fat2nrml

The coffee is what I was gonna ask...... Dr. O told me to go ahead and drink it, I only have in in the AM. I drink an iced tea in the afternoon and haven't had any headaches. [Thank Goodness!!] Keep up the fluids.... do you feel faint, dizzy, light headed? Maybe your sugar level's too low?? Keep us updated! darlene

Consider it done!! > Bless both of you!! :good3:

Make sure you're getting at least 1200 cals. a day and that you're drinking plenty of water. It'll come, you're doing great! >

How are you today Caroline?????

I agree, cream of chicken is really good [try it over buttered toast!] and I've had surgery before and couldn't drink coffee for awhile afterwards.... I always go back though

Hi Lisa, I also went by myself to be banded and I was worried for nothing! Trust me, you'll meet alot of new friends at the OCC. I met Laurie while I was there and we went shopping on Revolution Ave. the day after our surgery and had a good time. We also scheduled our first fills together last week and we had a ball!! P.S. Momma Ortiz doesn't shuttle the patients anymore, but you may still get to meet her, she's a sweetheart!!

Everyone's different, I had a little restriction but lost it over a few weeks. I got my first fill last week and my restriction comes and go's. I'm hoping it settles in soon and sticks with me! I know that I didn't eat much for my first meal but you're right, it was great to chew again!! Enjoy!

Hi Banded4life [Lafoon], How are you doing???!!! Hope all's well! How was your trip back to Atlanta? Hope it wasn't too uncomfortable?? It's such a long flight, can drive ya buggy Anyways, give us an update > Darlene

I don't think they'd mess with your band, I think they'd just give you antibiotics. You would have say-so before they could do anything to you or your band. Has the drainage slowed at all??!! Thinking of you...

I just wrote to Carolyn [not sure who I had to contact] and asked for the paperwork. Hopefully we can get some back, that'd be awesome! =D> Thanks again!!

Thanks Yorkiemommy!! I'm gonna try.... it can't hurt, huh?

I was thinking about sending my surgery bill into my hubby's insurance to see if they'll pay me anything. I remember reading a few people on the forum had turned there's in and got some or most of the cost reimbursed. What info do I need to get from the OCC? I remember reading that they needed detailed records. I'd appreciate any and all help! > Thanks All!! Darlene

I haven't had any drainage from any of my incisions,.... it doesn't sound good though! Is it really sore and red? It sounds like it may be infected. Listen to Dr. O, but if you get a fever and\or chills you'd better see a local Doc. Please keep us updated Darlene

You can take airsick meds..... I should have cause I was SSSOOOOO sick when I got to the OCC!! They gave me dramamine when I got there!! Best wishes, > Darlene

I had just the opposite problem, I couldn't go and didn't for a week!! That, I think, made the gas pains worse. If it keeps up, maybe drop the OCC a line or give them a call.

I too am a food addict.... Food was on my mind from the time my feet hit the floor in the morning till I drifted off to sleep at night. I was banded on 3-25 and I hadn't thought about it before now, but I don't think [obsess] about food as much now. I mean I still do, but it's not as bad as it was!! I have been realizing my portions more, I have to continue to cut back. I'm hoping that once I hit my sweet spot that eating will be more of a pain in the a$$ than a big attraction.

You need time to heal, did they tell you at the OCC not to worry about losing right now, that'll come after your first fill? Everyone's different, I didn't lose much yet either but I know it'll come. Your body may have gone into starvation mode, try getting at least 1200 cals a day. And drink, drink, drink!! You'll get there!! I had some port discomfort about 10 days out. I wrote Dr. O and told him about it and he emailed me right back. Mine was a tugging feeling from the inside which eased after a few days. Your port is sewn to muscle, so it can be tender for awhile. You should call the OCC if the pain keeps up. I took ibuprofen too, it seemed to help. Best wishes, Darlene

I didn't even realize that it WAS 10,000!! I've been getting 6,000 or 7,000 and was so proud of myself! :lb12: Back to the drawing board.....

Congrats all around!! :lb21: :lb24: :cheerleader:

Hey all, it's me again..... just wanted to let Mona know that I may have spoken too soon!! I just had a lebonon bologna sandwich and boy did I feel my restriction!! After the first 2 bites I could feel my gut tighten up into my chest and my mouth started watering!! I thought I was gonna sick everything back up but I waited a minute and it passed. I took smaller bites and chewed better but got the same feeling. Fingers crossed, I think my fill's kicking in! =D>

When did you get your fill Mona? Was it your first? I got my first fill on Thurs. 29th and I ate breakfast this morning and had 2 small to med sized pancakes, 2 eggs and 1 and 1\2 pieces of toast! I was full, but didn't feel uncomfortable or stuffed. I'm hoping that it'll take some time, but finally kick in. I can't afford to fly back to Mexico again any time soon, so I'm screwed if this fill doesn't tighten up. Did you line up any fill Doc's around Pa. area? Let me know if you found one. I'm with ya!! :lb12:

You're on your way!!! Enjoy! P.S. Isn't the Lucerna nice???!!!

Hi Amber, I've been over weight most of my life, but I did get down to aroung 145 [for a short time] and was pretty comfortable there. That's what I'm shooting for right now and I'll decide from there if I want to lose a little more. How tall are you? I'm 5' 5.5" and I'm "big boned". I'm not tiny framed, my hip bones are huge [must be child baring hips! ] I don't want my bones to be sticking out, I never wanted to look like those walking-bone models [thank God!] You'll know when you're happy where you're at, I guess it's that saying "comfortable in your own skin". By the way, AWESOME job on your weight loss!! :yes: Darlene

Hello Robin and welcome! I got the lapband #1 because it was less invasive. I did not want to reroute my innerds. I was banded on 3-25 and have NO regrets. I was banded in TJ by Dr. Ortiz because I wasn't obese enough to have it done in the States. [214lbs. with high blood pressure] Also, my hubby's insurance doesn't cover any kind of weight loss surgery. I came across Dr. O's site by accident when I was researching the lapband, and read everything I could about him and the OCC. I bought his book [off of Amazon.com] and read it cover to cover. I came on this forum and read posts for a long time before I joined in and started asking questions [and I had ALOT!] It was scarey, thinking about going to TJ to have surgery, but I worried for nothing! What you read on here is true, we're REAL patients of Dr. O's and I think that was the hardest part of all of this for me... taking that leap of faith and trusting that the OCC is everything that it says it is. The pictures you see are really the OCC, not some "fake" pix of a hospital room across the world. I would say that your best bet would be to go through all the posts and read, read, read! There are alot of great people on here and some fab photo's. I just went back to TJ to get my first fill and my hubby and daughter went with me. A had a nice mini vacation and I had a really good time at the OCC. I met a friend that was banded the same day as me and we got our first fill together... I never laughed so hard, we even had the Doc laughing!! You can schedule your surgery very quickly after you speak to Carolyn, tell her your info and they work with you. If you'd like to write me, my addy is imnutzy2@hotmail.com, I'll answer any questions I can. I wanted to add one more thing, I went to TJ by myself to have the surgery done!! I must admitt, I was scared at first but didn't need to be. Best wishes, Darlene

I LOVE when I get on the scale and I lose 1lb!! It's a great feeling! :lb24: :lb10: Awesome!