LoisinStA

My sticks out like an egg also...I am still wearing tops that are too big because I am self conscious of the "lump". I will need a revision after I lose the rest of my weight. I am down almost 40 with about 10 more to go. I am self pay...anyone know what it will cost to fix?

I was banded by Dr. Zapata in April. It was a fabulous experience from the time they picked me up at the airport to the time they delivered me back to the airport 3 days later. Alma is fabulous, the doctors are terrific, the hospital is extremely clean and hotel is nice. Everyone treated me very well and I would go back there in a minute. Say hi to everyone for me...Lois from St. Augustine, FL

I have lost almost 40 of the 50 pounds I needed to lose. I have a lump the size of an egg where my port is. I talked to my doctor about it and it seems that the way my fat was and is not now, the port is visible. I can have it switched out to a new "low profile" port or just have it buried deeper - both of which I shouldn't do until I lose all the weight I want to lose. If I wear a top that fits, the lump is visible so I find myself wearing pants that fit well (size 12) and tops that fit big (XL). I guess I will be facing another procedure to move the port so that I won't be self conscious about wearing tops that fit. I guess it is a small price to pay (on top of self pay for surgery) to feel good and look good.

Nervous that I will not get off meds or even reduce them I was banded in April partly in hopes of getting off my type 2 diabetes meds before having to go on insulin. I had about 50 pounds to lose. Unfortunately, my blood sugar levels are just a little bit less that before my surgery and I have lost 36 pounds so far. I am still running around 200 or more. I don't want to get on insulin. I joined the Y and am starting to exercise. My doctor told me that when I hit around the 50 pound mark is when I will see a change in my glucose readings...although I have read that many saw that change immediately at the time of surgery. I am a little nervous that this surgery and loss of weight will not affect my blood sugar and that I will be one of the few who did not get that benefit. Anyone out there that this has happened to?:tongue_smilie::cursing:

I was banded in April partly in hopes of getting off my type 2 diabetes meds before having to go on insulin. I had about 50 pounds to lose. Unfortunately, my blood sugar levels are just a little bit less that before my surgery and I have lost 36 pounds so far. I am still running around 200 or more. I don't want to get on insulin. I joined the Y and am starting to exercise. My doctor told me that when I hit around the 50 pound mark is when I will see a change in my glucose readings...although I have read that many saw that change immediately at the time of surgery. I am a little nervous that this surgery and loss of weight will not affect my blood sugar and that I will be one of the few who did not get that benefit. Anyone out there that this has happened to?:tongue_smilie::cursing:

Before you go, make sure you have made arrangements for where you will be getting your fills. Many doctors in the US will not work with you if you have had your surgery out of the country. I had my surgery in Monterrey, Mexico with Dr. Zapata. I live in St. Augustine, FL and found a doctor outside of Orlando to take care of me...I had it set up before my surgery so that when I got home I knew where to go for fills and any aftercare that might be needed. Good luck with your surgery - it was a piece of cake and having it done in Mexico was a wonderful experience.

I had my surgery done by Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Mexico. I highly recommend him - the experience was amazing from the time they picked me up at the airport til the time they took me back 3 days later. I even called him after I got home with a question and he called me back within 5 minutes!!!

I have noticed the same thing - my band is very fickle. I have had 3 fills and was ready to go for a fourth when all of a sudden it tightened up on me. For the past 3 weeks it has a mind of it's own...sometimes I can eat, other times I can't. Some foods I can eat one day and not eat the next. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason so I just go day by day, or should I say meal by meal. I was banded on April 7th of this year.

I have eaten extra crunchy peanut butter on toasted bread, very crisp rye krisp crackers and occasionally on sliced apples.

Holy Crap!!! Is that for real??

How much biotin are you taking each day? I am thinking I might want to start now when I am not having a problem.

I haven't noticed anything different when I use a straw or I don't. I also make my drinks with a ton of ice and have not had any problems.

My surgery was in April and since then I eat to live, not live to eat. I must admit that some of the pleasure of eating has gone because I am eating differently now. There are certain foods that just don't go down well and others are just an effort - chew, chew, chew, eat slowly, etc - all behaviors that were foreign to me. The good news is that my cravings have gone away - I don't crave sweets anyone and the urge to binge has gone - probably because I know that I can't do it. Food is not important to me anymore and that's OK. I have no problem going out to eat, going to parties, etc. and finding something to eat - I just eat MUCH less and take the leftovers - usually can get 3-4 meals out of a restaurant portion. All in all, NO REGRETS!! My foodie friends miss me joining in with mucho gusto, but losing 35 pounds feels better than eating a pint of ice cream.

Has anyone noticed any correlation between your band feeling tighter when the weather changes and there are bad thunder storms? About a week ago, my band started to feel tight and I was having trouble eating. It has also been storming very badly every day for the past week or so. I was wondering if barometric pressure might have any effect on the band. Just a thought.....

