mary1234

Please don't go too tight. It will only damage the band and yourself also. IT IS VERY HARMFUL! I am interested to know what you are eating? It is easy to forget what liquid calories are, since they go down the easiest. What is your daily intake - please let me know = breakfast, lunch, dinner- and have you ever felt restriction with the fills? At what point? I look forward to hearing from you - I am going to look for another post from a girl named SHELL - she was a great help to me. At that time, I was in your situation. I will search the forum and send them to you.

Dont worry. The lap band doctor here - who does mainly everyone in the midwest was TRAINED by Dr.Ortiz. He is the best there is.

I received surgery April of 05 and only lost minimal weight with the first fill maybe 10 lbs, if I can remember right - by the time September came it was only around 5lbs. It was in September that I went and got another fill - it seems 2.5 and 2.7 are my key fill zone. I am at 2.3 right now - but I can tell you this. 2.5cc is when I lost all of the weight - within 3-4 months really. I was a size 12 (closing in on a 14) in September and by January/February I was a size 8. I really was touchy with fills. 2.7 worked for me, but I was strictly on fluids (not at all healthy for you) and Iwas abusing the band - I became selfish with wanting to lose weight really fast. It was very unhealthy and I was extremely weak - We went down to 2.5 and it seemed to be the magic number. The weight came off at 2lbs a week. I found a doctor here (dr. ortiz trained him) where I live who does the fills for me - so we played with it once every month to find the magic number. I feel guilty sometimes as I see how hard it is for some people. I just wanted to check in with the forum and give some encouragement. If you need any help, email me and I will gladly share what I can. The trick is to finding the right amount of fill. What weight did you start out at? Height? and where are you now? What state do you live in? I'll see what I can find. Best of luck and look forward to hearing from you.

It has been 1 1/2 years since my surgery. I have lost all of my weight (within the year mark) . I was 192lbs the day of surgery - I now weigh 126lbs at 5'6". I just wanted to give you all encouragement that this was the best thing I have ever done. I have not had one problem with the band since I have had the right amount of fill. I am one of the ones with a low BMI to start with. I believe it was 30 or 31. So - if you are questioning whether to do it or not - DO IT! STICK TO IT! WORK WITH IT! and Live the life your waiting to LIVE! Dr. Ortiz is a fantastic Dr. BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEWCOMERS!

May 25th is just around the corner to a new you! Be patient, and listen to what the doctors tell you. Keep us updated on your progress!

Hi KurlyQ, I am so excited for you and your upcoming surgery. I feel so fortunate that my surgery went with such ease. I had the surgery on Thursday and was back to work on Monday. No problems for me at all. I have 2.5 cc in my band right now. Thats pretty full. I can eat very little, as a few bites fill me up right away. It just feels like there is no room for anything else to go in. Not so much that your full in the bottom of your stomach, but its the "pressure". You do feel full though, my desire to take one more bite is gone. Remember when you would go out to a restaurant and eat and you really fill up and then you wonder if you should have dessert too - well you order dessert too and by the time you are done eating your almost miserable. Thats the feeling of full for me. What I keep an eye on now is when I hit my "sweet spot" i.e. (runny nose, shoulder pain, hiccups), its really awesome how you get to know your body after this surgery. Like I said before, I too am learning every day. Please keep me informed of how things go- This forum will only encourage you, its like having a doctor on call 24/7. There is a bandster called JennaR - I really enjoy reading her post. She is very knowledgeable, so watch for some of hers. Keep us informed on how things go!

The reason I had my fill taken out was my choice. I had asked the doctor 3 months ahead of time to see if it was possible. I was approaching my goal weight and knew that I would be out of the country for a vacation. The types of food that would be available to me I knew I could not tolerate with my band. The doctor did not see a problem with the unfill. When my band is empty I have no resriction unlike many bandsters. I believe I will always have saline in my band even as I reach my goal weight. It is a tool not only to loose weight but to keep the weight off once you reach your goal. I am still considered a new bandster. It has only been 1 year and I learn something new from this forum everyday.

