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Thanks very much, Happy Bandiversary to you, too. I'm soooo nervous to go to the Dr.! If he yells, I hope he does it in Spanish LOL! I am just praying that whatever is wrong, it CAN be fixed easily, and that I get a new lease on the life of my lapband. I couldn't even sleep last night, thinking, I haven't even packed, haven't finished things here that need to be done, etc. Went to the dentist yesterday with a toothache and now I need a root canal! I feel like a 48 year old house and all the appliances are falling apart at the same time LOL. All I see are dollar signs! BUT, when I get back, I'm revamping my life! Diet, Finances, activity level, everything. I'm going to Dave Ramsey's seminar in Portland to get a jump start on finances in October! I want to be fat-free, debt-free, and pain-free LOL. Karen

Diane, I agree, we should keep updated more often. I know for me, I don't actually have a counselor of any type, so have been basically on my own. No accountability at all. I wish we could trade each other's weaknesses! If you could give me your jelly beans, they'd not be eaten, and you could keep my chocolate! I have a friend who has a weakness to peanut butter- I never think about peanut butter LOL. Karen

Thanks so much for the prayers! They are very appreciated! Karen

Pam, You're doing well. I WAS doing well, but the whole last year, I'm a failure. I had slowed on the loss last fall, finally went to the Doctor for the flouro in I believe it was January this year. I believe they put a whole in it, because it had the fill from earlier (8 months) still in it, but after that, it wouldn't hold a fill. I know the lady bent a needle, and I just didn't have a good feeling abou the whole thing. They told me in Olympia they could fix it for $4,000!! Then, after 3 months, I went back in to make sure it wasn't a fluke that theyre was no fluid like they thought. Sure enough, no fluid at all! The price went up to $5,000 and I didn't even ask why I was so irritated. I think it's my penalty b/c I'm a Mexican surgery patient. I'm going back this Saturday to Puerto Vallarta to Finally get it fixed. I'm nervous, depressed, and a basket case. But, I'm going anyway. Karen

For the last 8 months, I've been depressed about it, not wanting to use more of our finances for ME and my weight problem. I know I shouldn't have a problem, and I do feel guilty. I at least should have learned to do better when my band was working. I had never planned to have it taken out as long as it wasn't affecting me adversely. I don't know if I've talked myself into this, but I'm thinking, I'd spend money on getting my teeth fixed (although I'm putting off some dental work b/c I want this more LOL), so why can't I do this w/o feeling guilty? And actually, I think it would help my whole family in more ways than a grocery bill. Now that I've pretty much gotten past the guilt part, I'm searching for the least expensive way to do it, but still with a good doctor. It's not like I want to go to a quack, but I believe there are doctors that are there to heal people, not just get rich; maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, I'm going to keep persuing this. Thanks for the encouragement! Karen

Thanks so much for the offer to ride with you! unfortunately, I'm in Oregon. To be honest, I wasn't exactly sure where Mexicali is, hadn't looked it up yet. I did send his office a note and tomorrow will probably call and talk to them. It's going to take me probably at least a couple weeks, my husband's going hunting for 9 days, etc, but it will be nice to have a concrete idea finally as to what I can do. I know I should probably go ahead and go to Dr. Joya, but that would take even longer, waiting for the visa, etc. As it is, I'm hoping we can swing it, but the way I'm looking at it, is I feel like I have to do this for me, my health, and life! Again, thanks for the offer. Karen

The only thing is, that I'm not losing, I've gained 25 pounds back, and my feet and knees are again hurting from it. And I can't keep going for fills, because they're $375. each! I've emailed a couple doctors, including the one in Mexicali, to see what they have to say. I'm not sure if the doctors in Mexico would work with each other, but it would be nice to be able to just go across the border. I guess I'll see what they say and go from there. Right now I feel like I bought a brand new car, but I can't drive it because it has a flat tire LOL. Karen

With all my fills, I've had flouro, including the one that ended it. I had called and asked about that thick stuff, even had a name for it, they never use it they told me. So, as far as the Washington fill place, I guess that's out, as I don't have $5,000 to give them to fix it. Karen

I was banded in 2005, had lost 62 pounds at one point. A year ago June, I had my last successful fill. (I went to Dr. Joya in PV, Washington State for my fills) 8 months ago, I had decided I needed to go for another fill, hadn't been losing. At the time of the fill, the nurse took out 5.9 ccs, which was pretty good, my fill 6 months before had been 6.2ccs. She did bend the needle and had to start over, and at one point, for about 2 seconds, I thought I was instantly going to vomit. I never did figure out what that was about. That fill, she put in 8.2, which seems like a lot, but the funny thing was, I never felt like I had had a fill at all. A week later, I called and told them there must be a problem, I experience not fill. Well, they tell me I have a leak, they're 99% sure its at the port area, not the band. They will fix it for $4,000. Yikes, I'm still paying for my initial surgery and the fills I've already had. I have still gotten "stuck" on some things, and I called and told them, about 3 months later, that I'm wondering if they just might check again, I do occasionally get stuck. They checked, and no, I have leak somewhere, now they can fix it for $5,000. I didn't even bother asking why it went up $1,000, I don't even have the $4,000. I am just bummed, I've gained half my weight back, my feet and knees are killing me again. To go back to PV, which I loved, and I also felt that Dr. Joya did a really good job, but it would cost me airfare from Oregon to PV, plus the $$ to get the passport I don't have. I just called a DR. in Colorado who is pretty reasonable, but he won't do repairs on other Drs. surgeries. Is there a recommended Dr. in the US or along the border that is reputable, not cost-prohibitive, and that will take other Mexico surgery patients? This is getting depressing, and I'm going nowhere but backward. Thanks, Karen

I've had my third fill, and am really restricted now for sure LOL! I have had some "stuck" feelings, but haven't really pb'd, except to force myself once cause I just couldn't stand it. Otherwise, I'm finally down 44 pounds and am feeling better all the time!! Keep up the good work everyone!

I haven't been on here for quite awhile. Been discouraged a little with myself. I've been still losing slowly, I'm down 33 pounds, but it actually mostly came off awhile ago. I have been getting in too many concentrated calories, which don't help! Not enough water. But...I am finally seeing a little difference in my face and my rib cage and stomach. It feels kinda weird to finally notice a loss. I was thinking I need to have my 3rd fill, but now this week I seem to have more restriction?? Yep, probably my cycle. I currently have 4.5 cc. I was encouraged to see all of your progress!! It's inspiring me! Keep up the good work!!! I need to find time to change my ticker now!!! Karen