Iulizbug

Hi guys, I just recently got my 3rd tattoo on my foot/ankle on Tuesday. I absolutely love it! I was wondering if anyone else has any and if so what they are, where and the significance of them. My first one I got when I was 18 on my lower back. It is a dolphin with a moon going through it. I am a swimmer and was still competitively swimming then plus I love dolphins. My 2nd was on my lower hip and is a chinese sign for energy. My 3rd one winds around my right foot/ankle and is a flower with stars around it. Curious about everyone else.... ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/203/150 5'7''

I just wanted to warn people about the danger of this so called 'safe' FDA approved drug. I took it two weeks ago and was only on it for 4 days before I developed a severely high fever. I already at or near at my goal weight and eat a low fat diet but got extremely sick. I immediately associated the fever with the pills and quit taking them but the fever remained. I missed work all last week, thinking I had came down with the flu because my symptoms mimicked them (fever, body aches, chills, sweats, etc). I also had horrible oily stools that started on day 3 from taking the Alli pills, even though I didn't eat over the recommended 15grams of fat per meal that they allow you to eat. I called the Alli corp center and explained what was going on and they are in the process of giving me a full credit, saying that getting a fever from the pills is not normal. Well, my fever wouldn't go away and after missing 4 days of work I was getting restless, annoyed and worried. No matter how much Tylenol Flu, advil, fever reducing medicine took my fever wouldn't dissipate. So I went to the ER on Saturday and it turns out that I at first contracted a UTI (urinary tract infection) but it progressed and went into my kidneys. It wa so severe that she told me that I would of had to been hospitalized had I not of gone in when I did. I never had any burning when I peed or anything like that. Those pills are evil. Basically you poo and pee orange grease and that crud got caught up in my urethra, then my kidneys. I just wanted to warn others that may be thinking of taking them that they can potentially kill you and are dangerous. My infection in my kidneys was very bad and I am just now starting to feel normal again, after a week of heavy antibiotics and lots of Water to flush them out. And that was only after 4 days of MyAlli!!! I only hope that they go off the market soon so other women don't get sick. I have never had a UTI in my life and dont' get sick because I eat right and work out and the moment I take these pills I am severely ill. Just a heads up fellow bandsters!! I am back to sticking to my diet/exercise regimen to maintain my weight. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/160/160 5'8''

I agree about weighing yourself--it can be destructive but for some its necessary. If I don't weigh myself regularly I can gain 10-20 lbs in a blink of an eye. I had my surgery a year and a half ago and after 7 mos had lost 85 lbs. I thought that my problems with weight were over...I was 5 lbs below goal and feeling fantastic. After a constant battle with my fills I found myself struggling to maintain whereas beforehand for months it was easy. I am now 5 lbs heavier and EVERY DAY is a struggle not to gain more. This will never be easy and I will have to work at it every day. I work out 6 X a week and eat healthy, as I have done since being banded. All we can do is try regardless of what type of surgery we had. I have several friends who had the bypass who have re-gained a whole lot more than 5lbs so I know it happens to everybody with a weight challenge. Hopefully I won't gain anymore weight. I know w/out a band I would be a whole lot heavier so I can be thankful for my tool. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/161/160 5'8''

I feel your pain. I was banded in March of '06 and have recently put on 10lbs and am exercising like CRAZY!!! My band was deflated entirely for three months and I recently got 2ccs added back into it but am still gaining weight. I work out 6 X a week and don't feel like I look any heavier but am going nuts mentally from the weight gain. I am completely and utterly lost on why I am gaining weight because I am not eating very much and exercise constantly. Any advice on how to get back on track? ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/165/160 :help: 5'8''

Yes the dreadful rash will go away too. I remember camping in summer of '05 and it was so horribly hot and I was miserable with my legs rubbing and sweating in the heat. I tried everything--baby powder, bandaids...nothing helped! I finallly noticed my legs weren't rubbing anymore when I got down to 200 and below. Such a relief!!! It took awhile but the weight does come off there too.... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

