MamaMichelle

Glad she decided to join the Lapband Team, hope you can get her to join the forum... We all know that support is important to our success!!

Hi khaan, Some US doctors check the band placement and the ability for water to flow thru the band before their patients leave the hospital... They use the barrium to watch it flow through the band on the fluroscope (this is similar to what will happen during your fills) It's just a double check for any complications, the barium test allows the doctor to see that the band isn't too tight right after surgery. Dr. Ortiz doesn't do this but I have yet to hear anyone with any complications like that directly after surgery, I think it is probably more of a test to cover the doctors butt with the insurance companies that are paying for these US surgeries.

Here are the best directions I have seen: I decided to take the bus (#992) from the airport and the Trolley (blue line so San Ysirdo) and it was an absolute breeze. The cost was $2.50 exact change from the airport for the bus. And it was .25cents more for the trolley but I couldn't figure out how to add that so i didn't and they don't check on the trolley. Although I did hear a trolley person can come around and ask to see your pass but I fugured they wouldn't throw me off. So you hop on the bus at the city bus station right outside the airport - if you are confused they have transportation folks in blue vests all over the place. The bus comes about every 6 minutes so the wait isn't long. You need exact change and ask for a transfer and you get off at Broadway and Kettner which is the AMERICAN FLYER STATION (PIECE of cake). Bus driver will help if you ask. Get off at american flyer and wait for the blue line (do not go by color of train they all seem red) and stand on the side of the track that says blue line - anyway, get on and go to the end of the line to san ysirdo (not sure of spelling cuz I don't have directions in front of me) It is about a 30 minute comfortable air conditioned ride and it stops at the end and you can tell its the border etc. again PIECE OF CAKE. get off and walk across the border. Yellow taxi sign (HUGE) is staring you in the face and you will be approached by many taxi drivers - have the address of the hotel or clinic clearly written down and ask - Cuanto dinero (how much) - they will say cinco or five dollars - wave it in their face, repeat it and say si (YES). simple simple. i loved it and it saved me about 120 from the office transportation which is great and convenient but expensive. Allow 1.5 hours . Also I walked across the border coming back and it took .20 minutes - much faster than driving across. This post was from 2006 and from the SD Transportation website: http://www.sdcommute.com it looks like the rates have gone up but you can but a 2 day unlimited pass for $9, check that site for updated info.

Ok Just trying to sort out all the Dates, Schedules and Names: May 15th AllCdnGirl (Anita) Gets Banded my_friend_amber (Amber) Gets Banded May 16th 11:30 2fat4me (Reneej) 1st Fill 12:00 lynna (Lynn) 1st Fill 12:30 MamaMichelle (Michelle) 2nd Fill Kimra Gets Banded Painter (Cheryl) Gets Banded **GROUP GET TOGETHER AROUND LUCERNA POOL** (Maybe 5pm or 6pm?) May 17th bandgroupie (Dawn) 1st Fill calicat (?) 1st Fill Losing_it (?) 1st Fill My flight gets into SD at like 7 am on Friday so I will go straight to the hotel but since it sounds like the van will be taking Rennej and Lynn from the airport directly to the OCC I will try to get to the OCC about 11:15 or 11:30 so we can chat a little before our fills.. I have 1 or 2 things to look for on Revolution Ave so I may go in the morning before the fill or maybe us 3 girls getting filled on 5/16 can all make the trip after...

I am right there with you!! I was banded a week after you 2/28/08 I was 226 on that day and when I went for my first fill on 4/18 I was 203... It's been almost 4 weeks since my fill and I've only lost 3 lbs so I am hovering around 200 as well!! The best thing I can suggest is for you to remember how far you have come! Your body will drop the weight when you're ready just keep up the good habits!!

I fell off the band wagon last week, had a bad/stressful day I was in PMS city.. I ate 1/4 of a bag of chips and like 6 oreo cakesters, (there;s like 250 calories in 2 of them) I have been really good since my fill (even though I have no more restriction on anything that isn't bread). It's just like rehab the hardest part is admitting you stumbled and making better choices tomorrow!

Ok guys just heard back from Rene, I am confirmed for my fill on the 16th at 12:30!! I didn't ask him who was doing the fills but I am hoping it is Dr. Romero it seems he is a little more aggressive with his fills and not to mention I totally him!!! Not sure if my dental appt will be before or after our fills but I look forward to meeting everyone at the OCC!!

I did research before going that said the water was safe, especially in the hotels and restaurants because of some governing regulation. I used tap water to make my soup in the coffee pot at the hotel and drank 2-3 cups for 2 days with no problems! I took the bottled water with me down to revolution ave for shopping and such!

Lol I'm not sure what's going on with me!!! I was 203 when I got my fill on 4/18 and have only lost 3 lbs in 3 weeks, I have my 2nd fill scheduled for 5/16 so hopefully that gets me back on the right track... Onderland one day soon!! I have to keep telling myself just because I'm not losing pounds doesn't mean I'm not losing inches!! I am able to get into size 12 jeans which is a big milestone for me!!

Congrats sweetie... You're a rock star!!

Well when I went for my first fill there were 5 of us, we all arrived at the same time and just chatted with the pre-surgery bandsters and Dr. Romero allowed us to go in and watch each other's fills so we knew what to expect!!

