mona-camille

i HAVEN'T HAD IT DONE BUT SAW TV SHOWS AND KNEW PEOPLE WHO DID, AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ONE PERSON WHO WAS HAPPY OR THAT IT LOOKED GOOD ON.

I have a 10 cc VG band and have 10 cc's in it. That is how much it took for me to get decent restriction.

Be careful with the ones you crush, sometimes if they are time released you shouldn't crush them. Ask your prescribing doctor. I too use the centrum silver chewable and they are ok. I hated all the others. But, now I can take any pill except for the super huge ones. Just take them with lots of water to make sure they dissolve good.

I didn't find this post offensive at all either, nor did I shake my head. I too, could have posted something worded similar, simply because I just happen to be a dramatic speaker. Nothing wrong with that. I think it is very helpful to newbies so they know what to expect if it happens to them, and not all experienced bandsters have had this yet either. Plus, Stormy was scared and needed reassurance. Thats what we are here for, help, not to belittle people.

I've never ever heard of anyone dying from the lap band. Gastric bypass, yes, lapband no. Your chances of dying from not getting the surgery to lose weight are much higher. Think of it that way.

The reason they cannot fill you up 'to the top' with the band is because even the slightest fill will cause swelling to your stomach. If they fill you up too fast with too much you will simply swell shut and not even be able to take in water. Thats is why it always takes a few fills til they get it right. And, with the larger band it can take much longer. I don't mean to scare you, but we are ALL different. I have the VG 10 cc band and it has only now just given me true restriction like everyone else has. I have had 8 fills and have a total of 10 cc's in me. And yes, several were done at OCC and under fluro. And I have been banded a year and a half. So, for me, I was on the verge of giving up. But, now sinece my last fill last month, I feel like I hear everyone else. Cannot eat until afternoon, tiny bites and chew to smitherines. And it took a year and a half. Please don't get discouraged and understand that I am an unusual case. I am the only one my doctors have ever heard of needing 10 cc's, but thats where I am. The weight is still coming off slowly, but FINALLY the scale is moving. I don't want you to think you will take forever like me, just trying to show you how different we all are and the reasons why you can't get filled to the brim too fast. Good luck and no matter what, don't give up!

People with the larger sized VG band typically get larger fills. My first 2 fills were 3 cc's each with no restriction whatsoever. I am now at 10 cc's and have my first true feeling of restriction. It too over a year for me, but I am not a typical band case. Yes, by the OCC.

Tuesday night I woke up at 1 am with chest pain so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. But, I KNEW it was acid, just never had it so darn painful before. I took 4 tums which did very very little but at least got me back to sleep. Ever since, I have felt like I am burned from my band to the back of my throat. It still hurts and it feels like a severe burn. All the time too, not just occasionally throughout the day. I got liquid malox and OTC pills and tried them and it does help, but only slightly. I am drinking just liquids right now in case I am stretched out. I know acid reflux can burn your esophogus, but would the pain be constant for 2 days now? I don't even know what it came from. The last thing I ate that night was some raw carrots and a few handfuls of Whole Wheat yogurt/blueberry cereal. The cereal I ate was very crunchy and I didn't eat it with milk, so maybe I damaged my throat or something from it? Just guessing out loud here. A little nervous because of my sister having her band erode into her stomach and my band is 1 1/2 years old now. I did have a tiny .3 fill 2 weeks ago but wasn't too tight then. Ate less, but could definitely eat. I am not vomitting or anything, and I am sure I could eat of I wanted too, but I am thinking to stay on liquids just in case I am swollen. So...........I guess I am just wondering if acid could make me feel like this for this long and this constant? I mean, it IS slightly better today, but I can still feel like my throat from the back of my mouth to my band feels burnt. When I drink something warm or cold, it still hurts. Any thoughts on this from any of you acid sufferers?

I just had an additional fill and was told by the doctor doing it that the reason you need to have your band checked each year after placement is to check the fluid. Slight fluid loss is very common yearly and it is not due to any leaks, rather it is like osmosis. She explained it to me as the saline in our body is like 180 and the saline solution used for fills is like 120 so over time, slight amounts are leaked out through osmosis which is perfectly normal, nothing to fear. You just need tweaking every so often.

I stayed both places and hands down, the Lucerna was my favorite. My bed was very soft and felt like I was sleeping on a cloud. And I was there 3 times and it was the same each time! The Mariott is ok, I just thought it looked and felt cold. Lucerna is much more personable and warm. Plus, you can walk from the OCC to the Lucerna. I did 4 hours after surgery. I was one of the lucky ones with nothing more than a bit of gas and NO PAIN AT ALL so the walk was very nice. THe Mariott is in a bit of a busier area with more traffic and I didn't feel anywhere near as safe as I did at the Lucerna.

