Kim927

Hi, maybe you could include your daughter in your journey and work together to create healthier habits. You could work on healthy menus and start an exercise or walking routine together. It would be easier for her to turn her habits around now at her age than it is when we get older and would give you guys some time doing things together. I had my surgery in 12/06, and lost 38 lbs., then my father died and I was traveling back and forth to another state for most of the summer taking care of him and his affairs, and I put back on 13 lbs., mostly because I was eating the wrong things (hospital food and vending machines) and didn't have time to get a fill. I've since done so and am starting to lose again, but slowly. Unfortunately, during this summer, I learned how to "cheat", so I'm having to break those habits. My 22 yr. old son has put on 50 lbs. since beginning a job where there is always food around, and he and I have just started an exercise routine and set goals to lose a certain amount by Christmas. I want to help him as much as I do myself, so that is keeping me focused and accountable. Good Luck! Kim

Hi, I just read some of your posts on here, and like the others that have posted, thought I'd let you know that most of us have gone through much of the same thing. I had my surgery on 12/12/06, and had a houseful of company that came for Christmas on 12/19. That meant I had to do all the shopping and COOKING for the holidays! I've always had the holidays here and everyone looks forward to their favorites and I like making them, but there were times when it was pretty difficult when I was on the liquid diet stage! I think keeping busy helped a lot, as everyone would sit down to eat, I'd just get busy cleaning up the kitchen. Once I could have thicker liquids, I didn't find many that I liked, so I put some of the other lower calorie ones in the blender until they were liquified and added extra water, then heated them, worked pretty good and gave me many more options. I even put a little bit of refried beans in the blender to liquify them once and added quite a bit of water so they were pretty runny, but I wouldn't do that too often, you can just imagine what a diet of refried beans would do to your system!! I dug out an old cup I got years ago when I had gone on the nutri-systems program (back when they had clinics like Jenny Craig). I like to use it because it says on it "NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS BEING THIN FEELS!" I keep reminding myself that when I want something really bad and it's really true and usually helps me keep my goal in mind, although I'd rather it said "healthy" instead of "thin", but then who am I kidding, I'd love to be thin again!. I haven't been perfect by far, but in 6 months I've lost 38 lbs., sometimes it fluctuate within a couple pounds. I need to go get my second fill and will soon, and would have liked this number to have been higher, but I'm still very glad I have my band and would go through all this again in a heartbeat. Hang in there honey, and best of luck to you! Kim

Hi, well, I'm absolutely the worst when it comes to eating something I don't like, and I'm VERY picky! I was always the kid left at the table for hours afterwards because I wouldn't eat my veggies, strangely, I was always the skinny one in the family until I hit my mid 30's. Anyway, I gave away several bottles of liquid vitamins until I found one I can handle. It's called Liquidmax Complete Nutrition and I get it at Costco. It costs about $12 or $13 and is fruit flavored and taste kind of like a liquid kids vitamin. At first I mixed it with a bit of juice in a tall shot glass and plugged my nose when I downed it. It also helps if you just breath through your mouth for the first few breaths afterwards (not your nose). But after doing that for about a month, I could then just chug it straight from the bottle just fine! No one else touches it but me, otherwise I would never do that! Just another idea, Good Luck! Kim

Hi, I was banded on 12/12/06 and had meant to ask to see the actual device that they would be putting in me, but with everything else that went on before the surgery, I forgot. A couple days after surgery, I felt like my port site was quite large and swollen, and was wondering if the port was actually pretty big, which concerned me. It took a few weeks to completely go down in that area (I was very bruised all over my stomach, but then I bruise easily) and by then I could tell it's actually quite small and doesn't show at all. I did see the band when I went for my first fill, but wasn't really concerned by that time. I've seen this question on here before, so I guess it's quite common and I don't think it's been a problem for anyone, just scared a few people. Hopefully you'll hear from the doctor soon.

Hi, I think you've asked a good question. I can only speak for my experience, and don't know if it's typical, but I'm starting to think it is. I was banded on 12/1206, and had very little restriction before my first fill. I did feel like something was stuck a couple times before that, but figured I just didn't chew enough. I stopped eating and tried again a couple hours later. After my first fill 6 weeks later, I realized that my idea of feeling "full" was not going to be the same as what I felt before. I've found that the things I should be eating seem to get stuck after just a few bites, but the things I shouldn't eat can go down by the buckets full! Not that I'm eating buckets full, but sometimes more than I should of these things. Before this surgery, I thought that I would feel full on small amounts of food, regardless of what they were, but haven't found this to be the case, which is a bit disappointing. For me I find that I have to stop eating when I get the "things are about to get stuck" feeling. If I go past that, I do PB. If I eat the things I should be eating, especially my proteins, that happens fairly quickly, and I guess that's what it's designed to do, but sometimes my stomach is actually still rumbling and hungry feeling, and I can't get enough down to feel satisfied, so I just wait for a short period and try to eat a few more bites. I now know that I'm not actually going to feel "full" like I did before and have to recognize that when things are about to get stuck, that's my "full" sign. Sometimes it's enough, sometimes not, and sometimes it doesn't come soon enough! Like they say, this little band is fickle!! All in all, I'm down 37 lbs., it's going slower than I wanted, but I'm not giving up and I'm happy I did this, even when I'm dying to eat my half a chicken breast and it won't let me!! Hope I didn't confuse you too much! Good Luck! Kim

