Sparkette

Well, I was about 20 pounds from my "dream goal" but then I hit a plateau, and NOW I've gained 10 pounds, and I can't seem to get rid of it!! I'm terrified that I'm going to gain even more. The weird thing is....I still have restriction, and it's very sporatic. Sometimes I can't eat anything, and other times, it seems I can eat WAY too much. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I just a weirdo?? Thanks, Donna

Same with me...my doctor told me the exact same thing, and I also have the 4cc band. :-)

Glad you got that all worked out! Hope you're recovering nicely! Donna

I finally get it! Or should I say I've finally GOT IT. The ever so elusive "restriction" is now MINE! Apparently my band has a slow leak. It didn't show up with contrast on the fluoro, but the saline was definitely going somewhere. I was losing at least 1.5cc's each fill. So, I would get a fill, lose 2 pounds, then gain about 5!! I think the Omnipaque is the answer to my prayers. I had a fill Friday night, and today, I'm very tight! Usually the next day after a fill I have NO RESTRICTION. I can eat a reasonable amount, but definitley not as much as before. I just now, ate maybe 3/4 of a chicken breast, and that was ALL I could put away. I'm full, and feel great. Could I be at that "sweet spot" at last?? We'll see! With the band clenched tightly around my stomach, I'm not hungry! Amazing! I was RAVENOUS before this fill. I'm just REALLY excited. I thought I was going to be a band failure, and I was so depressed! I'm totally inspired again now! I think I might even go exercise some more! LOL If you haven't gotten restriction yet....don't GIVE UP, you'll get there! Donna

My doctor told me that generally the first fill evaporates, or something....I'll have to find my book to get the correct terms, but basically, due to the air in the band, or something....the first fill, is "usually" only good for a couple of weeks. Of course that's not always the case, and sometimes a first fill can last MUCH longer for other people. As soon as I find my lap band book, I'll get the specifics typed in here. Until then, someone else may give you a better answer! Donna

I got one...add me if you'd like! MySpace.com - Donna - 35 - Female - Somewhere in, Iowa - www.myspace.com/donnasparks

Whoa....3 deaths in 1.5 months! I'd be certifiably INSANE. So sorry to hear that, hope you are dealing with it OK. It has been almost a year for me, and I've lost 31 pounds! I was REALLY hoping to have lost AT LEAST 50% of my excess weight at this point. Didin't happen for me, and and talk about DEPRESSED. I was so sick that I had wasted $10,000 on surgery (I was self-pay) and yet AGAIN was seeing no results. Just one more EXPENSIVE failed attempt at weightloss. However, I truly believe that if my restriction stays like it is now, even if I have to have a few more fills, I will be able to get the rest of this weight off! Donna

kobdish, Slow down a minute! LOL One fill is definitely not enough to make you doubt your band! Just like Kat, and thenume said, one fill is RARELY enough for anyone! PLUS, some of the 1st fill always leaks out, so even if you get a little restriction from the first fill, it usually dissipates pretty quickly! Definitley go back for fill #2, or #3, or #4, whatever it takes. I'm SURE you will see some results if you do that! Good Luck! Donna P.S. We did omnipaque, because my fills were dissappearing...literally. Put in 2.6cc's, and go back only to find 1cc, REPEATEDLY.

Jena, I believe she is only crushing the 100mg, and not the SR or XL. At least that is what I understood her to say.... I take the Wellbutrin SR, and have taken it for almost 10 years now. I LOVE it, and find that when I'm off of it, I have less energy, and am MUCH hungrier. I tend to gain weight if I go off it. I'm glad to find out about the smaller (crushable) version of Wellbutrin. I have never been too tight to swallow one, yet. But I was wondering what I would do if I got to that point! So, that's GOOD info to know!! Also, this is strange to me, but I can't take the XL which is a smaller pill. I get really bad headaches on it!?? You would think it wouldn't be any different than the SR, but it is for me apparently. XL or SR should never be crushed due to the fact that it would release ALL the meds into your system at once, instead of gradually. This could be dangerous! Donna