Hi Everyone! I just returned home from a fantastic spring break. I was able to really eat since I had an unfill before I left - I had nothing in my band for 2 weeks and did I over eat. I did come to a conclusioin though. I found myself eating in my car. It was so easy to stop and get something to subside the slightest urge of hunger. I realized that when I eat in a car, my mind doesnt register that that was a meal. Like it didnt count because I wasnt sitting at a table. I know it sounds silly, but thinking back before I lost most of my weight, I ate at least one meal in my car while driving and still had the three meals a day at home. I am so glad to have my fill again. When I was on vacation, I couldnt believe how uncomfortable I was. Certain foods like bread are really not good for your body. I was very very uncomfortable and tired after I ate a full meal. The good news.... I love this band. I eat healthier, enjoy life more, and have more energy that I ever did with a "full" stomach.

Chelley, It was nice to hear what an easy time a fellow bandster had with surgery ( I too had a very easy time). It sounds to me like you and your family live for a higher power, along with myself. The band is just a tool and thank god we found it. I hope all is well with your weight loss, please keep us informed with your progress. Thanks! Mary

To me.... the feeling of being full is described like this: If I eat one more bite, I am going to burst. I cannot fit one more morsal in or I might PB. Thanks to the description of the "soft spot" I know what to look for. I too have shoulder pain, hic ups, and runny nose. We are trying the theory out on my husband too. He does not have lap band, but when his nose starts to run, its his "soft spot". This forum is great and so informative. HAPPY EASTER!

