KarenB

Hi Christina, hope your fill helps you find your "sweet spot". Just out of curiosity, does your doc use fluoro? My TJ doc does, & my Long Island fill person doesn't. The both do a great job accessing the port, but she only gives tiny fills here on LI. It's a good thing I paid her for a year's worth of fills, or else I'd be broke by now! Let us know how the solids go.

Terri, I kind of liked it, you had to add all these food flavorings. I can't believe I remember all this so clearly! I did hear a lot of people got sick from it. Maybe that's why it's not around anymore!

Hi again. I made some suggestions on your other thread before I saw this one, I'm SO glad I was wrong about the liquid part (you not having to wait so long) I bet that tomato soup was great! P.S. I still love Dr. Martinez.

Grandma, where in NY do you live? Congrats on your great weight loss--you're in inspiration.

Mae, thanks so much for the update; I'm really glad all went well. Dr. Ortiz is sort of strict about the clear/then full liquids, but he does not do a mushie stage--he doesn't believe in it. If you have questions, Dr. Miranda, the nutritionist there was very helpful to me. When my daughter was banded, I did tell him I started Slimfast a few days early cause I was STARVING & I thought I was getting weak (get out the violins) & he didn't seem to mind too much. He's always available on his cell, as is Dr. Martinez. (I love him) The might be stricter w/you cause it was a rebanding.

Had it before banding, was on Nexium every day. One month after banding NO MORE REFLUX. From what I hear, eating too late @ night, lying down after eating & being filled too tight can cause it.

Leslie, If Alexandra is happy, you're in good hands. Regarding the food, believe it or not, I was a total Fresca junkie & now I don't miss it. Loosing 54 lbs. is much better than fresca any day! As for the restrictive diet, the band is only a tool. It's not like gastric bypass where food is mal-absorbed & you have to go on major supplements. All most of us take is a good multi-vitamin--chewable or liquid & calcium chews for us women. If you follow the guidelines, you will lose weight. I won't lie to you, I still have the cravings sometimes. But it gets better & better. Sometimes the foods I crave don't go down due to the restriction of the band. (I bought cheese danish for everyone in my office cause I really wanted one--I couldn't even eat 2 bites...and those 2 bites weren't that great anyway). Hope this helpes somewhat...good luck w/your banding & please keep us posted.

RE: Dr. Verboonen? I did a search (on the top of the page) & came up w/a few comments about him. They were all positive. Maybe you should PM those people. Best,

Does anyone remember the Cambridge diet? I blended my brains out & actually lost weight (never been that thin since--123 lbs- I still remember it 25 years later. I tried bulemia too, never really worked.

I just learned that benefiber is just guar gum. Never worked for me. What DOES work for me is Fiber Choice. It contains insulin, "an all natural dieiery fiber source found in fruits & vegetables. Insulin not only tastes better and has a better consistency (true) it is the only fiber source that helps boost calcium absorption" That's from the label, obviously. Read label for the rest. Interestingly, since I've been using Stevia Plus, which contains insulin fiber as well, I've been going better. Hm, maybe there is something to this insulin fiber stuff.

Wouldn't we all. If we didn't, we wouldn't need lap-bands!

Angie, I don't know anything about Banjor. Do they charge you for fills? Are all accomodations included? I too was banded by Drs. Ortiz & Martinez & so was my daughter. I would not let $2K stand in the way of what I considered top-notch care. Good luck w/your decision, please let us know how everything goes.

NeeCee, that sounds pretty much like USA protocol. Did you go all the way up to 2cc's or did you mean .2cc's. Usually, in the US they will give you .5cc's to begin with & go up in .2cc increments. Don't all jump on me if that's not been your experience; it was what I was told by Dory @ LIBariatrics. Also, FYI, she's the one who did aftercare for the celebrity from NY Mag, etc. Dateline is coming to next week's support group. They already filmed her port revision & major plastic surgery in TJ; I can't wait to go the support group. Sorry to veer so much off the topic, just wanted to tell you all where I heard the protocol info. I think a lot of it depends on whether they use fluoro or not. The do tend to be more conservative when it's not used.

Sometimes after I eat I get huge, loud hickups. It's so embarrasing at work, but they're getting used to it.

Darcey, I'm so glad you're o.k. Dr. Ortiz is so caring & talented. It's a good lesson for the rest of us too, if a lot of PB ing contributed to the slippage. So many of us keep a too tight fill in the hopes it will "loosen up" and in the meantime keep PB'ing our brains out. Please don't think I'm saying youdid that, just that many of us do, myself included-- a few times before I almost closed my stoma & had to have most of my fill removed. Just take care of yourself & keep healing. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. Lot of hugs--I can't find that hug smiley, but I'm definately sending them.

I agree totally w/what everyone's posted. That's the longest fill-weight time I've ever heard of! As for me, I try to stay to a South Beach type diet, always eating my proteins first.

My internist is just floored @ my success. My plastic surgeon told me the other day that I look like a kid. I almost kissed him. His only experience has been w/bypass who have had good experiences.

My o My, what's wrong w/milk? I thought we were SUPPOSED to drink it to assist weight loss. There's another thread about it here somewhere.

Stress can make a huge difference & major tightening. When my dh was in the hospital, I'd walk through the doors & feel my stomach clenchng up! I had to have a partial unfill it was so bad.

Estela, I'm so happy for you! You sound great. I too had to wear that stupid "girdle" and it's a big pain. But it's important. I wore it cause when I had my mastectomy they took tissue from my belly for the reconstruction. So I had a tummy tuck & I'll get another one later this year, (some stitches stick out & I still get some pain in the muscles they cut). Does your garment have an opening so you can go to the bathroom without taking it off? Mine did. Please keep us posted on your continued recovery.

Is he just B.S.ing us? I think he is. sounds like a scare tactic. We all know it's better to stick to the liquid diet, but come on, a lot of us cheat & I've never heard of anyone's banding being canceled. They lift the liver out of the way to place the band, and the less fatty it is the better. The liquid diet helps lessen the fat. Some people don't even get a liquid diet! This is just my opinion. Everyone should ask their doctor. (I only cheated once) & the man I was banded with didn't even do liquids.

I did Optifast, 5 a day, for 1 week (or 10 days, I don't remember) before banding. I lost 6-10 lbs. I did cheat once, 3 days before banding, but not by much. Optifast does have suger in it, so I felt fine. If I had to do it over again I'd do Slimfast Ultra, less sugar, less carbs & more satisfying & also CHEAPER! To my knowledge, they don't not do the surgery if you don't do it; it makes the surgery easier by reducing the fat around the liver, which they have to move out of the way to place the port.

Never heard of that, Karen...sounds interesting. I pretty much follow South Beach, which is more liberal than Atkins. (Whole wheat crackers after my protein, fruit, etc.)

That's so nice to hear, Barbara. Thank you & best of luck on your banding.

Gastric Lap Band If tubing required, must use scope.