pattiwagon30

Being deficient on vit D will make you feel the way you do. I suggest taking a supplement.

I had my surgery in Mexico and have been going to the clinic in Flagstaff AZ for fills. I was thankful they accept patients from other surgeons.

I had my surgery done in TJ with Dr. Juan Corvala and it was done at the Hospital Angeles. I get your concerns but have a little faith in the great and mighty God we serve. I felt very safe and secure during my stay there. I even brought a female friend with me. Seeing beautiful women is not a novelty and your beautiful wife won't be roaming the streets. I suspect she will be in the hospital in the room with you. If you don't want her going across the street to the restaurant to eat bring some ramen noodles and snacks and she will be perfectly fine. It's only for a couple days and everyone is so very nice.

OTR Sleever...I take from your comment that you are into only the "slim and fit" gals. That would be at the end of the journey BTW not at the beginning or middle ???

I'm amazed st the amount of weight some have lost...85 lbs?? Really? I was banded feb 27 and have only lost 45. Losing it slow and not gaining but I sure would like to have better results. I have had 2 fills and was a bit overfilled the 2nd time but I got through it and now it's better. I am scheduled for a 3rd fill end of sep.

Lol. Funny you say that about eating better standing up because that is what is happening to me now. I can't eat breakfast, eating lunch is more successful standing up and dinner is the best meal of the day.

I was banded in Feb 2012 and have had 2 fills to date. My desire for food has greatly diminished. Eating is not a pleasurable experience as it used to be. Now it's purely for nutrition. I get overwhelmed at the site of food because I don't know what will go down and what won't. I'm still in the discovery stages of it all and I continue to learn what works for me. I don't regret anything and am learning to slow way down and enjoy the whole process. I have lost 45 lbs to date and of course I feel great and am fitting into clothes I haven't worn in a couple years.

I'm with Brittneygirl. Thank you all for the information. I had my first fill on May 5th (banded Feb 27,12) and I have had a hard time with "real food" but I think I have been taking too big a bite and not chewing well enough not to mention that I have been under alot of stress at work lately and find it hard to have a relaxing non-rushed lunch. Chicken has been my #1 nemisis since being banded but I continue to work to find ways in which I can eat it. I have a hard time eating it plain (with no sauce ect...). I know I havn't found the "green zone" yet but hoping with the next fill I'll get closer.

Hi Ladies, I had my surgery Feb 27th and just had my first fill on May 9....Let's hear it for willpower LOL. I'm a pansy when it comes to shots and like someone said here, the only discomfort I had was when they administered the numbing shot (I absolutely can't stand that burning feeling). Other than that it was really no big deal. Kind of interesting to feel all the sensations though, like feeling your band tighten up around the barium you drink and feeling that gurguling sensation and the pressure when they put the needle into the port. They had me stand up so they had to push into the port. Next time I will stick out my belly to help them out. I found it interesting to watch the whole process on x ray too. I like seeing how it all works. As far as problems after the fill, I have only had 1 instance of PB'ing. I ate yellow squash and evidentally didn't chew it good enough and it got stuck. I had the same squash the day before my fill and no problems at all. I find that thick foods also, like Beans, are hard to get down and I still have issues with chicken. I am definetely eating smaller amounts and getting fuller faster but mostly I eat less because of the amount of time it takes me to eat something. I just plain get tired of chewing.....Never thought this fat girl would ever say anythign like that hahaha. Good Luck, Patti

I had my surgery on 2/27/12 and was supposed to get my fill today, but getting back to Mexico (they are having transportation issues) seems to be too complicated. I got in with a clinic closer to me and now have a scheduled fill for May 9th. UUUGGGHHHH, I want the fill now LOL. Oh well, it will happen I just have to be patient and keep telling myself "I'm not hungry, I'm not hungry"

Scorpio Lady...I am due for my first fill and have been having a heck of a time getting transportation to the clinic there in Mexico. Their van has been down since the day I left after surgery. I had to end up cancelling my flight and finding a clinic closer to me here in AZ. I am so dissapointed! My fills are supposed to be free but I feel like they totally dropped the ball on me. The surgery was great but the after care is something left to be desired. I hope you have better luck.

My name is Patti and I was banded Feb 27th, 2012 in Tijuana Mexico by Dr. Juan Lopaz Corvala. My surgery and recovery were fantastic. The Staff at the bariatric clinic in Mexico were top notch and made me feel at ease. I loved the private room and how they were also hospitable to my friend that went with me. This friend that went with me also had the procedure done 2 years prior and she even got a fill so she wouldn't be tempting me with food I can't eat..LOL We were both on liquids. I was educated on what to expect at least 6 months prior by my friends that have had the procedure but nothing prepares you for your own experience. I was forunate to not have any issues with gas and I was able to return to work within a couple days. Thanks to all of you who post your questions and experiences and who have gone before me, I was able to relax and go with flow of "bandster hell" and know that this is completely normal. I have been relying on my own strength to stay in the dietary guidelines and not overeat (as we know we can without restriction) and again, you all have helped me there as well. I read your posts just about every day even if I don't post a comment. I want you to know that I am reading and learning. I will be a success story as so many of you who are, WHY? because I have determined in my mind that I will be. I may be fearful of failure, but I'm not the only one who feels that way. I'm getting my first fill on April 14th and as you can imagine I am quite excited. I'm hoping to get a great fill and one that brings restriction. If I could do this on my own willpower I wouldn't have had the surgery. On second thought, it's not loosing the weight that has been the problem, it's the keeping it off. COME ON RESTRICTION LOL Anyway, I will continue to learn from all of you and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being completely transparent about the struggles and for bragging about the victories. I don't think anyone else understands the struggles, triumphs and tragedies we go through. Good Luck to us ALL and GOD BLESS YOU ALL! PATTI FOWLER

I'm 4 weeks post op and for lack of a better term....its a B...I don't go for my first fill until the 14th of April. So welcome to Bandster Hell lol. During this time we are doing this with our own willpower. Your body needs to heal so stay with the liquids and/or mushies. I'm still on mushies and chopped/ground foods. I can't swallow some things yet. But remember this, It's only for a time and the time will come when you'll hit the "sweet spot" and won't have to use our own willpower. We can do this one last time for the Gipper! I have to find something else to do to get my mind off hunger. Jello, for me, kind of filled me up and drinking lots of water, protein shakes. I'm there with ya sister. UNITED WE STAND!

I use a product called life shotz and its fantastic! It comes in single serve powder sticks and you mix it with water (it tastes like a fruity flintstone vitamin). Its the best vitamins/mineral in a drinkable form for us banders. Check out the website 21ten.com

Its nice to know that most of us either are or have experienced "bandster hell". I just want to get to that green zone sooner rather than later. I'm curious to see how things go after my first fill on the 31st.