~Jules~

Anne, I started out about the same size as you are now. It all depends on your insurance. I had like a 36 BMI and my insurance would have paid for it had my employer not had an exclusionary clause added to the policy. This means they specifically deleted weight loss surgery from our company's policy. So...... I went to Mexico. I live in Texas and found a location in Mexico that is not far from San Antonio. It is actually right on the other side of Del Rio. I had a wonderful experience and with no regrets. I wish you the best of luck. Being "a big girl" truly sucks. I hope things work out for you so that you can get the surgery. I sure wish I had done something sooner, but hey, better late than never. lol

Soxee, Why did she get the gastric bypass after banding? That is very unusual. Did she not get fills or something?

Mine did, but I was in Acuna which is just the other side of the border from Del Rio. It didn't roam either.

Kimberly, I have wondered the same thing. I generally don't drink during anyway, but I have been drinking soon after.

I too have some restriction without a fill. I slimed on tuna last week. It was an aweful experience. I know it is rare, but there are people that have restriction right off the bat. I am happy for you to have lost the weight on your own. I can get it off, but can't keep it off. This little friend of mine is going to help me keep it off. Even if it is only responsible for 20%. That is all the help I will need. Good luck to you all. We can do it!!!!!!!!!!!

I drank A LOT of water before my appointment. I also told them I was 5'10" instead of 5'11". I figured every little bit helped. Actually it didn't since my insurance did not cover it. My employer had an exclusionary clause added to not cover WLS. So it was a waste of time for me. Oh well.

Hi Katgirl, For one thing, you have only had one fill. You probably won't feel good restriction for a few fills. Of course everyone is different. I was told to stop eating when I wasn't hungry anymore; to not wait until I was full. This is a great concept, but I haven't been able to do it all the time yet. I haven't had a fill, but I do have some restriction with just the band. I can't eat near what I used to, but I can still eat more than I should be. I hope to get a fill this next week or so and see if that helps any. It probably won't, but that is ok too. I will get there eventually. It will give me time to work on eating slow. I have the hardest time with that. I manage to chew ok, but I want to shovel it in like I always have. Hang in there.

You are right. Every doc is different. Some don't require anything, and others do. I had to do a low carb, high protein 14 day diet. It wasn't too bad. The liquid diet 2 weeks after the surgery then 2 weeks of mushies after that were harder for me than the preop diet. I was so tired of broth. Ugh. Be thankful you only have to do a few days. Good luck on your surgery. It is a wonderful journey!!!

I am glad to read this thread. I have had a hard time getting my butt up and moving. I am losing weight, but only by eating less and very little movement. I know once I get going, it won't be so bad. But....... I gotta get going first, right?! Ugh. Sherilynn, good luck to you. I hope we both get going soon.

I would either drive a good distance to get to your old doc or consider flying to a doc that does help other patients and that doesn't charge 5,000. Who has that kind of money. I don't know what the flights cost, but there are plenty of docs in the U.S. that charge around $150 to 250. You are in a tough situation, but I hope you don't give up. This journey is so worth it. Good luck to you.

Gas-X helped me some, but walking helped the most. I walked every 30 minutes to an hour for about 5 minutes. It worked wonders. I didn't have shoulder pain, but I felt really tight in the middle of my chest. ONce I walked it got better each time. good luck to you!!!

Lap Band Poll 1, Date of banding. October 26, 2006 2, Weight/BMI on date of banding. 260 pounds, 36 BMI 3, What band do you have. Inamed 9.75 cm 4, What was you own person reason for WLS.<O:p</O:p Cosmetic Partly cosmetic. I am tired of being "a big girl". Health <?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_i1026 style="WIDTH: 11.25pt; HEIGHT: 11.25pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""><v:imagedata src="file:///C:DOCUME~1MARGAR~2.MALLOCALS~1Tempmsohtml101 clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://www.lapbandtalk.com/images/smilies/happy.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>Partly health as well. I am relatively healthy now, but at the rate I was going, I wouldn't always be. 5, Why the band and not Bypass or DS. The Bypass or DS freak me out. I don't want my innerds rerouted or my stomach cut in half. The Band is soooo much safer. I have no problem having a foreign object inside my belly. I had rather have that than the foreign fat. lol 6, What were you’re expectations about the band. 7, What were you’re expectations about the impact weight loss might have on you’re life. To have more self confidence. A higher self esteem would be wonderful. 8, What is you own personal target weight/BMI. 165 pounds/ 23 BMI 9, What is the realistic target/expected weight loss/BMI. 95 pounds 10, How much was you’re band and how did you fund it. Self pay. $7300, plus flight to San Antonio for me and my sister. $242. Part of it was from a low interest credit card. 11, Do you consider the cost of your band justified or expensive. It was the best $7300 I have ever spent. 12, How many fill’s/unfill’s have you had. none so far 13, How did you have you’re fill’s <O:p</O:p Blind <O:p</O:p Under x-ray I will use flouro only<O:p</O:p 14, How much are you’re fill’s co pay of $30.00 office visit if my insurance will cover it. Otherwise it will be $250. With flouro 15, Does your surgeon do your fill’s or a fill provider.I hope to go back to the doc a time or two, but otherwise it will be a fill provider. 16, If you traveled for your band why did you travel. Wanted a specific surgeon <O:p</O:p Cost. I went to Mexico for cost, but chose the specific surgeon because of his experience. I also knew someone that went to him<O:p</O:p 17, Did you experience any complications/Difficulties. NO 18. When did the problems begin. None 0 - 6 months <O:p></O:p> 6 - 12 months <O:p></O:p> 12 - 18 months <O:p></O:p> 18 - 2yrears + <O:p></O:p> 19, what problems did you experience were they resolved and how was they resolved. None<O:p</O:p 20. Would you be banded again or chose another op. I would do just what I did. I would not even consider another option. The Band ONLY.

