KarenB

There is also a low BMI study coordinated by Dory Feraro - www.Longislandbariatrics.com. She's the medical director there & the surgical coordinator for a few doctors & this study I think is in NYC or Westchester. (516) 579-0094. I think it's $12,000 total. She works w/very good doctors. I use her for aftercare here. I myself was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico, and I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the world. I think the care I got there was far better than I've gotten in US hospitals. Having survived breast cancer & double mastectomy, that's saying a lot.

That's why I use Stevia. The brand I like is "Stevia Plus" by Sweet Leaf. It contains insulin fiber (we can always use fiber!) and Stevia Leaf extract. Available @ health food stores. Web-site is www.sweetleaf.com I use 1/2 packet or 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. (it comes in packets that I use @ work & keep in my purse, and a plastic bottle for home.) There are other threads on stevia on this site.

Good luck ladies. Carolyn, you're getting banded on my birthday! Sounds like you're both in great hands. Wishing you an easy recovery,

My doc says reg. coffee is fine. The only reason not to, he said, is if you already suffer from acid problems w/your stomach.

Pattyann, how many fills have you had? Dory is pretty conservative w/her fills. I use her for my U.S. care.

Zarathustra, I wasn't being critical, I sould have added Thank you to my post. It was very nice of you to share it with us, since I too don't always read the business section. My only point is that the data that most newspaper, magazine articles, etc. is outdated.

It means you should call your doctor! Hope you're doing better today.

Sounds like their info is outdated. We don't expect to lose 1/2 our excess weight, we can lose it all. It may just take us longer than bypass patients! According to Dr. Ortiz, data now supports that we lose just as much after 2 years.

Yes, I use stevia. I get it in packets & a plastic bottle that's sold in health food stores. It also has insulin Fiber in it, which is supposed to be a good thing. I use it in my tea & it tastes like sugar/splenda, whatever. Regarding the sugar-free question, I think it's a matter of balance. Dr's encourage gatorade/powerade until you start protien shakes; they both have sugar & electrolites. They just don't want you do drink a gallon of it a day! I was told regular Jello is fine, too. I was never told sugar-free, but I think you have to use your head.

Please consult your band Doc. re: any meds. Mine says an occasional Advil Liquigel (or children's liquid) is fine. He says it's not for everyday pain management. Actually, it's the only thing that touched my shoulder pain following banding. Again, check with your doctor! By the way, a chiropractor has done wonders for my headaches.

I agree with everything Paula said, EXCEPT, it's been my experience that when we stand a chance of being a normal weight, people get jealous. Sorry, but it's a fact. But you are all so right, only we know what it's like to eat food just because it's there. I hope things work out with your friend, Hamu.

We just got our bracelets from www.laurenshope.com and they are really beautiful! The note with them said no bathing/swimming, but I e'mailed them and they said most people wear them 24/7. If they stretch out from water they'll replace free within 6 months and after that, $10.00. I think that's a good deal! I highly recommend this site, & the bracelets came quickly too!

Thanks guys. I'm heading to the pysch. hopefully tomorrow. Something's just not right, not to mention that the Welbutrin is making me even MORE constipated. Bleeding from a movement is no fun. Anyway, maybe I'll try Cymbalta next if my doc thinks it's o.k. This sucks. I'm sure if I could get my ass out walking every a.m. I'd feel a lot better. But depression doesn't lend itself to getting up any earlier than necessary. Anyway, enough babbling. Thanks for all your help, guys.

After trying many antidepressants for medication-resistant depression, I've been taking Wellbutrin 200 mg. and Prozac 20 mg. It seems to be pretty much working. My weight is stable, (no gain) but no loss either. I believe that is because I'm in need of a fill, but really haven't been eating that much. The last med. I took was Paxil, which was disasterous weight-wise. I know some people have switched to Cymbalta from Wellbutrin because of weight gain. If weight gain was the only reason you switched, do you find that the relief from depression is comparable? If you are comfortable doing so, please share your experience with antidepressants and weight gain/loss. Thank you.

Bigmom, be careful, cause I've had fills kick in 2 weeks out! but by the 30th you should be sure. How much of a fill did you get? I'm getting one Thursday A.M. in TJ, my daughter's getting banded the next day by Dr. Ortiz. I can't believe it's finally here!

Ditto for me! I'll be thinking of you.

Babs, so sorry for your family's loss. Compression garments from head to toe? You're gonna roast. Now, for real, how many will you have to wear? When I had my surgery which included a tummy tuck (not for weight loss) I was in one from high waist to knees. Good thing you don't have to take them off & on to go to the ladies' room!

Sherita, the shoulder pain is from the gas they pump inside of us during the banding. They kind of make a "tent" so they can work in there. It does pass (no pun intended), I promise. It lasted a while for me too. My doctor had me take advil liquigels when the pain got very bad and it helped. Some Doc's don't let you take Advil at all, but mine says a couple of times a month is o.k. Check w/your doc before taking anything.

I lube my chicken with hummus or else it's hard to get down. Also eat lo-fat, cottege cheese, lo-fat ricotta cheese & sometimes have to do a spirutina protein shake cause I don't always get enough. I've made ground turkey w/baked beans & tomato sauce, kind of like a chile & it was really good. Since I'm getting a fill Thursday & probably won't be able to tolerate steak, I'm having one for dinner tomorrow nite! Hope this helps.

Congratulations. You sound great. I was banded in December and my daughter is being banded this coming Thursday. (Oh my gosh, it's finally here!). I hope she does as well as you did! I also had a pretty easy recovery. Best wishes & keep us posted,

Dr. Ortiz is my Dr. & he's banding my daughter on May 27th. Maybe we'll run into Kelly. I have not one single regret. Best thing I ever did, and I love Drs. Ortiz & Martinez.

I'll take MX (Dr. Martinez) any day. When I get them here they're too conservative. Looking forward to seeing Dr. M. when I take my daughter to get banded on thurs.

Mine's in the usual slightly above bb & to the left. It's hard to imagine it below, cause I already had a tummy tuck due to other surgery (not weight related). I'm gonna need revision on the tuck when I finish losing and the port would then be in the way. I saw my plactic surgeon the other day. He said "20 more lbs. & you can wear a bikini. I told him the only bikini I'm wearing is in the underpants department. If you think a tt is in your future, I would definately check if port position would matter in your case. Also, sometimes I too get a pull or cramp in the port area, and i think it would be worse if it were lower. That's just me, though. Let us know.

Mandy, great post. I just got 2 bracelets, one for me & 1 for my daughter (getting banded a week from...TODAY) they say: Gastric Lap Band If tubing Required MUST Use Scope I'm also copying front & back the inimed wallet card & giving my DH a copy. I got them from Laurenshope & they adjust sizes free for the 1st 6 months, then $10 a pop thereafter. They make ALOT of gastric weightloss bracelets! It was also a much-need reminder that my DH needs to be wearing one for a condition he has, so I ordered him a more "manly" (plain silver) one from www.Americanmedical-id.com

I have Verizon & I know it won't work in TJ. Are the casitas expensive? I'm SO glad you reminded me about a phone card...I used my doctor's cell phone last time I was there but don't want to do that again!