LoriBecky

October Surgery patients click on this link ----->October Surgery Patients <------ to get to the October Surgery topic posts. I'm not sure people will find you here!

Everyone is different, but I don't think you should have to get filled once a month! I mean... where's your fill going? It can take a few fills to get to that sweet spot, but the average is 2 to 3 fills that first year (more with the VG band) Dr. Ortiz would say.... come back to TJ if you can, we charge less and you usually get a more accurate fill. Remember you can always call Dr. Martinez if you have any specific questions about your fills.

ladybug, When i was on my low-carb kick several years back I mixed my protein powder with water, added a little peanut butter and some vanilla extract. I mix mine with milk now for a little more protein, but just a dollop of peanut butter in a chocolate low-carb, high-protein shake really tastes good I get my protein powder from Costco.

Hello Geri, I've had my band since June 15th and haven't PB'd yet. Remember, it isn't like throwing up when you are sick and it can be prevented. Chew Chew Chew, take small bites and don't eat fast!

This is drectly from the Border Patrol website (this is still in the proposal stage): January 8, 2007 - Passports, MMDs or NEXUS Air cards would be required for all air travel, and most commercial sea travel, from within the Western Hemisphere for citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is a change from the previously scheduled date of January 1, in order to accommodate holiday travel.. January 1, 2008 - The statutory deadline for all Western Hemisphere travel, including land border travel. The specific requirements for the land border crossing will be addressed in a separate rulemaking in advance of this date when they update this information I will be notified and will let you know

Hi, I had posted something earlier from Dr. Miranda, but she wants to modify it, so i've deleted it for now, but will replace it with guidelines from her. Sorry

Look here for October surgery patients October Surgery Patients

Have a fudgesicle ! I figured its the same consitency of the protein shakes and it made me feel ohhhh so much better Get the no sugar added ones!

I know its hard! The liquid diet is awful, there I said it! But your stomach needs time to heal and your band time to settle in place. It does get better, especially when you can add the yogurt and then the full liquid. You can add the no sugar fudgescicles and I occassionally had some fat free frozen yogurt - just a little, but the treat made me feel better. Our stomach has to adapt to eating less and adjust to having the band. I had some pretty strong stomach rumble/growls during the first month of the band - but I wasn't really hungry - a drink of water or a little broth took care of it. Head hunger is a terrible enemy and you have to be patient with your body while it adapts to this new way of life. You'll make it! We're all cheering for you!

You know... the toot and scoot or is it the scoot and toot hahahaha keep walking it really does help!

Hi Rain, Feel free to give me a call for more information about the band and the costs. As you can see, we have great people on the forum that have given you some great information! If you'd like me to email you some general information, just call or email me and I'd be happy to send you something.

Hi Roo, I, too, am an IBS sufferer. Let's just say the pre-op and post-op diet (3 weeks) kept me in shape...I did a lot of running LOL

Ok...my sources say: passport requried for air travel into Mexico in January 2007 passport requried for ground travel into Mexico required at the end of 2007, possibly not until January 2008. I haven't heard that this has changed, but I'll keep you posted

Ok... just some clarification. Dr. Ortiz says they are off limits for 6 months and recommends you avoid them all together as they have no nutritional value! Here's the link to that topic Carbonated Beverages

I drink a lot of iced tea - green or herbal or decaf. Sometimes I mix the crystal light lemonade with the iced tea and its an "Arnold Palmer" that way you are getting only 1/2 of the fakey sugar stuff. I also just brew tea for iced tea and then put in a "supplement" called Stevia (you can get it GNC or Trader Joe's). Its all natural, its a root. It is so sweet and yummy, but the fake sugars in the U.S. have such a stronghold on the FDA that they will only allow it to be sold as a supplement, not a sweetener. It has no side effects, and tastes great! They use it in other countries, canada even sells soda sweetened with it. Its also safe for all us IBS sufferers those fake sweeteners can give us problems!

Ok October Surgery patients - I know you are out there! This post had fallen from first page, so I'm moving it up. We want to hear from you!

Support and coordinate travel with other October Fill patients here. here's a link to the great post by Marys about bus/trolley rides Bus/Trolley Info. Don't forget if you can coordinate with other patients to arrive at the airport at the same time, you can share the cost of our fill transport. Its $130 and can carry up to 6 passengers. Just get yourselves coordinated and schedule with Rene at the clinic.

You are given a card to carry in your wallet when you are at OCC for surgery. I carry mine next to my drivers license. It identifies me as a band patient, the date I was banded and the size of my band.

If you are struggling with foods (besides the normal problems with fibrous veggies, steak or bread) like if you can't eat chicken or fish your band is probably too tight. If you are doing all the right things - chewing your food to goo, not drinking while you are eating, avoiding high calorie liquid/soft foods but are still having PBing problems, then something isn't right. I know this isn't a cake walk and we all have our struggles, but we are all here for each other. I have my own struggles and you guys are all so great. I try to keep my own personal issues off the forum because I'm walking a fine line of personal/professional, but I'm here for you, to answer questions, be a shoulder or a moving target when you are upset. Let me know if there is anything I can do!

My port site was sore for about 3 weeks after surgery - it takes the longest to heal. I watched a surgery when i was there in August and it all made sense to me then. They try to make the port incision as small as possible so your scar isn't too big. The port barely fits through it so they have to retract the skin while they are putting it in place and then stitching it down. By week 4 I expect you'll be a lot better. I ended up covering mine with a bandage because even my shirt brushing across my skin hurt sometimes. Give your body some time to heal... even though you feel better quickly, its still surgery and your body needs time to recuperate.

James, it sounds like you are doing great! A model bandster Call or email with any questions and keep us updated on your progress. And what exactly is that on your progress chart

Cole, I did have to start taking an acid reducer, not all the time, but some days I just seem to have more of a problem. You can ask your doctor to prescribe something, or try something over the counter, Pepcid, Zantac, or Prilosec and see if that helps. The pills are small enough so you shouldn't have a problem swallowing them. You can also call Dr. Martinez, his cell # was on the list of #'s we give to all OCC patients when they are discharged from the clinic. He may have some other suggestions for you.

Hi Mimi, (and all other OCC bandsters) You're right, I didn't check the new booking leter. it hasn't been our practice in the past to schedule those, and nobody made us aware of that change - just said they updated the letter to correct a few things and I haven't slowed down long enough to read it. what i'm working on with Carolyn is a checklist to send out with the packet... day 3 after booking do this.... 10 days prior to surgery date do this... Now the part about the transportation is much harder for me as I don't control or schedule that, but I will do my best to make sure patients get that information from Rene. I will really work harder at following up with patients, sometimes there isn't enough time in the day to get to everything, which is why I'm here, working at 9:00pm! I really do try to get to everything, but sometimes, and I truly am sorry, things slip through the cracks. Please know I do care about you and your welfare, I wouldn't do this job if I didn't Always feel free to call or email me with questions, concerns, suggestions or just some support

That's right, the cost of the transportation is part of the surgery "package" but isn't included in the fills. For fills for Dr. Ortiz patients the cost is $100 for doing the fill under fluroscopy ($350 for fills for non-patients). The clinic charges $130 for round trip to the clinic from the airport. He can take 5 passengers and the charge is for the trip - so you can split it between other fill patients. I don't schedule the fills, so if you have any specific questions about transportation or to schedule a fill you can speak with Rene at the clinic, he's at ext. 83 at the toll free #.

Hi CBishop, contact me directly at the email address below and I'll send you information Here's a link to the September surgery patients topic - you can find, support & chat with other September surgery patients September Surgery Patients