Suzie

Congrats on the weight loss. Doesn't it feel good? I go for my first fill tomorrow. I am excited and a little aprehensive. I am still losing weight, 24 down at about 2 lbs. a week. I like that and do not want to ruin this slow steady progress where i can still eat. I have heard some fills are too tight so I worry a tad about that but I am going as I will never know unless I try it. What is sliming and there is another word people are using....Pg or something like that. So you are both retired. That sounds so nice. Being able to take off and have a mini vacation to Mexico sounds nice too. My husband and I travel when we can. We went to Mexico once. I enjoyed the cheap prices of things we bought but it was summer and so hot. I got a little sick. I have taught school for 21 years and with the "No Child Left Behind Act" the pressure has become too much. I do not enjoy having to push the kids, make them listen, pressure the parents, etc. All negative now. I have talked to my husband about retiring but I am still 5 years away from collecting teacher retirement and I am not 100% ready to go yet. I do not know if I will be able to figure out if I am ever 100% ready or not. What did you do?

tHANK YOU

Snowbird, I just read the post you sent me on a post I wrote under patient testimonials. Thanks. How are you doing by the way? I responded to your post but thought I would write to you here also. I just lost another 2 lbs. this morning.

May I say I enjoy reading all your posts. It helps so much to see how all of you are doing. There is no one that understands this better than people that are going through this. Good luck to all of you and keep sharing.

Hello Snowbird, I go for my first fill tomorrow. I am nervous and excited. I have been steadily losing weight since my surgery 6 weeks ago. I am down 24. I have settled in with about a 1-2 lbs. weight loss the last 3 weeks. Part of me is thinking lets just keep it this way and the other is saying give it a try. You will never know unless you do. I am able to eat anything and have been eating anything I want just so much less of it. If I had chose low calorie foods I probable would of lost more but....that is not what I have done. I teach school so I have been getting the tray everyday. Yes, I am one of the few that like the school lunches and always felt so guilty before for eating it all. Now it is fun to get the tray and eat half. How have you been doing on solids?

Pinktweety, How are you doing?? I am down 24 lbs. now 6 weeks post op. How aobut you? Still having gas sometimes. Thanks for your answer about the gas and hope it gets better as time goes on. Never had gas like this but it is still so worth it.

Good Morning, Just wanted you to know I took Gas X last night and either it helped or I was about finished with the gas. Still not sure what I did to get that much gas. That is about my 3rd bout with it. I now understand men and their gas much better. Hope you all have a good day. Does anyone know how you change your font and sizes. I have tried clicking on them and choosing a different one but it does not change. Thanks

I have already been banded but I wanted to say Good Luck! I am happy for you. Hope you find a buddy and let the rest of us know how you are.

I understand you asking this question as it was one of the questions I had too. It appears to be different for everyone but I have lost 24 lbs. in 6 weeks. My friend lost that or more in 6 weeks. In fact, she has lost 70 lbs. since June. Hope this helps you.

Hello Brennie, I am so glad to hear from you. You posted a message to me right before you went in for surgery. How are you feeling?????? I took GAS X last night and I guess it is what helped. I have had this a few times and when I have it I have gas like I have never had before. I understand for the first time why my husband releases gas every so often now. Ha!! The surgery was still worth it!!!! What are gas x strips? I took chewable tablets.

I had gas so bad today that I almost came home from work sick. I had it last night and again today. I do not know what I am doing to cause this bloating and gas in my stomach. I worte last night and hoped someone would respond to my other post. Maybe this is something unusual and I need to notify my doctor.

I am due for a fill in two days and then I will go back in 2 weeks. I too thought it seemed too soon but they explained that sometimes the first fill does not stay as tight. I will soon find out.

Hello Kari, I just got your reply. I have been out of town for a few days. I am so happy for you. I will be so glad to see 41 lbs. gone. This is the first time in my life I feel hope that I will be thinner and not gain it back. Has it made a big difference in your life?

I was banded on Sept. 26. I go for my first fill this wed. I attended a support group and they showed us a fill. It looked okay. The needle was bigger than I expected but they give you a pain reliever shot first. I am like you I do not know what to expect but ready for it. I have stopped losing weight and can eat more now so know I need a fill.

Is anyone having trouble with gas? I was told to avoid carbonated drinks and milk products. I have avoided the carbonated drinks and milk products most of the time but still have a bout with gas bad enough to put me to bed. Does anyone have this or know why? Thanks

Brenny, First of all I am so glad you are back. I thought about you all day of your surgery. Mine was very tender also, but my doctor told me the port site could be tender for the first 5 weeks. It did not stay tender that long, but for some reason I guess that area is more tender than the rest. Hang in there. How are you doing on the fluids? I did not see a weight loss for the first 4 days so don't get discouraged if it takes a few days. I was also weak for about 4 days. One of my friends mowed her lawn the 3rd day but I did not feel that well then. I have diabetes so sometimes I wonder if that made me feel weaker. She did not have diabetes. My email is Kellco@conwaycorp.net if you want to email me about your surgery.

Karen and Snowbird and everone else. I am sorry I said anything. I kept reading bad comments about us doctors. I am really sorry I took it personal. I won't say anything else. It has been such a miracle for me. I do not want to lose being able to talk to all. I have noticed I seem more emotional since the surgery. Here I am so much happier, yet crying at the slightest thing. Sorry again.

But they have put the US down with many of their comments. Some have stated they would never get the same care in the US and no one can really make that kind of statement unless they had gone to every US lap band doctor and this is impossible. So I am saying praise Dr. Ortiz all you want but do not say he is better and you will not find the same experience here in the US. Personally I would not want to have to look for a place for a fill, nor have to pay for a fill. With this US doctor I get free fills for 18 months and support groups each month. No air flights so how much are you saving when you add all that in?

I made a potato cheese soup, cottage cheese, chili, scrambled eggs, baked potato, Does this help?

Also, I had a hernia and he fixed that and did not charge extra. No problems with anything so far. In fact, when I see the rubber soled socks they sent me home in I feel a feeling of contentment and warmness as it was a good experience and I have good memories of surgery day.

I am new to this site but the more I read the more surprised I am by the negative responses I have heard towards US doctors. Some facts: I was banded in Little Rock Arkansas by Dr. Wellborn. Cost was 14,200. This includes 18 months of free fills $100 per fill after that. He has over 1000 patients and I have heard nothing negative yet. He has support groups that meet once a month and the cost is free. His staff are all lap band patients with the exception of his wife. She is an RN. They are available any time of the day. I have emailed her at 7:30 at night and got a response at that evening. I expected to hear from her the next day but She uses a blackberry and checks it often. I have met two women that were banded by him several years ago (2003) and both are still pleased. This has been my experience so far. I hope this helps someone that may be considering the US.

May I say something with as much respect as I can give. I had my banding done in US. Why? Because a friend had it done and it never occured to me that I could go to Mexico. I did not know about Mexico.....but can we be considerate of people that have had in done in the US. A few have said they got better care than they would of received in the US. My experience has been wonderful. I have had a caring, compassionate team of people. My doctor hires only people that have been banded so you have plenty of resources. I am not trying to talk people in the US surgery as I think it is great to go to Mexico or here. I just do not want to put down the US doctors as I had a great experience.

SueQ, I had great care in the US. Wonderful people and so much compassion.

Would I do it again? He__ l YES!!!!! Only regret is why in the world did I not do this when I first heard of it.