Teri

Diane, Thanks, it's been a learning exp. Just curious, when u say you think that it's a whole different view point from insurance banding, what other view point do you mean? I never thought about it. Teri

Surgery was Nov 1, 2006. I have lost 31 pounds, and my son has lost 34. Lots more energy in our house! Teri

Oh Lori, I cannot believe your healing process has lasted this long.!!!! I feel for you. Being down and out is no fun. Glad to hear you are doing better since you are working more. All the best to you. We missed you too.! > Teri

I think your doing great Diane! It is slower, but it's better to lose slower. I personally like this site for support, and info you probably would not know otherwise. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz and this is the website for Obesity Control Center. There is support here that other people may be going through what your going through. Just reading and following the progress of others banded and thier stories is great. I personally am a little embarrased about posting about all my fills and unfills, but if someone can learn from my adventure, glad to save them from the headaches. Way to go on your weight loss so far.!! Teri

Oh, Thanks Queen of Chunk, How awesome you will get to experience losing weight also almost effortlessly. You will love it. It is such a great feeling, and even though I still have a long way to go, I haven't bought anything, because I can fit back into my smaller clothes I kept from a few years ago. But, I cannot wait to shop when I get down to the goal. Your smart for not buying it, cuz you will lose, and have so much fun trying on things that feel good and fit good. Congratulations on your surgery. Keep us posted!! Teri

OK. Oh my gosh! It seemed this prior fill of 2.65 was perfect for about 2 weeks, THEN yet AGAIN the band tightened. Could not keep water down nor eat for a couple of days. Went for an unfill. Had her take out ALL of the thicker saline, since I believe has been the cause of the band tightening up weeks after a fill all the time. I drank 4 big glasses of water, phew, tasted soooooooo good. Then, had her put back in 2.5cc of the reg. saline. I don't feel any restriction with this fill, which is a bummer! But, being so tight, I didn't want to experiece that again, so I am taking it slow for a while, until of course I get "antsy" from gaining, which is what usually happens. I have only had 4 fills, but the band keeps getting tighter and tighter weeks later after a fill. I think it might be from that thicker saline. If you don't need it, don't get it. The only reason I tried it was because after the 3rd fill, I was given 3.4cc with reg. saline, and for one month was NOT restricted. So, being I was still at surgery weight, 3 or 4 months later I got a little scared, thinking this wasn't going to work for me and what happens when I do start to lose? - There is only a few more cc's I could go. This is where I'm at. What an experience!!! I must say, I would not give up the band for ANTHING! - within reason of course. For me to lose 31 pounds is thee best feeling. I feel so much better. It is truly amazing. I would go through all the fill/unfill frustration, again, (not that I would want to) but would, to keep losing. I believe I'll find that happy medium with fills that will last more then a couple of weeks before it tightens. We'll see. Now that I'm back to the reg. saline, it might be a process finding the right amount again. Until then, when I look back at the progress, I am loving it. Teri

Skep3key, I think personally, you have made a lot better choice with the lapband then gastric. From info out there, the lapband is healthier for your body. You still must make good food choices which can be hard at times because when your filled correctly and know you can eat little, you like to indulge in the good stuff that got us all plump. It's way to much fun. Even with all my fill problems, I would not trade this for ANYTHING! You are in the best of hands with Dr. Ortiz and staff. The whole Mexico thing was huge for me to. You will see. Enjoy the best! Very caring and organized! Remember, you will lose slower, but results show after a couple of years, the weight between the to different surgerys is equal. Best of Everything to you with everything! Teri

PM is sending a personal message. Go into your controls and you will find it there. Teri

NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The band works great if your filled properly. I would not trade this for ANTHING!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT, especially the losing part! It's not even close to the struggle I have had keeping weight off. PS. Kyle hasn't had any problems with the band, just me. Teri

Oh Thanks bunches Pamela. Your fill is coming up.!!!! It's April already, and your less then a couple of weeks. It does make a big difference. Kyle and I gained all our weight back before the first fill. We tried not to, but it was around Christmas and New Years. Lots of food, family, parties, wine, etc. Plus, all our favorite restarants we long for and miss in MI since we are in AZ. Anyway, I cannot believe it, but it's another 2 pounds down tonight for a total of 29 pounds. It IS SUCH A GREAT FEELING!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'll be dropping pounds in no time. Good Luck between now and your fill! Teri

Oh!! Congratulations to you on your new bundle of joy. How very exciting!!!!!! Teri

Judy, Hope your feeling better with your teeth being pulled. And when the time comes, you will not only be able to follow the rules, you will love the results!!! Good Luck to you, on your future surgery soon. Teri

Wow- Whipeee! Another 3 pounds gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Down 27 pounds this morning. I was shocked, and the scale read 158.0 from 161.2. I feel so much lighter and I feel I have so much energy. I do love this band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I love being back into the 150's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yahoo Magoo~~~~~~~~~~~ just being silly. Hey, yesterday was 5 months since surgery! Teri

Hi Michele, I'm in Gold Canyon. Almost neighbors. I'm on the boards almost everyday. Feel free to PM me if you'd like and I might be able to help. Teri

I agree, great suggestions. Lord knows the troubles I've had with fills. Thanks for the info. It sure will help the new folks.

