AshleyMarie

Aww how exciting! Good luck sweetie

What do you want to have done?

I too cannot have any solids until week 3. I am currently having 1 protein shake a day with Otter Pops, broth and yogurt. I am doing fairly well. Today is day 9 and I have gone to many restaurants with my friends and have not been hungry. I did go to sushi and had some Miso Soup and last night I went to Islands and just sipped on my water. I feel like if I can do this, I can do anything!

I was banded on 3/19 with Dr. Ortiz as well

Dr. Miranda told me 3 weeks to start exercising. That also includes ab workouts. I know I read 3 months somewhere and questioned her when she said 3 weeks. She did indeed say 3 weeks was okay.

Thank you. I am on Day 6 and did not know if I should start my shakes today or wait. How is your daughter?

I am confused with when I am supposed to start my Protein Shakes. The handout that Dr. Miranda gave me says a few different things. Did you all start on Day 6 or Day 10? I started my Yogurt on Day 4 as she instructed that it was okay. I just don't know which day to start with shakes and also the creamy broths. Thanks all

I had my surgery yesterday. They said they would pick me up at 5:30 am and did not arrive until 6:15. Once we arrived at the OCC we had to fill out some paperwork. Directly after, we did our pre op tests which was pretty quick. I was the first surgery and went in around 9:30. I live in San Diego and was released the same day. I came home last night.

Hey Happy Birthday to you. This happened at the right time. You deserved a nice meal

I am just checking in with everyone. I was banded yesterday and felt great minus a little gas. The gas continued until I got home last night. I walked around my house and had to burp a few times. I am so overwhelmed with excitement that I only slept 2 1/2 hours last night. I did manage to take a 2 hour nap already Thank God. I am feeling wonderful. I am able to sleep just like I did before surgery. I was afraid to try but I woke up on my side and a little on my tummy. At first I was laying on my right side because my incisions are all in the middle and left side, but I can even lay on the side where my port is. I feel fantastic! I am drinking all day long. I have already finished so many bottles of Propel water. I can do this, I am strong!

It is in TJ a few blocks from the OCC. www.luissuarez.com. Like I said this was 5 years ago so the prices may be different. I was very pleased with the outcome! I have gained a lot of weight since then and my stomach is still pretty flat. Unlike the OCC, I did have to go in and have a consulation. They do your blood work to make sure you are healthy for surgery and then you should be good to go!

Congrats! I was banded yesterday am feeling real well. On a scale from 1-100 I would say I have 3-5 % discomfort. Good luck to you. Cheers!

21 day liquid diet haha oops. Told you I was excited!

I was the first surgery and my meeting with Dr. Miranda was pretty quick. Can someone tell me (after my 1 days of liquids) how many servings or fruits veggies and carbs I will need at each meal. I know that the Protein should be 3oz. Also, Dr. Miranda did recommend protein bars over shakes. Does anyone have a preference? I haven't tried any protein bars. Thanks so much! PS: I got banded today and I am so excited I can't sleep again haha. It is midnight and who knows when my eyes will shut. LOL

I will definitely check in tomorrow. I have been drinking a lot of Propel vitamin water and some Organic Chicken broth...oh yeah and an Otter Pop. So far so good. The gas comes and goes but it is nothing unbearable as of now.

I had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation and a little lipo on my back 5 years ago in Mexico with Dr. Luis Suarez. It was a great experience. All three costed me $5,900.

Where do I begin? I arrived at the border at 3pm California time. Right now Mexico is an hour behind just FYI. Our shuttle driver Francisco was very nice and drove very safely. He answered any questions that I had about when he would pick me up and how crossing the border would be. My mother and I arrived at the Lucerna and went straight up to our room. We were very lucky to have been the first room after we walked out of the elevator. I have not been sleeping well lately so I closed the blinds, turned on the T.V. and closed my eyes. I was just about to fall asleep and there was a knock at the door. My mother and I did not want to answer it and just laid in our beds. It was the bag boy. He opened the door and said, "We have a complimentary fruit basket" and closed the door. He just said it on the sink. It included a banana, pear and an apple. After that, my mother and I decided to go get some dinner. We ate in the restaurant downstairs. I know this was a no no but my mother and I shared a plate (as did the other people who had surgery the same day as I did). We splt the Mexican combo. It seemed like just enough food and it was not greasy like the yummy Mexican food in San Diego. For our Mexican combo, a lemonade and diet coke, the bill was $13 in U.S money. We did ask the waiter how that worked when he took our order. We just left $15 with the waiter. We then went back to the room and turned on the T.V and watched a movie. At around 9pm their time, we closed our eyes and fell asleep. I was told to be ready for the shuttle service to pick us up at 5:30am Mexico time. It was a little late, but I was able to talk to three other women who were being banded the same day as me. We arrived to the OCC and filled out a little paperwork. Since I was the first one to complete my paperwork, I was the first one to do my Pre Op tests. Those went smoothly. I then visited the dentist and the nutritionist. After that I went to my private room. The private room was very nice. It had a chair and a couch for my guest, my bed and a radio and television with full cable. Once I was ready for surgery they wheeled me right in. I remember the Dr. saying I would fall asleep in 20 seconds and at that time I was wide awake. All of a sudden I felt like my ears were going to pop. One of my eyes closed and then boom I was asleep. Thirty minutes later I was taken back to my room to my bed. I remember waking up and my right eye was very blurry. I was completely out of it. I then fell asleep for about 2 hours. After waking up from my nap, the Dr.s all came in to talk to me and see how I was doing. One of the nurses came in every now and then to put medicine in my I.V. Let me tell you this for all people afraid of needles. I have NEVER had a shot or I.V. as easy as this one. They even gave me a shot in my stomach. I DIDN'T even feel the normal pinch you do when someone takes your blood or gives you a shot. It was simple! The thought of a shot in your stomach sounded to weird to be but it was so easy and I didn't feel a thing. After a while one of the nurses helped me stand up and sit in the chair. I was soooo thirsty she brought me an Otter Pop. Oh do I love those. I suggest you all buy them or some kind of popsicle for the Post Op diet. It really helped. I did feel gassy but it was definitely something I could deal with. I walked around the clinic probably a total of 7 times and they said I was doing sooo well. Dr. Ortiz said that I could go home the same day of surgery. (I live in San Diego and am really close). I was ecstatic. I was burping a little bit but after my last medicine and pain killer it seemed to go away. Overall, my experience was wonderful. You do not have to worry about the shuttle service or going anywhere alone if you don't want to. Francisco drove very safe and we were at the Lucerna in no time. Everyone at the OCC treated me like I was the only person that mattered in the world. I do have a few recommendations that I would like to share with people. I would suggest stocking up on Gatorade and popsicles right away. The nutritionist told me that Gatorade is what is going to give me energy. Also, when I was walking around after surgery I had the little ankle size socks and the booties on. I would definitely suggest bringing some comfortable socks. Other than that I think you should be fine. Pack light because you can wear the same thing 2 days in a row. There isn't anyone you have to impress...Oh and to all of you who warned me about the Dr.s being cute you were NOT lying! I was flirting with them so much haha. I even called one of them Mario Lopez. LOL. Ok so if people are wondering. The ride back was also with Francisco. He picked me up from the Lucerna and we drove to the border. The shuttle drivers have a pass where they do not have to wait in the long line. It is like a Fast Track kind of thing. We drove to Customs where the police had to open the hood and search the car. While they were doing this, my mother and I walked in and showed our ID'S, Birth Certificates and Passports. I do not have mine yet. We then did what you do an airport and put or luggage and purses through the x-ray. We walked maybe half a block which was not bad AT ALL and met Francisco. He drove us back to out car and we were free to leave. I wanted to thank everyone for their support. This has been an amazing experience for me. I got to Mexico, had surgery and am back at home sitting on my bed with my laptop in just a little over 24 hours. I feel blessed to have such amazing people to talk to that can help me through the way. To those who are worried about going to Mexico or having surgery please listen as I say I would do this surgery again in a heartbeat. I feel a little sore and not too gassy and I know that can change tomorrow. I am glad I can officially say I AM BANDED. I want to say a quick thank you to my dear friend Evette. We have been friends for a few years now and she had surgery with Dr. Ortiz a year ago. Evette, you are an amazing beautiful person inside and out and I am inspired by you. Thank you for all of your help!

