La_madam

Blossom, Dr. Ortiz is very upset with this publishing company not for what you mentioned but for the delays and the overcharges. I know this for certain. That is strange about your book being printed all weird, I am going to let him know about all of this. . I got my book on Friday and had no overcharge to my account. I have read the book also and enjoyed it, there were a few things I learned but most I all ready knew from these boards and all of you and from Ortiz being my actual surgeon

Way to go Betty and Melissa Great Job, especially this time of year. For me not weight loss, but no gain either which is a total shock since I'm not making the best of food choices right now with all the "Christmas goodies" I have been eating. Got to get back on track starting today..it's a new week!!!

Darcey, wishing you the best on Tuesday..lots of you are being banded on the 21st, You will all be in our thoughts. Good Luck

Mrs P Have you considered finding a Dr. locally for your fills or going to TJ, Mexico instead of all the way to Costa Rica. I know my Dr. in TJ does fills on anyone who needs one wherever they were banded. Where do you live? maybe there is a Dr. in your area or a Dr. closer then Costa Rica, just a thought.

Hello Sharon & Welcome What a fantastic job you have done with your band...Congratulations to you!

Barb best wishes to you on the 21st..seems we got a few of you here going on the 21st..you will be in our thoughts.

The best to you Jack on the 21st..we will all be here waiting to hear all about it. Good Luck

I do not agree always with that. Sometimes being filled too tight doesnt always mean losing faster. Those people who are filled tighter and think it is appropriate..I wish them luck that they do not have any problems with their bands in the future. I was specifically told by Dr. Martinez that those who do not abuse the fills and do not overfill have a greater chance of their bands lasting forever and that is the category I want to be in. I have had 2 fills (2cc's) in 8.5 months and have lost 72 lbs, believe me lately Iam struggling and not losing much and could use a fill but it is important for me to do some of the work I know I could be doing better making wiser food choices, some of it is head work. We do have to do some of the work, the band can not do it all on its own! Maybe those who are getting filled too tight can not do the headwork it takes to be successful, I don't know, all I know for me is I want my band to last forever and I will do what it takes to make that happen even if that means losing slower, I was told this is a journey not a race!

Nice Page Greg, thanks for the well wishes..I wish you and your family Happy Holidays too

Betty I know he would not mind...I got my book in the mail today after reading your post.

Nancy, It has been said by the best of the best surgeons that erosion is 1-3% which is not very high. Yes I feel just like you do . I worry every day like most of us Iam sure do especially when we are hearing about all of the erosions here on thisboard lately. The only thing wecan do is follow the rules and have our bands checked. This is why Iam greatful my Dr. does his fills under fluoro with the barium becasue any indication of Erosion can be detected by the barium, the barium will flow over the band and not through it if there is erosion then and endoscopy will give 100% confirmation. Dr. Ortiz is able to detect the possibility of erosion with the barium and that is peace of mind for me.

LOL..that was good Greg...My husband Iam sure can relate!

) Do you have any tips that might make the surgery easier? Would you have done anything differently before the surgery, in hindsight, to make it easier after the surgery? I made sure I had all my Clear Liquids, chewable Vitamins, liquid tylenol, gas X, on hand and ready for me when I got home from surgery, that was helpful also pack lightly, you will not need much in the way of clothing, be comfy 2) I am told that after the surgery, I am only supposed to 'sip' liquids and not to 'gulp' liquids. I have been trying to do this prior to the surgery, but don't understand how you 'sip' vs 'gulp' - can anyone shed some light on this for me? Sip is just one small swallow not two or three 3)During the first month after the surgery, before they adjust the band, does the feeling of hunger go away, or are you usually hungry? Everyone is different, I was fortunate to not be too hungry after the band I had my first fill at 9 weeks post op and the first 3 weeks post op, no appetite at all. 4) Do you have any specific tips for getting through the first couple of days after the surgery? Rest, hot baths, Gas X, heating pad, comfy place to lay down, sleeping on your back 5) Are there any foods that you where told you could eat, which you found to be problematic when you actually to tried to eat that food? That depends on your current fill level at the time you are eating, Bread was OK prior to my fills, now it is not OK 2 fills later. Best of Luck to you

I agree 100% Call your Dr. have them do an extensive blood panel on you not just a CBC Have them run all the tests imaginable until they come up with an answer. You do not want to go through the Holidays like this, peace of mind is the best gift!

*Sighs* Chrissy..As everyone else here..I'm so sorry to hear what you have gone through.Waht an ordeal for you emotionally and physically. I too am sending you ((hugs)).Please Take Care of yourself and know that we all are thinking of you and wishing you the best! Yes Betty thanks for sharing this info with us, it was very informative especially the part about the anti inflammatory medicines..I ve been afraid to take advil for my headaches or aches and pains, now maybe I will ..was it from Ortiz's book?

Hi Steve..sounds like you might have too much of a fill..as little as .2ccs removed can make a huge difference. When you had your fill at 6 weeks post op was your weight loss at a stall? Why the fill at 6 weeks? Is it when your Dr. does them or did you feel you needed a fill? This is a learning thing..you will find what solid proteins work best for you and the key it to take the smallest bites and chew chew chew and eat very slow, put your fork down between bites. Hang in there, but if this porblem continues maybe call your Dr. and have .2cc's removed, the smallest ammount removed can m,ake the biggest difference without sacraficing your weight loss. Good Luck

Hi Theresa Welcome home & Big Congratualtions to you!!! What a geat Christmas gift for you ..finally a bandster! YEAh!!!!

Iam with you Alex 100% Im in a slump and need to get out of it big time!

There must be something in the water! I started off great but have been grazing all day long..I too will try to eat like a bandster tonight. It might be fill time for me. Ever since this esophagitis thing and I have been able to eat solids..I am able to eat more!

