c7777christine

He is the top two Dr's in mexico! The hospital is amazing! Rodriguez teaches American Dr how to do this banding. He did mine on 2-5-08. I've lost 70 pounds with the Realize band. He is now doing Allergan only which is better. You get to restriction much quicker and cheaper. Try and get the 4cc band if your stomach is small enough. My cousin and her friend just went to him last month and they even got fills right after surgery. Little fills they aren;t even hungry! i was starved for the first 3 months! He really is the best. I think he's done more than 5,000 lapband surgeries. And now there is a special for 6500.00. And you stay in a hospital like a four star hotel for 2 nights. Here they send you home the same day. They pick you up at the airport or at the border. Go through Jessica at Jessica@mylapbandsurgeon.com She is the best and after a year out she calls me and helps me with me problems. Go to Rodriguez forsure he is awesome! 7777christine@gmail.com

I have the realize band! What a piece of shit! I have 9cc band and have had 11 fills. Self pay up to 15,000. And I had it done in mexico. My Dr Rodriguez now won't even do realize. It takes to long to get to restriction. Got to sweet spot once then 3 days later swelled shut totally. Now my new fill /dr through fill centers of america can't seem to get the water out. I'm supposed to have 6.2ccs in my 9cc band. Now I have to go to a radiologist for another 350.00 to see if something is wrong. If so I'm going back to dr Rodriguez in Juarez to get the 4cc allergan band. I've lost 70 pounds with a little restriction. I work out like crazy and can't wait to get to my sweet spot. I want this band to work ! I had surgery on 2-8-08. I'm at 173 but thought I'd be at 145 by now. hang in there big banders the 9-14 bands can take a long time to get to restriction. I think my dr tried to put air in with the saline and thats why she couldn't get air in or out. Hope I don't have to go through this all over! At least my Dr will do it for the cost of the band and anethesia. still another 4,000. Arrgh Chrissie

I'm a year and two months out with 6.2cc in my realize band. I'm having tons of issues too! I've never gotten to the sweet spot. They almost got me there then I swelled totally shut and couldn't even get water down! now i have to spend 350 to see a radiologist to see why they can't get the water out. lame I have lost but I excercise a ton a starve. My new dr gave me a diet pill until I can get to restriction phentetermine. it's helped a lot to take the edge off. I know she can go to 10cc's. that sucks for her! I really feel for her. if I have an issue I'm thinking of going back to my Dr in mexico and getting the 4cc allergan band. it's what i should have had in the first place. My Dr Rodriguez in juarez mexico isn't even doing Realize bands anymore due to the fact that people are having such a hard time getting restriction. It's still a good band, just not for me. I feel your daughters pain. Hope things go better. Chrissie Oh I've lost 70 pounds and would like to lose 30 more.

I Know how you feel!! I had surgery 2-5-08 and am down 40 pounds. I didn't have restriction at all until June after 7 fills. I thought my band was broken. What your going through is bandster hell! It sucks! Having a band and no restriction. You think your going to lose weight the day after your surgery. Wrong! My weight loss has been slow and steady. Now it's better because I'm not starving all the time. I have a 2 year old and no gym within 40 miles. I try to do push ups aerobics anything to move a little around the house more than normal. It is very hard to do anything with a one year old! Especially if your still breastfeeding. Don't be to hard on yourself. I met a new friend in the hospital. She and I email every week. She has been such a support. But it's been hard not to compare. She had restriction right away and was down 100 pounds in six months!! Very unusual for the band. She did out weigh me by 120 pounds but still. So try not to compare. She also has massive lose skin to deal with down the road. What matters is the weight is off for good even if it takes 2 years. Make sure your getting all your protein. Hang in there! Chrissie

I get migraines when I eat aspartame, splenda, nutra sweet etc. Any fake sugar product really messes with me. Sometimes I even get diarrea. After surgery I just forced myself to drink the protein. But yes I feel the effects of the fake sugar. Good luck! chrissie

I'm from Alaska and she sure has changed things in our state very quickly! She has stopped the good old boys club. And many of our politicians have gone to jail! She is very strong and not afraid to take anyone on. We will miss her up here. Chrissie

I had the same issue. I bought power plus protein bars with 30 grams of protein. Take little bites. I got them down no problem. Plus they are good for you. After I lost another 11 pounds my food doesn't stick as much. Plus i'm getting more used to the band. It's taken me the whole 6 months to learn how to eat different. good luck,chrissie

That Blows!!! What a dick! You hang in there. I hope you have some good girlfriends you can count on. The first 6-8 weeks can be tricky it's good to have a support system. If it makes you feel any better i was engaged twice and didn't meet my husband until I was 35. He is the best most wonderful man i've ever met. You will find mr. right. Thank god you didn't marry that asshole. Hang in there. The first few days your in shock you'll be ok. And stronger down the road. Chrissie

I went to mexico with Dr. Rodriguez in Juarez. The whole experience was awesome. I paid 7700 for everything. They do take credit cards. This Dr has done over 5500 bands and is really experienced. He has low problem statistics. You don't want to gain back all your hard work! It's not your fault! Hang in there.

Your so lucky! I'm 6 months out and only down 35. I didn't get restriction until about a month ago. So congratulations! keep up the good work! You could be down 100 by the end of the next 6 months. Thats exciting! Good job!

I have the same band as you. You won't really lose weight until you get to good restriction level. It took me 7 fills. All people are different. I just wish someone would have told me I would be hungry for so long. I've lost 35 pounds in 6 months. Only really had restriction for about 2 months. This is a big step. You could be having a little depression. The protein drinks are hard. I finally went with pro-complex from GNC. It tastes ok and has 60 grams of protein. Give yourself a break. This is a big life change. Explain to people your in the healing stage and have no restriction in your band yet. Normal weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. Slow but steady. You can do this remember it's long term weight loss not a race. It took me a long time to really believe this. Of course we want the weight off now! Try a different powder you don't want to have hair loss. Best of luck. Chrissie

I had Dr Rodriguez too!! What a great experience! Don't listen to people who put mexico down. It was the best hospital experience of my whole life. Even the language barrier was fine. Just talk slower and use simple words for what you want. I will go back if I need plastic surgery. Good luck

I do liquid the day of. Then 3 days of full liquids. If food sticks a lot after that I go back to mushies and liquids. Good luck! I think some people have more sensitive stomachs etc.

I had Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Juruez mexico. The hospital was like a spa! He was truly one of the best! The staff was wonderful! Just google hospital angeles in juarez. Good luck!

Thats awesome! Hope that will happen to me! I'll give it a try. Keep us posted. Chrissie

I feel your pain!!! I was banded 2-5-08 and have lost only 32 pounds! I've had 6 fills and the last one was finally noticeable. But now after a month I'm getting hungry again. Plus I only lost 4 pounds in july. Food does get stuck and there's stuff I can't eat but come on! I have the 9cc Realize band with 6cc's in. My friend as the allergan band. She's almost down 100 pounds! We met in the hospital. It's hard not to feel bad and compare. I just feel like I'm doing this on my own. I think you do too. I guess we keep going back for more fills. Lame! Hang in there! Chrissie

I had surgery 02-5-08. I've had 7 fills and am just now getting restriction! It really sucked. I've only lost 31 pounds. Mostly on my own. I was starving all the time. Just hang in there you'll get there. They should really tell you it might take 6 months to get to the begining. But then my friend that I met at the hospital is down 90 pounds since the same date. Go figure. She did out weigh me by about 100 pounds but still she has had huge success. Everyone is different with these bands. Remember at least when you get to your sweet spot you won't gain back the weight. Good luck! Chrissie

I have my fills done by my Dr in Anchorage Alaska. There are fill Dr's all over the US. Some won't do fills if you didn't have surgery with them. But you can always find a Dr somewhere that will. Fills are so easy I could do one myself if I had the equipment.

I paid 7710 thousand total for everything. I got the Realize band. In the US the cheapest I found was 13,000 in Colorado. Plus in the US you have to go home the same day. In mexico I got to stay in the hospital for 2 nights. US lap band can be anywhere from 13,000 to 45,000.

It's taken me 6 months to lose 30 pounds so don't stress. Everyone is different. You have to heal. Anything before a fill is a bonus. Your doing great, it takes a while to get used to this thing.

Go through belite weight. Call Jessica. Have the surgery done in Juarez Mexico with Dr. Rodrigues. He is the best and it only costs about 8000 thousand dollars. I know it is still a lot but way less than in the states. Plus he has done more lap band surgeries than almost all US drs. Think about it, plus you don't have to jump through hoops. Your husband loves you for you. He will understand and support you on your journey. It's really important to have your husbands support during this time. Good luck and hang in there.

I had Jessica too!! I had the same experience! Everything went great! Good luck on your journey. Jessica still takes my calls 6 months later. She really is a great person. I was so happy with my whole experience. Anyone thinking of this surgery should call her and have Dr. Rodriques do the surgery. Plus the hospital was the best I've ever been to. Best wishes, Chrissie

I hear you! I thought I'd get the band, pay a lot of money, get a few fills and be on my way. No! I had surgery 2-5-08, with a 9cc Realize band. I've had 6 fills. I'm at 6.0 now but still feel hungry a lot! I'm down 24 pounds but I feel like it's from dieting not help from the band. So maddning! I feel your pain. I guess we keep getting fills at 225 a pop. Plus I have to drive 4 hours to get to the Dr. Hang in there! I guess some day we'll get there. Like you I thought I'd be down 50 pounds by now. My friend is down 80 pounds with the 4cc Allergan band. They wouldn't give it to me because my bmi was lower at 32. Hope you get restriction soon. Keep up the good work. Chrissie

I'm with you! I had my surgery 2-5-08 and am down 18 pounds. I've had 4 fills and am going in again on 6-2. I have 4.5 in my 9cc band. I eat less but get hungry about 1-2 hours after eating. The weight I've lost is all willpower. I guess we don't have real restriction yet. Sucks so bad! I thought I'd be down 40 pounds by now. Hopefully when we get to our sweet spot we will not be hungry all the time. Good luck! Chrissie

I swear I'm starving too and miserable! I have the same band as you. 2-5-08 was my date. I'm down 18 pounds from all will power. I go for my 5th fill on the 2nd. So far I had restriction for 5 days and it was great. Then gone! I have 5cc's in my band right now. Most people feel restriction with 6cc's. Not to be negative I'm just so tired of waiting for my next fill. I want to not be hungry all the time. Hang in there and hopefully your Dr will put more than 1cc in at a time. Our bands are supposed to be great for the long term. But right now I am frustrated! I want to lose weight faster! Good luck! Chrissie