mona-camille

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! What day is your fill? Mine is for the 26th, memorial day.

What weekend? I am going for my first fill on arriving Saturday the 24th and leaving tuesday morning. I hope the pool is warm enough for swimming this time around and fat or not, I am going in the pool anyway. And I am fatter than everyone here so the rest of you shouldn't worry about being in a suit!!

I was at both places. Revolution Ave is very touristy. The mall is not touristy at all. No haggeling for prices at the mall, but the prices are ok to begin with. Thats where the natives shop. We didn't see a single american at the mall. Revolution Avenue is all american except for the shop keeps who are very very pushy. If you have the whole day, you will have plenty of time to go to both. We taxi'd to Revolution Ave but walked to the mall. It's kind of far, but I am a walker so it was ok. We also walked back and forth from the hotel to the center too.

Congratulations!!!! Good for you!!!!!!!!

They might just have to do a breathing treatment before and after surgery. I had to because of my decreased lung function. No big deal. I wouldn't worry. Although, I think I'd ask the doctor for some codeine if the cough persists. Codeine is the absolute best thing for a cough. But, make sure with the center that you can take codeine before surgery. In fact, you really should call Dr. Ortiz ASAP and ask his opinion. He will tell you much better than any of us can.

I think it depends on how you heal and your pain level. I stayed an extra night and flew home and the flight was 6+ hours. I had to fly to the far east coast of Pa. I didn't have a single problem. But, I also didn't have any pain after surgery either. I personally would have had no problem driving whatsoever. Just make sure your husband does not drive fast over bumps and potholes. That would hurt! Plus, take a small pillow with you to hold under your belly and that will help if you do have pain. So, I would say stay the extra night before you drive home. The hotel is cheap enough, $80 I think. If you end up having a problem half way home, get another room and stay the night again. It's just hard to say. I was terribly afraid to fly because of the pain but I ended up not having any so I was fine. But, who knows how you will feel and recover.

I looooooove the Akins Advantage shakes. They were the only ones that truly kept me full! The 100% whey protein powder is good too, as long as you make it with 2% milk and double the scoops. (The package says to use water and one scoop-but that is gross). MMMMMMM Chocolate caramel is mmmmmmm good. Oh, and use ice and out it in the blender and you have a magnificent smoothie! Oh my, I need to go home and make myself one right now!!

I didn't stay overnight at the center. I was doing so well I got to go home the same day. I was third in line for banding. I did recover exceptionally fast - not the norm. I was up and running the halls within 2 hours and feeling perfectly normal. I never had pain, in fact, never took a pain pill, which is amazing because I am a baby! Now, I did have some crazy gas and bloating but no actual pain. I got 3 weeks off of work but only because I have a great disability plan. I wasn't hungry AT ALL after surgery. Which was nice, because I was afraid I would be. I didn't get hungry until about a week after I got home. But, all the fluids kept me full, especially when I got to the yogurt and creamy soup.

Wow, never heard of any of that stuff but sounds interesting. Where do you get it?

The difference in fill amounts is the difference between usa and mexico. In mexico, Dr. Ortiz is much more aggressive with fills and doing them under fluero makes it even better, he can see what he is doing. In the US the standard is to do tiny fills every month without fleuro until you feel restricted. To me, that is crazy, but it is the attitude of the US doctors. And that came from Dr. Oritzi himself. So, essentually, that can mean that you wait and wait and wait until you get a good fill taking it even longer to lose weight. I'd rather Dr. Ortiz being more aggressive so I can get on with weight loss right away. My sister who was banded here in the states has had the same thing. A tiny fill every month, no fleuro so it is a guess and it is very slow weight loss since she still isn't at optimum level even after 3 fills now.

Good luck everyone, I am so excited for you all!!!!

I couldn't feel mine in the beginning either. It must be all the swelling, but I can feel it now. It much smaller than I thought though.

What a great way to put it!! Thanks for that.

I was doing Adkins for several weeks pre-op and wasn't losing enough weight for Dr. Miranda. I think it was 2 pounds per week. So I went to the shakes for breakfast, lunch and an Adkins style supper. So, the only carbs I got was from the shakes. And I used the Adkins shakes because the kept me full. That is when I got up to 5 pounds per week lost. So, give that a try. At least until it gets you in the OR. Oh, and I started walking as much as I could. Keep off salt, that weighs you down too.

Yes, I was there. It was an experience to say the least and we left as soon as possible. The cab rides takes about 45 minutes each way and will cost around $50-$60 dollars round trip. Just not my type of scene. Lots of bars, lots of booze. The cabs do not have air conditioning, or if they do, they don't use it. Yes, there are horses on the beach you can ride, but I refused. They are not fed too well nor do they receive water. They sit in the hot sun on the hot sand all day long and one look in their eyes and you can see the sadness and hoplessness of their situation. They are not treated well at all. You will also find an endless supply of dogs. Seems everyone there has one. Not that it is a problem, just saying. The storekeeps on the streets are much worse than on Revolution Avenue. They will literally pull you by the arm and try to get you to come inside for drinks or to buy something. A lot of undesirables on the streets and you must be very very careful. I did not see many tourists at all, mostly natives. And that is worrisome. Tourist areas are much safer. The water was icy cold but I was there on Easter Sunday. The sand is hard, not the squishable kind. No lifeguards when I was there. There was every type of person and group imaginable. Families, singles, animals, drunks etc. Just a great big ole party scene,so if that is what you are into, then by all means, you'll have a great time. I didn't. But then again, it was srping break so maybe it is different at differnet times of the year. If you have the money to spend on the cab, just go and look around. Oh, and no, you can't swim after being banded. Go before.

Good for you Bobbi, great job!!!!

My first fill is May 26th. Staying 3 nights too!

I am definitely going to watch this, thanks!! I never saw a previous post about this or I would have watched it??????? Could it somehow have not shown up since you said no-one responded? I expect you would have had tons of us looking at it, so I find it odd no-one did. Anyway, I am going to watch now, thanks tons!!

Well thats 2 against the chocolate caramel flavor that I like. I think that makes me brave enought to try another flavor now. I liked the chocolate caramel so much I was afraid to try another one flavor, but it sounds like you love the others ones too, so I think I'll give it a try! Thank YOU!

I got to go back to the hotel a few hours after surgery, so I slep in the PJ's I brought along.

Yes, I think that is way too early. 8 weeks is better. But, why does your doctor keep changing dates? That sounds very suspect to me and would concern me.

Yes, and I was also extremely bloated. Even my underwear was painful!! I couldn't wear pants for 2 weeks.

That is cute!! I did take all dresser to wear after surgery, and I don't want to buy anything else until I am down so far my clothes hang off of me, LOL!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I would love to see an answer to this also. I haven't had my first fill yet, but I am curious what to expect to eat.