Here is the email I shared with you..... Hope this helps someone else! ....QUOTE Hi Laura, glad to hear from you.... I am glad to see you asking some questions before you have the procedure. I am so happy that I had this surgery. I too took diet pills thinking "if I could only be 10-15-30 pounds thinner" All I did was gain more weight. The surgery itself was minimally painful, I was surprised to see how small the incisions were. I believe if you are larger, your scars are more prevelent. Mine now (1 year later) are not noticeable. If I bend, (in my bikini ) I can see the scar where my port is, but nothing that is embarassing to me. It looks like I was scratched at one time. As for pain, - I had very little. I was uncomfortable, and the next day I went hiking up a mountain in San Diego. It was uncomfortable as I said, but seriously, I didnt have any to speak of. My husband was with me and I had to keep reminding him that I just had surgery and I shouldnt be so active. I believe I have a high tolerence for pain. I am so positive minded that being minimally uncomfortable is ok. I work through things. I mean, this was a cake walk as opposed to my yo yo dieting. I feel like I cheated. No one knows I had the surgery, except my husband. I have lost 49 pounds. I am now in a size 6. I went to the doctor for an unfill. I am going out of the country tomorrow on spring break and wanted to be able to eat. So now I have no fill in me. The doctor said I deserved it. And to my astonishment, and my families I actually look good in a bikini! I have been able to eat anything and already have gained 3 pounds in 5 days! But..... I am treating myself. I already have an appointment for a fill the monday after I get back and will lose the weight I gain. I am so happy that I KNOW that will happen. I do not worry about erosion really. I go to a doctor here in Michigan who Doctor Ortiz trained. Dr. Ortiz is one of the best in the world. My Michigan doctor said that erosion is so non-existant. In all of his years doing this procedure, he has never had an erosion problem. I asked since I had my procedure done in Mexico would it matter? He explained this: Dr. Ortiz is the best. You went to the best. (I couldnt get the procedure done in the states as I was too low of a BMI). Slippage happens when you do not eat correctly. You have to learn how NOT to eat. Its funny, what I missed the most was taking BIG bits. For the last year all I did was nibble food. So the first thing I did after my unfill was bought a fast food sandwich and took a BIG bite! It was emotionally satisfying, but... I feel much more unhealthy now that I am eating alot again. With the band you become a "nibbler and a picker" of food. You learn that the way you ate in the past was so emotional. I was somewhat deyhdrated after the surgery. I just drank alot of juiceboxes and water. I still become deyhdrated because I do not drink alot. I kind of make my own rules. I love fruit punch and pink lemonade. I need to drink more water. I never had any vomiting after surgery. As for my port becoming visible. I could probably only lose at the most 15 more pounds. I think at that weight you would be able to see somthing there if you really looked. If I suck in my stomach I can see the bump. No one else would be able to see it, but I am looking for it. Where Dr. Ortiz puts the port is not really at a visible spot. Bring comfortable clothes. Elastic is the key there. On the plane, I wore loose fitting clothes. I am sure people have gone by themselves. I probably should have. My husband was so excited to be alone with me and away from the kids that he wanted to have a "vacation" when in reality I should of just rested and healed. As for going alone though. If you are an emotionally strong person I would say go ahead. I could of. You have to get over the fear of being in Mexico and thinking that you are getting 2nd rate treatment. These doctors are extremely competent. As a matter of fact we have a new scenerio in our house. My husband is 6'2" he yo yo's from 215-240. He is not obese per se. He is tired of the yo yo dieting and told me the other day he is thinking about getting this done in June if he does not lose the weight and keep it off. I told him the only problem he would have is getting over the "emotional" eating. He takes huge bites and enjoys food. I take nibbles and enjoy every little morsel I can fit in. I cant imagine him being happy without eating a full steak. My joke to him was we could share off of the kids menu if he did it. I would not hesitate going alone though. The staff guides you, just do as they say. They are not taking you down any back roads when they pick you up. They are very professional. As for my opinion. DO IT! Be strong. You wont regret it. As for telling anyone, why? No one needs to know. If it makes you feel better than tell someone, but in reality no one understands why you go to Mexico. I asked my Michigan doctor if I should tell anyone - He said the same thing. This was my decision, its no one elses business. I am not lying when I say I just cut back on my portions and changed the way I eat. I feel better, look better and life is good. I didnt realize that 50 pounds took so much of me away. I am back to normal, happy and healthy. And you will be too. If you do the procedure there will be really hard times (not being able to eat - only drinking liquids) - but look toward the future. It wont take you long to lose the weight and it will stay off. I had my procedure done in april had one fill in TJ and still did not loose any weight. I didnt want to have to keep flying there so I found a doctor here who as I said Dr. Ortiz trained. After pleading he took me in as a patient. My second fill was Aug-Sept. That is when I started losing. So in reality, I losed 49 pounds in 7-8 months. This was the best decision I ever made. I hope this helps you. I know its a long email, but I wanted to answer all of your questions honestly. I hope to hear from you soon, let me know what you decide. GOOD LUCK! Mary lps.

The Hotel Lucerna is quite nice. Is it the 5 star experience we Americans are used to? Probably a 4 star hotel. I enjoyed my experience, the rooms are clean and the resturants are amazing. The two times I stayed there - there were medical conventions held. I believe it is the finest around TJ. Hope this helps. Mary

Just wanted to give you my thoughts. After surgery, I rested the next day at the hospital. The following day, we met friends, I walked more that day than I had in months.... I felt great and never once had any pain. I believe I am one of the fortunate ones - I could of done anything after the surgery.... I had no pain and had no need for the pain pills. I never took a day off of work nor did I need to. I had no complications and absolutely no pain. Dr. Ortiz has changed my life. I am so glad I made this decision! I hope this helps.

Hi guys! I am the lower BMI that went to a doctor here in Michigan that Dr. Ortiz trained. I can give you all of the information if you want. Look forward to hearing from you.

Hi guys! I am the lower BMI that went to a doctor here in Michigan that Dr. Ortiz trained. I can give you all of the information if you want. Look forward to hearing from you.