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girl_barrie

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  1. Hi there, I am one of the few people that has experienced a band slippage. I was originally banded a year ago, and took off 60 pounds. Due to the weight loss, I was able to get pregnant and was very happy!! During my pregnancy, I was very frightened of gaining weight, so I didn't see Dr. Martinez to have my band loosened until my 8th month. To be honest, I was throwing up quite a bit. The nausea of pregnancy combined with my desire to eat in quantity allowed me to throw up whenever I got stuck so I could continue eating. I did that at almost every meal for several months. Sometime before I had my band loosened I began to experience horrible acid reflux, especially at night. I would wake up from sleep choking on my own vomit!! It was awful. When I told my OB/Gyn about it, she said that acid reflux in pregnancy is not unusual and prescribed an over the counter acid reducer, which worked a little, but as time went on it just got worse. I started to notice a "coffee ground"-like substance in my spit-up. Once I had the baby, I went to see Dr. Martinez and was able to have the fluoroscopy and discovered that my band had indeed slipped. My band was removed in an emergency surgery just over a month after I had my son. In the four months that I had my band off, I gained 40 pounds, but Thank Goddess, I was able to have the band put back on just this past April. I have had one fill since then and DO NOT THROW UP WHEN I AM STUCK ANYMORE!!! I learned my lesson. All in all, I would never want to have a slippage again, and am so grateful that Dr. Ortiz was able to replace my band. If nothing else, the experience has taught me how much I truly need my band and how careful I must be to follow the doctors' advise as to eating and CHEWING!!! I am now working on losing the weight that I had put back on, and not being terribly successful at it, especially since Dr, Martinez was very conservative with my first fill, but I do have faith that with time and perserverence it will work again.
  2. As I mentioned in the General Discussion thread, I just found out that I am about 2 months pregnant. I've noticed that for the past couple of days, the hungrier I am (which seems to be all of the time) the less I am able to eat. I am still making good choices of nutritious, chewable foods, like chicken and veggies cooked till tender, and I am paying attention to eating slowly and chewing thoroughly, but I seem to feel stuck after just 3 or 4 bites. I've tried eating little bits every 2 hours or so, and cheese that I can just suck on till it dissolves (like cheddar) seems to be the best, but I know it is very high in fat. I have lost about 4 pounds since the beginning of the month, which the Doctor says is O.K. and to not worry about. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can keep up the proper nutrition for the growth of the baby and not constantly feel like I am stuck but still hungry? I don't want to get an unfill unless it is absolutely necessary.
  3. I wrote about both my and my mom's experiences in the "How did you know that the surgery was right for you" thread. Please feel free to send me any e-mail questions that you have. I too am happy to share. My e-mail is girl_barrie@yahoo.com
  4. Do you think that my port will pop out like a ready button on a turkey?
  5. My experience of choosing to be banded was one that took over 2 years of research and resistance - trying ANYTHING else before surgery. First of all, you should know that I am a second generation patient of Dr. Ortiz. My mom had her band done 3 years ago. She is an extremely intelligent woman who is very thorough and well informed. She had previously had a triple coronary bypass, and had various other medical issues that could become complications and wanted to be absolutely sure of her decision. She researched the various proceedures for over a year and met several doctors in the U.S. as well as Mexico before she made her decision to go to Dr. Ortiz. The deciding factor was that at the time of her surgery, the LAP band proceedure was very new in the U.S. and Dr. Ortiz was the one who proctored (oversaw) the proceedure for certification of new doctors for the Inamed Company. Simply put, he was the best doctor for the job with the most experience. Please know that money was NOT a factor in her choice. Quality was everything. She has since taken off a total of 65 pounds, and has done it COMPLETELY her way! Yes the band helped her to make wiser food choices, but the whole reason that she chose the band over bypass was the ability to not HAVE to give any food up if she didn't want to. I was amazed at her progress, and I was getting fatter day by day. Flash forward 2 years to my finally being willing to take the steps to help myself. Going to Dr. Ortiz was basically a given. I found the Hotel Lucerna lovely - the staff was wonderful! They even remembered my parents, and I had an opportunity to "practicar mi espanol". All of my tests (cardio, nutritional counceling, blood work) were done on that first day. I was a bit nervous but ready to go. My surgery took all of 12 minutes - not even Dr. Ortiz' record! I was back to work within a week, but I run my own company and didn't have anyone making me do anything I didn't feel O.K. doing. The liquid diet was not difficult at all because for the first time in my life I wasn't hungry!!!! My nutrition was kept up by drinking Isopure - a clear protein drink that I got from GNC (the body needs the protein to heal more quickly). I found that it tastes like melted ice pops - not too bad. Lots of broth, apple juice and V8 thinned down with broth (its good hot!) along with the liquid protein. The weight fell off during those 3 weeks - 20 pounds! I was thrilled!! If I was willing to exercise more and eat less carbs, I'm sure the weight would come off more quickly, but I'm really O.K. with losing 3 to 5 pounds a month and not feeling deprived at all. I mean let's be real, if I was the kind of person who was into diet and exercise, I wouldn't have needed the band to begin with! Since then, I have taken off an additional 30 pounds, and I have had 2 fills, both down in TJ - I am willing to make the trip to get the personal attention and care from Dr. Martinez and all of Dr. Ortiz' staff. For me, the quality is worth the extra travel expense. Now I am quite restricted and have learned to CHEW, CHEW, CHEW - something that I think I had never really done. The best and most exciting thing is that after 7 years of trying to conceive with irregular menstrual cycles and infertility due to my excess weight, I just found out that I am PREGNANT!!~!~! Dr, Miranda, the nutritionist swore that I'd get pregnant within a year if I lost weight, and frankly I didn't believe her, but damned if she wasn't right! The AGB is a life saving, life giving surgery - it has been a real Godsend for me, and probably for anyone afflicted with obesity from not knowing what "full" feels like.
