SherriS Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hello Everyone! I've been thinking about getting the lap band since the end of December. I've done lots of research (heard the good, the bad and the ugly) and have made my appointment. I'm going to Tijuana for my surgery on June 13!!! I'm excited and nervous. Today I started my pre-op diet - Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch, all the green salad with 0 cal dressing and 225 calorie dinner. I'm taking a vitamin daily, the Metamucil at 10 & 3 and the Chromium Piclonate. I'm a smoker so stopping smoking today was the HARDEST. The rest of it don't bother me. My biggest question is what to expect in Tijuana..........first of all, are meals paid for at the hotel? My husband is going with me and asked that question. What food should I take for myself? If anyone recently had their surgery I'd love to hear from you since it would be fresh in your mind. Is there anything I should be sure to have at home before I return? Also, did anyone get their first fill anywhere besides with Dr. Ortiz? I'm in St. Louis, MO so the cost to return to Tijuana is pretty high and I'm considering getting my first fill somewhere here.......any thoughts?? Thanks in advance for your help!! Sherri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painter Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hello Sherri, I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and would be happy to answer any questions I can. Meals at the hotel are your responsibility. The restaurant in the hotel is very good and not overly expensive. I took a can of granulated chicken broth but never actually needed it. The hotel has a broth on the menu which is very good and more than you can eat in a sitting. They will pack it up for you to take to your room. I heated mine in the coffee pot the next day, lol. They will tell you to drink gatorade and we found a little store right across the street from the hotel that sells it. Pretty much everyone takes US cash and we had no problems speaking english. The clinic is spotless and everyone there is wonderful. I was so incredibly nervous but everyone was wonderful and the other patients were a source of comfort as we were all in the same boat. There are a couple of posts here where people have given a blow by blow of their experience and I found them very helpful. Let me know if there are any other questions I can answer for you. Cheryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C1BandedBabe Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Welcome to the group Sherri! The ladys here are soo helpful and wonderful here! You will definitely get your questions answered here. Good luck on your journey! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccermom Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hello Everyone!I've been thinking about getting the lap band since the end of December. I've done lots of research (heard the good, the bad and the ugly) and have made my appointment. I'm going to Tijuana for my surgery on June 13!!! I'm excited and nervous. Today I started my pre-op diet - Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch, all the green salad with 0 cal dressing and 225 calorie dinner. I'm taking a vitamin daily, the Metamucil at 10 & 3 and the Chromium Piclonate. I'm a smoker so stopping smoking today was the HARDEST. The rest of it don't bother me. My biggest question is what to expect in Tijuana..........first of all, are meals paid for at the hotel? My husband is going with me and asked that question. What food should I take for myself? If anyone recently had their surgery I'd love to hear from you since it would be fresh in your mind. Is there anything I should be sure to have at home before I return? Also, did anyone get their first fill anywhere besides with Dr. Ortiz? I'm in St. Louis, MO so the cost to return to Tijuana is pretty high and I'm considering getting my first fill somewhere here.......any thoughts?? Thanks in advance for your help!! Sherri I had my surgery 3 weeks ago in TJ. My mom went with me and was very hesitant about us going there. When I first told her, she said NO you are not getting it done there. We both did our research on Dr. Ortiz, could not find anything bad or negative about him. But we were still not sure what to expect. My mom works for Sacramento County, and I hate to say it but my mom and myself are "Hotel Snobs" After I had the surgery done and the stay at the Lucerna, my mom stated that she would ONLY recommend TJ to get their surgery done. It was very nice. The people at the hotel, and the hospital are very wonderful. Our waiter's remembered are name each day. I had 2 bellhop men that every time they saw me they made sure that I was feeling ok, asked if they could help me with anything? Service like this is very hard to come by. The food at the Lucerna is wonderful. The chicken broth is sooooo good, I only wish I could have found it where I lived like that. There is also a Starbucks a cross the street if you are coffee drinker. Nothing but good things in TJ, you will be well taken care of. I am even taking my daughter back with me on 7/4/08 when I get my first fill, because I had a great experience and she will love the pool at the hotel! Good luck, don't be nervous, and welcome to bandster land! PS - Dr. Ortiz is such a hottie with also a personality! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherriS Posted May 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 WOW, you are all wonderful. Thanks so much for the tips and advice. I don't think I'm nervous about the actual surgery, I feel very confident with Dr. Ortiz. I'm nervous about what to eat and not eat and stuff like that. I keep looking at my paper to make sure I'm doing the right things. Thanks so much for your support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimra Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Well it sounds to me that you are doing everything right. As long as you keep doing what you're doing, you'll do great!!! Keep it up!! And Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkieMommy Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 I'm nervous about what to eat and not eat and stuff like that. I keep looking at my paper to make sure I'm doing the right things. Hey! I just wanted to share that I made a checklist of all the things to do leading up to surgery. It had when to send the deposit by, when to pay the full balance of surgery, what date no more alcohol was allowed, what date to contact rene with travel itinerary, and what date no more aspirin was allowed. That made me feel better to make sure I was doing all the right things. I'm also not having any carbonated beverages and having tons of water to get used to life during post-op. Other people have commented not drinking with meals... but since I'm practically drinking THE meals, that's not one I can really practice right now. Best wishes and welcome! > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 Hello Everyone!I've been thinking about getting the lap band since the end of December. I've done lots of research (heard the good, the bad and the ugly) and have made my appointment. I'm going to Tijuana for my surgery on June 13!!! I'm excited and nervous. Today I started my pre-op diet - Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch, all the green salad with 0 cal dressing and 225 calorie dinner. I'm taking a vitamin daily, the Metamucil at 10 & 3 and the Chromium Piclonate. I'm a smoker so stopping smoking today was the HARDEST. The rest of it don't bother me. My biggest question is what to expect in Tijuana..........first of all, are meals paid for at the hotel? My husband is going with me and asked that question. What food should I take for myself? If anyone recently had their surgery I'd love to hear from you since it would be fresh in your mind. Is there anything I should be sure to have at home before I return? Also, did anyone get their first fill anywhere besides with Dr. Ortiz? I'm in St. Louis, MO so the cost to return to Tijuana is pretty high and I'm considering getting my first fill somewhere here.......any thoughts?? Thanks in advance for your help!! Sherri You are my hero, starting pre-op diet and quiting smoking, holy cow! You must have wicked determination and strength. I have been on pre-op for 4 days, it's going well, some days are tougher than others...down 8 lbs already. But quiting smoking too...oh I would be homicidal without a doubt. I have a husband and two children to consider. My surgeon has asked me to reduce how much I smoke (I only smoke about 10 per day) before surgery, but he knows how difficult the pre-op period can be and did not ask me to quit before my surgery on June 10th (11 days to go). Best of luck! Cathy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccermom Posted May 30, 2008 Report Share Posted May 30, 2008 WOW, you are all wonderful. Thanks so much for the tips and advice. I don't think I'm nervous about the actual surgery, I feel very confident with Dr. Ortiz. I'm nervous about what to eat and not eat and stuff like that. I keep looking at my paper to make sure I'm doing the right things. Thanks so much for your support. I was a bad girl for the pre-op, gained a pound, so I am the last person to comment on pre-op. The nutritionist, Dr. Miranda will see you before the surgery and she will give you a packet that list in detail what you can have and on what days. I still carry that packet in my purse, because I swear I took it out every 5 minutes to look on it. Before the surgery, you will be there with a bunch of other girls 10 being the max, but they will take you back one by one. They go down the line by rooms, and I was 2nd to last. Wasn't nervous a bit, actually slept and watched TV in my hospital bed, while my mom read until the surgery. You will meet all the Dr.'s during this time. Oh, you will love the paper Thong, yes I said paper Thong!! Anyway next thing I knew they took me back for the surgery and then I remember waking up in my room. It seemed like 5 minutes. Everything is going to go so easy and you are going to be so happy being a bandster! Need anything just shoot an email at me. Good luck again! :lb11: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom12 Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 I took bouillon cubes and put bottled water through the coffee machine to make it. It was a real life saver for me because I was pretty tight after surgery and couldn't get much down until I had hot boillion or Hot tea. I forgot the hot tea bags but I would definitely take those as well. They really do help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbi Posted May 31, 2008 Report Share Posted May 31, 2008 My husband enjoyed the restaurant and the food. Everyone is so kind and attentive. The one thing I really liked myself was the chicken broth...but, if you like ice tea they have the best stuff, haven't had any that good ever. Everyone at the clinic is wonderful, they will answer all your question, and you will be treated like a royalty. Welcom to the group and good luck on your new journey!!! > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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