La_madam

Great to hear Shireen Glad it went so well for you. I have 2cc's right now and it is working very well for me...

Tighter doesnt always mean faster..that is one thing my Dr. stressed to me. He also told me just because I can eat more doesnt mean I should. He encourages me to first make sure I'm following the rules..protein first, daily Water , no drinking with meals, exercise etc..then he has me ask myself if I can honestly say that I have followed the rules and am still not losing 3 consecutive weeks then I need a fill..Are you losing still? Or is it just not fast enough for you? Thats the question you need to ask yourself....If it were me and I was losing something every week then I would not go for another fill that is just my feelings on it. I'm so afraid of being filled to tight that I'm taking this fill thing very slow. I have had 2 fills and am at 2cc's and I feel plenty of restriction and still losing every week sure I would like it faster wouldnt we all BUT just as tighter doesnt always mean faster...faster doesnt always mean healthier. My band is too important to me to risk being overfilled and doing damage to my esophogus or reflux Good Luck

Alot of us here went to Mexico to have our surgery. There are several experienced doctors in TJ.. if you choose Mexico do your research check out more then one doctor. I can give you the names of a few..go to the other boards and ask around to get as many different opinions. I love my doctor but there are women here who dont', maybe it is becasue I had him as my surgeon not just for my aftercare..I don't know..we all have such different personalities and some dont mix wel lwith others..but all I do know is I'm happy Dr. Kuri Dr. Lopez Dr. Ortiz dr. Ponce de leon. I used Dr .Ortiz and am extremely happy with him, his staff and his aftercare..thats just MY opinion www.obesitycontrolcenter.com is his web-site. My cost was 8995.00 I agree with Penni..which ever band you decide to go with..just make sure if you do not plan on going back to TJ for aftercare that you make arrangements prior to surgery for a doctor in your area to do fills..etc..most docs in Mexico will give you a list of docs in the US who may take on patients banded in Mexico, alot of US docs dont or if they do they charge an arm and a leg. You can also go to this site www.lap-band.com if you chose the Lap band over the Swedish band ( which is harder to find docs in the US) and click on surgeon locator to get listings of surgeons in your area, then just call them upfront and ask if they take on patients banded in Mexico and get prices Best of Luck to you with whomever you decide to go with for your surgery and whatever band you choose..I'm sure you will make the best choice for you

Betty that is so great to hear. I'm getting excited for you too! I remember al lto wel lhow I excited I was the week before surgery. Next week will be here and gone before you know it.

Jodie I do not know how it is for the rest of the women and men here on this board..but for me I can honestly say that I have more gas then I have ever had in my entire life and I'm 6 months post op. I think the gas is something for me that goes along hand in hand with having my band. Weird thing is I do not burp anymore it just comes out the other end I have weird pings and pangs al lthe time in my tummy and I have called my doc and he has told me it is most likely gas and he is right so now I just go with the flow. I take Maloxx when needed but for the most part it passes on it's own and it does not matter what kind of food I eat..I still have gas

Hi John...I enjoyed meeting you as well. You nad Penni have such a great relationship. I can see & feel the love you have for eachother. You were very kind to all of us. It was nice getting to know both you and Penni..since we are so close maybe my husband and I can get together with you and Penni sometime.Thanks for your business card. I checked out your web site in great length and I was very impressed. My boys also looked at it, their dad bought them an electric guitar and amp this weekend while I was in Vegas..I shared your site with them and told them I met a real life rock star this weekend They thought it was so cool!

Hi Welcome!!! You have come to the right place for support and encouragement that is for sure. This place is the best...it's like one big happy family. I have heard good things about Dr. Grossbard. He was banded himself by my surgeon Dr Ortiz. I wish you all the best on your upcoming surgery..Keep coming back reading and posting. This place is what I believe has helped me to be so successful. Lots and lots of support & love here!!

Vera..I love it! You did such an incredible job with all those pics..love the music too. My hubby was very impressed also.... Thanks..I bookmarked it so I can have it forever

I agree with Penni..get an opinion from an American doctor, not that Mexican docs do not know their stuff but for convenience and reassurance. Who knows, maybe your guardian Angels will help cover the cost to a visit to Dr. Billy : ) You need to get this port incision cleared up once and for all ..6 months and still leaking and oozing not healing is not normal. You need and deserve answers this is your health we are talking about!

I keep a bag full of shredded wheat squares handyand eat them dry as a snack ..lots of lettuce helps me too..Hmm..I will have to try adding some benefiber to my carb countdown ( thanks Kim)

I drank this weekend in Vegas for the first time since banding and I will say it was definately a different affect on me. I did get an upset tummy from the Margaritas and felt like heartburn..got tipsier quicker too but that could be from not drinking a stitch of alcohol in such a long time..

