candy444

Thanks guys. I know we are here to support each other and it has been such a help for me. Andy (my twin) works full time , goes to school full time, and a new girlfriend has had very little time for me right now. She has been banded for 17 months and is down to 230 from 350. I know I sound whiny, but I was really expecting more support from her, which I told her last night on the phone.(She lives 60 miles from me in Dallas) When she was in this phase of her band we never talked about it because she felt so bad that I couldn't have the surgery too. This is definatly guilt, I had hoped with the band I wouldn't have to feel guilty about food any more. I am letting it go and being positive about this fill. I will be restricted again and after 4 long weeks start working out to feel better about my body. I have already gone from a 46-D to a 44-C,why is it the girls are always the first to go? And a plus, my knees have hardly had a twinge since I dropped the first 30lbs. I have my appmt for my first fill today, am I not supposed to eat anything this morning? My apptmt is at 2:30pm. The Dr.s office didn't say. I will be positive and open to whatever the doc has to say to me today. I will be focused on the weightloss and not the food. I can do this. I will wear an awesome costume to my babygirls Halloween/Birthday party next month. Thanks again everybody.

Hi everyone, My first fill is tomorrow and I am a little worried. I also have been able to eat more than I should. I have gained back 5lbs in the last week. I am afraid when I go to the Dr. tomorrow he is going to tell me I have streched my pouch or slipped my band. I did great while my stomach was still swollen after surgery, but I have been awful once I made it to week 3. I can't eat as much as I could before, but I have been eating too much. I am ready to get blasted for this post, so fire away. Please remember this is in the support section and that I am repentant. lol. Candy/330

Me too. I don't get my first fill till 9-26 and I am gaining. I am fighting this band. I don't crave the Diet Cokes(and I was addicted), but I am eating too much and the wrong things. I have gained back like 3 lbs in the last week. I worry about stretching my pouch. I know now why this is "Bandster Hell".

Hi all, well I guess I'm a member of the ABC as I got my band on Aug 25(whew, barely made it). I am offically in bandster hell, my swelling has gone down and my appetite is growing. I did pretty well presurgery diet and post surgery I felt pretty restricted due to the swelling. I lost 37 lbs all together pre and post. The last few days I have been eating more and actually gained back a lb or two. My brain is really fighting my stomach. I have mentaly been freaking out(I ate too much at that last meal, did I streach out my pouch, slip my band, screw up this $8000 surgery, ect). I go for my first fill on September 26th. I can't wait and I'm ready to start working out. I only have one incision that has not yet closed compleatly(the big one,port). Thanks guys.

Well I'm home from Mexico and offically banded. I was banded on Friday and got back to DFW last night. I won't be all the way home till I drive back to the little town where I live. I'm sore and brused and not sure if the rumbling in my tummy is because I need to eat something or just post surgery gas. I feel lots better than I did yesterday with all the flying and the tijuana taxi ride (two hours at the border). My left side (port side) is swollen and brusing and I look kinda pregnant, but my twin says all the incisions look great and the rest is normal. So away I go. Candy banded 8-25-06 Bajanor Clinic/TJ 360/?/299 (first goal)

Amy, I was a self pay and went to Mexico because it was it cost about $8,200 with airfare and hotel for myself and my twin as my companion. Here in Ft. Worth (the closest big city to me) the going rate is $15,000 cash, including a year of aftercare. My fills will cost $250 a pop, but it was still cheaper and I have time to save for fills. I have no insurance so qualifying was never an option. Good luck.

Thanks loves, I made it thru a whole day at work and lived to tell the tale. I wish I could find a scale that could hold me so I can see where I'm at. My port is hurting less and less, all my incisions look great and healing fine. Still lots of gas, the burps hurt a little, and woo wee am I a farting machine. Oh and the caffine withdrawl is a biggie without my diet cokes, I think I'll try tea tomorrow. The headaches just sneak up outta nowhere.

