DianeK

I recently had the opposite but with curious results as well. This summer, 3 weeks after a "good fill", I vomitted while eating a stirfry dish. This caused irritaion leaving me so swollen I couldn't even drink water. After 2 weeks of struggling to stay hydrated, I went for a slight unfill... at my earlier fill (with someone different) they'd said I now had 2.2cc in a 4cc band (they didn't take it all out and measure though-they just did the math). When this surgeon pulled out my fluid to do an unfill he found I only had 2.0 in and removed .2cc to allow some relief. Here I am 3 months later. Having been able to eat a horse daily for the past 2 months, I went to see this man again. After he finally figured he was actually in my port (he'd been unable to draw anything out...) we found I had nothing at all!!! He did say the system can sweat and lose fluids but denies ever seeing actual puncture of the tubing before. I realized they could lose but that much on such a short time??? Bottom line is, if ever in doubt go in and get it checked to see how much you have. Even waiting a bit can result in weight gain causing pyschological and emotional stress. Theses are expensive pieces of equipment we've paid for and they do require tweaking and fine tuning to work. I know it costs but after losing 95 lbs already I can tell you it's all so worth it!

I tell people this was the easiest weight I've ever lost in my life...I was 294 pre-op diet was 204 after 6 months, had my tummy tuck and would be pleased if another 20 came off in the future. Starting out bigger, you may actually see more success at first that will give you the faith and hope you need to enjoy and work with your band. I love the adjustability and the longterm use with less complications that the band offers.

Desperately need some opinions too...similar question to recent help one... I had a good fill approx 3 weeks ago.(now have 2.2 in my 4 cc band and it was done with fluro) I've been eating carefully and have had my band for over a year. 6 days ago I was eating veggies from a strifry and had consumed maybe 8 bites, chewing pretty carefully I thought. I felt full suddenly and had to PB...the spasm led to vomitting a small amount, then again the rest of what I had eaten. Since then I feel like fluids go down very slowly making me feel full with every gulp, to the point of comsuming way less than I need. I have even PB'd cold teas and warm soups. I don't feel a blockage necessarily, but does this sound like my band may have slipped, preventing even fluids from having a clear path to travel??

Hey Arizona Kate! My stomach always growling but I've never associated that with hunger so still ignoring it. I'll admit I'd like to eat and chew soon, my jaw even feels sore from not using it, but, just keeping an eye on the calendar for the magic 31! Lots of head hunger when food is around, but I was too scared to try eat anythign too early so was able to put it off. I'm enjoying my creamy soups and even add protein powder to thicken them a bit more and get a better full feeling from it. After one bowl I think wow that tasted good I'd like more, but then check my stomach and realize I feel satisfied-Oh what a feeling! I'm also trying to dream of my first dinner meal-probably go for fajitas without a tortilla-chicken and veggies and then eat a small amount and enjoy it again the next day if the family leaves it alone LOL. I'm so scared of how things will go, I sure picture myself eating very slowly and chewing extra well that's for sure... By the way, I feel great-going back to the gym on a modified work-out, fake tanning and getting ready for a vacation to Belize in April- Enjoying fitting back into clothes that were way too tight and even digging through the skinny box a bit. Love you, and talk soon.

We(my sister and I) were banded March 10th and found we had everything we needed with us. We brought: Crystal Light individuals OXO in a bottle (use the coffee maker to heat water) Light jello cups (like the pudding cups)-Yes, you can even carry-on the plane if in the 100ml size and in your ziploc baggie. Gas X strips The only thing we bought was some diet coke the afternoon before and a dinner at the Lucerna restaraunt that cost about 23$ for 2 people. The servings were large and we had decided afterwards that we could've shared one. we did use our credit cards for the restaraunt and got a good exchange rate. We just asked the hotel cleaning lady every time we saw her in the hallway for more "awua pourfavor" and she gave us several more. They do have 3 bottles in the room when you arrive and refresh them daily. There is a little corner store across the street (safe during the day to walk to). The lime popsicles are about 30 cents each and very good. I found cold things caused less gas pressure after the surgery. You can buy water there if you need, but we found we didn't drink as much the first few days due to gas and a bloating feeling some people get. There is also a Starbucks next to the store for those that absolutely need their good caffeine. As far as pain goes-the clinic does provide you with 4 sublingual tablets that you take evey 12 hrs, so it is usually sufficient for your stay there. I didn't need the liquid Tylenol until after being home a few days. As far as money goes-we're Canadian so we withdrew 100$ USD at the San Diego airport then changed some to Pesos at the hotel for when we went to the market, but got lots of 1$ bills fom them for all the tipping. We also left a tip in the hotel room when we left, for the cleaning lady. The bellboys are very helpful and full of hints and information should you need whlle you're there. I spent about 100$ on silver jewellery, vanilla, and other stuff for my kids as souveniers, but you could easily spend more. There is an ATM at one end of Revolution Ave which is safe to use if you're with others and don't flash your cash after... Good luck to all who are still planning. We have no regrets and felt prepared while there.

