tribon

Is there a site to go on to check the references, complaints, problems,etc of doctors and hospitals in Mexico. I've heard of them in the US but not Mexico. I'd love to know how each of them stand professionally.

Checking in for roll call. Just got back late last night from vacation. Took the boys fishing in Minnesota! Absolutely beautiful weather. Everyday sunny and 80 degrees. Eating wise wasn't so beautiful. I got on the scale this morning and it said 200.0. I got on it again and again. Still 200.0. It was those s'mores that went down so well! I am really tight when I first wake up these days. For me and my midnight shift, I am waking up 2 or 3 times during the day. This limits my eating at home and I can only eat what I pack for myself for lunch. The weight has been coming off pretty steady. This vacation was the first time I've had more than 1 or 2 days a week off of work at a time since my fill in March. I was pretty open all afternoon and evening. What a strange feeling! I was just so happy to be able to eat meals with my family again that I didn't really think about what I was eating. I have a new respect for you all with a normal eating schedule. I think I'd have to get another fill. Well, no more campfires with s'mores for a while and back to work tonight. Hopefully I can say goodbye to 200 for good this time!

I have to admit that I get tired of hearing how wonderful I look and how much weight I have lost! I know I should be appreciative, and I really am. The problem I have is when it is all I hear when I see people. My MIL goes on and on everytime I see her and tells everyone around us about my lap band and how much weight I have lost. I keep thinking "was I really that bad before?" or is she just trying to make me feel good. I get it at work alot with certain people too. I get tired of my weight being such a big issue all the time. I guess thats what I wanted to get away from when I got the band. I don't want to obsess about my weight anymore. Sorry about the rant, I just got back from dinner with in laws!

Hi Carol! I'm back. Sorry it took so long to reply. I was on vacation and then came back with computer issues! You should be at 5 weeks out now. I hope the mushie stage is over for you. Does your doctor let you exercise yet? As much as I don't want to, I find that moving around more helped get past the stubborn weight stoppages! It sounds like you were eating what I did at that stage. I never thought I would get tired of jello and pudding (Fat free, of course) but I did. My husband made me pumpkin pie (without the crust, less sugar, and with FF evaporated milk) and that helped alot. It was filling and I love pumpkin pie! Oatmeal was another filling mushie for me. I was just surprised at the amount that I could still eat at 4 weeks out. I was always hungry. I think not being able to physically eat bread and meat (too painful) made me mentally hungry. I got a fill at 6-7 weeks and that helped alot and that is when my weight started to really drop. I'm excited to see your journey, keep me posted!

I, too, have just come upon this thread. What a breath of fresh air. A great place to be when you are trying to come to terms with being close to goal. I have 32 pounds to lose before I am considered to have a "normal" bmi. I find it hard to wrap my mind around because I still feel a long way from "normal." I have been obese since I was 9 years old. I was close to goal when I was 19 and gained it all back within 1 1/2 years. Being of normal weight is not even a reality in my mind yet. I haven't broke my "fat girl" habits. I still look around the room when I go somewhere to see if I am the fattest one there. I still head straight for the plus size section in a store, only to be surprised that nothing fits. I am still very self-consious about eating in front of people (what must they think of this?!) I feel like I have missed the boat on this running thing. I really have never considered running before. The girls aren't an issue. There's not much to these size B 1/2's! Did you all start by walking or just a slow jog? Maybe some bigger leg muscles would help my sagging thighs!

I too do not have much interest in plain water anymore. I think I got bored! I buy the Wyler's brand from Walgreens. It is only a dollar for a box of 8 individuals or 3 of the 2 gallon mixes. They have alot of flavors and I like them as well as Crystal Light.

Beechee! It has been so long since I've read your posts that you have inspired me to finally check in! I'm glad to see your weight loss has come along so well. I haven't posted in quite a while but I catch up with LBT every week or so. I love reading about my fellow June Bandsters and the awesome progress everyone is making! I recently went back to the posts from the beginning of our journey until now. It was really interesting to see us go from getting aquainted with the band, coming to terms with excercise, the start of the fill process, getting through the holidays, and finally the home stretch to June again. And how about that Vegas trip! Great pics. I'm going next time, where ever it is. What a ride these little silicone bands have brought us through! I got my third fill in February and I am still where I need to be restriction wise. I am finally to the point where I eat a few bites and I am full. I haven't lost any restriction since and I am grateful for that. It is a liberating feeling to not even consider a donut or bread because of the discomfort I know will come. Okay, I do consider it. But when I do, I usually end up ruling it out shortly after the first bite. Somehow I don't think the cravings will ever completely go away. I hit 199.5 on the morning of my one year anniversary. It was so strange not to see a 2 or 3 in front of the numbers. That hasn't happened since I was a teenager. I was so excited I cried. My DH thought I was nuts but I guess only us special people can truly understand the signifigance. Congrats to us all and I look forward to the next year. By the way, a big thank you to all of you dedicated posters who have kept this thread alive. You don't know how much it has inspired me to keep going!

Hi Carol! I'm Tricia from Portage! Congrats on your surgery. Hang with it for a little while longer, soon you will be able to eat a good variety of foods. That creamy stage was frustrating for me because I wanted to chew something to feel like I was actually eating! I was self pay so I chose to have my surgery in Mexico. It will be a year on June 26. So far so good, no complications what so ever! I tried getting the doctors up here (Merrillville area) to do my aftercare but none would touch a patient operated on in Mexico. That's ok, I go to Dr. C in Cincinnati and I think he and his staff are wonderful. It is also a good excuse for me and my DH to get away for a day or so together! Good luck to you and all of my fellow Hoosiers just beginning! What an exciting time on your journey. I hope all of you love your band as I do mine. It was the best decision I have ever made for my health.

I wish I had told people. Especially those at work. Some of these people are very close friends, one of whom is morbidly obese herself. I was scared to tell them for many reasons. I never really talked about my weight before with them and I felt self-conscience, I was afraid I would be constantly watched when I ate, I was afraid of failure, and I didn't want a hard time about having my surgery in Mexico. Looking back, I wished that I had told them just after my surgery. When people ask me how I have lost my weight, I honestly tell them about tracking my food and cutting back on portions and carbs. When I walk away from them I feel really guilty. They are thinking that I have this tremendous self-control that I don't actually have. I'm now really afraid that a family member will blurt it out when we have get-togethers outside of work.

Pinkylee:Sorry about the delayed response. My computer has major issues. We've got a new one coming this week. I had vein surgery on 1/9. It went well, the doctor decided not to take out the whole vein as originally planned. He took out 5 sections of the vein making 5 nasty incisions up my leg. He said it would put me back on my feet faster. I don't know about rushing back to work, I'm kind of enjoying this time with the kids. I stay home most days, Chi-town is cold and snowy. I'm not excercising much but I did remove anything tempting snack-wise from the house. Sometimes I move around the kitchen, looking in all of the cabinets, the fridge, and the freezer. I'm looking for something I may have missed. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy looking for something awful to eat. I realize now that I am a serious boredom eater!

It's so nice to see everyone checking in! Everyone seems to moving along great. I seem to be motivated more by the various reported NSV's than the weight losses these days. They are so important to my success. I can't wait to fly again just to feel the difference in the seatbelt! My latest NSV is the fact that I took a bath for the first time in years! My doctor recommended that I soak my leg incisions in the bath tub for a few minutes and I cringed. I always showered. I never really fit in the bathtub so my body acted like a giant dam. This was especially humiliating for me. I fit last night! No damming and my legs got a good soaking. I'm going for bubble bath today!

Exercise and tracking my food. I don't always follow the bandster eating like I should (sweets still get me!) but tracking my food really keeps me thinking about what I'm eating at all times. I stay active (walking and housework) at home and even put forth extra effort at work! I watch very little tv anymore, too tempting to sit and eat.

