Dreamchasertx

Be sure to ASK them how much is in your band. If you've been going to the same doctor, they should know. If they don't, then they need to. They can take it all out and re-inject it so they'll know for sure. It's YOUR body, it's YOUR money.... don't be afraid to ask them!

By the way, I have a 10cc band, and I had it filled about 10 times, finally getting 9.3 cc in my band. That was a little bit too much, so I went in and wanted .5cc taken out... Well, she took out the whole thing and then started putting it back in, starting me at 7cc again. No restriction at 7cc. Went back again and up to 8cc. No restriction at 8cc. Went back again and up to 8.3cc. Very, very slight restriction. So I'm headed back again tomorrow and going to ask her to put me up to 8.7 to 9cc. I feel like I KNOW my level after 3 years, and I KNOW what is best for me.

Don't be afraid to stick up for yourself!

I have been to Dr. Stephanie about 8 times. She doesn't fill up a whole lot, but she is very nice. She charges $200, but if you get an appt online, you can go for $180. Her site is www.wellspringprocedures.com.

Just a note: I was filled by her about 6 times, never full enough. I went to Dallas and had a fill, and it was too full. I did lose about 70 pounds, though. I went back to Dr. Stephanie after a year, only wanting her to take out 1/2 cc. Her normal procedure is to take out the whole amt, and then put it back in. She didn't get back to where I need to be. I've been back twice since then, and I've already gained 30 pounds in 3 months. I do like her a lot, but I'm not happy with my fills.

There is a fill doctor, Stephanie Eijsink, in Tyler. She does fills for $200 or $180 if you sign up for an appt online. Her website is www.wellspringprocedures.com. I have been to her about 8 times since 2007. She is very, very nice, but she doesn't put a whole lot in at once.

Just wanted to throw out an update! I got really depressed because I wasn't losing as fast as I thought I should have been. I was banded 10/18/07, and only about September of 08 did I really start losing. I'm almost down 60 pounds and everyone is starting to notice. I need another fill because I'm able to swallow too much, but I plan on doing that January 17. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me anytime at carlynsearcy@yahoo.com. I haven't had any complications other than feeling full and having to throw up a few times. Also, I've posted some pics of the hospital I was at and some pics of myself. For some reason, I still don't take full body pics, but I'll try to get something posted! I have a huge butt and thighs, so I hate taking body pics!

I've had three fills already, and I'm up to 8.5 cc in a 10cc Johnson & Johnson band. I only feel restriction when I eat bread, potatoes or sometimes eggs. I was banded 10/18/07, and with these three fills, I've only lost 24-25 pounds. I feel like it should be more. I know I need to exercise, and I'm only walking about once a week.

I think my question is: should I be filled until I feel restriction on most foods if I eat regularly, or do you think I'm doing okay and just need to get my butt away from my office desk or off the couch?

I go to Dr. Stephanie in Tyler for my fills because I was banded in Tijuana (absolutely fabulous experience!). She charges $200 per fill (under fluroscopy), so I'm debating on whether to go ahead and have a little more put in, or save the money.

What do y'all think?

I'm back from Tijuana and it was the most wonderful experience! I've been trying to get my pictures & video online, but I can't get the video software to download onto my computer.

I would recommend Dr. Lopez Corvala with my whole heart! He and his staff were so wonderful! If anyone has any questions, please e-mail them to me and I'll get back to you. I'm having absolutely no pain (I was banded on the 18th & this is the 25th) and am back to work. I'm on soft foods (right now I'm eating a yogurt with Protein powder mixed in.) I'm feeling hungry a little bit and wishing I could go for my fill right now!

I had originally said that I would just start with Dr. Maese in Dallas to do my fills, but I had such a perfect experience in Tijuana that I'm thinking of going back there for my first fill. The hospital was beautiful, the girl nurses look and act like angels, and the guy nurses/anesthesiologist/etc were all so darn good-looking! I tried so hard to get one of them to come home with me!

:eek:

I'm back from my vacation to California and Tijuana! I had my surgery on 10/18 with Dr. Lopez Corvala and spent two nights at the hospital, one night at the Camino Real hotel in Tijuana, spent all day shopping there and spent waaaay too much money! Then I went to San Diego to spend a night at the Paradise Point Resort.

I haven't had any pain, no gas pains, no suture pain, nothing. I have had some diarrhea so I've been stopping that by taking Imodium. I'm back at work today and feeling very good, except tired, like I just took a vacation! I'm very pleased with my surgery, my doctor, the hospital, everything!

I went into surgery at 241 lbs. I haven't weighed since the 18th and don't want to weigh until another week goes by. I'm so glad I had this done and so far, I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Tonight I'm going to add some pictures and stuff to my journal. :whoo:

Cosita, I'm sorry you're not getting much support. I'm sure it's a very big deal to those that really care about you, but don't know all the facts. After I've started telling people about my surgery, I've found out about several people around here that have had it, so I've talked to them and they are all VERY pleased that they had done it. Maybe if you can find a success story up there where you live and let your family meet them, it would help.

I've really kind of had the opposite reaction with my friends/family/coworkers. Every single person has been very supportive, and the more I felt that they support me, the more I've been telling other people! The only person who is not wanting me to go is my best friend. She is large herself, and had looked into surgery, but she didn't want to take the risk. Her insurance would pay for hers, which kind of makes me sick! But she said she's all for me having the surgery, she just doensn't want me to go to Tijuana. She was lived near San Diego when her dad was in the service and she says she's heard all kinds of horror stories about going across the border. But honestly, thousands and thousands of people cross the border down there, for shopping, vacations, to work, etc. Every time I mention the surgery, she purses up her lips and won't talk to me about it at all.

