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Hanna congrats!! =D> Good things happen to good people! xoxoxoxo :party2: :party2: :tease:

Crissi Welcome to the group from a fellow Bandster AND an Oregonian. xoxo >

I am 1 month post op and can eat anything. Yep, anything. I have had 1 major pb episode where I ate a triscuit cracker and forgot to chew it really well... a few minutes later I wanted to fall to the floor writhing in pain! If I hadn't read and knew that I was experiencing food getting stuck then I would've sworn I was having a heart attack! It was intense... followed by my first and so far only sliming/throwing up episode.. it lasted 45minutes and I was on liquids the rest of the day. I find that if I eat chicken to quickly and don't remember to chew chew chew (duh) I will occasionally get a "tight/stuck" feeling. I am really looking forward to my first fill. As far as I can tell by reading the board everyone single person is different... sooo.. that does not answer you questions at all does it?? LOL

I'm loving reading this thread. Thanks to everyone who's posting their fill experience. :drinks:

Does anyone know how long you have to wait between fills? :girl_witch:

Hi, I'm arriving Sunday may 11th around 9am and will be going to the Hotel Lucerna and then on to the OCC Monday the 12th for my first fill. I'm leaving Tuesday the 13th , my flight is at 6:30pm. Anyone else in this timeframe coming or going that wants to share ride costs?? :girl_hospital:

RAMONA > > > I won't be there but wanted to say "hello" and how the heck are you ? I get my first fill on May 12th, also goin back to OCC, so I'll let you know how it goes. :drinks:

Anyone gone down for a Fill and emailed ahead for a copy and picked them up when there?? Just wondering... I think it's a good idea to have them for my records so I want to get a copy when I'm there for my fill in a few weeks.

Hi GinaB and welcome to our wonderful, informative, uplifting, kick you in the butt when needed forum! :lb21: It sounds like you've done your research and on your way to becoming a "bandster". From your post I have a couple observations/questions. My bmi is currently 40 (262lbs) down from 44 (288lbs) I eat at least 1,200 calories a day (give or take 1-200 ) in my opinion 1000 calories at your current BMI/weight seems really low/restrictive. Of course I am not a doctor or trying to give advice but as someone who has also tried every diet (and I mean EVERY diet) and failed I do know that restricting myself only led to binging later. I have lost/gained/lost/gained the same 50-150lbs countless times... I never never never dealt with the emotional aspects of why I overate and continued to be obese. I am doing that now and am finding that it's equally important for me to be emotionally healthy as it is to be physically healthy and I can't have one without the other. I hope that you are getting the emotional support you need to go along with your new "band".. of course that's one of the great things about this forum, everyone is here for you. I can't wait to read updates from you. xoxox :party2:

Sue Congrats on a major decision, you will be in great hands. We will be looking forward to your story and be here to welcome you to "bandland".

Wendy YOU ROCK!! :lb13: YOU ROCK!! We knew you could do it! 1 day at a time and now you're at day 10. Give yourself a great big pat on the back girl, you deserve it. :dance4:

\\\ Hey "nebsmom" where in WA/OR are you? I'm in Portland... You can practice on me! :yes3:

closest for you is probably 1. coos bay, oregon http://www.baybariatrics.com/html/gastric.html $420 for the first fill wtih fluro and then $300 after that. or 2. Dr. Kelly Fitzpatrick does fills for Mexico patients. She is located in Milwaukee and has an office in Eugene. website www.gastricbands.com and that will tell you that she charges $180 for the first fill and $165 each after. All the info will be on the website. ( non fluro) 3. there is a fill center usa in salem, or but they do not use fluro and I don't know how much they charge. hope this helps. Mindy

thank you for posting your experience! :lb13:

Welcome to our world... glad you could join us. We're all here to help you! :lb10: :lb16:

I didn't lose a ton of weight on the pre-op diet. I weighed 276 the day or my surgery 3/24.. when I arrived back home 3/26 I weighed 280... today, 3 weeks +2 days post op I weigh 262. Everyone is different. I am weighing myself once a week, if that, and my focus/goal right now is strictly to heal and make good choices. My first fill is scheduled 5/12 at OCC.

I was gonna post the SAME thing.. mine is all wavy and weird.. also I changed the picture and the new one doesn't/won't show up. what gives???

Nice to hear from you Bobbi! Keep up the great work. xoxo fellow 3/24 bandster.

thanks KIm!! :cheerleader:

HI guys, I live in Portland and I was banded 3/24 by Dr. Ortiz. I am going back to TJ for my first fill but will be staying local after that. Kelly fitzpatrick doesn't use Fluro. I have heard very good things about her from 2 other local bandsters who have had fills from her. Fill Center USA in Salem also does NOT use Fluro, I called their main cust serv line and they told me that both the Oregon & Washington one's do not use Fluro. I called OHSU and was laughed at and told and I would have to be "referred" and then "apply" to be filled by their center... um.. nope. There is a fill center in Olympia http://www.pacsurgical.com/ the cost is $375 for a fill and that includes Fluro. There is also the http://www.northwestfills.com/ they charge $150 without fluro or $200 with. They only do Fluro in their Arlington location which is a looong drive from PDX. I hope that helps. If you have any other questions or if you find out about someone i haven't mentioned please let me know!

Go ahead BeBe!! I'll watch and vote for you!! LOL If you do it.. I will do it!!

thanks for the concern my fellow bandsters.... hugs to you alll > > > > > One of the reasons I decided to go back to the OCC for my first fill was because of this pain. I have ZERO problems with ANY liquids or food... I really feel it towards the end of the day and once I climb into and start turning over to get in the "comfy zone" I really feel this SHARP pain... I like to think I'm pretty in tune with my body and my gut feeling is that a stitch is tight/pulling or something along those lines. The weird thing is that I was walking outside and hitting the treadmill at the gym but I notice when I do that now I feel the pain. I don't know if it's because my job requires me to stand, twist and bend all day or what?? I also have a hard time slowing down so all and all I think my body is just telling me that's it's still trying to heal and to "slow my roll" ha!! In my mind I am giving it another few days then contacting Dr. Ortiz to find out what might be going on. My 5 "cuts" are healing soo nicely! 2 of them you can hardly see anymore.. the big one looks fantastic and the other 2 are just great. Nothing is infected or extra tender to the touch... I feel great.. oh.. I will probably start another post about a "pb'ing" episode I had this weekend.. it's disgusting, hysterically funny and a learning experience all rolled into one. It also might be TMI so not sure if I ya'll will want to hear it or not?? If I haven't told you guys lately... I really appreciate everyone on this forum! xoxoxo

Your babies are sooo cute!

I was banded 3/24 and have been experiencing the "gut wrenching" pain mostly at night when I go to bed. I have to sleep laying on a pillow .. the pressure makes it a little more bearable. I thought it felt like a stitch was pulling/healing or something along those lines. I also found that wearing some sort of compression undergarmet helps ease it a little bit. I am also seen walking around laying hands on my port site... now people who know me say.. "your port/stomach bothering you" to which I reply YES! the last few nights have been really bad and I've had to take pain pills to be able to cut the pain so I can sleep. This was one of the reasons I decided to go back to the clinic for my first fill 5/12.

I e/mailed Carolyn this week. The special is $275 and it includes round trip from San Diego aiport to the Lucerna , Fill with Fluro and 1 night at the lucerna. They will also pick you up in the morning and take you to the OCC for your fill appt and return you to the hotel when finished. The $275 must be paid in CASH only at the OCC the day of your appt. If you want to stay additional nights at the Lucerna it's $80 per night + tax. The additional nights are paid for at the hotel by you and they do take credit cards.