TracyW

Hi everyone I have had my band for 3 1/2 years, I think your thick saliva could also be called slimming, I get that if I take too big of a bite and don't chew it well enough, it gets stuck, slime,slime,slime, then I get the hickups until the bite of food goes down, its a terrible feeling so I have been working very hard not to let this happen. Hope this helps.

I found a doctor that would do a fill on someone that had there band done in Mexico just as long as it's the Inamed band. His information is: Dr.Mark Paya 7320 Woodlake Ave. Ste 150, West Hills,CA 91307, 1(877)711-8446. The price for the fill is $350.00. The office was great. TracyW

I am going to go to Disneyland soon, I wanted to find out if anyone has had a problem with the band, and roller coasters? I thought I had heard it was fine. Thanks:)

Ok Cathy so you made me tear up I don't think I'm pmsing, it makes sence what your saying and I do forget how lucky I am sometimes I just need to be reminded sometimes. Thanks again!

Thanks Cathy for the nice words and a reminder to what I can possibly do to help myself. I'm going to keep reading this thread to keep myself thinking positive.

I've been watching this thread for a while, this is where I belong. My surgery was back on May 13,2005 I've lost 35 pounds. Most of my lack of weight loss is my own doing. Some backround information: after my surgery I was so hungry, I struggled through the three weeks of the after surgery diet but I stuck to it, then I had my first fill around 5 weeks after my surgery, I had it early due to no restriction and being so hungry I was filled to 2.0 in a 4.0 band, within the next five weeks I had another two fills totaling 3.0 I still felt hungry but I lost a majority of my weight due to everything getting stuck, so I couldn't eat that much I finally had .2 taken out = 2.8 thats where I'm at today, sometimes food gets stuck but not as often. The way I feel now is I feel like I don't even have the band, the only reminder is the occasional food getting stuck I eat as much as I did before the band, If I eat protein first then vegi's and so on, I am hungry about 2 hours later so I've now lost the will to even try to lose weight I feel like I need to find another fad diet. Does anyone else out there feel somewhat this way? How do you find the will to start trying again? I felt so alone until this thread, if anyone has any suggestions it would be appreciated.

Thanks Debby for the encourageing words, I am happy I have lost 40 pounds, and I haven't gained. Do you ever find yourself going back to your old habits? thats where I'm at, I'm in a rutt and I can't get out of it. I feel like I have to go on some diet to get started again on the right track but I don't want to do that, plus diets have never worked in the past for me. Does anyone have any ideas? Thank, Tracy

Hi Everyone, I am a may banster, but I am just spinning my wheels now and I am stuck at a 40 pound weight loss. With the big weight losses I am seeing from everyone what kind of food do you guy's eat? How much? any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

Is anyone going to be in TJ for a fill at Dr.Ortiz's office this Saturday the 12th, I will be there at 9:30 am?

I just read your story about the ride, that is so funny, did your friends know you have the band? Well thanks for the laugh.

Hi Megan, I read your story, you made me tear up, you have inspired me. Congratulation on your success!

Most of the time the band keeps me in check and sometimes I override it, no matter how I eat I always feel like i'm overeating even when I am not. Does anyone else ever feel this way?

I am ok with fries if I eat one at a time and chew, chew, chew. I did have a terrible PB today, I brought my 19 month old son to the soup plantation, I took a couple of bites of salad without chewing enough, swallowed, it was stuck, I sat their at the table with my eyes tearing up, drooling into a napkin, boy that was fun.

Hi justbeingme, I also had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Martinez told me I do not need to be on a specific diet, it would be hard to stick with just like it always was thats why I got the band. When you get the right restriction for your body you will not be able to eat that much, do what dr. Miranda said, Protein first,vegi's second, fruits third and carbs fourth also some healthy fats and it should total about a third of what you used to eat. If you have more questions call Dr. Miranda she has been very helpful to me.

Hi Ajack, I was told by my nutritionist that it is very important to stick to the required food plan, for me it was just 3 weeks. The reasons were stretching the new small pouch and possibly making the band slip, for these good reasons I stuck with what I was told. Its great that you've lost weight, from what I have learned and seen on the boards losing weight is just a bonus, the most important thing is to let your body heal during this liquid period. Good Luck! Tracy

Hi Porclndoll, I wanted to see if you were going to update the list, I never even saw the old May list until today. Here is my info: banded May 13,2005 Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez. Thanks, Tracy

Hi, My first was 2.0cc, that did nothing, one month later I had another fill .5cc, that did nothing, 2 weeks later I had my third fill .3cc finally I started feeling a little retention but still able to eat too much, I was starting to get very concerned that the band just wouldn't work for me knowing that it only holds 4cc total, went for #4 fill and to talk to my Dr. he filled another .2cc now a total of 3.0cc, it finally has worked for me. Now I know what everyone is talking about when they say they take small bites and chew very well or else. The nurse should know that everyone is different, maybe she was new and didn't have the experience. Just to let you know I asked my Dr. about being so close to being to 4.0cc he said at 4.0cc no food would get through and not to worry. Tracy

Penni, As you know I am in for the 30th. Tracy

Penni, Your house sounds great thanks for the offer. TracyW

I have two young children, my daughter is 4 and my son is 18 months, they are both normal weight. I am very affraid for them to be overweight, I have been very overweight since early childhood and now as an adult morbidly obese. The only way I could think to possibly keep them from being overweight was: never talk about myself being on a diet,never weighing myself(we don't own a scale), try not to snack when their around, my daughter does not know I have the band, if I look in the mirror I never say anything bad about myself in front of them, I either say nothing or I say something possitive even if I don't beleive it myself, I have put my daughter in gymnastics and now tap and ballet class, my son will start mygym soon. The way I feed them is pretty good most of the time with everything they should have and other things moderatly, I never offer food in a happy or sad situation, I never ask if they want seconds and I usually don't offer dessert unless we are out for a special occasion or if they ask for a snack I usually say yes unless its before dinner(its all they know). I asked their Dr. along time ago about giving something with artificial sweetner he said it was best not to, they are better off having a moderate amount of regular stuff then a lot of sugar free stuff, just one Dr.s opinion but I follow it, it works for us. This is a struggle I will have for the rest of my life even with the band, I am doing everything in my power not to pass on this horrible disease. TracyW

Christine, Maybe we can plan this for tuesday august 30th for lunch, if thats not good let me know.TracyW

Corrine, That is great you must be so excited, when I here story's like yours it just gets me going again. TracyW

Penni, I would love to join you guys for lunch, possibly next time in the SanFernando valley so my mom can watch my kids. Maybe we can do this in a couple of weeks.

Hi DeLarla, I graduated from Grant High in 1986, my husband and I moved up to Santa Clarita in 2000 we love it here. By the way I wish I could make it to your Vegas bash this year but its not a good weekend for me. I Since you've had the band for a while, I was wondering if you can give me any ideas. I had the band done May 13th and I have had 3 fills with very little success, even when have Protein first and no drinking for at least an hour after, I still get hungry within 2 hours. do you have any suggestions? Thanks, TracyW

Hi, I live in Valencia, CA near Magic Mountain. I would also love to get together. Penni, my mom is in Van Nuys, I grew up their did you?