La_madam

many doctors will tell you that it may take 1-3 fills to notice a difference,many U.S. doctors are very conservative on their fill ammounts and like to creep up on restriction where as Mex. Docs are much more agressive and want restriction immediately . My first fill was 1.1 cc's and I noticed a difference.I had my fills in MX..I had a total of 3 to lose all of my weight for a totla of 2.5 cc's How much was your first fill

Beef Jerky is always a good one Protein bars, South Beach Diet has a great new line of snack food that are low carbs and come in individual packs.

I had surgery with Dr. Ortiz in 2004 and paid 8995.00 but I know his fee has gone up to 9500.00 My pain was very very minimal, I only took liquid tylenol for pain and I immediately got up and walked the halls after surgery every hour to start moving the gas around which I beleive helps with pain since alot of your pain is gas pain. I actually took a cab to downtown TJ and walked aropund and went shopping the day after surgery. I was amazed at how good I felt. I have not heard of too many Ortiz patiens who have horrible after pain. Maybe it is his technique who knows but he is definately good at what he does. best of luck to you on your decision, I do not regret mine one single bit Tj was a good experience for me as well as Dr. Ortiz

I had 3 fills in a years time and lost 90 lbs..then I was unfilled for 2 months and lost a couple pounds on my own with no fill but it was difficult and the longer I would of gone with an empty band I may of started to gain, I found myself eating more then when I was filled. SInce June I have had 2 fill to 1.5 cc's and that is perfect level for me... Yes there are people who lose with no fill and just with the band. they are the minority though.

Once you get to solids and you see that you are having aproblem, definately have some fluid removed. With ideal restriction you should still be able to eat solids without PBing on a daily basis. Ideal restriction you should not resort to liquids and soft foods.

Listen to your sister!! your post op instructions are there for a reason, if you eat solids too soon before your band has had time to anchor in and set into place you can risk your band slipping. The digestion process for solids and mushies causes alot of churining and movement in your stomach, movement your band does not need or want right now. You need to heal and let your band set in place.

I felt just like you did at 4 weeks post op..as the weeks progressed things changed. I waited until I was 9 weeks post op until I had my first fill.

Drinking with meals only empties your pouch quicker , the liquids wash it through faster, so if your pouch is emptying quicker, you will be hungry again quicker and will eat again probably sooner then you need too. Once you get your fills, the first time you forget to chew your food to shreds you will know it in a big time way and will never do it again, it is very painful, thats where the dreaded PB comes into play with a bite too big, now is the time to practice this rule and get accustomed to it in a big time way because the tighter you get with more fills the more and more you need to focus on small bites and chewing, one thing that works great for me to take smaller bites is to use a very small fork ( crab fork) I have 1.5 cc's on my band and am plenty tight and I eat more then 1/2 cup of food, the thing for me is now how much I eat but what I eat that matters to me, I do not eat for more then 20 minutes at meal time

Megan, I hope you dont mind but I found your number on your business web site and sent it to Lisa I love your new avatar, you look great! Glad to hear from you and things are going well for you again with your band. Hope to see you at the bash

For me I had minimal pain and only took liquid tylenol and I have a very low threshold for pain. I was amazed at how good I felt the day after surgery, so good in fact that I took a cab to downtown TJ for some shopping and walking. Walking is key to help rid the gas which ill relieve the pain, alot of the pain was from gas..so walk as soon as you can, I walked the halls constantly immediately following surgery. I made my husband get me up and walk every hour

I've been watching the news al lday, glued to FOX news and it is absolutely heartbreaking, I cry everytime I see the interview with the man who lost his wife because he could not hold onto her hand any longer. It's devastating...I feel helpless. I'm going to cordinate a fundraiser this Holiday weekend at my restaraunt to donate as much money as possible to the victims, and we spoke at dinner tonight as a family that my husband and brother & 18yr old son will all donate blood since they all have the universal blood type

Christina,

Hi & Welcome to LBT This is a great site for lots of support and information. Alot of caring kind people here.. Wishing you the best