I’m so frustrated right now. I had lap band surgery <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date Month="4" Day="3" Year="2007">April 3<SUP>rd</SUP>, 2007</st1:date>. I was so excited! I was finally going to lose the weight for GOOD! And yet, here I sit almost a year later, still fat and unhappy! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> I lost about 37 pounds after surgery. I lost weight for 2 months, and then it STOPPED. COMPLETELY stopped! I haven’t dropped another ounce since! I knew going into this, that it wouldn’t be a miracle cure. But I just KNEW it would work for me! I knew if I could just GET that band, I could MAKE it work for me!! <o:p></o:p> I have had 6 fills, and I still have no restriction. It’s getting really expensive to get fills. $300 a pop! I just don’t get it. I see it on fluoro. The barium goes down, and stops. I “feel” tight, and then I go home and ALL restriction is GONE. <o:p></o:p> I am eating solid foods. I don’t drink with meals. And I might add that I can eat quite a BIT of solids! The only thing I CAN’T eat is scrambled eggs! They get stuck EVERYTIME. I guess I could go on a scrambled egg diet! I bought Lean Cuisine meals just for the portion control, but after I eat one, I’m STILL STARVING. I do get tight around my period. Then things get stuck, before I even realize what has happened! <o:p></o:p> I’ve had people tell me, “You’re just not at your sweet spot yet.” But is that true? I don’t know. I’ve never felt this magical thing called “restriction.” I have felt “STUCK food” and have PB’ed several times, but I don’t know about restriction. Am I just NOT there yet, or is this just not gonna work for me?? My cousin and I are identical in eating patterns, build, even emotions. She has had her band for 2 years, and has lost 100 pounds. So, I keep thinking , “WHY CAN’T I??? I have a 4cc band. I really don’t know how much is in it. I’m guessing around 2.8cc’s. My fill doc didn’t tell me last time. <o:p></o:p> I don’t THINK I have a leak. But, I have worried about that A LOT. My fill doc is going to use Omnipaque (thicker saline) when I get my next fill. Has anyone heard of this, or had experience with this? <o:p></o:p> I don’t mean to gripe. I know this is a great tool! And, I KNOW that you DO have to work with it. But right now, I don’t feel like it is helping me at all. Well, I haven’t gained back the 37 pounds, and I AM happy about that, but I want to get down to 150. That is my goal. That is 60 pounds away though, and I really NEED this band to help me. <o:p></o:p> Has anyone else felt this way, or am I some kind of NUT? Thanks, Donna

Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful posts! At my last visit, my fill doc checked out my band/port, etc. and said it wasn’t leaking. And, I do tend to have pretty close to the same amount in there when I go back. (it’s impossible to pull ALL of it back out). It’s always within about .5cc.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> He does the fills under fluoro everytime.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I haven’t done protein shakes. I guess I could give that a try.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Msmommy, (Kim)<o:p></o:p> Please don’t shy away form the band because of me. I’ve never regretted having it done, and I was self pay too! I lost 37 pounds, and they haven’t come back. I’m just kinda in a slump right now, but I’m sure I’ll pull through it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Snowbird,<o:p></o:p> I have never been back to Dr. Acosta, or Dr. Romero. I hear that they are far more aggressive with fills than most dr.s in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I wish I could go back there and get a fill. I just can’t afford it at this time. From what I hear, Dr. Romero is the best. <o:p></o:p> My primary care dr said she could do fills for me. That was a disaster! She poked me, and jabbed me so many times. She pulled all the saline out, and injected my flesh with 2.6cc’s. When I went back, she couldn’t pull anything out, so she said my band was leaking! I thought she had probably punctured the tubing or something. I should have never let her do it, but she insisted that since she could access chemoports, it would be NO different. I went back to my regular fill doctor. He checked it out, and said it was fine. But, I definitely learned my lesson!<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> He always does fluoro, but the barium seems thick, and well, it doesn’t pass through the band that well. It appears to stop, and I get that nauseated feeling, then he pulls a little out until it goes on down. Then I get home and restriction is GONE. Most of the time he tells me exactly how much he puts in there, and takes out etc. However, this last time I forgot to ask.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Ginger, <o:p></o:p> Thank you so much for your post!! That really makes me feel better! I hope that Omnipaque will be the answer for me too! <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Thank you all for the advice. Hopefully this next fill will turn things around!<o:p></o:p> Donna:sad:<o:p></o:p>

