Dolittle

Sorry, I've suggested this several times,, but there's parties to this that will not listen to those suggestions. Then it spills over to the main forum. When it does that,, someone at the top is not happy,,,,

I know another girl that helps a lot of plastic surgery patients, I know she likes the Del Rio,, which is a couple blocks closer to the OCC. If I remember right,, she was budds with the manager and got a good rate,, I'll email her and see what that rate was.

I don't know which band you have,, but I do know that the difference between the 4cc band and the 10cc band is only the outside diameter. When both are filled with saline they both close down to almost the same inside diameter, it's just one band is going to require more saline to get to the tightest inside diameter. For an example,, and this isn't the real spec's from Inamed,, this is just an example,, say the 4cc band has an outside diameter of 1 1/2 inches in diameter and the 10cc band has an outside diameter of 2 inches, when both are filled to capacity the inside diameter would be only 1/2 inch in diameter with either band. The reality is that the larger band is looser at the beginning and is going need more saline to give you restriction. But either band should do the job its supposed to do,,, and that is to give you restriction. In Mexico the reason there's a choice between the 10cc and the 4cc band has to do with how much internal fat you have around your stomach. The more fat you have,, the surgeon will place the larger band. In the USA,, they use a even larger band,, its somewhere around 15cc's to 17cc's. My opinion on this is so American doctors and hospitals can drip fill your band at a slower rate, requiring you to have more office visits,, thus,, more insurance money. But,, that's my opinion. They're all designed to do the same job,, and that is with a proper fill of saline,, your going to have restriction. I hope this explains the difference.

That's pushing it,, usually you don't get out of the OCC till mid to late morning and the van takes you back to the Lucerna. Getting checked out of the OCC and taking you back to the airport to catch a flight by noon would be tough. Plus you just had surgery the day before,, you need that day after to rest up from the surgery. You'd have to contact your coordinator or the OCC about that.

Thanks for the compliment,, Do I regret doing the LBL??? I'd say no,, but the jury is still out on if I'm satisfied. With the swelling and numbness is hard to tell if I'm going to have good results versus great results,, I guess time will tell,, We'll just have to compare photo's when I post the 6 month pictures. It would hurt either if I get rid of the 15 pounds I gained since the LBL. Like I said in my blog,, I have a appointment to get my band adjusted, put back that .5cc's and I'll have my restriction back, start exercising and we'll just see the pictures at the end of April.

I posted new 2 month post-op pictures at my blog

It's been 2 months since my surgery,, as promised I'm posting new pictures. I merged three pictures together (pre-op, 10 day post-op and 2 month post-op) so you can see the difference. The healing process has been slow. They say it takes anywhere from 2 to 6 months or longer,, I believe them. LOL. I still have little aches and pains, depends how I move or stretch. The front of my stomach and the tops of my legs are still numb and swollen, but I can tell its getting less numb and swollen as time goes by. Also, I have a hard time telling the difference between my 10 day post-op and my 2 month post-op, but that's me. One thing that doesn't help is that since my LBL, I've gained 15 lbs, If you remember in a previous blog, Dr. Martinez removed .5cc's from my band the day before my LBL, So I have hardly any restriction. It goes to answer that question that pops up here at the forum about life after you have reached your goal, that question being once you have reached your goal weight do you have the band removed and you live a normal life?? I don't think so!! Old habits come back,, Thanksgiving and Christmas, AKA,, the fattening season doesn't help, plus not being able to exercise since the LBL add to the weight gain. I have made an appointment to get my band adjusted and have that .5cc's put back into my band. I should be able to start exercising at the beginning of the new year. I probably won't post new pictures till I hit the 6 month mark. I'll post a notice in the plastic surgery topic when that happens. pre-op, 10 day post-op, 2 month post-op, Front pre-op,10 day post-op, 2 month post-op, Side

It's getting to the point where were getting tired of the nasty games some of the members like to play with other members. It's getting old hearing the same stuff over and over,, like the "she started it or they started it". It's like school yard stuff! I'm going to say this again,, "IF YOUR GETTING HARASSING PM's OR SEE POSTS AIMED AT YOU,,,, DO NOT RESPOND! Copy it and send it to the moderators. If this doesn't come to a halt,, were going to have to take the shotgun approach,, both party's will be banded,, guilty or not!

