kilcollins

Ever since Last Wed. I have had a very hard time swallowing. I was very tight, and it has loosened some now and I am able to eat some, but when I eat or drink, I get a sharp pain in the band area. I have 1.4 from a 1.8 because it was too tight about a month or so ago. I am just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. I did have dilitaion back in July and was unfilled all the way for about a month and 1/2 and then a refill to 1.8. after about a month, too tight, and was unfilled to 1.4. I am trying to stick it out to see if this will go away but it has been almost a week. I am losing weight of course, and I don't want to drive to see my Dr. Does any one have any answers?

Nope it is right where the band is I have an appt tomorrow at 9:30

I too have not been on here that much. I did have a pouch diditation and all of my saline was removed. For 7 wks I could eat everything I wanted to and I gained 7 pounds back. I then got a fill on the 14th of Sept. and I was doing fine until this weekend when I got super tight and the choking at night etc.. I have placed my self on liquids and I feel much better today. I think I just had been eating too fast due to fact that I have to retrain myself to eat right again. If I can't get back to solids by the end of the week, I will go see my Dr. So lesson learned by me!

Hello fellow October bandsters! It has been a very long time since my last post. I have been very busy setting up my salsa business, and in the mean time I have lost 41 lbs! I started my weight loss journey on Oct. 9th in TJ with Dr. Ortiz. I am now getting fills in Nashville with Dr. Houston. If you all love salsa (FAT FREE AND NO SUGAR) very low soduim. I make pita chips out of pita bread, baked in the oven with pam on them. Our website is www.bulldogsalsa.com we also have BBQ sauce, dry rubs, smoked seasalts, jellies and we roast our own coffee. This is why I haven't been here for a while! Please check us out. Our salsa is fresh, not canned! I am excited to see how well the October Bandsters have been doing! Way to go! I know that my blood work comes back better than it was when I was a kid now! I feel so much better with that weight off. Great Job everyone!

We are members of East TN riders club and on the 14th we had BOSB (begining of the season bash) where we donated some of the products we sell to raffle off. My husband loves to ride the dragon, but I get motion sickness and don't do well. I love going over to deals gap, my best buddy is the manager there. I am sure we will be going over in Aug. Can't wait for the rally!

If any bandsters are planning on coming to the national HOG rally in August in Knoxville, I would love to meet up with you! We live in Maryville which is about 20 minutes away. I was banded in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz on Oct. 9th 2006 and I have lost 41 lbs. I was 226 at 5'3" and had terrible health problems. I am now so much better and went for a ride yesterday for the first time since my surgery! It was awesome not having to have my husband help me put on my leathers and it was much more comfortable for me in the long run. Please e-mail me and let me know if anyone will be there.

Look at www.fillcentersusa.com and there is a center there that takes any bandsters!

I was banded on October 9th 2006. It has been a month and 1/2 since my surgery and I am having gas pains. I am thinking that this is because it is a one way value and the gas is not able to come up and out. I took gas-ex and it seems to help, but just wondering if anyone else out there has this problem and does it go away? or is this something I will have to live with while I have the band on?

Hello October bandsters! I had my surgery on Oct. 9th with Dr. Ortiz. It has now been about a month. I am down 18 lbs total. I am scheduled for a fill with Dr. Houston in Nashville on the 8th of Dec. I am really lucky to have found him. There are Dr.s out there who take advantage of Mexican bansters. I am a little nervous about afterwards, but also excited to get on with my weight loss. Hope everyone is having good luck with their weightloss!

I want to thank whomever it was who told all of us here in TN about a dr named Houston. I have just scheduled an appt. with them. They are charging an upfront fee, but it isn't like Dr Ray here in Maryville where I live. I am very angry about the fact that they want 1500. yes, 1500. upfront before they will even see you! That is like going to a dentist with a filling that fell out and having the dentist say, well, I didn't fill it so I will need 1500 upfront then another 500 to fix it! Again, thank you to the person who recommended Dr. Houston

I will be going to vote early also. I have to wait until Saturday. In Washington state (where I used to live) you can mail in your ballot and that is how they want you to do it. Here in TN, you can go in early and vote, 8-4:30 and 9-12 on Sat. You bet I will be there! I am SSOOOOOOOOOOO hoping for change. We have a real hot race going here and I am dying to see who wins!

only one person has said to me that I am " coping out" I have had more support and well wishers. I really talk to people about the band, especially if they are unhappy the way they are. I guess I want everyone to know that there is another way besides gastric bypass if they are scared like I am of that surgery. I was just banded on the 9th and everyone is amazed at how I feel and look. I am down 18 lbs, (with pre-op) and holding steady. My body will fight me tooth and nail to hold onto this fat! I know it will be slow going, but I didn't put it on overnight. And yes, people can be cruel and mean, but you have to remember, you did this for you for your own reasons and besides that, WHO CARES WHAT THEY THINK! Just get healthy!

good luck to all who will be banded this week! I am one week out now and I feel great! didn't need any pain pills take enough pills as it is. can't wait til week 4! hope everyone has as great a time as I did.

