sirena63

Sliming is rather gross. Your mouth produces a large amt of thick slimy saliva, it's your body's way of producing some lubricant to get that thing we ate dislodged. It has happened to me several times. It only happens when we forget to eat like a bandster and revert to old ways. My kids have seen me in this situation, it hurts to swallow, so I have to spit it out, and it is so thick you can't "cut it", have some good paper towels on hand if this ever happens. Or a disposable cup!:biggrin: Happened to me in the car with 1 bite of french fry, which I thought I chewed well!

Hi there! I so understand your struggle. I did the same thing as you....considered lap band, investigated, then decided I could do it on my own. One year later I was still 300 lbs, suffering from sleep apnea and waking up with irregular heartbeat! I was scared for my kids and decided that if at the age of 41 I couldn't do it on my own yet, how was I going to do it this time? I think you should talk with a bariatric surgeon, one that doesn't just do one kind of surgery. They can interview you and help you decide which surgery would be best for you. I wish I would have talked more with my surgeon before getting the band......they have seen so many patients and can give you the options that best fit your health and situation. I don't want to sound like I am against the band. I love my band and after finally getting at the right fill level.....I have very little hunger and great restriction.

I had my fifth fill on friday. The doc suprised me by saying he was going to put .6cc this time. I thought it would be too much, plus I was seeing him at 6pm. Thought I would get a fill in the pm as we all know we are much tighter in the ams. My problem is I am so hungry and can eat just about anything at night. So my fill was just right. I can start losing weight again (I've been at the same weight for a year now, gained some too) The best part about this last fill is that my appetite is GONE! And I do feel full with very little food, I had to stop eating 1/2 way through a cup of yogurt. Basically I have to just do liquids in the am, but if I have no appetite, that is no problem! I am so happy now that my appetite does not control me.

there are medications that you can apply to your scars once they are healed. Maderma and another Scar Therapy. I've bought one from Mexico called Cicatricure that works wonders on my keloids.

Hi Erica....so nice to find bandsters in my area, I live in Edinburg and had my surgery done in December, have lost over 90 lbs total...it feels great! Don't regret my decision at all. I had my surgery done in Monterrey, had a wonderful surgeon and wonderful hospital. Hoping to go back sometime soon for another fill. feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need any support

I had severe left shoulder pain for 13 days post op. I felt like I had an ice pick stuck in the top of my shoulder...hurt to breathe in or out. It finally went away and I haven't felt it for 9+ months...and my port is on the left. Just recently I have had a bout of diverticulitis and have been experiencing the Ice Pick again when I am hungry and when I have eaten. Today so far has been a good day for no pain....but I need to vent about doctors...particularly radiologist reading my x ray, calling my band a gastrostomy tube....like what they put in people when they cannot eat, and feed them formula through the tube.. To the same radiologist that read the CT scan of my abd...totally focused on the port and tubing location and the fact that I have a partially collapsed lung and tried to blame that on the tubing....he totally ignored the problem that had me there which was diverticulitis.. What a waste of my money, now I have to have a colonoscopy done. I know that my band, port and tubing are not the problem, they just happen to be in the area that I have pain and infection, and some ignorant people with no band experience cannot see beyond it...literally!!!!

I did it again, grazed all the while I was fixing dinner for the kids. I have been trying to cut out carbs so that I don't crave so much, and the only thing I seem to binge on is high carb food. So tonight I munched on carrots while I was fixing food. I have to be very careful with carrots, I chew them forever and still feel them stick a little. Had a roasted chicken thigh, a piece of cheese and a few bites of the dinner I prepared. At least I didn't sit down to a full meal afterwards. But it looks like I won't have time off to go for a fill for a while.

I too am a grazer, was before I was banded and tend to do the same now. I plan my day coffee and granola bar for Breakfast holds me over to lunch, which can be a salad or yogurt and fruit, I keep Snacks in the car so I am not famished when I get home from work...then while I am cooking dinner I taste this and that and before I know it, I have consumed who knows how much....I used to sit down to a full plate of food, now I feel full and have a few bites more and I'm done, but still I don't know how much I am comsuming due to the grazing. When I first felt good restriction I would not graze, I am beginning to think it's time for a fill, and the scales being stuck for almost 2 months are screaming....time for a fill. Beth

Price and experience inserting lap-bands. Most doctors in the US are used to gastric bypass and are new to the band. My doctor in mexico had 10 yrs experience and had done hundreds? thousands?....

I said the same thing, I went on line and researched, even spoke with one of the "reps" on the phone, heard the price and decided to diet one more time. 6 months later I had gone from 305 to 290, but had some scary health situations that told me "you better do something quick and permanent". I am so glad I did not go for gastric bypass as one friend had done. I feel the band has taught me better control of my portion size and the speed at which I eat. I make healthy choices 95% of the time. Find I can still over eat if I am "in a mood" and take my time. But those times have been fewer and farther between as time goes by. I believe that one day I will no longer use food as a tranquilizer. My main problem so far, what is holding my weight loss back in lack of regular exercise.

I took $6000 out of my 401K another $2000 from my savings and had my band put in in Monterrey Mexico. When I filed my taxes this year, I paid tax on my $6000, but found there was no penalty because it was to pay for a medical procedure....that is exept from the penalty! The doctor and hospital in Mexico were wonderful, follow-ups/fills have been easy too. I do live 10 mins from the Mexico border and speak Spanish, so that helps!

Hi Denise......I had the same thoughts you do, and asked my doctor, why not keep the pouch at around 2-4 oz so the patient feels full when the pouch is full. He said they tried that, made the pouch 4 oz and patients had no weight loss, kept decreasing the size until it was about 1 oz and the patients started losing weight. I feel that it is not so much how long the food stays in the pouch...as it controls the speed at which we eat. Slows us down, makes us chew longer, and feel full faster, if we drink with our meal the food in our stomach and pouch gets washed through faster.

thanks cjulzgo I actually look forward to seeing this patient and hope I can help her with her problems.

this is slightly off the subject, but still dealing with the feeling insulted when someone points out the obvious. I am a home health nurse and see patients with complications from obesity, whether it be diabetes, surgical incisions that open/become infected. Some of the worst complications from obesity can be leg ulcers. My current patient is starting to have discoloration on her legs and swelling. We all feel horrible when someone, even a doctor or medical professional calls us obese...it feels like a label. But it is a diagnosis! It has to be said....they could say...."so and so is 80lbs over weight" in medical terms it is called obesity. WEll, I need to tell her (teach her) that many of her problems are caused by her weight and lack of activity. Also to explain why she is developing problems with her legs. This woman weighs exactly the same as I. I have the delema of trying to teach someone about complications of a disease they have while suffering from the same thing myself. If it was any other disease....like arthritis it would feel different, people are always thinking...if you know so much about my problem, why don't you do something about it yourself? Well, I am now, and have lost 45+lbs. I hope as a medical professional I can talk to this woman with tact and not offend her, but still come across as someone who knows what I am talking about!

What is a "bodybugg"?