shayb

I have never been much of a drinker, usually only drinking a couple times a year, but have never been a beer or wine drinker. I drink vodka drinks, like Komokozi's or Bloody Mary's, and a shot or 2 of Pucker once in awhile. I actually drink more now, after surgery. I didn't drink until at least 2 or 3 months post op, but since my very first fill I have had trouble keeping food down. Not all the time, but a lot. By having a drink here and there by the pool this summer after my brother moved close to me, I discovered it actually if I have a drink before dinner, it relaxes me or my stomach or both enough for me to enjoy my dinner. I know it sounds weird, but it is definate, I have tested it out many times. I am not recommending this or anything, but it works for me. I dont do it every night or anything, but a coulple times a week I have a Bloody Mary before dinner and I have gone out and gotten quite buzzed. I have never really been one to vomit after drinking, but I usually drink in moderation too. Hope this helps, and please let me know if anyone else has discovered or experienced anything llike this.

I believe I have a 4 cc band (will double check), but I have heard and read from people who say they have a 10 cc band and someone even told me she has a 14 cc band. Have I misunderstood that I have a 4 cc band? If I do, does that mean my band wont handle as many fills as others? Will I not be able to get the same restriction as people with bands who hold more? Now I am nervous that at some point it may not do me any good anymore??

I am sorry you had so much trouble, BUT I am glad to hear I am not the only one!! My first fill (the only one so far) was HORRIBLE. This does not seem to be the norm but happens once in awhile. We just were the unlucky ones. My doctor had trouble finding the port (I had my surgery in Mexico, so he didn't do my surgery) and between the 2 numbing shots (which did not help me much) and him trying to find the port... I was poked atleast 9 times!!!!! I tried not to look, but my husband said he even broke 2 needles. This went on for about 30 -45 minutes. Then, my husband jumped up on the table (he had lapband surgery too) and it was one numbing shot (which he didnt even need) one poke and bam he was done in about 2 minutes. So, it is not the doctor at least not in my case. The doctor said my port is lower than most. The good news he did eventually get it in a give me a fill without xray, but I am so frightened to go again for the next one, hope I dont need one for awhile.

Of course you know by now... NO GUM. My doctor didn't tell me this and I had my band in Mexico, so when we flew back of course I chewed gum on the plane. BIG mistake... thank God I didn't swallow it, but it made my stomach churn and hurt something aweful!! As far as the pain, I know exactly what you are talking about. I had a lot of pain my first day after surgery. My doctor told me not to worry, it would be MUCH better the 2nd day, and it was just like he said. In Mexico you stay in the hospital for 2 nights after surgery, so I was on IV narcotics which helped a lot and cant imagine only taking Tylenol with codine for this... the US in a lot different. I would call the Doctor today and ask for something stronger. Then, if your not quite a bit better tomorrow, let them know. The spot where your port is will be sore for weeks probably. Mine was. And, yes it pull and feels like a very sore muscle. They sewed the port into your muscle, so that is why. It does take awhile to heal for most people. Hang in there, it does get better, it just takes time, more for some than others.

It's true. I was where your at just a few weeks ago. My husband and I had our lapband surgery on May 28, 2009 and were very excited when we lost 20 lbs right away and then got very, very discouraged when that halted and sometimes we even put a pound or two back on and then off again and this was right when we were going from liquids to solids. I felt bad, then found this site and realized almost everyone goes through this. I did not realize how quickly we would need to get our first fill. since then I have lost another 10 pounds and that was just July 13, 2009. I had a very big fill and I only have a 4 cc band, so its working. My husband got his fill and has lost a little more, but we already know he needs another fill and we have scheduled that for August 10th. He has a 10 cc band, so it makes since he would need more fills to get to his "sweet spot". Hang in there. It will get better.

He is at Riverside Surgical Center in Sebastian Florida. I have scheduled my husband and I for our first fill with him on July 13, 2009 after being banded in Mexico on May 28, 2009. We have no insurance and must pay for everything for both of out of our own pockets, so we are going to try to get our fill in his office without Fluro. It cost about $200.00 extra... each!! to do it under flouo at the hospital. Just wondering if anyone has had him do their fill in his office? Was he successful? Am I crazy to not pay the extra for fluro?