Well I'm home from Mexico and offically banded. I was banded on Friday and got back to DFW last night. I won't be all the way home till I drive back to the little town where I live. I'm sore and brused and not sure if the rumbling in my tummy is because I need to eat something or just post surgery gas. I feel lots better than I did yesterday with all the flying and the Tijuana taxi ride (two hours at the border). My left side (port side) is swollen and brusing and I look kinda pregnant, but my twin says all the incisions look great and the rest is normal. So away I go. Time to get skinny. banded 8-25-06

Woo-hoo, for once an angry e-mail paid off! The hotel put the money back on my sisters credit card this morning. Day 5 and I'm going back to work today. Candy

My Dr. was Dr.Hidalgo. I was knocked out and my surgery was late (I wasn't finished till 11:00pm). My twin said the surgeon came in and told her that I had eaten before my surgery, that ther was white creamy stuff in my stomach. She assured him that we had been at the hospital since early that morning and no one had given me any food. I never got to meet the guy, but I got the impression he was an ass. The rest of the staff seemed nice and Olga my nurse was awsome. The hotel we stayed at The Comino Real sucked. It was under major construction, the beds were hard as rocks, and they overcharged my sister $150 bucks on her credit card (we found out today). She also lost her Drivers licence. I hope I never have to go back to Tijuana for any reason, the trip was awful, but I achieved my goal. Oh and my band is the Heliogast(the french band) and it holds 7ccs. I know this is a bit random, I plead pain killers. Candy

Woo-hoo! I got my date today, I'm going to Bajanor Clinic in Tijauana, Mx on 8-25-06 to get my band. I've been on my pre-surgery diet for 5 days hoping to get this date. I'm starting with 360lbs and a BMI around 56.4.

Tomorrow morning at this time I will be leaving for the airport to get on a plane (my first time on a big plane) and head for Tijuana. I still have to pack, work 8 hours, and drive to Dallas when I get off work tonight 60 miles away. I feel nervous and dog tired because I have hardly slept a wink all week. I have not yet felt the excitement I think I'm supposed to be feeling. And its all still worth it. I always knew it was going to take something drastic to break this cycle, I had no idea how drastic. My DS is going with me and I thought I might schedule a "spa day" for us on Sunday, my procedure is Friday. My thought was I'm gonna deserve a little pampering after all this. If anyone has any suggestions on a spa or even a nail salon in Tijuana let me know. Candy to be banded in TJ Friday 360/350/299 (first goal)

You know some use their powers for good and some for evil, scary huh? I am happy for your Kippy and your sister, some things are divine aren't they? As for the work thing when she gets a little bit older she can be with me at our store, but for now shes just too little and more of a pain in the kiester. She begs to stay with me now, we will see when I put her to work. he,he,he. Child labor, still legal if its your kid. We live out in the country so its not too bad, although the drugs are everywere and alot of our teens have way too much free time on thier hands and not nearly enough supervision. I commend you on quitting your job and staying home to take care of your teens, those are some tough years. Candy