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your support. It means so much to me. I am leaving this afternoon for my surgery tomorrow. I am very excited I can't even sleep LOL. I will make sure to check in as soon as I can. MWUAH!

Thank you so much. I don't have any doubts in the Lap Band. I am so anxious to start my new life!

Thanks for the response Robbyn. You know you are exactly right. I have been on so many diets. My last which I really loved was Nutrisystem. I did it for a few months last year. When I lost 35lbs I started feeling so good. My friends told me how great I looked and I felt so confident. Too confident in the fact that I started slacking on my diet and went back to my old ways. I have my willpower now because I am so dedicated to being banded and learning to use this tool to the best of my ability. I am so excited for surgery and am not afraid at all. The only thing I am concerned about is learning how to use this tool. I know I can do it....one day at a time.

I have four days until surgery and I am so proud of myself. I decided to start my Pre Op diet 2 1/2 weeks before my surgery. The first half I had 2 Protein shakes and a Lean Cuisine a day. I switched it up and am doing 3 Protein shakes and a lot of water for the last 7 days. I am down 12 pounds as I weighed in a few days ago. I am real happy that I went about my Pre Op diet the way that I did. It is so easy for me to drink 3 shakes a day because I worked my way up to it. I wanted to do this so it would be easier for me to be strictly on liquids for the 21 days after surgery. I have to say that for the past 2 weeks, I quit smoking, going out to the bar ( I went about 4 times a week before) and I have changed the way I am eating. I stayed in that whole time and did not want to tempt myself and want to do what my friends were doing. Yesterday, I decided to go to a friends get together. Once I arrived, I saw nachos and pizza out. I quickly turned my head and did not look at what else was on the table. I brought tons of Crystal Light on the go packets and my protein shake. I sipped on those the entire time I was there. I did not touch one thing on the food table! I am so proud of myself!! I then decided that I felt I was okay enough to go to the bar with my friends. I did soooo good!!! I ordered two waters at a time and put Crystal Light in all of them. I have A LOT of willpower and never knew I could be so strong. In four days, I will be banded. My friends who have seen the changes I have made in the past 2 1/2 weeks tell me I should not do surgery and I should just keep up with this diet. I know I could probably do it, but the Lap Band is my willpower. People are already telling me I look younger and how thin my face is getting! I am doing this to prepare myself for life after the Lap Band. I am 26 and do not have any kids. I am about 100 pounds overweight and am getting Lap Band so I can be healthier before I have children some day. I am doing this for me and for my health. Some people that I am close to do not believe I should do this, but they do support my decision. I just have to try and explain why I am doing this. I have so many people concerned about me going to Mexico for surgery. In a way I understand, but I know I will be okay. I had surgery in Mexico 5 years ago and I still have not had any problems. I just want my closest friends and family to support me and know that I want this more than anything! I can do this. My heart is set on a happier, healthier me and I know I will achieve this!

Thanks ladies. You have helped me out a lot.

Hi All, I am going to the OCC this week for surgery and have a few questions. 1. If you are going to have your pre op tests done the same day of surgery are you able to drink or eat anything all day? I just don't know weak I would feel without food if my surgery is last in the day. 2. When coming back to the U.S from Mexico does the shuttle drop you off right before Customs and you have to walk through and back to where you parked your car? 3. Do you have to pay $100 every time you go for a fill? Thanks everyone. I love this forum!!

I woke up during my last surgery. It wasn't a big deal to me. I was so out of it and remember talking to the Dr's and joking to them. I did not have a tube down my throat during that time. I just remember being awake for a few seconds and passing out again.

I got mine done 5 years ago obviously before my Lap Band. I went to Dr. Luis Suarez and would definitely recommend him. His website is www.drluissuarez.com. He is in TJ pretty close to OCC. My parents even stayed at the Lucerna back then.