Blazn

You are beautiful. We are all here for the same reason. None of us like our before pics...but that is why we had the band. We are doing something about it. Keep in touch.

Hey, I did wear my rings most of the time. I, of course, did not wear them during surgery - my husband kept them, nor did I wear them when shopping. But I did wear them the rest of the time. I also took a purse. I have a purse that I travel with all the time. It is small and can be wrapped around my neck and shoulder and across my back so no one can grab it - it fits like a beauty contestants shaw would fit. I also took it with me to the OCC. I just took a small duffle bag with a change of clothes, my purse, toothbrush, etc. Everything was in the duffle the whole time though. My husband was in my room with the bag while I was in surgery so it was safe. You also need to take your original paperwork that you faxed to the OCC. They will want the hard copy. Also do not forget your method of payment if you did not wire the money. To come back into the US you will need your driver's license or other government approved ID and your certified birth certificate (not the pretty one with the gold seal). Take a camera. You will want pics. That about sums it up. Just don't overpack. There is no need. Good luck on your journey. Keep us posted on your experience.

That is too cool. I look GREAT at 140lbs. I can't wait!!

Hey I was banded on March 17th - and I am still not sure about the water. At the Lucerna you have bottled water waiting on you in your room and when housekeeping cleans the room daily they leave two new bottles. I also ordered water with a meal and they brought me bottled water so I probably would not drink out of the faucet. Anyway - As far as how they scrub in....I do remember seeing Dr. Martinez scrubbing in in a room beside the OR. The suits look like the one's our surgeons use and the nurse's tied the back just like they do where I work (so that their hands remain sterile). Please do not worry about stuff like that. Being a nurse, I was so skeptical.....but you will see when you get there that everything is so clean and legit. I was taken very, very good care of. What part of GA are you from and when are you being banded?

Hey - that is too funny about the basket. I was banded on March 17th (Monday) - well the next Sunday was Easter (which was hard enough - I love boiled eggs!) But when I got to work the next day - there it was - a beautiful easter basket from my secret pal full of tootsie rolls, chocolate, candy corn, etc. It was so depressing.....until I got on the scale and had realized I lost 8lbs. in one week. I put the basket up (after getting the sugar free gum out of it), brought it home to my husband and let him dig in. Sorry about the hematoma. Hope you are feeling better. The bruise is normal after a hematoma and will probably look worse before it looks better. It will turn brown then this ugly green-yellow. But that is normal and it will go away shortly after that. Good luck and keep us posted.

I am doing fine. No restriction here either. But I do have SOME will power. I lacked that before the band. I just got back from the grocery store and bought lots of lean cuisine type meals and low cal. snacks. I am scared I will gain back the weight I lost before my fill but maybe not. My incisions are great - There are a couple that are a little tender but I am sure that will pass with time. Not much other pain though. My left should still hurts occasionally if I eat/drink too fast. But that is getting much better by the day. Well keep me posted.

Michelle, Is this the first time you have had chicken since the band? If not, I would probably bet on the wine. If so, then maybe it was the chicken but that just does not sound likely since you only ate 3/4 of 1 chicken tender. How did you feel after the wine? Any head spinning or anything like that? Who knows maybe it was the combination of the two. I hope you are feeling better this morning. I bet the vomiting scared you. I am terrified of gettting a virus or getting sick....esp. since I am a nurse and am around so much sickness. I have just read so much about people getting sick/vomiting and their band slipping - even after 1 or 2 years post op. But anyway - keep us posted.

Wendy, It is completely normal to be nervous. I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. You will be fine though. From the time Franscisco picks you up from the airport to the time he drops you off everything and everyone is top notch. You'll see and all your worries will be laid to rest. Thoughts and prayers with you!

Thanks for posting your experience Annie Lou. I am so sorry for your complication. I too was concerned about complications that would require an open procedure. Thank God everything went well with me though and Thank God you were taken such good care of. Although you were part of the 1% for your physician that does not mean that he was inexperienced or incompetent. Even Dr. Ortiz has those 1% complications. Someone has to fall in that category. I am so sorry it was you. Please keep us posted on your progress and recovery. You will be in my prayers.

