BEBBLY

Congradulations, you will soon become a loser like me! I do feel the port. If I bend backwards you can actually see the port stick out from under my skin. Some people don't feel it at all. I think it just depends on how deep the doctor places the port. But its not something that bothers me. Good Luck only 8 days left. Don't worry the butterflies will start to set in 7 days from now. Mary

This is the nutritionists recommendation: week 1: liquids week 2-3: Mushy foods week 4: More mushy food + fruit week 5-6: More mushy food with hard fruits week 7: regular food This is the band manufacturer recommendation: Liquids for 3 to 4 days then to solid food This is what I did: 4 days of liquid 5 days of soft mushy food and start normal food but very carefully. Mary

This is the nutritionists recommendation: week 1: liquids week 2-3: Mushy foods week 4: More mushy food + fruit week 5-6: More mushy food with hard fruits week 7: regular food This is the band manufacturer recommendation: Liquids for 3 to 4 days then to solid food s is what I did: 4 days of liquid 5 days of soft mushy food and start normal food but very carefully. Mary

I use a tea spoon when eating and fill it only 1/2 way with food. You can also try eating with a small fork. I found that it also helps if I don't wait until I am absoloutly starving to eat. Because then I tend to stuff my mouth and pain sets in really fast. Hope this helps, Mary

That's a great start! Use the next 5 weeks to heal properly because this is what this time is for. Congradulations again and please keep us posted with your progress. Mary

Hi Nancy, I had a fill on Sept 20th. I too still experience the golfball here and there. But I am here to tell you the emotional part gets easier. I struggled with it for a while, especially whenever it hurt. I automatically started the self pity mode. But let me tell you that after losing 30lbs. and being closer to my goal, it is much easier to deal with the pain. Also it's a good reminder to eat slowly and chew. If the band wasn't there I would forget and be back to old eating habits. But with the band I have no choice but to remember and be careful. I understand the emotional part very well but there is hope and you will someday get to the point where all the pain is worth it. Mary

Hi Adriana, My name is Mary. I am sure you will enjoy this site. Congradulations 21lbs in 4 weeks is very good. What's your goal? Mary 187/158/138

I have to agree with Sue. I was banded in Mexico as well. My doctor was dr. verboonen and he was great. It cost me $8500 which is now raised I think to $9000 and it was all inclusive. I have since referred many others to him, and plan on taking both my sisters too. My concern and my father's concern (who is also a doctor) was the experience of the surgeon. I was in and out of surgery in less than an hour and have had no problems at all. This procedure has been done for 20 years in Europe, 10 years in Mexico and only 2 years in the US. I could afford US doctors. I could also go to Italy since my uncle is a doctor there and have the procedure done. But since Mexico is closer and more convenient I opted to go there. Mary

I guess we all look at things differently. I lost 50 lbs. about 8 years ago and I noticed the increased attention. I also noticed that my self esteem went down with my weight, which was surprising even to me! The less I weighed the longer my skirts and the less I showed off my assests! Needless to say, I gained the weight back and am losing it again with the help of the band. I think this time it will be different. I have matured and take those advances as a compliment to how attractive I am. I would much rather get hit on than ignored. I guess we all have our issues. By the way Jennye, I agree with you. I can not wait until I put on that halter top and mini. Mary

I take 1 Vitamin B-12 to keep up my energy, 2 calcium and 2 Flinstones chewable. My doctor recommended it after the band. He wanted me to take it for a few weeks until I was off liquids and back on regular food. I still take it because it tastes good and it can't hurt anything to take a few Vitamins. Mary

Dear Tammi, Your pain is very normal. I had sever pain for the first 2-3 weeks and then very uncomfortable pain for antoher 2 weeks. I was banded on Aug 7th. If you want to get rid of the pain, WALK, WALK and WALK some more. This is the only thing that kept me from crying. As you walk around the gas starts to move and slowly move out. Most people experience this only for the first 2 weeks. I guess I was one of the lucky ones to spend numerous sleepless nights! Heating pad helped me somewhat but really it was the walking that saved my sanity. Good Luck, Mary

I just love the fact that food is not controlling my every thought and action. I used to ask my Fiance all the time "what do you want to eat for lunch? for dinner?etc." Now he comes to me and says "aren't you hungry, whats for dinner?" Mary Banded 8-7-2003 First fill 9-20-2003 187/159/135:D

Hi Everyone, I decided to have the band in June (I actually started looking into it last year but didn't make up my mind until June). Well to make a long story short I was banded on August 7th. It took exactly 2 weeks from the time I picked the doctor to getting the band. Sometimes these US doctors make such a big production. I know when I wanted my first fill I called a doctor who is about an hour away from me. I was told to drive there one day for a consultation $300 and then I would be scheduled for a fill in two weeks another $400! Can you say KACHING!!!! That's $700 for a fill and most likely I would have to go again and again to reach my sweet spot. I went back to TJ to my own surgon. The fill took 15 minutes and he gave me a decent fill so I probably won't need another one to reach goal. Price tag $150. Good Luck to you

Hi Alicia, Here's my experience after my fill: ( I have a 9cc band and was filled 5 cc) - Major pain if I don't chew well and then PB - Even Water if swallowed fast and often will come back - Feel hungry about every 3-4 hours What helps: - Chew Chew Chew and then Chew some more (the 20x regimen is good) - Drink warm water before you start your meal ( at the begining when I had just gotten the fill Sept 20- I would drink warm water with my food. I know they say not to drink with the meal but that was the only way the food would go down. Now that some time has passed, I can eat my food without any water. So you have to gage your body and see what works for you. - The slower you eat the less pain - I found that I have more pain when I am hungry and eat in a hurry. So don't wait until you are starving to eat. I start to heat my food at the first feeling of hunger. Sounds like you are at your sweet spot. I understand what you mean about eating eventhough you are not hungry. That's a habit that caused my weight gain and I struggle to kick it every day. You just have to be aware of it. I trick myself and say I will have it in 2 hours. This seems to work sometimes. Good Luck. You should start to notice some good loss now. Mary;)

Ohhhh I had that experience last week. A brand new pair of $80 pants hanging in the closet for 3 years. Never fit. So I put them on last week...too big! I'm going to give it to my sister but have not been able to let go yet! Buying another pair of pants---$80 Being thinner and having to down size----PRICELESS!!! Mary:D

Hi everyone, I have a question about PBs. Two days ago I went out to eat with my family. Three spoons into my dinner and the pain started. I stopped eating (obviously) and thought that it would pass. Well it didn't and for the first time I PB'd 2X. Later that night I tried some soup, again 3 spoons later and another PB. Question is: Since then my port has been sore and burning under my skin a little (although it seems to be getting better with time). Should I be concerned? Did I rip anything? Has my band slipped? My doctor is in Mexico so I can't just drop by and visit, so I thought I would the expertise of this group before I panic. Any input would be appreciate it. P.S. I have been able to eat and drink and keep it down since then. Thanks, Mary:(

Hi Sue, Before I had the band I went through soooooo many diets and exercise programs and failed, that I could just feel a depression coming on. And I knew that I had truly and honestly given every other program a fair chance to help me. For example I did the phen phen for over a year- lost 50 lbs. gained 50 lbs. Then came the Protein diet (did not eat rice-which is a staple in my cultures diet) for a year, lost 27 lbs. gained 32lbs. Then the private trainer and $2000 later I had lost 12 lbs. Since obesity runs in my family (mom, dad, sisters, aunt and everyone else) I knew if I don't stop it now that I am young, healthy and have my whole life ahead of me, then I will have no problem reaching and surpassing a bmi of 50! Plus I was at risk for diabetes, and heart problems since that too runs in the family! As for emotional issues, I tend to be a pesemist. Once in a while I feel "why couldn't I just be a normal person, why did I have to take such a serious step to lose weight" This is when my fiance usually steps in and reminds me how lucky I am to have such a privilaged life and how everyone has things they are unhappy about. Other emotional issues have not come up yet, but I will definitly write about it if they do. Mary:)