Beautiful family Vera..your daughter looks alot like you . Thanks for sharing this with us Merry Christmas to you too

I think we all have battled hair loss since we have been banded...My hair is the longest it has been in years and it I was seeing long strands of hair everywhere, the bathroom sink, my car, the couch, the kitchen counter, in my bra..and when I would wash it it would come out it small gobs so I got it cut shorter last week 3 inches of the back and layered and I have noticed a dramatic difference in NOT shedding so much..still shedding but not as much. As a licensed hairdresser I learned in school that we lose hair everyday no matter what, lower fat diet contirubtes to hair loss, not brushing it as often results in hair loss..not eating as much protein and hormonal changes, weight loss are all factors in hair loss

I'm feeling you Alex.. I agree 100% with your analogy that Winter has something to do with it. Potatoes, stews, pastas are comfort foods this time of year. Summer time comes and it's salads. fresh fruits, chicken, fish etc..I also think Holidays affect this also...seems since my esophagitis I tend to lean towards softer foods except last night with my Pb on a bite of Prime Rib

Doesnt matter where I am in what state or city or region..one thing I have noticed since I have lost this 72 lbs is that I am cold and real cold..all the time! Not as much fat to cushion my bones I guess. Anyone else notice this? I sleep with socks, sweats, sweatshirt, electric balnket and comforter and I live in Southern California for goodness sakes

Had a PB last night..took all my employees out for Christmas Party Dinner..had a few cocktails and then dinner came I split Prime rib with my husband, now mind you I had all ready had a few bites of appetizers ( crab cakes ) & salad everything was going down fine, Then when the main course arrived I took one bite ( small bite) of my prime rib and that was it! It got stuck I was too busy talking while I was chewing and a little buzzed from the cocktails so I know it was my fault totally, it was not the size of the bite that prime rib was the most tenderest I have ever had , I did not get the watery mouth this time but I got the white foamy stuff, no slime, strangest thing, never had the foamy stuff before...this bite was not going no where so after about 15 minutes of suffering and having that look of a deer in headlights I excused myself and went to the ladies room, not in there for 10 seconds and up came that bite, not painful or nothing..felt great after that BUT after this whole espohagitis I learned my lesson. I have been on liquids all day long! Feeling little spasms through out the day and burping alot which is something I hardly ever do since being banded other then that I feel great.

Hi Everyone I am back from my appointment with Dr. Ortiz, First let me thank all of you for your support and thoughts that were with me all this morning. I arrived at Ortiz's office at 9:30 as I was waiting for Ortiz to show up, Dr Martinez called the office to make sure I arrived OK. Dr. Ortiz arrived at 9:45 and I was his only appointment today he made a special trip just to see me. Martinez is out of town so no fills scheduled ( he is the fill master they only do fills on Mondays & Saturdays surgery the rest of the week) Ortiz took me into the fluoro room where I explained all that was going on. I told him about my ALMOST PB on a bite of bread last Monday night. I explained how I had all the symptoms of a PB, the slime, watery mouth and golf ball feeling but the bite passed through and there was NO PB, so I thought since I did not actually PB I did not have to do 24hrs of liquids like he wants his patients to do after a PB..I was wrong, he told me even though I did not actually PB my esophogus went through the motions of a PB for a long 15 minutes..He put me under fluoro, had me drink the barium and I was so pleased to hear that my band has not slipped, no erosion..I just have Esophagitis due to me not doing liquids right after that episode and eating normal until Wednesday when I could not take the discomfort any longer..so my esophagus was inflammed and irritated. He then took me into his office where he spent a good 40 minutes talking with me , he prescribed me a medication to regulate my esophagus, to make it work slower if it is working too fast or to work faster if it is working to slow..I will start taking it today for 2 weeks 2x's a day. I love that Dr. , he did not even charge me a penny for his services and got me my meds at a discounted price of 14.00 He told me some very interesting things..He told me that Inamed both US & Mexico Inamed is really frowning on Dr.'s who are using patient coordinators and making money off of them and are trying to regulate this since it is illegal in the US..Inamed is discussing and weighing options of supplying bands to any Mexican Dr. who is using patient coordinators. I asked if he used a patient coordinator and he told me NO even though people think he does, what he does is if a patient comes in referred by another patient his gives the new patient a 500$ discount and the patient who referred him a free fill( 100$ savings) He also today told me he has opend up Centers all over the US, there is one in Cancun, Texas and New York..these are for patients who have their surgerys done in Mexico but can not or do not want to travel back to TJ for aftercare..the Dr's at these centers are Dr's he has personally trained through Inamed and will be working at these centers for aftercare.for example Dr. Grossbard who is actually a patient of Ortiz's but also is a Lap Band surgeon in Florida will be working in the Cancun office..this is also great for others who did not use Ortiz for their original surgery but need aftercare in their areas or at least closer to their areas without having to fly back to TJ. We also spoke about his book..the book needed one last go over by Ortiz which is why the delay, the books are all being shipped this week Mon, Tues & Wed so for all of you who ordered they are coming. I asked Dr. Ortiz if I was filled too tight and why I have this problem, he told me NO, if anything you have less restriction then most but since I'm losing every week and my weight loss is now at 70lbs he sees no need for a fill or an unfill..for all of you who PB..please do the 24 hrs of liquids, do NOT make the same mistake I did, this is the most irritating and uncomfortable thing I have experienced in a long time..I have been miserable for over a week now but how ironic it was that this morning on my way to TJ I was feeling better then I have in a week..My mind is at ease and I'm on the healing phase, doing liquids and soft foods for a couple of days but its OK with me knowing my band is in good shape! ..