I'm sad to say that my husband wasn't able to get off work on the 23rd (I am coming alone but we have a 6 year old son so he has to stay home with him in the evenings) so I am going to have to push up my date to the 16th... So sorry I am going to miss you guys!! Have fun girls!!

Do you girls have room for one more?? I was planning on getting my 2nd fill on the 23rd but my hubby's work schedule wouldn't work with those dates so it looks like I will be joining you girls on the 16th... I will be flying in early on the 16th checking into the Lucerna then heading over to the OCC for a fill on Friday and maybe the Zoom Whitening too. I guess you guys are getting filled on the 17th but I will be leaving that morning but hopefully we can hang out on Friday!

Here's the link to Barb's post called "Fill Doctors in Florida" from Sept 2007: http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=4672

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Very cool! do you have a link to the original article? I thought there might be some pictures to help explain all the new changes!!

Sorry I have no idea who that is but PAMMIE you are looking HOTT!!! I love that top too!

Congrats sweetie, you're on the way to the new and improved you!!

Ok Guys I am 85% sure I will be flying in early on the 23rd, like 7 am checking into the lucerna coming over to the OCC for a fill that morning with you guys... Are you going to be going into to TJ for shopping or liquid lunch or anything? I am thinking I will be doing the zoom whitening either that afternoon or the next morning (on the 24th) before I fly home!

Well we all know that the OCC does 6-8 surgeries every day 6 days a week, if Dr. Ortiz was able to attend I imagine it would be on a Sunday when he's not working or else when Dr. Martinez is on rotation for him. I think the real question is do we want to make this a organized conference with speakers and a schedule similar to the one above? Or a social non structured event with more causal get-togethers planned over the course of a weekend.

I made sure to add Benefiber to all of my liquid meals and that kept me regular. I have also heard people mention MiraLax being a miracle worker, it used to be only by prescription but now you can buy it at CVS or Walmart.

The most common sign of slippage is not being able to swallow anything, not even water!

This is what the flyer about their event said: Join the ever-growing community of lap band patients as we come together for a weekend of education, motivation, support, and socializing! We have a fantastic line-up of speakers that includes lap band surgeons, plastic surgeons, physical fitness experts, nutritional experts, and psychologists whose lap band specific topics will empower bandsters with what it takes to lead a healthy, happy, and successful bandster lifestyle. Perfect for all who are banded or hope to be banded! Early registration: $100 per person or $175 per couple Registration at the door: $150 per person Early registration ends April 16th Registration includes admission to all workshops as well as Friday and Saturday Evening Dinners and Saturday Afternoon Lunch

I also second the vegas idea as the 2/28 bandsters have already been planning a vegas reunion at the end of FEB 2009. I live in Vegas and fellow Dr Ortiz bandster LadyRebel (http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showuser=11396) works as a convention/meeting planner in one of the largest hotel chains so if we wanted to go big with guest speakers and the works that would be the best way. Here is the schedule from a similar get together held by the members of another board: Friday, May 2: 4:30 – 5:30PM Check-In and On-Site Registration 5:30 – 6:30PM Participant Meet & Greet 6:30 – Dinner and Speaker Timing, Expectations and the Art of Body Contouring Speaker: Peter J. Capizzi, MD, FACS 9:00PM Activities End – Personal Time Saturday, May 3: 6:30 – 7:30AM Group Exercise Session with Annie Lee 8:00AM Breakfast – (on your own, protein samples available at general session) 9:00AM General Sessions Calories In vs. Calories Out – Putting Your Tool to Work Speaker: David C. Voellinger, MD, FACS 10:00AM Break – Water/Stretch/Restroom 10:15AM Session 1 – Break Out Groups Track A: Consumption Assumption Speaker: Heather Mackie, MS, RD, LDN Track B: A Thyroid Problem Doesn’t Make You Pick-up Chocolate Cake Speakers: Lin Hanley, ACSW, LCSW and Cleo Caldwell, RN Track C: I Don’t Have 15 Minutes to Exercise - But I Do for the Drive-Thru! Speaker: Annie Lee, MS 11:30AM Lunch – Slide Show 1:00PM Session 2 – Break Out Groups for Track A, B, C 2:00PM Break – Water/Stretch/Restroom 2:15PM Session 3 – Break Out Groups for Track A, B, C 3:15PM Break – Water/Stretch/Restroom 3:30PM Gender Specific Sessions – "It" Wasn’t an Issue Until I had Weight Loss Surgery Speakers: Kendra Kirby, MSW, P-LCSW and Jeff Lorence, MA, LPA 4:30PM Personal Time to Explore Charlotte, NC 6:30PM Dinner and Speaker Do You Have a "Fat" Personality? Keynote Speaker: Katie Jay – Director, National Association for WLS 9:00PM Activities End – Personal Time Sunday, May 4: 6:30 – 7:30AM Group Exercise Session with Annie Lee 8:00AM Breakfast – (on your own, protein samples available at general session) 9:00AM General Session Getting Back on the Wagon Speaker: David C. Voellinger, MD, FACS 9:45AM Break – Water/Stretch/Restroom 10:00AM General Session – The Role of Medical Management after Weight Loss Surgery 11:00AM General Session – What Did I Come With & What Will I Leave With? 12:00PM Wrap-Up/Evaluations/End of Conference 12:30PM Check-Out – Safe Travels I can get the contact info for any of these speakers if we'd like them to speak at our event.