nita57

and you should also remember that lapband does NOT work for everyone. There are just as many NEGATIVE stories out there as there are positive. If Oprah is doing a story about it, then she needs to be objective, but she also must look at all of the results, not just the good ones. Nita

I have had my band for over a year and am at a standstill as far as weight goes. I have cheated and started drinking soda again and am trying to get back on track. I have thought of nutrisystem or jenny craig but was wondering if anyone else has tried it. Thanks for the input.

I''m thinking along the same lines, but don't really want any more expense. Shouldn't the investment we make in the band help enough? I'd try another fill but the new fill doctor at the OCC is an idiot. Good Luck. Nita

I'M GETTING A FILL TUES DEC 18TH. PLANE ARRIVES SAN DIEGO AIRPORT AT 9:15 A.M. APPOINTEMENT FOR FILL IS AT 11:30 A.M.. IS ANYONE ABLE TO SHARE COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM TJ ON THAT DAY?

You need to grab the bus(#992) at the airport. It cost about $5 for an all day transport pass. Take the bus to the America Plaza. There you catch the Blue line trolley to San Ysidro, which is the border. Walk into Mexico and the cabs are lined up waiting. It cost another $5 for a cab to the clinic. It takes about an hour to get to the border so you should be okay. Good luck!! Nita(also in Idaho)

I'm with you all the way Greg. I do not regret for one minute my decision to be banded. I am also diabetic, and will be off of all of my meds next week. I know that without the band nothing would have changed. I am however, disappointed with the speed of my weight loss, and very dissappointed with spending about $700.00 for hotel, flight, etc. only to have my band loosened. I am hanging in, and not gaining any weight, which is a good thing. After the first of the year I will go to Salt Lake City for a fill, I guess I am done with OCC because of Dr. Acousta. (by the way, what is he? Like 12?) We will see. Good Luck Greg. Nita

For the exact reason you just stated. He insisted my band was too tight. I tried to explain that it is always tight in the morning but by evening I can eat anything. He insisted that I have been vomiting (not true) He had the needle in my stomach, so what could I do? He removed .6cc, leaving me feeling wide open. He told me to be on a DIET. Okay if I could do this I could have saved 10k right? I think I won't go back there again. I also think that in Mexico they use the term Doctor loosely. I don't believe half of those people attended a medical school. I love Dr. Romero and won't go back unless he will do my fill. Now I have to just struggle not to gain weight and feel lucky to weigh 255 after more than a year with the band. I'm sorry to sound so pesimistic but I am truely upset at this turn of events, and I can't afford to fly back and forth to prove to a fool that my band needs a fill. Good Luck to all..Nita

Im happy for you. I still have alot of weight to lose though and not going anywhere. I went for a fill and the new "dr" at OCC wouldn't do it. In fact he removed some of my saline. Now I can eat and eat. I'm really unhappy with them at the moment and discouraged. I hope the people who are considering this surgery will consider all the outcomes and not only the good ones. Nita

Frustration is my middle name. Don't feel lonely. I have been banded for more than a year and made 5 trips to TJ for adjustments. I have not lost a pound in months. All I can say is hang in there...nita

what the hey who does "pb'd" or "slimed" mean?? sounds darn unpleasant!

PB means Produtive Burp, which means you burp up your food..sliming is what happens prior to the PB. Both are disgusting. Nita

I was banded on August 6th, yesterday I took the kids to the zoo. We were there for 6 hours, when we left. We were all really hungry. We stopped at Jack in the box. I order a sourdough burger and fires with water. It did not set well and I will not repeat that again. I had forgotten about the band needing to seat itself. The burger made me feel sick, and today my stomach feels queasy. It all feels like it is just sitting in my stomach. I am scared about lap band slippage, so I need to know the signs and where I would feel it at. Would it be in the front or on the side? I have not had a fill yet. Up until yesterday I had been on soups and really good about blending everything and drinking my protein shakes. Do you think I have a lot to worry about? I am really stressed about this. I have wanted to kick myself ever since.

