phazer08

The tickling is from the tube they stick down your gullet. Mine lasted about 18 hours. I couldn't do anything colder than room temperature. If you get the hiccups or your esophogus feels like it's spasming, warm up whatever you drink. Congratulations!!

I just got back from being banded in Mexico (Monterrey) by Dr. Sanchez. I would do it again. Clean, modern hospital. Then you stay in his special 'hacienda' for 1 or 2 more nights, meet other patients there who have just had it done. Met with a nutritionist. "Food" provided. Free internet and free calls back to the US! I found a fill doc here before I went, talked to my primary care doc, read this and other boards like a fiend and just researched not only the procedure but also the doctor. One thing to consider: he has been doing this FAR longer than any American doctor and could probably do it with his eyes closed (but hopefully doesn't). IF I had had an extra $8,000 OR insurance that paid OR if I had medical problems that might complicate things I might have done it different. Granted, I'm just 5 days out so have not had to 'test' the follow up care I will receive here nor have I had to contact them. I will say that if I had gone home the day of surgery or even one day after, I would have had to call because I had some minor issues. Since I was still there in the hacienda, the doctor/nutritionist that lives there was able to answer them on the spot. I think like anything else, one person's experience will vary greatly from anothers. I feel like I bought a Lexus at Chevy prices. Good luck.

Maybe he thinks we're dangerous psychos...bwaa-haa-haa. :devious He should see us OFF our meds!

I had most of what everyone else mentioned with this thrown in: esophogeal spasms and hiccups. The first few day to day and a half I had the hardest time getting anything down because I'd get what the doc called esophogeal spasms. And then that changed to hiccups. Painful ones. Then someone suggested not eating anything colder than room temperature and that did the trick. I even heated up my peach juice. Now, on day 4, that has all gone away and I just have lingering incision soreness and occasional gas.

I'm on Effexor XR (time release). I just got banded in Mex and one of the other patients was a pharmacist. He said once I get restricted and can't take 'em whole anymore to open it up and sprinkle it on some applesauce or the like. It should do fine. I hope so cuz it's still working for me.

I'm also having my surgery tomorrow. I'm at work right now - and as you can see by the fact that I'm posting here - not getting ANY work done. I'm thinking I've lost my mind, but that is a somewhat normal for me. Here's a virtual {{{hug}}} and a good luck to us both.

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I know in the past when I did Atkins, my hypoglycemia went away so I'm hoping it does now as well.

Was anyone hypoglycemic before Lap Band? And if so, how did being banded affect it? When my blood sugar plummets I need to eat right then. And usually end up eating more than necessary. I've had success controlling it on Atkins in the past, so maybe eating the band way will be just as successful. Thanks

Well, I'm going to answer my own question about Dr. Stephanie in College Station. Here is a posting from the yahoo! group for Dr. Sanchez, where I first heard of her: I just had to come in and post because I had the best experience going to Dr. Stephanie yesterday. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever met and I would highly recommend going to her for your next fill. The process was more in depth as the complete fill was done under flouro. I appreciated this so much more as I could see what was actually going on. I have had an extremely slow weight loss with my band. I am now at 3.4 cc. and have only lost 15 lbs since July 13, 2005. For some reason my band was not as tight as others would be at the same cc level. Dr. Stephanie made sure there was a change in my restriction using the flouro before she sent me on my way. It took a couple of tries but her bed side manner isincomparable and she wanted to make sure the job was done right. I feel so much better about my fill this time around. I was going to Dr. Maese's office but will be following up with Dr. Stephanie now instead. She took the time to make sure things were done correctly and that all of my questions were answered as opposed to making me feel like "just another fill". Thanks to Dr. Stephanie I feel as if I am finally on my way. She sounds like a winner.

Basically, I just have her e-mail, listed above. That seems to be her preferred method of communicating. She charges $200 - not the cheapest around I'm sure, but worth it for me not having to screw around with my work schedule. Since I'm 2 months away from banding, I would love to hear from you if you go to her and get your opinion.

Read my reply at the end of this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7051&page=2. This doc is in College Station which isn't too far for you.

I've been reading the yahoo group for Dr. Sanchez in Mexico (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ready4achange/). There's a doctor in College Station who is banded and has gone to Dr. Sanchez to train to do fills. She's not doing them during her regular hours, but will meet you at her clinic on Sundays (which is great for me!) I'm not banded yet, but since reading about her, will probably have my fills there. Here is her answer to my inquiry: ----- Hi Fay! Yes, I do the banding on weekends (only ). Usually on Sundays. So come on over when you're ready---just send me an email directly seijsink@swmail.sw.org and we'll get you an appt. You're going to love the band!!! Hugs, Dr. Stephanie ----- The usual disclaimers apply: I can't speak personally for her, I don't work for her and unfortunately don't receive kick-backs from her. Hope this helps.

For you guys that have had your band awhile...do you ever NOT think about it? Have you gotten to a point that eating the band way is natural and habitual? I guess just reading this board as often as I do and seeing all the comments makes me think everyone's thinking about their band all the time. Don't get me wrong, I know they're not, but eventually I'd like to be a person who doesn't eat very much and can feel full and stay thin and then remember, oh yeah...I forgot about that band in there. Does that make sense? Thanks

Is your heel especially bad when you first get up in the morning? If so, then you probably have Plantar Fasciatis. Very painful but no need for surgery. I got over it by having orthotics made. It's worth a trip to the foot doc.

OK...my turn. I was a skinny, athletic kid in high school. No MO's in my family just parents with weight issues they addressed off and on while I was growing up. Then I married at 21. He couldn't stand to see me clean my plate. He couldn't stand to see me gain 5 or 10 pounds. Told me I needed to join Weight Watchers, get more exercise. Be the stay-at-home mom and if I need any money, lets talk about my weight problem. Dirty looks while I was eating. Long talks on the way home about how I was not 'feminine' (grrr...that one really still busts my chops). That if I was I would look and act and eat a certain way. He used money as control, affection as control. So, what was the one area I didn't want anyone to tell me about? Duh, food. And believe it or not I put up with that sh!t for 20 years! So the past 6 years post-divorce have been me expressing my freedom by letting no one tell me what to eat. I've dieted on my own of course. But when the diets failed (I failed?) as they always did, I'd go down in the dumps and vow to love myself as I am. Well, whether it's the voice that won't go away or some other inner voice - I don't love myself as I am. I feel like everyone is looking at me and judging me by my weight. And I know I'm much better than what I 'think' they're seeing. So bring on the band. As my shrink said, it'll force me to listen to it. Thanks for the thread!!

Hi all...I've decided I'm gonna do it! I've been reading this board for months now, have researched, found the money (like it was under a rock or something!) and now just need to start the process. Geez, just writing about it makes me nervous. Here are the facts: My employer has an exclusion for WLS, so no insurance I've decided on Dr. Sanchez in Monterrey because his nephew in Dallas is only 90 miles away for fills I am divorced and one daughter is in college and another in another city. So it's just me and my lap band. They're supportive though which is good. I don't personally know anyone who has done this, though I feel like I know you guys from reading all the posts. I have a ton of questions. So get ready for lots of questions. Hopefully I can re-pay somewhere down the line when someone is in the shoes I'm in now.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. Why so long? The $ is coming from my dad and that's when he can do it