MrsCooper

Elcee - thanks for your help (or lack thereof). I went to the ER and found that I have a large rolling hiatal hernia. My band is 100% ok. and the hernia is now repaired So all your judging didn't really make a difference. I hope one day you can lose the "fat girl" attitude and truly be happy.

Yes - I can feel the port through my skin and see the outline so I just did what they do in the doctor's office. It was quite easy - nothing I would recommend, but I was desperate. All of the problems went away immediately and I never had it refilled. The heartburn and other problems just returned recently, which makes me a bit worried...

I was banded in February of 2008 in Mexico (I am from the US). Over the course of the next 9 months I lost around 50 pounds, but I attribute that to not being able to swallow much of anything. I flew back to Mexico and had half of the band emptied as it was too tight. About 6 months ago I started getting horrible heartburn - I contacted my doctor in Mexico and he said I needed to go in or find a doctor to unfill the remainder of the band as he thought it had slipped. He said after about a month the band should be back in place and I can refill. Unfortunately this came at a time when I had just started a new job. I didn't have the $ to fly to Mexico and to get a doctor in the US to even look at you when the procedure was done in another country is extremely expensive. That being said, I was sure I could unfill the band myself - so that's what I did. So now my band has been empty for 6 months and I haven't had any other problems (other than gaining all of my weight back, but that's my fault for poor choices). Now, in the last few days I've been waking up with HORRIBLE heartburn - bad enough it wakes me in the night. I want this thing out of me, but with all the violence going on in Mexico right now I'm afraid to go back. I do have insurance now - does anyone know a doctor in the Southeast that will do this on insurance? My only other option is to live with it for another 5-6 months until I get my tax return

I would be interested in coming, but don't feel I could afford hotels, etc... in NYC.

I was banded in February of 2008 and had my last fill in May. I'm at 7.4cc's in my band and I was at the point where I wasn't losing anymore, but didn't have the money to go in for a fill. Since I wasn't gaining I decided to wait it out... now, all of a sudden, I am having problems keeping things down, mostly food but sometimes just liquids get stuck as well and come back up. Any ideas of what could be going on? :thumbup:

Hi Ethel, It's normal for your port to still be sore. I was sore on and off for 3-4 months and called my doctor every time! Everyone's body adjusts to it differently. If you have concerns call your doctor, that's why they're there :thumbup: Still now, after almost 9 months I am sore from time to time and it's mostly when bending down. You'll know you need a fill because you will get hungry quicker - food goes through the band easier, causing you to digest it faster.... Also you will be able to consume larger quantities of food. Hope this helps!

I just recently moved to the UK and am in need of a fill doctor in the Manchester or Bolton area. Can anyone help?

Ok, so here's the story... I was banded in February of this year - immediately after being banded (while still on liquids and mushies) I lost about 20 pounds. Since then I have had a few fills - I'm at 7.4 cc's now, but I'm still not losing weight (I think I've lost 5 pounds in total since but that was while on liquids after the fills). I'm maintaining, but not losing. I do feel food get stuck when I eat too fast or don't chew enough, but if I eat small bites and chew a lot I don't fill up any easier than I did pre-surgery. I have been told that it is because I am a lower BMI bander that this is happening, but does that mean that it just doesn't work for some people? I have been staying away from soft foods, sugar and fat but the amount of food I consume to get full still seems to keep me from losing. I'm trying to stay positive, but I am feeling a little discouraged. :tongue2:

Normally I will have coffee in the morning then a little later a granola bar. For lunch I usually have a salad with grilled chicken, or crackers and tuna - something along those lines. For dinner I have whatever my family is having - usually something along the lines of pork chops, ribs, or chicken with 2 veggies (usually steamed, but sometimes mashed potatoes or something like that). It doesn't sound like much, but the portions are pretty big - I'm just not able to 'shut off' the hunger. Isn't the purpose of the band to help you get to that full feeling sooner? I don't exercise, other than my normal housework, gardening, etc... so I can see that's an area I need to work on. Thanks Leslie, please let me know what you think.