I think I can make it May 20th, let me know when and where. Thanks, Kim

Hi Laura, fill me in on this yahoo group that met here in Lake Elsinore. We should meet for lunch or something one of these days. Kim

Hi, OCC in located in Tijuana, Mexico. Don't be scared off by that, as it is a wonderful facility and the care you get from all the doctors, nurses and staff is excellent, better than I've ever received here in the states. The cost (as of last Dec/06) was $8500, no hidden costs. You will need to have your first fill approx. 6 to 8 weeks later, their cost for that is $100, but you may find someone locally to do that if you don't want to travel back to TJ. The fills are when the insert a needle through your port site and they inject a small amount of saline solution, which will fill a tiny intertube (for lack of better description) that is inside your band. That is how they adjust the amount of restriction you have, and the amount of food you are able to consume at one time. It sounds scary, and I hate needles, but it was very painless, much easier than a blood test, and quick. You could write Lori through this site and get more information. Good Luck! Kim

Vergie, I think if you read more of the posts on this site, you will hear that most of us (if not ALL) had a wonderful experience with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. He is one of the most experienced surgeons with this proceedure, his staff speaks English and are all amazingly kind and helpful, the clinic is extremely clean and comfortable. They are very aware of people's concerns with going to TJ for surgery and will do whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable with your decision. I can honestly say that I have never had such care at a facility here in the states. I live close enough, that I am able to go back down there for my fills, but I have read here that many people in other states have found place near where they live to get their fills. Do some research and I'm sure you could find a place close to you for them also. You might even post that question here on this site and see if someone else lives near you that knows of a doctor that would help. Good Luck with your decision, just know that if you do choose Dr. Ortiz, you truly don't have to worry about what kind of care you will receive, it's excellent! Kim

I bought a Vitamix blender (wonderful machine) at Costco and they also sold a double pack of soy protein powder called Whole Nectar which can be blended with most anything to make smoothies or shakes. It also came with a recipe and info book with the powder and another one with the machine, so it gave me lots of ideas, but I try to stay with mostly fruits, veggies, non-fat yogurt, and ice to keep the calories lower and stay away from the ones that add sherbet and stuff like that. I'm really a picky eater and didn't like many of the drinks out there, but this one has a pretty neutral taste and doesn't change the flavor of the ingredients too much. You can get it on their website also, but it's cheaper if you find it when they have one of those road show type displays at Costco. www.wholenectar.com Kim

I started at 235 on 12/12 and am down to 200.6 right now. I should say 201, but I like the look of the 200.6 better!! I've had one fill and need to get another pretty soon. If you've been reading on this site, you probably already know the band isn't a cure-all, but a helpful tool, you'll still have to learn to manage your cravings and work with the band. But having said that, I'm very happy to have it and know it will help me control my portion sizes from now on. I didn't expect to be in a bikini by this summer, hell, who am I kidding, I just turned 50 so I really don't expect to be in a bikini at all, but I DO expect to be in much better shape by next Christmas and be able to run around a play with my new grandaughter! Good Luck! Okay, why did you guys have to mention the Hersheys syrup...I forgot that was even in the back of the fridge, now it's calling my name!

Hi Laura, I just wanted to let you know that I am also in Lake Elsinore! I was banded by Dr. Ortiz 12/12 and had my first fill on 1/24. I'm down 34 lbs. so far, but still have about 60 to go. You look wonderful and I bet you're looking forward to a great summer! I need to buckle down and really start to work better with this band as I'm struggling a bit with it right now. I think I need to get another fill pretty soon and then I have to up the exercise routine more, so I just need to wrap my head around it and get to it! You're results are encouraging, so thanks for the post. Kim

Hi Everyone, thought I'd give you an update. I'm down 30 lbs. now, but haven't lost anything in the past 2 1/2 weeks. I just spent 2 weeks in the Denver area, spending time with my son, daughter-in-law and 5 mo. grandaughter, who I could hardly stand to leave. I sooo enjoyed spoiling her while I was there! I'm not sure if I need another fill or not at this point. I still struggle getting down my proteins, but it's not as bad as before. I have found that many other things go down just fine, and in quantity! I've been trying to stay away from high cal stuff, but have been eating too many carbs, and I'm sure that's why the weight loss has slowed. I really have to get back on board with eating healthy and up my excercise program (and by that I mean...get an excercise program!!). I've been letting the old "craving demon" get to me lately and I have to put him to bed again! I saw a program on TLC tonight about a man that was 1000 lbs., so if that wasn't incentive enough, I don't know what is, poor guy! I started at 235, and am now down to 205 and I'm looking forward to breaking that 200 mark for my next goal! Wish me luck! Kim

BSN, I'm sure I speak for most of us that have followed your story here when I say that I'm glad that you and your husband are finally talking about your surgery. I'm sure it makes it much easier for you and I hope he's giving you all the support you deserve! Is the liquid diet suppose to correct the partial slip? I just hope that with Dr. Ortiz's help, you're able to get to the point where your band will work for you. I would hate to see you have gone through all this and then have to have it removed, but it you feel that's what you need in the long run, then that's what you should do. Is having it replaced and starting the process over an option? Regardless, I'll be wishing you success and health! Kim