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i presume you still have bc/bs....and there are surely other doctors you can go to in your area--call your provider and have them suggest another doctor in your area to take over...don't panic!! you WILL have success!!

Ok...I'll jump in and post to reply to some of your points. Some of what you said is very valid, other stuff not so much, altho please do not take any of this to be criticism on your thought process !!! I am over 2 years post-op and have emailed, phoned and sat face to face with numerous bandsters who were banded all over the place. Some in Ontario (keep in mind I am in BC), some in Mexico and some like myself, in the US. Saying this is just to say that I have heard plenty of things, both good and bad, from all 3 of the possible surgery scenarios. First of all....Mexico. - Hospitals and clinics have unknown standards True enough, altho I think by reading sites like this one, Obesityhelp.com and the many Yahoo groups available (I name these because it is where I did most of my early pre-band reading) you can learn a lot about different surgeons and clinics in Mexico. I have sat face to face with people in meetinns who went to Tijuana who have told me that they have ~never~ been in a cleaner or more organized facilty anywhere. - Dr's claims to huge surgical numbers are unverifiable Again, I agree, but I would never chose a surgeon that I had not read extensively about and spoken to some of his patients. By reading thru these sites you can easily pick out a few Mexican surgeons that it is easy to tell that they have numerous patients. As well, if you read things about certain surgeons (Dr. Ortiz immediately comes to mind) you will see that they are outstanding in this field and have in fact trained certain 'big-name' Drs both in Canada and the US. (by 'big-name' I mean well known in the bariatric surgery field) - Free follow-ups require traveling to Mexico Yes, however there are plenty of Canadian clinics who only offer short-term or limited 'free' aftercare. - No liquid diets noted prior to surgery... does this not put the liver at risk? I never had any pre-op diet to follow, liquid or otherwise. This is almost entirely dependant of your surgeon and varies greatly, the same as your immediate post-op diet will vary surgeon to surgeon. Another variable my be your health status at the time of surgery and how much weight you have to loose. My surgeon did not put me on a pre-op diet, but I know other people from the same clinic that were required to follow one. This said, there are 2 ladies in my support group who have just recently been banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico and they ~both~ were put on a pre-op diet. So Mexico is just like Canada and the US on this point, some require it, some don't. - Unless you speak Spanish, are you sure you are safe? Not at all. These clinics depend on their American and Canadian clients and all speak full English, all the way from the fellow driving the hospital 'taxi' (most clinics provide transportation from the airport to the clinics) to the surgeons. And the US... The US dollar issue is a given. If you manage to have surgery when our $ is good, then it can be good, if our $ is down, it's not so good. You will pay for your aftercare in USD which will fluctuate as the $ goes up and down. - The consultation we had in a good hospital in a good market gave us the cost of the procedure at 16000 USD but they did not provide any free follow-ups after the first year or fills ever. I paid 16000US and my clinic provided free fills for 13 months, free support for life and if I need to have any 'repair' surgery that will also be covered for life. I was happy with that and found it comparable to anything close to me and Canadian. - Even if you decide to get it there and use the clinics up here to fill and follow-up... expect to keep paying and paying. Agreed, but everyone needs to know what is included in their surgery regardless of where you have it done. Plenty of Canadian clinics don't offer free care and fills for your lifetime....so any of us can keep paying and paying. And Canada.... - Since you will use a clinic close to you... the follow-ups and fills are probably free As I said...this is only true ~if~ the clinic you choose offers free care. Everyone needs to be certain of what is included in the cost of your surgery and for how long. - Your band clinic will be contacted for emergency complications and I should hope that your banding doc would have something to say about the band's removal before it happens. Yes and no. I just spoke to a woman in Ontario recently who had some complications with her band and went to emergency at the local hospital. The attending Drs had no idea about 'bands' and were not willing to call her surgeon. They would not access her port to defill her. Her hysband finally took her home after having an IV to rehydrate her, and they called her band clinic once they got home. It is pretty rare to have some kind of complication come up that will require ~immediate~ surgery and removal of your band. I would hazard to guess that in 99% of the cases you would personally be able to contact your surgeon regardless of where s/he is. The people that I know who have been banded in Mexico come home with the surgeons personal cell #, and a 24 hour emergency call #. - If you have complications that only require a visit within 24-48 hours to your clinic... you can get there! Agreed, and this is exactly why I chose the US and not Canada. This will depend on where you are located. There were 2 surgeons in Vancouver for me to choose from for my surgery and I decided that neither were a good fit for me. That left me to either drive to WA state or fly to Ontario. I decided that I wanted to be able to drive to see my surgeon and not worry about a plane ticket and trip across the country. I personally think your post is great. It will give everyone something to think about when they are deciding what is best for themselves. You've pretty much done what I have suggested others do before surgery.....make a pro and con list and see what works best. I'm glad you've decided to go ahead with banding....I honestly don't think you'll regret spending the money, it's an ~amazing~ journey !!! All the best and good luck !!!! Patricia

