Zoey2

Okay, so I'm thinking of doing this as well and have done some research at places in my area (Scottsdale, AZ), there seems to be many, many places doing it with great results. My questions was about how much it costs.... The place I'm considering is about $400 for eight weeks (avg weight loss is 4-8) for each of those eight weeks. This price doesn't include the HCG which I guess is about $75 or so more. This includes weekly doctor visits, bloodwork and all. I'm sure it isn't for everyone (just like the band), but worth a try for those who have been stuck. I think it will be similar to the original month liquid diet for me which was very restrictive. At that time I wasn't hungry at all and had no trouble with it. Hoping this will be the same. Anyone have more input that are doing it right now would be greatly appreciated. I am ready to do this and move those scales in the right direction again!!!

Brown-eyed Girl, sorry just saw your post. I had my surgery in Guatemala and there was no pre-opt diet for me which is of course different than those of you that go to the OCC. So had my surgery then lost the 27 pounds. It was awesome and I had no problem with hunger or anything.

Yeah, for me too it was no issue after surgery. A piece of cake (pardon the pun), but so easy and not hungry at all. I lost 27 lbs. the first month which probably isn't typical, but I wish it were that easy for me now. Good luck, you will do great!

I feel the same frustration as you. I, like you, didn't have a lot of weight to lose. The difference is that when I originally was banded I lost all the weight I wanted and it was no big deal. This all happened within the first couple of months. I lost 27 lbs. the first month. Then had some problems with the port coming loose, etc. and gained back almost all the weight. This was after I had kept the weight off for more than a year. Long story short, everything working again and it is taking forever. I have lost about half again, but it was SO easy the first time with no effort and this time not the same and it is frustrating for me. I have to do the same as you and use as a tool which I didn't have to do originally. Also, need to regularly exercise which I don't do right now. Keep up the good work. The best thing is that when you lose it slow, I think the chance of keeping it off is greater. It will happen. Oh and my doctor told me the same thing about not needing to lose the weight, all that stuff. He once told me that the weight I wanted to lose, most of his patients gained from one visit to the next. He didn't think I needed to lose weight. I gotta now work at it and pump it up to lose the last 30 lbs. again!!!!! Good luck

Wow, great job! You look great and should be so proud. Keep up the good work.

Holly, where in AZ are you? I'm in Scottsdale and would love to have a fellow lapbander nearby. Let me know. Thanks

Just so you know, in Mexico you don't even need a prescription to buy prescription meds including Hydrocodone. I live in AZ and will be going to Mexico on Saturday to buy some. So in answer to your questions, it is no problem to take in your own meds. Good luck with the pain. When I had my port put back in I had quite a bit of port pain for what seemed like a very long time. Maybe even a month. That wasn't the case with my original surgery, so you just never know.

Funny you posted this today. I was thinking of posting and asking if others that were too full experienced weight gain or staying the same. I have had my fill for months, probably around the same time as you. It is too tight I am sure. I have trouble eating most things (except, of course, sherbet, ice cream, etc.). On occasion I eat with no problem, but most of the time no. I have pretty much given up eating breakfast as that is the hardest. I have been doing a lot of smoothies. So, I guess my question is the same. For those of you that have had to have fluid removed did you notice that you either stayed the same in weight or gained a few pounds? I am just so nervous to have fluid taken out (not for the procedure itself) but because I am worried I will gain weight being able to eat more than what I have been doing. It is so crazy, I just feel like because it is too tight would be better than not tight enough, etc. However, I do think because what I can eat is so limited that I am more apt to eat things I shouldn't because there is no problem getting those things down. So anyone that can shed light on this would be great.

I will keep my reply short, but I can totally relate to what you are saying. I have never been considered obese, but overweight -- yes! I have lost a fair amount of weight 50 lbs. approx twice in my life. The first time I did, I got really skinny. I am 5 ft. 11 inches tall and I was in a size 6 pants which is pretty small for a large frame, tall person. I never felt really skinny. I guess same as another poster saw myself skinnier, felt better and all, but maybe in the back of my head still was this overweight person. At that time I thought the reason I felt heavy still, even though I knew I wasn't was that I was pretty big boobed. So I had breast reduction surgery, went from a DD to a C cup and that didn't make a difference. So I guess it is learning to love ourselves and get it into our heads that we are beautiful people no matter what size. I was out in a bar/dance club a few weeks ago and this shed some light for me. There was a pretty attractive African American woman with her man. She was very overweight, I would guess that she was about 300 lbs. and maybe 5 ft. 3 or 4, something like that. You could tell that she and her boyfriend/husband were very comfortable with who she was and she loved herself. This was one of the sexiest women I have ever seen. She was just standing there moving and dancing and couldn't have looked sexier. I think that says a lot about who she is as a person and how she feels about herself. It was eye-opening to me. Never before did I think that I would find anything sexy in a woman of this size, but she very much so was!!! Interesting. Good luck on your venture. It will change your life and it is a tool to turn your entire life around and be a better, healthier person. Keep us posted.

Denise You look amazing!!!!! I really want to do the TT, etc. and have actually paid about $2500 to a doctor here in AZ, but it is pretty expensive just for a TT about $8,000. I would love pics and details on what you had to pay and possibly got to Mexico for this instead. I could get more done for the same money. You look so great, your waist looks so small and everything. You should be very proud. My personal e-mail is luv2adoptguat@yahoo.com Thanks

So today is my first day to try and eliminate this terrible drug from my system. I have already cut way back, but as of today my goal is elimination!!!!!! So starting today, probably for a few days, I will TRY really hard to just have one can of Diet Cherry Pepsi. After a few days of having one, I will have one-half, then down to every other day, etc. Wish me luck!!! I've been addicted to this stuff for a very long time. I guess given that information, I should expect to be off it overnight. I have high hopes though. I am going to get some Crystal Light today and try that along with my propel. I also will start making a smoothie everyday as well. Hope it works!

Wow, what a post. It brought tears to my eyes as well. Very well written. You have come to the right place for support from many in "the know" regarding all this lapband stuff. I also agree that you have taken a huge step in the right direction that will benefit you in many ways. This could be the tool to a whole new life for you!!! Embrace this and hang on for the ride. I believe that you will love that you have made this decision and will only think "why did I wait"? Like others have posted, there will be ups and downs and it won't always be easy, but definitely worth it. I agree that you shouldn't push your husband out. Hopefully he is in love with you, the inner beauty of you as well as your outer beauty. Hopefully he will be your biggest fan throughout this journey -- he should be!! Good luck and keep us posted. We are all here for each other and that is awesome. We can all share in this journey together as it isn't always easy without the help of other lapbanders.

Wow, thanks for all the input. I, like someone else that posted, if I don't have the caffeine get a migraine as well so that is why I've dropped way back and not eliminated it. I guess this week it will be my plan to slowly eliminate it. I didn't realize, other than the gas, that it could have such a negataive impact on the band itself so all the more reason to stay away. I did think about trying to get into coffee instead for the caffeine in the morning, but just can't get into that. I do love the taste and maybe the carbonation as well, not sure. So thanks all of you and wish me luck on my week trying to get off this horrible drug!!!!!

Okay, I'm sure I'm not the only one out here that is addicted to diet soda. The problem is gas since I had the lap band surgery. One time my gas pains were so bad and my doctor in the states has told me at least twice that I am probably one who just cannot drink soda. The problem is that I LOVE it number one, and also there isn't a whole lot else I like to drink. I don't like coffee or tee, I don't like lemonade. I have started to drink Propel flavored water since I get so bored with just water. Anybody have any ideas or have the same issues? Thanks for the input. I have cut way back and usually only drink about 2 cans per day, but still quite a bit of gas.

Great post!!!! I LOVE it. I feel the same way. Haven't lost a whole lot in the last couple of months, but my clothes are getting looser and looser. I know once I really start to work out that will make a difference as well. It does get discouraging when you don't see the scale moving downward like we all like. That made my day as well!

Just a test

You know everyone handles things differently. I, on the other hand, was so excited about the surgery even though I didn't have a lot of weight to loose (about 50 lbs), and I had people begging me not to do it. They were afraid that something may happen. I had wanted to have the surgery for a couple of years prior as well. As others have posted, you are under for a short time and it is laproscopic which has less side affects. You have to listen to yourself, however, and do what is right for you. I feel quite confident that you will not regret your decision and once it is over you will wish you had done it sooner as well. Keep us posted and ask away with questions and maybe you feel more comfortable with your decision.

That is so awesome. I want to do the same thing, just need to come up with the money. I also got a quote from a local doctor and for the tt alone, not the extended tt, it is about $8,000 so I think your price seems good. Keep us all posted and I wish I were in your shoes, hopefully soon I will be. Just think how amazing your body will be when you are done and healed.

Nicole When you say band revision, what did you have done? Just wondering since I've had some issues and had to had port re-attached, removed and put back in, etc. Haven't heard of anyone with similar stories. Thanks

Wow, great job!!!!! I lost 27 lbs. my first month as well, but know that men seem to do better and loose more. Keep up the good work and welcome to the forum.

Wow, that is amazing. You should be very proud of yourself. Your life has been forever changed and that is a wonderful thing. Keep up the good work. Your pictures are fabulous. Zoey:)

Denise I don't know why this is either, however, in the mornings I seem tighter as well. I was trying to eat and have now given that up. I drink smoothies or something -- so for me it doesn't have to be hot. As the day goes on it is better, but I still have quite a bit of restriction later in the day as well, but not like the morning. Interested in finding out why. Zoey:)

Well, this is a very interesting post. My scenario is very different, but I had my surgery a little over 3 years ago and had it in Central America. I never needed a fill!!!!! The first month after your surgery there you cannot eat, only the yogurt, soft type stuff and I lost 27 lbs in that first month with no problem. Also, didn't have that much weight to loose, about 45-50 lbs and it was gone in a couple of months with no effort at all. Yes, I couldn't eat anywhere near the amount I could eat prior to the band, but I could eat whatever I wanted and lose the weight!!! Before I left Central America in late 2007 (one year after the surgery) saw the doc and said to do a fill. I was getting greedy. I was at a good point, went from a size 18-20 or so to a size 8 and I am 5 ft. 11 inches, so pretty thin. He did the fill (even though he thought I was crazy) and I felt more restriction, but I didn't loose any more weight. In fact this is when I started very slowly to gain. Then within a few months is when I had the port problem, etc. and ended up with no restriction for over a year and gained back most of my weight. Now after having a couple of fills, and an un-fill, I have probably too much restriction as I puke a lot and have a lot of trouble eating, but have lost about 20-25 lbs so will be back to where I was in about 20 pounds. I'm afraid to have an un-fill as I've lost weight, but I know I puke way too much. I'm assuming I had a 4 cc band even though my doctor here in the states didn't mention that option, he said 9.5 or 10 I believe, but I only have about 1.5 or 2 cc's in my band and he said he felt a lot of restriction when putting it in and asked if I was sure I wanted it, so that would explain it I guess. I will mention that to him when I see him. Very interesting!!! Thanks for all the info. Zoey:)

Elizabeth In the beginning it was every day, however, then they were packing it with "Select Silver" which only needs to be changed about every 3 days. There was no problem with this process and it healed nicely except that it took a long time and was very painful in the beginning. Thanks for your help. Zoey:)