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I have scheduled my Revision surgery (Sept. 10) with Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center in Tijuana. His clinic has designated as an ICE (International Center of Excellence). Dr. Ortiz was selected by Newsweek Magazine as one of the top Bariatric surgeons in America. I had my lapband done with Dr. Ortiz in 2007... and was completely impressed with him and his center. My Mom went with me (she's a nurse) and she was blown away by their professionalism and first class operation. Unfortunately, the Lapband didn't work for me... so, I am choosing to have the Revision surgery to Vertical Sleeve with Dr. Ortiz also. Every question that I have asked has been answered in a timely and understandable manner. I researched and researched... and have decided to stick with Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center. They might be a little more expensive than some other surgeons... but, I believe he is worth every penny. Good luck to all and I hope to meet some of you in Tijuana! Cheers, Dottie

I was cleared for salad at about 10 weeks. I do like a salad from time to time but since it has lower protein value I will make sure my other meals that day are protein packed. Also I like to put meats in my salads. Chopped up chicken, ham, pepperoni, turkey bacon, that type of thing.

Hello Everyone, It's Mytrice I have missed you guys( no time to read or post). Port problems fixed. I want to start a new topic- List one or two goals for January. 1. I want to lose 6-10 pounds by my birthday Jan. 27. 2. drink more Water

I went on a cruise 10 days after banding... and I started a thread on it. Look at the past threads I started to locate it. Towards the end of the thread I wrote my reflections after returning from the cruise. It may be helpful to you.

questions: 1. I will be 6 months out on Jan 31st, will my hair start growing out (it got long but isn't quite thick) and getting thicker again? 2. Is there another way to get enough Protein a day without drinking Protein shakes (they make my stomach really upset now)? 3. For those who are 6+ months out, what is your daily life like, like mainly your daily meal/diet like? (just so i can have a better idea) 4. Did any of you have stretch marks (all your life...before surgery) where? [i have them on my stomach, hips, upper arms, and boob area.] And how much did you lose? Are they still horrible looking? Are you at goal weight? 5. Did you get pregnant (not that i want to, just curious)? How are your stretch marks now? Did they get worse? How many kids did you have (for future refference, I want to have two kids but i'm worried that my stretch marks will get worse, redder, uglier, and just horrendous. 6. Why do you need to get unfilled when being pregnant? 7. Is there anything to cover up stretch marks? Makeup? Tattoos (heard it wasn't a good idea because it'll just look worse?)? is there anything else that works 8. How long do you workout everyday? 9. What was your best expiernce with the band so far? 10. People who didn't get plastic surgery, would you still wear a two piece bathing suit like a bikini? 11. Do you plan on getting PS? Why? 12. Do you feel more confident? 13. Do guys/girls flirt with you more? 14. Do guys/girls ask you out more? 15. Did you find the man/woman of you dreams? 16. How many fills did it take for you to get to your goal weight? 17. When you first got your first fill, what was your expierence like? Was it painful? (people who don't get it numbed, please) 18. Can you give me an idea of what your shopping list would look like? ( i know it has to be healthy and stuff and i want lots of fruit) 19. Is there any fruits or veggies you cant eat because of the band? it would be cool if you all can answer these (: mainly if you are 6+ months out or at goal weight. about the daily meal plan, just want to know so i can buy healthier stuff AGAIN, kind of got out of track and out of hand ): but yeah im starting to get tired of having the same thing over and over i'm in DESPERATE need of a fill or two. i haven't got a fill yet because as some of you may already know, i was sick for 2 and a half months out of surgery and i didnt start feeling 95% better till the end of December, the weekend of my birthday. and since the week of christmas, i started getting hungry an hour after i just ate and its annoying! so yeah and i dont have insurance right now (i had Bluecross blue shield and i guess after you turn 19 they dont cover you anymore) so i MIGH be getting Medicade i'm not really sure, if so i hope they cover the fills because i am NOT paying that out of pocket, i dont have the money

Hi Mel-- I am getting banded on 2/10 and can so totally relate to the questions/freak out moments right now! But everytime I start to freak out I keep my goal in mind and it's still more powerful than the doubts, maybe that will help you too? Please be sure to keep me posted on how everything goes!! Jen

I was banded 1/10/17. The left side of my abdomen feels hard as a rock. Has anyone experienced this? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

i recently had an unfill of 0.3 cc. i had a total of 2.2 cc in my 10 cc band. well, my tiny unfill has made a HUGE difference... too much of a good difference.!!! now i can eat whatever i want - no restriciton!!!! i called my dr's nurse and made an appt to have a small adjustment this coming tuesday. i'm sooooo scared of gaining any weight back..... and i didnt want to wait until next month to 'fix' it..... i know i can eat too much.. we went out to eat and i ate...... (hangs head in shame and guilt.....) two crunchy tacos, side of rice and hadfull of chips/salsa!!!!! OMG - i could NEVER eat that much before.... i cant' wait until i find my elusive green zone!! i'm still trying to follow my portion sizes, and not drinking w/meals - but i'm really excited to have some restriction again!!!!!