I had my band removed, it had attached itself to my liver and I couldn't eat. Yes, I'm hungry a lot. Like I said every week it gets worse. I know what ur saying bc the first 3 weeks I wasn't hungry. The more I do the hungrier I get. I just went to the doc. He says its fine. Everybody is different. I don't get dumping w sugar either.

I wish I had ur appetite. M so jealous. I really have to track my cals. I cap it at 1200 a day bc that's what my doc says. And I'm good with that. I'm 7 weeks out and every week I get hungrier. Actual hunger. I get in 60 to 100 g of Protein, I measure, I eat so slowly and chew the sit out stuff. And 2 hrs later I really am hungry again. I just want to b like u!!! I'm so scared its not gonna work. Congrats. I'm really happy for u tho. U look and sound like u r doing amazing. Any tips would b much appreciated. :-). Ali

:frown:Hey a loss is a loss! Down 1.3 lbs this morning! Yeah! When you have taken off over 80 bs, the losses slow down some, well lets face it, I have lost a great percentage of my excess body fat, so you have to realize things will slow down, that is why on EVERY DIET there is the last 20 lbs or so is soooooo harrrrrd to lose!:mad: Working hard for the next 10 lbs, hope for it in two months! That is the plan anyway. Was going to walk today, but it is 100 degrees and the lake I walk around is exactly 1 mile and perfectly round, just beautiful, but the Newspaper reported Snakes :mad2:(Moccosins) a lot of them crawling there, so me and snakes don't mix, here I come treadmill. Still Walkin the LapBand Walk! Here's to us Bandsters.:tt1:

I have the implannon and haven't had my surgery yet. I'm scheduled on Nov 7th. I have gained about ten lbs on while on it. I am now on the liquid pre op diet and I have lost weight while on the diet. My question is to those who have already had the surgery. Were any of you on BC and did it have any impact on how much weight you lost after surgery?

For those of you who are all healed, losing, but winning how much can you comfortably eat at a time? For a typical Breakfast, lunch and dinner? BS as I read through all of my nutritionists info, it was hard to comprehend when it stated "only one to three bites". LOL! I mean, yes, I understood, but I thought to myself "really? 3?". Now, a few weeks post-op I KNOW what TWO bites are!!!! Hahahaha! Wake up call! (For those who have not yet had surgery, "two bites, means 2 nibbles off of a baby sized spoon!" I know it gets easier and better in time, and I know our tummies are 3-5 ounces once healed and unswollen... but I am curious to know what the "Bariatric Regular" diet looks like in terms of volume? Thanks! sabrina

Ok I'm 47 years old and perimenopausal. I reached my goal weight. Yay! But the last 50 lbs. off I didn't lose a single inch of my waist. I would still like to lose about 10 or 15 more pounds, mostly from my waistline. But you can't target weight loss. I'm thinking the odd way I'm losing weight is due to my being perimenopausal. And think that maybe a low dose birth control might help. Or hormone replacement therapy. I would also like help with regulating my cycle as it's very short right now. Anybody have any insight or knowlge about this? Perimenopausal women on BC that are losing from their waistline? BC suggestions? Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks!

