bandiva

I was banded by Dr Ortiz in 2006. He and everyone else there are amazing. I have had a few bad fill experiences and will now only go there for fills. Feel free to ask me questions, you have made the right choice. I would send anyone I love here, as a matter of fact, my hubby is being banded there in Sept. Best wishes.

I am happy to read everyones good news. When I went for my fill I found out I had strethed my pouch. They completely unfilled me and I have had liquids and mushies for the last month. I go for a fill July 26...can't wait! My advice, be careful about eating and drinking together.

So, I was at my goal weight and had very little in my band. Physically I was able to drink while I ate so I did. Months later I went back to get a fill and found out I had stretched my pouch by eating and drinking at the same time, and carbonation. Just a thought.

google walking to running training sites. Nike plus coach has a good site as well. Huge hugs to your sister. What a great example she is. I applaud both of you for your courage.

This has happened to me. My advice is to start taking a strong antacid. If it continues, or if you are coughing a lot you are probably too tight. I would give it a few days to calm down a little. Sounds like you are eating fine, don't forget to hydrate too! When I have acid reflux I don't feel like drinking but they have told me even 2 oz here and there really helps with overall hydration. If the acid relflux continues at night, definately dont eat or drink before bed. Hope that helps.

As for the yogurt...you are probably a little inflamed because of the taco situation. I can't eat wraps either. I would suggest going on fluids a couple days...drink some ant acid as well and then introduce soft mushy food again. Best wishes.

Let us know how this turns out. I really hope it is covered, you have come through the hard part, you can do post op again...a few weeks of your life...I think I would do it. Big hugs.

lol...i love ranch too! lol.

I cried a lot on the preop and in the first few weeks after surgery. Four years later I had to go on liquids for 10 days....cried the first two days. I think it is mostly mental hardship, some blood sugar stuff, and general frustrations! Hang in there, soon you will be laughing your skinny butt off!

Thanks Buggie! I love the support of this forum. Have been thinking a lot addictions lately, flour, sugar. I wonder if I could cut them out completely. I know they are a huge trigger for me. Maybe that will be my one day goal...I will cut out sugar and flour today for one day...great, now what should I have for breakfast...cheerios are not out of the plan. lol. I will let you know tonight how it went. :thumbup:

I decided it was time for me to start a little 'home' for my journey. I am being banded Dec 18/06 with Dr. Ortiz in TJ. I live in Victoria, BC. I have struggled with weight my whole life - no kidding. I am tired of it. I want to be in control of food, instead of the other way around. I am very confident in this procedure, and in the results I will have after it. I am a hungry person, and not a happy person when I am hungry. So then I eat to control my inner grouch, and get fatter and more depressed. I am sure you can all see where this is going. I am married to a great supportive husband, and have 2 boys who are 21 and 18. My youngest is supportive of this procedure, but my oldest wants mommy just the way she is. He is worried about safety. My youngest is only worried about money....hmmm.... I might have to chat with him about that.:guess I am off to work now, I hope anyone who pops by this thread, finds something of interest. Best wishes to you all.

Buggie, yay yay yay....couldn't even find my scars if I wanted too! You are doing great!

CJF, remember to be kind to yourself. You can do this, and you will make mistakes a long the way. We all have been to hard on ourselves and that is how we got here in the first place! lol. Remember it's all about love. Huge hugs.

I am done my liquids. I am suprised I didn't lose any weight. I guess when you are on liquids you take in a lot of calories due to hunger. I took my measurements this morning from a month ago...overall I am up one inch. Eating soft food now and I am going down to TJ for a fill on July 26th. Getting lots of exercise, and I haven't been over eating so that is good. Feeling a little down but that will pass. At least I have sometning to look forward to July 26. Thinking of a TT and Breast lift. Espensive but people who have gone through it say it is worth it. I don't think I am quite ready for surgery again. We will see. :thumbup:

I had a couple good fills with them and then a few bad fill infills. They told me I had about 3.4 turns out I only had 1.2 which is wierd cause they put 2 in ( in a 4 cc band). They haven't returned my emails. Kitty (the main person) is no longer there. I think last time they unfilled me they took out way more than they realized. I am going to email them again to try to contact again. I ended up going back to doc ortiz in TJ. They are great in Mexico at the OCC.

