I DID IT!

[LaurenLeigh]

I did it!!!! I had my surgery on Monday (8/20), everything went really smoothly. They really have things down to a science at that place. It was SO easy crossing the border both times, I was amazed! The hotel was okay, I've stayed in nicer, but everyone there was so nice and helpful. I really don't have ANYTHING negative to say about the entire surgery process. Dr. Ortiz is awesome. He was so friendly (as was his Mother and entire staff), he talks to you like he's met you a 1000 times. He is also much more handsome than I expected from the pictures or videos, so be prepared ladies, lol. I thought Dr. Miranda was really cool, she seemed to know so much about what it feels like to eat after the surgery, that after talking to her, my husband and I both wondered aloud weather she may have had the surgery too.

The only thing that was pretty bad was the flight home. It was 4 hours from San Diego to Atlanta and it was REALLY uncomfortable. If I had known, I would have purchased the third seat in our row of three. As a big girl with a big husband and sitting next to some poor skinny stranger, I was really uncomfortable the ENTIRE flight, trying to keep myself out of that guy's space. I succeeded in not touching his arm the entire flight, although I was practically sitting on my husband, which sent him leaning into the aisle...it was so uncomfortable . I was suddenly having a lot of post surgery gas pains, perhaps due to cabin pressure and even though I had been eating Gas X strips like they were candy (I won't elaborate, but it was a struggle to contain it, though I was successful!). I've vowed not to fly again until I am MUCH thinner. Also, I should have taken more pain meds right before getting on the plane. My pain meds wore off and I got really sore around my incisions from being squished and from all the walking. If I had known, I would have shelled out the $350 for the extra seat so I could relax, it would have been well worth it!

I'm feeling MUCH better today. Nothing like sleeping in my own bed (our bed at the hotel was similar to a concrete slab). Looking forward to losing lots of weight! I miss food, but obviously there will be a mourning period for the loss of my constant best friend (and worst enemy) over the years. I've been chewing gum, that seems to help. I look forward to three weeks from now when I can really get to exercising!!!

Take care,

~Lauren :-h

[blacdimin]

Congradulations!

I wish you all the best as you heal and as you take on this new life after banding. I have not been banded yet but I do have a surgery date. November 28th is quite a ways down the road but I look at it on the positive side. I am practicing cutting my food into small bits and taking 20minutes to eat as opposed to the 10 it usually takes and not drinking during meals.

Anyway I love hearing the highs and lows of those already banded please continue to share your journey and good luck on that journey.

Brandy

[AmberLam]

HI LAUREN!!

It was so great to meet you and your husband on the 20th! Though I wish we could have gotten to actually talk ( (

I too was very impressed with everything at OCC. Just one regret; I wish that I would have met Lori, gave her a big squeeze and thanked her for all I put her through pre-op. She was a miracle worker. You are NOT joking about the good looks of Dr. Ortiz.. and some of his staff... WOWZAA

I must agree that the flights we pretty sucky. On both trips mom and I were in the very back of the plane, which was by the restrooms. Every time someone would walk by (which was often) I was piled in my moms seat. Oiy!! We were both very lucky and didn't get any of the gas pains that many talk about.. thank goodness!! Although, I have had the hiccups a total of 3 times and REALLY didn't like that. Burping now is also a painful experience After we got home Wednesday I was relaxing on the couch, having a bit of a nap, when my precious kitty cat decided that it was petting time... She jumped right on my stomach... right on the incisions. I screamed, the cat went flying!! Poor kitty, I freaked her out and she stayed hidden for a few hours. I've since learned to sleep with a pillow on my stomach so it's not as noticeable when she's climbing on me!!! hehehe

I'm very glad to hear that you are doing better! I wish you the best of luck and keep me posted!!!

Amber

[LaurenLeigh]

HI LAUREN!!

It was so great to meet you and your husband on the 20th! Though I wish we could have gotten to actually talk ( (

I too was very impressed with everything at OCC. Just one regret; I wish that I would have met Lori, gave her a big squeeze and thanked her for all I put her through pre-op. She was a miracle worker. You are NOT joking about the good looks of Dr. Ortiz.. and some of his staff... WOWZAA

I must agree that the flights we pretty sucky. On both trips mom and I were in the very back of the plane, which was by the restrooms. Every time someone would walk by (which was often) I was piled in my moms seat. Oiy!! We were both very lucky and didn't get any of the gas pains that many talk about.. thank goodness!! Although, I have had the hiccups a total of 3 times and REALLY didn't like that. Burping now is also a painful experience After we got home Wednesday I was relaxing on the couch, having a bit of a nap, when my precious kitty cat decided that it was petting time... She jumped right on my stomach... right on the incisions. I screamed, the cat went flying!! Poor kitty, I freaked her out and she stayed hidden for a few hours. I've since learned to sleep with a pillow on my stomach so it's not as noticeable when she's climbing on me!!! hehehe

I'm very glad to hear that you are doing better! I wish you the best of luck and keep me posted!!!

