beachgirl

I don't know about my band but I'll say this. All of the metal in my back and my neck they put in sure feels more foreign than this band, but, if we take over I want G.W. Bush's job. He makes the big bucks.

I will always be here as long as I'm breathing. This forum is responsible for my taking the leap and be banded. When I came here just a couple of months ago and I wasn't sure about anything except that I was overweight. With everyone's help and support I am now a bandster. I want to take this oppurtunity to Thank everyone for they're help and support. I am making this pact without.

KMO, Have your doctor call you in some phenergran for upset stomach. It will nip it in the bud. I have had to take it several times and it stops it immediately. Glad your doing well.

I have a name I can give you. I haven't seen him but a very nice lady on here uses him and gave me his name and number in case I needed him. I called and they do take Mexican patients and use fluro. He is at Centinial Hospital in Nashville and his name his Dr. Hugh Huston. Let me grab his addy. www.cmcwls.com She could probably tell you more but here is there site. The lady that referred me is Robin and she is on this forum too. Rtwisdale is her name on here.

It took me about a month too but I was also self pay in Mexico and it's much faster but expensive.

Welcome, And yes, this is in mho the best place in the world for friends, support and info. I have made so many friends on here and just love it. I check in here each day before I ever think about checking my email. LOL Congrats on the weight loss, you were banded 4 days after me. I only had to do liquids one week, mushies one week, week 3, fish and veggies and Monday thank the lord, chicken, yes. We didn't have to do preop diet either from which I'm thankful. I can tell though with each passing day that I'll be ready for my fill in 2 weeks. I have great restriction in the mornings and through lunch but by nighttime it's mostly gone. Good luck on your journey and we are pleased to have you.

I hear you with the no sandals. After my right foot surgery he told me never ever go barefooted or sandals. Well don't you know the week after surgery I ran out to the garage, it was raining, to push the button for it to go down and I was barefooted. I stepped on a pebble with my left heel that was already starting to bother me. Damn, how can I be so stupid. I wasted lots of time and money with all and I do mean all of the cortisone shots in my right heel. They started out helping for 2 months then got down to 2 weeks. I guess I will give this left heel a couple of more weeks then I will just have surgery. I don't want to waste a lot of time and money. My right heel is perfect, I mean it's been a year and absolutely NO pain from it. YOu can't even feel the spur but boy oh boy you can feel it in my left heel. Good luck everyone. I hope be banded might help to after a fill and start my weight loss up again.

You know how most of my experiences here in the states when you meet a new surgeon you might get a quick handshake if your lucky. Dr. Sanchez comes in and gives you a big ole bearhug and then kisses you on the forehead each and everytime you see him. I know that doesn't mean alot to some people but to me it just made me feel hey, he's human and he cares and trust me he does. I have only wonderful things to say about him and if I lived in Houston or somewhere I would see him for everything in the medical field.

That's not fair. I hate cottage cheese. Well, actually I've never tasted it but I know I hate it. LOL

You will absolutely love Dr. Sanchez. He is the sweetest kindest Doctor I have ever known, and he's done more than 6600 of these so he knows what he is doing. You will also enjoy the guesthouse of his. Make sure and take some DVD's with you. I did and I was sooooo proud I did. Most channels are in spanish. There's a couple English but I'd take some movies with me. You can use they're computer and they have a phone you can use to call home on free of charge. If you take someone with you make sure you take them some Snacks or you can call in delivery. Tell everyone there that Sherri said hello, they were all so good to DH and myself. The surgery will be a breeze and it is so fast. Let me know how everything goes.

Me 7 days postop scars

How do you resize pics is what I can't do. P'nut, how do you do it. I know you know.

Your stomach is still swelled. I understand that it is restriction. I still have lots and lots in the mornings up until the evening. I guess it's how it fills to have a fill. Eat very slow and don't drink with your meals. I have found that causes it with me. Hope your feeling better. Was wondering how you were doing.

Pretty please!

[ATTACH]5754[/ATTACH]My scars are healing nicely.

I've took imitrex and a couple of others for mine but the one that works the best is the Relpax. It's very pricy but insurance does cover it (imagine that, BCBS actually covering something, LOL). I usually have about 1 a month, severe pain, sensitivity to light, sound, upset stomach and it usually lasts for 12-24 hours. I have had them to last longer before the Relpax. Since I've been banded thankfully no migranes.

Did everyone see the Today Show today. I missed it but my Grandmother who is the one that suggested I get the lap band and has been my biggest motivator as I worship the ground she walks on did see it and called me so I went to they're website and watched it. www.msnbc.com It was great. The Shelton family of 5 all had the lapband surgery done and have lost so far collectively over 500 pounds. It was very inspiring as the host stated well the surgery has a rate of 4% complications and here were 5 people that had it and none had any problems whatsoever and were losing. Everyone should check it out and watch it if you haven't already seen it.

Give Dr. Rodolfo Sanchez a look. He's done the most (6600) right Amy, and told us that for a fact. He was wonderful, best surgical experince in my life and I've had several. He's 8500.00 and alma, Janet, Judy, Marlene, Evette they are all fabulous. I have tons on info if you want it. Amy and I went the same day and absolutely no problems. I hear Dr. Ortiz is great too, I just don't know him but I know tons like him too. The fills with Dr. Sanchez are free for life as well but I'm getting mine done here and they are no higher for me than if he had done my surgery. I too was self pay, didn't want to jump the my insurance hoops, BCBS and was a bit impatient as well. Been banded 2 weeks and lost about 21 pounds although I was up one yesterday but I think it's time for Aunt Flo. Good luck on your decision and I'll be glad to PM you names, addresses, phone numbers, I even have lots of pictures as well if you want them. I don't work for him either. LOL Just had a wonderful experience with him.

We have a supermarket and a barbeque restuarant and a catering buisness. We stay very busy.

I love the band. I wanted my insides to be left alone. I also know too many people with the bypass that are having major problems. It was a no brainer for me and I wouldn't have done it any other way.

Before I had my neck surgery I had the same symptoms especially the butt and leg pain. It sounds sooooo much like my ruptured discs. Mine showed up in the M.R.I. but you really have to have a very good Neurosurgeon to see it my regular M.D. didn't. I don't want to scare you but I had the exact same symptoms. Now, after the surgery, the removing the discs, putting in a small peice of leg bone and metal brackets to hold everything in place I still suffer on a daily basis. They said another surgery but I've had 3 already in the past 2 years and I said no, I just can't do it right now. Take care of yourself and make sure you get checked out by a very good neuro surgeon.

Mark, I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. It is so sweet getting it done together. Now you tell your wife that you will loose quicker than her and it's just a natural thing and for her not to get upset. I've had the band for 2 weeks, lost 21 pounds and I still weigh 4 pounds more than my husband and had to spend 10,000.00 to get there and he's still smaller and 5 inches taller. Go figure. I will say a prayer for you both. Make sure you both sip and not drink, drinks lots of water, and walk walk walk. You will both be fine and losing weight right and left.

Congrats, Did you have the fluroscopy and how much of that barrium stuff do you have to drink. So, it's not all that painful. I am getting a little apprehensive about the hole fill thing but know I have to do it in a couple of weeks. Hope your doing great.

Penni, Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/, then click on family drops 500 pounds, on the right towards the bottom and you can watch the entire interview. Hugs,

OMG, I told my husband on day 5 that I feel something that feels just like when I was pregnant and the baby kicking. He's fixed and I am not and we have our first granddaughter and he was like, ummmm, you better not be. It was funny but I had that exact same feeling.