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It's available at any drug store or target/walmart. I made the mistake of buying a small 10 count box at first then having to return and get a "big count" box.. LOL... Gax-x didn't do squat for me but the phazyme worked really well for me. good luck

thanks for the reminder Michelle.... it seems like we all have times where we watch the scales EVERYDAY and moan about every pound that's gained.. but heck I can gain/lose 10lbs in a weekend. Thanks!!

By the time you read this your turn will have come and you will be an official "bandster" wooo hoooo!! keep us updated

Clynn thanks for the update.. makes me feel even better about my decision to get my first fill back at the occ w/ floro. What kind of doggie do you have? Mindy

Ok.. I finally booked my ticket tonight! I will be returning to the OCC for my first fill. I arrive Sunday may 11th at 9:30am, have my appt on Monday 10am and return home Tuesday the 13th at 6:30pm. I will be staying at the Lucerna. A girlfriend is coming with me but I have no problem sharing if someone else needs a place to bunk for a night or 2. anyone else gonna be there during that time?? bueller ... bueller..... Thanks to everyone for helping me make this decision... > I'm swear I'm usually not so wish washy! I feel really good about going back to the occ for my first fill. I will be staying local for additional one's. :lol: xoxox

HI Sufina! Nice to meet a fellow portlander. Let me know if you have any questions. I want my first fill to be under flouro so that's why i'm going back to TJ. I will make appts with Dr. Fitzpatrick after my first fluro fill. xoxo Mindy

I've had red wine... about 8oz an evening for the last 3 evenings.... no problems

I would love to come down this month and join ya'll... BUT.... I would be less than a month post-op and I don't think they would give me a fill!! I can't wait to hear how you guys do!! xoxox

hahahah.. I loved that stuffed thing! Ok.. I am 99% I am going to go back for my first fill. My good friend was saying she would go with me and would actually like to add an extra day on and get some sun. Thanks guys for helping me. I'd still like to hear from anyone who's had serious "port' issues. speaking of.... my hurts from the inside out... it feel like the stitches are healing and pulling ... but it's better today. have I told ya'll lately that I love you. (platonic of course) > > > > > >

I am still changing my mind every other day on whether I should return to TJ for my first fill or not. My fear is going to someone 1.5hrs from my home and having them tell me my port is flipped or something is not right and then them sending me on my way. I feel like if I am at the OCC and something is found to be awry they will be able to correct it right then/there! I read other forums and I keep coming across people saying that there port was found to be "flipped" and the time of their first fill and it only took a couple hours to get it fixed. Has anyone experienced this? How do you "flip it back" who does it?? LOL Has anyone been at the OCC for a fill and something was found to be "not right" and you had to have surgery to fix it? Or one of the Dr's had to be called to fix it... etc????? I'm sooo confused as to what I should do here... so please help me out. smile.gif Thanks!! Mindy

I am still changing my mind every other day on whether I should return to TJ for my first fill or not. My fear is going to someone 1.5hrs from my home and having them tell me my port is flipped or something is not right and then them sending me on my way. I feel like if I am at the OCC and something is found to be awry they will be able to correct it right then/there! I read other forums and I keep coming across people saying that there port was found to be "flipped" and the time of their first fill and it only took a couple hours to get it fixed. Has anyone experienced this? How do you "flip it back" who does it?? LOL Has anyone been at the OCC for a fill and something was found to be "not right" and you had to have surgery to fix it? Or one of the Dr's had to be called to fix it... etc????? I'm sooo confused as to what I should do here... so please help me out. Thanks!! Mindy

Thanks for the update! Glad you are all doing well! xoxox

Open faced turkey burger with a nice slice of a very sharp cheddar on top... some pickles & a tomato slice.

Wendy We will all be thinking of you and sending good thoughts your way. There are 1 or 2 computers near the rooms so if you get lonely log onto the forum and let us know how you're doing. Mindy

cindy Thanks for your update! It make me feel better about my upcoming fill~! xoxoxo Mindy

Ramona Hello! (it's Mindy) I am also struggling with returning to OCC for my first fill or driving 90 minutes to Olympia, WA and paying $375 for a fill with flouro. I checked prices for me and they are around $350 for r/t air and 2 nights hotel...I was choosing a hotel in San Diego near the trolley so I could hop it, take to the border, walk across then taxi to occ. Of course when I add up the price... day off work (commission job so no vacation time) etc... it's around $700 vs: staying here. The ONE THING that keeps me wanting to go back to the OCC is that since I have no insurance and no PCP here... My fear is with my first fill they will say "ohh... your port flipped, something slipped.. etc, " and I will be like... WTC!! (what the crap) they won't be able to do anythign about it.. but if I was at the OCC they could fix it!! especially since I want to stay at least 24hrs after my fill in case of adjustment. LOL that didn't help at all did it!!