My husband and I had our surgery on May 28. 2009 in Mexicali, Mexico. We had Dr. Aceves and his assistant, Dr. Campos. They were GREAT!!! We cannot say enough about this Doctor and the hospital along with the staff. I would highly recommend Dr. Aceves and his team. The area was pretty nice too and so was the hotel we were in the night before surgery, probably a 4 star or so. Everything was included in our package, except airfare and our last dinner the night before surgery. We paid $6950.00 each, but I have seen on this website (on the right side w/ advertisements) a special price of $6500.00. They are a little more expensive than some Doctors in Tijuana, but totally worth it. For more info. see my introduction and other posts or just ask me any questions you have.

You are definately not the only wussie, if that is the case. I had my fill Monday, July 13, late in the after noon. OMG!!!! The doctor had trouble finding my port and it was horrible! He did give me a numbing shot, but it didn't work at all the first time and after trying for at least 20-30 minutes, he gave me another numbing shot, which helped some, but I totally felt everything and it HURT. I didn't want to post yesterday because I didn't want to scare the girl who started the post before she went, because the anxiety and nerves will make it worse. But seriously, he poked me a total of 9 times (2 were to numb) or more and my husband said he bent 2 needles (I couldn't watch) in the process on the metal around the port. The good news is he finally found the port. It was much lower than normal and since he didn't do my surgery it was difficult to find the center of it. I was really happy that he finally found it, I was so afraid that he would give up and I would of had to wait and schedule my fill with fluro at the hospital which probably would have taken a couple of weeks longer and it would have cost me an extra $200. I was very impressed in fact that the doctor hung in there and didn't give up and send me for the fluro. He was willing to keep trying as long as I could take it, and in total he was in the room with my husband and I for over an hour. My husband jumped on the table he found the port, stuck him once for numbing (which he didn't even need) and once for the fill. His went right it and out the whole thing for him was less than 4 or 5 minutes. So, that is how different a fill for one person can be compared to another I guess. But, it does seem that normally it goes pretty smooth and easy, but every once in a while there is a problem fill like mine. I am just hoping that I do not need anther one right away, although the doctor did say that it would be easier next time, since now he knows where my port is located. I sure hope so. On another note, wow 4 cc's all at once, what size band to you have. Everyone thought 3 cc's was a lot for my husband's and he has a 10 cc band. I have a 4 cc band and had .8 fill put in during surgery and the my doctor yesterday put in 1.2 cc's to bring me up to an even 2 cc's.

I didn't move, but my husband and I had our lapband surgury in Mexico, so we had to find a doctor right away to follow us and do our fills here in Florida. We found one by asking on this website and we went yesterday for our initial consult and our first fill. He usually charges $200.00 each, but gave my husband and I a discount for both of us coming together and he did both of us for $300.00. We were thrilled and really liked him. We are self pay also and that is why we went to Mexico. Let me know if you would like any other info.

Why did you have to have a port revision so soon?

That is horrible and unfortunatly all too common around here. My daughter has health issues and has been in the hospital a lot and I have had some of those same types of experiences with the hospital nursing staff. I had my lapband in Mexicali, Mexico at the Hospital Almater and the experience was absolutely wonderful, exceeded ALL of our expectations and totally put some of our US hosptials to shame. My family was scared for me to have my surgery there with all the hype about Mexico, especially the border towns, but you know what, the medical world here in the US could learn a few things from the hospital where I was in Mexico. They came in to your room immediately if you hit your call button. They also came in to check on you often, but not so often you couldn't rest. They gave the pain medicine within a minute or so of when you requested it. And, even checked on you to see if you were in any pain if you hadn't asked in a while. Also, our doctors there (we had 2) came to see us no less than 3 times a day (we were in the hospital for 2 days) EACH!! They really cared and made you feel like you were more than a number or a chart, like you were a real person with feelings. It was GREAT!!! I did have a little problem with nausea after surgery and was hard for me to walk around, but it went away on the 2nd day, and the gas was there, but not unbearable. My husband had no problem with the nausea and he was up walking around within about an hour after his surgery. He came to check on me and he had his surgery after me. I went first, then another lady, then my husband. We did have some incision pain the first day, but it was a whole lot better by the second day, just like the Dr. said.