Since I couldn't/wouldn't give up my one cup of vanilla nut coffee each morning, I decided to mix it with my protein powder. I make a pot of coffee each MOnday and refrigerate it. Each morning I take about 8 oz of coffee, one sweet and low and a scoop of protein power and put in a large measuring cup. I then blend with my immersion blender, pour over ice and enjoy it. I bought my whey protein powder online in vanilla cake flavor and chocolate fudge - some days I use half of each and it is great. It is my treat for the day.:thumbs_up:

I was banded in early April and still have a goose egg near my port - don't know if it is from surgery or from my first fill when I developed a hematoma. I have lost 35 pounds and it now sticks out. I asked my fill doctor about it and he said that when I get to my goal if it is still sticking out he can do a port replacement to a low profile port - minor office procedure. When I wear a knit top and look in the mirror at just the right angle, I see the goose egg.

I used Dr. Zapata in Monterrey Mexico - it was a fabulous experience...clean hospital, wonderful doctors. I was taken care of from the time I was picked up at the airport til the time I was dropped off again 4 days later. When I got back home, I called the surgeon on his cell phone to ask him a question and he called me back within 5 minutes. When was the last time your USA doctor called you back so quickly?

I went to Mexico for my surgery - met my sister there who was also having surgery. We both went alone and it was fine. I would do it again in a minute. I have lost 34 pounds since April 9th and feel great. My treatment in Mexico was fabulous - the hospital was very clean, the doctors were terrific and I was taken care of from the moment I was picked up at the airport til the moment I was dropped off at the airport 4 days later.

I was banded on April 7th...have lost 34 pounds, 16 more to go! I used to eat Cookies by the bag, ice cream by the pint (not every day but whenever I got the urge/craving). Since my surgery, I have had a cookie once or twice, no ice cream, and really very little that is sweet or baked. The really interesting part is that I no longer have cravings for that stuff. When I was in the grocery store yesterday, I would walk through ALL the aisles and amazingly the bad stuff did not call out to me. It surprises me every time. When I am at other people's homes and they serve dessert I can take one or two bites and be completely satisfied. My morning Protein shake and my nightly sugar free fudgesicle (sp?) seem to take care of my sweet tooth. BTW, I was also a bread and Pasta addict and have not had any pasta and once in a while I have a piece of bread. Hope this helps to encourage you that you can beat your sweet tooth...

You don't always know within a few hours. My last fill, fill #3 did not kick in until 2 weeks after. I was all set to go for another fill and 3 days before I was going I noticed more restriction than had been in the first 2 weeks. It seemed strange to me for it to take that long to it to kick in but it happened. I have to drive 1 1/2 hours so I can relate to what you are saying.

When I was given the choice, I told my doctor to make the decision. I did not know enough about them to make an intelligent decision - he does this surgery every day - he's the expert. I had my surgery done in Mexico and he used the Inamed lap band.

I went back to Atlanta to visit family last weekend and loaded up on some things from Trader Joe's. They are wonderful bruschetta, tapenades, and other vegetable dippy things that are delicious. I also picked up some Thai sauces that would be great with chicken and/or fish.

I needed to lose 50 pounds and had a not too terrible BMI. Since I was self pay, I chose to go to Mexico where I had the surgery done for $7,000 (which included 2 night in a very nice hotel, one night at the hospital in a private room, all the tests, doctor's charges, etc AND transportation to and from the airport. I was able to get a round trip airline ticket from Jacksonville, FL for $500. The only recommendation I would make is for you to set up your aftercare before you go. Most US doctors will not take you on if you had your surgery in Mexico - there are fill centers around the US that you can find for your fills. I found a doctor in Orlando who took me on as a patient. In Mexico, I went to Monterrey and had the surgery done by Dr. Zapata. It was a fabulous experience all the way around - except for the fact that it was surgery.

If you can find someone that you know or who knows someone you know, that has had the surgery in Mexico, ask them about their experience. I found Dr. Zapata through my sister who had a friend who used him. After many discussions with her, we felt comfortable that we would have a favorable experience like she did and decided to go to him. It was more than favorable and since my surgery, I have come to find other patients of his here in NE "Florida who also had good experiences with him. Doing research is well and good but nothing is better than a personal recommendation.

I got a fill on June 3rd. Felt good but thought I could use a little more. Mty doctor was out of town last week so I set up an appointment for this coming Thursday. All of a sudden yesterday and today I seem to not be able to eat as much, getting more stuff stuck. Is it possible that after 13 days it would tighten??? Anyone else have this happen? I figured I would see how I do tomorrow and Wednesday and then decide if I want to keep the appointment. Any advice would be appreciated....