La_madam

Blossom, your fill experience does sound interesting. My Dr. does it just with 1 needle and saline right into the port. I agree with Leatha 1 cc does sound small with the Vanguard. Maybe it iwill take some time to kick in, my first fill took about 1 week for me to notice a difference. If it were me I would not wait 3 weeks but maybe 2 and if I did not feel a difference then I would call my Dr.

Babs they have a hair and nail vitamin also, maybe that will help

Just a few more days Phyllis and you will be one of us bandsters! Hope it all goes smoothly for you

What a great looking couple you two make And Lisa you look fabulous!

Lauri I lock myself in my room and light tons of candles and listen to soft relaxing music when I need to something nicefor myself that does not cost money. My hubby and kids lknow that when my bedroom door is closed it is "mommy" time and to leave me alone. I also save my spare change, I am a waitress 3 days a week so my change adds up more then the normal person but I do use it just for me. Right now I'm saving for a little trip. You wouldnt believe how it adds up, my husband even contributes to my change bucket he empties his spare change from his pockets every night. How about to earn a little money for yourself so you can do something nice by using coupons at the grocery store? When I go to the grocery store I use coupons but I take the money I saved in my coupons and put it aside in a little "stash envelope" for me. I figure I'm worth it , if I am going to go to the trouble of cutting the coupons and doing the shopping I desreve the difference from what my total bill is to what I saved..it is usually about 30- 50 dollars everytime I got major grocery shopping. Then I take that money and get my pedicure and my eyebrows waxed!

AMEN LISA!! I too had surgery in Mexico by a very experienced band Doctor Dr. Ariel Ortiz who also cam highly reccomended by Inamed and I DO NOT regret my decision one single bit, and would do it over again in a hearbeat..8 months 72 lbs later Iam very very happy with my choice of going to Mexico & My aftercare is fantastic !! There are several experienced Dr's in Mexico

Darla is another plant people dont be fooled. She just joins the forum yesterday and has only posted here on this particualr post. Smelling a rat again..BEWARE But anyway..Darla those Mexican Dr.'s that you are bashing are the same Mexican Dr's that have trained and proctored over half of the Doctors here in the US . Guess that means you just get charged more to be hacked up in the US then if your insurance doesnt cover it?? Do your research Darla, why dont you call Inamed and ask them about the Mexican surgeons becasue I know for certain that they come highly reccomended by Inamed. most Mexican Doctors have more experience in band placement then any Dr's in the US and if I had to choose form the exact same price of my surgery between a Dr. in the US who has only preformed 1-50 bands or from a Dr. in Mexico who has done over 1200 bands I am going to go with Dr. with more experience .. do you actually believe yourself what you are saying here on this post ? I sure hope not! I sure hope one of these doctors from Mexico did not train your surgeon then Don't you all find it odd that a woman joins this forum yesterday and then only comes to this particular thread to post a mean and be littleling post? Coincidence? I THINK NOT!!!

Way to go ladies !! Congrats on the weight loss No loss for me I have my monthly visitor But no gain either and that is a victory in itself! Have a great week everyone

Hey Theresa..you are going to do great! We all were where you are now, a nervous wreck and we are all here to tell about it now..in just 3 days you will be too. Wishing you all the best on the 15th and the days, months and years ahead. This truly is a life changing experience!

There are other Doctors in Mexico who will do fills on the mid band and do fills on other patients banded in Mexico

Can't eat Meat for four months after surgery???? NEVER heard of that! I know ALL of us here were eating meat 1 month after surgery let alone 4 months after surgery. I have heard that soda can erode the band..Have you ever seen what Coca-Cola can do to an old car battery? I eats away all of the acid build up so I can only imagine what is does to the insides of our stomachs. My nutritionalist at my surgeons office handed me my post op instructions and the only thing written under the NO columm and in big bold letters was NO CARBONATION EVER AGAIN!! Since there are so many conflicting theories on this subject and my Dr. says NO I have just opted to stay away from soda 100% because to me my band is the most improtant thing and I do not want to do anything to jeopardize it. I want my band for as long as possible. Best of Luck to you

Yes Teresa..you are doing an awesome job! Way to go Keep it up!

Fight the bill Leatha.Stand your ground! .I have been dealing with insurance companies and Doctors bills for years now with my son and that 180 means nothing to that Dr.

