La_madam

I had surgery not for vanity reasons...even though I had no co- morbitities. I was 5'5 and weight 265 just a healthy fat person but my mother died at age 51 she weighed 98 lbs and had a heart attack..heart disease runs in my family so it was vital for me to lose the extra weight to not make my chances of a heart attack greater.

8995 for original surgery 500 total so far for all of my fills 3200 for my band removal 100-200 in meds Nexium, Prilosec, antibiotics 50 for cabs and parking in TJ 50 for gas to TJ thousands in special foods and smaller clothing But it was all worth every red cent!

Well off to a good start..lost 1 lb this week..made good choices with food and been drinking 100 oz of water a day..walked 2x's last week rode stationary bike 2 x's for 3 miles each , did my walk diet DVD 1 time.. my ass is sore..Today is a new week..I'm going for 2 lbs this week! Wish me luck

Hmm..weighing the options here... Losing weight or Going to France For me it is simple..LOSING WEIGHT Like Lisa said, France will be there forever. You being bandless Penni, the biggest loser is a great opportunity to continue your journey. I know how important your weight loss is to you and maintaining it and continuing to lose without gaining it back..France has too much fattening food and without a band..WATCH OUT!..Just my opinion

Hi Bright! Welcome Back I'm sorry to hear of your depression but like you said not gaining during depression is a triumph cuz I bet without your band you would of. I'm so happy to see you here posting again..keep posting, it will help..we all are here for you

It has been my experience with fills that some time they can take up to a week to really kick in.. Mine did ..hang in there..

I will drink 5 - 20 oz bottles of Water I will make sensible food choices

I smoke and I had the band.. the band worked better then any other pill or diet I have ever tried.

My fill took about 1 week to notice a diference.. It is said that U.S docs are more conservative with their fills and have a standard protocol they follow where as the MX docs want you to have restirction right away and are more agressive with their fills. I had a MX doc. My first fill was 1.1cc's and it gave me restirction after about a week and it lasted for several months until I needed another fill.

My doctor in TJ charged me 3200 for my removal..I was his patient originally. I do not know if the price is the same for those who he did not band originally. I too live in Cali Have you had success with your band ? How much weight have you lost? Could you just be filled too tight? I had the inability to burp..it turned out I had gastritis and took prilosec for it and it helped alot. To me not being able to burp was well worth it if I was losing weight. Have you spoken to your original sirgeon about all of this?

You can email Don Mills at Inamed and ask him to emai lyou a list od Inamed certified doctors in your area, then you need to call all of them and ask if they take on patients who were banded in MX, many U.S. docs dont and the ones that do cahrge alot more. Here is his email Don.Mills@inamed.com Good Luck Make sure you line up aftercare before surgery if you are not planning on going back to MX for it..just a little piece of advice

Hi Dar and welcome to LBT..you have come to the right place for support. We are like on big extended happy family here. Lots of love around this place. As for me I felt great the day after surgery but as others have said we all are different. I was able to feel my port under my skin if I was to push down on it..it did not stick out or anything. Every doctor has their own post op diet they want you to follow so when you are able to eat solids is up to your doctor but I can not imagine it being longet then 3 weeks. Most have 1-2 weeks of liquids then a week of mushy foods then onto solid foods. Best of luck to you

Here is a thread with a good link that may help you answer your question as to when you may need a fill http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=3733&highlight=adjustments

How the heck did you find that on Ebay? I just checked it out..too funny...whoever wins it, I hope they have a good qualified surgeon to put it in Very interesting!

Me too..I love the new looks ladies..you both look awesome

I paid 750 for mine and that was over 20 yrs ago..they were awesome

That is fantastic news Leatha! I'm very happy for you..

Yep..got much love for you Lisa

Trish, glad your home and doing good..and got everything fixed up. I hope the 2ccs fill works good for you

Every Dr. seems to have their own theories..my Dr. aid to wait 1 hour after eating so that iswhat I did. I figured I paid him thousands of dollars to do my surgery I better listen to him

Me too I just spent 200 on thongs at Victoria Secrets annual sale, I got lots of gift certificates for Christmas I now have too many panties to :paranoid

Penni, I'm sorry you are sturggling..I feel you...it is not easy. I know this first hand. But you can do this. Call me, Call Lisa, Call Christina..call anyone when you feel the urger to eat the crap food. Journal your food. Do not give in to the demons..you can not let them win. Remember keep saying over and over in your head NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS SKINNY FEELS! This is my motto..and it's working

Penni..I feel you girl, it is a struggle everyday..some how I have maintained but it has not been easy. You me and Lisa need to start a phone chain and call eachother whenever we have the urge to eat crap food..I have been journaling my food and that has helped me. I have OCD in a big time way and it has just intensified into not gaining this weight back which has helped but my damn house is a mess now LOL..Penni ..you know what to do, now just do it girlfriend! It's not easy but you can do this. We all can!

Hi Zoe welcome back ! I'm interested in your 20 lb in 26 week challenge

Well for what it is worth I sent an emai lto Don Mills today telling him of the 4 of us Penni, Lisa, Francesca and myself who were all banded one motnh apart to the day by two different doctors and how all of us had our bands removed within weeks of eachother due to erosion..something ironic about that. Lisa and Francesca banded my Ortiz and Lopez on May 6th 2005 both eroded and Penni and myself both banded on April 6th 2004 by Ortiz & Lopez both eroded. Am I the only one here who thinks something is strange about this? What are the odds the four of us who have become good friends have all eroded at the same time by the same doctors?