I eat pickles all the time, because they are low carb and I love them and had no problem whatsoever with them so far. I am only 6 wks post-op and have thought about popcorn (I smell it too, when my family has it), but am a little scared to try it, and that was before I read that one person had to have an unfill after popcorn.

From what I understand, it depends on your doctor and your individual body as to whether or not you get any kind of fill when you have your surgery. My husband also has the 10 cc band and he received no fill during surgery. I have the 4 cc band and I received a .8 cc fill during surgery. So I guess it really depends on what type of band you have and your stomach. We go for our first fill today, so we'll see, but I am sure my fill will be much smaller than my husbands, since his band holds more. A lot of the new bandsters have the 14 cc band, so it really just depends on a lot of things, but you'll get there. We were lucky enough to have lost a lot of weight right away (over 20 lbs each-the first 2-3 weeks), but have lost very little since then and on some days we even go up a pound, then back down again. Hang in there!

My husband and I are going for our first fill late this afternoon (6 wks post-op). I am a little nervous, but mostly because it is unknown and we are meeting a new Dr. because we had our bands done in Mexico and it is just not practical for us to get all our fills there, since we live in Florida. I will try to post later tonight or in the morning on how it went.

My husband and I were banded in Mexico on May 28, 2009. The no drinking thing with your food is soooo hard for me too. Almost impossible at this point, but I am getting better. Before surgery, I asked my Dr. if it was ok to sip the water with my meals and he said it was ok, but even that sometimes causes me to have PB's. I knew this was gonna be a tough one for me, but I am determined to make this work, no matter what I have to do. Nothing like PBing to get you to try to stop or at least cut back, but this is very difficult for me. It doesn't seem to bother my husband, so I guess it is just what we were used to before the band. Total life style changes, that is what we have to do, and although difficult, it will be worth it in the end. That is what I tell myself and when I get down or depressed about something, I visit this website.. it totally helps. Not only because you can see that someone else out there is going through exactly what you are going through and you are not alone, but also you can see the rewarding results for those who have fought there way through it and won!!!!! Hang in there.

My husband and I had lapband surgery on May 28, 2009 in Mexicalli, Mexico and then flew home to Florida on May 30, 2009. It was a little over a 4 hour flight, then a change of plans with an hour layover and then another 2 hour flight to get home. The long flight did suck, but that would be my opinion even if I flew that long with no surgery. I hate flying over 2 hours. But, the worse part was that we were delayed at the airport on our way home for a couple of hours, but the main problem was that there was nothing you could eat at the airport with being on Clear liquids. Luckily I had somewhat prepared and brought those Cup o' noodles. I would highly recommend bringing some items like these for your clear liquid diet that will be allowed through security because unless you get lucky and someplace just happens to have chicken noodle Soup that day, you will need it. But, all in all there was no problems with flying for us even after only 2 days. Now, when we go back for Plasitc Surgery, we will try to stay a little longer, but that is because that is a more serious surgery and also we now no what it is like to go to Mexico and don't have that fear of the unknown and would enjoy staying a little while after just to spend some time there. Hope this helps!

I tried this last night, except I used pork loin instead of the chicken breast because that is what I had already thawed. IT WAS AWESOME and I hate diet coke. This one is a MUST try! So easy and so good!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. This one is going on my regular menu and I plan to try it with chicken too. I even think it would be good with beef.

Thank God, we are not alone!!! I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong or my band isn't going to work. My husband and I were also banded on May 28, 2009. So, glad we have the day in common with other. We were banded in Mexicali, Mexico. We both have lost a little over 20 lbs, but that was between the pre-op diet (thank god it was not liquids like so many others doctors have put them on, but it was still tough) and the post op clear liquid phase. Since then we haven't really lost anything. We have been up and down on the scale a pound or two, but cannot get past that point. I knew after 2 weeks or so that we needed a fill right away. We are scheduled for July 13, we just have to pray that they can do it in the office without fluro. Did any of you do it without the fluro? How did it go? Lets all hang in there together, till we get our fill!

