I joined this forum today and read a lot of interesting posts with different points of view on the Lap Band. I decided to share my story and let anyone who reads it take from it what helps them. I was banded three years ago in Mexico. To date I have lost 30 pounds. I would say it’s more of a maintenance weight of 185. Is it a “fail?” I don’t know… I’m still in deliberations. 1) I can tell you I have always had problems getting protein down from the beginning so I chose foods that went down easier. It didn’t matter what size fill I had. Protein was not my friend, ever. But I was eating 1/3 my normal portion and sometimes even less. But it was pasta, rice, and adding gravies made food go down even easier so I wouldn’t get stuck, which happened quite frequently. That was a wrong choice, so for any reader here, don’t do this! When my surgery was performed the Dr. fixed what he described the biggest Hiatal hernia he’d seen, which would explain the feeling of Satan living in my stomach for years. I recently had bouts of heart burn, waking from sleep choking, a lot of sliming episodes and it didn’t matter what I ate, I ignored it and went to liquids for a day or two on several occasions with success (but not this last time), again don’t do this! My point…I had to go back to the Dr. 2 weeks ago, it was an emergency visit because I let it get to the point where water was having a hard time going down and staying down (for a couple of days. You know what I’m going to say, don’t ignore this symptom of a tight band). The Dr. thought that I may have had a slipped band and had symptoms of a perforated stomach (from what happens when you get stuck repeatedly and ignore the signs of a tight band, yes, vomiting food back up). Turns out it was neither of the above and with an un-fill (now two weeks) I am fine and enjoying protein and other foods I still shouldn’t be eating BUT CAN. Big FAIL on my part! I realized the other day with a 5 pound gain in 2 weeks that HELL, like alcoholism, drug addiction, and other addictions, that food is an addiction for most of us on here that have had the surgery whether we have all realized that or not. We’re just not wired like thin people, bless their tiny little bodies . So I proclaim tomorrow is day one again for me with eyes wide open. I’ve already messed up breakfast today! In two weeks I’ll get a refill and start counting down again, smarter this time. A poke from someone on here now and then would be great. I will say that the band stopped weight gain but I don’t think my Dr. would agree that using this tool upside down is how it works. I’m glad I found this forum because when you have surgery in Mexico you go home and that’s it. You have no support group, no follow-up nutrition classes to go to, no nice office staff to check up on you to see how you are progressing or to give helpful pointers during plateauing. You are on your own to figure the whole band experience out for yourself, good, bad and indifferent.

Don't know what happened with fonts.???

So much for cut and pasting from a word doc! Apparantly the a's with a funny symbol on top are my apostrophes. Sorry for any annoyance it causes during your read but we learned something here too. Gotta love technology!

Welcome Missy1966. I am sorry that you went through the horrors of 3 years and using sliders to eat. I think that the lack of support from Mexican providers is a major drawback. My own surgeon had his lapband done from Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. He did marvelously, but then he is a lapband surgeon trained by Dr. Ortiz. I just had my 3 year bandiversary on Oct 30. I met my 100 lb goal, but have since gained some weight back. You are most welcome to join us, and feel free to jump in and let us know your situation and knowledge. Many people can learn from your problems. Good luck, and congratulations on your new resolve! Karen

You will get great support here! How big is your band? with how much filled?

You will get great support here! How big is your band? with how much filled?

Hi Banderina. I want to say it is 4cc? At 2cc it was tight and at 1.6 & 1.8 too lose. Looking forward to fill in a couple of weeks. Not looking forward to drive to MX though.

You will get great support here! How big is your band? with how much filled?

Right now I'm on empty. Dangerous.

Hi Missy I also had my surgery in Mexico, well I live in Mexico, and I’m sorry you didn’t have a nice doctor or someone to go for support, maybe you should look for another Dr. I was banded July 24 2012 and in 3 months I lost 40 lbs, I go every month for check ups and fills I currently have 2cc in my band, I’m doing good but if I wasn’t my Dr. has a team of nutritionists and psychologists that we could see and they are fully supportive, I’m not alone in this and you shouldn’t be either, is there another Dr. in your area that gives fills? Maybe you should get a new Dr, but honestly you need to start making good choices, watch what you eat and start counting calories, the band is a tool and we decide how to use it.