macleay

A little off topic, but is cottage cheese considered a slider food??? I just bought some for my between meal snack, but wanted something that would stick to my ribs and help keep hunger away. Back on topic--congrats on your fill--I'm at 5.7 after 3 fills and still don't have any appreciable restriction. I'm hoping with my next one I can get up to 7-8ccs.

When I was on the liquid diet and drank fruit juice, it gave me the runs, so in a pinch, you might try that. Otherwise, I use either flaxseed oil or ground flaxseeds in protein drinks, salads, oatmeal, or whatever. That seems to be working for me.

I've been following this thread and I'm so proud of you! First for admitting you have a problem and second for writing everything you've eaten and being accountable for it. That's something I haven't been ready to do yet, but I admire you for doing it. Baby steps are good. You're making an effort and I think it will pay off.

The doctor will determine how much you need based upon your body's ability to handle the amount of saline injected. My first fill was with fluoro with Dr. So at OCC. He tried to inject 4ccs, but that was too much because we could see that the barium wasn't passing through the band, so he decreased it to 3ccs. However, two of my bandmates got 4ccs on their first fills with no problem. So it just depends--everybody is different.

I don't know the answer to your question. I had my third fill today and I'm also STARVING!!! Didn't have that with my first two fills, so whether it's normal or not, I'm not sure. Try more juice--it has more calories than broth, BUT be ready for the runs! (Now I'm trying to be like Angie with TMI--lol!)

That sounds terrible! I'm so sorry you're unable to eat solids. Here I am wanting restriction and it looks like you got that and more! Do you think maybe a slight unfill is called for? It can be difficult to lose weight if you're not getting enough calories and it sounds like you're not. And you should be able to eat solids, just not as many and very slowly. Others with more experience in this will comment, those are just my thoughts. Hope you get it figured out and the weight loss comes!

Are you gaining weight or having any problems with the band? I've only had mine since Jan, so I can't comment on the longevity issue, but it seems to me since you're at your goal weight and unless you're having problems, there doesn't seem to be a reason to get the band checked. Congratulations, by the way, on your AWESOME weight loss!!! I hope to be where you are someday!

I had a lot of people warn me about Tijuana, but most of them haven't ever been there! It just sounds scary to them! We flew to the San Diego airport, were picked up in baggage claim, and taken across the border in the OCC van. Have your passport handy in case you need it, but both times I've been down we were stopped, the driver talked to the border agent, they looked in the back at our suitcases, and let us go through. It was a lot fast going from US to Mexico than vice versa--that one takes a little longer! I have no regrets going down there. As you stated, pretty much everyone is impressed with the facility--it's clean, the staff professional, etc. We also found the Marriott fine and went to Revolutionary Road and Rosarita Beach with no problems. The only thing is, I wouldn't advise going to Revolutionary Road at night, we were warned against that. Anyway, we never had any reason to fear--everyone was friendly. I think you need to use caution and if you're nervous, stay around the hotel, but really, once you get down there, you're in the OCC's hands and they do all the transports and you're totally safe.

Actually, I'm getting ready for my 3rd fill rather than my 4th! And I only had my surgery on Jan 7. Bogie, I know a gal who went to OCC two years ago and got a 4cc band. But like you, I haven't seen or heard of anybody recently who got anything smaller than 11cc. Not sure why, but one thing--the gal I know who had the 4cc band also took several fills before she had restriction, go figure.

It's on and the volume is perfect this time!

I couldn't get it either--waiting for organizer. Hopefully they'll reschedule, or better yet, if it actually happened, we'll see it on the forum.

The three-week liquid phase is challenging, but for me, it wasn't so much about hunger, it was all that head hunger that made me crave food. The first few days, many people don't feel very hungry, and then for me, once I was able to drink the drinkable yogurt, I never had a hunger problem. It helps that every few days you can add something, ie protein drinks and then cream soups. Check out the tortilla soup recipe in the recipe section--it really helped me during my last week. I'm one who had no restriction after the liquid diet, and in fact, didn't have restriction after my first fill. I just had my second fill and am on a liquid diet (again!), so but hopefully, I'll get some restriction after this one. And if not, then after the next one. The important thing is I'm on my to a new me and although I haven't lost more than my original 20 pounds, I haven't gained either, so that's a positive! Don't worry, you'll do fine.

The volume was way too low for me as well. The broadcast was garbled some at the beginning and then towards the end. But overall, it was fantastic--the information was very helpful.

That is unbelievable! And you did it in less than 6 months???? You're my hero! Congratulations on having a lot of hard work pay off.

I had my surgery on Jan 7, 2010 and my first fill at OCC last Monday. I also have no restriction, not even with chicken or beef or BREAD! So I scheduled another fill for tomorrow. I know it's only a week and a day since my last fill, but I just don't want to mess around with this. I'm having a real hard time staying on a diet, although I'm trying. I keep hovering around 18-20 lbs lost and I don't want to gain any more. The doctor I'm going to is Dr. Fitzpatrick in Eugene, Oregon. She doesn't do fluoroscopy, but she is highly recommended. Anyway, I'd schedule a fill soon if I were you.

Yumm! Okay you guys talked me into it. I'm making one right now for breakfast!

I'm so excited for you!!! It's nice that you've lost so much weight already--way to go!

Okay, I'm not commenting for or against, because I really don't feel strongly about it. But having grown up for the first 15 years of my life with chronic constipation, I can certainly see someone trying everything to cure that problem! The real reason I'm posting is you just crack me up, Angie! Your posts always make me laugh, especially the last one!

I got to see Amy when I was down there getting my first fill and it was awesome! She looks great!!! I had the same experience as her--Dr. So is wonderful and the fluoroscopy experience is so interesting! I only got 3cc's though--I wanted to get more, but the fluid just wouldn't go down! I don't know if I will be able to get to the OCC for future fills, but if it is at all possible, I will try to, because they are the best!

You look beautiful!!! Good for you and congratulations on this major accomplishment! I can't wait to get there either!

Yeah, she looked at me at one point and said ´´this is NOT as easy as you said it was!´´

Good Lord, that sounds absolutely terrible! Sounds like you had no choice. I´m glad you didn´t have to get an unfill. And congrats on the weight loss!!!