Lots of us bandsters lost hair right after surgery...I think it is a combination of things, anasthesia, lack of protein, lack of fat in your diet...Once your body adjusts it does get better...my hair loss is very minimal now 16 months post op

Keep the Protein high , it will keep the hunger down..lower carb intake. Start your da ywith protein, no carbs you will be amazed atthe difference. Fopr me it is vital to have no carbs for breakfast, if I do..I'm doomed all day long, I pick and graze and never feel satisfied Carbs and sugar only crave more carbs and sugar..Viscious cycle , once you start you cant stop.

Congratulations, I wish you lost of success with your new band. Heres to a happier healthier life!

Vines you have the right attitude, I'm right there with you Brenda---You have lost 132 lbs AMAZING, it only normal for your body to slow down, maybe take a reprieve for a few weeks ( dont go crazy with food) but less focus o nthe scale. Even though the sacale is not moving all that exercise is going to re-shape your body. THis is what I have noticed. People keep telling me all the time " wow you've lost more wieght" I haven't my body is just changing and shaping from the exercise and we all know muscle weighs more then fat so if your building muscle this could bew why the scale is not moving, if you know you are doing everything right and everthing you can do, then that should be all that matters, not what the scale says!

MC. Dr. Ortiz in TJ has preformed the band on many bypass patients. There are a few of his bypass/band patients on his web site you can speak with at lapbandforum.com . I know right now he is one of a few that do it. Met a woman in his office in July who couldnt find a Dr. in the U.S. to preform it so she flew in from the US for the surgery.

I was on a plateau since April I tried just forgetting about weight loss not stressing about it, not getting on the scale..it works for me to just let go..I have lost 2 lbs not even trying. For me it seems when I exercise I do not see a movement in the scale but when the next week comes and I do not exercise the scale moves. GO figure. I do not worry so much any more about the sclae and it's numbers, if it take me another year to get these last 5-10 lbs off then I'm content as long as I'm not gaining. I have so many other possitive thing to be grateful for since my band. Try letting go, take a step back from the scale for a couple of weeks . You may see a difference when you do get back on it in. It works for me.

Hi Tess & Welcome to LBT..This is a great site for suport and questions you need answered. Good luck on your insurance covering you, if not there are other options so dont give up if the band is what you REALLY want! Best of luck to you

Yes, it is so sad.... I woke up this morning and turned on the news and New Orleans is under Water and officials can not figure out why water rose during the night and why it is still is rising They are going to need more money then FEMA and Red Cross can provide, it is going to be a national fundraiser like the Tsunami or Sept 11th

Karen, I am so happy for you. Im glad you got relief and feel better. Good girl you were for being the smart bandster and listening to your body instead of thinking the weight loss was great no matter how bad the discomfort was . Your band and body will thank you for it in the end.

Vines I can relate to this..I have no women friends, all of my friends are men. I read the sports page everyday and watch ESPN where as the other women I know read Vogue or Glamour Magazine and watch Nip & Tuck I got to baseball games where the other women go shopping at Nordstrom's But I can tell you one thing I am happier then all of them. We all fit in this world in our own little way, each of us gives something to this world that others don't. Honestly I think most of us here felt like we never fit in..I think it is more from being the fat kid all of our lives not from our likes & dislikes ...ignorant people all of our lives never gave us the chance to feel like we fit in. You fit in perfectly here Vines..we love you

Flower, glad you are all fixed up and found your way back here

For all of you ladies who are nervous...Dont be nervous. ( what are you nervous about? Or is it excitement?) This years group is smaller then last years, it is very low key and very casual just like Lisa said. It's about getting together and finally getting to know eachother on a more personal level. Lisa is a great host and makes you feel very at home..Bring your cameras and appetite, and I hope you all can drink! ( and swim) LOL and I hope you all are ready to laugh your asses off. If it is anything like last years bash...you're gonna have a blast!!! Lisa are you making Carols famous Margaritas?