Relax, sounds like you have irritated your band. You will probably be fine. I haven't had a slip, but I have a friend who lost her band to a slip and she couldn't even drink water, and was vomiting what looked like black coffee grounds. Try to do the liquids for a day and you should be fine. Good Luck. nita

Thanks, Nita. I really appreciate your comments. While you struggled with your decisions (too tight, right level) did you consult with anyone at OCC at all, or did you have to make all your decisions on your own?

No Worry,

I didn't consult them...I have joined a couple of local support groups with some long term bandsters and I do alot of reading, both online and any book I can find. I know it is very difficult when your Dr is sooo far away. I'm not sure that any answers that the OCC gives me will satisfy me either. I guess I just feel like, since I made the decision to basically do this thing on my own, then I am trying to handle the decisions for fills and trips to TJ the same way. Sometimes it is sooo hard to know what to do. I am also finding that the "20 lb" rule seems to be holding for me. Seems like every 20-25lbs I can eat too much. I just figure that I've come this far, and I will finish no matter what. Good Luck and keep me informed with how it's going. Nita

Good question!! I know I have been exactly where you are with this thing. I really hope you can find your happy place with this silly thing. Even with good restriction, some days I can eat too much. So then I'm thinkin'...hmm....another fill? And then the next day..wham...it's back to being tight..It is hard too determine..even for myself sometimes what it needs. My guess is that if YOU feel like you are eating too much, if you feel like you are not losing weight, then go for the fill. There is no exact amount, because we are all different. I know that the last time I went, I was afraid for a couple of days that it was too tight. Sorry I can't be of any help to you here, but I really, really, hope you will be able to find the right level for you soon. Don't give up, because when you do get there, you will believe in it's worth. Cheers. Nita

I disagree. I am now very happy with my VG band. I do agree however that the time it takes and the amount of fills it takes to find the correct level of restriction can be VERY frustrating. Don't give up. Each person is different, with most VG band wearers needing between 7 and 9 cc's for a sweet spot. I know many VG bandsters who have acheived their goal weight and are happy with their bands. Never give up!! Nita

I love my shaggy baggy shar pei skin!!! And in another year I will love my plastic surgeon!!!!!!! I'm feelin way better with the skin than I did with all the fat. Good Luck all Nita

I would just like to add that you should really do your research. Everyone is different and everyone's experience is different. Be prepared for all possibilities, including the possibility that you may receive a VG band, which requires 4 or 5 fills to reach your sweet spot. Don't depend on other people's experiences. If you truely want this and you do all the research, reading all the good and bad that you can find, then and only then will you be able to make an informed and intelligent decision. Please read other message boards besides this one. This board is great, but it is mostly newbies and wannabes and it tends to lean more to the very optimistic. I am in no way trying to discourage you. I am very very happy with my band. I have had some frustrating times, but because I did my reading before, I knew what I was up against with my VG band, and I have managed to remain mostley positive. This is the best thing I have ever done, but I think it is a very personal decision which should be researched beyond this board. Good Luck and Many Happy Weigh In's !! Nita

I pulled out my little occ card and my band card and it doesn't state who makes it so I am not sure if both are made by inamed or not. I do know that the doctors here do use both bands and if you check around on some of the other boards you will see that there are many different types in use. I am sure that this is Dr preference. Don't worry though, Dr. Ortiz will give you the best band for you! Contrary to things that have been said, its not just a factory where no one cares. The VG band works just as well as the smaller band. It just takes a while to hit your sweet spot because it holds more fill. Like I said before, I have had some frustrating times waiting for that sweet spot but when you find it, and if you don't give up, you will find it, then you will be on the real journey...So here's hopin that you have much good luck and lose all the weight you want and that you win the lottery..(not really, its my turn to win.) Good Luck and take care. Nita

