wild_in97

Well, most of what I am eating is cottage cheese and scrambled eggs. I still drink a few Protein shakes, but that is not satisfying for along. I have only eaten one truly solid meal. I grilled my hubby a really nice steak the other night and I cut what would have been a couple of bites off of it and put it on my plate with veggies and cottage cheese. When I finished that meal, I felt full for several hours. I cut my steak up into about 12-15 bites rather than 2-3. I was eating solid food a little prematurely, but chewed until it was pretty much liquid in my mouth. That sounds gross and I really do not mean to gross anyone out, but just letting those that are newer to this than I am, you must chew, chew, chew. It is encouraging to hear from others that they had similar experiences and went on to lose a lot and lost it fast. I weighed this morning and I finally did drop another pound. Thank the LORD!!!!! Thanks for your response. Your success is encouragement for others. Share it with other threads.........you never know what it may mean to someone else. God bless Wild

26 pounds in 4 weeks is great. I was banded July 25 (originally), then there was a tiny problem and they went back in to correct something on the 27th. Anyhow, it was great for a while, I was not hungry and was losing almost a pound a day, that is, until I started eating cottage cheese and some soft scrambled eggs. I have not lost anything since then. Plus, I am hungry all of the time. I don't want to be a downer here, I just need to know what you did differently. 26 is a good number.........no, it is a great number for you. God bless Wild

Hi, I have only been banded for about 17 days, but will need a fill in another 3-4 weeks. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. If you know of a good doctor that does the fills with fluoro in Houston area, please send me all info, including the price. Thanks Wild

Hi, I was banded 7/25/06, had a little problem so they went back in on 7/27/2006 and fixed it. I woke up from the surgery with hiccups and could not even swallow juice or broth. So, two days later, they fixed it and anchored me much better. So, it has been a little over 2 weeks since they surgery. There have been a few days I felt fine. I have no pain from the surgery and everything should be ready for exercising. However, I am tired. I am really really tired at this point. I don't know if this is because I have so much on my mind or if it is because of the surgery. My life is very complicated right now, but physically and mentally so very tired. I have lost about 12 pounds. I just started eating cottage cheese and scrambled eggs a few days ago. I am getting hungry now, which did not occur the first 10 days. Has anyone else felt tired and no energy with this surgery. I have read other people say that when they got over the pain of the surgery, they had great energy. How about you guys?? Thanks for your time, Wild

Hi, I am as healthy as a horse, but overweight. So, I gave up on the insurance thing and went and had it done in Mexico. I was scared to do it in Mexico, but I was taken care of very well. I could not be happier that I did go to Mexico. As a matter of fact, the doctors told me if I had any type of problems, slippage etc...........to call them and come back and they would take care of me. They said they plan to be around for another 20 years, so, they would help me if there were any problems whatsoever. American doctors do not have that much concern about their people. Hope all goes well for you guys. Wild

OK, at least it is not just me that feels the port all the time. I am not sure if I can stand that for the rest of my life though. I just started eating scrambled eggs and a little bit of cottage cheese. Other than that, I just drink Slim Fast, GlycoLean shake, etc..... I have only been eating this for a couple of days and realized how hungry I have been. I honestly think I could have eaten a dozen eggs last night. Is this normal after only 2 weeks? I don't want to gain those 12 pounds back. I have to lose lots and lots of weight fast. Please give me any information that may help me. I can be honest in some of these lapband talk rooms. Believe me, other than my husband and the doctors that did this operation, nobody knows about this. I am so hungry. :hungry::hungry: and sleepy all the time. Please:help::help: Thanks Wild