Welcome to our humble June thread Ladypitboss! I am one of those 'port floaters'. Luckily my Doc here can find it with one poke so far. Well, I made it through the holidays so far without gaining weight and made my Christmas Goal! I'm getting a little worried though because my doctor wants to remove a vein from my leg and wants me off my feet and off of work for a month! I really feel like I need to exercise for my weight loss to continue. I'm thinking of getting a fill during this time to help me with boredom eating. Any other suggestions? My surgery is on January 9th. Congrats to everyone's 6 month bandiversary! In reviewing our posts from these months it is clear that we have all had an exciting, yet sometimes frustrating journey. Being a closet bander to most people, I'm glad I've had this thread to keep me company along the way. Here's to an even more exciting (and less frustrating) next 6 months!

When I go into a restaurant, I have a hard time choosing what to eat. I used to pick what would give me the most food but now I just can't eat that much. Most menu items seem to be too much or not agreeable with my band. The only thing that really appeals to me is the senior or kid's portions. Not to mention the prices are cheaper. Does anybody know the general "accepted" rule for ordering off of the senior menu or the kid's menu? Are there any particular restaurants that are "band friendly?" If I order from these menus, will I be told that I have to order from the regular menu? I haven't done it yet but I'm tired of wasting food and money.

Good Morning All! It's cold here in Chicagoland! I'm jealous of your beautiful Texas weather! It's been a while since I've posted. Been working alot of OT. Well I've hit my 50 pound mark. I really can't believe it yet. Only a few people have commented at work (out of hundreds!). I think they are uncomfortable mentioning other people's weight (at least to their face)! I have gone from a tight 24 to a comfortable 20. I contribute the majority of my weight loss to exercise. I do alot of lifting, pushing, and walking at work. Lately it has been rough and I've been working through my lunch most days. If it weren't for this "forced" activity, I'm not sure where I'd be. Working midnights-sleeping instead of eating during the morning and evening-doesn't hurt. Fear of pb'ing keeps me eating the "easy" stuff most often. Little or no real tasty protein. Mostly crunchy and mushy--chips and sweets. I did finally figure out my band a little better. I always got stuck on hard protein. Salmon, chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, etc. no matter how much I chewed. It is so frustrating not to be able to eat that stuff for weeks. I would always try to "lube" it with soft mashed potatoes or drinks. Last week I ate meatloaf without potatoes or drink and just chewed well and all three or so ounces passed right through. I've been slowly adding new proteins and they pass through reasonably well (no pb'ing) without mashed potatoes. I'm hoping I'll be more satisfied now and not need to graze on the bad stuff or drink with my meals as often. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Hi Tammyrn! I'm from Portage! I've done ok with my band, this is the only support group I've been involved with. I have good and bad days; alot of frustrating ones since my last fill. Sometimes I just want to eat whatever goes through easily (usually the bad stuff) just to sooth me mentally. I've had a decent loss that I attribute mostly to my job. It is very physical and I'm on my feet for 8-9 hours, sometimes without lunch. I do alot of lifting, pushing, pulling, and walking. I'm not sure how well I'd do without "forced" exercise!

I'm almost 5 months out and started losing my hair about a month ago. Luckily I have really thick hair and I'm the only one who has noticed (besides my DH who has to clear the bathroom drains). I usually have alot of loose hair after a shower but now it seems to fall out everywhere! I'm going to get worried if it doesn't stop soon. It would be just my luck that it will all grow back in gray !

This is so strange because I was just showing my DH my "mystery" bruises last night. On my legs and arms. My legs are probably from work but not my arms. I'm going tonight to get some vitamins with iron. I think that just may be my problem. It gets kind of embarrassing when I wear short sleeves.