Uh Oh, thats what happened to my sister. Everything hurt of burned going down, even liquids and it was her badn had eroded into her stomach and had to have it removed. I hope that doesn't happen to you!!!! Slips are easier to fix and canusually be kept in can't they? But you should be able to drink with that. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!

Apparently she has moved to another location. Does anyone have her new phone number? Her old one was disconnected and does not leave a forwarded number.

You can go to any auto parts store and buy on yourself just like you can get for your car. They are the same thing and work the same way. Keep it in your pocket or purse and connect it to the plane seatbelt when you get on and no-one will know a thing! Saves the embarrasmenet of having to ask for one when everyone can hear. If you can't do that, ask the flight attendenet as you are getting on the plane and they will discreetly hand you one.

Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POOH on her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't you dare be ashamed! She's jealous thats all! She is the one who is trash for liking it in the beginning and then letting someone else sway her opinion and then having the nerve to say nasty things. All after she originally thought it was cool! She let someone change her mind and that is pitiful for her! She reminds of a bible thumping ne'er do wrong JERK! So instead of feeling embarrassed you go shake your booty in her face and smile, knowing you are better than her and she is nothing but green with jealousy! Don't you dare let her make you feel bad! You walk with your head held high and be proud! Anything less would be admitting defeat and would be just what she wants. You are a confident and proud lady and have every right to hold your head high!

me too!!! ramona29@rcn.com

BRAVO BRAVO!!! I'd fill up your panties with dollar bills if I were a guy!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOL

This vitamin D deficiency is very curious to say the least. It is almost impossible to have a deficiency in it. All you need is 10 minutes of sunlight each day to get what you need. Or, dairy products. Sure makes me wonder how that can happen since having a deficiency is so rare and unheard of before now. I just wonder if it another byproduct if the crap they put in the food we eat.

Everyone recovers differently. I had no problems at all and was walking like crazy 2 hours after surgery. In fact, I walked back and forth from the hotel to Dr. Ortiz's office several times. I never had any pain other than gas and the walking is definitely encouraged to counteract that anyway. Even after I came home, I was still walking several miles a day and had no worries at all. If your walk is 2 months after surgery I can't imagine why you couldn't so it. Even if you had pain, it would be gone in 2 months. As for running, obviously that is much more strenuous than plain walking but if you take it slow for the first few weeks, I see no problem. But double check with Dr. Ortiz, since running IS different than walking. I just re-read your post; is this an ALL walking event? If so, there is no reason at all you can't do it. Walking after surgery is VERY encouraged and can only do you good. Walking is not considered strenuous as running is. I was thinking it was a running event. And 2 months out you won't be on strictly fluids anymore so why not? Just stay hydrated. Also, I tend to think the more fit you are ahead of surgery the faster you will recover. I am thinking that is why I had such an easy time of it because I have always been a huge walker. But, like I said, we all heal and recover differently.

I am so very sorry for you! I am an avid animal lover and know how badly you are hurting right now. And yes, this can make you incredibly tight If you want, you can go to my website (petlossmemories.com) and I'll make you a memorial for free, ok? (((((HUGS)))))

Hi Stormy and congratulationson your weoght loss YEAH FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My sister just had to have her band removed due to erosion. The majority of the time it is due to doctor error in stitching the band in too tight or too deep. She was banded here in the states. I don't think we have to wrroy about it being banded by Dr. Ortiz. He has way more experience and knows the proper way to put them in. She also had the intestinal problem lat year too when the tube wrapped around her intestines because he left the tubing too long and should have cut it shorter. Unfortunately, she has already gained most of her weight back and it's only been 2 months since she had it out.

Has anyone heard of or tried the sublingueal drops of HCG? I found a web site that has these and it is much cheaper.

Morning migraines can be caused by having sleep apnea. Losing weight often cures sleep apnea, hence no more headaches. I've got sleep apnea and as soon as I got my CPAP machine to breathe with at night, the morning migraines disappeared, so did the terrible sinus problems and feeling tired all the time. Being overweight is the most common reason for sleep apnea and most obese people have it, so it goes to show that losing weight would help that. Not always, but often. Mine isn't gone yet, but it might be if I ever lose enough weight.

yes, me too.

Look for a Dr. Ren at New York University. They used to do them for $100.00. On the east coast ehre, it is very hard to find someone to do fills on Mexican patients, but Dr. Ren does. There is also someone in Maryland that does them for $200 but only on wednesdays. Thats closer than Mexico.