OK, so after I lose 100 pounds, I know there will be excess skin hanging around. Other than getting a tummy tuck, how have you dealt with it? Are there things you can do to prevent it? I know they say it takes at least a YEAR after weightloss for your skin to catch up. Is that true? Does it ever REALLY catch up? Anyone got there yet? Thanks, Donna:phanvan:phanvan

OK, so this is the story. I went to get a fill last week. My doc didn't have the right length needle, so she used a shorter one, and had trouble accessing the port because it was so short. She pulled out about 2cc's and that was all she could get. She put in 2.6cc's total (if indeed she was in the port) and I left pretty happy. I immediatley went to get something to eat to see if I had any restriction. NONE WHATSOEVER. I went back two days ago to get another fill. Same thing, longer needles hadn't arrived yet, and she tried to use the shorter ones again. She "thinks" she hit the port on the 2nd try. She tried to pull out the 2.6cc's but was only able to pull out .5cc. It had a little blood in it. So, can you pull .5 cc of liquid out of tissue??? I'm terrified that my band has a leak! She never was "quite sure" she was in the port with the shorter needle, so she told me to come back Friday, when the longer needles would be there, and she would try again. She was using a 1 inch, right angle Huber non-coring needle. I'm also scared about this....could she have damaged the tubing, and CAUSED a leak? I'm thinking if she couldn't reach the port, maybe she couldn't reach the tubing since it is at the bottom of the port... Any ideas???? Thanks, Donna <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_16857--> -------------------- <!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo-->Banded April 3, 2007<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--> <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizeo:4--><!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->By<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#800080--><!--/coloro-->D<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#ff8c00--><!--/coloro-->r<!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->. <!--coloro:#008000--><!--/coloro-->O<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#ff0000--><!--/coloro-->r<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#ff8c00--><!--/coloro-->t<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->i<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#006400--><!--/coloro-->z<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->in Tijuana<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--> <!--coloro:#000080--><!--/coloro-->www.obesitycontrolcenter.com<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizeo:3--><!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->Before<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#ff0000--><!--/coloro-->247<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->Pre-op diet<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#ff0000--><!--/coloro--> 234<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#0000ff--><!--/coloro-->Now<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#ff0000--><!--/coloro-->211 <!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#9932cc--><!--/coloro-->Total lost: 36 lbs<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--coloro:#9932cc--><!--/coloro-->.<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--> <!--coloro:#2e8b57--><!--/coloro-->Goal 150<!--colorc--><!--/colorc--><!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--sizeo:1--><!--/sizeo-->first fill 5/25/07 - 1.2 cc's <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--> <!--sizeo:1--><!--/sizeo--><!--coloro:#000000--><!--/coloro-->second fill 6/22/07 - .3 cc's Third fill 9/15/07 - 1cc for total of 2.5cc's Fourth fill 10/27/07 pulled out less than 2cc's (short needle) added .6cc for a total of 2.6, still no restriction! Fifth fill 11/6/07 (short needle) only pulled out .5cc, no refill, waiting for longer needle! Total fill - WHO KNOWS??- in a 4 cc band