[8/12/10] I realized today as I was getting dressed that I always seem to go the “extra mile” when it comes to my appearance on days I go to the doctor. Today I meet w/my bariatric surgeon & dietician on the path forward. Sept 21 will be here before I know it! But back to appearance – it just dawned on me that I think I go all extra on days I know I’m going to the Fatty Doc, bc I feel like my “cute” will somehow overshadow my “fat” – which is often…or at least SOMEtimes the case in the real world. But at a bariatric Dr.’S office – they rarely see the “cute” – if at all, and mostly only see a person that they are glad had sense enough to do something major, about a major health crisis. *sigh* I’m good at being fat. Have been fat my entire life. And though after all is said & done a year from now, for all intents & purposes – I’ll still be a fat girl…but a lot healthier one (and 75-100 lighter). It didn’t hit me until today that this will most likely be my last “uncomfortable, morbidly obese, disgusted with myself and how big I’ve gotten” summer. This time next year – I won’t be so cramped in the metro seat as I blog by crackberry, ill be walking taller w/a lil more pep in my step, AND I will have ridden the rollercoasters that I haven’t been able to get on for the past 5 yrs – at least a thousand times. While still struggling with some future vanity concerns and how ill feel in my new body – I’m still excited. & optimistic that this was the best decision for ME. I know I’m cute (most of the time)…but for so long the magnitude of my good-lookigness has been overshadowed by my weight. Get. Ready. Here she comes… *doin my Geyonce dance* uh oh uh oh uh oh…

Hi! I've been in the process for 2 years now and am getting closer. I'm on the 8th month of my year of medically supervised weight loss attempts, I've been on adipex the entire time so sick of it lol. But I've lost 45 lbs, so now I'm at 226 lbs with a bmi of 38,which scares me bc it's not 40. I have medicare so when I checked last year all I have left to do is my psych eval after this! I am really looking forward to the surgery, meeting with Dr wellborn and starting the rest of my life! [ATTACH]24024[/ATTACH]

On my one week follow-up, I had lost 4 lbs. I'd been eating maybe 500 cals a day, feeling like crap, scared of failing, etc. I was very upset. My PA was with wonderful. She said it is the fluids they pump you with in the hospital, and everything around the site being swollen. She said to only weigh once a week, skip it when expecting period, and do not become obsessed with it; rely more on how clothes are fitting and measurements, bc weight can fluctuate so much. As long as it is going the right direction, it is good. She also told me not to go on these sites (weight loss surgery) because everyone's journey is different, dont compare yourself to others. Of course, here I am! But her words really helped.

Onmyway, did your dr give you a timeline on when to change to the next stage? Mine was liquids for 1 wk (2 if needed) then 1 week mushies then 1 week soft then the next week regular food. I didnt switch all my food when i advanced to the next stage. Example--i still did all liquids but added some greek yogurt one day. Then maybe the next added sf pudding. Just go slow and try new foods. You cant not advance bc you are afraid of a stall or gain. You are healing!! That should be your focus. I was weighing myself daily or everyother day and i decided once a week only!! Right now i am just focusing on making good food choices, eating when im hungry and walking. Oh btw--best mushy meal ever some ricotta cheese topped with marinara baked then sprinkled with mozz cheese. Oh my goodness. So good. Beats a cup of chicken broth any day!! J Banded 9/22

Thank you for your response. Prior to surgery i had a Hiatal Hernia, and now when i tell him i feel its back... he says "well i repaired that during srugery." and when i ask .. "well can they come back??" He says, they can but i dont feel as though you have one. " Its almost as if he is in denial. Bc everytime i go in... which has been... 4-5 times he unfills me. I had to demand a barrium swallow. He said the band looked fine, but he could see i had acid reflux and put me on protonix. WHich worked great for the 1st 3 weeks. Now... im back to this. Im miserable. Protonix doesnt help ANYTHING now. Nothing helps to be honest... throwing up seems to be my best option.