OK Kimmie - I'll take that recipe also if your mom is willing to part with it.

OK Jacklyn, Just go ahead and post that cheese soup recipe. That does sound great. I also love Tomato soup. Which is kinda crazy because I do not like tomatoes. But one night I cooked my husband spagetti and it look oh so good. So I took a little oregano, garlic salt, and parsley and added to my tomato soup and it honestly tasted like spagetti sauce. It was great!

Well hello, I am Misty and I am a foodaholic also. But I am on the road to recovery. I am about to finish my 3 weeks of liquids and although I am getting pretty hungry I am surviving. I can tell my restriction/swelling has went away - at first after a cup of jello I thought I would burst but it goes through just fine now. I can't wait for my first fill. I like the full feeling!

MamaMichelle, Just wanted to let you know I checked out your blog webpage and I love it. You are wonderful for this forum. I just love the way you are displaying your weight loss in the dress you want to wear for your husband's party. I wish I'd have thought of that. I have got this pretty pink dress I want to wear to my cousin's wedding in May - but it is a 14 and I am a 16 right now. Maybe I need to try it on and see how far I am away. Thanks for all your comments.

Gosh, I really hate to hear this. I am scheduled for my first fill on May 3rd. Dr. Martinez told me I should only need 1 or 2 fills. I have heard of people receiving more but I really wanted to be one of those that only had to have one. Who knows maybe I will be. But I am so sorry to hear this you guys. Please keep us posted on your restriction and progress. Don't give up though. You have come to far to get discouraged now! Just think "we are on the short rows now" - you might have to be a southerner to understand that phrase - LOL.

Hey GaGirl77, I am pretty sure most people are not intubated. I am sure there are exceptions. They usually just use sedation. I know I was not intubated. I did wear an oxygen mask throughout the surgery -well at least I had it on when they told me I was through. Anyway, that was one of the questions I asked Lori myself and she said that they do not intubate.

I know there are a couple of 3/17 bandsters out there that have posted but there were 9 of us that day. Just wondering if the rest of you guys were in the forum anywhere. Keep us posted if so!

Hey - Misty here, banded on 3/17 also, I have my first fill scheduled for May 3rd at Fill Center in Roswell, GA. Had to weigh the option of going back to TJ versus the fill center and chose the fill center. Just can't handle too many of those 12 round trip flights. Hope you are doing well. Keep in touch.

Sorry - no replys - must bump up my question! Thanks!

Hey all, hope you all are having a wonderful day. I am scheduled for my first fill on May 3rd. I see many of you have posted your fills on your signatures but I would like to know more. To you lap band veterans, how many fills have you had? .....and what made you decide to get another.....a decrease in restriction?....plateau in weight loss? ....or other reasons? I am just curious. Thanks!!

Hey, I too, walked into the OR, but they wheeled my bed from my room into the OR after the surgery and asked me to slide onto my bed. I do remember that. The rest is a blur though!

Great experience! You're too funny! I hope you have fun shopping today, we did! Keep us posted on your recovery.

Firstly - I am so glad you are filling better. And - Yes that is normal. My first two weeks I got really, really full after drinking or eating (like jello). I am now 3 weeks post op and I can tell my swelling has gone down. I get hungry faster and do not get as full as quickly. I am still loosing weight but very slowly. Like 1.5lb. a week (which I know is still good) but I lost 8lbs in the first week. But I am scheduled for my first fill on May 3rd so I can't wait!!!

Yes do no worry about that. When I first filled out my paperwork I weighed 220 but by the time I went on my pre-op I weighed 224. They will tell you to just change your weight on your paperwork because they are going to ask you for it when you go to TJ so make sure you take it with you. As far as the pre-op weight loss goes - just try your best. I only lost 6 of the 11 lbs I was supposed to lose and they did not have to resechedule surgery or anything. Lori says that they do it all the time though so don't take the pre-op diet lightly. Really try. But don't sweat the weight gain. You can just change it on your paperwork.