Isn't it funny how we all have different diets to follow afterwards? I am on clear liquids for a week and then I can go to anything thru a straw for week 2 and then in week 3 it's mushies and then finally in week 4 SOLIDS!!! I have been having slim fast and the yogurt smoothies which really help with the so called "head hunger". I have lost 16 lbs since the 2nd, 10 on the pre-op and then 6 this week! I have been feeling awesome! Went shopping day after, and came home, cleaned house, defrosted freezer, decorated for halloween, grocery shopped for hubby and just been trying to stay busy so I don't think about anything but getting skinny! banded Oct. 9th Dr. Ortiz 226/210/140

Well I made it! It was one of the best times I have had in a long time! The surgery went fantastic, the center was more than I could have expected, the shopping was awesome and I jsut can't say enough good things about Dr. Ortiz and his wonderful staff. Mrs. Ortiz chased down Dr. Ortiz for me so I could get my book signed by him! She brought it back later that afternoon for me at the hotel. IF ANYONE IS SERIOUSLY THINKING OF HAVING SURGERY WITH DR. ORTIZ, AND HAS ANY DOUBT, PLEASE ERASE IT NOW! If you want to talk about my experience please PM me and I will be glad to give you all of the details about our trip! I had the time of my life that's for sure! I feel great, made some habenero jelly today. Went shopping for groceries for hubby and me and been cleaning house and doing laundry today. Had surgery on Monday. I want to thank everyone posting here for all of the help and suggestions and ideas that I will now be able to use since I am now officially a BANDSTER!

ok everyone! I am starting to pack! I am hoping that I am taking all of the right stuff. Getting nervous, but I am ever so ready. We have just made the salsa for the competition so that is out of my way. I am gathering all of the papers I need and now I am just waiting for Friday. I hope I am losing weight, I am not sure if I will lose enough I am very worried about that. I am doing what I am suppose to so I guess we will see when I get there. Don't know what I will do if they send me away! Well, the next time I post will probably be when I get back. best of luck and talk soon. Thank you everyone for all of the great info, and support!

Hello everyone! I am starting my pre-op diet today! yum-yum! I just finished my first slimfast high protien shake for breakfast. I am doing well so far, considering I just finished it! I have not yet attempted to eat the can so I can say I am doing good. I have my surgery on the 9th with Dr. Ortiz! watch out mexico, here I come! This is going to be a very fast week, trying to get loose ends tied up. To all of you Oct. bandsters, congrats on your decision and the best of luck to everyone!

looks like us virgos are winning. why is that? I was born on sept 6th. is it a bad sign? or are we just dealing with our emotions by eating? I know that is what I do.

From what I am gathering here, the surgery is the easy part! :confused: I am scheduled for surgery on the 9th and when I had my gallbladder removed, laproscopically, I was great after a couple of days, so I don't think it will be too bad this time either. I am just waiting for the day!

My surgery is on Oct.9th! Starting pre-op diet on the second. Going to leave here on the 6th, salsa competition on the 7th fly to San Deigo on the 8th, surgery on the 9th and home on the 11th! Just get tired thinking about it. Yesterday I went and bought some protein drinks for later. 40 grams in a bottle with 160 calories! I like that. Starting to make home made broths for the week after. Hope everyone will post progress after surgeries, I know I will

To ladyred and Lots2luv: I am also being banded on the 9th of oct. I will be having my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Ortiz. I was told to have a slimfast protien type drink in the morning and lunch and also for lunch and dinner I can have a salad, just greens with balsmic vinegar and a metamucil to help with hunger. I have to go on it starting the 2nd of oct. Can't weight! We will all have to stay in touch so we can help each other out. I wish the best success to both of you and anxious to hear back from you.

A clothes swap is a great idea! Maybe you could organize one for your community. I can't wait to have that problem!

I have not had my surgery yet, but in Maryville, Dr. Ray or Colquitt do fills, a little closer than Nashville. I just moved to TN from Seattle almost 1 yr ago. We are by Knoxville. Hope you move is as smooth as mine was and I hope you will like TN

So sorry Coogie that you are having a bad time and Thank God you are a nurse so you are able to help yourself! With everything in life, there is good and bad and we do have to go into this with our eyes wide open and for me the more I read the more I learn and I am hoping to learn as much as possible before I go in. I am sure I will have problems, hoping not too, and I am sure that there isn't any problems that have not been discussed on here and I will know how to deal with it. Please let us all know how you are doing.

Where are you being banded? I am getting banded on the 9th with Dr. Ortiz