There are actually many kinds of bands. Dr. Ortiz (as far as I know)uses either the standard inamed band or the larger VG band. The Dr. determines which one to use on a patient based on their individual needs. If you have a high BMI, carry alot of fat around your middle, then you are a good candidate for the VG. I guess only he can tell you which one you will get. I have the larger VG band. I must admit to going through alot of frustration with it...BUT...I did hang in there and I did get my fills and now I am losing weight at a regular and quite happy pace!! You can be successful with either band, I just think the VG requires more patience. Just know that Dr Ortiz and his team will give you the band that is best for you, the one that is HEALTHIEST for you. Good Luck and welcome to bandland. Nita

Penny,

I knew the minute I met you that I liked you. Now I am just in awe. You are truely amazing and I want to say thanks so much for sharing this experience with all of us. I am just not sure I could do so well under the same circumstances. You are a special lady. Take care and keep the faith. Nita

Hello and welcome to all of you!! Good luck and keep smilin! nita >

Judy,

Believe me, you are not alone. This period is often referred to as Bandster Hell...You have no real restriction and yet you feel you shouldn't eat..Don't be too hard on yourself. Many many many people gain back all of their pre-op weight loss during this period. I didn't, but only because I weighed and measured everything that went into my mouth. Please don't be to hard on yourself, your band is in place, but it hasn't been "activated" yet. Depending on which band you have, it could take 1 or several fills to reach a good level of restriction. Once you find that, you will lose weight. Don't put too much emphasis on weight loss at this stage of the game. Of course you will always have to deal with the emotional issues that caused you to become overweight to begin ith, but your band will be there to help you when you slip. Please don't distress..I know you feel very impatient now for the band to work, but you must be patient and NEVER give up. Take care and let me know how you are doing. Keep smilin' Nita >

I'm with you Clynn. I chose lapband because it can be reversed as opposed to bypass. I am happy with my choice. I feel a little uneasy about rearranging my insides...Nita

I have never been stuck more than once per fill. Dr. Romero is the best. The fills are free. You are paying 100.00 for the flouro, which insures you only get stuck once, and checks up on your band. BTW I have never had my skin numbed and it has never hurt. No worries if you get you fills in TJ. Nita

Every person is different with respect to this. Personally I can eat anything in small amounts if I chew, chew, chew. Be careful with "friendly foods" For me, all the very bad things, candy and junk food, slide right on down!!! I'd call that very friendly! And very self-defeating. Here's hoping you have much luck on your journey! Nita

=D> Congratulations Becki!! you deserve this, I know how much you have wanted to become a physical type of person from reading your posts for the past year. You have worked hard and shared much. Kudos. Nita

Hi, I was banded on June 5th and I was just wondering if anyone knew how soon after surgery are you able to drink alcohol? I have my first fill July 20th so I am excited and kinda worried at the same time. How do they deadend the skin where they insert the needle to put the stuff in your band? If someone knows the answer to my questions could you please tell me and give me some peace of mind!! Thanks

Krystal

Hi Krystal,

As far as the alcohol goes, I couldn't tell you. I am not a big drinker so it was never an issue for me. I think if you stink to non-carbonated beverages, like wine, you should be okay. They do not deaden the skin to give you a fill. Don't worry!! It is NOT painful. At worst you might have a slight pinch. Sometimes I don't feel it at all. Don't stress over the fill!!!!!!

Good Luck. Nita

Hey Tom, Roger.

You guys make me sick!!(not really) You both look so terrific! Anyway Tom, when choosing a goal my Doctor here told me to factor in 10-15 lbs of excess skin. I know everyone is different with respect to this, depending on age and activity level.

Hopefully you won't have so much of the Shar pei look as me when I'm done! But I would rather deal with that then to deal with the health issues and the FAT! Good Luck, and I'm with you..trying to wait out what seems like a little bit of over tightness to get the weight loss ball rolling again. Take care Nita