I was filled last week on Tuesday. Yesterday I ate half a piece of pizza and it got stuck - boy did it hurt! It got to the point where I had to bring it back up. It was nothing violent and really not even forced - it came up the same way it went down, not chewed enough. Today I was much more careful - I ate small bites and chewed well, but it seems like today I can't get full. For dinner I had a cup and a half of chicken w/ rice AND a fruit and walnut salad from McDonalds - I still feel like I could eat a horse - I'm starving! Does this seem odd to anyone else? Does anyone have any ideas why I feel so hungry all of a sudden? It's the first time I have actually felt this kind of hunger in a while.

Hey, thanks for this info... I'm sure this is what it is as this morning I wasn't so careful and again I could feel the food get stuck - it wasn't a huge chunk of food so it didn't hurt very much, but at least it let me know the band was there and doing what it was supposed to. Also, after reading your post I thought about what I had to eat yesterday and it was all soft. Thanks so much!!!

I didn't get banded with Dr. Ortiz, but I did get banded in Mexico. My BMI at the time was 31. I have gone back to Mexico 2x for fills as it is so expensive to do so here in Wisconsin - it was actually cheaper to fly back there and I can do it and come back in the same day. All I pay for is the airfare - the doctor's office has someone pick me up at the airport and the fills are free.

I won't suffer through the pain, I bring it back up and because there's no heaving involved I think it's ok (my opinion anyhow).

Hey, this just happened to me today and silly enough I was excited about it! I previously had 5cc's in my band and felt absolutely no restriction - could eat whatever without even being uncomfortable. Yesterday I had and additional 2.4cc's added - now I had my first PB! Woo Hoo... it made me finally feel like things were working as they should.

I just noticed that your ticker said you only have 1.5 pounds to go till your goal weight. Wow! Good for you!

Hi Linda, I know it's easy to get discouraged - I've been there myself. I was banded 5 days before you and I'm only down 20 pounds and mine too was during the mushy stage. I had a 5cc fill on March 26th and I still feel no restriction and I haven't lost any weight from it. I am going back next week for a 2nd fill and hopefully this will help me to make progress. My doctor said I am not feeling the restriction because I am a lower BMI bandster and my stomach is smaller. He said that most people, by the time they get to where I'm at now, have higher fill levels and that I just need to get to that point. He said it will work if I just give it the time necessary to get the proper adjustments. I hope this helps a little - keep your chin up sweetie, you'll get there. xxx

I was banded in February of this year... I have 5 scars, the largest one where the port is located is about an inch and a half long - it's very thin and almost white (a little pink). The 2nd largest is about a half inch and they get smaller from there. 2 of my 5 scars are almost undetectable already - I have been using Maderma on my incisions since about 2 weeks after the surgery (3x's a day), It's a little expensive, but I swear by it.

Amy, I don't live in Chicago, but I'm from there :thumbup: It's pretty far if you're planning to go by cab. If you rent a car it shouldn't be too bad, It's about 30 miles.

$95?! Wow, that's GREAT!

not much of a vacation... I came back the same day

I have not, but I have been watching this thread hoping someone would post something. Please let us know what you find out.

I had my surgery in Mexico and actually went back there for my fill - it was cheaper than the doctor here. Dr. Chua in Milwaukee charges $300 for the initial consultation then $300 for each fill - each fill is only 1cc. I went back to Mexico and had 5cc's put into my band.

Thanks so much for your replies! You have all been very helpful. I will try all suggestions :cursing:

I was filled last week with 5cc's and since then I have gained 3 pounds. I have read many posts where people say it sometimes takes several fills before you reach the "sweet spot" -- I just assumed that most people are getting 1 - 1.5 cc's at a fill. Is this not the case? I am at a loss as to why I'm gaining. I'm not eating a bunch of garbage, but apparently I'm doing something wrong. HELP!

No, sadly that was last week which is another reason I expected it to go down. Thanks for responding and for the website - any help is much appreciated. I will definitely try it out!