anthrochika

Don't be too hard on yourself you have lost a lot of weight so far and are doing sooooooo good. A few lbs could be due to muscle and muscle is good for fat burning. Keep moving try to lay off the chocolate even though I know it is hard sometimes....oh hey I saw at the grocery today that weight watchers has whitman's sugar free Chocolates that are bite sized and that might be an option as a snack sometimes? Try not to stress too much though just keep up the good work and don't worry about your Dr. he/she is there to help you not yell at you. I think you are doing great so keep up all your hard work, this is hard but you are doing it. Heather

I am not sure exactly what the problem is but I do not think it is the sour cream. I think it is the orange juice and cayenne pepper. This is my theory and mind you it is just a theory based on what you wrote: I think the acid and cayenne hang out in your pouch because things are restricted now where they just used to go straight to the stomach and intestinal system. The burning is from the acid and pepper mix. I think you may have to find something else for the anti-inflam and pain. Again I could be wrong but you might want to experiement. Try your best to NOT vomit you do not want any kind of slippage this is very bad and I would hate for anything to happen to you. Also try not to eat anything right before bed (maybe a sugar free popsicle but only something like that, nothing heavy enough to require sour cream)even if it is a few hours, the food hangs in the pouch for a lot longer now and when you lay down with all that just sitting there the possibility for adverse affects are inevitable. I hope this helps a little let me know how it goes and good luck. Heather

Congratulations! Sounds like you are on the right track keep up the good work!!! Heather

Muckstack not being nosy but where in Canada do you live? I had my surgery in Mexico too. I lived in Tennessee got my first awful fill there which was not even a fill the Dr. just shot saline in somewhere after jabbing around in my abdomen for over 5mins. Anyways recently moved to Pittsburgh and have found a Wonderful! surgeon in Erie PA who was able to locate my port in about 30secs aspirated to see how much was in there and then gave me .5cc and it was only 231.00 fills are only 100.00 after initial visit and Dr. Ali is awesome on al levels. So I was thinking if you live close to Erie it might be worth it to try him out might be cheaper than going back to Mexico. You can check him out on obesityhelp.com Dr. Amjad Ali. Good luck either way you go but I would definitely go to someone else. Heather

BrandyK, Everyone else here is right and I can tell you first hand I know exactly how you feel. I had lost 65lbs and was also off work and depressed for 2 months and gained like 10lbs and ashamed is not even the word. Thing is we are way harder on ourselves than anyone else is but I went I got my fill and am back on track as will you be as soon as you leave the Dr.'s office. Love yourself and be proud about every accomplishment you make you are going to go all the way!!!!! Heather

I feel you sister! I was banded March of 07 lost like 40lbs in just a few months, did not have the money for a fill until Sept 07 by that time had only lost the 40lbs went to a Dr. who said he did the fill but it was a horrible experience and within a month could eat anything I wanted. So I have only lost a little over 55lbs up from the earlier 65lbs gained about 10lbs over the last few months and just got what I think was my first successful fill yet yesterday. Don't give up it is almost the 10th and you will be better after that. Also have you looked at some of your habits? Are you eating while distracted? I have found more often than not if I will eat without distractions and slowly I notice my fullness faster? Have you quit exercising? Just try it and you know you can always go back to your pre-op liquid diet to help get back on track. I have been struggling too so I totally share your pain. Just don't be too hard on yourself it takes time and it's a longer journey than say if you had done actual gastric bypass but in the end I think and I hope you will too that it is worth it. Heather

Angel, We have all felt this way. Why can't I just do it myself? What is wrong with me that I just can't lose the weight with diet and exercise? But if you are like many of us you have done all the diets exercised until the cows come home and nothing ever happens. And just so you are aware before you get banded diet and exercise don't stop just because of the band it just helps a lot! :thumbup: Also since you are a self-pay (so was I, went to Mexico) I thought I would share something with you that I just found out yesterday at my first and only successful fill. I moved to Pittsburgh about a month ago so I had to find a Dr. in PA., I chose Dr. Amjad Ali @ Hamot Bariatric Center and might I just say he is Awesome!!! Check him out on Obesity Help.com Anyway I paid about $12,500 total for travel and surgery in Mexico but Dr. Ali only charges $14,000 for the surgery and you get free fills for a yr. I know PA is a long way from CA but if you are self-pay it might be something to think about. Good luck with your journey to a healthier you and don't be so hard on yourself this could help a lot. Feel free to write anytime if you need any support. Heather

Hello, Just registered for the lapbandtalk today. I have already had my surgery in March of 2007. I went to Mexico because I could not afford self-pay in U.S.. I live in Pittsburgh and am going to Erie for only my 2nd fill since surgery. Previously I lived in Nashville TN where a fill cost me $500.00 so I could not afford it as often as I needed it, however I have still managed to lose 65lbs in that time. I still want to lose about 100 more lbs and am hopeful now that I know Dr. Ali is reasonable with the price of his fills. I hope to make some friends here and if you live in the Pittsburgh area I would love to make friends in the city also. So email if you like and I will definitely talk back. Lately I have been down about my lack of weightloss and am really looking for support from people who are in the same boat as me.

January, You said you can not figure a lot out? I would be more than happy to try and help you with any questions. Have you already been banded or going to be banded? I have been banded for a little over a yr as you saw in my intro. Anyway please feel free to contact me on this thread anytime you want to talk about anything you want to discuss and like I said will try to assist if at all possible. heather

Sally Thanks for the words of encouragement I did go to Erie today and had my 2nd fill and honestly Dr. Ali was AWESOME!!!! I would reccomment hime to anyone. The first fill I received I honestly believe the Dr. did not actually fill anything just injected saline into my body, because today Dr. Ali found my port in about 30seconds whereas the other Dr. dug around nowhere close to the port for about 5mins and then announced he had completed the fill CROOK!!! is what I say and 500.00 dollars later makes me a little mad. I would love to talk anytime you like. My work schedule is 11-8 so I will be able to answer in the morn or evening but not during the day. And 43lbs since April is wonderful, you also should be very proud for that. How much would like or need to lose? I was 285 when I went to surgery and my personal goal weight is 125-135. Dr. Ali stated today that I was ambitious and well he was correct I am very driven and hope to make my goal by end of next yr if possible. Write anytime and thanks for writing me. Heather

I say do all your homework and be ready for proper aftercare. Lapband is a tool not a miracle. I have already had surgery and can tell you from experience if you don't follow the aftercare properly you can still gain weight. I have only been able to afford one fill ($500)that was not as successful as I had hoped and to date have only lost 57lbs in a yr and 1/2. I had lost 65lbs but was in a car accident and have been unable to exercise and depression has me turning to food for comfort yet again. It's our bad habits and behavior that sabotage us. Just make sure you are ready for the committment, but I can tell you it is definitely worth it and if you get the chance to do it I say go for it!!! :tt2::smile2:

I have never had this problem, however my suggestion would be to contact your surgeon and make an appointment to see them. I don't think you are supposed to have any pain like that.