I'm so happy to see this post!! I was banded on April 3rd 2007, and I've only lost 34 pounds. I REALLY have been feeling like I am the ONLY person in the world that the band doesn't work for. People that know I had surgery, keep asking why I haven't lost faster. It's FRUSTRATING!! When I go for fills, they are generally pretty small, but I can see the barium NOT moving, and he has to pull a little out to let it through. Then I get home and have NO restriction!!! I'm at 2.25cc's right now. Do you think most people have to get closer to the high end (4cc's) or 10 depending on band size? My cousin has gotten below goal, but she SWEARS that she didn't really lose a lot until she got up to 3.6cc's. She also says that the first year she didn't lose as much as the 2nd year. Anybody else with any comments on the subject? Thanks! Donna

Mine turned out just fine. Your's probably will too. The female doctor really poked around A LOT on me, on 3 different occassions. I was SO sure I had a leak. Well, when I went back to my doc in Chicago who uses fluoro, he said there was NO saline in my band at all. Basically she had pulled out ALL my saline, and then totally missed the port when she added the 2.6cc's. He said my port, and tubing was just fine. He added 2.25cc's (all I could handle) and I have restriction. Not a LOT but I've lost 4 pounds since I was there. Don't worry too much. Before this whole deal, I had 1.5 cc's. I went back and he added a whole cc, bringing me up to 2.5cc's. I thought MAN, I'm REALLY gonna be tight now! It felt really tight while I was there. Got home, and had NO restriction AT ALL. It's weird how the band works. Sometimes you can get a big fill, and have no restriction, and sometimes you can get a tiny fill and have LOT'S of restriction. Just try not to panic. I know it's hard...I worried myself SICK until I could get back, and get it checked out. It's a 3.5 hour drive for me too, so I know how that is!! It stinks! Hang in there! Donna

Interestingly enough, I read this SAME story on the internet, while I was researching surgery in Mexico, EXCEPT the doctor was NOT from MX, but was from Canada. It always amazes me how people can jump in and condemn a person for going to MX to have surgery, when they know NOTHING at all about it. I researched my doctor VERY WELL. Dr. Ortiz actually helped design the Inamed Lap Band. He also wrote the book "Lap Band for Life" which can be bought from Amazon.com. He has done over 6000 surgeries to date, was featured on the Discovery Health Channel, and taught sattelite classes for Yale University on the procedure. Not to menthion all the US surgeons he has protored on the surgery. He was one of Inamed's FIRST doctors to be designated a proctor surgeon. His clinic wasBRAND NEW, VERY NICE, and cleaner than most US hospitals. I was given EXCEPTIONAL care, and would do it again in a heartbeat. Not just for PRICE, but because I KNOW I had an AWESOME doctor, that knew what he was doing. I know there are some bad doctors in MX, just like there are some bad doctors in the US. But don't knock them all, when you don't have all the facts. I wasn't lucky enough to h ave insurance that would pay for my surgery, and I didn't have 23,000 for surgery in the US, so YES, I'm happy to admit I paid 8,000 dollars for my surgery, and had one of the BEST doctors in the world to do it! Donna

Hi, I’m a cosmetologist, and I’ve answered this question MANY MANY times over the years! LOL Your hair loss is most likely due to having surgery. Anesthesia, is a COMMON cause of hair loss. This is temporary, and your hair WILL come back! There are other factors that can contribute, such as stress, weight loss, and poor diet. Our hair goes through several stages. One of these is called the Telagin Phase. Normally we shed 80 hairs a day….seems like a lot huh? When we are in the Telagin phase we shed about 120-150 hairs a day. The reason is…new hairs are pushing the old ones out. So, the good news is, your hair is replacing itself! Hair almost ALWAYS replaces itself, unless of course you are prone to have female pattern baldness, which is not likely, because this happens gradually, and your hair is shedding fast at the moment. If you are really experiencing A LOT of loss, you should consider getting a shorter haircut, maybe layers. This will help it look thicker while replacing itself. If not, get a good ALL OVER trim, and start taking Biotin pills. This will help more than anything else you can do. I had gall bladder surgery a few years ago, and I thought I was going to be bald! I trimmed my hair, and started biotin. After a week or so, it had stopped! Most important thing is….don’t stress over it! It will come back! Donna

