dietingqueen

Hi everyone, may have finally figured out what the burning is...i'm now seeing an actupunturist and he said basically i am acidic - did ph urine strips and i was bright yellow off the charts acidic. Been on special ph balanced water (kangenwaterusa.com) and doing actupunture 3x a week and finally have a few hours of relief every day (and it corresponds to when my ph is closer to normal). I still have a little throat clearing even switching with decaf but it seems to be only in the morning. will give it one month to clear up completely or back to occ for possible band removal. i also want to wait until my burning in mouth is gone so that I 'm healthier in case i need surgery.

Hey Hey Hey- I am so glad to hear from you! How are you and your sister doing? I hope OK - was hoping I would run into you at the Lucerna but we left pretty early. Yup that was me. Not sure about the scars but I had the surgery in 2005 and I think they just faded. Even my local docs say that - I didn't do anything to them in particular - just didn't mess with them with any special creams, etc. Did you post somewhere else of your experiences? Hope the surgery wasn't too bad. Going to some more docs this week - took a break - had a few days without the burning but now back so going to Ear Nose and Throat doc today - it's getting on my nerves now! I was getting a B-12 shot every week for 4 weeks than stopped when the band problems (which I guess weren't band problems) started but have been taking a multi, a b complex and calcium supplement since back). Maybe a sinus or throat infection? Hopefully will check that out this week. Good luck on your lapband journey... take care. mary

Dr. Martinez used to do the fills (may still do them) but the last few times I had Dr. Romero and/or Dr. Acosta. Dr. Acosta did my last unfill in February and left a little in (unfill due to refulx and being too tight) - I still had a little throat clearing the night after the unfill so to be safe I went back ON SUNDAY MORNING AT 9;00am and Dr. Acosta met me at the office. Then he dropped me off at the border! Again, very impressed with that type of patient service. The office is closed on Sundays but I spoke to both Dr. Martinez (late Sat. night) and then met Dr.Acosta early Sunday morning so I could fly home later Sunday... I had surgery in Nov 2005! They are always going to be there for patients. You will feel very safe and be in good hands for your fills. My only advice is trust them on the amount - don't try to be too tight so 'the band does the work' - as this will backfire. Better to be loose with a teeny restriction to remind you to stop or to help you eat less. A too tight band will only cause problem.s Also, don't rush coming home too much to see how you react to the fill. My last fill was in July (in Utah) and it was fine until around December and it just tightened up (I think for a lot of reasons but mainly work stress.....?) and I waited too long to get the unfill (trying to find a local doc). Good luck with your fill - you are in good hands. mary

The current cost for band removal is 3500 - which is only hospital costs - they don't charge surgeon fees. Since I didnn't have surgery they will charge me for the transportation back and forth for me and my husband (it would have been included for me and for both of us if we had been traveling together) and they might charge me for their services - I haven't settled the bill so to speak with Rene but he said they would most likely be mailing me a check (or wire, whatever). I have no concerns at all re: getting my money back - they are very ethical and I am happy to pay for whatever fees they charge for the surgery prep, exam, etc. I don't think I will 'owe' anymore than 500-600 at the most. mary