I am 14 weeks out and this is my typical day: Breakfast: 1/2 english muffin with Peanut Butter and 1/2 banana sliced on top snack: baby bell cheese lunch: 3/4 of a healthy choice type frozen meal-- one with at least 10 grams of protien or more. I try to eat the meat out and leave the noodles or rice. snack: handful of nuts or a can of tuna plain Dinner: chicken breast, or meatloaf, or pot roast, or whatever meat my roommates and I are in the mood for. and a few bites of veggies. On the days when I work out I also drink a protien shake made with ice, protien powder, peanut butter, banana, and thats an extra 50 grams of protien, Feeling great!!! Calories range from 1000-1300 usually.

OK lets do this!! :thumbup: I got a fill about 10 days ago - my last one had been about 6 months ago and I had pretty decent restriction most of the time, but thought I'd give it a try - I got .25cc -- it was way too much - so I went back and had .1 taken back out- Ithink I am still too tight- but I'm keeing fluids down if I take it slow and don't feel hungry at all - I just worry about my energy levels so we will see - I do like that the scale is moving.. Not sure where you guys are located, but here spring is finally on it's way in so I'm hoping to get outside doing yard work etc to help burn some bonus calories as well... SOOOOO what is your plan and what can we do to get rolling?

I was also banded 5/19 and here we are, made it through 3 months. I am down 39 lbs and probably in better shape than ever. How are you guys doing?

Hi, I had my lapband placed on May 29 and my first fill on July 19. I'm having trouble with the food I'm supposed to eat and I'm wondering if anyone has any post-fill menus they'd be willing to share. I'm terrible at making up menus, but I'm good at following them. Thanks, Mary

So, I've been fat for most of my life. I've been fat ever since I was roughly 10 years old, but what I considered fat then is nothing compared to the state I am at now. After I got sex reassignment surgery, my metabolism went straight to hell and my energy levels fell. I didn't make any lifestyle changes afterwards, but the fact that I didn't was a part of the problem that resulted in the state where I am now. And gaining so much weight, I likely contracted sleep apnea due to my weight gain and also contracted plantar fasciitis, which makes it harder to be out and about without my arches screaming at me. I've tried so many diet and exercise programmes, from Bikram Yoga to Weight Watchers, from marathon training to calorie counting, from parkour to South Beach. In fact, I would have continued trying if not for someone in a chat room. They told me that I should get a lap band... to which I said "why? I can exercise, I have the discipline to diet, why the hell would I need a lap band?" We had a long discussion about bariatric surgery and I decided to do my research. I first considered the programme at Denver Health. After all, I didn't know about the programme just north of me in Fort Collins (and to be quite honest, that's kinda okay given the support network I've built up there) and I thought Denver Health was the natural place to go. That and UCHealth has had... issues with serving employees of the State of Colorado. So, I went to their support groups/medical weight loss classes (which were combined), attended sessions with their psychologist and saw their nutritionist only to get rejected because I had clinical depression. I feel the problem was that since the psychologist was not my regular psychologist and did not know me nor my support network well, that made her more skittish than she should have been. I then contacted the programme at Northern Colorado Surgical Associates (which is a part of the Poudre Valley Health System and their combined programme is called the "Bariatric Centre of the Rockies") and started attending their medical weight loss classes, their patient education seminar, got my regular therapist and prescriber to write my letter, and as of Tuesday, had surgery with them. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I can attend their support groups often (as their support groups are in Fort Collins and the transit back down to Longmont after 8pm is dismal at best), but the good news is that I have found other practices in the area which have support groups that I might be able to attend. I have a therapist that I really mesh with and I have a support network from both my church and my political party (Green Party of Colorado, FTW!) And I look forward to the future. I look forward to wearing all those cute goth/steampunk clothes I see in my Facebook news feed, I look forward to finishing up my transition by having facial feminization surgery/breast augmentation (which can only happen once I get to my goal weight, if my concern is having the best results), and most pressing, I look forward to the day I can waltz into the Denver Health support groups, look into the eyes of the nutritionists, psychologists, and that bariatric coordinator and tell them where they can stick it.