Donna B, In regards to the suger-coating remark by Yoda I will say that I tried to be as honest and sincere as I could be. I now know Texas family code like its my favorite book. If the state of Texas terminates the rights to this baby the family has no recourse, its over, done. It also opens the door for anyone else to challange thier rights to all thier children, including any they may have later. Once they have been deemed unfit by the state of Texas, it will always be open for question. Not that its easy to have someone deemed unfit. You can be a convicted prostitute in Tx and still win your kids in court. As I said before it took me 3+ years to win in court. The first time my brother showed up drunk and his wife was so high she couldn't stand still. They both straight up told the judge they couldn't pass a drug/alcohol test. Guess what? They beat me that day. I lost the first time out because I didn't wait the full 6months before I filled against them. The ruling was overturned while we were in mediation 1 hour later by a higher judge, but I gotta tell you it was awful. The great thing is you don't have to go thru any of this. If you and DH decide to go thru with this most of the legal hurdles are done. The actual adoption portion of my case was a breeze. Home inspection and going to court on adoption day. I cried, so relived to be done with that part, it was so awesome to have her name changed to mine just before she started pre-k. I just didn't want any confusion, I wanted her always to be known as Hannah A. It is a hard job, I work full time and I sometimes feel my best friends and my neice are raising her more than me, I always get to be the heavy, freak out inside when she displays behavior that reminds me of her sisters or her birth mom, and get to deal with my brother when he decides to pop up with the 3 girls he has left to "visit" which is code for sit on my couch and shoot daggers at me with his eyes. Shes half black for goodness sake and not even his, but that didn't stop him from dragging the whole thing out in court as long as possible. I just do my best to keep her from thier poison, avoiding them whenever its possible. I have been honest with Hannah about her adoption as age appropriatly (sp sorry) as I can. Moving away is not an option for me, I work for my Dad and he needs me, so I am in essance a sitting duck. Its all worth it, I have never once thought I made a mistake doing this. She is the love of my life. I saw someone mentioned in one post that you might be concerned about what trauma this little boy has been thru and what kind of special needs he may have. It might take a while to teach him to trust you or to learn coping skills (appropriate behaviors) or he may just take to a stable family like a duck to water. You can't tell at that age if your blood children are going to have ADD or ADHD, mood or personalty disorders, and if you start teaching coping skills early on your giving them the skills to deal with everything life is going to throw at them. I know I made this post very personal and I apoligize if its a little too long. This is a subject that is very close to home for me. Please let me know how it all works out and know that I am saying a prayer for yall. Candy

Dr. Fox gave my sister a card when she had her surgery. I have been with her when she attempted to use it. I won't name the restarant but its intls are G.C. The cashier had no clue what WLS is and called her Mgr to pass us off, needless to say she got no discount and got to be embarassed to boot. Granted I live in the sticks Granbury, Tx, but you'd think a national chain would have some policy in place. If you live in a big city you might have more sucess getting a discount. Twin did say she has used her card in Dallas where she lives and the chinese restrant she likes to go to always gives her a kids price. Candy To be banded Friday Bajanor Clinic, TJ (woo-hoo!)

I am getting banded Friday in TJ at Bajanor. The Dr. didn't give me a preop diet to follow, but I have been dieting anyway. I had a hysterectomy in Feb and the recovery from that was long , like 7 weeks. That was my first surgery ever and they cut me from navel to neathers. I thought it was never gonna heal at the bottom of my incison. I have cheated a little on the diet, but my understanding is you diet to shrink your liver so it will be easier to move to get to the stomach. My twin explained it to me this way. Remember when mom taught us how to buy a brisket? You bend it, if it bends easily then its a good one, if it dosent then its full of fat and you don't want that one. Made sense to me explained that way. She followed South Beach Induction (first 10 days of their diet). I have been doing a basterdized version of Atkins. No suger, very little carbs, lots of protien, lots of no sugar fluids (sugar free cool aid and my beloved diet cokes), nothing fried or greasy, and no bread. The bummer is I didn't get to weigh before I started dieting, I guess I will find out how much I weigh Thursday at my pre-op visit. I just keep telling myself this can't possibly hurt as much as the last surgery or take nearly as long to heal. My 5 year old is a basket case and begged me not to have surgery again, the last one is still fresh in her mind. I just keep reminding her how great her Antie is doing and I will be gone just a few days. Good luck sweetie, your gonna be fine, and hey we get to be bandtwins, how cool is that?:clap2:

I can only tell you my own experence. I have a beautiful 5 year old little girl. I got Hannah when she was 3months old and very sick. The first year was very hard, lots of time making trips to the Doctor. Hannah was the child of my brothers wife, (not his, she's biracial) and born with cocaine in her system. The mom continued to use drugs and breast feed her. When she finally ran off again my brother called us and said come get these babies, their are 5 all together, but he ment the two youngest. After years of going to get the girls from vairous police stations and keeping them thru stays in jail for both of them, my sisters decided between them that I was going to take this one and not give her back. If I had not received the support from my friends and family I couldn't have made it thru the stress of court and a raising a child. Did I mention that I am single, I was resighned to never having children of my own at 32, or that my mom had died suddenly of phnumonia 10 months before? You know how they say if you wait till you can afford kids you will never have them? It bankrupted me to fight for 3+ years in court. Would I do it again for Hannah? You bet your ass I would. She is so healthy now, tallest kid in her kindergarden class, smart and beautiful. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself anymore and having my surgery next week is just as much for her as it is for me. I want to ride rollercoasters with her and take her to Disneyland and do all the things its hard for me to do at 350lbs. She is my inspiration and the best thing I will ever do. I know its not for everyone, kids are hard. They are generally ungrateful, messy, have the worst timing, break your stuff, and tourture the cat. Hannah filled my whole life up and I never knew I had that much available space. I know what its like to have a baby just fall out of the sky and into your arms, I have had moments of doubt, but never regret. Candy To be banded in TJ on 8-25-06

:clap2: :happybday2: :cheer2: Woo-hoo, congratulations on the job! As to the surgery, its up to you, Do You Want Everyone to Know? If so then cool, I told everyone I have seen that I am getting my surgey, today I get to tell them my date. But I work for my dad in his store and have for 8+ years, so everyone knows me.

:nervous Hi everyone, I'm a newbe getting ready to schd my lap band surgery next week. I am getting nervous and excited. I have spoken to lots of clinics in Mexico and have decided to go with Bajanor. I am a self pay as I work for my dad and we have no health ins. My twin had LBS a year ago in May and has lost about 120lbs/from about 360 top out. She had ins and had her surgery done in Dallas where she lives. She's going with me to Mexico. I have never been on a big plane before and I have never been out of the country. My family and friends are trying to support me even when saying things like, "Please write your will and make sure all your affairs are in order before you go to Tijuana to have surgery." I have found a few post about Bajanor on this site and would love to know more about your personal experinces with this clinic. Oh yes and I started my diet two days ago and am such a B****. I also already found a Dr. to do my aftercare and he will fill any band I get. Woo-hoo. Only an hour away from home and $250 a pop with fluro. Thank you all for this site, it has helped me decide to take this giant step. Candy

I am planning to have the Lap Band surgery done in Tijuana at the Cosmetic Surgery Center. So far I can find nothing negitive about having this procedure done in Mexico, but a few of my family members are concerned for my health. My twin sister had her band done in may/05 and has lost 120lbs. Dr. Fox in Dallas did her surgery, she informed me today most Drs in the US won't touch a band done in Mexico and I had better find someone before I even sched my surgery to do my after care. My questions are can anyone tell me a Dr. in the Ft. Worth area who would see me and had anyone had the lap band done at this or any clinic in Tijuana? Thanks , Candy

I appriciate the info from people who know exactally what I'm going thru. I feel like I have been lost in the woods for weeks with little furry animals to talk too. (the seem sympathetic, but are pretty much clueless) As I mentioned before my twin has had her band for 15 months and shes doing great so shes a great wealth of information about the surgery and the lifestyle changes. But I think having to get on a plane for the first time and fly across the country and then crossing the border in to Mexico makes this a radically different experence. I also live in a small town and I know I will have to travel at least an hour to have my fills done, I will also be paying cash for these. (I think they go for 200 bucks a pop) By aftercare my twin said you will have to see the doc as soon as you get back home, then a week later, then a week after that, then every three months or so. All of her aftercare for a year was included in the cost of her surgery. Does this seem like maybe a little too much aftercare to anyone else? Thats like $600 worth the first month I'm back. I know my health shouldn't be about money, but why else would I go to have surgery in Tijuana?