_Becca

Cosmos110, If you are claiming you graduated from Harvard, it would seem that you would have insurance that covered weight loss and wouldn't need to go to Mexico for surgery. Of course, I'm sure that is just another spin on your unbelievable story.

It is so personal on how much you lose. If you want to eat around the band, you can. The band is a tool, but what I love about it is that I haven't gained any weight back. Yes, it maybe a struggle to lose the weight, yet I am keeping off what I lose. That is something I haven't been able to do my whole life. Being that you are so realistic already, I think you would do great with a band and that it would be successful for you. Good luck!

Ok, that's is just scarry! I hope you are feeling better. Hopefully you at least lost some weight through all that! :thumbup:

Dr. Arturo Rodriguez put in my band and I thought he was wonderful. My band cost 8,000 and I just had it put in this past summer. I am sorry Cosmos that you had a bad experience. I know several people that have had their lapbands put in from him, all with success. I was 100% satisfied with my experience and would go to Dr. Rodriguez again without question.

Just please be careful. I thought I would go the cheap route and had that horrible experience at fills centers. The doctor dug into my stomach with a needle for over an hour. It was one of the most painful things I have ever delt with. Then I was devasted to not be able to get my first fill. Luckily from Lap Band Talk, I found out about Dr. Stephanie. The price is 200 dollars, but she uses flouro. I now have my sweet spot after my fourth fill being that she can see how much to put in. I would drive to her any day. I would rather pay a little more to have a great doctor do my fill the right way.

PLEASE find a new doctor!!! You deserve so much better! It would seem that a good doctor would want you to get the weight off to improve your life. Get your lapband and get started with your new life- you are worth it!!!

There are more and more doctors here that are doing fills for patients of doctors from Mexico. You patient coordinator will help you find a fill doctor. You will lose weight at first from the liquid diet and mushies, so don't worry! You will do great!!!:ohmy:

I went through the same thing of people telling me I was taking the easy way out and that ridiculous question of "Did you try diets?" Now on the flip side, people tell me I look good and coworkers who didn't know I had the surgery are asking what I am doing to lose weight. I proudly tell people I have had lapband surgery. You are making a GREAT choice and you won't regret it!!!!!!:ohmy:

Hello! I haven't posted in a VERY long time, but it is so nice to see all the weight the Lucky 7's are loosing! Congratulations everyone!:tt1:

You are not alone! I eat around the band too. It is so hard to give up those old habits. I try to just keep the junk food out of the house. I know if its there, I will eat it. I have realized with the band it is so much up to us. It's not as easy as it seems, but obviously lots of people make it work. We just have to keep trying!

These bands have a mind of their own! Glad you are feeling better! :huh2:

Hello! I would like to be a part of your group too. I am a very slow looser, especially lately. I have lost 50 pound in nine months. I am getting my next fill in a couple of weeks. I have 7 cc in a 10 cc band. I wish I had restriction, but I just don't have much! I never pb or get things stuck. I can basically eat what I want right now. My biggest issue is making myself work out. I just can't seem to stick anything. It is so helpful to know that I am not alone in being a slow looser. Becca

You just need another fill! Everyone is different. Some of us take many fills to finally feel restriction.

It's not as hard as you think to give up carbonation. Every now and then, I just have to have a sip of one, but for the most part I stick to the Diet Lipton teas or Crystal Light. You can mix Diet Drinks in the blender with vanilla protein shake mix and it will taste like a float. The blender takes all the carbonation out. Good luck with your band!

I say you should go for it! The lap band is great because you don't put the weight you lose back on. You should find a good doctor and just research the success rate/ complications of that doctor. There are so many great surgeons out there, so don't be scared!!! I wish you the best!

I would ask your doctor what he wants you to do and go on that. I had surgery in MX and didn't have to do a liquid diet.

I went to Dr. Arturo Rodriguez and everything was wonderful. The hospitals and care are just good as the states. My insurance had an exclusion, so I decided to go to Mexico. I was able to schedule my surgery in a short time and I am very happy with the results. Good luck!

Hang in there! That is unbelievable! I guess it will make you appreciate your band all the more. I wish you the best of luck when you finally have your surgery.:cursing:

I used Dr. Arturo Rodriguez and he is wonderful!

I use Dr. Stephanie and she is awsome! No pain at all and she uses flouro every time. DON'T go to FILL CENTERS in Houston! I had a horrible experience. The doctor poked me with a needle for over one hour and could never find my port. I was in tears when I left the office. They charged my credit card for the fill even though I never got one! I am glad to hear about the other doctor in College Station as a back up.

I now have restriciton and will slime if I don't chew well or take too big of a bite. I try hard to avoid this, but sometimes I just forget. Does sliming hurt your band? or Is it just part of having a band? :omg: Thanks

I would say anything with blood, yes! How long have you had your band? When was your last fill?

I have had a sliming issue too. I was told to drink an entire glass or tea or water before eating a meal to open up everything. It has been working for me. I haven't slimed at all since doing that. Just something to maybe try. I hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks for the info! I agree that I can always tell the bite that caused the slimming. Sometimes that old habit just takes over and I forget to chew well or I start eating too fast.

Hey Chiquis, Right now I have 24 Hour Fitness, but when my membership is up in March, I am thinking of switching to the YMCA. Maybe we could go then. Working out is really what helps me! I think trying the flouro is a good idea if you can afford it. My band has a mind of its own though. Some days, it is really tight and I slime up everything and other days, I can eat more. Everyone, I really had a great time at the last meeting- so let's try to meet again. Would a different day of the week be better for people wanting to come? Maybe we can take a poll. Hope everyone is doing well. BEC:clap2: