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Hang in there. It will go away. I found out simply trying to relax and eating verrry slowly before I knew it that feeling was gone. I simply woke up one morning and like "wow, I don't feel that tightness anymore." I think your body is just fighting the new invasion in the body, but eventually it does accept it. Bette

Rachel, Be verrrry careful. My first fill was too tight 2.5 and 18 months later I am still suffering from reflux (which I never had before the tight fill). To make a long story short I kept the "tight fill" in 2 months too long and finally after pleading they removed all of it and placed me on nexium for 7 weeks and then put back 1/2 of the fill (1/8). However, much to my sorry, even tho I am taking protonix every night, not eating 4 hours before bedtime I still have refulx at least 4 nights out of 7. That makes me sad and it was so unnecessary. So my advice....take care, losing is great (I've lost 88 lbs), but I would have rather had a "mild" fill and lost slower. Take care, Bette

Has anyone had their band slip and no symptons? What happens if your band slips and it is not fixed?

Request "firmly", if they have not already, to have your port checked for any leaks. Unless your port is leaking, I cannot understand why you would not be receiving "some" restriction. I realize it is different with everyone, however my first fill was 2.5 and soooo tight I could eat very little. They had to take it out for a couple of months and then put back in 1.8. That is the only fill I have had and it has been 17 months since surgery - 86 lbs. Good luck!

I have never had reflux before my first fill. Basically,it simply was too tight (2.5) after 2 months they finally decided that "yeah we need to take it completely out, let you rest with some medication and then put back about 1/2). Once they took it out.....no reflux. Once they put back (1.8) unfortunately, I still have it, but not nearly as bad. I have been told that often people that had reflux prior to surgery find that once surgery is done they have very little or none...however, those of us that have never experienced it end up often having reflux once the surgery is done. Interesting....I still chalk mine up to being too tight for 2 months.

I have had my fills done through fillcenterusa. I had mine done with fluro in tampa, fl, the fill was not "small" by any means. They are great. Bette

Debbi, Will he pick up after care for us Mexican patients? Bette

Hi Jason, I went to Mexico last September to have the lap band surgery. My doctor was Dr. Aceves in Mexicalli, Mexico. A representative picks you up at the airport in San Diego and drives you to the hospital. As soon as you go across the border the hospital is within a few block (as a matter of fact I was still able to use my cell phone). I felt safe the entire time. The hospital is small but nice and more importantly very clean. Everyone goes out of their way to make us feel comfortable. I would suggest you do your research on the doctors in Mexico; listen to what their patients have to say. Find out how many lapband surgeries they have preformed etc. That is the way I handled it; I researched for about one year before I made a decision and am very glad. Good luck.

Date Banded: 9/9/05 Country: Mexico (Mexicali) Doctor: Dr. Alberto Aceves Erodoed: No problems

Mine was just the opposite. I received my first fill (2.5cc) and was sooooo restricted that 3 months later I had to have it all removed (because of acid reflux) for 7 weeks and then they put in 1.8cc which is great. Nothing, and I do mean nothing is more miserable than a too tight fill and ending up with acid reflux. Not only was I pbing alot, I could not sleep at night due to the reflux and with little sleep I am not a happy person...

Mine was just the opposite. I received my first fill (2.5cc) and was sooooo restricted that 3 months later I had to have it all removed (because of acid reflux) for 7 weeks and then they put in 1.8cc which is great. Nothing, and I do mean nothing is more miserable than a too tight fill and ending up with acid reflux. Not only was I pbing alot, I could not sleep at night due to the reflux and with little sleep I am not a happy person...

I agree...fitday.com unless you go get your fills thru fillcenter.com and then you have access to their tracking food/excercise etc. (great tool)!