The OCC is only about 8 blocks north of the Lucerna.. Cosmed plastic surgery clinic is 1 block west of the Lucerna. Walking distance for the go getters. LOL.

bump

"Meet the people of the OCC" Her name is Lori, She's the best patient care coordinator at the OCC,, just ask her,, she'll tell you so. LOL. Dr. Ortiz placed her band on June 15th, 2006. She started working with the OCC in July of 2006 and she loves being able to interact with so many band patients. Not only does she love helping other people on their band journey, but it also helps her stay on the bandster track. Lori has been married for over 20 years to her high school sweetheart, Mike. Lori has 3 wonderful children, Rachel (17) Teddy (13) and Mary (10). She has her very own security patrol, her husband and 2 oldest are black belts in Karate and her youngest is a brown belt. Lori's family is her biggest blessing! She's very busy with her job as patient care coordinator, but it gives her the flexibility to stay very involved with all the families activities, there is always something going on, church, sports, and school activities. I just don't know how she does it all,, she must be the "Goddess of Banded". You call or email her anytime if you have questions about your band or how to get a band! Goddess Lori

Recently we had an incident where a one Forum member posted another members real name. It was probably done accidently, but I had to go in and delete those posts. A lot of the members would like remain anonymous, this is why we all have screen names. Please do not post any members real name, personal email address and phone number.

A week after my surgeries I opted to use the Milk of Mag too. It will get things moving again. LOL

It's February and spring is around the corner. Are you thinking it's time to do something about your weight problem. What else is there to do in February? Well,,,, Lets get lap banded! What a perfect time of the year to get this done. For those that have scheduled your surgery or fill in the month of February, this is the place to meet those who will also be at the OCC,, maybe on the same day you're going to be there. So, lets hear it from the February Bandsters.

I just had a Lower Body Lift done at the Cosmed Clinic in TJ. They do boobies too! You can email Cosmed's coordinator at joycepalau@cosmedclinic.com. Dr. Quiroz and Dr. Ortiz are buddies. I have a blog going here at the forum and we also have a whole topic devoted to plastic surgery. You can also go to a plastic surgery website called www.psjourneys.com and they have a full section devoted to plastic surgery in Mexico.

Lisa is right,, make sure you have insurance coverage. You get involved in an accident,, they take you to jail. The police don't care.

Hi Kim,, Don't be disappointed, Having just come out of the LBL, I can say the protein issue is legit. While staying at RBTS after my LBL,, several girls that were Gastric by-pass patients had healing issues because of their low protein levels. You all know how hard it is to get your daily protein in,, Gastric by-pass patients really have a harder time with that.

See if this link takes you there, if not,, at the top of this page click on blogs and it should take you into the blog section of the forum. The blog is listed backwards,, with the newest entry at the top of the page. Visit My Blog

I've had both, 4 with fluoro, 1 blind and 1 unfill when I had my LBL last month, The blind fill was way back in May and it was just a tweek fill, the doctor only added .2cc's by my request. In May I didn't know I was going to have my LBL this last October. The doctor who did my blind fill was very experienced,, it was a no brainer. But now,, Dr. Quiroz,, when he did my LBL, he moved my port deeper. I can't feel my port now, I'll have to have my next fill under fluoro.

Meet The People Of The OCC This week we meet a young lady, named Daniela. She has been with the OCC for six months. Her job description consists of recording, documenting and managing all the medications and surgical supplies. She likes to spend time with her children, and staying at home enjoying weekends off. Daniela speaks no English,, so if you see here at the OCC,, say Hola. Daniela