Shell

Thanks Guys! I went yesterday ans saw Dr. Martinez ( what a doll he is). Its so refreshing to have a Dr. take his time with his patients. He was able to spend alot of time with me answering all of my questions. I also made new friends while waiting in his office. I got a great report on my band..everything is where it should be. He is pleased with my weight loss. He is pleased with how I work with my band vs. making the band do all the work. Captains good luck on your surgery..you have the best Dr's in the country and the entire staff will take care of you like you are a part of the family.

Wow!! I got on this scale this morning and was able to move one of those BIG weights (you know the ones on the Dr.'s scales) I am officially in the 100's Who would of thought 7 months ago I would be down 65.25 lbs. Its been a long time since I have been where Iam at today..emotionally , physically & mentally. I LOVE MY BAND!!! I was going in for my 3rd fill today but have changed my mind. I'm still keeping my appt with Dr. Martinez though....I am going to have a check-up, have him take a look at my band & port under fluoro and make sure everything is where it should be.

Bandit..who did your surgery? Did Dr. Ortiz?

Bandit.. Im sorry to hear your frustration. let me ask you a few questions OK 1. Have you had a fill yet? 2. Do you follow the rules? Like eating protein first, not drinking during or an hour after a meal? 3. Do you drink atleast 64oz of water a day? 4. Do you exercise? 5. Do you make healthy food choices vs the same foods pre band but smaller portions? 6. Are you eating your 60 grams of protein a day? 25 grams of fiber a day? 7. Are you avoiding all liquid calories? 8. Are you avoiding soft foods that go through the band quickly only to make you hungrier faster? 9. Do you track your food intake on www.fitday.com> If not maybe try it, it does help to see where the problem lies. If you can answer Yes honestly to all of these questions, then maybe it is time for a fill. If you answer No to any of these questions then maybe you need to adjust your head..instead of getting an adjustment to your band. For me I just made an attitude adjustment this week and am back om track now. I saw what I was doing wrong and made the changes neccessary. I was going to get another fill next week, but I have changed my mind. I can do this and so can you! Check out this site..it will help you. You got to remember that the band is JUST A TOOL to help us with this battle of weight loss, it is not a magic wand. We still have to do alot of the work. I look at it this way..you are 10 lbs lighter then you would of been had you not gotten the band right? So you are not a failure. You made the right decision.. here is another site to check out, one that will make you greatful you chose the band over the bypass, http://lapbandtransformation.com/Adjustments.htm http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wlsmemorial.phtml Best of Luck to you..Don't give up! If you need a little moral support, feel free to email me or PM me anytime. I'd be more then happy to give you all of the moral support you need..another great support site for the lapband is www.lapbandtalk.com ..it is a very active online support group that Iam also a member of. The members there are so awesome, so supportive, so loving & kind and very helpful, it is like one big family over there...Support is also a key to success I believe!

I do not want to alarm you..but many people have zero symptoms from erosion. I know 3 woman from my other support group who had erosion and had no signs, warnings or symptoms. I have also have a friend who had a port infection , all they did was remove the port. let her heal and she is waiting to have a new port placed on the other side. She has had all the tests to see if there was erosion but she has no erosion, yes an infection at the port site is one external sign or erosion. But internally most I have spoken with had no symptoms of erosion. Hopefully it is just a port infection. Who is your Doctor if I may ask? I'm curious becasue I have seen a pattern with a certain Dr having more erosion cases then others all 4 of the women I mentioned above have all had the same surgeon You can PM me if you do not want to put your Dr's name here out in the open. I will keep you in my prayers. I hope it is just a port infection and your band is OK..Good Luck to you ~

The diet after surgery is a piece of cake..not to worry. You will do great. I was worried too that I could not do liquids for 2 weeks but trust me it is easy. You have swelling and gas which makes you not even think of wanting food..well for me it was like that anyways. You will do fine with the post op diet. Best of Luck to you ~

My insurance does not cover the procedure yet. Most insurance companies if any will NOT cover the surgery in Mexico. It all depends on what insurance you have. My cost in April 2004 was 8995.00 with Dr. Ortiz Check out this site www.lap-band.com and click on the affordability button at the top of the page that will help with insurnace questions.

I have 100 lbs to lose well actually 37 now since I have lost 63 since banding. I am not even thinking of plastic surgery. The one plus for me is the wieght is coming off 1-3 lbs a week nice and slow and I work out with 5 lb dumbells on my arms to help tone the soft skin . The slower the wieght loss the better.. I feel...but it also depends on your age and how much you want to lose and how fast you lose it and how long you have been obese. My tummy does not hang low so I am fortunate atleast at this point. I do not want any more scars and I hear the pain afterwards is not fun and I have zero tolerance for pain...so for me if I have some loose skin I'm going to make the best of it and live with it!

Congratulations to you. What an awesome job you have done! I went from a size 20/22 jean to a 14/16 jean so I know how good it feels to get into those smaller clothes...Keep it up!

Hi and Welcome This is a good site but a little slow not many people post since it is still new Here is another great site for lap band support www.lapbandtalk.com it is a very active site with many bandsters, veterans and newbies . Everyone there is like family . Congrats on your band. I wish you lots of success!

COngratulations..Im happy for you. You have made a great choice in surgeons with Dr. Ortiz & Martinez. You will be very happy. Once you get there you will forget about being by yourself, you will meet all the others who will be having surgey with you and you will all bond and Dr. Ortiz's mother will be with you every step of the way up to guide you and answer any questions. His entire staff will make you feel very comfortable. Good Luck to you..I hope you love your band as much as I love mine

Here is a site that may help you locate a fill doctor in your area www.lap-band.com Click on surgeon locator at the top of the page and startcalling those listed in your area. Or you can contact Don Mills at don.mills@inamed.com He will email you a list of doctors in your area, but the list he emails may be the same list you find on the above site since it is an Inamed site. Good Luck , hope this helps

Thats funny you mention the gas..I thought it was just me. I do notice if I wait too long in between meals I get very gassy.. One thing I drank during the liquid phase after a fill was the pre mixed campbells tomato soup, it is in a plastic jar on the soup isle. I also drank shakes from Mcdonalds they were high in calories but were very filling...Or I would take a atkins advantage chocolate protein shake and add a bananna in the blender which also filled me up. Here is another great group that I go to alot which is much more active then this one www.lapbandtalk.com the format is very similar to this one Everyone there is like family, very supportive and the veteran bandsters have lots of knowledge. You have done a great jod so far, nothing to be discouraged about..you have lost weight and thats all that matters. This is not a race but a journey..it took us years to get the way we were so taking it off will take time too..the slower the better is how I see it, less loose skin and less chance of ever regaining it. Keep up the great job!

Sabrina ..just an idea..why dont you try protein in the morning and see if that helps..I know for me if I start my day with any kind of carbs..I'm hungry all day long and make bad food choices throught out the day especially in the afternoon..so instead of having your oatmeal or cheerios try 2 scrambled eggs with some turkey sausage..just a thought..This way you can see if it does make a difference.

I have a friend right now he believer her body is rejecting her band, it has been 6 months since surgery for her and her larger port incision is still not healed..she is seeing a doctor this morning. She also has an auto immune disease so that could be why things are not healing

Oh Yes do I ever feel lighter on my feet..and no pian in my feet either getting up in the morning like I had so badly pre band..no more aches and pains anywehre in my body..I'm lovin' it! Thanks so much for the kind words and soon you wil lbe there too ( 50lbs lighter) I never imiagined it either in such a short time but here Iam living proog..just 44 more lbs to go and I wil lbe at my lowest wegiht since high school I think..Heck it has been so long I cant even remeber.

Does anyone know if Dr. Ortiz's book has come out yet? If so what is the title and if not does anyone know when it wil lbe coming out?

Well it has been a little under a month (3 days shy) since I posted my 51.75 lbs loss...this morning I hit 61 lbs..10 lbs in less then a month..I love my band.. I love this current fill of 2cc's..I love Dr. Ortiz & Martinez...I LOVE LIFE!!!

Hi Sabrina.. I'm sorry to hear you are struggling..it could all be just from stress. I know for me when I am stressed I get so much restriction and I feel like I am going to PB everytime I eat. Could it be stress for you with al lyou have been thorugh with the hurricanes and all? What is an average day of food look like for oyu? Candy and junk food offer no restriction, it goes down way to easy like you are not even banded remember that. Also just becasue you can eat it does not mean you should eat it....our bands are just a tool to help us, we do have to do most of the work with our food choices. Don't let your doctor discourage you, you have done a great job, as long as thescale is moving in a downword direction then you are doing something right. This weight loss is not a race..it is a journey. Do not compare your weight loss to anyone else's either that will just discourage you and sabotage you. Are you eating your proteins first? Drinking all your daily water? Exercising? If you can honeslty answer yes to all of these then maybe you are just a slower loser then others but if you answer NO then you have to make the porper adjustments in your head & attitude. You know you can do this..get back on that "band" wagon..make good healthy food choices..of you are having trouble keeping food down and you know you are eating slow and tiny bites and the right foods maybe you are filled too tight??? PBing is not good, the more you PB the more you risk slippage of your band.. Hang in there~ P>S> I posted some band friendly recipes on the post op diet/food forum..take a look they are tasty and band friendly recipes..

