Nataly

Hello, all! My my my...this lap band has been quite the journey for me. Not all good...but not all bad. However, now I need a little advice. I was 302lbs going into surgery in Monterrey, Mexico on February 13, 2006. I loved my doctor and found the surgery easy. I was on liquids for 7 days then mushies for 2 more weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, I was down 10lbs. I knew I was getting in very few calories (around 600-800 per day), so I was rather surprised at the slow loss. I have been ultra-committed to the gym: 30 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of circuit training...5-6 days a week. I have been quite proud of my new habits: healthy eating and working out. I went for my fill 4 weeks into this, March 10. My doctor was VERY disappointed with my weight loss of 10lbs. He said I should have lost a minimum of 16lbs. I tried to explain that I had been "perfect" with my eating and working out. He replied, "The scales don't lie." My first fill was not restrictive enough, but I continued to monitor my eating. I was in this for life, baby! With or without restriction, I was changing my lifestyle. I lost 4 more pounds the next 2 weeks and went for another fill here in Dallas. The second fill did the trick. I feel utterly restricted, and I LOVE IT!. I PB occassionally, but I am quickly learning what works and what doesn't. I have had my second fill for just shy of 2 weeks. I lost another 4 lbs in the first few days of my 2nd fill...putting me down 18lbs. But, I thought, "woowww...I hardly ate ANYTHING to lose those 4 lbs." Now, the weight loss has not only stopped; it has reversed. I am gaining a pound per day. I met with a nutritionist acquaintance late last week with my food diary. She was thrilled with my food choices, but VERY concerned about the calorie content. She said UP IT with almost anything I wanted. She preferred I continued on smart Protein choices, but she said that I was so putting myself in starvation mode that I needed calories. Quickly. She explained that starvation mode was not a line that your body crosses. It is a place to which you arrive after weeks of not eating enough. The same is true when leaving it. It takes time. And, more than likely, your body will gain weight while leaving the starvation mode. I now add Ensure (250 calories) to my Protein shakes in the morning. I enjoy a glass of wine at night. I am trying to get up over 1000 calories. But, at my size, I believe I should be between 1200 and 1400/day. I am now back at my pitiful 14lb loss almost 2 mos after surgery I keep reading on this board about all the amazing people losing 30-50lbs in the same amount of time. I feel quite betrayed by my body. I am fat, eating little, and working out very steadily. That should equate to a great weight loss. Ugh. It seems quite unfair to eat a Protein shake, 2 pieces of cheese, and 4 chicken wings and gain a pound. I have committed to sticking to my new life style: good food choices and working out. But I would LOVE to hear from anyone else who is dealing with SLOW weight loss due to possible Starvation Mode. Anyone? Any special advice? Life can be quite unfair, eh? Best of luck to all!!!

Tricia, He called last night at about 8pm. I was quite relieved. I would have hated to think that I so misjudged someone...ya know? However, that doesn't relieve my problem of finding someone in the area for ongoing care. I have called 12 doctors in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area. I was looking for someone that was a surgeon b/c we believe my mother's band had slipped. We finally found a surgeon that is a friend of a friend. He saw my mum yesterd. Every single doctor's office of the 12 that I called told me they would not touch a patient who had been banded in Mexico. Sincerely, they made me feel as if I had the plague. They kept alluding to all these "horror stories" from down there. Whatever. I believe it boils down to 2 things: 1. liability, and 2. they lost out on the $$$. Regardless, I still would like to find someone other than simply a "fill doctor" for my on-going care. While my band experience has been nothing but routine, my mum's whole experience kinda made me concerned. I'd like to start going to a local surgeon for on-going care. I love Dr. Rodriguez and am still impressed he called us back, but I worry that if I'm in an emergency situation it makes no sense to find him in Mexico. Do you have any recommendations for a lap band surgeon in the DFW area that would accept my Mexico-going self?

Tricia, I spoke to Marisol three times. She said she gave Dr. R my messages. Weird. I practically fell in love with him during our surgeries and would never have anticipated this lack of response. I'm disappointed. I tried to call many times today, too, but keep getting a weird Spanish message.

Kara, I have left 4 emergency messages for Dr. Rodriguez. We have yet to hear from him. I must warn you that this situation is bad: doctors in the states won't touch you if you've had the surgery in Mexico. I will tell you now: I rather regret our decision for a Mexico surgery. Complications happen. Sometimes they are immediate, and sometimes they are years later. When those complications happen, you must have some sort of assistance nearby. Do you have a contact from Dr. Rodriguez's office I may call? Our state-side contacts were all let go last year. Many thanks!

Good luck, Lara & Kara! My mum and I were banded last March by Dr. Rodriguez. We found him to be exceptional in every way. What a good experience! However, the past couple weeks my mum has been very ill and in pain from the band. Our fill doctor in the area believes her band may have slipped. So, I just called Dr. Rodriguez's office to have a consultation with him. I think you guys should be very interested in how he handles follow up situations like this. It has been VERY difficult to find a local surgeon to support us since we received our bands in the states This is the first problem we've had, so let's see how Dr. R handles it. Interested in my posting the follow up, ladies?

