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You will not receive a basket. My experience so far at Lucerna has been...ordering coffee from room service which is great! I did order the broth but did not like it. I brought boullion packets with me and will use hot water from coffee maker for next meal. There is a 7-11 type store and Starbucks across the street from Lucerna so I would not pack my bags with a bunch of drinks. I brought in my suitcase...boullion packets and crystal light packets I bought at the 7-11...water and apple juice You will be on clear liquids ONLY post op at Lucerna. Not until day 7 will you add yogurt drink, etc

Great Post! Congratulations!

I believe your sister gave you an incentive spirometer. You want to inhale so that all three balls rise to the top. The respiratory test is just as Clynn described, blow as hard as you can for 6 seconds

After a totally uneventful and painless (thanks to whatever magic little pill they send you home with) night I am up drinking coffee on my balcony overlooking the pool. The staff at Lucerna are amazing! Amanda...I am so not a shopper but have a lot of time to kill today and will check out the stores and let you know what I find. Ramona...I am not concerned at all about the flight home, pain wise, as I really have no pain just tenderness at port site.

Hi All, I arrived at the airport at 10:30am on monday from Philly, waited about 10 minutes then was picked up and went straight to the clinic. It took about 20 min, just drove across the border with no delays. Claudia explained all the paper work, met with Dr Miranda, Dr Jiminez, Dentist and then Dr Miranda asked if I wanted to go ahead and have surgery today. I said sure!!! Ramped up my anxiety level a little but was glad to go on with things. They take you to your room, put on gown and cute paper panties...why I don't know...in US you go in buck naked. Josi starts your IV and Carmelita pulls up your TEDS (compression hose). These are the ladies that make everything alright! They pat you on the hand, hold your hand or give you a hug... in general they offer whatever affection you need to get you through. Talked to Ortiz for maybe 2 mins, he prefers to make jokes and keep things light. Dr Jiminez (cardiologist) was the go to guy for questions (for me), I didn't meet Dr. Martinez until the next day. The whole surgery was uneventful!!!! ANy ladies who have had a c-section, this is a cake walk! The only pain I have is at the port site. Also, out of all the surgeries I've had (over 10) this was the best as far as coming out of anesthesia...I've had no nausea and was not whonked out. Be aware thought that you will start waking up before the tube comes out of your throat, a little weird but no pain when it is removed. So now I've got two days of relaxation at Hotel Lucerna (heaven, no kids) Lucerna and OCC have WiFi access, OCC's is secured so you need to ask for password and only worked periodically. Hotel Lucerna is unsecured and has strong signal. Any questions, let me know I'll be holed up here until Thursday am. SJ

Thank you so much for posting your experience, you have no idea what it means. i am traveling alone on Monday the 3rd and am more than anxious. SJ

Great post! Thank you for all the information as I am leaving on Monday, by myself and am consuming every bit of info there is out there! I wish you the best on your weight loss journey. SJ

Magpel, Since you like scenarios, here is one for you. Let's say you had lap band at 40 BMI... had great success and lost done to 26 BMI... was finally enjoying the life you always dreamed. Then unfortunately the band slipped and had to be removed. After six months recuperating you saw the scales slowly creeping up. Are you saying that since your BMI was currently at 26 that you would not be re-banded to prevent going back up to 40 BMI????? SJ

Obviously you are unable to distinguish the difference between judging another person and sharing an experience. I as well am done with this thread. I wish you the best with your weight loss experience. SJ

Hey Becky, Thanks for the info. I know we had never discussed private vs nonprivate and figured I would find out when I got there, so I guess I'm good to go for private. Saleta

My thoughts are with you. SJ

Shampoo, Great post...you are doing amazing and glad to hear you are having such a wonderful experience. Quick question...if I brought my laptop would I be able to get internet access at OCC and Hotel Lucerna in my room? Thanks again for your wonderful up to date info. SJ

Magpel IMHO...this post has two distinctions: Your experience, which for me was helpful. I like knowing that things may take longer than usual, I will be prepared and less anxious. Your judgments, which for me was not helpful and personally offensive. We all have our demons whether we are 30, 70, 100, 250, 300 lbs overweight, I would have preferred that you left your opinions of others to yourself and would appreciate it if you would acknowledge your lapse in judgment. I realize that this post has been belabored but I think it is because you continue to justify your experience which was very beneficial instead of addressing the various people that took offense to your judgments. I look forward to my journey to see Dr. Ortiz next week and hope that the group I am with will choose to be supportive of our given situations. Respectfully - SJ

Just wanted to say that I did speak to Lori and Dr Ortiz. I am going down next week and had some last minute concerns. Lori was in the process of returning calls and upon hearing my concerns connected me to Dr Ortiz who was able to alleviate my fears.

Just wanted to say that I did speak to Lori and Dr Ortiz. I am going down next week and had some last minute concerns. Lori was in the process of returning calls and upon hearing my concerns connected me to Dr Ortiz who was able to alleviate my fears.

she called

I have been trying to contact OCC for two days, specifically Lori and am not getting a response. Any suggestions? My surgery is next wednesday and have last minute concerns/questions. Thanks

"I do agree, though, that if I were the weight of some of the people I saw scheduled for surgery, I wouldn't have been having the surgery. Anyway, on to my experience " Sara, I know when I arrive I will be one of these controversial people. I am 5'9" and CURRENTLY have a BMI of 32, I say currently because in the past it has been much higher. Haven't we all gained and lost the same 75, 100, 150......lbs over and over... year after year. I've decided to do something now before I start to lose the fight again. I know it's hard not to judge people when they appear to be a size that you wish you were, I have done it over and again. I'm not trying to stir a pot or say anybody is right or wrong I just felt compelled to give my .02. I have fought my weight for 20 years but nobody would know that upon first meeting me. SJ

Wow...you look phenomenal!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting banded 3/4 and have about the same amount of weight to lose, this post was just what I needed to see!!!! I'm south of Philly in Chester County. I guess you use the Mt Laurel Fill Center. Can you give me some detail on how things work at the center...pricing, ease of scheduling, fluoro or not, docs..anything you can think of. I'm most nervous about follow up care since we are so far away from Ortiz. Thanks!

I'm headed to Ortiz March 3rd and would love to line up a fill doctor. Any references?