Ok, I was banded on July 25th and woke up with the hiccups. They started bringing me broth and juice to drink within a few hours. I noticed I could only drink a couple of sips and it sat there for hours. I told one of the doctors about it and he x-rayed me. He said that it was going through the band, but much slower than normal. So, for me to sip slower and let some of the inflamation go down. The next day when everyone else was going to the hotel, they wanted me to stay until I could drink at least a full cup of broth within an hour and/or juice. I took a couple of sips and sat there.......it did not move. After a couple of hours, I threw it up. Once I threw it up, they x-rayed me again, with more doctors coming in to look at what was going on. They all agreed, they needed to go back in and fix me. They thought there was a tiny bit of slippage when I woke up with the hiccups and they would go in and anchor it down better. They told me if they go in and that was not the problem, they would have to take this band out and put a bigger one in. I really did not want a bigger band. They had the one that is 9.75 cm and would replace it with a 13cm. I knew if they did that, the only time the band would help me at all would be with a fill and while the fill was fairly new. I told them I much prefer the 9.75 and I was afraid that the 13 cm would cause my surgery to be "not effective for weight loss." Anyhow, they adjusted it and anchored it much better. I did keep the 9.75 band. For two weeks I drank liquids with only a tiny bit of yogurt. I lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks. I was told by someone I met in another Lap-band support room that she started eating scrambled eggs and cottage cheese on day 10. I was really getting hungry so I started eating that too. I was wearing a size 18 and they were getting too small for me just before the surgery. Now, they fit me just fine. I had refused to buy size 20s no matter what the situation was. I have another month before my fill. I don't have a doctor to do the fills. Does anyone know of a MD in the Houston area that does the fills with the floro? Please let me know. I am very happy with 12 pounds gone in 2 weeks. This may not qualify me for your group, but because I have always lost weight slow, I identify with this group more than any other. I have another question. Are you able to feel the little fill thing they implant in you forever???? Sometimes when I turn over in bed, I feel like it gets caught or something and it hurts. I know that sounds wierd, but true. Thanks for any words of encouragement. God bless Wild

I have a friend that has her PhD in Natural Health. I told her about your situation and she said it sounded like one of two or three problems. In natural health the diagnosis is not the most important thing. She said it sounds like your immune system has been compromised and needs to be corrected. If you would like to call her or get more information concerning natural ways to correct this, you can send me a private message letting me know. She does not want her information to be posted on the message boards, but said it was fine if I give individuals that really want the information her phone number. I know she has been very successful in helping others with diabetes, all of the auto-immune issues, cancer, heart disease etc.........Just let me know with a private message and I will be happy to give you her info. Wild

I will be doing the Mexico trip. I hate spending the money, but just don't want to wait for insurance to consider it. I will need someone to do fills for me once I return and can be filled. I understand they want you to wait 6-8 weeks for fills. Would you ask Dr. Wilkenfeld if he will do fills for someone that has gone to Dr. Ortiz? What will it cost? I am spending all my extra money in the world on the surgery and have no idea how I am going to afford the fills. I know I will do it, but sure would appreciate knowing who can and will do the fills and the cost of it. Thanks........Wild.

What is your BMI? Do you have any comorbidities??? If not, I was told I had to gain another 10 pounds. Well, that just does not sound right. So, I decided to go to Mexico for the surgery without going through that process. I don't care to compromise my integrity to gain weight so I can get them to pay. Plus, you never know, they may say no anyhow. So my husband and I talked about it and he agreed, the way the traditional medical world and insurance takes care of business is horrible. I wish you great luck. Wild

What the heck is an apron??? Somebody, PLEEEEAAASSSE tell me!!!! Do you get an apron with the lap band, in addition to the LB, after, what. I guess I just do not comprehend this. I am scheduled in Mexico to get Banded later in July, but can not afford one surgery after another.....or is it all at the same time???? I am confused. Please, every one answer. Thanks Wild

I have several books I read at. But the one I am reading through is, Cancer is Not a Disease, by Andreas Moritz. It is fascinating. It certainly makes you stop and think........

What are you getting your Ph.D. in??? What is your dissertation concerning? How long have you been working on it. What phase are you in??? I am very interested in furthering your education. Where are you getting this degree from????? Wild

I was talking to someone the other day about when I got in the habit of eating a lot. I have never been one to love to eat breakfast. So, growing up, I would not eat much of anything, if anything at all before school. It made me feel like I was going to throw up the first couple of hours. Then, our school lunches when I was growing up was horrible. I would eat the roll and throw most of the rest of it away. School was always hard for me. I had a hard time concentrating, I could not read well, especially out loud, and I was always afraid the teachers were going to compare me with my sisters. So, when I got home in the afternoon, I hit the house hungry and relieved from all of that pressure and anxiety. I would eat a huge amount of food. Mother was always running her own business, and she would tell me to get whatever I wanted. I would always eat at least one sandwich, coke, cupcakes and maybe a few kitchen sinks. Days that I had felt humiliated for one reason or the other, it was always worse. So now, when is my hungry time of the day. It hits around 3-4:30. And it is almost like a release of intense anxiety. I can feel it when I come home. And yes, Jack, it is comforting to be home and to eat at home away from the rest of the world. And you are right, because of my weight now, I still deal with the humiliation of others and feeling much worse about myself. Anyhow, just thought I would share how I got in the BAD habits that led me to this message board. Thanks. Wild.