Amber

I'm glad to hear that you and your Mom are doing well! I was awakened by hunger pains at 3am tonight, that kind of sucked. Lol. I've had some random, from-out-of-nowhere hiccups, those don't feel great. Other than that I'm doing really well, I think. I weighed 3 pounds less tonight than I did this morning, if that's even possible... Not that I obsessively weigh myself...lol.

Yeah, we didn't get to talk much. Did you and your Mom go into town and do any shopping? We did the day after surgery. We got some sombreros for our kids, lol. And of course we were offered drugs about every 20 feet as we walked, along with all kinds of other stuff. It was fun, we got to say "No Gracias" a lot! lol.

I think I better try to get some sleep, it's almost 4am here!

Take care,

Lauren

[ericsmom]

I'm glad to hear that you and your Mom are doing well! I was awakened by hunger pains at 3am tonight, that kind of sucked. Lol. I've had some random, from-out-of-nowhere hiccups, those don't feel great. Other than that I'm doing really well, I think. I weighed 3 pounds less tonight than I did this morning, if that's even possible... Not that I obsessively weigh myself...lol.

Yeah, we didn't get to talk much. Did you and your Mom go into town and do any shopping? We did the day after surgery. We got some sombreros for our kids, lol. And of course we were offered drugs about every 20 feet as we walked, along with all kinds of other stuff. It was fun, we got to say "No Gracias" a lot! lol.

I think I better try to get some sleep, it's almost 4am here!

Take care,

Lauren

[ericsmom]

OOps - sorry about the previous empty post.

Lauren, congratulations! You're one of the people I'm following (since we're "around" the same time - I"'l be on the 28th or 29th!) I hope you got some good sleep last night, and that things are feeling better!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and continued QUICK loss!! Danielle

[LaurenLeigh]

OOps - sorry about the previous empty post.

Lauren, congratulations! You're one of the people I'm following (since we're "around" the same time - I"'l be on the 28th or 29th!) I hope you got some good sleep last night, and that things are feeling better!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery and continued QUICK loss!! Danielle

You'll do great, Danielle! They have a really smooth operation going there in Tijuana (no pun intended, lol). The nurses there are sweet. The ones I encountered didn't speak much English AT ALL, but it didn't really seem to matter much for me. One thing I thought was so great was that they didn't come in every hour all night to take my blood pressure and temp like they do when you stay over night at an American hospital. I was happy that they actually let me get uninterrupted sleep. When I've stayed at hospitals in the US, having babies and such, they are CONSTANTLY waking me up all night, I've even had janitors come empty the trash in my room at 4am, and I usually check out feeling like I haven't slept in days. They didn't do that here, though I did have a call button in case I needed anything. I was really nervous before I went to MX, but after I got there, I wasn't nervous, I was READY!

[sketti]

Congrats! I am scheduled for this Monday. I am looking forward to a new life. Any suggestions? I am using Dr. Lopez Corvala. Has anyone used this doctor?

I did it!!!! I had my surgery on Monday (8/20), everything went really smoothly. They really have things down to a science at that place. It was SO easy crossing the border both times, I was amazed! The hotel was okay, I've stayed in nicer, but everyone there was so nice and helpful. I really don't have ANYTHING negative to say about the entire surgery process. Dr. Ortiz is awesome. He was so friendly (as was his Mother and entire staff), he talks to you like he's met you a 1000 times. He is also much more handsome than I expected from the pictures or videos, so be prepared ladies, lol. I thought Dr. Miranda was really cool, she seemed to know so much about what it feels like to eat after the surgery, that after talking to her, my husband and I both wondered aloud weather she may have had the surgery too.

The only thing that was pretty bad was the flight home. It was 4 hours from San Diego to Atlanta and it was REALLY uncomfortable. If I had known, I would have purchased the third seat in our row of three. As a big girl with a big husband and sitting next to some poor skinny stranger, I was really uncomfortable the ENTIRE flight, trying to keep myself out of that guy's space. I succeeded in not touching his arm the entire flight, although I was practically sitting on my husband, which sent him leaning into the aisle...it was so uncomfortable . I was suddenly having a lot of post surgery gas pains, perhaps due to cabin pressure and even though I had been eating Gas X strips like they were candy (I won't elaborate, but it was a struggle to contain it, though I was successful!). I've vowed not to fly again until I am MUCH thinner. Also, I should have taken more pain meds right before getting on the plane. My pain meds wore off and I got really sore around my incisions from being squished and from all the walking. If I had known, I would have shelled out the $350 for the extra seat so I could relax, it would have been well worth it!

I'm feeling MUCH better today. Nothing like sleeping in my own bed (our bed at the hotel was similar to a concrete slab). Looking forward to losing lots of weight! I miss food, but obviously there will be a mourning period for the loss of my constant best friend (and worst enemy) over the years. I've been chewing gum, that seems to help. I look forward to three weeks from now when I can really get to exercising!!!

Take care,

~Lauren :-h

[sketti]

> Congrats! I am using Dr. Lopez Corvala. Does anyone have experience with this doctor? Suggestions are welcomed.