kimmizing

I'm frustrated and confused!! First, let me say that ALL of my experiences @ OCC have been A+!! I'm only writing here, because I know if I call them, they'll ask me to go there, which I know I need to, but finances are tight right now. So please let me ask a question: After getting banded, had first fill, then second (not @ OCC), and after 2 days of sliming on my saliva and not being able to even drink water, had some taken out (again, not OCC). After a while, I wanted a fill again because everyone I knew who was banded kept getting fills (not that I needed it, but I was trying to "keep up" w other bandsters). Went to OCC, had the barium x-ray..... And apparently, my stoma is so large, that the dr felt it was best to unfill it and "wait and see". I'm 5' 10" large boned, idk if that makes a diff, but an "empty band" seems to stop binging and rice, pasta, bread, ground beef, and anything not thuroghly chewed!! Even just ONE bite can send me running to the bathroom to pb and slime!! So, my question is, is this *normal*? Anyone ever heard of this? Do you think my band has *slipped*? I've gained most of my weightt back because I'm depressed and ice cream goes down easily and painfree... I'm also not exercising at all bcuz of the depression (which is worse due to current weight and other life issues)....... I was under the impression that the band can be emptied (not removed) for pregnancies or illnessess... So I'm sure my situation isn't *normal*!! Ok, sorry for the rambling!! It's really hard to put this into easy to understand wording... Thanks in advance for your feedback!! Hugs

Thank you very much!!!!!!!! :-h I appreciate what you said because I'm actually OK with my weight right now!! I'm not obsessing about it every second of everyday, and it's so liberating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have some "banded" and other WLS friends who just obsess and obsess about their weight and they never seem happy no matter how much they've lost!!! Now my goal is to REALLY start exercising and firm up!!! hugs! > xoxo

HELLO!! :-h I haven't been on in a while! Just wanted to say that it's been 5 months since my surgery with OCC, and I'm sooooo happy!! I've lost over 40 lbs, have 30 more to go. I'm eating healthier, feeling better, looking better, and want to encourage anyone out there who's not sure about getting the Lap Band, or going to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, that it's sooooooo worth it!!! GO!! DO IT!! And anyone having an upcoming surgery or a recent one, congrats!!! =D> You can see my rapid transformation and read about my journey here http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hotzzzzzing Hugs to all!!!!!xoxo <' /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 1/5/2008 185 lbs 26.4 BMI Goal weight: 5/1/2008 159 lbs 22.8 BMI 1st fill: 10/11/07 1.75 cc Starting size: 16, or very tight 14, 1x, XLarge Current size: 10, Large (yay! Met my goal size!! Now need to tone up!!) Goal size: 10, Large ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was reimburesed $5500, but my DH's ins is called "in-house", so it's not an outside insurance. I was surprised they covered it, but very pleased!!

I DID IT!!! I'M BELOW 200!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D> Visit My Website

HI LAUREN... I TRIED TO GET THE OFFICE THAT DID MY FILLS HONOR THE $300 FEE, BUT THEY DIDN'T. THEY TOOK OUT .25 cc TODAY AND I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!! I HOPE IT LASTS, AND I'M PRETTY SURE I'LL BE GOING TO ORTIZ FOR MY NEXT FILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >

MY INSURANCE PAID TOO!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! =D>

FEELING MUUUUUCH BETTER TODAY AFTER A .25 CC UNFILL!!!!!!!!!!!! (9 weeks and 3 days after Lap Band, 33.5 lbs lost, 42.5 to go!!): OK, got .25 cc taken out today. Now I'm at 1.75 cc and it feels just right!!! SWEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!! Man-o-man!! This banding thing is complicated!! I did have to pay $50 for the un-fill (total for this whole first fill to get it right: $450.00). Oh well..... The PA and nurses are all very nice, and I didn't have to go away overnight (such as going to TJ requires), so that's a positive thing. Now some good news! I'm now able to drink water and protein shakes w/o PBing and sliming!! YAY! Haven't eaten or drank a thing in 2 1/2 days!! And although I don't expect it to last, I've lost a good 10 pounds in a week!! I'm soooooooooooooooooooo close to crossing the 200 lb frontier into the 100's!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOO!! Haven't been under 200 lbs in over 2 years!! =D> Now kinda some bad news... Well, not so much bad as it is naughty!!!!!!! I haven't been doing ANY exercising at all!! I'm a naughty lazy girl and I need to get my butt in gear or my skin's gonna be hanging down to my knees this summer!!! I want to start horse-back riding and jumping again, but need to get into shape first..........................{{bad me!! blush....}} #-o Well, I feel much more encouraged and positive today!! HUGS!! > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 10/11/2007; 201.5 lbs 28.3 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI 1st fill: 10/11/07 1.75 cc ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for the info!! There's a Fill Center USA in Los Angeles, but they don't do flouro. The closest flouro Fill Center to me in the USA is in Colorado!! So TJ's closer!! LOL... After today's visit (un-fill of .25 cc), I feel muuuuuuuch better!! And in a better mood!! I appreciate the info about the fill being too tight for you, even from Ortiz's office. I assumed that using the flouro was "fool-proof". I'm now learning that NOTHING is "fool-proof" when it comes to the Band. And the period thing!!? OMG!! This is going to be an interesting ride!!!!! LOL

WOW!! I didn't realize that!!!!!!!! I'll have to remember that info!!!!! Thanks!