Hi Syrah! I'm also from Iowa City. Can you tell me who does fills in Grinnell? I currently go to Dr. Vitello in Chicago, but that is quite a drive! Can you tell me more about this dr in Grinnell? Price? Does he use fluoro? Does he do fills for MX banded patients? Thanks, Donna

Hi everyone! Just checkin' in! I was banded April 3rd, 2007. I've lost 37 pounds so far. It's been slower than I hoped for, but at least I'm losing. Anyone else banded on the 3rd? If so, how are you doing? Donna

I have an appointment for next week to get my first fill. He charges $150 for a fill + $125 if you want fluoro. I want fluoro for sure the first time, so I'm shelling out $275. He's the only one near me that will accept MX patients. Has anyone used this doctor? Any input? Thanks, Donna

After I started on solids, I had a "little" restriction, not much though. As time went by, I noticed I was able to eat whatever I wanted. Nothing stopping me! And, I wasn't losing any weight. Wasn't gaining, but wasn't losing. So, I decided it was time. I went for my first fill at about 7 weeks post-op, if I remember correctly. I had REALLY good restriction after that fill, but he told me that most people come back 2-4 weeks after the first fill. This is because, even though he purges the band, there is STILL a little bit of air in it. The saline causes the air to seep out, and the band loosens a bit. Also, I didn't realize this at the time, but I was bloated from PMS (I hope you are a female! :doh: LOL) so I think I was a little tighter then because of that. Then after that went away, AND the extra air was gone from the band, I wasn't as tight anymore. Still have a little restriction, but not enough. I'm back to eating pretty much whatever I want, and the weight loss has slowed again, so I know it's time. I'm hoping to get to that "sweet spot" this time. How far out are you looking to schedule your first fill? If you were ready for one by Friday, maybe we could meet, if he has another opening. I think he only does them from 6:30-7:30. My appt. is at 6:30. Good Luck! Donna

Hi Bigtime, I LOVED Dr. Vitello. I got 1.2cc's for my first fill. (he started with 2, and I couldn't handle it) Watched it all on fluoro, and had a great experience. One clarification...You pay him $150 up front, and the hospital bills your INSURANCE for the remaining $125. I don't know if it will pay or not, but to my knowledge, I think they try to word it, so that the ins. will pay. I go back this coming Friday for my 2nd fill. He was very nice, and seems to really know what he is doing. If you'd like to know more, just let me know! Donna

or that "stuck feeling"? OK, I've been banded for 5 weeks now. I really don't have any restriction, which is normal, but I have gotten some food stuck from time to time. I haven't PB'ed, but have come really close once. It was VERY painful, and I was at the point that I knew if I took one more bite, it was gonna be HORRIBLY PAINFUL, and I would most likely PB. Is this what "feeling full" will feel like after I get a fill?? I know it is probably a little different, but I'm really wondering. Most of the time, when I have gotten something stuck, it was because I was in a hurry, and didn't chew enough, or maybe just FORGOT, to chew it good enough, and swallowed it too soon. Either way, it was BAD painful until it passed through the stoma. So, for those of you who have been through this, what should I expect after my first fill? :hungry: Thanks, Donna

I just got my first fill 5/25/07. My doctor gave me 1.2 cc's. He started with 2 cc's and watched as the barium just SIT there. Then I started feeling like I was gonna throw up! So he gradually started pulling out saline. At 1.2 it looked like it was flowing at an acceptable rate. I came home, and ate 5 bites of food, and I was DONE. I'm hoping this is RESTRICTION. We'll see in a couple of days. One other thing, I'm surprised no one has mentioned...After the first fill, you can expect to loosen up a bit after a few days! There is STILL a small amount of air in your band, even though they purge it. So initially when you get a fill, you may feel REALLY tight, but as the air seeps out, it will get a little less tight. Generally most people have to go back at atleast 4 weeks after the first fill. So, if initially you are VERY tight, and then one day you seem to have NO restriction, it's probably because the air has LEFT. Donna