I chew a lot if gum. I will miss chewing it. I have enjoyed eating all the good food this week. Rip fatty foods. Rip volka, tequila, gin, and wine. I will u. But we had 2 part bc u were killing me according to the doctors, news and tv.

So there is light at the end of the tunnel ) I sort of also feel fed up at this point but then there are times when u simply can't help it

my requirements and timeline are in my sig. I could have scheduled the surgery for sept 30, but had to wait til november bc of work. otherwise I would have been in and out in about 6 weeks total.

I want to comment on two points that Spartan made. First . . Based on my own reading and research, I do not believe that this is accurate, and a significant percentage of the bandsters who I know have either met and surpassed their goals or are well on their way to doing so. I'm willing to bet that, of people who actually work with their bands, more than 90% are able to get to their goals. As reliable as that . . unnamed study . . by an unspecified group in Europe . . that hasn't been published yet. . and where you didn't have the underlying data. . sounds, I'm calling BS on this. The reason the band works so well is that it makes it physically impossible (well, difficult) to overeat. I just do not believe that any significant percentage of the non-banded people were able to avoid overeating for the year + that would have been required for them to actually enjoy the full benefits of being banded. I am not trying to be inflamatory here, but when I see posts like this that seem to misstate statistics or make vague, unsupported references to unnamed studies, it makes me mad. It seems irresponsible and I don't like that it might discourage bandsters or prospective bandsters from believing that they can get to goal. I have my own statistics and 18-month long personal scientific study on life with the band. That's all the proof I need that this process absolutely works when you follow the rules more often than not. And, if I can do it, so can anyone else who is willing to put in the effort. Catherine

Looked into getting a personal trainer bc im nervous about the extra skin and maybe learn a more structured workout. He said it was 80 per hour and recommends in the beginning meeting at least once a week. Truth is i just cant afford that right now. I still have about 4k to pay for the surgery. Any suggestions? Im pretty concerned about this extra skin but just cant afford an extra 80 a week. :/

Hello All, It has been a long time since I have been on and need to reintroduce myself. I was banded in Ohio in Feb. 2007 and have lost over 100 pounds. I just found out that my surgeon and bariatric group is no longer available and am looking for someone in the Cincinnati area for future follow up and fills. I need it to work with my insurance (Anthem BC/BS). Any suggestions are welcome. Also, I am having a problem with gas. It is only in the form of belching and it smells horrible. It is mainly when I have forgotten to eat and get 'too hungry'. Kind of like a reminder that I need to fuel up. The worst part is, I get it while digesting too. I have tried gas-x and mints. Five gum seems to be about the only thing that masks the odor. Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone else experiencing this? Thanks for your assistance!