Hi Tracey and Welcome We too love Whipples' posts..he sure has a way with words Congratulations on your band

Have you thought about going to Mexico for your surgery? It is so much cheaper and most of the doctors there have financing through very reputible financing companies at low interest rates. It's what I did..I felt just like how you were feeling. My insurance would not cover me and I have 3 boys that I want to live for and have them not be embarressed by their mother. 8 months later here I am 72 lbs lighter and happier then I have been in years and so is my family! Best of Luck to you..don't give up..when there is a will there is a way!

Hi Sultana My problems arose from an almost PB epsiode. I ate a piece of bread that got stuck for about 15 minutes I had all the sypmtoms of a PB..slime..watering mouth and horrible golf ball pain in my chest but the bite finally passed through my band..unfortunately I did not do liquids the following day like I should have and ate like normal( well bandster normal) for 2 days and doing that aggravated my esophagus to the point of terrible pain and spasms. My Dr. said I should of treated it as a PB and done the reccomended 24 hours of liquids. My esophaguis went through a major workout passing that bite of bread through. I went to the Dr. he did a barium test under flouro to see my restriction level and to see if my band had slipped or if there were any signs of erosion..none of the above were going on. I had no reflux or heartburn just bad bab pain and spasms..I asked if I needed some fill removed and he told me NO, he was suprised to see my weight loss of 70lbs in 8 months with the little bit of fill and restriction I had...I went on liquids for about 4 days and soft foods for 2 days then onto solids..I hope you feel a diufference once you start eating again. I know this is not fun regardless of the weight loss...& Yes Damn those chocolates!

Tell Patty that we love her just as much as we love you and she has nothing to worry about with us "hot babes" we all know where your heart is! Your love for Patty definately shows in your words about her. Both of you are very fortunate to have one another

LOL Lisa that is good! I would love to see the look on her face thefirst time you do it and I wonder how often she will come at you with food after you do it once..

www.lap-bandforlife.com I called Orti'z office this week and they have all gotten their copies and she said that the others are being shipped..If I do not get mine by next week..I'm going to dispute the charge on my credit card..this is ridiculous. As much as I love Dr. Ortiz I feel he should not made it public that the book was here and then have the publishing company take a month to ship them...

You know the old saying " Misery loves Company" Her being overweight she definately does not want to see you succeed! Plain and simple!!

Hi Sultana Thanks for asking about me..I am doing much better..I still have one or two esophagus spasms a day but not nearly as painful and nearly as frequent. I'm still taking my prevacid and like you lost 5 lbs in 2 weeks, not fun though! I'm glad you went and saw your Dr., it is such a peace of mind huh? It is amazing what little amount removing can do in the way of relief, .3 seems like so little but is so big in the scheme of things going on with your band. Hope this does the trick for you and you feel better and better each day

Water & lots of it is the best to help give you relief..also try adding more fiber into your diet. I eat the frosted mini wheat squares ( dry) for my fiber. More fruits & Veggies will help too

Darcy..take it from me..do liquids tomorrow, your esophagus just went through a major work out. I had the same thing 3 weeks ago and and did not do liquids the next day like my Dr. instructed me to do .. and boy do I wish I did..I'm still suffering bouts of my esophagitis...it has not been a pleasant 3 weeks for me..been to the Dr. 3 times in the last week and a half. But Congratulations on being a true bandster now ha ha! I hope you feel better in the morning..take it easy and slow!

You are newly banded..restriction does not usually happen until you start getting your fills. This phase you are in is the healing phase for 6 weeks. Any weight loss during this phase is a bonus. Anytime you go from one stage to another like liquids to soft foods you may see a gain and then when you go from softs to solids you may see a gain, it is normal until your body adjusts. Yes lower BMI's will lose slower. Hng in there..once you start to get your fills you will feel the restriction.

I too had the gas pains in the upper part of my stomach..remember there is still alot of swelling, it takes time. I felt the pressure for 3-4 weeks post op. It does get better. Once the swelling goes down you will be able to drink more water also. I gained 2 lbs when I went from liquids to mushy foods and then after a few days I lost it to only gain it back when I got to the solid food stage. This is normal to gain a lb here and there when you are transitioning between liquids, mushys, and solids. Alot of people do not feel restriction until they start getting fills...some of us here were fortunate to have restriction without a fill..this phase you are in is the healing phase not the weight loss phase so do not get discouraged. Your weight loss will happen when you start getting your fills. Any weight loss during the pre fill stage is a bounus! Hang in there