Hi Penny I was banded in April of 2004 So far no bumps in the road for me, everything has gone smoothly and my weight loss is almost 60lbs. I love my band, it has changed my life!! The only thing I would advise is if you are not planning on going back to TJ to Dr. Ortiz for your fills is that you arrange aftercare in your local area. I have known people who have had a difficult time getting aftercare in their area. Many Dr's will not touch a paiteint banded in Mexico and if they do they charge an arm and a leg. If you do not plan on going back to TJ for fills make sure you ask Dr. Ortiz if he has any associates in your area who will fill Mexican patients. You will loveDr. Ortiz he is the best and his entire staff takes care of your every need. You are in good hands.. also if you do not plan to go back to Tj here is a good site to check for Docs in your area www.lap-band.com Click on Surgeon Locator at the top of the page.. Best of Luck to you..

Today is 6 months post op for me and I have lost 57lbs. I am very happy. I was also very happy with the hospital and Dr. Ortiz and his entire staff. I eat roughl;y about 1200 calories a day.. I lose an average of 1-3 lbs a week. Not as fast as the Bypass but I was not ready to take all that comes with the bypass. ..the weight loss is slwoer then the bypas but healthier with less complications. Ortiz is very qualified and experienced. Hope this helped.. Best of Luck to you

If you choose Mexico all you need to do is arrange aftercare in your area with a doctor who can do fills and in the event of an emergency. Dr. Ortiz has many associates in the states I'm sure he can refer you to one of them but the problem with many US docs is the will not see patients banded in Mexico or if they do they charge an arm and a leg. Where is it that you live? Flying back to TJ can be just the same price as having a doc in your area do your fills. Many women fly back to Mexico to have Dr. Ortiz do their fills. He is the best and very experienced. It is vital though to arrange aftercare in your area if you choose not to go back to TJ before you have your surgery. I have only heard of 2 people who had leaking tubing..and I'm on many boards and read them daily. The band will only make you sick if you eat too much, do not chew your food properly, take too big of bites or eat too fast and this is not an ALWAYS occurance it depends on your fill level. I have only gotten sick 2 times in 6 months and it was because I took too big of a bite and did not chew it well enough and the food got stuck. The hospital is very nice and clean. The nurses all speak perfect english, all of my needs were met without ever asking. The band has changed my life in such a possitive way. It is the best thing I have ever done for myself. If you would like lots of helpful info, support and advice here is another fantastic site where everyone is like family...so helpful and supportive and full of knowledge on the band. www.lapbandtalk.com Good Luck to you on your decision...Ortiz & Martinez are the best.

I was told by Orti'zs former cordinator that he did not require a pre op diet if your BMI was under 50. Mine was 42 and I did not do any pre op diet. I ate Carnitas like it was my last meal the night before surgery. A call into his office might help if you are in doubt. Things may have changed, my surgery was 6 months ago.

Www.lap-band.com Is a web site to help you locate a surgeon in your area it is through Inamed.( click on surgeon locator at the top of the page) Also aks Dr. Ortiz is he has any associates he can reccomend in Wa for you. Whatever you do..arrange aftercare in your area if you do not plan on going back for fills to TJ.Call the doctors in your area to see if they accept Mexican patients because many do not. But keep in mind..many doctors who take on Mexican patients charge a high fee for fills. Cost wise it may be the same to fly back to TJ for them. Just a thought. I know 2 women who had surgery with me 1 in Indiana ( she flys in for the day then flys home after her fill) and 1 in Pa that fly back and forth..cost is almost the same and the feel very comfortable having their original surgeon for there aftercare. Good Luck to you..Ortiz is great!

Not everyone experiences the gas pains after surgery. I did! And I'm still gassy , that is one thing that has changed for me. I never was this gassy. As far as going a long time without a fill is totally dependent on the individual. I had my first fill 9 weeks post op. Where as another woman who had surgery with me on the 6th of April had hers earlier then 9 weeks post op. You do not want to rely on that theory. The only thing I was told to avoid forever is carbonation. I do eat everything else however once you start getting your fills some things are harder to eat then others like for me bread, rice and pasta at my current fill level of 2cc's does not work very well for me. I avoid all junk foods also I stick to the rules for the most part.I eat my protein first then veggies then fruits and if I am still hungry then my carbs but rarely am I still hungry after I eat those items first. I do not drink during a meal and I wait 1 hour after a meal to drink. I stay away from the liquid calories like juices lattes etc..I also do not eat the soft foods like yogurt, ice cream, pudding, applesauce they are all high calorie foods that go right through the band and do not satisfy you, just makes you hungry sooner. Scars are minimal..5 incisions 4 of them are the size of my pinky fingernail and the other is my port incision which is about an inch. Hope this helps! Good Luck to you ~