tuesdaythecat

Most people will not be able to feel the port under their skin until they have lost a significant amount of body weight. I still can't feel mine. In TJ they have a lidocaine based spray that is instantaneous to numb the skin (EMLA takes too long). What "nightmare stories" are scaring you? I didn't find the fills that stressful. The biggest stress was waiting in line to get out of Mexico. Personally, I think it was every bit worth it. In the past I was never able to achieve and maintain this kind of weight loss. I would plateau in the 170-180 area and give up and bounce back over 200.

Have you tried eating meat, cheese, milk, beans, or other good sources of protein??? According to the RDA protein intake should be 15-25% of your daily calorie intake. And yes, the soy proteins in health shakes can cause constipation.

Well, I beg to differ with everyone else. I found the needle to be painful and asked Dr Romero to numb the area the second time and found it to be a better experience for me overall.

The first fill is not adequate to determine weight loss. You definitely need another fill.

Just another thought. I had a problem with constipation a few months back. I was taking a MVI with too much calcium and it was the culprit. May want to back down on the dosage of the MVI. A lot of multivitamins carry way more than the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for vitamin and mineral consumption. And while this may seem like a good thing it is not. Vitamins in excess can have detrimental side effects as well.

Hair loss can also be the result of a protein deficiency. Make sure your protein intake is adequate.

Every person is different on how much it takes to feel restriction. I consider my fill to be good, if it prevents me from eatting too much or too fast. Such as if I try to shove a hot dog down quick, it will either come back up or cause pain.

I can totally relate to not telling your family. The only family member I told was my ex-sister-in-law before I went down, incase something happened. After a month I ended up telling my mom. Just this past month I told my sister. But those are the only people that know. I hate feeling like a guinea pig, with everyone staring at you to see if you have lost weight. Or feeling the pressure of waiting for someone to compliment you on weight loss. Family is truly important, but you have to find the strength within yourself. If you can find a support person than good.

I generally eat solids for all my meals. My biggest no, no is a latte from Starbucks. If I just wake up and am rushing off to work, I generally can't tolerate solids and will do soup or oatmeal.

Weight loss with a low BMI is going to be slow. But the purpose of the band is to eat SOLID FOODS. If you drink protein shakes all the time your body is going to shut down its weight loss because it is not getting a balance of all nutrients. Your body needs some carbs, preferably good carbs. Plus if you don't eat solids you will never know if you have restriction. For me if I eat beyond my restriction or too fast or don't chew enough it feels like some body is stabbing me in the chest.

I guess I am not a good example. I didn't want the band to feel like a diet, so I don't tend to eat as healthy as everyone else does. Yesterday, Monday I had a packet of quaker oatmeal for breakfast, for lunch I had a small fries and 1/4 of mushroom burger from (Runza), I didn't eat supper but had a latte from Starbucks and a chocolate chip cookie. Sunday I had a raisin biscut from Hardees and a latte for breakfast, for lunch I had 1/3 a chicken strip from Kentucky fried chicken with mashed potatoes and beans, for supper I had 1/2 a chicken strip and 2 scoops of ice cream. Work days I usually eat less and better though. I imagine if I ate better I would be loosing more weight, but then my mind would probably revolt from being on a "diet".

I have done soda, but it makes me really gasy and burpy so I try to avoid it for the most part. I hate feeling like an air factory.

Kristi Ann, I can totally relate. Don't feel alone. I would buy a medium pizza and cheese cake and eat it all. Often I would go to Wendy's and get a burger, large fries, and nuggets. I too still get too much and end up throwing it out. I imagine it will take a long time to totally alter what our subconscious is used to doing out of habit. I think part of myself likes to push the band and see if I can eat it. Ofcourse throwing up hurts, so I hate it when I do it.

Woo hoo! 9 pounds in 2 weeks, good for you. =D>

Well, I guess as personal NSV is getting to throw out so many clothes because they are too big. Tonight I put on a top for work that was previously too snug and it fit great. But come on scale lets rock!!!!

Four days in bed, can't say that is really normal. Even heart surgery patients are up and walking the day of surgery. I think not being up probably contributed to your pain.

I look at mine like a sink drain that you are taking the stopper on and off. I can feel the food and liquids move beyond the band and if I drink too fast I get to burping more

While I am happy that you are happy, I am a realist. I would like to refer you to a web-site http://museum.nist.gov/exhibits/apparel/vanity.htm I still want scale and tape measure.

Scared, I didn't experience this kind of pain myself. But I would recommend going to the emergency room if you are still having this sharp pain. Could be just the healing process, or could be something else. Always best to be sure. As far as the surgeon, shame on him.

Stacie, For sure this site welcomes anyone to the forum as long as they are respectful.

Well, if insurance doesn't cover the procedure in the U.S. it is definately cheaper to have it done in TJ -by at least 20,000 dollars. Secondly Dr. Ortiz has been performing the procedure and is more skilled than most American doctors, so much so that he has trained some to do it. As far as being in this forum, this is the forum associated with Dr Ortiz's clinic -hence why mostly his patients on here.

Does anyone know if Dr. Ortiz will remove a band placed by a different Mexican surgeon? I am pretty sure he would, since he will go in and do the band on people that have had by-pass. He is very knowledgeable about the band, so I think it would be easy for him.

Hey! I consider myself a binger too, that is why I felt the band would be for me. I had no sense of full and didn't seem to want to know full either. I would get off work in the morning and go to the bakery and get an egg custard and 2 bagels and have them down in no time. After sleeping I would wake up and eat a medium pizza (yes by myself) and have 1-2 pieces of cheese cake afterwards. I could terrorize a 20 piece chicken nugget and chase it with a large fry. I still have the psychological need to binge, but with the band the pain/need to puke stops me short just when I think I am about to go crazy. That is one thing I have really loved about the band, I don't have the dieting binge cravings like I used to because I am not on a diet. I allow myself to have indulgences, but it is all in moderation. As long as you stick to solids, the band will keep you in check. Until my first fill though, I pretty much could eat as I wanted with no restriction. Now with my second fill I am even more in check.

Okay, not sure why you need the passport. Driving into and coming out of Mexico walking or driving does not require a passport. I have yet to be asked for mine and I have even been down this year. The passport law is only for flying into Mexico and flying out of Mexico. For me personally, if I get food stuck water is the worse thing. Causes me extreme pain. I usually try to walk it off or make myself burp, or the dreaded puke.

In the clinic calls are free from your room. I made a few calls to the states. Verizon service was poor, sometimes got a signal sometimes didn't.