But basically, everyone else has been very supportive. My sister is flying to San Diego with me from Dallas, and I'm actually staying the two nights in the hospital, one night in their hotel, and then I reserved a room at a resort in San Diego for the next night. I want to be close by the hospital just in case something goes wrong!

But I'm getting all my stuff together today, and I've got my video camera and digital camera all charged up! I've had my suitcase packed for days!

Oh, I forgot the one thing I did want to mention... Belite called and left a message for me last night that they were having some trouble getting the Inamed band through customs, which happens sometimes. They want to do the Johnson & Johnson band instead, which is $7250. I've checked out a surgery with that band, and it looks basically the same and is a FDA-approved band, so I don't mind the switch. The original cost with the Inamed band was $8000. I sent a deposit of $500 to Belite, and then I have to pay the remainder when I get to TJ.

I saw some posts on here about pregnancy & the band... you might want to look those up. Just do your research really good and that way you'll be able to have ALL the answers when you're getting non-supportive comments from friends and family! :clap2:But I'll be your biggest supporter! It's a life change that we're doing! And it may be a little drastic, but if we could do it on our own, we certainly would have done that by now!

In reply to your post, I'm getting ready to head to Tijuana on the 18th! I'm so excited! The only thing that has worried me so far is that I went through Belite to schedule my surgery and I called the hospital just to kind of verify things, and they told me that they don't keep up with what Belite schedules for them, but that if Belite had me scheduled for the 18th, then the doctor would surely be doing my surgery that date.

I'm going to be videotaping & taking pictures and I'll have them on my website so I'll let you know when I get them up. I'm going to try to do a YouTube blog, but I've never done it before so hopefully I can figure it out.

I've got my plane scheduled for Thursday morning, and I'll be in Tijuana by noon on the 18th! I just can't wait!

Cosita: If you'd like to contact me through here, I can give you some more details. I know exactly how you feel!

Wow Amy! You're the first right-out-of-room response I've had! Please keep us updated! It makes me think it might not be too bad to tell folks. I'm sure most people will be supportive.

When I go to TJ, I was thinking about going a couple of days early and taking a layover in Vegas! But I guess I'd better wire my $$$ ahead of time for my surgery! Then I thought I'd fly out to San Diego & spend the night before I go to TJ. I may never get out that way again, and I hear the city is beautiful.

:whoo:

Oh my gosh! Does that subject line sound so cool or what?!!!!!

I can't wait! I'm going to Dr. Lopez (Corvala) in Tijuana and I've done so much research and feel very confident about my decision. I'm 40 and I've been waiting for my life to start, not realizing that I've wasted it being miserable and not living every moment to its fullest! I guess 40 hit me pretty hard! No more taking my life for granted... I'm taking this bull by the horns and I'm ready for the adventure!

I'm scheduled for October 18 and I don't know what to do with myself in the meantime! I'm so excited! I want to tell everyone, but yet I don't want people to know until I'm sure there won't be any complications. I just hate people saying "I told you so"!. I have told a few people at work and two good friends, and mostly everyone has been supportive, but the two that I thought would definitely be supportive have been completely opposite. They both got that 'hmmmmmm' look in their eyes & the tone of their voice changed. One of them actually said "Do not do this".

But that's okay. It's my life, my decision, and I just won't invite them to my "100 pounds gone" party!

Good luck to everyone out there that's still waiting for surgery, and thanks so very, very much to all of you that have had the surgery and are putting up posts about it. You've made me feel so much better about my decision!

:bounce:Texan headed to Tijuana!!!!!!

:ramboHi guys! I just wanted to add my name to the list! I'm so excited to be going to Dr. Corvala to have my band done. I've done all my local research and found an after-care and fill doctor. He's a couple of hours away, but one of my daughters lives there, so it's not a big deal at all. I wish I could go to Tijuana tomorrow! If I didn't have to wait until 10/5 for my stock options to be vested, I would have already been there!

I'm getting mixed reviews from my friends & family that I've told. I work with a bunch of guys in the oilfield (I'm a girl), and not a single one of them has been negative about it! My boss did say that his sister-in-law had trouble with hers but that she had been drinking carbonated beverages, which I hear is a big no-no! Her band slipped and had to be adjusted. But she's fine now. My best friend and my niece were the only ones (so far) that have been really down on it. But they are both overweight, and I think it's more about them being a little bit jealous that I'm able to go have it done.

And I'm glad I picked Dr. Corvala (or is it Lopez?)... I don't know which name they use for their last name in Mexico! I'm so excited to say "I'm goin' to Tijuana.... Party on bandsters!" Of course the word "party" is going to have a whole new meaning from now on!

If there's anyone out there that's having surgery with this doctor, I'd love to hear from you.

Just call me the Tijuana Bandita!

I've been dealing with the issue of whether or not to tell anyone, also. I told my best friend first, and she flat out told me "No, don't do it". But I did tell a few people at work today, but asked them not to spread it around. They were all very supportive. I haven't told my daughters or my sister. I know my sis would surely blab it all over town. I just don't want to be known as "she's the one that had that weight loss surgery". I want me to just look at me when they see me, not that I've had to get banded to lose weight. How do you guys feel about that part of it?