Hi Lace, I know what you mean. My BMI was 34.5 and I had 50 lbs. to lose so everyone had diet suggestions for me. I was hesitant about going to Mexico for surgery too. And of course everyone in my family thought I was crazy. So I went down there with both my parents. You have to make sure that you feel at peace about your doctor and this procedure. I knew that I had really given all types of diet a chance to work, I even paid thousands to a private trainer and still very little results. So I knew that there was no other choice for me. If you have hesitation then you should really re-evaluate your position. Good Luck with your decision, Mary

Hi Joanne, Have you thought about doing a liquid diet for a few days prior to your appointment? It's really easy to lose Water weight and 7lbs is not out of reach. Good Luck. Mary

Hi Karen, I noticed that you were banded a day before me. My BMI was 34.5. I weighed 187 before the surgery and really should weigh about 135. Just wondering how your weightloss is coming along. Mine is slow in my mind. I have lost 22 lbs. so far but I have not weighed myself for 3 weeks now. I get very discouraged when the scale does not move so I thought I try the scale only once a month. Look forward to hear about your progress. Mary:)

Hi Alison, My name is Mary. I was banned by dr. verboonen. I also read the "guilty plea" letter. I take it with a grain of salt & I'll tell you why. 1- My father is a doctor and I hear of other doctors who bill insurance companies without mercy all the time. It is out of control in So. California. This could also be a misunderstanding between the patient paying the doctor and asking him to also bill insurance and then deciding that they don't want their insurance to know so the patient claims to have never been seen by the doctor. 2- Since I was banded by Dr. Verboonen on Aug 7th. I too was concerned about the cleanliness and safety of doing the procedure in Mexico. So I went down there with my parents. I was nervous at first because obviously their location is not like clinics in Beverly Hills but it wasn't bad either. The hospital was very professional, the staff was very friendly and caring. In short I had such a good experience that I am planning on taking both my sisters and my causin to Dr. Verboonen. He is really nice and knows what he is doing. Let me know if you have any questions. Make sure to check the doctors thoroughly. When I did research I found a doctor in Monterey who claimed to have attended Harvard Medical School and also claimed to train other doctors for Johnson & Johnson. Neither one was true because I called both the University and the Johnson & Johnson and no one had heard of him!!! By the way I got the Midband. With my research I found it to be the best. The US band had the higest rate of corrosion. So do your research and decide. Good Luck Mary

Hi Leo, I visit your site everyday to see your progress. I noticed that you have been on some long plateaus and it is encouraging to read that they do eventually end and you start losing again. I guess part of the problem is I read about your progress and wonder why your's is so much faster than mine. I weighed 187 before banding. My goal is 135-138. Mary

Hi Donali, Thank you for the advise. I will read it over and over again until it is ingrained in my brain. I know this is a lifetime plan but I have always been an impatient person and sometimes it gets to me. Thanks again, Mary:)

Hi Donali, My name is Mary & I live in San Fernando Valley. Unfortunately too far to be able to come to your meetings. I had a question: I was banded August 7th and had my first fill Sept 20th. Since being banded I have lost 22lbs (6 of which was after the fill). I have not lost any weight for about 2 weeks. I have restriction and don't eat much so I don't know if I am obsessing about losing weight or I should be concerned?! I know I have to be patient but can you give me some advice. I feel like even now with the band I am failing once again. Am I unrealistic about expecting a loss every week? Talk some sense into me....please! Mary:(

I was also banded by dr. verboonen. He is a very good doctor. I was banded on August 7th and sice then I have lost 22 lbs. I need to lose another 30lbs. I think the more you have to lose the faster the initial loss. Keep in mind that this is a long term deal. You will not lose 52 lbs. a month. I remember in the first week I lost 8 lbs. I was so excited and started making all these charts as to how long it would take for me to lose the weight I wanted, with different colors signifying different months and on and on!!!! But since then I have never experienced another 8 lbs. loss in a week! But on the up side the scale has been moving down.... slowly but surely moving down. Moral of the story.... 52lbs. is GREAT!!!! Use it to motivate you to your goal. I know you can do it and we are all here to support you. Mary