  6. When I had my surgery in July, I had told the nutritionist, Dr. Miranda, of my 7 year saga of trying to get pregnant with no results. She "guaranteed" me that with some weight loss, I'd be pregnant within a year. I smiled at what I thought was a vacant promise, and held very little hope. I had been thinking that at almost 40 years old, it was highly unlikely that I'd ever have children. Well, wouldn't you know, after only 7 months post-surgery and 50 pounds of weight loss - SHE WAS RIGHT!!! I am now 8 weeks pregnant and so excited it is beyond belief! Thank goodness my morning sickness is just a slight queasiness, something I can handle with the band, and so far, other than having to crush my vitamins and drink them in a nasty sludge my nutrition seems O.K. My questions are many. Have any of you been pregnant with the band? What were your experiences?
  7. Hi there, I am now one full month post-banding. Everything has been very easy going. I lost 28 lbs. during the liquid phase!!! It was a miracle, but then I gained about 5 lbs. back when I started eating solids. I am so grateful for the fact that I am eating approximately half of my pre-banding food quantities, but I am aware that I'm still making poor food choices (Too many carbs! My perennial downfall.) But, then again, if I was able to be in control of my eating, I would have just dieted, and not needed the band. I need to get a fill in 2 weeks, and we'll see how that helps. I am completely able to eat everything, even the stuff that other bandsters say that they have great difficulty with, as long as I chew well. After my fill, I'm going to attempt to keep the liquid phase going for as long as I can, mostly because I am terrified of my love affair with the food that is out to kill me! I'm O.K. with being bored of the flavors - funny how perspective changes - as long as I can experience some more weight loss, after all that is the reason for my getting the band. How are you guys doing? Barrie 249/224/140
  8. I am 8 days post banding. So Far, other than some actual wound healing pain, so good. I have been drinking Gatorade, tea, chicken and beef broth, and even heated up V8 juice(hate it cold!) thinned with broth. I have been drinking clear Isopure for protein - at least 60g to 80g each day. Today I had some soy milk - it was soooo yummy. Can't do cow's milk - it makes me too gassy, and with the gas that's already here I would explode! I am not physically hungry - first time in my life!!! My issue is that I am bored with the mostly fruity flavors that I am having. Does anyone have any suggestions to spice up, or change up my flavors? I figure that I am not having great quantities of stuff, so I'd really like to go for quality and taste.
  9. Hi there everyone! I am sooo excited, and a little bit nervous, as I am 3 days pre-banding. I have tried to go on a liquid diet (Ice blended Mocha's are liquid, right???), and have made some mediocre soup, and froze some for after my surgery. I couldn't stay completely away from solids, and have had some really good food - but then again, if I had any kind of control over my eating, I wouldn't need the band - now would I? I've read alot of the posts on the bandster groups, and my mom is 2 years banded, so I think that I have a good grasp on what to expect post - op, but I have some questions about pre - op, and during healing stuff. 1. What are some really beneficial things that I can do to make my surgery go easier? I know about the liquids to try to shrink my stomach for a more snug fit, but are there other things? 2. What are the best tasting and most nutritional ready-made juices and soups for the post op period? I also like to cook, so if anyone has any favorite recipes, I'd appreciate them as well. 3. I use Shaklee vitamins on a regular basis, and know that I will have difficulty with pills - what are the alternatives, and for how long will it be an issue? 4. What should I pack to bring with me? Thanks so much for the benefit of your experience. Barrie Dr. Ortiz 7/21/04
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