AudreeS

Hello, my name is Audree. I was banded in January of 2007, so over 6 years ago. My surgery was done in Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I am a self pay lower bmi bandster. I also have the Inamed 4cc band, low profile port. My highest weight before surgery was about 195. Prior to that after I had my daughters, my highest weight was 240. My lowest was about 160 and I am around 166. Its been a few years since I was able to go back to see him for a check up or fill, so I can eat with almost no restriction. The only exception to this is right before my cycle, if I am stressed or eat to fast. I recently got married and have a new insurance. I was happy to find out that I could be seen here for check ups and fills by my new doctor in the States Dr. Phillippe Quilici in Burbank. I had my band checked and they said it was fine. I got a .5 fill which supposedly put me at 3.5 I thought they said. I felt very little restriction. So, I am going back this month on the 24th to get another fill. I am excited to use my band again after all this time and finally get down to my goal of 150. I am really looking for encouragement as a lower bmi bandster who is close to goal. I am about 16 pounds away from my all time goal. Then I know that maintaining it off will be the new goal. With little restriction I had to maintain and/or lose maintaining between 175-165 for the last few years. But I know the band still keeps me from eating as much as I could without it. There are days I don't feel as restricted, then there are days I can definitely feel it! I am doing a 5 day pouch reset currently on day 2 before I get my fill next week on Thursday. I am super excited to get back on my journey!!!

I decided to do the 5 day pouch reset. For breakfast I had a coffee with sugar free creamer, lunch was blended split pea soup, blended white beans, dinner was blended lentils and a low carb chocolate shake with almond milk. I have had 2- 24 ounces of water with a Lil crystal light. I feel a Lil cranky but otherwise fine. I'm excited to get my bandie functioning at optimum capacity. I have a fill appt. Next week also. What have been your experiences? I'm wondering if the fill I got 3 weeks ago will "kick in" with doing this and if I will still need a fill.

I had not had a good fill in a while and recently went and got anther fill. Prior to this fill I was able to have dinner about 8 pm and go to sleep by 11 with no problem. Since my last fill, I find that I need to have dinner by 6 or so in order to not have and issues at night. I feel like I still have food in my pouch if I eat later on when I go to sleep. I was thinking that if it gets too late to eat dinner, it would be best to have a shake. I am just curious when others fell they need to stop eating at night.

What happens if you eat after 6pm? Do you feel like food is in your pouch still at night and have acid issues? I have been banded over 6 years and have never had this issue because I never had the restriction I have now.

Yes mine has always felt a little tighter right before my period.

I am a little over 6 years with my band. I am back after a couple years to start again. I had originally been on this board when I first was banded in 2007 under screen name babygotback. I was pretty much able to maintain weight loss with a low carb type diet with not too much restriction. I have gone and got 2 fills, one in June and the other in July. I do feel that I can eat less than I used to be able to without being so tight that I PB. I have not PB'd at all or slimed. So I am thinking my restriction must be pretty close to the "green zone" or at it. I do notice I can't eat dinner at 8pm anymore or else I feel like I have food still in my pouch when I go to sleep. I have not lost any additional weight and am hoping to start losing again soon.

I had not had a good fill in a while and recently went and got anther fill. Prior to this fill I was able to have dinner about 8 pm and go to sleep by 11 with no problem. Since my last fill, I find that I need to have dinner by 6 or so in order to not have and issues at night. I feel like I still have food in my pouch if I eat later on when I go to sleep. I was thinking that if it gets too late to eat dinner, it would be best to have a shake. I am just curious when others fell they need to stop eating at night.

I actually did it before a fill to see where it left me. I actually felt a little more restriction but I felt I still needed a fill.

Here is the link I used http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html

Im in the same boat..got banded a lil over 6 years ago... no fill for about 3 or so years and now back on the bandwagon. I'm trying to figure it all out again, the rules, no later night eating. ..I have a had 2 fills since seeing my doctor in the last month or so. I feel restriction but no problems or pbing. I do notice I can't eat anything at all so far in the evening. I snacked at 7:30 and felt I still had food in my pouch at 10pm so slept reclined.

I had mine by Dr. Ariel Ortiz who I was told helped pioneer the band in the states. I've not had any complications and he put a low profile port also.

I was banded by dr. Ortiz in Mexico over 6 years ago. I have a 4cc allergen lapband band and have never had complications. I also have a low profile port. The wholeb experience was great.

I believe it will. I have been banded over 6 years and had not had a fill in a few years. I had some restriction but could basically eat what I wanted. I went for a slight fill 3 weeks ago. I didn't really notice too much difference, but that I did get a little fuller faster. Then I did the 5 day pouch reset and I do notice some more restriction and can eat less than before. I am going to get another fill this Thursday. I also lost 3 pounds doing the pouch reset.

I'm on day 5 of the pouch reset. I do notice I can eat less than before and get full much faster. I am going in for a fill on Thursday also. So, the 5 day full actually does work. I had years pass where I have not felt it this way and I'm very happy to feel my band again this way

I am on day 4 of the pouch reset. Weighed in at 165.4 this morning. I am having coffee with unsweetened creamer and crab with 1 egg for breakfast. Taking eating the egg and crab slowly, taking time in between bites and chewing. I am meeting friends for lunch and have a wedding later, but I am set on protein only.

I am on day 3 of the pouch reset. I ate cottage cheese for breakfast, white blended beans for lunch with cheese, tuna with mayo and blended chili with cheese for dinner. I was out at a lake today and needed a little snack since I was feeling really out of it so I had a small package of unsalted nuts. I made sure to chew very carefully to a paste consistency. I had my water also. I do feel fuller faster but I guess I will know tomorrow when I have the ground meat. I feel pretty good today and not as hungry for some reason.

I am at the end of day 2. I had mashed beans for breakfast and lunch with cheese. It was quick and I had to rush off to work. For dinner I made Chili and blended it in my food processor and sprinkled cheese on it. I had 2- 24 ounces water with crystal light. I also went on a 2 mile walk tonight. I was kinda surprised to have my blended beans make me have a "soft stop" which for me is like a hiccup after about 1/2 cup. I had 1 cup because I know I needed the calories. Looking forward to day 3 tomorrow where I can add tuna, soft fish, eggs and cottage cheese.

I also was banded by Dr. Ortiz over 6 years ago. I had not gone back for check up or fill because I dont have a passport and it was really inconvenient. I just recently got new insurance since I got married and went for a check up and fill to Dr.Quilici in Burbank. It only costed my $35 copay. I hadn't really had much restriction and the last fill 3 weeks ago was slight. I go back next week for the next fill. I am also in LA county. Who did you end up seeing? How did it go? Dr. Ortiz office was also very helpful and emailed me all my charts and records.

I have not thought of that, but I don't think it could get to the point of no restriction. The smaller bands are put on lower bmi patients because we have very little fat surrounding the stomach. In higher bmi patients, the stomach has fatty deposits around it so when you lose weight, you lose restriction when the fatty deposits get smaller. I am doing a 5 day pouch reset this week to get my pouch reset so it will be in optimal condition to have the next fill be as effective as possible. I am not sure about them replacing it, but these are good questions to ask. My fills are my $35 dollar co pay office visit and I was told if I ever had any complications, that they would remove it. I am really excited to finish off the last stretch and get to my goal. Then the new journey begins of maintaining the weight off! Thanks for your encouragement!

Hello, my name is Audree. I was banded in January of 2007, so over 6 years ago. My surgery was done in Mexico by Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I am a self pay lower bmi bandster. I also have the Inamed 4cc band, low profile port. My highest weight before surgery was about 195. My lowest was about 160 and I am now a little up in weight at 175 or so. Its been a few years since I was able to go back to see him for a check up or fill, so I can eat with almost no restriction. The only exception to this is right before my cycle, if I am stressed or eat to fast. I had originally been on this board even before I got banded in 2007 under the screen name Babygotback. I tried to reactivate my old account but was unable to, so I created this new one. I recently got married and have a new insurance. I was happy to find out that I could be seen here for check ups and fills by my new doctor in the States Dr. Phillippe Quilici in Burbank. I had my band checked and they said it was fine. I got a .5 fill which supposedly put me at 3.5 I thought they said. I felt very little restriction. So, I am going back this month on the 24th to get another fill. I am excited to use my band again after all this time and finally get down to my goal of 150.

I an on Day 2 of my Five Day pouch reset. I know that I had not been drinking Water on the norm, but did yesterday. I pee'd so much I couldn't believe it. With that being said, how could it be that when I weighed in this morning I was down to 166.2!! So 3 pounds lost in pure water? No wonder water is important. I did feel as if I was seriously retaining water. So, this morning for breakfast I am having my coffee with sugar free creamer and will have some pureed white Beans with melted cheese..YUM! And will begin sipping on my 24 ounce cup that I just bought. I think it makes it A LOT more convenient when you have the right kind of cup. So, I will make sure I drink 3 of those a day, morning, mid day and afternoon.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I just wondered if it would feel tighter as I am able to, a lot of the time, eat whatever and how much I want, with very little restriction. If anything, it will get me back on track mentally to eat less I would imagine.