I got my first fill last Friday. Did not go to Ortiz in TJ. My bad!!!!! #-o I had a "blind" fill done locally because I was trying to save time and money rather than going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ. Dumb me! First fill last Friday cost $300. And that was for a physician's assistant to do it!! Not even the doctor!!! When I first called the office about getting fills, I asked tons of questions, one was "how many fills has the doctor done?" Their answer: "thousands"... Hmmm, yet, I got a PA. Maybe the PA's been doing fills for years too, but I still think I'm being over-charged! ((He was very nice, I'm not putting him down for being a PA. I'm just shocked that I was charged so much and I never even met the doctor!!))1.5 cc was put in at first because I was asked if I wanted to be agressive and I said "yes". A drink of water got stuck, so .5 cc's taken out. Was STARVING all weekend, and no restriction..... Flash forward 4 days to Tuesday. Went back to doctor for more... I was thinking .25 cc's or so... Ended up with another whole 1 cc!! Total = 2cc's. In the office, I felt fine. Water went down OK. Restricted, but not overly so. =D> Cost: Another $100!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, for the rest of the day, I wasn't able to swallow anything w/o PBing and sliming!! Now too restricted!! Can't even keep down water!! So, yet ANOTHER appointment tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to take some out at a cost of $50 . Total thus far for first fill = $450, and not sure if they'll get it right this time!!!!!!!!! So, who knows when this money pit and frustration will end!!?? When I first called this local doctor about fills, they told me the initial $300 was good for about 2 weeks of adjustments. LIARS!!!!!!!!! They keep charging me every single time!!! Saying too many patients "abused" getting fills and unfilled for holidays etc, so they charge everytime now. OMG!! What idiots! THIS WAS MY FIRST FRIGGIN FILL!!!! And they told me $300 would cover adjusting it for a couple of weeks!!!! I'M PISSED!!! ((Side note, the PA was impressed that my Lap Band surgeon -Ortiz- was the author of LAP BAND FOR LIFE, because they recommend that book to their patients!!)) This is ridiculous!! I should have gone to Ortiz in the first place!!!!!! It would have cost $100 for him to do my fill using flouro x-ray, $140 for r/t plane ticket, $130 for Ortiz's driver to pick me up and drop me off from San Diego to TJ and $85 for one night in hotel room. Total = $455 for friendly professional people I know and trust!!! Did I make a mistake? I don't know. But right now I'm kicking myself!! #-o Just took a sip of water and PB'd it up and slimed!!! A SIP OF WATER!!!!! I'll update tomorrow after my 3rd appointment. Maybe I'm just cranky because "Aunt Flow" just arrived today!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 10/09/2007; 204 lbs 29.3 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI 1st fill: 10/05/07 1cc then 10/9/07 1cc = 2cc total OVER RESTRICTED!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got my first fill last Friday. Did not go to Ortiz in TJ. My bad!!!!! #-o I had a "blind" fill done locally because I was trying to save time and money rather than going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ. Dumb me! First fill last Friday cost $300. And that was for a physician's assistant to do it!! Not even the doctor!!! When I first called the office about getting fills, I asked tons of questions, one was "how many fills has the doctor done?" Their answer: "thousands"... Hmmm, yet, I got a PA. Maybe the PA's been doing fills for years too, but I still think I'm being over-charged! ((He was very nice, I'm not putting him down for being a PA. I'm just shocked that I was charged so much and I never even met the doctor!!))1.5 cc was put in at first because I was asked if I wanted to be agressive and I said "yes". A drink of water got stuck, so .5 cc's taken out. Was STARVING all weekend, and no restriction..... Flash forward 4 days to Tuesday. Went back to doctor for more... I was thinking .25 cc's or so... Ended up with another whole 1 cc!! Total = 2cc's. In the office, I felt fine. Water went down OK. Restricted, but not overly so. =D> Cost: Another $100!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, for the rest of the day, I wasn't able to swallow anything w/o PBing and sliming!! Now too restricted!! Can't even keep down water!! So, yet ANOTHER appointment tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to take some out at a cost of $50 . Total thus far for first fill = $450, and not sure if they'll get it right this time!!!!!!!!! So, who knows when this money pit and frustration will end!!?? When I first called this local doctor about fills, they told me the initial $300 was good for about 2 weeks of adjustments. LIARS!!!!!!!!! They keep charging me every single time!!! Saying too many patients "abused" getting fills and unfilled for holidays etc, so they charge everytime now. OMG!! What idiots! THIS WAS MY FIRST FRIGGIN FILL!!!! And they told me $300 would cover adjusting it for a couple of weeks!!!! I'M PISSED!!! ((Side note, the PA was impressed that my Lap Band surgeon -Ortiz- was the author of LAP BAND FOR LIFE, because they recommend that book to their patients!!)) This is ridiculous!! I should have gone to Ortiz in the first place!!!!!! It would have cost $100 for him to do my fill using flouro x-ray, $140 for r/t plane ticket, $130 for Ortiz's driver to pick me up and drop me off from San Diego to TJ and $85 for one night in hotel room. Total = $455 for friendly professional people I know and trust!!! Did I make a mistake? I don't know. But right now I'm kicking myself!! #-o Just took a sip of water and PB'd it up and slimed!!! A SIP OF WATER!!!!! I'll update tomorrow after my 3rd appointment. Maybe I'm just cranky because "Aunt Flow" just arrived today!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 10/09/2007; 204 lbs 29.3 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI 1st fill: 10/05/07 1cc then 10/9/07 1cc = 2cc total OVER RESTRICTED!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got my first fill last Friday. Did not go to Ortiz in TJ. My bad!!!!! #-o I had a "blind" fill done locally because I was trying to save time and money rather than going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ. Dumb me! First fill last Friday cost $300. And that was for a physician's assistant to do it!! Not even the doctor!!! When I first called the office about getting fills, I asked tons of questions, one was "how many fills has the doctor done?" Their answer: "thousands"... Hmmm, yet, I got a PA. Maybe the PA's been doing fills for years too, but I still think I'm being over-charged! ((He was very nice, I'm not putting him down for being a PA. I'm just shocked that I was charged so much and I never even met the doctor!!))1.5 cc was put in at first because I was asked if I wanted to be agressive and I said "yes". A drink of water got stuck, so .5 cc's taken out. Was STARVING all weekend, and no restriction..... Flash forward 4 days to Tuesday. Went back to doctor for more... I was thinking .25 cc's or so... Ended up with another whole 1 cc!! Total = 2cc's. In the office, I felt fine. Water went down OK. Restricted, but not overly so. =D> Cost: Another $100!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, for the rest of the day, I wasn't able to swallow anything w/o PBing and sliming!! Now too restricted!! Can't even keep down water!! So, yet ANOTHER appointment tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to take some out at a cost of $50 . Total thus far for first fill = $450, and not sure if they'll get it right this time!!!!!!!!! So, who knows when this money pit and frustration will end!!?? When I first called this local doctor about fills, they told me the initial $300 was good for about 2 weeks of adjustments. LIARS!!!!!!!!! They keep charging me every single time!!! Saying too many patients "abused" getting fills and unfilled for holidays etc, so they charge everytime now. OMG!! What idiots! THIS WAS MY FIRST FRIGGIN FILL!!!! And they told me $300 would cover adjusting it for a couple of weeks!!!! I'M PISSED!!! ((Side note, the PA was impressed that my Lap Band surgeon -Ortiz- was the author of LAP BAND FOR LIFE, because they recommend that book to their patients!!)) This is ridiculous!! I should have gone to Ortiz in the first place!!!!!! It would have cost $100 for him to do my fill using flouro x-ray, $140 for r/t plane ticket, $130 for Ortiz's driver to pick me up and drop me off from San Diego to TJ and $85 for one night in hotel room. Total = $455 for friendly professional people I know and trust!!! Did I make a mistake? I don't know. But right now I'm kicking myself!! #-o Just took a sip of water and PB'd it up and slimed!!! A SIP OF WATER!!!!! I'll update tomorrow after my 3rd appointment. Maybe I'm just cranky because "Aunt Flow" just arrived today!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 10/09/2007; 204 lbs 29.3 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI 1st fill: 10/05/07 1cc then 10/9/07 1cc = 2cc total OVER RESTRICTED!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I KNOW!!!!!!!! :-h

