Clynn

--> QUOTE(Capt B @ Mar 5 2007, 07:32 PM) 9204[/snapback] I see the cost from the airport is 130.00 I thought I saw the cost for the fill was 75.00 for the x-ray ....... can some one tell me what the real cost is ...Thanks brian The cost for the OCC driver to pick you up at the airport is $130, this is in addition to the cost of the x-ray which last I heard was $100 - call and check for updated amounts. The cost of the van ride is split among all riders for fills, riders getting the surgery that visit ride free. For instance, if only you are getting your fill on that van ride, then the cost to you is the full $130. If there are two fill riders then the cost is $65 each rider. Many people use public transportation to save this money.

I didn't feel any hunger until after the first week but then man oh man did my tummy make its presence known. Try some drinkable yogurt, I liked the Go-Gurt brand. It's got some protein in it. Also, go to a grocery store where they have soup pots out with soup in there that's been simmering all day so everything is nice and soft. Load up, bring it home, then run it through the blender until it is the consistency of milk (no chunks!). You can run it through a sieve if you have to. All those soup ingredients blended up equal vegetably meaty goodness.

If you are chewing to goo, eating slowly, and staying away from starchy, sticky foods and are still having problems then it sounds like you are too tight. Don't be afraid to be loosened because being too tight is counter-productive in many ways. 1) If you food intake drops way way down to almost nothing it will arrest your metabolism and you won't loose any weight despite the very low caloric intake. 2) Oftentimes when someone is too tight it is easier to eat high calorie liquids which the band is powerless against instead of the good nutritious foods you should be eating. 3) Being too tight can cause problems most notably being slippage. Nothing is gained by being too tight and what you are experiencing isn't the way it's supposed to be so don't be afraid to speak up. Contact your doctor, tell them what you told us, and see what they think. If you look at the posts from many of the regulars on this board you'll see filling and unfilling is not uncommon. Good luck!

One of the people banded the same day as me was a nurse and the friend he brought was also a nurse. She went in an observed his surgery and said she was very impressed with the whole procedure and the clinic. Everything is state of the art, clean, and even a bit cozy.

It is not uncommon to gain weight in between surgery and the first fill. For most people the band doesn't work until you hit that sweet spot of restriction, and when you do, you will know.

Try taking a metamucil fiber caplet. It helps with the hunger cravings.

Keep in mind it is the Americans who are turning to Mexico and Canada in droves for cheaper meds! <- black market me

I guess I should clarify my earlier statement a bit. Don't bring massive amounts of each, as in 1000 pills of lipitor, 1000 pills of prevacid - basically amounts of name brand prescriptions that make it look like you are an under-the-table reseller. The birth control and over the counter stuff probably won't raise any eyebrows. The stuff you listed is all pretty benign anyway. If I was taking any opiate based pain killers or anything else that is oft abused I'd be a little more concerned and sure to bring the relevant prescription. You'll be fine. If you're still concerned about it you can just take enough for the few days you'll be gone and then you shouldn't have many left when you cross on the way home.

If they are over the counter meds you should be fine, as long as you are not bringing them by the pallette load. If they are prescription then bring the bottle with your name on it and you should also be fine. It won't be on the way into Mex that you will have any searches but coming back they will x-ray your bag. Once again, as long as you are not bringing massive amounts it shouldn't raise any suspicions, but it's probably best to only bring what you will need.

After my first fill this past November my family and I were going to spend a couple of days at Disneyland and Universal Studios. I asked Dr Martinez and he said it would be fine. I absolutely love roller coasters and went on lots that week but even so I was sure to take a break every now and then so as not to overdo it.

Hello Allison. There is not much pain at all after the procedure if everything went normally (which is usually does). My wisdom teeth removal was more painful. Check out the "Newly Banded" and the "Support & General Discussions" sections of this forum for lots of stories and personal accounts.

You'll get a card that has the serial number of your band on it as well as the size. If you pass out, paramedics will look through your purse or wallet and find it.

