Teri

Dont feel bad, take the 20 pounds lol. I am only 15 down, and only 7lbs since surgery which was Nov 1, 06. I think I have good restriction too, but just got there. In Ortiz's Laband for Life book, he explains the plateaus with the band. I basically am running all day, just doing different things throughout the day, walk the dogs, but no cardio just yet. I'll get there, just a little weak in that department yet. Lower BMI's seem to lose A LOT slower. Congrats to you on the working out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Teri

Bubbles, Wendy hall comes to Mesa AZ on the third Monday of each month. She charges 100 for a fill, you can go back to her within a week or so, if need be without an additional charge. Her info is posted on the AZ thread by Cyndi. She is great and has been banded herself. She does not use fluro though. Just the test with water swallow. That is all I am aware of, although, recently someone posted bariatric Dr.s from Tempe AZ on this website, I believe it was BSN user name. Any way, good luck. About the tickers: Since the website has been experiencing junk posts, and a lot of them, they have tightened up certain things here, one of which were the tickers from other sites. I miss them too. Teri

Pamela, How are you doing since being able to eat solids? Any difference? I know with Kyle and I, it didn't seem any different for us until we started getting the right amount with the fills. I hope your doing good! Teri

It's a good idea to have the anti flu medicine on hand called "PROMETHAZINE". I was flu-sick over the weekend, and so very glad the last time I was at my regular Dr. I asked for a prescription just in case. GregNE posted it a while back and it worked like a gem. PBing along with the whole sliming thing is very different then the flu which is a more violent nature. I can see where the band could slip if you continue to throw-up with the flu!!!!!!!! Have it on hand. When you have nothing in your system, and still have the need to upchuck, you still go threw all the motions. I couldn't eat for 2 days. I'm going to try today. After thinking it was going to be a fun weekend, because we had out of towners in, it wasnt so fun. ( Teri

Thanks Blueskies, Well, since preopt, I am down 15 pounds. Kyle is down about 23. The trouble for us was finding the correct fill levels. You leave with a fill thinking, yeah, this is the magic amount. But find a few days later, you can eat the same as before surgery. They want you to wait for another fill, because sometimes, the fills can kick in a few weeks later, (which I can attest too) because, twice that has happenend. But it didnt happen until after the first 3 fills. So, we are getting there, slow, but sure. Teri

Becki, Way to go and Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That works out to be about 10 pounds per month!! You go!!!!!!!!!! So glad your on this board and thanks for your input and sharing your journey. Teri

I would agree, whole heartly with mommyrkr. The whole staff, cleanliness, nurses, Dr.'rs., procedure, comfort, etc. was outstanding. I had high expectations too from all the reading. I was so scared, I honestly thought I was going to give myself a heart attack from nerves from making this decision............and double the worry for me, because my 15 year old was being banded too. It's hard to tell someone not to worry, because with all the horror stories they hear about surgerys in MX, its hard not to worry. Then you hear good things, and it's hard to believe. Teri

If you had your surgery done by Dr. Ortiz, she told us after 3 days, we can start on liquid yogurt, protien shakes, etc, creamy soups (FF milk though, homemade, not from the box, etc, because of the calories. And, then after 7 days, basically anything pureed in a blender. You get a lot more flavors. It's not easy but doable. Hang in there, you went through a lot, and spent a lot of money to lose weight, when you start adding things, you can get very creative. Teri

Just an update.................... After being worried about getting the flu, I am not worried anymore! Last time I went to my regular M.D. I wrote down an anti flu medicine that GregNE posted about. It is called "Promethazine 25mg", I think it's a generic. Any way, thank God I had that medicine. I took it 3 times a day. I feel ok today, and am down 3 more pounds, YEah. But I did have company over the weekend and had to take lay down breaks. All the flu symptoms, without the throwing up. As soon as I recognized it early in the morning, and couldn't get sick because I didnt have anything in me, I realized what it was. I think I slept most of the weekend away, with hot and cold chills, and sleepyness. I would defiantly recommend the medicine. Hope your all doing well. Teri

