marys

yep, i'm with everyone else - just do it - get started on your research. Don't know if you are big enough for surgery in the us but that would be a good place to start - are you going for insurance or self pay. That would give you an idea if you are going to have surgery in the U.S. or out of country. Then the fun really begins but you can find lots of info on this site and all over the internet on mexican docs/clinics. my doc - ortiz has a book you can order on his site that is pretty non-biased (not just promoting him - he menitones several other docs, etc. and gives a good idea on all aspects of surgery) www.obesitycontrolcenter.com things pretty much roll forward from there but you'll need to start thinking of money (ugh) if self pay and while most docs offer financing options i found home equity was the cheapest for me. I feel luck to have had that option. then you gotta think about who to tell, not tell, etc and get the worries aside and pretty soon you'll be banded. i hope it works for you. it is not a miracle cure - oh no - you still have a lot of work to do with the band so don't fool yourself. some drop weight like mad, others struggle with every pound (me) but i hope it's gone for good which is ok with me. good luck and keep pressing forward.

my doc has always been into slow weight loss tho a lot lose faster. his goal is to be eating 1/3 less rather then a specific amount. and thanks to jack for an a-ha moment for me - i really got some insight into eating until satisfied rather then full cuz i'm never full until i'm stuffed. however, i'm learning what satisfied or satiety is and boy that's a tough one cuz it just never seems to be enough -lol

Just wondering for U.S. and Mexico/other patients - what type of aftercare do you receive from your doctor and what is/has been helpful to you AND/or what type would you find helpful?

Wow - sounds good! What about emotional type care - do you have support groups, conference calls or anything like that you find helpful (or would find helpful)?

I LoVE refried beans and eat the vegetarian ones with a little salsa. Be careful because they can be pretty thick so go slow - even refried beans can get stuck!

I have yet to figure out what works and doesn't as every day (and meal) is different. I agree with others that the best approach is to take the tiny-est of bites (a mere nibble) chew that to death and swallow and wait. If all feels as clear as before i started, try another bite. Where i always get into trouble is by speeding up due to the happiness that it 'worked' lol. Dry protein no matter what the size is out for me and untoasted breads are out but I've also gotten pudding stuck by eating it too fast and too much. One caution I'm learning is if anything feels remotely stuck or heavy don't even attempt another bite until you feel that has gone down completely and NO LIQUIDS as this backs things up worse.

Ok i guess i agree too BUT i can relate over 30 harsh, mean, cruel things men have said to me since i was pre teen and i honestly have NEVER said or heard any of my friends say anything about a guy's size - yeah maybe we wouldn't swoon over the cable guy (i don't know who that is tho) but we wouldn't call him thunder thighs, cute face but ugly body, shamoo, and Ill just stop there cuz i'm sure it happens both ways!

I;ve lived that and felt that my whole life - i hope you have many or even 1 person in your life that appreciates your true beauty. I'm fortunate my sweetie has loved me the same no matter what my size. thanks for sharing that!

Boy I understand and empathize. I had surgery in Nov 05 and haven't even lost close to 31lbs. sometimes I feel like i will never get the weight off. I'm with the others that say closely examine your eating and drinking and maybe keep a diary like fitday.com as that always amazes me how quickly calories add up. I would also say ';stay the course' you are losing and if you are like most of us you were probably gaining or yo yo ing prior to surgery. We are always so hard on ourselves and you should be proud of your success to date. i'm sure 31lbs is several sizes difference and people probably notice - i am living for that day lol. good luck and hang in there - and try some of the other advice people have left you - make sure your fill level is correct, eating properly etc.

I'm pretty good with the no drinking rule bbut I've relaxed it a bit at dinner because I don't eat anything after dinner is done and I figure so what if it gets pushed thru the pouch; i'm not eating until morning anyway. Also i eat later and if I eat at 7:30 don't drink until 8:30 or 9 then i'm up all night in the bathroom or if I dont drink wake up thirsty. However, I'm not advocating drinking with meals - i'm just sharing what and why i do what i do.

I had an unfill (from 2.6 to 1.8) about 1 week ago. Prior to that I was at 2.3 and got that second fill becuz I wasn't losing and could eat a lot. I'm noticing I have pretty good restriction at 1.8 so what gives? Could it be still some swelling. I'm sure I'll need to get some more fill soon but this is strange to me. I don't think I will ever understand the band as one day at dinner out I ate bread, steak (thin, tender) and french fries and the next day I could barely eat 1 tiny piece of quesedilla (sp?). Yesterday I took an hour to micro chew a vegetarian brautwurst that ended up coming up and was on soup and protein shake last night and today. I just don't understand restriction/fill - I think this is the main reason lapband is sometimes thought to be less successful then gastric - fills don't make sense and are hard to get right!

Has anyone advice / experience with seeking counseling with the lap band? I am realizing how deep my food problems/issues are with the band - especially what a hard head I am. Even with the band I continually make the same mistakes over and over. For example, I will try to eat something and if it works I push it until I pb. Even right now i ate a small piece of sushi at 9:30am and I'm pbing - I know after this second fill I am really tight in the am and should stick to a protein drink but i did it. I;m trying not to hate myself but i'm disgusted and wonder what in the world will it take fo rme to learn??? A slipped band - i don't want that but i'm afraid i'm one of those who never learn. I'm open to counseling but what kind and who should i look for? thanks, mary

oh gosh everyone - i'm suffering through the aftereffects of the worse day of pbbing! I did this once with my first fill so i think i know the drill bbut i'm a bit scared. Had such bad pbs yesterday i was almost swollen shut - could finally swallow my saliva and slept pretty well last night bbut can't get liquids down yet. I had about 4 1/2 tsps of pedalyte this morning and that was pretty painful. I will wait until late afternoon and if not getting mmore fluids in will call the doc. Last time this happened i was on liquids for a week with regular doses of maalox but right now maalox is too thick to get down. Just walked for 1/2 hour after the pedalyte so pain is subsiding bbut scared to even try another sip! I sat in the hot tub last night and that seems to relax me cuz you know the tension and upset i feel doesn't help. Just needed to vent.

Hey Lisa Lisa, I can't believe I will miss you - i hoope to plan my next trip better (and not an emergency). Let's see i was at 2.6 (he filled me on June 27 from 2.2 to 2.6) I had lost .1 since first fill of 2.3 and he left in 1.8 yessterday. At first I was going to take it all out and I was sitting there with the needle poking out and he let me drink like mad cuz I was so thirsty. I am ok with 1.8 but will probably need a bit more in 3-4 weeks. Oh yeah and it was dr. romero who reminds me somehow of Doogie Howser - he is soooo young. But so nice. The driver was super kind (i think I scared him i looked so bad etc) and i love rene in the office and this new doc is good and very competent. pm or email me when you get back - eric and i are going to vegas for his birthday next week - i'm brining lots of slimfast! ha Thanks for kind words/understanding! And Clady you can see none of us are perfect but we want you to keep that band tightly in place!!!

Hi - it does sound like you got a lot of fill! I went from 2.2 - 2.6 and just came back from an emergency trip to Tijuana for an unfill. I have 1.8 now and am on liquids for 7 days. It was horrible. BUT you may be ok however I would call your doc pretty quick about the reflex/heartburn. That is a big thing with my doc as he thinks it could cause a slip. Also I had it and it was horrible - 85% of the reason I went to Tijuana - couldn't keep maalox down - ugh. I feel for you but if you feel it is under control it may be the swelling, etc. But it never hurts to call the doc - you don't want a small problem turning into a big one! take care.

What products or services did you find helpful before, and after banding. For example, protein drinks, books/tapes, websites, dinnerware sized for bandsters, etc etc etc? I know there is so much out there, much of what I've read HERE on lapbandtalk but trying to consolidate it! THANKS

THANKS everyone! mary

Not to worry,I am sure you will be fine! The incident was my own doing - i ate something too fast and too early in the morning and the problems progressed from there - because of the heartburn, Dr. Martinez suggested I comein immediately. Be careful with eating anything this soon after surgery - i was on liquids for 3 weeks! It's important cuz it helps the stiches adhere to the stomach so the band won't slip. Do everything the doc says esp in the early stages! Sorry if I sound preachy or naggy - everyone does what they have to do and maybe doc/nutritionist said ok...but if not, please stick to the diet - good luck and glad you are doiing well. oh and i have always had challenges because my food issues are deep - i have a hard head and always push the band's limits - i take complete responsibility but know i need the band if i will ever be successful.

Well I have some counselors lined up to 'interview' and we will have a lot to talk about! I just came back from an emergency trip to san diego/Tijuana to see my doc I had to be unfilled and then he kept in 1.8. I couldn't stop throwing up and couldn't keep anything - not even tsp of water down - very painful heartburn, etc. it was hell. Costly trip as i had to go outbound 1st class - wish i could've enjoyed it. on liquids for 8 days and maalox 3x a day. feel better tho embarassed that i caused this.

I had to go to mexico yesterday - had to book a first class seat to get out ASAP and boy i wish i could've eaten/drank anything - it was super nice (and expensive). Got an unfill and then 1.8 put in and immediately felt better. The throwing up wouldn't stop, i was in pain and couldn't keep a capful of water down. pitiful. i hope i learned from this but right not too tired to think straight.

Thanks Lindsay - And, it doesn't sound cheesey to me at all - I think most of us here eat for other reasons then hunger (or as my friend says some people eat to live and others live to eat!) I'm actually excited now about seeing someone because I know I can do it with a little more help. I'm glad you got the hellp you needed with a counseler - keep up the good work. mary

I was lower bmi patient and still had to do it but i scheduled so quickly i only had a week. Even so i lost 4lbs mostly out of fright - my doc still recommends it for all of his patients as it is suppossed to shrink the liver - i was into anything that might nake the surgery easier - always best to go by what doc says.

Hi there and congratulations on the pregnancy and the 25lbs lost - you know the band is for life so you'll have plenty of time to get back on track. i absolutely love lapbandtalk but i've also heard of another site that might be helpful to you now .... it's on yahoo.com under groups and if you put in pregnancy and bandster - there are a few groups for pregnant bandsters. you might find more specific support from others in your condition that would be helpful. Take care! mary

Thank you all who responded - this is what i love about this site - so much support and help - esp when one really needs it. I will begin looking for a counselor with experience helping those of us with eating issues and keep all posted.

As someone with too much pbing experience I know and agree with others - you should definitely do liquids for at least two days - even when your throat/etc feel better you are still swollen. It should go down in 48 hours - ramen soup broth, popsciles (sp), thinned down tomatoe soup and absolutely no cheating if you can help it. My doc also said maalox every 2-4 hours over ths time too but check with him/her. good luck and hang in there - i know it stinks when this happens!!!