I just returned from OCC due to what I thought was reflux/problems and most likely a band slip. Unfilled Feb. 18 totally but still experiencing this burning in throat and mouth (tongue, sometimes lips)..that I THOUGHT WAS HEARTBURN. local lapband quack gave me nexium and never called me back when I was in distress. Dr. Martinez (saint), Dr. Romero (saint), called me back quickly several times to try to help me. We all pretty much were sure slippage so I came down last Friday. Prepped for surgery in case then sent for endoscope and comprehensive barium swallows to find out MY BAND IS FINE! Had another gawd awful test where they stick a tube thru your nose down to jesus' (so to speak) and YOU ARE AWAKE AND NOT PLESANT. THEY SEnd you another doc for the endo and this test - the second test was my choice to check esophogus and he is sweet as pie but I love it when I ask him - If we need to stop can we" and he says "No,we don't stop, just remain calm' LOL My undying respect and love for Mrs. Ortiz - an absolute angel who carted me around all day to the doctors - so kind and nice to me - like my mother - even took me to the bank! Rene in the office who could not have been nicer to me too and so on top of all my last minute arrangements and helping my husband make it to the Lucerna to be with me. The drivers - the office staff - and all the doctors - as I sat there boo hooing like a baby - holding my hand - comforting me like you can not believe. The nurses are also angels - so gentle - loving - caring. If ANYONE HAS DOUBTS ABOUT GOING TO THE OCC - GET OVER THEM QUICKLY. You are in better care than I think you can ever receive in the states. And, even if you have good after care in the states - whenever you need Occ THEY are there for you. 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Anyone can email me privately but know this - OCC is beyond number one in my book. The patient is everything to them - you are number 1 in their eyes and you feel it. I still don't know what is wrong with me but Dr. Martinez suggested some additional tests to have done in the states and i can eat solids again, etc. I did not see Dr. Ortiz on this trip but he also called me during my earlier distress and he is also a saint in my book. Honestly these docs and nurses are sooo competent and caring. The competency is critical but the caring is hard to come by (in the states IMO). Just wanted everyone to know. mary

I had HORRIBLE EXPERIENCES WITH THOSE LOAN COMPANIES - DO NOT USE THEM UNLESS DESPERATE AS HELL. Try for home equity (best) if you can /own a home - then i would go for credit cards - use 2-4 if you have too - just try for the lowest interest rates. try your bank - even if not home equity - better service and rates. so sorry - i know it is hell. good luck.

I suggest you call OCC and speak to one of the doctors - I don't think what you are describing sounds good - maybe you have something stuck in your pouch that hasn't gone through...why not call - they always respond almost immediately. I had the worst pb experience with apples =- i learned later to cut the skin off but almost died from that pain. I know it's bad. hang in there - it's all a huge learing experience that never ends. good luck

Hello, Been banded three years and have lost about 25lbs - so you have 'beaten' me there. Been there and gone/still going though a bit of what you are going through. Sometimes you have to stop looking for 'restriction' and that sweet spot that others refer to. I've never really had it - only felt that full feeling two times when I needed an emergency unfill so for some of us - it may not really exist. You are successful - you've lost a LOT of weight and you've kept it off. I've changed my definition of band success - sure I want to lose more weight and now I am working with a local bariatric doctor - (who has a lot of band patients and understands obesity is a 'complex' problem - more of a problem for some of us!) I'm unfilled due to reflux and even now i am struggling and i mean struggling to not eat. Has the band kept you for yo yoing and gaining weight? Has the band kept you for pigging out and binging? I for one have to also deal with hunger although I know now being unfilled that hunger is a lot less when filled. This is a lifelong journey with ups and downs. If you eat a tv dinner - and are still hungry - try drinking BEFORE the meal - add in a salad or other veges - or more protein and try to ride it out. being a little hungry isn't horrible - sometimes if you focus elsewhere that will help. Do you really have no restriction - if no restriction you could probably eat eggs.... not saying this to be bitchy sounding but believe me you would feel a difference with no fluid in you - If possible - get a fill, wait a day, and if not enough - go get some more in - right away - just be careful as a little goes a long way. Also, try to relax - up your exercise - make good food choices - make sure you are eating solid protein first - etc etc. good luck.