Fear of losing the weightloss battle - author unknown You won't lose the battle if you are willing to work with the band and do your part. But I can almost guarantee: You will have plateaus when you first switch to solids until your body gets used to being fed instead of starved (most likely one-two weeks but could be three like mine.) During many plateaus you will lose inches not pounds and then finally a larger loss. Your loss in the first 30-40 days is a "never to be repeated" experience so enjoy it. Then you begin the long slow journey downward. You will learn the fine art of "PBs" and what causes them for you, it is swallowing air when you eat. Eating too fast....NOT chewing well or too big of a bite. Eating the wrong food for you...and not recognizing the "no longer hungry" after 1/2 cup (satiation) versus an "I WANT TO EAT MORE CAUSE I CAN or IT TASTES GOOD" or I crave it [head hunger]. You will watch your body shrink and will walk a bit taller-literally- and figuratively...start slipping into booths in restaurants. Sit in chairs with arms, stop worrying about how strong the chairs are, not having to ask for an extender belt on airlines. Finding it easier to, and you have more energy to walk/go up stairs. Clean house and do a million other day to day activities. Slip in and out of bath tubs where the water goes all the way around you instead of damming up and it doesn't kill you to stand up from sitting on the floor. Watch the years fall off your face and drivers license picture...got to a restaurant and order an appetizer and still end up with leftovers to take home. Go through doubts and several fills/unfills until you hit the "sweet spot" fill level for you. You will have to stop several times along the way to reassess your eating habits (I could eat certain foods and get away with some cheating a bit quantity wise at 359 and still lose...that had to go at 250). I have also found that I have to keep reminding myself 1/2 cup of solids three times a day--only--and drink my water (1 hour after meals until the next meal but not with meals). Eat protein first...fruit and veggies second, and non-complex carbs last. (Keep the fats, sugars, and non-complex carbs low...still have them but keep them low). And believe it or NOT a plateau that indicates that you need a fill is: 1. No weight loss for four weeks. 2. You are following all the band rules (8 out of 10 of us want to be able to break the rules and still lose figuring if we get a fill it will miraculously start us losing without us having to do our parts). 3. You are hungry an hour after eating (really hungry not cravings) and the 1/2 cup doesn't stay in the band for 2 1/2 to 4 hours. 4. You are drinking 60+ ounces of water a day and not drinking with your meal or for at least an hour after. 5. Once you move from mushy to solids--as much as possible get your nourishment from food that is solid. If you have problems with it sticking in your stoma, try it again chewing it well. Cut it up finer or chew it with other foods to keep it from recombining in your pouch and forming a plug (i.e. potatoes). 6. Try to avoid soups and/or protein drinks if possible (if you are able to eat your protein you will be full longer--some people have tight bands in the morning and can't eat so have a protein drink). 7. Whenever you hit a plateau, keep a diary and log everything, including water, which goes in and measure your 1/2 cup of solids. (Mine grew twice from 1/2 a cup to almost a full cup without noticing). 8. Try weighing in once a week to begin with, not daily. Later move to once every two weeks or once a month. When you are losing slowly, weight fluctuates daily with hydration levels, etc. At least this way you normally will see a loss and not a fluctuation or gain. Yes the loss is smaller but they are down not up. 9. Measure yourself monthly, often you lose inches before you lose pounds. 10. Don't compare yourself to others. We all lose at different rates based on age/metabolism/food choices/activity level...but we can all

Hi! I've been in the process for 2 years now and am getting closer. I'm on the 8th month of my year of medically supervised weight loss attempts, I've been on adipex the entire time so sick of it lol. But I've lost 45 lbs, so now I'm at 226 lbs with a bmi of 38,which scares me bc it's not 40. I have medicare so when I checked last year all I have left to do is my psych eval after this! I am really looking forward to the surgery, meeting with Dr wellborn and starting the rest of my life!

Hey, what famous Canadian bandster are you talking about? I'd appreciate a pm.... thanks in advance. I am on a yahoo bandster group of Dr. Leung's patients in BC, i agree what a pia to use....I check in there on people I know and then come here. Paula

So do the dr give you a date before insurance approve, bcs I was told I should be getting a date at the end of this week right after my last nut visit''' Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Seriously??? OMG, that's utterly ridiculous! I called several times to BCBS AZ (Fed plan) and was treated so well and all my questions were answered. Yes, they had their requirements and the surgeon had his, but they should still quote benefits. I did medical billing for 13 years and this is the norm!

Hey! I had the sleeve a day after you and I have been experiencing similar things - for me I get a pain behind my sternum whenever I swallow. This happens more with pure liquids than with creamed Soups. I hope it's a temporary deal bc I would be extremely devastated if this is an irreparable symptom. Good luck to us both! [emoji1374]