Yeah I'm in too..my exercise is non existent these days so I need a kick in the ass from all of you to get my butt movin' again. I will challenge myself to ride the stationary bike 2 miles a day 3x's a week it's better then nothing huh? I'm hopeful this challenge will work as well for me as the weekly scale challenge has...who knows I may feel inclined to do more like walk my son home from school everyday

I do not know much about the Swedish band but from 5 cc's to 6.4 cc's seems like a big jump. If you are unable to get your water in that could prevent a problem. You dont want to get dehydrated. I would be concerned if you can not tolerate protein very well ..protein is very important for us bandsters, you do not want to be losing lean muscle mass. I know for me personally I take my fills very slowly, the last thing I want to do is do damage to my band or esophogus( sp?) I'm in no hurry to lose this weight cause it sure took its time getting here. Be careful..if it gets any more uncomfortable for you..I would call your doctor and just let him know what is going on and get his professional opinion. He will have the best answer for you. Hope it gets better for you

The rule of thumb I got from my doc is if I am following the bandster rules and I have not lost in 3 weeks in a row I need a fill. Are you making good food choices? Drinking all of your water and exercising? If so then maybe you do need a fill....I'm sure your doc will have an answer for you tomorrow. Good Luck~

We all fell off the band wagon in Vegas..no big deal..it happens . Thank God it is Monday and I can start fresh...don't beat yourself up about it. Hey some of us even lost weight after eating and drinking all weekend in Vegas..it was all worth it either way gain or loss.

Its so nice to now have a voice to go with all of your posts. Everytime I read a post now from any of you Vegas bandsters I imagine your voice. I just love it.. Still reminiscing on such a great weekend! I really needed that, thanks again to all of you for making it so special for me. My husband even said how proud he was of me that I actually went, becasue so many times I make plans like that and then either something comes out or I back out, it's my damn OCD, it gets the best of me at times but this time I did not let it get the best of me.

Way to go Rebecca..Great Job!!!

Orange Jice with no pulp was a good one for me, it seemed to keep the hungries at bay a little longer then the gatorade or water. Chicken broth was also a main staple for me during the liquid stage. How long is your liquid stage?

I did not bother with the protein powder. Too much fuss & mess for me. I just drank the Atkins protein drinks or the Hoods Carb countdown dairy beverage that is loaded with protein. The protein drinks in the can were much easier for my hectic lifestyle and taste pretty damn good, no chalky taste. Trader Joes if you live by one has several great tasting canned protein drinks very reasonably priced that you can buy individually , thats what I did. Also try and take some adult strenght liquid tylenol ( wal Mart or Sa-von)with you for the ride home, it came in handy for me for the ride home along with the gas X I was very comfortable , and since you are going to Ortiz..take a book or something to read for the wait during the pre op tests you will be waiting alot between tests. Popsicles and jello are great clear liquids atleast you feel like you are eating something other then just drinking. Good Luck to you..hope it all goes smoothly for you

Thanks Donali for doing that for me, you are so sweet and I love your new pic with that sexy boa but SSSShhhh don't let Lisa see it That boa looks like it was made for you. You look like a movie star

Anyone who knows how to re size a pic and can do it with one of the pics of me here at the bash I would love to have a new avatar???

Well since we are all being honest here..I have to admit I thought more that Babs was interested in Chris. I did NOT think they had something going on, just that Babs seemed very flirty towards Chris, more like she wished or wanted something to be going on. Chris did not sem to be too interested in her from what I was seeing. Chloe is a sweetheart. I have a soft spot for little girls since I have all boys..she is so smart and so loving. That poor little girl is just wanting to ber loved. I did see a split second of a sign of her tyrant when she got right up in her dads face becasue he wanted to move her paints out of the middle of the floor. Her anger was quite shocking for such a little cute 5yr old but as Vera said Babs told us straight up that Chloe was a mistake and the devil child so if a child hears that enough she will beome that. I wonder how many times Chloe has heard her mother tell people that? Yes I was also quite suprised to see Babs with a drink in her car drving us to the Luxor with Chloe in the backseat with no seatbelt on. I was the one who told her to put it on. Lisa you are a godsend to that little girl!! It was quite obvious how much both you and Chris love her!!

We do not have Winn Dixie out here I wish they carried them here at our local stores without having to go online an order so much...

Monday 10/11 After a weekend of drinking & eating in Vegas and starting my period Saturday I was not going to get on the scale this morning but I did.... and to my amazement my weight was an even 207 which was a 1 1/2 lb loss.... Go figure

Darcy What a difference..you are a cutie ! Thanks for sharing them! So glad to hear that you are feeling better.