This is Diane from Canada, eh. (Kate loves that-funny how it's weird to type it, yet we use it verbally all the time) I was banded with these other gals on March 10th, and boy is banding a good term for it. It's a bond you'll never forget, to go through such an amazing experience with complete strangers and come out of it banded as close friends. I think about what I've been telling people about my experience and I realize I had alot of laughs. All the way from sitting around the pool the afternoon before with Kate, her hubby, and Val, and talking about our lives pre-banding, where we're from etc down to the pacing the halls with our boyfrineds(IV poles), to the bartering on Revolution Ave. The OCC is immaculate, precision run, busy, and yet very calming. The nurses are great-Josepha with her accent-"yoor from Can-ada? Name is Deeanee?" LOL. She grasped my elbow, tapped my forearm, states "good vein" and pop-the IV was in. My sister beside me wasn't even finished explaining how hard it is at home for an IV start and they were already explaining all the meds they were giving her through it. She hadn't even felt it!! If in doubt about the OCC, please believe it's the top choice to go to: Cost, skills, facilities. As far as TJ and Mexico goes, read everyone's posts about personal saftey, use your head and enjoy it. As far as the Lap band itself- I feel such a re-newed hope and excitement about my future; good-bye antidepressants, hello supermodel as one gal's husband liked to call us. I haven't been hungry yet, and the mental hunger is working out OK too. I've never physically felt hunger before, so all this stomach growling is very easy to ignore. I realize all the cheating on my previous failed attempts were in large part due to mental issues-now I'm armed with a tool to focus my mental to. Don't get me wrong-there are challenges all the way through this recovery period, and I look forward to the day I can say, I feel great. Until then-I'm already seeing the great changes in my life.

My sister and I were banded 1 week ago and I think I can speak for both of us when I say, get it now and if you're stilll searching for a Doc-go to TJ and Dr Ortiz! We're from Canada-have great health care here, but banding is not covered. We financed ourselves through lines of credit, cashing in investments etc. My husband was most supportive in getting us here, baceause as he's always said with all my diet efforts (which got costlier each time), my health and our future are priceless. I actually did soe research adn found that in teh past 7 years alone, I'd spent way more than this cost in Mexico, on other efforts-gym passes. diets, clothes as I kept yo-yoing in size, and of course junk food binges in between. We had the best time going to TJ, the commradarie, fun, care, facilities and people are top notch in our book. I'm a nurse here and found the experience amazing. You're in the best hands at the OCC, and we made some fantastic friends for life with the others there at the same time. Keep reading testimonials here and you'll make up your mind soon. I knew about this procedure over 10 years ago, but it wasn't fincncially feasible at the time. If you can swing it, I'd say do you're reasearch and then get ready to do it now. When you used to say,I'm going to go on a diet and get healthy...next month, people would say why wait? If you're going to get banded and watch this tool help the weight to fall off...why wait? I've lost 8 pounds in a week just healing after my surgery plus the 11 I lost in 2 weeks pre-op; I'm more concerned at this time about getting enough calories in a day to prevent going into starvation mode. Keep ready this forum and good luck.

Like Val said earlier: When we sent shopping on Mar 11, the day we were discharged from the clinic, we saw the same things, lots of police presence on Revolution Ave, and a few military trucks went by. Clynn is right-use common sense:use a cab from the hotels to get around, go during the daylight, grab someone to go with you (a great way to get moving post-op anyeways) and don't flash the money. I'd hate to see anyone miss out on a great experience, bartering etc. We had a great time and just kept an eye on what was going on around us. My family loved the souveniers and I'd do it agin in a heartbeat!

This would not be uncommon during a surgical procedure esp. if you have any history of clotting. They probably check your INR (blood clotting time) during the lab work and it would show if your blood is too thick. NOT every one will end up with this same treatment normally, nor the same advisement about flying etc, otherwise the way they have the 3 day timing set up would not work so well.

We go tubing behind a boat and I've been trying to learn how to waterski, but ended up wiping out alot trying to haul my large mass out of the water. Would landing on my stomach on the water pose a risk at anytime, or are you saying that once your recovery period after banding is over, the port is well insitu that nothing can cause moving or tearing of stitches or whatever? It sounds like I'll have enjoy slow skiing in the sun after banding in March, but watch out next year... Whoo Hoo!

I'd love to hear how the progression goes in activiy after surgery. I do several sports that have potential for some "body battering" and I wonder if having the port will affect them. When I return from surgery on March 10th, ski season won't be finished yet. Do I have to take it easy or will I even be able to ski for a while?

My husband commented the other day whe we were skiing, that he can't wait until I'm not a mile ahead of him when we're skiing especially on the flatter ski-outs, I had retorted "Well I can't wait until I can wipe my --- better too, so what!" LOL. We laughed pretty hard when I told my sister "Spare Tire" later on. I hear you all, the list of benefits is huge and I'm so glad to hear from others who understand since it's difficult for our slimmer partners to fully know how obesity affects all aspects of our lives...LOL

Sorry it was a blank response at first... My sister and I are getting banded March 10th as well. We are flying down from British Columbia, Canada on Sunday the 9th and will be at the Lucerna that afternoon. We're nervous and excited as we jumped on the bandwagon quickly and are barely hanging on right now it's moving so quickly yet so slow...