Hi Kelly, Wendy is a doll, isn't she. I had the same problem with having to retract some saline with Wendy when she was down in Mesa in Feb. I felt lucky she stayed over night in Scottsdale, so I was able to drive to her there. I was contemplating waiting, but knew she would be back in Heber, then I would have had to do what you did and drive the 4 hours, and I'm not a road warrior in cars. As much as I didn't want to have any taken out, I couldn't handle it, I was upchucking constantly on one tiny sip. About the THICKER SALINE: I was having the problem of not feeling full after having 3.4cc. Wendy suggested the thicker saline to help hold the food in the pouch longer. She said it wouldn't pass threw the band quite as easily. She had 2 bags of saline, one was 0.9% and the other one was 2.3%. I ended up with the same amount 3.4cc with the thicker saline, but couln't handle it, so I dropped back down to 3.0cc. I hope you are doing ok, and feel much better. That is a scary feeling. Teri

I remember Dr. Miranda saying to me when we went in to see her the day before surgery, that the band will only take me to 140. Then it's up to me with diet and excercise. Heck, any help to get me to 140 is a blessing. Being a low BMI, I believe it is a lot slower process!!!!!!!!!! Better to drop weight slow anyday, then to put on 5 friggin pounds in a week, which I could do without any problem, as a matter of fact, real easy! Teri

Pamela, Wow, it is hard to believe you are 21 days out already. Great that you have a plan to. Good luck! and happy losing. Teri =D>

Well its been a week since our last fill. Way different for Kyle. Going from eating 4 slice's of pizza to not being able to eat pizza at all, I think the band is working like it was intended to. Finally????? It's that love-hate relationship with the band. He's happy about it, but he's not, if ya know what I mean. What a huge learning process this has been. It's been great to bounce things off one another too. As for me, noticable restriction, and for some reason my fills are kicking into full action a week later, so it seems. Thats good enough for me. It's been 4 months now, and I feel just this past week, that I have experienced SOME consistency with the band. So, if it starts to work how it was intended now, nothing lost, but I feel like I've gained a world of knowledge. Still a little fickle, but overall, very close to the right amount. There are so many different revelations with the band. Things I would have never known about myself and food. I'm so thrilled, my sister is flying in today from MI. Then on Sat. our long time good friends from MI arrive. It will be a fun and busy week! Talk to you later, Teri

Michele, I dont have burping, I have toots. All the time!! It's gas and it has to do with the air I think. Was never like this before the surgery, so it is definetly something to do with the band. Just cannot figure it out. A lady we were banded with has the same trouble to. But werent you burping alot before you went to MX. ? I remember you talking about feeling like a sailor. Did they pull some saline out because of the burping or because you were to tight? Let us know. Teri

Wow, MIM You look great!!!!! I can't believe how fast you lost your weight. Buying new clothes is gotta be soooooooooooo much fun!!!!!! I have been very slow at this, and my fills have flip flopped, etc. I will get there though, one day. Keep on going...............!!! =D> Teri

Hey Bubbles, If I can just say one thing.................... you are secure and with someone from the OCC clinic when in route, and at the clinic itself, and of course, back at hotel you are in the room, etc. BUT, if you are traveling alone, by YOURSELF.......I wouldn't personally go off by myself without having another person with you. Ya, just never know. Just be careful when venturing out by yourself, it's mainly spanish speaking as well, which makes it tougher. You'd probably be ok, just be very cautious. The police are a lot of the crime. Good Luck to you on your journey and new bod. Teri

Kristi Ann I know your feeling. Like you, I was banded in Nov (1), 06. I was filled to 3.4 on my 3rd fill. Then switched to a thicker salaine solution. (0.9% to 2.3%) I had the same about of saline in the band, just thicker. I had to have .4cc taken out. I couldnt even get water down (sipping the size of a peanut). Now I am at 3cc. I think I need a little more but I am still restricted. I thought it was something to be concerned about until that experience I had. Your doing great! Teri

Way to go Greg! Hey, just look at it like your just making up for poundage from when things were'nt kickin in yet. It's great to see!! I'd take it too, very happily. =D> Teri

Hi Becky, I am East of Phoenix, past Mesa, past Apache Junction and live in Gold Canyon by the Superstition Mts. If you ever are down here in AZ. look us up, it would be fun to meet. Yeah, the fill Dr. was great. Kyle and I are on different schedules now with fills, not so easy to time together. The planning, time, arranging appts. extra cost, etc. to get back to TJ every month was getting cumbersome. I never thought of going to someone different, but, we have needed a lot of fill adjustments to come close to the correct level. Not sure if we still have it right, but, its very close. How are you doing with your fill? The fill levels seem to do a lot of flip floping. I remember you having a fill not to long ago, and you were thinking you may be to tight. Are you eating more, or are you not feeling restricted, or not staying full?? I'm going to give this fill some time and work with it for a change instead of against it, and see what happens. Let me know how your doing? Thanks for you well wishes. Teri