Isn't that always the way it is. However, you should be able to receive your fills/follow-ups with your insurance paying and that will be a HUGE help. I was self-pay and now have to trave 450 miles to get a fill. Good luck. Bette

Lookingout - I was banded by Dr. Aceves September 2005 and he has a wonderful staff. I took one week off in order to recoop and am very glad that I did. Could I have went back to work in a few days? Possibly. Now I was able to get around fine in a few days, but to feel like myself I really needed that week. Bette

I eat a bite, put my spoon/fork down, chew, chew, chew and then start the next bite. Putting my eating utensil down inbetween bites (rather than holding it in my hand) has helped me. I also have to really concentrate or I will "shovel" it in....however with a really good restriction you will think about it a little more or else you may begin to pb...and that's not fun. Good luck. Bette

My "no/no" list changes daily. However, no bread (white flour) of any type, no rice, little potatoe. The only fast food I seem to tolerate is Mexican (and then the corn tortillias). No dry meat of any kind. However, like so many, one day I can't and the next week I can. But....after a few "bad" episodes of pbing I simply don't try it again...it's just not worth it.

Yep, that would be me. It would appear to me that obviously the band is simply "looser" in the evenings and very tight in the am. I was told it is best to wait until after noon to get a fill for that very reason.

I flew coach (and had well over 100 lbs to lose) and did not even have to ask for an extension. You should be fine. Now of course, first class is nicer and if I had it to do over, I would have upgraded to first class on the return trip, but going was no problem.

Did the same doctor do both fills? Sometimes the tubing can be "nicked" and therefore you would lose some of the fill. I have been told that sometimes it repairs itself, sometimes not.

My first fill was 2.5. After 3 months of total misery (acid reflux @ night) I had a complete unfill, took nexium for 6 weeks (which cost me $150.00 since my insurance would not approve it). At the end of this period I went in to get a fill. As soon as I went in, I explained to the doctor that the first fill was way too aggressive (this particular office was not the ones that removed the fill) and I did not want to be filled that aggressively. The doc put in 2.0, did the fluro & it showed that it was pretty tight. I requested that he back it down a tad, which he did....to 1.8... which appears (it's been a week now) to be "perfect". I have had no reflux, can actually eat in the mornings (was unable to do anything but drink until around 2pm before) yet it keeps me from eating too much.

Hi desperate, Having surgery done in Mexico, once my mind was made up, was a breeze. They meet you at the airport (San Diego) and drive you across the border (so that take care of all the official things), pick you up a couple days after the surgery and take you to the hotel and the next morning pick you back up and take you back to the airport. Basdically all you have to do is "show up". The hospital I went to was cleaner than most I have been to in the US. The only problem I had was the language, however, they give you a sheet with basic words (English/Spanish) and you simply point to them, they are very good at interrupting. I found all of the staff to be so accommodating; they wanted to please and make us comfortable. I would not hesitate to go back to have additional surgery done. iwa0r

I had my surgery done in Mexico/Dr. Aceves $7,500 and Dr. Grossbard through (fillcenterusa) is doing my fills - $200 with fluro and $145 without. They have a great office, a very kind staff. Most of all they know their stuff and can get you in and out quickly yet with wonderful service. Couldn't ask for anything better.

cottage cheese - 1 1/2 cup low fat cool whip - 1/2 cup orange Jello - 1 pkg (sugar free) 1 small can of oranges (stick blended) 1/4 cup of pecans (chopped verythin) Add the above, refrigerate. Very good

Good for you. I endured a "too tight fill" for three looooong months and the bottom line is I ended up with horrible acid reflux (which by the way was completly relieved once it was removed). I just don't understand why they are so reluctant to remove a portion of the fill if there are problems....it's almost like they take it personally. Mine was due to some stress that occurred in my life, which had nothing to do with the fill. I just don't get it. A word of advice.....I'd rather get a portion removed and be safe than to try to endure. (I ended up having to take Nexium, which by the way my insurance would not pay for, in order to correct the problem).

My doctor does not want you to have anything in your pouch when the fill is done therefore he request that you have nothing but liquids 4 - 5 hours before the adjustment. After the fill he asks patients to stay on clear liquids the rest of that day, thicker liquids & mushy food the second day, and to start solids the 3rd day. I suppose every doctor is different somewhat.