Hi Everyone - I never had heartburn in my life and always heard/thought it was burning in your chest/throat, etc. Well about 3 months ago - I started with this drainage and throat clearing that just kept getting worse. First with food then with liquids. Went to an allergist cuz i thought it was food allergies. The doctor listened and immediately said that isn't food allergies - that is reflux! Since it originally started after eating out - I admitted I was probably over eating which I tend to do when eating out. I also know overeating can cause me to experience drainage -the sniffles. I vowed to watch it - etc. etc. To make a long story short - I ended up at my surgeons and have a complete unfill - not only was my situation very serious - any type of reflux is very serious and should be taken as such - please don't wait if you are experiencing these symptoms - My fill was fine and tightened up for no particular reason - I had gone almost 6 months with this fill before this started happening. I am so thankful my band hasn't slipped and I have a chance to fix this problem. I've been banded almost 3 years and am still learning =hope this help someone else. If you are experiencing this problem - please see your doctor immediately. Mary

if interested, email me at thefacilitator@hotmail.com I am staying at a cheap (relatively) hotel overnight and leaving sunday morning at 6:00AM - SHOuld be a brutal trip. You are welcome to share my hotel room if needed too,.

Anyone going for a fill on the 16th - i'm arriving at the airport at 10:40 and would share a ride - otherwise will do my usual - bus and trolley run! let me know. mary

I admit I don't have time now to read every post BUT No worry Have you lost 96lbs in 3-4 months If so, I'm seriously missing something. The average loss is 1-2 lbs per week with hard work - anything extra is extraordinary. I think your fills are working. I've had over 10 fills/2 unfills since Jan 06 (surgery Nov 05) and lost 10lbs. I would be thanking everyone and everything if I had your weight loss. The band has kept my weight stable which never happened without it. Yes, I still want to lose weight but I don't obsess about it too much anymore. You will have this band for life hopefully and it's a journey with many ups and downs. goodluck

Hey Chelley - my soul sister! You and I have communicated and we are in the same boat. I had surgery nov 05 and lost 16lbs. On June 6th I went back to Mexico for a slight unfill. Doc Romero was out and the new doc didn't seem as experienced. He talked me into going to 1.9 (I was at 2.3) and I immediately could eat everything and everything and did. Certainly not his fault but I should have only gone to 2.2. ANYWAY as of today I gained 6 lbs (felt like 20) and had a local fill thru fill centers with a Dr. Muse in Utah. He said I had .02 practically empty and I'm now supposed to be back at 1.7 which is probably still no restriction for me but he couldn't go any higher based on fill center rules and caution since I'll be traveling and have access to no body! Now I MAY have a leak but I hope and pray I don't but I don't know what happened at my last unfill in Mexico - I knew when I ate a subway sub the next day I had no restriction. How could he think I was at 1.9 and I was at .02?? And yeah I know that's not 'good bandster food" but I felt I had been on a starvation diet for two years and kinda exploded into food. And I haven't had a yogurt or soup for the last month and loved it. I ate breakfast every day, lunch and dinner too -we went to restaurants and i didn't pb once. Sure hated getting fat but certainly enjoyed feeling like a normal person. Restriction has NEVER made me 'feel stuffed' with 1/2 cup of food - even restricted (chewing well and eating next to nothing) I would still pb - I sure wish I knew what everyone else seems to know. I ate the same things my band sister did for a month and I had no change - she lost tons. I could go on and on and I'm sure you can. It is frustrating as hell. This was my 10th FILL (includes two unfills) all but this one and one other one done in Mexico. I too have spent actually almost 20,000 with the surgery and all my fills and at my best - was only down 16lbs! Now after the last unfill and seeing how I continue to eat, I am not sorry I got the band - I'm sure I would weigh 300lbs by now without it and up to the unfill my weight was pretty stable BUT I share your extreme disapointment and pain. We should be toothpicks dammit and I too no longer go to any of the boards because there is absolutely no place for us failures. However, even though I said failure - I hope we both find some peace with this - we didn't fail - we just don't have a support system to help us succeed. This Utah doc is a bariatric surgeon and has struggled with weight his whole life - If I wasn't moving out of state tomorrow I would have welcomed working with him and he may have helped. He would have prescribed phentermine or other drugs (yeah i know what some people think of that) but he said weight loss is tough problem and sometimes needs many modalities to treat. I have eaten under 1000 calories and day and he swears it just isn't possible to not lose weight like that but you have to keep it up for a long time and most can't do it. I will keep you in my thoughts and hope that you too at least won't gain weight. If anyone ever helps me I will pass it along to you and I pray that both of us will one day have what most others get from the lapband. Good luck to you and peace, mary

