Lvbirgit

Hi Goldilocks! we both had our band last sept. I also had my ups and downs and lost 33 pounds so far. I went up 6 pounds over the holidays ( went home to Germany and lived on cheese chocolate and had lots of high cal alcohol Drinks) but am back on track now .....yikes 5 weeks wasted.

The only way my body looses weight if i get my butt to the gym and work out! I eat very little most of the time and should be better at keeping track but I am happy loosing even at this slow rate.

Yes I know how to cheat the tool I have implanted into my body and payed a sh...load of money for! crazy, right!

So basically we know what it takes....keep in mind what step you took to help yourself loose weight!

We are all in this together! LETS DO IT

Most overweight people are jealous and the Skinny ones do not understand why I went so 'drastic'.....

cool

I am a recent bandster....9/9/2011

down 30 lbs since my journey started and loving it every day. I got the news last week that I am now diabetes FREE.

I am working out 5x a week and it is getting easier to do.

My goal is to loose 20 more lbs by May and i know I can do it.

Don't blow it...... 21 days is not THAT bad....we all did it

yeah , i agree we should hook up

Where in Vegas do you live?

Yipeeeeee

Thanks again Karen for all your info.

The doctor I original was referring to was DR Teng here in Las Vegas. But I will defiantly use Dr Ricciardi next time instead going to the OCC.

The travel nightmare was a bit much on saturday......

hi goldilocks,

Who did your fill in Vegas? I live in Vegas but went yesterday to OCC and had my fill.

My trip there was a nightmare with San Diego fog and the plane could not land and we flew all the way to Oakland....

It was a very long day but I got it done. If you don't mind would you also tell me how much you paid?

I was in the same boat like you and have not lost any weight since after the liquid phase!!!

The doc put in 4.5 cc's. It was cool to see the band working during the fluro.

Hey all... anyone else on the 22nd?

Good luck on your surgery today! I know you are in good hands.

Ad yes, keep us posted.

going for a fill Oct. 22nd

Yes Goldilocks, I just checked it too. 6-8 weeks is what is says!

I am planning to go to OCC for my fill. I definitely want more restrictions for the holidays, lol.

A local surgeon here in LV has the band filled at surgery and starts reg fills 4 weeks post op. Sounds scary to me.....I definitely do NOT want to go to him!!!

I also heard he charges patients who had their surgeries done out of state $950 for the first fill and $450 for the next ones. A bid hefty, right?

omg 3 month???? i thought I could get one by 6 weeks.... I better call tomorrow.

I am on my 4th day on solids and feel no restriction at all... I can eat like before and do not need to chew 20-30x.

I guess I have to wait till my first fill. In the mean time I count cals and exercise.

Even so I don't feel like I have a band i will not push and find out how much will fit and am following the guidelines.

It is kinda cool to feel this good but also frustrating cause i want to use my band and say I'm full!

As I have been reading over and over in all the other WLS forums ......the first 6 weeks are all about healing after surgery!. Some people loose weight others don't!

And even only one pound down is one pound in the right direction.

I am 31/2 weeks post-op from getting banded and really have not lost any weight in the last week, but I am feeling sooooo much better. That includes mentally too!

First of all DO NOT GET DEHYDRATED!

There is a lot of nasty stuff even in our veggies we buy from the store we have to worry about (the latest is contaminated lettuce) . I definitely would have it checked out by a Doctor. But a couple good remedies for diarrhea are

1. dark chocolate ( no sugar 80% cocoa )

2. Laxative .. Yes you read right. Laxatives work the opposite when you have the big D for a long time. Instead of watery stool it will help help form a gel like constancy ( i know,tmi, lol)

But like I said go to see your Dr. ......Better save than sorry.

Even as a beginner banster I have to agree with Lisal! I researched my options before my decision to get banded at the OCC. I was aware of effort and cost for the aftercare.

And I am not talking about the dieting effort.

For me it will be a whole days affair to get filled. I am planning to fly to San Diego and go to the OCC to get filled.

I don't think I would have gotten banded if it meant to have to get filled in the USA. There are a couple of other option which will not require us mexican bandsters to be subjected to the greed and jealousy of american doctors.

I live in las Vegas and a local surgeon will give you fills for an initial fee of $500 to get established as a patient and an additional $450 for the fill.

It will cost me $150 for round trip ticket to SD and $199 for the fill and transportation across the border to get my fill at the OCC.

I second that Cali !!!!

I have been on other WLS forums and it is mind boggling what nightmares some people went through with their procedures done in the states.

One said they put an adult diaper on her before surgery another one got the incisions STAPLED ! I have seen pics of lap band patients with bruises all over their tummies..... But I am sure we OCC bansters have all been on those sites and got confirmed we made the right decision. I just laugh at the faces my friends and clients make when I tell them I went to TJ to get my lap band.

One of my Dr. friends said.." but you can't sue if something goes wrong" OMG do I pick my surgeons on the basis wow well they can be sued or their experience and ability??????

"You are a sick as your secrets" .........well THAT would make me one healthy individual. lol

I am a hairstylist and telling everybody i got banded (9/9/11) My coworkers are all on a liquid diet with me!!! How much fun is this .

I told all my clients and friends I was going to Mexico to have it done and most had heart failure then but now want to go too. I was never a person trying to find excuses for my actions.

One of my favorite sayings is that i probably have lost 500 pounds in my live......of which I am tiered of and with my band I will put an end to this jojo crap!

I am 50 years old and the last 11 years living in Las Vegas. Now "all you can eat " will have a whole different meaning.

I have 2 more weeks of liquids and looking forward to be able to get going with my new found live of control!

hi goldilocks,

i had my band done on the 9th and I feel like you. yikes 2 more weeks of this.........but I have lost some weight.

but the way i understand it that after the 21 days you go directly to solids and no more protein drinks. I Know it seem scary to me too, but there is a video on youtube where Dr. Ortiz talks about it!

I will e-mail Dr Miranda and have her write an example menu just to get an idea.

My 22nd day is my b-day so that will be a good day to start eating, lol

I am 5 days post op and have no problems. I even worried because I cannot feel a band......

I can drink my fluids without any restriction. Which I know now is normal.

The only thing I feel is soreness on my bigger incision and the port pinches a bit.

There is no price to put on your health!!!!!!

Ok all you bandster pros!

I am 5 days post op and feeling awesome .

Of course still on liquids but have a question.......I cannot tell if I have a band. There is no different in drinking than before surgery!

I am not hungry but do you think I can stretch the pouch drinking to fast?

Thank you canuk!!!!

It was a walk in the park. I am back home in Vegas since yesterday afternoon and feeling great. ( I sound like an advertisement, lol)

I have very little gas issues and my biggest complaint is the sticky skin from the iodine.

I sent my hubby to the store to get rubbing alcohol.

LOL i think I am the only one on this site complaining about that.