Ok, now I need a kick in the butt! I have been doing poorly this past couple of weeks. I just get so tired of fighting with this darned band. I have found my self taking the "path of least resistance." The bad stuff goes down easily, and that's what I have eaten. For three weeks. Since my last fill I have been pretty tight. It took 3 weeks to realize that I'm not too tight. I just need to slow down and chew, chew, chew. Meanwhile, I have slipped into my old ways. I used to be compulsive about charting what I ate, rarely eating sweets, always getting my protein and veggies. Now I find myself eating without thinking of the consequences again. Just like before banding, and I'm getting scared I will sabotoge myself. :nervous I drank a milkshake yesterday and when I was done I thought about what I did and was shocked. I drank it without my usual internal warning system kicking in. My only thought was that it will go down easy. Please, some stern, encouraging words are needed. I am beginning to doubt my ability to go for the long haul. Goal just seems to be a dream for someone else.

Welcome to LBT! I'm from NW Indiana but I visit Southern Indiana alot. My parents live down there. Please don't get discouraged from what other people say. Read, read, and read some more, especially on this site. I'll tell you first hand that it is not "the easy way out" but it is a great tool to help you gain control of what, for me, was out of control-eating. It takes lots of patience, a willingness to change eating habits, and a willingness to follow advice and instructions. I hope you decide on whats best for you. If it is Lab Band surgery, please know that we will be there for you for support and advice.

Dr. Curry is a good alternative. I live in NW Indiana and had my band done in Mexico. I like the thought of having a relationship with a more local doctor with lots of experience just in case of emergencies. He is nice, his office staff is competent (some are banded as well), and he is good at what he does. He's worth the drive.

If I have ever questioned why I got this frustrating band, a doctor made it clear yesterday. I have these "lumps" on my lower legs(just a few) that have come and gone for years. They can be painful to the touch. My former pcp said that they were 'stress' bumps and that everybody's body reacts differently to stress and this was my way. My new pcp referred me to a dermatologist to find out for sure. He looked at my legs, asked me a few questions and then told me to listen carefully. My lumps are blood clots where the blood pools because my veins are losing the ability to move the blood around properly. He said that if I don't get the weight off and start wearing compression socks immediately whenever I'm walking around, I will not be walking unaided by the time I turn 60. What a wake up call. I thought of my very active parents who are 62 and really got scared. I'm 37 now and the thought of wearing compression socks for the rest of my life is daunting but as for the weight thing, I've got a good head start. This kind of puts the whole weight loss thing in a new perspective.

I have learned -to accept that the band is only a tool, not an automatic weight loss. -that I will not die if I am not constantly full. -that I generally had no concept of a 'normal portion' of food. -that, even in small amounts, some foods simply don't work anymore. -that exercise is my number one reason I feel and look better. -to forgive myself for a bad eating day(s) and move on. -there is nothing more motivating for me than to log on to LBT.

I haven't posted in a while. My computer has been rotten. My most recent good news is that, for my birthday (9-22), my DH surprised me with a little exercise room with a bow flex (with room for more equipment) in the garage! It is awesome to be able to go out there and work out and not really having to get dressed or bring kids with me. Now that I've figured out how to use it, I'm trying to strengh train 2x's a week. I got another fill on 9/25. I now have 1.9cc's in a 4cc band. One week later and I still have restriction :clap2: . While catching up on all of the posts, I find myself nodding my head up and down for most things. Particularly about the PBing. My worst habit that I still need to break is eating too fast. I know that I wouldn't PB hardly at all if I would just slow down and think before I eat. My DH says that I eat too fast for fear that our 5 growing boys will eat it all first! He's got a point but I do get my portion first and let them go at the rest! Congrats Darrin on discovering the treasure in your own closet. I did that recently and it feels great to finally pull that stuff out.

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">My port was a "wanderer" almost from the start. I would locate it and then the next day it was gone. When I had my first (and only so far) fill, the Doc (not my surgeon) said that the sutures must have popped loose and the port is floating around. He didn't seem very concerned and was able to fill without flouro. He had to manually "catch it" and find the access side to fill it. Hurt a little but I go for another fill on Monday. I hope he can turn it again. I am going to ask him if it is safe for it to be wandering around. </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>