hey deb, i am with you but the yo yo comment is the most important. I've been banded for over 2 years and complained bitterly about my 16pound weight loss - no matter what i did/do it wouldn't change (and I don't want to go into it all again) but I have food diairies, I exercise, i ate between 600-1500 calories blah blah blah. Well, I went to Tijuana for a slight unfill and let the doc talk me into a major unfill and have no restriction at all - every bad habit came back immediately and i've gained all 16lbs back. I am a head case, food addict, you name it and if i ever get a fill again i won't complain about not losing weight - i am happy to maintain even a minimal loss. At least if i do everything right i won't weight 250lbs again. I did complain the almost 20k it's cost me with the surgery and fills wasn't worth it but now being as fat as i was at surgery and knowing i will only be fatter over time, it was worth it. so yeah, if you never lose another pound but don't gain another that's pretty good in my book. and if you are eating right and exercising you are still healthier than if you are not. I don't agree you should make yourself tighter if you already feel good restriction - that just leads to trouble. the people that look to restriction so they don't eat will end up with problems. its better you just stay the course and be honest with yourself about what you are eating. it is very easy to trick ourselves so keep an accurate food diary - also, most of us need to exercise a lot more then we think we do to lose weight - at least 1 hour of cardio 7 days a week won't kill you -

I'm going June 5th - arriving in San Diego at noon and leaving at 6:20. If anyone wants to take the bus/trolley together, let me know. I'm good at it by now.

Hey JC. I really appreciate your warmth and support - I am in need of it today. I recently broke up with my boyfriend of 14 years and my band has tightened up so much I can hardly eat at all - I'm trying liquids for two days and I may be headed back to mexico for an unfill or worse a slip. Yes, I have tried everything but i still plan to find a youngish woman endocrinologist (suggested to me by a nurse at lapbandtalk.com) when I have insurance again. I am willing to pay anyone up to $15,000 IF they can help me - I won't pay if they can't as I'm complaint as hell and can't keep throwing money away. But to answer your questions - I have food diaries for over 14 months although i don't do it anymore - i've given up I snow skied in the winter 5-7 times a week very strenuously for 3-6 hours I took a boot camp class at the gym I lift weights 3 times a week I walk back and forth to work (about 30 minutes each way) I've varied my calories from 600-1500 I don't Blame the band cuz that's stupid - it should work wouldn't you think?? But because of all the above - having the band makes me crazy - i thank god every day i told no one except my boyfriend - the shame and scrutiny would have sent me over the brink. I will have it out soon so no need to get myself all worked up but you are right - we 'failures' only post for so long - we eventually skulk away in our shame and despair.

I have no idea either but I don't have health insurance and am so in debt I am not searching out any more answers. I am moving in a few months back east and will have a real job again plus benefits and may try to find out what is wrong with me. I had a thyroid blood test and was told it was smack dab in the middle - 2 - so who the hell knows. I am so unbelievably depressed over this so thanks for the understanding and mostly for not blaming me - that's usually what I get - and let me tell you I am so tight right now I can't eat until 6 - I would get an unfill but since it's coming out - i'm saving the money and pain. I'm sure the tightness is stress as it wasn't this tight when i got the fill. oh well, i also just wanted to say - you will not be like me - i've only met one other woman like me - does it all right but can't lose a damn pound - so the odds are pretty good in your favor - most people drop like mad at least 50lbs the first year. I'm sure you will be able to do it.