Let me give u my story I have bcbs my paperwork was submitted on 9/25 I was told by the docs office it takes between 2 to 4 weeks. On 10/1 I cld insurance co I had been approved on 9/27. I cld my doc office she had not received approval. I cld the provider, they said they had fax info to doc office, so they re faxed info. On 10/2 I cld doc office twice and told them what insurance co said on 10/2 around 7 pm doc office cld with surgery date of 9/29/12. Case and point I was accerative in the process. Sometimes the folks working for the doc office do not go the xtra mile nor do they put themselves in our shoes. The morale of this story is help them, make calls and make it happen

I was totally in the same boat as you. I ended up not getting a fill at 6 wks. I am about 10 wks out and think I need a fill now because I could eat a lot if I allowed myself too. But everyone is different and it sounds like you are doing awesome! Keep up the good work!

Hello everyone. I've struggled with weight almost my entire life. Now, I'm only 19 as of April, but growing up and living in today's society is a struggle. Luckily I was hardly ever bullied on growing up in school. They had the "decency" to laugh behind my back. I'm a social butterfly whenever it comes to people. Growing up I had a lot of friends, and to this day I only speak to TWO of the ten friends I used to have and hang out with. I'm glad that they are still with me and have encouraged me through everything. Whenever I was a Junior(2011), near the end of my last semester I had decided for the first time about having Bariatric surgery. At the time I was at 416 pounds. Whenever I saw that number pop up on the weight scale I just thought about a tiger. I weigh as much as a full grown tiger. I was so embarrassed. Whenever she read the number out loud to double check I just about lost it. I never thought I would ever get to this weight. My surgeon told me that my next appointment would be in about 4 months. He had said to follow my diet and to have lose close to 40 pounds. I felt that was easy enough seeing as how overweight I was and that I knew that if I tried that I could lose over that amount. After the seminar was over and I met with my surgeon I was feeling more than ready. I was feeling so excited and ready to start my new life. Next I speak with the dietician and then it hits me again. Just hearing myself tell her everything I consume in one day was just phenomenal. I couldn't believe it! I left that day with a diet plan and a change of mind! After following the diet for about a month I just started feeling like I was wanting to give up. I was feeling depressed as I lost some weight. It wasn't happening fast enough for me. Sadly, I fell out of the Bariatric process. I was so disappointed in myself. Soon after that I just gave up entirely. I started eating worse than ever before. I wouldn't go anywhere near a scale. I was so intimidated by them. Also, I forgot to add that I've been in Marching Band since the 8th grade. Because of all of this my band unifor.m started getting tighter, and tighter. At the end of the marching season I could barely zip it up. I was so ashamed. After I graduated (2013) I had met an amazing guy named Ryan. I started dating Ryan June 21st, 2013. He was my everything. Soon after about 5 months things started turning for the worst. We would fight constantly and it would never end well. Being with Ryan for the first 5 months I had lost around 15 pounds if I had to guess. We were on and off for a little while after. Finally I done a little maturing I had considered Bariatric surgery yet again. This time was the real deal. So I packed up with my mom and Ryan and off to Indianapolis we went. I went through the seminar and everything was fantastic. After everything was over and we got back in the car my mom had called my dad and told him how much he would have to pay (half because of the divorce.) My mom fell silent on the phone and then said, "Okay well we will be home in about 3 hours." After she hung up I asked what was said and she said that he told her he just couldn't afford it. I was completely heartbroken. I was so devastated. Yet again, I thought it was too late. I didn't want to try anymore. Months after that Ryan joined the gym and we both would walk down there. The gym was 3 blocks away from my house so to start off we would walk down there and he would work out and then walk back. I was so winded from walking those 3 small blocks I could find it in me to exercise. Eventually I started working out and I wanted to actually stay over there for an hour and a half working out, and then would walk back home. I started feeling so much better. After a while, Ryan and I weren't doing all that well so I lost all motivation to go. Again, with the giving up. Anyways, here I am in 2014. I'm 19 years old and weigh approx. 380 pounds. Ryan and I are doing extremely well and just had our 15 month anniversary September 21st. He is supporting me as well as my dad and his sisters (my aunts). I meet with my surgeon December 2nd to discuss the possibility of having the Sleeve procedure done versus the RNY. I'm in this 100% this time and I hope to be able to have a happy life for as long as I'm allowed. As soon as I get closer to my surgery date, (whenever that is) I will be uploading pictures on my progress. If anyone has any advice for me I would be so grateful to hear it. Thank you (:

Monday and Tuesday night was ruff. Puking up anything and everything that went in my body. Got to come home yesterday, had slept most of those three days. Today has been better. My right side is so sore!!! I got up and walked around the house for about 10 laps and didn't feel any difference in walking or not. I have tried to stay off all meds to try and stay awake today. Worked except I still took a nap. Getting a little more fluids in everyday. Hope all are doing well!!