Wendy I didn't have any problems. Kari & I split a bottle so I just had my 1/2 in a little ziploc bag. If it's legal to sell at the pharmacy my understanding is it's legal to bring it back across the border. If you ask for something that's "illegal" they will tell you... we can't sell you that, it's illegal. Hope this helps Mindy

Thanks everyone ! I am still 50/50 on what I"m gonna do. I'll keep you posted.

You look FABULOUS!!! > > > > > >

Pammie Have you used Fluoroscopy each time?? They only do fills on Friday though... ugh.. Mindy

I'm torn between returning to TJ for a fill or to find a doctor locally. There is a fill Dr. Locally who has been recommended by 2 other bandsters she charges $190 and does not use Fluoroscopy. I called my local hospital, OHSU, who "specialize" in obesity surgery and they told me I would have to submit and application & referral and they would have to review this information to see if they would 'accept" me as a patient since I was banded in Mexico. I just hung up the phone. There is another well know Bariatric Place a little over an hour from me that charges $375 for each fill and uses Fluoroscopy.. oh and they have no problems with patients from mexico. I could probably do Mexico in a day but I would feel more comfortable spending the night/ having 24hrs from the fill in case there needs to be an unfill or something isn't feeling right. I don't mind taking the trolly/bus / taxi to get to Lucerna ... I just can't decide what to do? Can I get some feedback from my experienced bandsters who had fills with and without fluoroscopy ?? Or just some opinions/facts in general. money is and issue but then again isn't an issue... I would fly out on an early am flight and get to the clinic on monday for the fill and then get a late evening flight home on tuesday... of course these specific flights are about $250 r/t.. and while I have no prob w/ public transportation.. time is of the essence and it would be nice to be picked up , taken directly to the clinic then to the hotel then back to airport next day.. know what I mean. I"m wanting to go around the 2nd week in may... if anyone else is going this time and wants to share a room with a stranger.. hahahah

Hey Amber.. I wondered what happened to you! I forgot to give you my card/number. how are you doing/feeling??? Let me know your e/mail or contact info, I'd love to chat w/ you. xoxox Mindy

I never got the "use lactaid" from Dr. Miranda.. I've been using 1% or skim milk.

** UPDATE *** :-h Well it's now been 1 week +1 day since my surgery. I can honestly say that today is the first day I've woken up feeling pretty good. Minimal gas/bloating & not a whole lot of port site pain. I started runny instant mashed potatoes on Friday (4 days post op) because I was feeling so awful and feeling like my stomach was just eating itself. That helped me a lot. I had about 2oz a day until yesterday. I've had about 3 popsicles since my surgery.. for some reason I just don't like them. Monday I could start on creamy soups! woo hooo... I had some creamy tomato (approx 2-3oz) and later had some cream of chicken (4oz) I also had 4oz of mashed potatoes. I also had 1 EAS shake with 17g of protein. I still get gassy/a little bloated after eating... and my stomach will start gurgling whether I drink 2oz of water of 4oz of cream of chicken. I am walking on average 1-2 miles a day.. at a little more than a stroll but not my usual faster pace. It was difficult for me to go back to work on Friday & Saturday but it's over now and I can't change it. For anyone else reading this I would recommend a week of recovery. I also have a job where I stand and move all day so it really is different for everyone. Weight. ahhh... after reading all the posts on this forum I decided that until my first fill I was not going to let my weight loss/gain affect me. I didn't make a ticker because I didn't want to feel failure if I gained a pound or 2 or 3 etc..... I will tell you that my pre-op in Jan I was 290... the day of my surgery I was 276. When I got home 2 days later I was 280. This morning I weighed myself and I was 262. Do I think this will fluctuate .. absolutely. I will update every week or so and let everyone know how I'm feeling. One love

When Mrs. Ortiz picks you up in the morning at the hotel she brings her volvo station seda.. only 3 people can go at a time. She will/does make as many trips necessary to bring everyone. Patients having the surgery usually go first and the +1's usually come after.. but rest assured she will NOT be left behind. She will also make friends/conversations with the other +1's. My mom didn't go with me but came about 45minutes later. Hope this helps