Donna34

That's the hard part! ( At least it is for me anyway. I have always had to have a SUPER cold drink, while I'm eating. After, I started on solids again, I just couldn't do it! I started drinking with my food. After I got my fill, I finally broke the habit. There is a NOTICEABLE difference in how soon you get full when drinking with meals as opposed to NOT. If you get any restriction with your first fill, you will notice it. It does seem to "wash things down." I try to drink a LOT before I eat now. Something REALLY cold! Then I eat slowly, and I get full MUCH sooner. It may be different for everyone else, but since I've gotten a fill, I don't feel like I NEED a drink with my meals, as bad as before. Maybe it's my subconcious, trying to keep me from sabotaging myself, I don't know! LOL Just take it slow. If you can't give up drinks cold turkey, try to wean off slowly. Dr. Miranda told me another thing to try, and it sometimes helps. If you are eating, and feel like you've just GOTTA have a drink, suck on an ice cube. Helps a little, and doesn't allow you enough water to wash stuff down.

Unless this has changed...I was told that you could cross over to Tijuana, and back with just a drivers liscense or a birth certificate, until January 2008. This could have changed though. I went in April. This is not flying into Mexico, though. Flying to San Diego, and walking over, so that may be the difference! Donna

I wanted to bump this post, because I never knew about the 1-877- lap-band fill doctors line. This is valuable info, for anyone who is looking for a fill doctor! Thanks for sharing! Donna

Try not to stress too much over it. Everyone told me I would probably gain EVERYTHING back during this period, but I was DETERMINED that I was not going to put it back on, and have to lose it again! I did a lot of salads with grilled chicken, and vinagrette dressings.(that's low carb) I also drank a LOT of that Diet Lipton White Raspberry tea. It seems to stay so COLD, and it goes down easy! But, for the most part, I still ate what I wanted to. I just chewed it so much, and ate so slowly, that I became full sooner. I think just having the band sitting there on your stomach makes you feel full a little faster. Not restricion, but just having something wrapped around the upper part of your stomach. It may not be that way for everyone, but it somehow made me AWARE of what I was eating, or how I was eating. I actually lost a few pounds before my first fill, so I was VERY happy! Just watch you weight (daily), and eat slowly. If you put on a couple of pounds, maybe take a diuretic, and most likely you will see it's JUST water! Also, the tea serves as a natural diuretic, if you like to drink it. The green tea with citrus is also good, and also comes in diet. Whatever you do drink a lot! Crystal Light, ( I get the Wal-Mart version, more flavors, and cheaper) is good, or your own home brewed tea, or just plain water! Keep hydrated. You'll be OK! Everyone goes through this fear of gaining weight, in the lull between liquids, and fill. It's normal, but even if you do gain back a couple of pounds, it will come back off! Donna

Hi Judy, Yeah, same here. I REALLY wanted to go back to TJ for at least my first fill, but that just wasn't possible. Since we just moved to Iowa, I don't have any family nearby to keep my kiddos, and my hubby has been really busy, and has also taken a lot of time off, since he went with me to TJ the first time. $180/$165 is a good price! I'm sure you'll be fine. My cousin has had all her fills done without fluoro. She's only had 2 unfills, one was due to surgery (gall bladder), and the other is because she doesn't want to lose anymore weight! Her surgeon does her fills. I'd just make sure the lady has done plenty of them! Experience is the BEST thing to go by! And I'd think you'd be in good hands since Dr. Ortiz referred you to her! I'm not telling anyone that a fill without fluoro is unsucessful. I just like seeing what's going on in there! Donna

I'm glad you had a great experience! GOOD FOR YOU, for sticking to your guns! I'm thoroughly convinced that Dr. Ortiz is one of the best lap band surgeons out there! Thanks for sharing! Donna

Check out FILL CENTERS USA for price in Farmington, MO, and you will see how it can be nearly 700 dollars. Every fill center is different. It just so happens that the fill centers near me are HIGH. I wanted fluoro, and with fluoro, plus my first consultation it was going to cost 694 dollars for my first fill. So, if you think I'm lying, contact them. Maybe fill centers are cheaper in other locations, but this was my experience with them. And, I never said that using fluoro was fool proof. I just prefer it. Dr. Ortiz also highly suggests it. He told me to NEVER have a fill using a blind stick, and I wouldn't. Donna