I'm not saying throw away the scale, in fact I use mine everyday, but there's more to this lengthy journey than what it can tell us. Standing in that section with a sea of clothes opening up before me almost brought tears to my eyes. So I want to know what other non-scale victories people have experienced. It could be comment someone makes in passing, fitting into an item of clothing that's been in your closet for years but never worn, or sitting on an airplane and realizing you weren't crowding into the seat next to you - absolutely anything. I'm sure there are some great stories out there.

Today I am wearing my brand new jeans from the normal sized people section of Target. It is the first time in years and years that I've been able to shop outside of plus sizes - ironically on the same day that the scale ticked upwards a bit. It got me thinking that sometimes it is the little things that effect us more than the numbers on the scale. So here's the question for you: What's your favorite non-scale victory so far?

If you're going to take a taxi I strongly advise you bring the number for OCC for calling within Mexico. If you try to call the 1800 number it will not work. Also, the payphones there accept American quarters. The taxi I took from the border did not know where to go and said "here we are" then dumped me somewhere in Tijuana. Luckily I was prepared and had all the phone numbers and many quarters to call the clinic with so someone was able to come get me.

I'm a little confused by your numbering, is the incision you're talking about the largest one? If so, then that's the incision directly over your port. It is normal for it to be a little sore and bumpy for awhile since there is a foreign object under there. The time to get concerned is if the area becomes inflamed, feverish, oozing, or bleeding because those are signs of infection.

*BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP* oh excuse me

You mean like you drink it? I didn't even realize Aloe Vera was edible. Sounds yummy though

Hard to say. 1/2 cc for a first fill is a bit light as most people I've heard of get at least one. When does she do the first fill? She may be doing a smaller amount if she is having patients get their first fill soon after surgery or she may be filling conservatively since she's not doing it under x-ray and doesn't want to risk it being too tight the first time around. Most people have to get a few fills anyway to find the right amount of restriction. Most places are in the US that recommend the bypass are doing so because the lap-band is fairly new in the states. For me and my doctor that was NOT an option for a number of reasons but mostly because the band is adjustable and reversible whereas bypass is not. Most of the people posting here go to Dr Ortiz in Tijuana. He's been doing this for a number of years and has done thousands of lap-band surgeries, not to mention that he and his staff are pretty darn awesome both during surgery and for follow-ups. Of course we're always happy to hear from people who get banded elsewhere.

Are you getting banded by Dr Ortiz? I can't speak to other doctors but when I went down they did a lung capacity test, ekg, and standard blood tests which was just a poke in the arm. Never heard of an arterial blood gas test or had any kind of test that was more painful than a little needle stick.

Best to ask Dr Miranda if you are in doubt about which category a particular liquid falls into.

One other thought - I have a Glucerna meal bar for breakfast in the mornings when my band is tighter. It is soft and melty so it doesn't cause any problems and it has lots of protein and good stuff in it. Since it's designed for diabetics it helps control my blood sugar so I don't get the munchies later in the day.

Such is the nature of the band. One personality one day, something else the next. Have you tried different foods for breakfast? Eggs is one of those foods that some people cannot tolerate. Also, it has been suggested that if we fall asleep with food in our stomach, that can cause the stomach to be irritated in the morning. I usually have a big glass of water before bedtime to flush everything out, though it does mean a bathroom trip around 2 am.

With the help of the Splenda I've managed to cut most all sugary things out of my diet except for gatorade, but it has been tough at times. Everyone's experience with the band is different but for me I really do feel like a switch has been turned off in my head and food is no longer such a focus of my life. I think the question you really need to ask yourself is whether or not you are eating emotionally or because you really like it. I fell into the latter category and I think that's why I'm having such an easy time of it. The part where people get into trouble is if they fall into the former category. If food and sugar is a way for you to manage emotions or if you life is chaotic you're probably going to struggle under the band since the forces that are driving you to sugar would still be around post-op. Take a good look at what has motivated your choices in life and then you may have a better understanding of whether or not the band will work for you.

I guess it all depends how much effort you're willing to put into it. Discipline is a big part of making the band work especially where sugary items are concerned as many of the foods that get past the band are loaded with sugar (ice cream, chocolate, etc). What's your sugared item of choice and have you tried any of the sugar substitutes? I often make berry or peach pie with Splenda. It is a yummy treat and hasn't gotten in the way of my weight loss.