judy2291

You will love the staff. I had a wonderful experience and not a moment of regret. Hugs, Judy

Have you checked to see if your insurance would pay for the reduction? Do you have back, neck, or shoulder pain that started or got worse after weight loss?

Hi Beebic, I hope you don't mind me answering for Sunshine. We both went to Dr Gonzalez and have actually met up there for fills. As I recall, the pre-op diet was liquids for a week or 2 before surgery, depending on BMI. One thing I also did was to start taking Gas-X 3-4 days before surgery and I can honestly say I wasn't bothered with gas. I try to go down every 3-4 months for fills and have never had a problem. I do call for an appointment to make sure he's in the office that day. He's always taken me even on short notice. Hope this answers your question. Judy

I agree. Liquids are the safest route after a fill. But you've also got to learn to slow down and chew well. Very small bites that you chew until they're a liquid state. Try a baby spoon. Bites of food should be that small. Most people gulp their food. Chewing at least 50 times before swallowing is very hard to learn but if you choke enough times, you'll eventually get tired of barfing. I'm really concerned that if you don't take smaller bites, and chew well, your band may slip. Did you go to any classes when you had surgery? This is basis stuff. If you're that hungry, try a Protein drink. You may be one of those people who needs to really stick to liquids for a few days after a fill.

You ate a couple of pieces of chicken? Oh my, you really are stuck, aren't you? Well, I could say a lot about why this happened but the important thing right now is to get it up, because it's probably not going to all go down. Whatever happens, and you'll probably gag it up, try not to throw up from your stomach! You're probably a newly banded patient and you want to avoid doing anything that may cause it to slip. Good luck, Judy

Although I agree with Heather, I really think you're looking at this all wrong. First, you lost 14 pounds in a month, and 57 pounds in a little more than 6 months.... congrats! That's right on track with having a band. Secondly, if the doctor could only get .5cc in your band (before you closed off completely), what makes you think it's a bad fill? I'm convinced that a lot of people with bands walk around with them too tight, and this can cause erosion. Do you want to lose your band altogether? A band isn't suppose to choke you into not eating. I hope I don't sound like I'm scolding but weight loss with a band goes up and down, determined by diet and exercise. The fourteen pounds you lost last month is a lot this far past your surgery. I could understand 14 pounds during the first month but unless you're really counting calories and exercising like crazy, 3-4 pounds a week sounds like starvation. Half that amount would be good progress for any bandster. Please try not to be discouraged and don't take offense at what I have written. I've seen too many people lose bands because they try to lose by tightening, and tightening the band even though they're losing weight without more fills. Remember it's a tool.... Blessings, Judy

If you're talking to Dr Valenzuela, you're talking to the right person. These patient "facilitator's" are actually people who refer patients and take a cut off the top. The difference of $1500. ($9000-$7500=$1500) is about right. This is money you'd throw away if you use their service. I'll send you the number in a private message. Judy

Yup, that's the right doctor. May I ask? How long ago did you talk to them? I ask because I haven't been able to reach Laura. Judy UPDATE: 505: Dr V called today after you spoke with him to let me know the receptionist is new and they are both still there. That's great news to me as I think a lot of that group and have always been treated well. Laura has a new cell#, which I now have, and I look forward to seeing them again. Let me know if you decide to go with Dr G and maybe I'll walk you across the border. ~LOL~ Either way, good luck with your surgery. I have never regretted my decision or the doctor I choose.

505: The name GONZALES is very common in Mexico and you may have been dealing with a coordinator for another Dr Gonzalez. The doctor discussed here is Dr Francisco Gonzalez and he is in Tijuana, Mexico. As always, please do your research and do not take someone's recommendation at face value. The majority of people seeking surgery in Mexico have good things to say about their doctors but remember... there can always be problems and someone has to make up those negative statistics. Please don't let it be you. Judy

WASABUBBLEBUTT: I don't know much about the old thread because it was over just after I started here. I was drawn to the Dr G thread because it was something I had in common with strangers. At the time, I didn't know about patient coordinators, or trolls, but I learned fast thanks to people who knew a lot more about the internet than I did. It's good catching up with you again. Take care, Judy