Hi Angela We have similar profiles. I was at 185, and 5'2 - 5'3 depending on who measures. Thought I was always 5'2, until the clinic measured me at 5'3. (?) and also want to get down to 130 or so. Maybe more. I'm older then you though, 48. Believe it or not, your wanting to sleep until surgery was exactly like I felt, being so anxious. LOL Good Luck to you and happy losing!! Teri

Good Question. He is doing great. He's down 34 pounds as of today!! No problems with him and fills, because his fills were less agrresive then mine, which is the way to go. Saves on the troubles. We just had them add little by little for him because he had already felt some resctrition when getting filled. Teri

Good Question. He is doing great. He's down 34 pounds as of today!! No problems with him and fills, because his fills were less agrresive then mine, which is the way to go. Saves on the troubles. We just had them add little by little for him because he had already felt some resctrition when getting filled. Teri

Thanks so much Cyndi and Pamela! Cyndi - You are doing terrific. Funny about the pool-falling in! oh my gosh, LOL. how is your energy level????? gotta love it!! Pamela - Only gaining 2 pounds is nothing. Hey, food and drinks are close to the best part of a vacation!! And when you get your fill, your band will help you to stay on track. Aprils just around the corner! Teri

Congratulations!!!!!! on your weight loss!! it's a great feeling to feel lighter!!!!!!!!!! I like how you put the "But after being on every diet know to man and losing literally hundreds of pounds in the last 20 years I feel less like I am on a diet then ever before" this is one of the best thing about the band!!! Teri

Hi Colleen! Gilbert is close! I'm in Gold Canyon. AZ thread has mentioned a bandster get together, but I think we need someone to step up and organize it. ?????? Any way, to answer your questions....... Being tight- the "ring" around the inside of the band adjusts with the injection of saline. The opening that food slides down becomes smaller and smaller with each injection of saline. With me, the opening becomes smaller or tightens up after days or even weeks of getting a fill. It could happen from to much food at once, irriating the lining inside the pouch, creating an even smaller opening. When you drink water, you can swallow, BUT, it first must pass through the "ring" inside your band and continue down through to your stomach. The water just stays without empty-ing if you are to "tight". The result is water coming back up because it cannot go down. It's so miserable because it's so painful. It feels like.......this.... Think of a 2 minute hourglass- you take a tiny sip, and it is going to stay there for a while, trying to empty. I dont know why water wouldn't empty, you think it would, but it feels like a type of "brain freeze", going down, that can last for an HOUR! It's painful. You would think at least water would go down, but not a chance. I'm probably confusing you and dont mean to. It's just how I explain it. Dr. Ortiz'z book- Yes, I did order it off amazon.com. It's good to educate yourself. It's the "sweet spot" tight your looking for. It's finding that "just right" fill, so you eat little, are able to drink fluids and lose weight..............Getting there with fills and unfills can be a process. Some get lucky, and that part is all chance. :-? ALL the best with your surgery on the 6th and hopefully the ONE fill that will do the trick for you. > Teri

Close to 5 month update Kyle has gone from 225 to 194..........31 pounds down and I have gone from 185 to 162.......23 pounds down 54 pounds together! There's alot more energy around our house! LOL Teri

Have been out of town, my daughter and I went shopping in Las Vegas! So much fun, we hit all the premium outlets, especially liked the coach store! Any way, dont be scared. Some people dont have a problem with fills at all. When your still at surgery weight like i was for about 3 or 4 months, yes, you do tend to want to start the process that you paid money for. So, to do that, you aggressively want to find restriction, and when you do, like I did, it was to much. So, you adjust. Then, when you can eat the same as prior to surgery, you go in for a fill. I found out, it doesnt take a lot of saline to make a HUGE difference. The problem is, you dont know until you start eating, which is 24 hours later, usually. When you find out you cannot eat, or keep water down, (even when you could when you left the office) then, you go for another unfill. This is where the frustration of fills/unfills come in. It's not a big deal if you can get back quickly if need be. From experience, it is best to creep up on the fills. I have been going nuts with finding the right amounts. But, it takes time, because often, the band gets tighter as well, which is something the band just does. There is a happy medium, I think, with feeling tighter at certain times, regarless, just because it's how the band is. Any way, nothing to be scared of. Teri

Had a great week. What a great thing it is to be able to drink water.!!!!!!!!! I hate being tight. What a misirable way to go. Wendy will be here today, but I have no intentions on seeing her until next month! (She's meeting her sister in Mesa to go on a cruise). I'm lettin this fill ride. Loose or not. Since my band seems to always tighten a few weeks later, it might be perfect then. We ended up going to the Renasance Festival on Sun. and had never been, what a trip. LOL, it was great to fit into some small capris. Good Luck. Where in the Valley do you live? Ter

Just a question for anyone who has experienced ice water being so painful getting down. Just yesterday, I drank a little bit more than a sip, say a gulp, and it must have stuck there for an hour. I was in so much pain, I dont know what reflex is, or what it feels like because I havent ever had it. I wonder if this is what it is. I was pacing, sweating, pressing on my stomach where the band was placed to help aliviate it. I never had this before. Very painful. Any one else have this? Teri