La_madam

karen, sorry to hear you are not doing too good, but stress can do strange things to your band. just keep doing the liquids, I had the same feeling when I had esophagitis and I did exactly what you are doing . Dr. Martinez gave me the same instructions and it worked and I was better in 2 weeks. Pbing can make your esophagus very irritated. I hope things get better for your husband , How is Hanna doing? She starts solids this week doesn't she?

I just got the same acknowledgement this morning in an electronic reply. Maybe since you and I both wrote in aboutthesamething, they will reply and do a follow-up

Tomorrow is my son's end of the year party at the lake and he volunteered me to help out. I have no shorts to wear so I asked my husband if I could try on a pair of his new 34 inch waist shorts he got at Wal Mart this weekend, they can pass for womens shorts they are just plain ol denim shorts. I was shocked and amazed to get them past my butt and hips, I did not think they would button & zip up but to my amazement they did with room to spare! Never thought I'd see the day I'd be able to wear a 34 inch waist ever again in my lifetime! So now I have shorts to wear tomorrow to the lake since we are finally getting some sun here instead of the June gloom. My husband was beaming with happiness for me when I modeled them for him.

I was told 4 hours before no solids... but liquids are ok Every Dr. is different

I bought the magazine and read the aritcle tonight and let me tell you I was bothered after reading it so I went straight to their web site and emailed the Editor asking why he did not interview any people who had great experiences in Mexico. I told him I thought it was unfair to not get both opinions on this. I rambled on about many things, my experience from my Lap Band surgery, my experience from my recent surgery where the u.s. doctors wouldnt operate on me but the Mx doctor would and saved my life...I know there are many who did not have a good experience in Mexico .but for every bad experience there is a good experience and the article should of been fair and balanced is all that I am saying. I wonder if I will get a reply. If I do, I will be sure to post it here, you can count on that!

Hi Pansy & Welcome! You have come to the right place for support and lots of info. Best of luck to you, I hope you are able to get the band, it has changed my life! I hope the same for you too

Dabbler, call BCBS and ask if they cover it. I have BC of CA and 14 moths ago they did not cover the band regardless of co-morbitities or not. Thins may havechanged I know BC is joining the ranks of other insurance carriers andcovering it in other states now. It is worth the phone call. Best of luck to your wife. I went to Mexico and paid out of pocket for 2/3 of it and financed 2000 of it, it was worth every penny,14 motnhs later I am down 93 lbs with only a few more lbs to go. Went from a size 22 to a 10 currently. The band is the best thing I have EVER done! You can have a baby with the band also just so you know. I had band buddie who was banded the same day as I was and 4 months after surgery she became pregnant and now has a beautiful healthy baby. Many others here have also had healthy babies with their bands still in tact, just not filled

My Dr. did not require me to do a pre-op diet, he only has his patients who have a BMI of 50 or over to do it, that is what I was told at the time of my surgery. I have a male friend who was just banded 3 weeks ago by the same surgeon I used and he had a pre op diet but did not stick to it very well and was still able to have his surgery.

Penni, that is great news! I'm happy for you that you both are trying to work things out. Alot of women say they would leave if their husband or SO if they cheated on them, but it is alot easier said then done. I admire you for sticking it out and trying to make things work. John from the little I know of him seems like a great man, who adores you, that was evident in Vegas last year. You two make the cutest couple Throwing away all that you two have shared is not the right answer, kudos to you both for giving it your all to make it work...I wish you both the very best!

Aww Vines, sorry you are feeling under the weather, hope you get back to your old self real soon

Hi Ruthie Glad your home and you were happy with your experience I wish you lots of success with your band

Paula this challenge was a great idea, it really helped me, can we keep it going through the summer? Just start over from here? I am going to continue to post here becasue I firmly believe it keeps me accountable. It gives me something to strive for.

It has only been 3 days, give it a few more days to see if it kicks in, my first fill took a week to kick in. Some people 's fills take a few days to kick in.

This is how my Dr. does his fills,He actually closes me off completely and then has me drink the baruim until I can not drink any more without swallowing , feels like Iam choking for a second, when I tell him I can no longer drink, he slowly backs off with the saline opening me up and then he sees the baruim flow through the band which gives him an indication on how much saline to put in . I like fluoro, it gives me peace of mind knowing my port is OK, my band is in place, they accessed my port etc..

Hi Heather Welcome to LBT Sounds like you are doing great so far! Congratulations and keep it up So Glad you found us here, I hope to hear from you often. This is a great site full of info and wonderful caring supportive people

You are absolutely right Charlie, Support is key. I know if it were not for the poeple here who have given me the support I have needed along the way I would not be as successful as I have been. Being accountable is what helps me also, I am totally being accountable for eating those 2 dam rice krispie treats today. I did it, I had no willpower. It feels good to be truthful, cuz I know Iam not alone here in my struggle, we all battle the same demon. For those who say the band is the easy way out, all I can say to them is they have no idea. TOMORROW NO JUNK food

I wish you luck with Blue Cross I have Bule Cross Of Ca PPO and they told me no way do they cover the Lap Band, regardless of co-morbitities or not. However the good news is that Blue Cross is now covering it in other states like New Mexico, Tennessee and a few others so hopefully Blue Cross of CA will follow suit. I did not want to waste time trying to fight with them or appeal, I am glad I did not, 14 months later self paying going to Mexico Iam down 93 lbs

Aww Heather, I am sorry to hear you were let go from your job, OK you are allowed to eat ice cream in your bathtub, I would of done the same thing, if it makes you feel any better, I blew it today too, I ate 2 rice krispie treats. Hang in there , tomorrow is a new day

Mary, how did your weekend go?

I had a rice krispie treat today,actually 2 of em'.... I blew it the first day I suck! I need to be refilled a bit...goin to see Dr. Ortiz on the 20th of June. Does anyone notcie when they have restriction the little switch goes off and you do not obsess about food? Or is it just me. When I was filled at 2-2.5 my switch was off most of the time, now that I have no fill my switch is constantly on. It is amazing to me how having the right fill, your food obsession goes away. Tomorrow is a new day, I will try again....... NO JUNK FOOD!!!!! NO JUNK FOOD!!! NO JUNK FOOD!!!!

Being able to see your port and the fact they hit the port is a benefit of using flouro, did your Dr. use fluoro this time? Hopefully they just missed the port the last time

Iam 14 months post op nad I still have port pain on occassion. I think you are normal unless your incision is oozing or swollen & red, hot to the touch.

Patty, you are not alone, many people do, you are normal. Remember the band works best when it is filled. I have been working with no fill for 2 months now, luckily for me I have not gained any weight back ,actually have manged to lose 5 lbs in 2 months but I have worked extra hard not to gain wieght. It has been a struggle somedays. I am going in for a fill not to thelevel I was before I was unfilled but a fill none the less.

I did not use anything, three of the four incisions are so small I can not even find them, the other is only about 1/2 inch long and it blends in with my stretch marks so I can hardly see it either.

Congratulations, I am glad everything went well with your surgery and you are happy with your Doctor. Best of luck to you with your new band