Sunshine! I love your new picture and your friend is very handsome! Sorry I've been MIA because I really have met some wonderful people here. It's not that I don't need the support, because I do, but I get lazy like everyone else and veg when I should be doing something. WASABUBBLEBUTT: I don't know about the other posters SUNSHINE mentioned on her list, but I'm only one person without any dual ID's. Sometimes though, I wish I was 2 people! Cindy (CaliforniaNurse) and I are sisters. Judy

Well, I'll throw my 2 cents in here because I've experienced the same thing. I lost a lot around the abdomen very quickly and the more inches I lost, the more I felt like the port was pulling. The doctor said it was because I was moving a lot more.... Bending, twisting and turning because I could! Then I decided to move the furniture! Oh, I know your pain... If you think about it, your port is placed and secured over the muscles in your abdomen. When you strain these muscles, it can pull the stitches. I had nights when it was difficult to turn over and I sometimes sat straight up because I could feel the sharp pull. But it eventually went away. It's been a few months now and no more sharp pains. But it still feels sore if I poke around there too much. I'm hoping your pain gets better as the days pass. Do keep in touch with your doctor especially if the pain changes. Blessings, Judy Give it a week and see if it doesn't start to improve.

I drove myself home the day after surgery which was 2 hours. Honestly, I felt like a truck hit me and was sleepy even though I wasn't on pain medication. Give it some time. Having Mom around may seem like an inconvenience but you'd miss having someone to run interference if the phone or doorbell rings. I bought a reclining chair and planned to spend the first week vegging but was pretty much up and around by day 3. I didn't have any real pain other than the port site and incision holes and Ibuprofen worked pretty well. If I was going to compare it to something, I'd say childbirth and recovery was 10x's worse. Good luck and enjoy your band! Judy

Of course you're hungry! Giving up our massive amounts of food is hard. I have people ask if the lap-band doesn't take the joy out of eating. The JOY??? Isn't this how I got here to begin with? ~LOL~ I also am tight in the morning and find by night time I can usually eat more. I was getting really hungry until my doctor asked if I was getting enough Protein. Gawd!!! I hate that stuff and thought I would be ok. But looking at my diet I could see how much it lacked. I found those 42gram bullet fruit things that I mix with a small amount of juice. One in the afternoon really helps curb my hunger at night. I know a lot of people eat soft foods like mashed potatoes but I try to stay away from those type of carbs. I bought a stick type blender and when I can't eat (it varies day to day), I blend Soup, cooked vegetables, Beans, and even the occasional casserole. Sounds awful but it taste good when you're hungry. Last thing... You really can't eat and sip Fluid at the same time unless you want to burp it back up. When I was doing that I starved because I wasn't keeping anything down. It took me months to learn to do it right because I was use to washing everything down. Another thing I do that really helps is to eat with a baby spoon and really savor whatever I'm eating. Since it takes me an hour to eat less than 1/2C of food for my dinner, I bought one of those heating things people use at their desk to keep their coffee warm. I guess when you have a band, eating cold food is part of the drill. Most of the time I don't mind but occassionally I want to keep things hot. Tonight I had one broiled shrimp, 2 slices of zucunni, and a tablespoon of rice cooked with grated carrots and peas. Once I knew it went down I finished up with a glass of ice Water. Eating is one of the hardest thing to learn again but you'll make it as long as you plan meals, take plenty of time to eat, and when you do indulge, make it a healthy snack. Oh, and yes... I do occassionally "cheat" with low fat/sugar ice cream but I use a condiment cup when everyone else has a mug. Honestly though, I perfer sugar free popsicles. You've made a great start, don't get discouraged. Hugs, Judy

Thanks TxFella. Sometimes I think I'm too careful but I also don't want to be a victim of opportunity. Have a great trip msmelc! I didn't realize you'd already had surgery when I read your post. You've done so good!!!!!

Most of what you're hearing on the news is because the drug lords are at war with the Police. The "gun battles" happened during the early morning hours, not during the day. Saying that, everyone should take a lot of personal responsibility when traveling in Mexico. I have a routine which is in by 9-10am, grab a yellow cab (never the white Libre cabs), get my fill, and out by noon. Otherwise, it's a longer wait to cross the border and traffic home is terrible. I also live in Rancho so can tell you it's 2 hours down and sometimes 3 coming home. If you stay too late and can't get north of San Diego by 3pm, you hit freeway traffic there and in Temecula. I try to make Corona by 3pm to avoid traffic coming out of Riverside. I'm not sure if you are having surgery this weekend but you shouldn't have any problems. I don't know anyone who has when going for medical care. It's big business there and I think you might be surprised how many American's head south of the border for everything from lap-bands to dental care. Have a safe trip, Judy

