julieburns

I actually don't live on the east coast, I live on the west. I went to Salem Oregon Fill Center USA. It was a great experience and I highly recommend them to anyone.

I am so disappointed with the Dr.s at the OCC. I called yesterday at 3 pm and left a detailed message about what was going on with me. No call by night time. I called this am at 8 am both the OCC and Dr. Martinez's cell phone again leaving detailed messages and to please call back this was urgent. Again no call backs. I called the OCC at 9 AM again , finally got someone and she said(gloria I think) shed' have a dr. call asap. Still no call. What a let down in patient care especially for a rather urgent matter. I would think in 27 hours they could have called me back. Talk about dropping the ball big time. I did my own searching and was able to get into a fill center USA in Salem about 1 hour from my house. The provider, Sheila was awesome!! She spent more time with me than anyone ever at the OCC at any time and really listened to what I was saying. She explained so many things to me that were news to me as I had never been told these things by the OCC, important preventative care things. She educated me on a wide variety of band related things and I did not feel like I was in an assembly line. She found only 2.5 cc in my band (OCC filled it to 2.8 friday) and then removed .25 cc leaving me a total of 2.25 cc. I was so dehydrated and since I havn't eaten by their scales I lost 8 pounds since Friday with my clothes on!! One good thing from all of this but I will probably gain some of it back as I start eating again. I am on clear liquids for 48 hours and then full liquids/mushy food for another 2-4 days to allow things to settle down. She actually pulled all the fluid out, sent me to eat and hydrate and then I went back in a few hours to be refilled. Otherwise I would have had to have an IV and this seemed like a great option. It felt so good to finally eat. I just had some potato soup, a slice of cheese, and a smoothie but it was sooo good. This was not a good situation at all. Yes I take responsibility for not calling the OCC while I was still in TJ but I just didn't realize how bad this was. Sheila (fill center provider) told me this happens ALL the time though. She did the fill blind and I didn't even feel the needle go in with no local used. I would highly recommend her to anyone in this area and wish I would have gone to her from the beginning. For me I have learned that using fluoro is not as important a criteria as it is said to be. It made no difference in this terrible experience I have had. I urge others to think long and hard about aftercare being close to home and available for emergencies just like I had. This is something that could have seriously harmed me and really don't know long term if it will have any affects. I have learned a very important lesson and that is ......LESS IS BETTER!!!! Going from 2.0 to 2.8 cc was almost in my opinion malpractice, way too much for a second fill. Don't get nervous anyone reading this who's a moderator from the OCC I certainly have no intention of saying anything else about this incident but I do hope the word gets back to Dr. Ortiz what a terrible oversight in my healthcare this was to have not gotten a call back from ANY doctor there in 27 hours, especially under the severe circumstances. I was ready to get on a plane for $600 bucks and fly down to get it taken care of but since I got no response I was forced to go to a clinic outside of the OCC.. Shame on you guys!! Sorry for the digression folks but I needed to vent. I do feel physically better after 1 liter of water and some food. I thank you all once again for your support through this difficult time.

You are too cute Michelle. Believe me I have thought of doing it myself. I actually just got an appointment in Salem(1 hour away) at Fill Center USA for an unfill. They can see me at 11:15 so I need to hurry up and shower. I'll let you all know how it goes, they don't have fluoro but that's OK. The needle mark is still visible from the fill on Friday so they should be able to get it!

I'm looking into those options also. Thanks for caring

Up early, so tight in the AM even a sip of H2O is making me burp. I will try to call the clinic again today and talk to someone. I could barely get my protein milk drink down last night but I finally got it down. I checked on flight prices back to TJ...$600.00!! That's if I went at the end of the week. We'll see. I don't want to do any harm to myself.

You are too funny!! And the sports bra is for comfort. One small incision sits close or is directly under the band that goes around you in between your girls. It can get irritated even from the sports bra.

It has to do with lung function. When your lungs are saturated with the bad gases, tar and nicotine of cigarette smoke they will not absorb oxygen as easily and it's definitely decreased from the non-smoker. When you go under anesthesia your lungs are affected by the medication and they do not work as well, they slow down and you breathe much more shallow in simple terms. When they have both the medicine and all the bad gases of cigs they work even worse and put you at risk of troubles you don't want to have, like stopping breathing, not getting enough oxygen and having it cause some sort of temporary or permanent brain damage as well as increased risk of stroke and post-op pneumonia. Of course this is rare and smokers get operated on all the time but it's a risk. You are choosing an elective surgery and should do EVERYTHING instructed to you by the doctor to decrease your risks of having trouble with the anesthesia as well as increasing your risk of the listed possible complications. The liability for your surgeon also goes up when a patient has smoked as these complications can prove to be life-threatening or even worse cause death and then the family tries to blame it on the surgeon and sues. It's just not worth the risk. Start using patches today and quit before your surgery, you'll be glad you did!! If you can't quit at least limit yourself to the patch and then maybe 2 cigs when you are not wearing the patch. I know how hard this is I have had to do it, not for this surgery but prior. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do but the most rewarding and I feel a TON better. Hope this helps. Not trying to give a sermon for sure just real reasons to motivate you to quit!!. Cathy's plastic surgeon has it right on with the 2 month thing. I think 2 weeks is very lenient.

Thanks for sharing the pst fill guidelines from your doctor. I have been on clear liquids for 3 days now but there is now way I would consider eating anything solid yet. Thanks for you concern. At this point I am not sure if things are getting better or worse. I'll keep you posted. It sounds like at least Carrie for now and others at different times have gone through the same thing. Does that make this OK? Or as Carrie asked is this going to do some harm? I really want to talk to the DR. tonight.

Carrie so sorry to hear you are still having a hard time. I havn't even attempted any solids since Friday evening. I think we both need to talk to one of the Dr. at the OCC that knows more than we do on this one. I did call this afternoon and they never called me back. Have you called them? Or did you get you fills somewhere else?

Called the clinic this afternoon and they never called me back. I told the girl my band may be too tight and I was worried. I fell asleep and just now woke up. I am disappointed in the OCC for not seeing this as a necessary call back at least the same day. But I have waited to call. I guess I'll try the 24 hour number??? Or maybe wait until tomorrow. Tonight it feels very tight. I just choked on the same type of protein bullet that I was able to drink last night. It also tasted nasty though, different flavor so maybe that was it. I just made my regular protein shake with milk and powder so I'll see if that goes down.

Well I though I may be better when I got up. I had about 1/2 cup of warm water and that's it. I just tried a sip of some juice and I felt it go all the way to my pouch and stop, it sort of hurt now. I am burping it up. Oh man I hope this isn't too tight!! I still need to call the OCC. I had to go to the store to get some soup and juice. I have lost another pound though which makes 3 since Thursday!! I've only had maybe 500 calories in that whole time though...LOL!! I guess I'll give the OCC a call now and see what they have to say. I am kinda not wanting to hear it though as they probably will say I need an unfill. I'll let you all know

Cathy it sounds like you need another fill. Don't let my story detour you from this. My fill was aggressive. I went from 2.0 cc to 2.8 cc and it was only my 2nd fill. You also live close to your surgeon if I remember correctly so no worries. Listen to your body and your "gut" literally. You know your body and have done so well. Maybe just a little tweak is all you need. Keep us posted

:lb10: :lb24: You are doing awesome stormy.

How are you doing today Ellen? I read all the replies and all I can add is "Ditto". Really. I am on here almost everyday reading but some days I just don't feel like replying. I don't have any methodology as to whom or what I reply to it's just what hits me at the time. You are just as important as anyone else here my dear so chin up and know we all have gone through what you are going through at ont time or another. It sucks to be depressed or feel down and bad about your lack of weight loss. Again just reread all the above responses and do as you said you would to mix it up a little. This will work if we all hang in there together. That's what this forum is for. :lb4:

UPDATE: Monday at about 11:10 AM Just got up. Slept ok. My work just called and they are very slow and wondered if I wanted to stay home. AMEN I said as I was thinking of calling in sick but didn't really want to as I feel just ok. This is so great. I do believe the Lord takes care of me. I need this extra day to sort of rest and recuperate believe it or not. Now my fibromyalgia has kicked in so bad I just hurt everywhere.. ( I feel like I could use some cheese with this whine if only I could get it down!!! I am starting safely this AM with a cup of warm water. Gotta take those darn pills and this seems to get them down. I did manage to feel better last night around 10 pm or so and ate a Haagen Daz 100 calorie raspberry vanilla sorbet frozen bar...YUMMY!! It went down nicely with no probs. I had no trouble during the night either like the night before waking up sort of choking on liquid so that' super good. Yes I think I am going to be OK just need to be extra careful. This morning I must sip, sip, sip my water as I feel it go down and then stop for awhile. I am happy to announce that I have lost 2 pounds during this ordeal though....always good news. I hope that trend continues. So for now my friends I say a huge thank you to all of you. I love each of you and thanks for all your help and suppport. I'll keep you posted and if I don't you know something is really wrong!!

Well it's about 8:30 pm and I can finally drink more than just a 1/2 thimble sip of liquids. Yahoo. I don't even feel the liquid so much staying stuck in my throat and small pouch area. It's good because I have to take more pills in the evening. I had a 3 ounce protein bullet for 25 grams protein. I've had about 16 ounces total today of water and gatorade. I feel that's pretty good. I am sure full feeling. It's going to be ok I think, thank you Lord, and all of you for your support and suggestions.

Ellen I Just ordered a pack of 12 and paid for 2 day delivery. I just poured one of the 2 I have left over ice and will sip on it. Thanks so much for the tip again!!

Thanks Pammie for caring!!

Thanks Tanya for sharing where you are. Yes I will just take it a day at a time to figure this out.

Thanks for the reminder of the protein bullets. I actually have 2 in my fridge now from an order I placed awhile ago. You are right about the cold to help the swelling, glad you mentioned it to me. I slept almost all day today. I think though it's normal for me as my trip and the results have been rather exhausting.

I love your new pic Nicole. You can really see your face and how thin you really are!! David is a keeper for sure. Except maybe when you are crossing the border, be careful he doesn't leave you!!!

I wondered about that diesel too. I know my headache came back and all I've been doing is sleep today. thanks for your well wishes.

Thanks so much for the concern. As of now I have about 3/4 of a cup of warm water that I've sipped on and kept down. Just a little burping and gurgling but so far so good. I did manage to take my morning pills too. My pouch area feels stuffed and like theres a lump in my chest but they are staying down. thank goodness because I have to take my pills, like you. thanks for reminding me of the gatorade. I'll sip on that next. We keep that around for my husband because he needs it for when he works. We do keep the low cal version of it so that's good too. I'm going to lay down again here in a little while. Maybe later today I'll give you a buzz if my throat feels better. How's your sore throat? What delicious liquids are you having today? How's Charlie doing? What about Devin? We do have alot to talk about so I'll really try to give you a call. Just don't answer if you don't feel like talking, I understand. Hugs to you both PS I'll be curious about the Olympia place. Let me know.

Thanks Linda for the well wishes. I do worry that it won't get better. I certainly don't want to risk a band slippage. I am going to wait and see but most likely will at least call the OCC tomorrow if I am not better. I don't want to be stupid about this and ruin anything.