I was banded by Ortiz in March of last yr and I went to a nice Mexican place across the street from the pharmacy (farmacia) which is directly across the street from the Lucerna. There is also a pizza Hut right next to the Hotel too. What we did is go to the Revolucion area (cab is like $2) and there is alot of yummy restaurants. We had some drinks and chips at another mexican restaurant on the strip ( I know, I ate ALOT before my surgery but I was starving...LOL :welldoneclap: ) Good luck to you!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

I used to HATE the gym but learned the only way the lbs would drop was to exercise. I noticed that my walks weren't causing the scale to drop so I started going to the Y 5-6 X a week and making myself do cardio or weights for at least 30 min. That was when I really started to loose. Some ppl are fortunate to loose with just calorie reducing and better food choices but I was not. I have been at my goal weight for over 6 mos now and I still workout 5 X a week, to maintain now....Find something that you enjoy and start slow. I started with walking fast on an incline and swimming because it was easiest on my joints. Now that I am thinner I love running but I think running can be painful when you are too heavy--it was for me. Good luck!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

I understand......that was my worst problem area before I lost my weight with my band. It is such a freedom to have a sexy back again!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

You are not alone!! I, too have done this many times, epsc when I am very tight and I know that I will end up PBing the food up inevitably anyways. Tasting the food at least gives me some satisfaction and I rationalize that least I am not harming my band by PBing. My boyfriend thinks its gross too so I try to only do it when he isn't around and I am very full/tight and I know that its that or nothing at all. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/155/160 5'8''

I put all of my $9000 on my c.card when I went to TJ with Dr.Ortiz. They had no problem with it.. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/154/160 5'8''

Usually after the slipped band is removed the patient feels like they did before they had the band in previously. A patient can eat like they could before banding as well, since the anatomy wasn't changed by putting a band in. That is why alot of patients that have slipped bands tend to gain their weight back. There is no restriction anymore, or very little if any. Living with a slip can be very painful though, from what I've heard. Most people need to have it fixed right away. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/154/160 5'8''

I would hope he isn't a lawyer...lol. Besides the spelling issue, he uses commas instead of periods in his sentences. If you can even call them sentences!! Most are just fragments.... Unless you are a reputable doctor like Dr.C we really only do need banded ppl on here for advice and support. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 5'8''

Once you're already exposed to the 'bad' strains that cause cervical dysplasia and have HPV you can't get those strains again according to my OBGYN. I am 26 now but asked to get the vaccine at 25 but since I already had 2 LEEP procedures when I was 19 and haven't had anymore abnormal paps since, she said that the likelihood of me getting it again is slim. I would definitely reccomend anyone who is of age to get the vaccine though. I contracted HPV as a virgin so it is really scary stuff..... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 5'8''

Anna admited that she didn't take Trim Spa to lose her 70 lbs. People who had taken the diet pill weren't successful with their wieght loss and now there is a lawsuit against the company and Anna for falsely advertising that it was TrimSpa that made her thin. Critics speculate that it was either g.bypass or drugs that caused her to lose her weight so fast. Personally I think it was drugs......poor Anna. I hope her daughter grows up happier than she was. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 5'8''

Thanks for sharing!! I am just glad that kids have options now. I would have LOVED to have gotten my band when I was younger and obese and have my weight problem nipped in the butt early on. I think the lap band for severly obese kids is wonderful--not the bypass however. Too dangerous for children IMO. ~Liz~ 03/10/06241/156/160 5'8''

A co-worker of mine told me just now that he heard that she OD'd on diet pills. I wonder if they were Trim Spa? That is so sad...I am so glad that I got my band and don't have to take diet pills to keep the weight off. Obviously they are super dangerous...... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'8''

BTW Lap Band for Life is written by Dr.Ariel Ortiz....just thought I would mention that because it was mentioned earlier ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'8''