HI ROGER!! SAME QUESTION FROM ME... DID THEY CHARGE YOU TO MOVE IT? IF SO, HOW MUCH? WERE YOU AWAKE FOR THE PROCEDURE? DID IT HURT MUCH AFTER? ETC..... MY PORT HAS BEEN STICKING OUT SINCE THE DAY OF THE SURGERY 7 WEEKS AGO (as you can see in my pictures if you click the link below), AND I'M AFRAID TO THINK OF WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN 6 MONTHS!!!!! THANKS!! K > Click here to see my Lap Band pictures....

HELLO FELLOW BANDSTERS!! I WAS PLANNING MY FIRST FILL TRIP TO ORTIZ ON OCTOBER 9. BUT I FOUND A DOCTOR RIGHT HERE IN MY CITY WHO DOES FILLS!! EVEN ON PATIENTS WHO HAD THEIR SURGERIES IN MEXICO!! (SOME DR'S ARE PICKY ABOUT THAT!!) SO, NEVER MIND ABOUT SHARING THE COST OF THE SHUTTLE. I LOVE ORTIZ, ET AL, BUT IF I CAN STAY LOCAL FOR FILLS, IT'S BETTER FOR ME BECAUSE OF KIDS, ETC.... WISH ME LUCK!! >

Probably was "office humor", but perhaps a tad on the crass side... I didn't realize any of those guys ever took vacations!! I was under the impression they worked 24/7/365!! LOL... But still, for me, everyone at the OCC was so friendly! Gee... I need to start planning my first fill, eh?!! #-o LOL ciao >

oooops!! #-o

oops

Bribes!! Are you serious!!????????? OMG!!!!!!! LOL!!! My husband dealt mostly with the sweet gal at the front desk (I forget her name).... Of all the people at OCC , Rene was the one I didn't get to know very well. I'm arranging my first fill through him, so I'm going to shut my mouth!! LOL

