snowbird

You just had surgery, girl! Isn't there any way you can take at least a few days off? I've seen where some people take up to six weeks off, which I think is way more than you need, but I would think you deserve at least two or three days to rest and recover!

Ketosis is the natural result of cutting back on your carbs so that your body is burning fat for energy. It isn't anything to be concerned about. In fact, an Atkins diet depends on your sending your body into ketosis. Some people never even notice it, while others REALLY have a strong body/breath odor from it. The odors go away after your body accustoms itself to the low carb diet, or when you return to eating more carbs. You might want to rethink your high carb diet. Most "white" carbs are empty calories with little or no food value. When you are banded, you really can't afford to waste your calories on that stuff as part of your regular diet. Once in a while for a treat is fine, but remember it's always proteins and vegetables first, then carbs if you really feel you need to eat more.

It's not a problem there like it is farther into Mexico. I had iced drinks and used the hotel and clinic's bottled water, and everything was fine.

Elaine, congratulations! I assume you are planning to spend a couple days in California after you go to tijuana? You can take a cab from OCC to the border and walk across quite easily, then catch a cab or a trolley from there. You might want to look at dolittle's post about taking cabs and trolleys two and from the clinic, which is under the "Fill Doctors and Fill Trips to TJ" area. You could also ride the OCC van to the San Diego airport and make other travel arrangements from there, but that would be more expensive unless you are going down for your surgery in which case the van trip to the airport is included in your surgery price. I've been back and forth across the border to the clinic six or seven times and it's pretty easy.

Well, according to the BMI charts at 5'5" my normal weight is 112 to 150. 112? I don't think so! I don't think I've weighed 112 since I was in fifth grade. I got down to 132 before getting pregnant the first time, and I think that was a younger perfect weight for me, but now it's not either attainable or desirable. My doctor told me that since I had been overweight my entire life my bones were heavier than normal and 150 would be a great weight at my age. Now that I'm getting closer to that goal, I think 145 would be fine. I really don't see trying to get any less, especially since I probably have 10 lb of excess skin hanging off me at this point. Some people pick a size rather than a weight. Would you feel super in a size 12? A size 14? A size 8? However, as you get closer to those sizes you may find that your goal changes. I think your body will let you know when you have reached the best weight. I like to set small, very attainable goals of 5 lb at a time; then I feel very proud and virtuous when I reach them, which gives me more encouragement. Why set a goal of 135 and feel like a failure when I only get to 140?

This is her mother. She has a new boyfriend, and has no time for any of us anymore!! Just kidding . . .well, maybe not. She works full time and goes to UW too, so her life is a bit hectic. Just wanted her fans to know that all is well in her life.

Paula, Sorry to hear about your troubles. My 95 year old mom is failing; she is in an assisted living home and gets weaker day by day, but still realizes what is happening to her. She asked me the other day, "am I going to get better, or is this just a part of being 95?" I didn't know what to say to her. I guess it is what we have to deal with at this stage of our lives. utahmom, my mother was ALWAYS like that, even when she was in her 50's. She had an entire cupboard devoted to little aluminum pot pie tins. I kept asking her exactly how many anyone needed and when she would know she had enough. Now she still brings her half-eaten meals back from the dining room and stashes them all over her apartment, so I have a scavenger hunt for leftovers every evening when I go visit her. Did they give you a reason for such a slight fill? I thought OCC usually does about 1.6-1.8 for the first fill. I had 1.7, and knew I could use another within 3 weeks. I didn't consider it a waste of a trip, because I was glad they could take a look at things through fluoroscopy and reassure me that everything looked fine. Is there somewhere near your home for another fill? It sounds like you could really use it. I got my second fill 3 months after surgery, and I've never needed another, so maybe second time will be the charm for you too!

Could be the caffeine, or the lack of sugar if you are used to it. Your body is probably just adjusting to a new way of getting energy. Remember, you can always go shoe shopping! You sit down and rest when you try them on, too!

I'm a little confused about your original question. Most people who go to Mexico for surgery are those whose insurance will not cover it in the US. Generally, insurance will cover emergency complications even if the original surgery isn't covered, but slippage isn't usually considered an emergency. My insurance actually does cover lap band surgery, but I went to OCC anyway because I was so impressed with how they treated my daughter and because I live close enough to Tijuana to return for fills etc without too much hassle. My insurance also covered my surgery at OCC. If you are concerned about the costs of rebanding, leaks, or port flips, I would call OCC and see what their policy is. I haven't had to worry about any of those things yet, so I don't know if they give a price break to their own patients or not.