Shes in Mesa, North of the 60 - Greenfield and Broadway

wow, what a crazy day yesterday! After switching to that thicker saline, I could not keep any water, coffee, broth down the following day. It may have been a combination of becoming tight (all of a sudden) 2 days prior to the fill, but I had the appt. and Wendy, the fill dr. is only in my area once a month. Thank God she stayed around for 2 days. I had to go back to her, to relief the pressure in the band. So they took out .4cc and I am back to 3cc. What a relief it was to have the pressure gone. On the way, I had about 20 episodes of pbing. Wow, I must be very careful from now on.

HI KIM!!!!!!!!! Yeah, Boy did i have an ordeal yesterday. You DONT want to be to tight!! It is not fun and its scary!. I had to have some taken out. Kyle went with me, and all together he had an additional .4cc added, so now he is up to 2.8cc. So, now the wait begins again. I'm with ya on the rebellion! You know........ the band is so cool in the sense that, it has a way of pointing out things to you that you might not else have considered. lol Teri

We also went to Wendy. Beth...........do you have the larger band? Wow, that is a lot of saline. I went to Wendy for some advice and another perspective on things, and to have someone local just in case. I am very happy with her. I had to go back to see her though the next day. I stayed at 3.4cc's when she gave me the thicker solution, but had to have some taken out because I could not keep even water down. What relief! Teri

Last week, I made an appt for Kyle and I with a local fill dr. to get some advice and another perspectiveon my situation because some days I could still eat 2 cups of food and more, and not feeling full after trying to eat only 1/2 cup. During the wait time for the appt. on Sat (today is Tues) the band started restricting like never before. Just out of nowhere, after 3 weeks, it decides to get tighter. Prior to the band getting tighter, I explained my situation and she felt that a "thicker saline solution" should be tried in hopes the food wouldnt push/ pass thru the band quite as fast. I was apprehensive about getting any fills without fluro. Frankly I was scared to death about them not being able to find the port with that large long needle they use. Well, it turns out they dont use that type of needle. They use a regular needle, small and simple. I knew Kyle and I would not always be on the same page as far as us getting fills at the same time and trying to coordintate and schedule air flights for fills back to TJ was a process, so having a local fill dr. was essential for our situation. (she is only 15-20 minutes away) Kyle was filled with another .2cc and I stayed at 3.4cc - BUT...........I have the thicker saline in the band. I asked Dr. Romero about it last time I was there for a fill, and he didnt seem to think it would make any difference one way or another. Well I must say from experience yesterday and today, that I cannot keep coffee down this morning. After the fill yesterday, I ate a normal size bandster dinner, just 1/2 cup. (Steak, corn, pot, tiny bites.) No problem, and was ok with the amount. So, there is something to that thicker saline solution. Then, before going to bed, my tummy started to rumble and I had 4 cashews, which was probably a mistake before going to bed, but I just wasnt thinking. For an hour or so, the cashews didnt seem stuck, they just were "there" in the band hanging out. For the first time, I was very aware of food in the band. I tried to drink water to help flush things out, but it came back up. I have been gurgling on coffee this morning and my throat and esophagus are making strange noises. I am going to call the local dr. this morning, I think I may be a little to tight. But then, some of you that post about morning liquids say you cannot keep anything down for about 6 hours or so in the morning. What do you think??????????????? :-? Thanks, any help would be appreciated. Teri

For me, like you, I researched constantly, and find myself still learning and still researching. What I have become aware of in the past week is: I thought the surgery would do the majority of the diet. Little did I know, (even after reading all of the posts), the band will HELP you with your diet. You still have to eat healthy meals, along with following the rules. You just cannot eat whatever you want, whenever. I totally talked myself into thinking I could eat whatever I wanted. But with me, it was to much freedom with food choices when I was able to eat solids. Just like a friend, dont take it for granted. Learn to respect it, and you will be on your way to a healthy happy new bod. PS, Everyone has different experiences with the band as you know, so this is just what I wished I would have known before I had the surgery. (I would have lost a lot more weight by now.) But, I am ok with that, it just took me longer to figure that one out. All the best to you with your surgery. Teri