Everyone's experience is different. I was a lower bmi (35) patient and have only lost 14lbs in two years - doing all things i was told to do plus some. I wanted the band to help me be a 'natural eater' which to me is someone who enjoys a wide range of food in small quantitites with a treat here and there. I did not want to be obsessed with food etc. The band has just made me more obsessed because not only am I still insane about food but i still think of it 24/7 with the added component of the band - is it ok in me, am i pbing too much, am i properly restricted, can i eat today, this meal, oh it is endless. if i was skinny now i'd say who cares but since i'm not this damn thing comes out this month. i wish i had saved my almost 15K and went to hawaii for a few months or a fat camp for 6 months. No doc i know keeps stats on failures and there arent many of us out there - no one really wants to hear our story

The Best Value is pretty dumpy - if you are spending the money to go all the way back to tijuana i would stay at the lucerna and make my own way over the border - the trolley and taxi are easy and cheap but if you have to stay the night you aren't saving that much by the hotel. it's very low budget, a little dirty but not so horrible i would say don't do it - just know it is extreme budget hotel.

All I can say to Houscatgirl is WOW and congratulations. You look beautiful. The band has worked and you worked the band for your success. I am a tad jealous i am sorry to admit as I wanted to be exactly where you are. I also exercise almost every day but my body just really wants to be fat. You should write your success up for the occ website as they would surely love to post your success. I'm sure you'll have 15lbs off and be to goal in no time at all. Congrats again.

Michele, I haven't had it out yet but I"m getting it removed this month. I've been banded since nov. 05 and it hasn't worked for me. It was my last resort in the weight loss battle and I have nothing else left to try. I won't be spending any more money on surgery although my dieting lifestyle will continue for life. But without the worries of the band - since it has done nothing for me losing weight - i lost 16lbs in almost two years - I've gotten about as much help as OCC can offer a U.S. patient - they did a great job on the surgery but for folks like me who can't get it to work -- their services are limited. As Ortiz told another old poster (chelley) here - you can do surgery on 1000 people and you can get 1000 results - there's no telling why some don't succeed. I've eaten between 600-1500 calories a day for almost two years - i try everything for a month or two and then try to shake it up - I'm getting this out because I don't want to wake up in two years and be eroded for nothing - It is a proactive decision based on why have this implant when it doesn't work? Believe me all you people out there that are losing weight YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT A FAILURE GOES THRU WITH THE BAND. And yes, I've done everything right. So, I say - get it out - don't wait - what you are experiencing now will only get worse. Good luck

Teri, You seem on target for approx 1lb/week since your 1st fill in Dec - yeah, 20 would be exactly 1lb per week but you are close. Esp for a lower bmi person - and hopefully that means you can eat some real food and are not starving all the time. The slow and steady not too much pbing usually wins the lapband race. Also, are you at 3.5cc and not feeling restriction? I know what you mean about it changing (the restriction) - I am now super tight during the entire day but then can eat quite a bit in the evening - once it starts going in - it is hard to stop grazing! Anyway, also you know the band can't do all the work blah blah - I am one year earlier then you on surgery and have lost 16lbs total. Don't let the number(s) become your only focus.

thanks i called the office and they did say alleve but i'm switching to liquid tylenol. I crushed an alleve last night (icky) but it went ok and today i tried a whole coated on and i think it went ok but i ended up gulping (big mistake) a huge swig of milk and my middle of chest hurts like someone kicked me - pretty sure it is the milk not the pill but i hate that feeling.

[To be fair to OCC - I just found out they were open and the guard should've let her in! But she said no guard and locked tighter then a drum! Just a lesson to us all to be mindful of holidays and take the emergency numbers with you!!! For those of us that travel far distances - we must get in LOL. n I think she is going back today and she lives in CA so she is doing ok. quote name=FurEllie' date='May 3 2007, 01:08 PM' post='11439] That is correct: May 1: Primero de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day. But it doesn't make sense that they'd make an appointment for that day.