curveydiva

A banded friend had this strange thing happen. She has had her band for a few years now and went to get an adjustment (under fluro)- everything seemed to go well. However the next day she complained of no restriciton at all - NONE as if there was no band at all. She was way over eating. So after a few days she went back in, she was CONVINCED she had a leak. The office did a dye test and found that luckily she was leak free, however her esopogus had massively dialated from improper chewing and was acting like another pouch - all of her food was just sitting in her esophogus. Additionally, the nerve that sends the "stop eating" signal is no longer delivering the message so she just kept on eating and never felt the "soft stop" stage. Now she is on liquids for a few weeks to try to correct the problem. What is scary is that she thought she needed more restriction because she was too loose, when it was a dialated esophogus. Scarey!

Aggreed - I turn to baby food after I get my band tightned and I am really tight, and also sometimes in the morning. I find that I am usually tight in the morning and can't always eat breakfast. I have some extra babyfood in my drawer at work. You just can't beat babyfood bananas.

Wow, this is great info Angela, thank you so much! I am dissapointed that the soones Malley could get me in was May 2nd, and they just called me to bump that out even more. I want my fill now! I'll check out the More of Life Center, I appreciate the recommendation!

I have finally found a doctor that is willing to do fills here in Missouri. Fills Centers USA is outrageous, I could just fly back to Mexico for the crazy prices they are charging. All of the doctors that I called said that they will not see a patient banded in mexico due to liability issues. So I finally found Dr Malley from Malley Surgical Center which is close to Kansas City. He will see patients banded in mexico and his fees were very reasonable - much much much cheaper than Fill Centers USA, he also does his fills under flouroscopy, and will attempt to bill your insurance. I have my first visit with him May 2nd and am really excited. Has anyone else ever been to him?

Similar thing is happening to my mother - she had the same procedure done at the OCC Oct 22 last year, but has only lost about 40 lbs. She is having her thyroid checked to see if she is overmedicated now that she has lost a little wieght. She's frustrated.

I appreciate the tip - how much was the cab ride?

This weekend I flew on a Delta airbus - I was soo happy to find that the seat belt on the plane was very generous, there was actually extra belt, so I did not have to ask for an extender. There was also room to put the tray table down all of the way, I wish more airlines were concious of the comfort of plus sized people.

I am one month post op - my port is on my left side. I can only feel it if I purposely press my fingers against it - you can tell that if feels a little firmer now instead of what would normally be smooshy. It causes no pain at all, however, I still have a lot of weight to lose. The only pain I felt was immediately after surgery and that was mild, and due to being cut and stiched, not from the port itself.

I am 22 days post op and weigh the exact same that I did the morning of my surgery.

That's such fantastic news. Congratulations. You are an inspiration! Keep going!

I was banded the 23rd too - perhaps you are feeling sick because of the clear liquids only - today you can add drinkable yogurt, maybe the extra nourishment will help you not feel so sick.

I had surgery Monday and was back to work on Wed and did not take my pain meds. I just feel sore like a muscle soreness almost, like I did too many situps. I'm just a bit slower to sit stand and bend over. I went for a mile walk last night and did fine. I think the pain is very mild and tolerable. The worst part is getting going in the morning - trying to get out of bed once you have been laying down all night is tough - a little sore to roll over but no biggie.

I just had surgery the other day (8/23) and I went down by myself - it was way easy, nothing to be worried about. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Old Town Sand Diego, they sent a shuttle to pick me up and take me from the air port to the hotel, Old town is great and safe, and just a few blocks long so I walked all around by myself that night, it was fun, the next mornign my shuttle driver for the hospital was waiting for me right at 9am outside of the hotel. He drove us across the border - we never had to get out of the van some one just poked their head in and counted us and we were flagged to move ahead, within 5ive minutes we were at the facility. Going back across the border was easy too, you just stand in line and the border guy glances at your passport and waves you on. He didn't stamp it, ask for id or anything - it looked more intemidating than it was. The shuttle driver was there the whole time.

I am exactly one week away from surgery - I also started my diet early because of the high BMI (over 50) - I have been trying other lo-cal meals - Weight Watchers "Smart Ones" has a fabulous bacon pasta dinner that does not taste like diet food at all. I have been drinking a "Boost" for breakfast and one for lunch - the chocolate flavor is sooo good (I wish these were bigger) and then the lo-cal dinner but beginning today, I am hitting it hard core with only three shakes a day. I hope I can get through it okay, It will be a long week. I got really discouraged because I started my diet Aug 2nd, and lost 10lbs that first week, but then all of a sudden gained most of it back, even though I was walking nightly and sticking to my diet. Water fluxuation(?) so that was extremely dissapointing - but I am still at it. That's why I am switching to all liqids only for this last week. Such a bummer. I got some walmart brand fiber capsuls that are the store brand version of Metemucial - they were cheap. In preperation for after surgery, I bought some vitamins at Walgreens - they are orange chewable and made especially for patients that have had bariatric surgery - they have higher levels of B12, Iron, and a couple of other vitamins - they don't taste bad either, kinda like baby aspirin. You chew four of them a day.

Good luck! I know how you feel. I am new to the forum too and I feel great to be part of a community of people sharing their stories and advice. I am getting banded this month and have also felt a positive change. Like this time, it's gonna happen. I have found a new sense of excitement and energy that will helpfully push me along the way. I hope you reach your goal!

I'm Having surgery the 23rd, maybe I will see you there!

Revy D you are a true inspiration!!

How exciting! I am having surgeryabout two weeks before you. I have been combing over posts and blogs getting as much info as I possibly can. It's been very helpful. I started my liquid diet yesterday because I have some weight to lose pre surgery and yesterday was sooooo tough but today I'm doing much better so far. Good luck to you!!!

I did browse through the gallery - it really is inspiring, my cousin was banded 4 years ago and is a sucess story, she's really inspiring. I just watched Dr O's video about having the right attitude for sucess and that helped too...I'm feeling pumped for the time being. I think checking in on the forum often will help since there seems to be so much positive help and encouraging sucess stories out there. I will check out the blogs...I appreciate your advice.

So you would think that I would be worried about travelling to Mexico by myself or maybe having the surgery itself, especially so far from home, but no, not really - what I'm worried about is my liquid diet. Now I've dieted and fasted a zillion times - but I guess that this time I am really aware of the committment and the whole being ready for a lifetime of new (better) choices - I've always failed before at my attempts to lose weight. I am nervous about not being able to do good enough. Afterall if I had the ability to stick to guidelines I would not have 30+ years of overindulging under my belt. I've also been becoming more aware of poor habits that I make that are just blind habits. For example the other day I was leaving a restraunt, well of course I had to refill my drink cup first, didn't think anything of it - it's just something you do before you leave (gotta get your money's worth and you need one for the road, right?) So the point was, I caught myself and was i thirsty still? No. It's these little things that I do everyday without thinking about plus knowing conciously - "you can't eat xxx right now - you really need to do this instead so that you are sucessful this time" I'm starting to get nervous...isn't that stupid, it's just food. I'm purging my fridge and pantry today, tossing out a lot so I do have acess to any cheatables so readily...just in case.

I'll be having surgery Monday 8/23 - is anyone else on here scheduled that day as well? I am so excited and can hardly wait. I've been so fortunate that my cousin was banded (in the U.S.) 4 years ago and is a great sucess story, she's my mentor during this process. I'll be doing this trip/surgery on my own.