Becky, Take it for what it's worth... Not very much! LOL My suggestions...First TRY to find a doctor in your area that does lap band fills for MX banded patients. Fill Centers are EXTREMELY high! It was going to cost me 700 dollars for my FIRST FILL! But, I was going to do it until... I started calling ALL lap band surgeons in my area, and asking if they would do it. FINALLY, a lap band doc in Chicago said he would do it for me. He uses fluoro, and only charges 150 dollars! And he is GREAT! I'm so glad I found him! Second suggestion...make SURE they use FLUORO. It makes a WORLD of difference. You can see it ALL, the port, the band, everything! It felt really funny, because I could SEE what I was feeling at the same time. Even when he put in 2cc's, and I nearly threw up! LOL As I drank barium, he timed how long it took to pass through the band, while adding and subtracting saline. He asked a lot about how I felt, was I comfortable etc. He had me to drink several drinks of water before I left too. My fill was perfect! Then after all the air seeped out (this is normal after the first fill) I was loose again. That's where I'm at now. I need another fill. But he told me, I would probably need to come back in 3-4 weeks, and that was right on! So hopefully my next fill will be right on the money! Donna

Becky, NoWorry is exactly RIGHT! It is important to GET an unfill if needed, but it's not something that happens that often, at least that's been most of what I have read, and heard. My suggestions...First TRY to find a doctor in your area that does lap band fills for MX banded patients. Fill Centers are EXTREMELY high! It was going to cost me 700 dollars for my FIRST FILL! I started calling ALL lap band surgeons in my area, and asking if they would do it. FINALLY, a lap band doc in Chicago said he would do it for me. He uses fluoro, and only charges 150 dollars! And he is GREAT! I'm so glad I found him! Second suggestion...make SURE they use FLUORO. It makes a WORLD of difference. You can see it ALL, the port, the band, everything! It felt really funny, because I could SEE what I was feeling at the same time. Even when he put in 2cc's, and I nearly threw up! LOL As I drank barium, he timed how long it took to pass through the band, while adding and subtracting saline. He asked a lot about how I felt, was I comfortable etc. He had me to drink several drinks of water before I left too. My fill was perfect! Then after all the air seeped out (this is normal) I was loose again. That's where I'm at now. I need another fill. But he told me, I would probably need to come back in 3-4 weeks, and that was right on! So hopefully my next fill will be right on the money! Donna

You WANT restriction...it is good! Restriction is what keeps you from overeating! Donna

BUMP again!

Phhhhhewwww! Glad we got that cleared up! I was trying to think about how I was going to be able to eat anything else BESIDES salad! LOL :-? Donna

I had the same thing. It's most likely gas. Get some gasX strips, or some gas pills. Some people have gas pains as far as 2 weeks out from surgery. If it persists, and the gas pills don't work, see a doctor! PB'ing (also known as productive burping) usually happens if you overeat, or get something stuck. You will feel a VERY uncomfortable feeling in your chest, much like a golf ball getting stuck, and then you will start producing a LOT of saliva. Then you will most likely throw up the contents in your pouch. If I get something stuck, I usually walk a lot, and go to the bathroom, and SPIT a LOT, and I soon start to feel better. I haven't PB'ed yet, but have come VERY close. I bumped up a previous discussion about this, so you can read more. Welcome aboard! Donna

We had a previous discussion on this. I bumped it up for you....Look for the question, "What does PB'ing mean?" in the Support/General Discussions category! Welcome aboard ladies! Donna

Just bumping this post for the newbies! Donna

4 POUNDS???? HOLY COW! Is that per day, or per week, or per month??? LOL I eat a LOT of salad, but I don't think I could eat 4 lbs a DAY. Donna

Awww that's so sweet! "Glamorous" I don't believe I have ever been called that! LOL My hubby kinda looks at me funny when I have to let one of those scary burps out. I just tell him, "If you were hurting like this, you'd be HAPPY to burp too!" He generally backs off pretty quickly. I guess I look pretty scary to him, and with the man burps and all, he may even think I'm gonna kick his butt! LOL Nah, it doesn't bother me anymore either. I'd MUCH rather be a skinny burper, than a fatty! LOL Donna

Teri, I admire your patience! I've been bouncing up and down with 2 pounds this past week, and it's REALLY TICKING ME OFF!! LOL But, I know I need another fill. I think it is a lot trickier for women as far as fills are concerned. We have to deal with the dreaded TOM. I have to say, that I DEFINITELY notice a HUGE difference then. I get so tight, I can scarcely eat ANYTHING, but after it's over, Katie bar the door! As far as tightness in the AM. I would think that your stomach, being an organ much like any other in the human body, probably retains water like any other. How many of you can say when you wake up in the AM, that your hands/feet/ankles feel swollen, or just a bit "tighter" due to a retention of water overnight? I can certainly say that my hands DEFINITELY are different in the AM. Ever tried to write something neatly after waking up? Hard for me to do. I can only think that your stomach in fact swells to an extent, just like any other part of the body, so in the AM you have more restriction, because the stoma would be smaller due to the swelling. When it wakes up, things tend to go down easier. Thus being the reason for the change in restriction throughout the day. That's just my theory.... If the stomach swells/retains fluid during that time of the month, why wouldn't it also do the same overnight? Donna :-?