I hated all protein drinks as well, especially the isopure, which we have nicknamed isopuke, lol. My patient coordinator told me about her favorite and she lost over 150 lbs and has tried many, many different drinks. The name is Whey Gourmet. The only problem with it is that you can only order it online... cant find it in stores. You can find it at a1nutrition.com or just google it to find the best price. It costs between $26 - 31.00, plus shipping, but it is worth it and it is a large container. The one I got, which was her favorite too, was Smooth Chocolate peanut butter. It really does taste just like a Reses PB Cup. It is by far the best I have had and I have tried a lot of different kinds, including the Muslce Milk light. Believe me this is WAY better. I still dont like to drink it everyday, but when I do, it is great now, instead of avoiding it all the time.

Hi, my name is Shay and my husband and I were both banded on May 28, 2009 in Mexicalli, Mexico. First of all I want to say that the trip and experience in Mexico exceeded our expectations and all the fear that was put into me by my family was totally unneccessary. I know it sounds scary, but it was the best hospital experience I have ever had and I have had 4 c-sections and two other surgeries myself and a lot of hospital experiences with my 15 year old daughter who has renal/kidney disease. I lost 23 lbs and my husband 18 lbs in the first 2-3 weeks, BUT now have not lost anymore in the last 2 weeks. It seems a little soon to feel like I need a fill/adjustment already, but that is what I am thinking. I was hoping to make it longer than this and am a little disappointed that my weight loss has stopped already and my husbands too. I feel like we are able to eat too much at one sitting currently. I am trying to find a doctor that will do adjustments on Mexican lapbands in Brevard County (near Melbourne), does anyone know of any and if not, where would the closest place be? I did some checking before getting my band and the was able to find a doctor in Miami and I think one in Tampa, but was hoping there was some place closer and if so, what are the costs? Does this stop in weight loss mean we may have a lapband that will fail us?

I just got my band a month ago, so not sure I should be given advise about band vs. sleeve, but I do think it is really a personal choice. After researching for months I made the decision to go with the band, primarily because it is reversible if there are any complications and I was worried about that. But I have had lots of thoughts that I should have went with the sleeve. The main thing I wanted to share though was that no matter which one you choose, I would HIGHLY recommend Dr. Alberto Aceves and his parter Dr.Campose. He does the bypass, the sleeve and the band. He was not the cheapest of everyone in Mexico. Tijuana was cheaper, BUT Mexicalli is much safer and the Doctors were absolutely wonderful. I did my homework and research before making a very infomed decision. We could not have asked for better care than we received. The only downside I can see at all for going to Mexico was traveling by air on a long flight 2 days after surgery. I would recommend staying an extra day or two if you can. At least if you are very far away from Mexicali. Shay Blowers

That is sooo cool. Dr. Aceves also did my surgery. He was awesome. Thank you for all the info. and advise. I did loose another 2 lbs this week, but I went ahead and scheduled a fill for my husband and I and through this forum was able to find a Doctor closer to home than 1 I found in Miami and 1 in Tampa. I have scheduled our fills at the Riverside Surgical Center in Sebastian, Florida and the price was better too.

I wanted to see if I could find out what type of meeting you have and a current schedule. Also, looks like you have had a lot of fills and close together. Can you give me more details and how that is going now that you have had 5 fills?

My husband and I were both banded on May 28, 2009. Didn't have the dry heaves, but I had a problem with Naseau the first 2 days, it was extremely annoying. My husband didn't have this problem. We both had a lot of soreness for the first 2 weeks or so. I, too, thought the laproscopic surgery would be easy and quick recovery because I had 4 c-sections. So, the recovery was much longer than I expected and a lot of pain around the port area. It is also taking much longer for 1 of my incisions to heal.