Hello!! I remember what it was like BEFORE my LB surgery, and I was scouring the net for any and all info, personal stories and pictures that I could get my hands on!! So, out of appreciation to Dr. Ortiz and staff for being so fantastic, I'm going to put my link here for anyone who wants to follow my journey!! Best of luck and best wishes to all of you!! > Visit My Weight Loss Journey!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 9/30/2007; 208 lbs 29.8 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI No fills yet... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow Valerie!! I remember those early weeks!! They were very difficult!! I started chewing and spitting out food, just for the flavor!! I DON'T RECOMMEND IT!! I don't do it very much anymore, but it helped my cravings and mental hunger go away in the early days. The weird, yet fantastic, thing I'm going through now is that I am not having ANY cravings!! And I used to really crave a lot of junk and fast foods pre LB!! Stick with the protein shakes and broths for now... I used to add jars of babyfood such as mixed vegitables with my broth so it had more flavor. Then for dessert, a jar of Gerbers apple sauce!! LOL!! I still get the munchies occasionally, but I've completely changed what I'd normally eat. Last night, for example, I had some chicharones (pig skins), string cheese (mozarella), and a dill pickle. WAS SOOOOOO GOOD!! And didn't feel like I was denying myself a yummy snack, yet I also did not feel the guilt I normally would have had after caving in to a snack attack!! In the past, I would have made a "run for the boarder", if you catch my drift.... It's still very early on for me after surgery (7 weeks), but just wanted you to know that it really does get easier!! And if you're creative with your food, it WILL get easier and easier! Best of luck!!!!! > Visit My WL Journal!!!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 9/30/2007; 208 lbs 29.8 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI No fills yet... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WOW!! SOOOOO HAPPY!! MY INSURANCE JUST REIMBURSED ME $5500 OF THE $8500 I SPENT ON MY LAP BAND SURGERY!!! YAY!!! Was not expecting that, so VERY pleased!! And VERY happy with Dr Ortiz's staff for helping out with the paperwork!! > I'm getting so many compliments about how fresh-faced and happy I look lately!! Must be from eating healthier!! The first few weeks after surgery I was having horrendous headaches, but I think it was my body reacting to the caca and toxins leaving my bod and from cutting out the bad stuff. Anyhew, my weightloss has plateaued at 208. So I'm going to schedule my first fill for sometime in October. The EMPTY band still works tho!! I've PB'd and slimed a couple of times when I wasn't staying aware of chewing a million times before swallowing!! #-o It's been 7 weeks since surgery. Amazingly, certain (BAD) food cravings have completely gone away!! =D> I don't know if that's common or not after Lap Band, but I'm sure happy about it! OH OH OH!!! And I'm ~officially~ considered "over-weight" now (BMI 29.8), instead of the dreaded "OBESE"!!! [dumb me, couldn't leave well enough alone and had to figure out how much I need to weigh to be in the "normal" range.... 173.5 lbs. That'd give me a BMI of 24.9. Uh. Yeah. That's like 35 pounds from now!!!!!! Seems so far away!! dumb me!!] Well, need to get ready to go with the family to the fair!! I'm going to wear my *new* LUCKY BRAND JEANS!!!!! Size 32!! I look HOTT!!!!! Woo-hoo! Visit My OH Journal for My Story!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 9/30/2007; 208 lbs 29.8 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI No fills yet... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLO ALL!!!!!!!!!! I had major hunger at around week 2. ( aka: "BANDSTER HELL"..... Didn't think I would make it!! My will power was dwindling fast!! Now, a few days into week 3, things are doing muuuuuuuuch better!! I'm able to eat pretty much anyhting now (as per Nutritionist/Miranda's orders), and that's probably what's helping curb my hunger!! I was worried that eating "real" food was going to make me gain weight at first, but NOOOOOPE!! I'm still losing!! Today I weigh 210!!!!!!! I've been eating VERY healthily too!! Yay for me!! =D> OMG!! I can't believe I haven't eaten any fast-food in like 6 weeks!!!!!! That's actually a record for me!!! I feel great!! Look great!! And I'm very proud of myself!!!!!! Hope everyone else is doing great too!!! HUGS!! <' /> to see my post op pictures go to: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hotzzzzzing ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Surgery date: 8/13/07 - height: 5' 10" Starting weight: 7/01/2007; 235 lbs 33.7 BMI Surgery weight: 8/13/2007; 224 lbs 32.1 BMI Current weight: 9/05/2007; 210 lbs 30.1 BMI Goal weight: May/1/2008; 159 lbs 22.8 BMI ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's close to the soups I make!! Pretty much ANY veggies you like will work!! I use pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, cabbage, etc!! But instead of heavy cream I use cream cheese. Sooooooo good!!!!! Got the recipe years ago from my mother-in-law. She 's Spanish and still lives Spain. It's great to go to the "old world" and come back with yummy recipes!! LOL