BeacheeGirl...I soooo relate! And when you're doing everything according to the "rules" and you DON'T lose weight...you can lose motivation. Quickly. So, the advice I'm going to give is the same as I'm going to follow: Stay the course. It WILL come off. Eventually.

I was banded Feb2006, and I just drank my first carbonated drinks last month. I was warned of two things that carbonation causes: 1. pain due to the bloating in the small pouch, and 2. stretching of the pouch. Both bad things to happen. I enjoyed a beer last night at the hockey game, and I didn't feel a lick of pain. However, that doesn't mean the pouch didn't stretch out. And, goodness knows I don't want that! So... If you can truly enjoy one carbonated drink and stop at that, then I can't see the harm in it. But, even without pain, it is not something I will do on a normal basis ever again. EVER. We paid a lot of money and spent a lot of time at getting our perfect little pouch, and I refuse to be responsible for making it bigger! :girl_hug: Good luck!! Nat

I've been away from this board for a couple months now...simply due to frustration with my slow weight loss. However, I'm glad to be back! Reading this thread reminds me that I AM NOT CRAZY OR INCOMPETENT :girl_hug: I get so darn frustrated with my slow weight loss some days that I often wish I had never gotten the band. I was banded Feb 13, 2006. I am down 44 pounds (302 to 258). I look back at dieting days pre-band and think, "I used to eat HOW MUCH and lose weight?" I eat so very little now, and the pounds merely creep off. What have I done???? Then, I enter back onto this board, and I read threads that make me wonder who the heck is reading my thoughts and typing them for me I have often referred to my caveman relatives and cursed them! I joke that if the world ends, the only survivors are me and the roaches -- because my body doesn't seem to need ANYTHING to maintain. But, someone on this thread reminded me that while it is hard as hell to lose, it is so much easier to maintain than it used to be. Do I think about dieting much anymore? Nahhh...so, do I lose? Nah. Thank you to the board for a couple important things: 1. reminding me that I am normal, and 2. reminding me that with or without the band it is always EFFORT..and it is time for me to GET BACK ON IT! And, now I kinda look forward to it. Hope it sticks this time Good luck to all!!! Nataly 2-24-2006 302 then 258 now

Thank you all for your replies and support! Nanster, I love having someone else in my pity boat I have done as you have done this weekend: I ate a lot more than normal. And, the results have been fabulous! I dropped those four pounds that I gained. I am now down 18lbs exactly again. Just like you, Nanster! It seems we are traveling a very similar path. I also joined www.myfooddiary.com this weekend. I've been monitoring every morsel, and I actually hit 1400 calories yesterday! But, it's okay...I lost Sooooo...it seems that at times we will need to eat more to lose more. Not necessarily a bad thing, eh? Best of luck to you all...and Nanster, let's see if we keep on the same road! Nataly banded: 2/13/06 302/284/145

Hey, I have the large VG band, too. My first fill of 4cc did nothing for me. I waited only 2 weeks and went in for another 2cc. That did the trick! I am thrilled at the portion size I can eat. This is YOUR band. YOUR tool. If it's not at the right fill level, you know it. Go and get a bit more.

iwitness....I agree with you. I was banded on 2/13 and have lost 12lbs. I had my first fill 3/10 and definitely did not feel "filled" enough. I'm going to give it one more week and then beg for the second. Stephanie...the fill is easy enough. Yes, the needle stick hurts...especially if they don't numb it. But, the good doctors hit your port with the first try, and it's not much more than a bee-sting pain. Following hitting your port, they inject the saline. You can watch it go in and tighten the band on the x-ray. Way cool. Then, you drink the bariumm WHILE THE NEEDLE STAYS IN YOUR STOMACH. It's weird...but doesn't hurt. Just very uncomfy. They adjust the saline. Then you're done! No biggie. Looking forward to the next fill so I can start losing some SERIOUS weight!

Clementine, I am beginning to relate to your thoughts and feelings. And, it scares me, too. I was banded on 2/13 of this year. I got a fill of 4.2cc on 3/10...exactly one month after my band. I feel minor restriction but not much at all. I am only down 12 lbs and am rather disappointed. I feel as if the loss of the 12 lbs has been ALL my work (working out and cutting portions) and NONE of it band-related. And, I have very little conviction that I will be able to keep up my careful eating habits...b/c if I could, then I wouldn't have needed the band in the first place. Make sense? I just finished eating a toasted english wheat muffin and an egg for Breakfast. I, too, never drink with meals. I am shocked that I can eat what I can eat. I never feel sick nor tight. I rarely even feel full. I was banded in Monterrey, Mexico...so, it's rather difficult to "run down there" for a fill all the darn time. I am about to call a local doctor and beg him for another fill. I, too, feel "odd". Perhaps broken? I have the Swedish band...I believe it holds 10cc...and, I can't figure out why it doesn't "work" on me Is anyone else feeling this way besides Clementine and myself??????? ugh!