It seems that most of us overweight seems to have some real serious underlying issues as to why we are over weight. I have underlying issues as to why I am overweight and as to why I want to lose the weight. To read some of your posts, I admire the honesty you share your lives to us. It seems that I have always hid my feelings to spare others feelings. I have hid my feelings to not let others know they have hurt me, scared they will only find that they can hurt me more and more. My husband is the only person in the world I share all my feelings with.........but even with him, I have never told him my weight. It is something I can not hide from anyone, but it is not something I want to admit my exact weight to anyone. I weigh 232 and am embarrassed and totally ashamed of it. I have two sisters that are thin and beautiful, and they have hurt me so much that it is hard for me to ever get around them at all. I think I have decided to go to Mexico to get this band. But I am so scared that I will be one of those that will lose a little, and stop. I do not want to waste my husbands good money to do something so selfish as to get this surgery and it not work. For all of you that have gone to Mexico for your banding, can you send me some good report as well as those that may not be so good. I want to hear it all. Please let me know all of it. Wild..........If you knew me, the name Wild does not describe me. I am very quiet and very self reserved. I am almost an introvert.

Hi, I read the co-morbidities that you listed above for the insurance to complete this LB procedure. I like to keep a sharp vocabulary, especially when it comes to medical terms. Here it goes: <form action="/script/main/search.asp?" method="post"></form> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr> <td align="center" background="/images/bkgd_search.gif" height="44" valign="top"> [/url] </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top"> Definition of Pickwickian syndrome Pickwickian syndrome: The combination of obesity, somnolence (sleepiness), hypoventilation (underbreathing), and plethoric (red) face. The syndrome is so named because of the "fat and red-faced boy in a state of somnolency" that Charles Dickens described in his novel, The Pickwick Papers. (The same boy is thought by some experts possibly to have had the Prader-Willi syndrome). </td></tr></tbody></table> and the other one I looked up was this: Signs and Symptoms Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is encountered most frequently in young, overweight women between the ages of 20 and 45. Headache is the most common presenting complaint, occurring in more than 90 percent of cases. Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting may also be encountered, but typically there are no alterations of consciousness or higher cognitive function. Tinnitus, or a "rushing" sound in the ears, is another frequent complaint. Visual symptoms are present in up to 70 percent of all patients with PTC, and include transient visual obscurations, general blurriness, and intermittent horizontal diplopia. These symptoms tend to worsen in association with Valsalva maneuvers and changes in posture. Reports of ocular pain, particularly with extreme eye movements, have also been noted. We need to know what those doctors are talking about when we go in to talk with them. Wild

Hi, I am considering Mexico too. I have talked with Carolyn at least twice since the doctors office told me I would have to gain 10 pounds for my insurance to cover me. Can you tell me more about the Mexico trip? We weigh very close to our start out weight. I am 232 and very healthy. I don't want to wait until I have heart disease or until I can not walk because of knees and hips. I am still extremely active and love life......except I hate being fat. It is beginning to depress me. Is that a co-morbidity????? Anyhow, I need to know more about the Mexico trip. I have all the forms. I just have not filled anything out or paid anything, because there is a little voice saying, "wait, wait, wait." But I wish I had done this 6 months ago. Share your experience with me.....please. Wild

Hey, do you mind me asking what your health conditions are? I have UHC and when I called the doctors offices they said I would have to have two weight related health problems and/or be 100 + pounds overweight. They told me I would actually need to gain 10 more pounds for me to NOT have the health issues. Would you mind keeping me up on your situation. I did not think it sounded right to purposely gain 10 pounds to have a surgery. So, I am now looking at the Mexico cheaper route. Please let me know what your health care says and what doctor you are going to. Thanks Wild