Great info, thank you! I was feeling like I was going through this alone, I appreicate all the info and suggestions.

Well it turns out i have stretched my pouch. I know now exactly how i did it, so hopefully this post helps someone else. Do not drink with meals it stretches your pouch without you feeling it. Also, I had been drinking pop over the winter...not smart. So, they emptied my band. I am on liquids for 10 days and then mushy for 4 weeks then my pouch should be shrunk back down and I can get a fill. Off to work now, will write more later.

lol. You will live through the yogurt! It is definately hard but very do-able. One hour at a time when you have to!

ok...make it 18 now. It's ok, I have a plan! I am going to TJ for a fill and little check up next monday. I know what happened and I a,m ok now. I feel more positive and strong and I trust myself again. It is funny that I think that I am being nice to myself when I am sabatoging myself....I will keep you posted!

bk...Weight loss is full of ups and downs and plateaus for those of us who struggle with this demon (in my case addiction). I feel your pain in your words. Don't give up. You have made a huge accomplishment by maintaining your weight loss...yay for you! I have gained back about 18. I am going for a fill next monday. I have had some fill trouble recently...getting filled with what should be too much but no resctriction. I am terrified that they have damaged my 'hose'. I am going back to my original clinic in Tijuana for them to check it out. I agree this is expensive...i just keep telling myself I am saving money on food. lol. I will keep you posted. Take care and be kind to yourself...I will follow my own advice as well.

YAY! It is nice to see familiar names again. I am up 15 right now with an unrestricted band. Getting a fill on th e28th. thank God. lol.

So...I may have gained 15 pounds over the last 3 months. Oops. Have been exercising again, and I am going to get a fill. My band has been empty for almost 2 years. I hope you all had a great holiday and didn't eat as much chocolate as I did! I really missed the mental high of exercise. I have been back at it for just over a week and I feel better already...now the scale needs to start cooperating. I need to put an end to this before it gets out of control and overwhelms me.

Beversman...wow what a year. I am happy for you and your new surgery date. You will have no choice but to be back on track in no time...lol. I am doing well. Have been at my goal for a couple years. I am up about 15 right now after dealing with surgery and a death in my family. I am back on track now and will get it off quickly. I would love to hear from everyone too...here or facebook or whatever. This might be more private. who knows.

Wow! I can't believe it is a year since I posted here. My weight is pretty consistant. I am up 5 pounds but not for long! It has been a crazy year. I want to share that I was able to help my sister thanks to my weight loss. She (Melissa 29) had been in kidney failure for the last year due to juvenile diabetes. In June, after a year of testing, we did a kidney transplant. It felt incredible to be healthy enoght to help someone else. She had a great summer with her kids, bike riding, going to the part, really getting to know and appreciate her children. I am so thankful for that. In October she passed away suddenly of heart failure. Although I miss her more than I can ever say, I am thankful that she had those 3 months. Her girls are 5 and 10 and it was the first time her 5 year old ever saw her mom healthy. The kids have great memories of the summer to carry with them...and lots of photos! I wanted to post this to show one more benefit of the band...my health was restored and I was able to help another...and I had a quick (relative to others) recovery. I hope this helps anyone who reads it to see how important it is to focus on our health...the beauty we get by losing weight is just icing on the cake. Best wishes and warm thoughts to all of you. I know we all have struggled with learning to appreciate ourselves and honour our bodies. It is a daily struggle, but so worth the benefits.

I love everything that has been said here. It is so great that we are all moving forward and being more comfortable with ourselves. Very inspirational. Thank you for the warm fuzzy feeling! lol. :thumbup: