shanna

"Ditto" to what Angie said. I had a great experience with Dr. Kuri. He did a great job and I have had no complications. It took me a couple of weeks before I felt "much better" but other than that it has been great. It definitely makes eating too much impossible (after a fill). For me, before I had a fill I could eat exactly as before the band - absolutely no restriction at all. But after my first fill, definitely a difference. So don't worry if you don't feel restriction at first, it will come...

I paid $8700

Paula, YES! I read The Crippled Lamb to my own kids every year and I also read it to my Kindergarten Class each year - Love it! Merry after Christmas to all and a safe New Year!

:devious Grrrrr! Christmas (food wise) was horrible! I had been thinking up until yeaterday that I could use a small fill after the holidays. I was doing OK with food and then WHAM! Christmas morning started with a bang - I sat down to eat with my family and within 2 bites the chest pain started so I stopped eating but the pain continued... The rest of the day continued in the same way. I could not eat anything without GREAT pain. Even liquids were difficult. I'm not sure what's going on but I'm sticking to liquids today but even that has been hard. I couldn't get down a protein shake about an hour ago. Time will tell... Until then I am happy to say I was down 2 pounds this morning!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Kuri. I had a great experience with the doctor and his staff. I am very lucky to live right here in San Diego so I am able to get to his office in a matter of 1/2 hour. It would have been a more difficult decision if I had lived farther away.

6 weeks for me, too. I think that's pretty average - your body needs time to heal.

I am VERY much like that. Some days are much tighter than others for me, too. I have noticed that if I don't eat a very light dinner, I am way too tight the next morning. I do better with eating a little Breakfast, larger lunch, light dinner - so I don't swell, causing me to be too tight in the morning. If I eat a big dinner I can pretty much forget eating much the next day, getting into that kind of cycle - Day 1/fine Day 2/hard time Day 3/fine.... Good luck in finding what works for you!

My doctor, Dr. Kuri, told me to eat my biggest meal for lunch and have a light dinner. What happens is after eating a larger meal at night you swell a bit, causing you to be more restricted in the morning and early afternoon. I know, I know you can't eat that much at lunch time. Well, if you do full liquids tomorrow, you should be able to eat a larger lunch the next day. Try it for a couple of days before giving up on it - it sure has helped me to not be so hungry at night. **Also, drink a full glass of Water about an hour before you lay down at night so your pouch is completely empty. I've read that our pouches aren't supposed to hold food over night - it can cause swelling. I hope it works for ya'll. I had relearn & reapply last week. I was having the same problems. Good Luck to all!

I know when I was feeling too tight in the morning throughout the afternoon I went back to the advise of my dr before I had surgery. Big lunch - light dinner. It has sure made a difference. I had found myself not being able to each much in the morning and early afternoon and then beginning in the later afternoon through night - POW - able to eat anything so my cravings were right there. I went on to a liquid diet for 1 day to get the swelling down (that's what happens - after you eat a big meal you swell making the next meal tighter) then the next day started eating my larger meal at lunch and then a light dinner like Soup for dinner. I didn't notice a change the first day, but on the second day I found I was not nearly as hungry in the afternoon and evening time. It helped my cravings, too. Good luck!

When I went last month for my fill in Mexico there were several people (probably 10 or more) who had traveled from all over the country to receive their fill from Dr. Kuri. A couple of them had said that Dr. Kuri was a little more aggressive with fills than US doctors, which is what they were looking for - a good fill. Another person had a bad experience using another doctor and others found it was cheaper flying to San Diego and traveling to Mexico than it was to go to their neighborhood fill doctor. I am lucky - I live about 5 miles from the border! Good luck with your decision. The fill I received from Dr. Kuri was perfect!

It took me a good 3-4 weeks before I was comfortable wearing jeans. I had to go out and buy a couple of elastic waist cords to make due until I was comfortable again. It took about that long for my swelling, too. I have heard other's say that they had little swelling and no problem with jeans. I think everyone is different, but what you're going through sounds just like what I went through. Good luck on a quick recovery!

Christi, I think Shy is a beagle (or at least mostly). Interesting mix....Rott & Beagle. Good Luck! Shanna

Hi, everyone! This is my first post so it must be that I LOVE my 1-1/2 year old beagle, Toby! He is AWESOME and is such an individual and fun to be around. I look forward to my time with him every day. We got him when he was 6 weeks and he is sooooo spoiled. Right now my 13 year old daughter is giving him peaches - YUM! Shanna Surgery date: Oct 6, 2005 Dr. Kuri, Mexico 1st Fill: November 19, 2005 Total lost: 15 lbs.