I am cruising these message boards trying to figure out for sure if I am going to put out all this money. This group makes me wonder if it will be worth it at all. I am the kind that gains weight when I go on fasts, so the idea of doing this really scares me. Last August I went on a juice fast. I drank two glasses of vegetable juice like V8 or tomato juice and two glasses of fruit juice a day. I did this for 9 days. Then, for the next week or two I would drink 3-4 juices a day and eat a garden salad and have a cup of tomato basil Soup with low fat milk in it. That was all.........I gained 10 pounds with this!!!!!!! I know if I could have fasted for 30-40 days, I could have changed my metabolism and would have begun to lose the weight............but the above was all I could do. Now, I have a personal question, for those of you that have lost lots of weight, do you have a lot of sagging skin, wrinkles etc.....when you lose??? This concerns me very much. I need to lose 80-95 pounds depending on which chart you are looking at. I weigh right at 232 and want to weigh between 135-150. I know I look and feel good there. But if I am more embarrassed about lose skin at 135 than my fat at 232, should I do the lap band. Also, how many people never have any problems with them whatsoever? How many say that they never have to go back for any kind of removal or procedure to correct slippage???? OK, I have worn you guys out. Can you answer my questions???? Pleeeaasseee!!!!!! Wild!!!!!

Well, it cost over $300 for a round trip airline ticket to San Diego. So a free fill would not be possible. However, they told me about a line of businesses opening up throughout the country called "Fill center USA." I am not sure, but something I saw or read on it makes me think they are all owned or at least partially owned by Dr. Ortiz. I need to go back to their website and make sure of what I saw or read that made me think that........but I would think if they are free in Tj, they should be free if he has offices throughout the u.s.a. Right????? I need some encouragment right now, because some of the posts I have read recently makes it seem like this is similar to just another diet fad. I can not afford to spend $9000 on a diet fad. It will be worth the money if I lose 60-80 pounds, but if I lose 5-10, I will be devestated. Absolutely crushed!!!!! Wild_in97

Hi, I am considering a TJ doctor. Do you mind sharing who did yours and how much did it cost? What was your experience etc...... I am really concerned about this and can not afford to do this and find out I have to have a second surgery. Thanks in advance for the response. I am considering doing the surgery the last week of July. I just need more input. thanks

Thanks so much for sharing that with me. I was going to try to get the insurance companies to pay for mine, but just reading about it, I decided to just do it in Mexico. I am talking with Dr. Ortiz's office. I truly can not afford to do this even once..............I surely can not afford to do 2-3-4 surgeries. How much does it cost you to get filled? They told me of a place in TX I can get filled the first time for $299 and $155 after that. I thought that was a high price for a little bit of saline. Anyhow, getting over the money part is really hard for me. It is very hard to spend this money on myself. I am really in very good health. I thank the Lord for that and would like to keep my good health.

I am reading and try to learn about this. I am only considering getting banded. Why would it be 8 months after your surgery and you have had no fills yet??? I thought they ask you to wait 6-8 weeks, so why 8+ months? This seems like a strange thing. You spend $8,000-$20,000 to get banded, then you don't get a fill and you lose weight that slow. What is different about you than the others that get their fills in a few weeks.......... I don't mean to sound dumb, but I guess I am. I am trying to find out all of the good, the bad and the ugly of getting banded. Paying all of that money for the band and not getting any fills and losing only 30 pounds in 8 months is definitely the ugly of this. Please explain this to me. Who banded you and why won't they fill you? This is just down right discouraging. It is going to take a lot of sacrifice for me to get banded...................... wild_97

On your message, it showed you were banded in 2004 and unbanded in 2004. What was the deal.........why????? I am not banded yet and if I do get banded, I certainly could not afford to go through 2 or 3 surgeries. So what happened and why???? Thanks

Yes vicki, I am there. My husband and I use to have an extremely active sex life. But just recently, I think the feeling of being overweight has just ruined it for us. He has been my one and only and out of 30 years of marriage, we have had 29.5 years of good sex, but just recently I have started shying away from it. He thinks something is wrong with him. But I promise you, there is nothing wrong with him.............he is 6'2'' and 195. He is adorable, outgoing and just as good as gold. I know he loves me, but I just do not feel like a sexual being any longer. I try to explain to him that it is all me and not him, but he takes it as rejecting him. Yes, I am tired of squeezing into places I probably should not be, as well as places I really don't fit any more. I have to go interview in the next few weeks, and I just hate trying to sell myself when I hate myself. Thanks for sharing..............I am not banded yet, but seriously considering it. God bless