Rachelle, That is definitley ME too! I do the same thing, stand over the toilet spitting like some kind of rabbid dog! I have never thrown up, or PB'ed though. Then after maybe 10 minutes or so (seems like forever) I finally start burping, like a MAN that has just guzzled down a 6 pack. Then I feel better. Strange huh? No, I can't tolerate pancakes. A few bites, and I get that golf ball feeling in my chest, and off to the toilet I go, to spit awhile! Donna

Oh, Judy! Hon, you would have KNOWN beyond a shadow of a doubt if you were going to PB. You would have felt it instantly. It would kinda feel like a golf ball in a garden hose!! Your stoma being the garden hose. If you don't feel pain, then most likely everything is going on down! Try not to panic! This is easier than you think! Banded- Thanks for sharing that article. That was very interesting! I never thougt about the body's reaction to chewing and spitting! Donna

Don't start mourning those foods just yet! Everyone is different. I was very tight after my recent fill. We went to the theatre the next day, and I thoroughly enjoyed my popcorn! It may be different for others, but I have no trouble with popcorn at ALL. Same goes with potato chips, so I have to make sure I don't BUY them! I feel like I can treat myself to popcorn on occassion at the movies, and all will be OK. Now, after my next couple of fills, I may be singing a different tune, but as for now, popcorn, and most of the other things you mentioned still go down FINE! Donna

Yes, I have to agree here. It was nice, it wasn't elaborate. Certainly wasn't the Opryland Hotel. I have traveled A LOT, even though I haven't flown, and we have stayed at countless resorts, in over 24 states and had some of the most luxurious accommodations. I would say the Lucerna is a normal nice Hotel. It's benefits are the restaurant, so you don't have to leave the hotel to eat, the pool is nice, and it's pretty. Not glamorous, but pretty. I thought the Italian Restaurant, was very good, atleast my selection on that particular day was. Of course this too, was after FASTING, so a rubber tire, may have been as delicious! LOL The fact is, if you are going to TJ, you are not LOOKING for the most fabulous accommodations, or atleast I wasn't. Most people are going here for the price. So, if you want something, more elaborate, and fancy, I guess you will have to go elsewhere, and pay the higher price. Donna

I would think you'd be OK with a salad. I have never had any trouble with salads. However, if you are anything like me, you probably want to try something REALLY solid, just to see if you have ANY restriction. The thing I found to be the ABSOLUTE hardest, was eating without a DRINK. I couldn't do it. Now that I've got my first fill, I'm OK with it, but it's REALLY hard to quit "cold turkey!" Maybe for your first meal try some solid veggies,(something like Chinese broccolli chicken w/garlic sauce, or some stir-fry veggies) and if that goes down OK, you might ease into the chicken. Usually that type of chicken (chinese) has a lot of sauce, so that could help it go down better. If you feel like you will be OK with chicken, try it. Everyone is different. It's so hard to help someone with their first meal, everyone's tastes are so unique. Chances are, no matter WHAT anyones suggests, you will likely chose something entirely different when the time comes! Enjoy it, don't stress over it, and CHEW like a MADWOMAN! LOL Donna

I know what you mean! I look back at the days when I was maybe 10-15 pounds overweight, and though I'd LOVE to be that size now...I was miserable THEN. Self image is one of the BIGGEST factors in our emotions, and how we FEEL in general. I feel lousy with this extra weight, and it's AMAZING how much better you feel after just a 10-20 pound loss. I got tired of watching my kids play, instead of joining in. I refused to let it go on any longer! It may take awhile, but we'll get there! Donna

LOL, I know what you mean! My hubby asked me why I kept going up and down the stairs in our house, and I said, "I'm TRYING to get this food Down!" Of course it certainly doesn't help for them to put their two cents in, when something like that happens! He said, "you need to quit eating so fast." EATING FAST???? I was ready to strangle HIM so he could experience what I was FEELING!! LOL Donna