shakinnmyshoes

I had a BMI of 32 when I started. I was 5'7" and my high weight was 209. I had arthritis in my neck and low back and high cholestrol, otherwise I was pretty healthy(oops I forgot to mention stress incontinence). I had no tolerance for exercise at all. I couldn't bend over to buckle my ski boots. I was extremely sedentary. I got banded on March 22, 2007. I have had 1 fill so far. A year later my weight is 150. I have had slow weight loss at times, but I am extremely satisfied with my results. I have gone from a size 18 to an 8. I just recently got a fill. I waited almost a year to get my first fill because I was slowly losing weight without it. I had the fill on March 8, 2008 and I've lost 12 pounds since then. I think I am probably a little too "tight" right now, but I am trying to give it some time to see if things settle down a bit. I feel good. I exercise 5 times a week at the gym. I feel like a different, younger, sexier person. I am really glad I got the band. Marsene

I'de have to agree. Banded on March 22,2007. Great experience,no problems. Lost 10 pounds on the pre op diet and 18 since surgery. Haven't had a fill yet, but seem to be losing between 1-3 pounds weekly. Glad I did it. Marsene

I got a call back from the fillcenter representative. There are two options for doctors in Houston. One has no access to flouroscopy and the other borrows flouro from another doctor, but that adds $265 to the price. This makes the first fill $464 and subsequent fills $430. This seems pricey to me. Does anyone know of any other options for fills in the Houston area? I think it is less expensive to fly back to TJ and get it done. Has anyone taken advantage of the hotel deal that Lori posted? Marsene

This probably is going to sound off the wall but I (kind of )miss the liquid diet. I was banded on March 22 and have progressed to solid food. I was very faithful to the liquid diet and I lost some weight every day or two. Now that I am on solid food. I don't feel like I have the same control. I find myself in more situations where I have to make food choices. I feel only a little restriction. I am eating less than I used to, but I can eat probably a cup of food before I hit a stop sign. I feel like I can eat more than I should be able to. I haven't had any problems with PBing (thank goodness), but I don't want to backslide or go back to my old eating habits. I guess its time for me to sign up for a fill. A week ago, I didn't think I would need a fill for a long time, but now that I can eat solids I am not so sure. I was going to try a fill doctor in Houston, but I found out this week that its going to cost close to $500 to get a fill with fluoro from the fillcenterusa doctor. For that amount of money, I might as well fly back to TJ. Can anyone else relate??

Have you tried Yoplait Nouriche drinkable yogurt? 4oz and I was good for 4 or 5 hours. It's pretty thick and very filling. Marsene

Thank you so much for faxing the instructions! You are a lifesaver. I went back to work today, felt fine. I couldn't believe I drank 4oz of the nouriche at about 12 noon today and I couldn't even think about food for the rest of the day. I had a cup of miso soup (without the tofu) and that was all I wanted all day long. I wonder how long that will last. 5 days down 17 to go. How are you doing? Marsene

That would be great if you could fax them to me - if it's not too much trouble. My fax is 281-335-5514. I feel great. No pain, most of the gas is gone. My stomach rumbles like an old ship going down for the last time, but its not craving anything. I was kind of surprised that I didn't lose weight while in TJ because of the no food, but I think the IV fluid and the sodium in the broth and gatorade could be causing me to hang on to fluid. I am not worried about it just surprised. What kind of drinkable yogurt are you using?? I have some Yoplait Nouriche smoothies, but I don't know if its too thick or too high in calories. One bottle is about 240 calories. Marsene

I am feeling like a yo-yo.I was banded by Dr. Ortiz and I left my post op diet instructions on the nightstand at the hotel Lucerna. I can't remember when I can have something besides clears. I had surgery Thursday and the only thing I've had so far is beef broth, gatorade, and popsicles. I think I get to aid drinkable yogurt on day 4, but not sure when to add slim-fast or thick liquids. I want to go by the book, but I forgot the book. Also by drinkable yogurt does Yoplait Nouriche count? or is there something else I should use Marsene PS I would just call the center, but its the weekend.

I am from Houston, banded 2 days ago. So far thankfully no vomitting. I am glad you're feeling better. Marsene

I got banded by Dr. Ortiz on Thursday. Boy was I a petrified wreck before hand. I had so many negative scenarios worked out its a miracle I didn't chicken out. Most of what I was afraid of was being "put to sleep" for surgery. Everyone at the OCC made things so quick and pleasant. Before I knew it the surgery was over. I have a minimal amount of discomfort. I did not need the pain medication they gave me before leaving. Just a kind of full feeling of having too much gas. I couldn't have asked for an easier experience. I guess this is post op day 3 and no real hunger pains yet. Im sure that after another 18 days of liquids I might get a little cranky, but for now I loving it'

IG, Try to lay some of your fears to rest. I got banded yesterday in TJ and the experience was great. Everyone here tries to make the experience as pleasant as possible. It's clear liquids in the beginning, but by Day 4 you can add drinkable yogurt. I don't really have any pain yet. Just a feeling of being full of gas. Walking really helps with that. Without fail , we were all nervous that got banded yesterday, but I don't think anybody felt terrible afterwards. Marsene

Hi Paul, I am going to get banded on Thursday and I have been reading everybody's posts both good and discouraging also. I am a lower BMI patient, but I haven't had any problem losing the %5 preop weight. My father got banded a year ago. His starting weight was around 310 and he has lost about 50lbs so far. Even though he hasn't achieved all of the weight loss that he hoped he would, he is more optimistic, confident and positive than he was a year ago. He feels like it's 50lbs gone for good. He is aware of the reasons that weight hasn't come off quickly. I was talking to him this morning about whether he would do it again and he did not hesitate a bit about saying yes. Everybody has a different temperment. Some people focus on positives and others on negatives. Even though I worry that maybe I won't get the results I am hoping for, at least I'll know that I did everything I could. I am not going to let fear of failure keep me from trying. I have seen enough success on this forum to know that it is possible to achieve good results. Each day I will battle my three demons - Gluttony, Sloth & Despair Marsene

Don't know if this would help, but my mom was a 25 year pack/day smoker. She took the medication called Chantix (Shantix sp) and was able to quit without cravings. I have heard of many people using this medication to quit. It is not like wellbutrin it has something to do with filling nicotine receptors. I quit smoking about 7 months ago using a patch, but I was no fun to be around. Marsene PS - please don't construe this as medical advice -just passing on what my mom did