Wow! You are an active group! I wait a day and you're already 3 pages ahead of me! ~LOL~ It's good to see so many sharing their daily experience. Girls rule! Hey Gwyenn: It's hard to be nice when you're hungry! I hear every word you're saying about the emotional swings, ups & downs with the family, and general crankiness. Been there, done that! But I found I was also really low on potassum, probably from the rapid weight loss. Just when I thought I should be feeling energenic, I was dragging my butt! It takes time to work the kinks out of your diet so hang in there! I'm usually on mushies for a few weeks after a good fill. Kareyquilts: I'm also an avid quilter who lost her sewing room under mounds of clutter. What is it about our personal space that takes a beating when we get busy on other things? Oh well, I think summer is the perfect time to enjoy life's blessings and I know my sewing space will still be there in the Fall. Beckyo: Congratulations and good luck on your surgery. I always thought the 5 day fast was to de-fat the liver as much as possible. I know the heavier a person is, the fattier the liver can be. Also, it might help with your elimination since some people have a problem after surgery. You go girl!!!! IndioGirl55: Thanks for the encouragement. I know there's always those who will gripe and complain when things don't go as planned. The decision and after effects of surgery is a complicated process and not everyone follows the same path. Fortunately, most are in the majority and have positive results. Hope everyone has a great week! Judy

It's been quite a few months since I posted anywhere on this site but like most, I reach a stage where I need to connect. I've been so depressed over a certain poster who led a smear campaign against my Mexican doctor that I stayed away lest I said something I would probably regret. It's been 7 months since my surgery and I've lost almost 50 pounds. Sometimes I think I could do more to help things along but there's been a few snags I've had to deal with before I could continue. I took a 2 month break and went without a fill when my gall bladder flared and I needed to find out if it was a fluke, or I had a more serious problem. Since I have an HMO, it took them that long to pass me through a few doctors until I finally got an MRI. No stones, no visible disease... just a fatty liver {{sigh}} I am finally back on track and very happy with my band. My Mexican doctor continues to be supportive and I look forward to my mini vacations south of the border. My sister was also banded by the same doctor but when her employer changed insurance, her fills were covered and she doesn't travel with me any longer. I have another friend who said they would love to go so I've found another travel buddy. Yeah! OK, enough rambling. I guess I'm a little shy about jumping in to another group after my last one collasped so I hope you don't mind another voice joining your discussions. I don't claim to know a lot but I've got 7 months under my band and may be able to help someone else out. Judy

I've been feeling a little discouraged because I had hit a wall on my weight loss. Actually, I gained a few pounds last month but still managed to lose inches. I'd like to say it was all the exercise I'm doing but the truth is.... I'm a slug most of the time. I work nights and sleep all day. On my days off, I'm usually too tired to do much, so I sit around some more. I have been dealing with a gall bladder problem and there's still no resolve from the doctors. I had an ultra sound which showed a shadow of some type. I had a CT scan a few days ago but it will be next week before I hear the results. In the meantime, I am telling myself that the shadow was my band and I'll be fine a long as I quit eating peanuts. I've been thinking a lot about this thing inside me and what it's suppose to do. I sometimes feel like I'm not making progress but when I read other people's stories, I realize they took a year to lose 60 pounds and 2 years to lose 100. Reading this, I don't feel so bad at my 40 in 4 months but I still want faster results. Doesn't everyone??? I'm trying to keep my eyes on the goal and not worry about getting there too fast. It will happen. Hope everyone has a great weekend! Judy

Hi Aurora, I think you may be thinking about bypass surgery vs lapband. With bypass, sugar can make the person sick and they're told to stay away from it. It has something to do with the small intestine since about half of it is removed from the digestive process. It's not actually taken out, just cut and left in place with the lower portion reattached to the new (tiny) stomach. Everyone has different things they can eat and if you're concerned about the effects of sugar after YOUR lapband surgery, your doctor might be the best person to answer that question. Or, perhaps he could put you in touch with a dietician. I know once you get over the sugar cravings, the food choices become more satisfying and you probably won't miss it that much. Sugary type food and drinks are not part of the lap-band diet but as to your original question: No, sugar shouldn't make you sick. What it will do is raise your blood sugar and make you hungry. It sounds like you have a doctor who supports WLS even with your medical problems. Hopefully weight loss will make a positive difference in your overall health. Judy