Paula, my husband and I are driving to TJ for a fill June 9 in our RV, on our way north to Washington for the summer. We are staying in an RV park in Chula Vista. Maybe we can get together for . . . tomato soup?

Thanks. I never have a "regular losing schedule." My weight stays the same, stays the same, stays the same, drives me nuts and stays the same, then I lose 4 lb. It's weird. Just stay on track and it will come. You may find you need a second fill fairly soon; my first one only lasted about 3 weeks, then I needed another one, but that was in January and my last. I don't think I will ever need another.

Grazing is a no-no because of how the band works. We have a small pouch of a stomach that limits the amount of food we eat at one time. If we graze, we are not going to be restricted in how much we eat nearly as much as if we limit ourselves to three solid meals per day. Plus, the foods I normally graze on are not restricted by the band. Snack foods like chips, ice cream, cookies, go down very easily. Meat and vegetables do not, so they sit in the pouch and limit the volume I can take in. Not to mention that nutritionally they are what our body needs; the snack foods are usually empty calories and high in fats and sugars. If I eat a good meal of protein and vegetables, I end up slightly uncomfortable from my band, which cuts down on how soon I want to eat again. A little snack here and there won't do that, so I eat more than I need to.

Husband and I are planning to be at the OCC on the 9th for fills and some dental work. maybe we will see you all there!

Oh, if I only had a dollar for every time I said, "I'm never going to do THAT again." My bad habit is snacking while lying on my bed, reading. A definite no-no for bandsters, but I still do it.

Generally Dr Martinez and Dr Ortiz work together in the operating room. There are probably a lot of us who were banded by Dr Martinez and don't even know it! I wouldn't be at all concerned.

Hang in there and remember it's for a limited time only. I used to be able to diet for a week or two until I realized I have to eat that way for the rest of my life, then I would get depressed and the diet would go out the window. Sorry, I was assuming you were an OCC patient when I answered. Every doctor is different regarding pre and post op dieting, among other things. Best wishes for your diet and your surgery, and thanks for your kind words!

It's not unusual to have the port repositioned or replaced with a low profile port after you lose a lot of weight. I've got so much skin left that it isn't an issue with me, but if I ever got a tummy tuck it might be.

We usually bring along Curves or Fiber One bars for breakfasts, although they do have quite a bit of sugar. When I'm eating out in general and not restricted, I ask for a "to go" box when I order the meal, and put half of it away before I start eating to give myself an obvious stop point. If you have a refrigerator in your room this can save you some money too as you can have your leftovers for another meal. You might want to bring a small collapsible cooler and small blue ice packs with you if it is feasible. If I do break down and buy junk food I try to be sure I get it in single serving packs, so there is no uncontrollable binging!

Generally, nothing is needed to enter Mexico. You just drive or walk on in. To get back to the US, the passport is all you need, and as others have said, you don't even need that yet if you have ID and birth certificate.

We park on the US side and walk across all the time, then take a cab. Claudia will call you a cab when you are done at OCC and they will take you to the pedestrian line. I have walked across in 5 minutes and I have stood in line for over an hour. Midweek is best for a short line.

Sorry I was slow in responding; we've been traveling. My husband's implants were $1200 and the crowns were $400. So far they have healed well and he is hoping to get the crowns in about 3 weeks.

PS Why wait to start your pre op diet? I started mine as soon as I got my surgery scheduled, 10 weeks ahead. That way I didn't have to do any big deal diet, as I had plenty of time to lose the required weight. It isn't how you lose it, it's the amount you lose. I didn't have to do liquids, I didn't have to do lean cuisines only, I could just eat small regular meals. I lose 19 lb which was enough for me.

I'm looking at my Wish Bone French, and it has 1 g of fat in 10 spritzes. I don't ever use as much as 10. Five will do me nicely on whatever it is I am eating. I don't think it is enough for you to be worrying about whatsoever. The idea of the pre op diet is to lose 5% of your body weight. The amount of calories in a salad spritzer is so small that it is not worth thinking about. I guess I'm just saying that you shouldn't be obsessing over the really small stuff. I use cream in my coffee and salad spritzers to my heart's content. It isn't enough to make a difference if you are being conscientious about the big stuff.

Tanya, I'm not talking about blame, but responsibility. I would talk to OCC and find out what your options are. That would just be part of taking care of yourself.

Why are you still on shakes and lean cuisine now you are nearing your first fill? Dr Miranda says to start eating three meals of regular food three weeks after surgery, not after the first fill. Did you have some problem that you received different instructions? Generally, OCC's instructions are full liquids three days after the first fill, and 24 hours after subsequent ones.