MissyC, They have a dinner meeting at Jason's deli in Dallas right off I-35. That isn't too bad of a drive. They also have carpools for people that live in the Denton/Lewisville/Flower Mound area. Personally, I live in Flower Mound and when I start going, I wouldn't have a problem carpooling.

Go to Yahoo groups and join the DFW Bandsters group. They have dinners/meetings all over the metroplex. Once a month at each location, I believe. I personally have not been to one yet, but I am working fulltime and going to school fulltime. I graduate in December, so I plan to breathe and attend a meeting or two for support. They are wonderful people. I can't wait to meet them and put faces to the names on their postings. BTW, you don't have to live in the DFW area to join the Yahoo group. There are people from other states as well as other countries. Check it out.

It is kinda weird, but kinda cool at the same time.

If losing weight was easy and all it took was a little willpower, we wouldn't be an overweight society. It just isn't that simple. She needs to get her anti-depressants leveled off. Once she is level, she will feel better and be more motivated to get out and about. Then she may be ready to start working with the band. First things first. In my opinion. Good luck to you and your wife. I truly hope things work out for you.

Congrats on your surgery. You will breeze through it with flying colors. Just take it easy for a few days and you will be on your way. It is a wonderful journey. Take care.

The stuff under our name is in our signature. Go to the top and click on User CP and then click on change signature or something like that. It is on the left.

But does Dr. Benevides do fills on non-patients?

Hi, I had surgery on a Thursday and went back to work on Monday. I was tired, but other than that I was fine. Everybody is different, so if you have any kind of flexibility on your time of it would help. I think it all has a lot to do with the condition you are in to start with. I know a lady that went to work the next day. But she is crazy anyway. lol Good luck to you.

Hang in there Kim, it may take you a couple of fills before you really feel any restriction. The first phase is a healing phase. Any weight loss is a bonus. When you start feeling restriction, the band will start doing its job. Until then, it is all YOU. The weight you have lost is completely credited to you! Don't sweat the few pounds gained. Look at what you have lost and move on. You are doing an AWESOME job. And don't forget it. We are all here for your support. Take care.

First, has anyone had gallbladder surgery and then this surgery later? If so, is the pain similar? I have had my gall bladder removed, spleen removed, and a hysterectomy, and now the lap band surgery. The lap band surgery was a cake walk. I had my surgery on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday. I was a little tired, but it was fine. The only reason I took any of my pain meds is because they were a pain/anti-inflamatory combo and he wanted me to finish them completely. (pst... I didn't). Yea, I was probably swollen for a longer period than I should have been, but I was fine. Hopefully coffee counts as part of a liquid diet.. I don't drink coffee, so I can't answer this one. Second, if I have the surgery it will be in Tijuana (I live in San Diego so it's close and since my insurance won't cover it...) and Dr. Ortiz's office claims I can get the surgery on a Friday and be back to work on Monday?? see above When I got my gb out, I felt great the first few days and then the meds wore off...:paranoid I have a desk job and don't plan on telling my boss what kind of surgery I am getting (or where). The doctor's office claims this surgery is less invasive than gb removal- anyone know if that's true? Yep, see above again I got laposcopic surgery for that; got there at 6:30 am and was home by 11:30 am-so if this is less invasive, why do I have to stay the night before and 2 days after surgery? I will only be at work for 4 days and then I am on vacation for a week. The reason for the night before is probably because the pre-op tests and stuff will be done the afternoon before. The two days after are just a precautionary (sp) because they know you are travelling to get to them and you don't live within the same city like if you had it done in the U.S. You will probably be fine working 4 days then being off the next week. You will probably be tired those 4 days, but let your friends and family know so they can take up the slack and let you rest every chance you get. Third, I've read great things about Dr. Ortiz; does anyone have any bad experiences with him to relate? I haven't heard any negative things about him at all. I would query the old posts and see what you come up with. Fourth, can you feel the port under your skin? Can the outline of it be seen under your skin? I can feel the port, but it isn't visible. Fifth, how do they fill it? Does it hurt? I would think they would have to pierce your skin each time, right? I haven't had a fill yet, but yes they pierce the skin with a special syringe. From what all I have read, it doesn't hurt at all. For some reason this surgery is scaring me alot more than my gb one did and I'm not sure why. The gb surgery is much more invasive. They actually cut and take something out. The cutting on this one is through the skin and they stitch a little flap over the band to hold it in. Any and all comments would be MOST appreciated. If I get the surgery it will be on Dec 15. If I missed anything, let me know. I will be more than happy to try and help. I have recieved so much great advice and help on this chatboard that I like to return it when possible.

The only thing that worked for me was, walk, walk, walk. I walked at least 5-10 minutes every hour. I didn't have shoulder pain, but felt pressure in my belly; upper belly. Good Luck to you. I hope you get a good nights sleep.

Cindy, Buttermilk chess pie? Sounds good, but haven't heard of it. What's in it?

My doc said liquids only for the five hours prior to the fill.