You're a smart chick, Newblew! I know if there's cookies in my house, I WILL EAT THEM! I try and save my cheating to one day a week when I visit my folks. There's always something sweet or gooey around. I usually go ahead and munch a bit knowing I can go home and detox, if you can call it that. ~LOL~ Now, don't beat yourself up too much because I'm standing right beside you this week. I have put 1-2 pounds back on but I'm also dealing with a gall bladder problem which is causing a lot of stress. I know as soon as I feel 100% again, I will lose those extra pounds. I sometimes yo-yo with the same 2-3 pounds for a few weeks, or until I get another fill. It will happen for you too! I don't think anyone here is going to scold you for eating the wrong foods. In fact, I think it defeats the purpose of support threads when you make someone feel bad, or ashamed of their behavior. Just think of us as a kinder, gentler group who wants to see you succeed. Good luck with your fill. Going on liquids is a good idea, I may try it next time. Hugs, Judy

Newblew!!!! I was wondering what happened to you. Glad to know you're ok but sorry to hear you're struggling with food. There's a really great thread called something like "How the lapband works". It's not hard to find if you go to the main forum menu. From what has been posted (and I haven't had time to research the material), is the band is placed around part of the fat that surrounds the stomach. As you lose weight, you lose some of this fat and it causes the band to loosen. I lost my upper belly fat rather quickly which explains why I could get an adjustment and a month later, need another. Try and find the thread... I think it will answer a lot of your questions. And then there's mushies! Could you be overdoing with them. It hasn't been that long since your surgery and you may be relying on these higher calorie foods because they go down so easy. Mashed potatoes? Gravy? Full fat pudding? Milkshakes? Or perhaps you're still drinking liquid with your meals? It really will wash down what's in the pouch and give you room for more food. Try not to feel discouraged. One of the problems with having surgery in Mexico is you don't have the opportunity to take classes and get counseling before surgery so you're left hanging when it's over. Keep reading, keep posting, and if you follow the rules you should start losing weight. Not everyone does 10 pounds a month but whatever the number, it's better that the gradual gain most of us were seeing. Let us know how you're doing in a few weeks. Don't forget to take some extra fiber (not laxatives!) to keep the plumbing working. I'm crossing fingers and toes for you. Judy

I don't understand why there's so much hostility here. Please keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion and it should be treated with respect. Trying to drive your opinion down the throats of people who are happily losing weight on other bands is rude and unwanted. The stats have been posted... thank you very much. I'm sure there are psople who will consider what's been said and think about their choices. But, I believe the question that was asked in the original post was: What kind of bands are used in Mexico? Posting stats does not answer this question and are off topic. There are other threads to debate and argue the merits of all bands.

WASaBubbleButt: Would you mind posting the link to your thread about researching doctors? It was invaluable to me before surgery and I feel anyone who is searching could gain some real information there. Why reinvent the wheel when the instructions are already posted? Thanks for putting so much of your time, and hundreds of computer hours, into something everyone can use if they would just take the time. Judy

[quote name=NM Sunshine; TOOOOOO miserable. I cooked up for me and my honey; asparagus in butter' date=' fresh mushrooms in butter and wine, home-made bread, BIG beautiful potatoe with sour cream and finally a large rib steak for each of us. Damn it looked good. I chomped down and found out that I could only eat a bit of it, then got sick with the PB's.................booohooo... [b']but I asked for it by getting the surgery.[/b] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Sunshine, you did not ask for this when you had surgery. You simply tried to eat too much, too fast, and without chewing properly. I eat steak and potato, salad and veggies, all the time. If I am really hungry and don't THINK before I eat, I take too big of bites and don't chew it to a pulp. Then, it comes back up because it can't go down, can it? Next time, start with a little potato, or something soft on your plate, and see if that doesn't take the edge off your hunger. Then you can go back and eat SMALL pieces of meat remembering to chew well. Also, asparagus is a very fiberous, stringy vegetable and I've read a lot of people with lapbands have problems with it. Try brocolli next time. So, after all that barfing, how was the whirlpool? ~LOL~ Hugs, Judy