I read that she passed out at the Hard Rock Seminole Hotel in Hollywood, FL unconcious. Does anyone know why she died? I wonder if she was using drugs.....so sad. So much tragedy in her life :think ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'8''

I do cardio 4 x a week and weight training 1 or 2 times and have been doing that for the past 3 months to maintain my weight. I notice when I don't lift weights my metabolism slows and I start gaining weight. I didn't really start noticing my muscles growing until I got to my goal weight and had lost most of the fat that I had wanted to. It can be super frustrating when you are losing weight to not see your results as visibly but keep at it--weight training really does pay off!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'8''

My daughter was diagnosed with HPV at 19 and had to have an envasive procedure called LEEP. Her fertility may be a problem when she wants children but was extremely close to having full blown cervical cancer This is EXACTLY what happened to me and I was a virgin. I am so scared now since I had to have 2 leep procedures back to back that I will have fertility issues when I try to have kids down the road. HPV is so scary and I think the vaccine is such a blessing. I was SO close to having cancer and had no idea. I had no reason to go get a PAP until I was 19 and started having sex. My first visit the doctor told me that I had to have the LEEP procedure right away so I had to leave college and come home for it. It was horrible but after the 2nd one I haven't had any more abnormal paps knock on wood. I didnt know that they didnt do the LEEP anymore though......Wow I hope I can have kids.....I am soo sad now. ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 5'8''

Well I have been at my goal weight since October but while I was losing weight consistently (12-15 lbs a month) I was at anywhere from 2-2.8ccs. It varies greatly from person to person though. I know somebody that had 3.8ccs and needed that much for restriction. I also have a friend who only has .2 and feels tight with that. Right now I have anywhere from 1.5 to 1.8ccs and I have great restriction. Good luck!! ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/157/160 5'8''

Well it seems that they have added some things to the Fill Centers in FL. When I went back in April for my first fill I was told over the phone that fluro was offered. However once I got there I quickly found out that there was no fluro......I spoke with a corp. manager from Fill Centers and he advised me that some do and some dont' but that the fill centers in Tampa and St.Pete don't have it. Thats great if they do now..... I had a horrible experience at Fill Centers in St.Pete but will not speak poorly about the Tampa center because I have never been there. I do know that I was denied a fill and was charged for one anyways. I paid the fee then cancelled my c.card as soon as I left. I will never go back to a Fill Center. Luckily I got my $$ back minus my $75 doctors visit fee (which I still feel is a rip off...) by working my way up the chain to their corp. manager and demanding a refund. I now go to Dr.Jessee in Largo and think she is great. She is much more expensive than Fill centers but she is very competent and to me thats much more important than price. Her fee is $750 with fluro which is done in the hospital and $400 w/out fluro. I hope everyone else has a better experience than I did.... ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/154/160 5'7'' 1/2

My List: Collin Ferrall Matthew Mccaugnehey (sp?) Johhny Depp My bfs List: Salma Hayek Rachel Weis Lateita Casta (thank goodness he likes curvy women!) ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/156/160 5'7 1/2 ''

Hi there, I was banded by Dr.Ortiz in March '06 and have been at my goal weight since Oct. I was a starting BMI of 36. I lost very quickly and I do think it was mostly due to my extreme exercising. It didn't come off very fast at first but once I started picking up my workouts the weight came off much faster (10-15lbs a month). Just wanted to wish you luck:) Dr.Ortiz is the best and if you work at it you can lose just as fast, if not faster than those higher BMI folks! Good luck on a wonderful journey:biggrin1: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/154/160 5'8''

Absolutely NO regrets. The band has changed my life in so many ways and if it were to erode or slip tomorrow it all still would be worth it. I can eat like a normal person now, around 1500-1700 cal a day and nobody even knows I have a band. I now love to exercise and am full of energy:) Plus my body fat has gone from 44% to 19% and I am 6 lbs under my goal weight. Best thing I have ever done for myself!! :biggrin1: :biggrin1: ~Liz~ 03/10/06 241/154/160 5'7 1/2 "