I am in the Dallas area. I am scheduled 9/19/2013.

Hi Ashley, My name is Julie, I was banded on 6/7/10. I'm feeling pretty good today. That first 3 days was rough, I'll admit. The gas almost killed me. I'm like you, very caution, and scared to death of this band. I was only on a liquid diet for 24 hours then on to a pureed diet for the next 2 weeks. Having a pretty hard time with that because I don't puree foods. Kinda makes me sick. So I have been really just eating things that look like they were pureed. And adding in Protein shakes, which I can't hardly stand the taste of!! ON the lookout for a good one, let me know if you find one you like. Julie

Tricia you and I are in the same boat! I was banded July 13 and I am DYING for real food. I was on a liquid diet 10 days prior to surgery and now full liquid for 14 days after and I am so OVER broth and protein drinks. I see my doctor tomorrow and I am hoping I get a fill, my bf did and her follow-up. I'm not even wanting real real food I just can not wait for mushie so I can have eggs and ham salad. Keep us posted with what happens at the doc tomorrow and I'll do the same

How do you do it? I used to always be well hydrated but having surgery has actually had a negative effect on my drinking habits. I'm just not thirsty anymore and drinking water feels like a chore now more than ever. Sent from my HTC 10 using BariatricPal mobile app

I am over a month banded and I still can't get the full 8-10 ounces down at a time. It takes me pretty much all day to finish it.

Since my surgery on 10/17/11 I get sick (diarhhea, nausea, sweats - feels like dumping syndrome) whenever I ingest protein drinks that are pre-made or powder. Thinking cow's milk was causing it, I tried using almond milk, soy milk and rice milk and still get sick so I have to think it's the whey protein causing the problem, just like you. So I have stopped using it/them and am relying more on Isopure Zero Carb and Isopure Plus for extra protein when needed. I hope the problem resolves itself eventually (I invested a lot of $ into huge protein containers - Unjury, Max Protein, Isopure Whey - as well as sugar free flavored syrups (as suggested by the world according to eggface's blog) and I hate to see them go to waste. I am eating mostly ALL protein at this point to keep my numbers up. The scale is going down so I guess it's working.

I'm so very anxious to get my sleeve so time is CRAWLING by. But of course, there's the nerves and the jitters, which makes time FLY by. Will I be ready? Is my liver shrinking enough? I mean, I haven't even gotten to my Dr's requirements - they haven't started yet, but I started on my own doing a very very low fat/low carb diet. I know know know I can do this - but it always crosses my mind - the typical fears and phobias. I do not like being put under. I'm a control freak and I'm not in control if I'm under anesthesia. (Yes, I know I'm not in control if I'm not under general too but the feeling is there!) I weighed myself this morning - 372.2. I can't wait till that first number is a 2, and then a 1. That will be lovely The feeling of better health that I will get when all is said and done almost seems unreal. To get back to feeling like myself. I have been obese for 4 years. Before that, I was the epitome of health - little did I know, I had something genetic lurking that would change all of that. I've attached 2 pictures of myself - the one titled 2006 was just before I got diagnosed. I was a size 8-10 depending on what brand of clothes I was wearing. I was running 5 miles a day, lifting weights 3-5 times a week. I was so healthy. It can change in an instant. The second picture was at my brother's wedding with my now husband. I was a 10-12 in that picture. But I looked good! More importantly, I felt good. This was right around when I started running. I want to get back there.

Hi,at 5 month and 2 weeks I entered my first stall.It lasted 7 weeks but then I started losing again.After the stall I now lose nothing for a few weeks and then 5-8 pounds overnight. When I average it still comes to 7-10 pounds per month even thoug it drops in only a few days and the res of the time the scale stays the same. Be patient.You are not done.Do the right things.Stick to your calories,carbs and Protein limits and exercise and it will come off again.