Michael

Thanks for you reply. During the liquid phase I think that is normal as your stomach is so empty. However, I am not a doctor, but that was normal for me as well. I have had success with gas-x during the liquid phase and even today. Guess I just need to call Dr. Ortiz. I hope for you it passes. Congrats on your 10 lbs. Great start is right. Savor the food when you start eating again. Food may never taste so good. Michael

Hello friends and fellow bandsters, just wondering if anyone is having or has had burping problems? I was banded in Oct. 2006, no problems until about 1 month ago. Burping, or should I say belching is almost a constant problem for me. I am going to call the clinic soon, just wondered if anyone else found a way to solve the problem. Thanks. Michael

Mikey...49 pounds. AWESOME dude, I'm sure you already feel great. Just think what 1 year from now will feel like. Surgery...no big deal. 20 minutes and your back again...just enjoy the white stockings!!!

Matt...you will still have to change the way you eat, which is still a diet. As Dr. Ortiz told me, just eat less. The reason the band works is that it will make you eat less. PAIN will occur if you eat too much, which will require you to stop eating. Ask anyone who has eaten too much and all will agree that the pain isn't worth the 'enjoyment' of the food. Even with a light fill you will still eat less. Are you a candidate? I believe so, and if the doctor disagrees find another until you are satisfied. It will work for you. Good luck. Michael

Matt, You have asked some serious questions. I am a high school teacher in California and have been overweight since the age of 7. When I was your age I was wearing clothes larger than my father. I wasn't as big as you, probably weighing 250 lbs. and a 48 suit jacket for my high school graduation. I was obese. I let my life and weight spiral out of control over the next 20 years to over 400 lbs. and being 6'3" with my weight in the middle it was easy to "hide it". I was always Big Mike, teased and not accepted in school. I really do understand what you are going through. With 20 years of life beyond yours I have suffered that many more years of those looks, laughs, taunts, breaking chairs, not being able do what my friends could do, etc. It is a hard road to run on. Those that say they like themselves big and the biggest liars in the world. No one wants the feelings you have when you are big. What you have to determine is what you want for your life. That is hard at 17. Let me share my thoughts regarding the lap band. In 2006 I had toped the scales over 400. I hated my life. Having 2 kids I couldn't play with them. It was hard to get down on the floor. I had looked at gastric bypass but did not like what I saw. In September 2006 I came across lap band. I saw my first doctor within 2 days. 3 days later I found Dr. Ortiz. Witihn a week I had a met Dr. Ortiz and made my appointment for surgery for October 20, 2006. I needed to drop 30 lbs within a month and ended up dropping 35 lbs. I had my surgery on Friday afternoon and was back in the classroom Monday morning. Nobody at the school knew. Currently I am 305 lbs, and feel great. My goal is 250 lbs by Christmas and 200 lbs by June 2008. It is still a struggle every day. First off, you have to change your diet. You cannot eat the same things. You have to eat less. If the band is tight enough then you will eat less and drop the weight. It is a tool, and if used correctly it will work. Should you have the surgery. That is your decision. If I was in your place knowing what I know now, not having to live 20 more years with the weight, I would jump as fast as I could to have it done. If insurance will pay, I would move even faster. As long as you are ready to make changes. Being a parent I would only want the best for my child. If my kids are large at your age, I guarantee you I would have them get the surgery. Remember it is a decision you have to make about your life, and what kind of life you want for yourself. I can't help but feel your parents want the best for you and would support you in this decision. Do your research. Have your parents do the research. Buy Dr. Ortiz's book, read and have your parents read it. It will explain almost everything. I am willing to talk further to you or your parents if you wish. Just reply and we can go offline and contact each other. Is it worth it. Absolutely. Matt, I wish the best for you. Michael

You have some very valid points. Let me share my experience. Eating less and exercising more is the key to weight loss. Any 'program' that you join or become part of that is ultimately the way to lose the weight. With the band it is easy to learn to eat around it and consume a large amount of calories. Just because you have the band does not mean you can eat anything you want. It will control the portions if filled right. There will be foods that will be more difficult to eat after the band. Different for everyone. However what it does do is give you an extremely painful reminder if you eat too much. I went without a fill for 4 months due to my schedule, began eating everything like chocolate bars and cheesecake and my weight went up and down 5 lbs. Without the band in that time period I would have gained 15-20 lbs. with the garbage I was eating. That says something right there. At times I have wondered if spending the money was worth it. Then I look at the scale and see that in 10 months I have lost 90 lbs. Is the band perfect? NO. YOU have to use the band as a tool, much like using a hammer on a nail vs. a keyboard on a nail. With the right tools and mindset you will loose weight. I am currently following the weight watchers program which is helping drop weight even faster. The combo works well. Surgery in Toronto vs. Mexico. I investigated Toronto as my wife's family lives there. I went with Mexico for 2 reasons. (1) Cost, (2) Dr. Ortiz is the best in the world. He has performed more surgeries than anyone. What I would find is a local clinic or doctor who will provide after care fills, etc. in Toronto. Then you would have the best of both worlds. Good luck to you. Michael

Danielle, It is unlikely you will be able to drive a rental into Mexico "legally". Another option for you. Rent a car 1 way from Orange County to San Diego Airport then take the OCC shuttle to the clinic. Once completed rent a car to return from San Diego to Orange County. There should be no drop fee. Driving to the clinic is extremely easy and is only about 1 mile across the border. Why 4 days? I arrived late Thursday night, banded Friday afternoon and back home (I live in Southern California) on Saturday. Good luck. Hope all goes well for you. Michael

Mikey, today should be the day. All the best to you today and in the weeks ahead. You can do it....Michael

Mikey, your surgery date gets closer and closer. I have thought about you and hope all is well. My last fill has been the one...it's like I am dropping weight daily...I am so excited now and extremely pleased that I had the surgery. When I weighed myself this morning I was 320, a number I haven't seen in many, many years. The best thing...I am buying pants at Costco and Sam's Club!!! Before surgery I wore a 50 pant at my waist. Today I am sliding out of a 42, and a 40 I usually have room. My scale showed me that I am less than 100 lbs from my goal weight of 225 which I am really excited about. My total weight loss is 84 lbs to date. Nothing wrong with that. My current goal is 300 by August and more than 120 lbs off by my 1 year surgery anniversary. I think I will beat that....I'll keep you posted. Your thinking is on the right track...keep positive, keep focused, keep working towards your goals. The best to you. Happy July 4th!!! Michael

Update...after maintaining my weight for nearly 4 months with my weight up and down 5 lbs. I finally had time to run to the clinic for a fill. They filled me to 7cc. WOW!!! That hurt, especially sitting for nearly 2 hours to cross the border. But seriously, I have dropped almost 15 lbs. in the 9 days following the fill. Moral of the story...if your eating too much, get the fill. Makes a big difference. I think I will probably be able to stay at this fill level for a while. However, I am going to make the fill a priority. When I feel that I am eating too much I am heading back down. And since we are spending thousands for the operation, I guess it only makes sense to keep it filled. Looking forward to hearing about your success...the best to you. Michael

Mikey, Wow... a lot of similarities here. I am 6'2" and my highest weight was 404. My first weigh-in when I met Dr. Ortiz in September 2006 I was 390 and my surgery weight (Oct 2006) was 355. Loose as much as you can before the surgery. It makes it easier for the doctors to perform, and you will feel like you are on already winning. The surgery is easy. You will feel sore for a few days, but most people would never know you just had major surgery. I had mine on Friday, home Saturday and back to work Monday. No one knew other than those we told. Coming home my father-in-law never knew I just had major surgery. People at work never knew. Amazing. Try that with gastric bypass! The liquid diet is not hard if you make the determiniation that you are going to do it, that you have spent the thousand's of dollars and so you are going to stick with it. That said, I was ready for a meal after 3 weeks. You stick out those three weeks you can be extremely proud of yourself, it is tough at times, especially if your around family, etc. Just avoid some of those situations, it makes it easier. Currently I hover around 330 lbs. Several reasons for that. #1: I am not going to the gym. I was for a while, but my life became increasingly busy that I just didn't schedule it into my life. Make your car go on auto pilot to the gym. I also think I over did it, meaning I was going 7-9 times a week. Too much. Keep it simple, 3 times per week and just walk or swim the others. #2: One of my biggest mistakes was to think that I could beat the band. You learn tricks with eating and the band. LISTEN to the band...probably doesn't make sense now, but I am sure other's who have been banded would agree. Just STOP eating #3: Eat the deserts, just not a daily basis or even the entire piece. If you like chocolate, cakes, etc. have a small piece. If you go cold turkey it become extremely difficult and you will fail in this area. It is still a problem area for me. #4: STOP drinking all soda, pop, alcohol, carbinated drinks, etc. NOW. I stopped drinking soda the day I found out about the lap-band and have never looked back. Probably the easiest and best decision I have made. There is a lot of calories in alcohol, so I have stopped that as well. The earlier you start on that, the easier it will be. Today, all these drinks don't interest me. If you want a good low calorie drink Stater Brothers has Lemonade and Arnold Palmer (ice tea & lemonade) low calorie, I think 50 cal/serving that is really good cold on a hot day. Mikey, don't think you are going to be thin overnight. I have lost 70 lbs already and feel 1000% better. I have about 100 lbs I would still like to loose. You will be frustrated, feel like giving up, but remember what Dr. Ortiz said. It is a tool, and just like with any tool, you have to surround it with the right parts, or food, to make them work together. I live in Riverside, and am willing to talk more if you wish. Just send me an email. Oh, Dr. Ortiz is the best, good choice. Michael