He is doing mine tomorrow. Congrats on Dr. Ortiz....he is amazing. Keep in touch! Victoria

I don't know who said it but there is a quote...loosely translated is that our success is just a series of small successes....making the right choices as often as we can....eventually leads to new habits and a new lifestyle.

Audree, I am so happy for you.... I am doing the happy dance with you....down 100 pounds as of today! Woohoo!

I have nothing bad to say about any doctor, but just want to add that surgeons in the states or mexico may have more experience with less complications. It is a personal decision. If I won the lottery tomorrow and had it all to do over again, I would choose the dr I saw in mexico, I have been treated very well. Again, it is a personal decision.

Hi everyone. I have been off the computer for a bit, but I will now tell you about the obstruction. Before I do, just wanted to tell you that as of today I am down 100 pounds! So, I think it happened when I was in Alberta making a big dinner at my moms. I was rushing and snacking while I was preparing food. I think I ate a piece of ham skin, but i am not positive. I felt ok, and went to eat a 'meal' and nothing would say down. The next day I had trouble keeping things down, but didn't really pay to much attention, just thought it was stress. The next day I flew home and by this point couldn't keep water down. The crazy thing is that I wasn't worried about it, I just figured oh, well, it will go away. Then I went to bed....I kept waking up choking (found out later that I was probably choking on salive) so the next morning I went to my gp and he sent me to emergency. There is a bariatric surgeon here and he met me at the hospital. On other occasions when I have spoken to Dr. A. and his office they have been rude to me and said they won't fill me because I went to mexico to have my band done....needless to say, I was ready for a fight! It all went ok, he was nice to me and offered to take me on as a patient. By this point I was dehydrated and quite weak so they gave me fluid through IV. He (Dr.A)completely unfilled me and had me drink a couple glasses of water. Then he gave me 1.6 cc's back and told me to come back if I had a problem, otherwise to see him in his office in a couple weeks. I go for my fill tomorrow so I will see if I like it there or if it is better to go back down to the states or mexico. Someone was asking if my Dr gave me a fill of 2 ccs for my first fill. Yup. I told him if I was going to travel through three countries to see him I wanted him to be agressive. It worked well for me, but having said that, I have been a very very good patient because I knew I was playing with fire. Thanks for your support everyone. I feel like we have such a great bond on this journey. I am glad you are out there in cyberworld to help me!

Thank you....your message gave me chills. I love the support we can give each other! Congrats on your weight loss! It must feel great!

BIG milestone today.....100 pounds gone! Woohoo! My next goal is to lose the last 15 by Christmas.

A few weeks ago when I was at 75 pounds gone, my trainer brought a 25 pound vest to my workout. I could barely move in it, it weighed me down so much. To realize I had taken off 3 of the vests was huge. The stress we put on our bones, joints and organs was unbelievable. I wish my hubby could see the long term damage he is doing to his body. He just gets mad if I even hint that he is not in perfect health. It makes me so sad.

I just took the time to read through this thread from beginning to end. First of all YOU ALL ARE AMAZING even though almost a year has past, I still feel your love and support when I read your messages. The second thing is...my how my mind haschanged. Wow. I can't believe the way I used to think and how vulnerable I was to outside influences. My self esteem has grown so much in the last year. That is the greatest gift of all. Soon we wil be celebrating 100 pounds gone forever....only 4 more to go! I will post a pic as soon as I figure it out! lol.

Kay...In March I got my second fill which took me to 2.5 in a 4cc band. I was really comfortable there. Recently got an unfill to 1.6 and I still feel restriction here. I think fills are such a personal thing, and we all have our own magic number. I guess the key is...are you hungry? If so, get a fill. I rarely get hungry, and I LOVE that. Don't beat yourself up about the mindless eating....everyone does that...that is why we are banded. After we do it a few times we catch on! lol.