SimpleeRed

Great news for all of us N. California Bandsters. The Novato Fill Center is offering fluoro once a month. You just have to call Fill Centers USA and book for the day when they have access to the fluoroscopy machine. Yeah for us!

I just went down for my third fill. You can get really cheap airfare on both Southwest and Virgin America. You have to book Southwest 7-14 days in advance for a good deal but Virgin America has deals even up until the day before you want to go. Then taking the bus and trolly is really easy and cheaper. Not to mention that I think it actually saves time since I have had to do a lot of waiting around for the OCC to transport me. Let me know if you want to know how to take public transportation.

I have researched and have never been able to find anyone until the fill center opened in Novato. Unfortunately they do not use fluoro. They said that they may offer it in the future but not right now. That was about three weeks ago that they told me that.

jazzy jude, dr acosta is the one who told me to eat before I crossed back over the border. he said that on my 3rd fill there was a chance of being too tight and that i had to test it out.

i have to fly down. but its only a 1.5 hour flight. Its just the idea of having to do all that again. What if I live off of protein drinks for a few weeks?

You are going to be on only clear liquids for at least five days--chicken broth, apple juice, juice popsicles and believe it or not you will probably be full with just that. You won't be having any protein or protein powder. you will start liquid yogurt before you will get to start having protein. If security sees them they will make you throw them away and they are too expensive to risk that. I think you should leave them at home.

For those of you who have had a couple of fills--I just got my 3rd and IT IS TIGHT. I felt fine after Dr. Acosta asked me to go and have lunch before I headed back for San Diego. I ate almost a serving of fish, a few veggies, a few bites of rice and 1/4 of a tortilla. I had no pain or difficulty swallowing. The next morning (yesterday) I had my first slime and PB episode about ten minutes after finishing 1 scrambled egg and 1/4 slice of french toast. Since then I've only been able to eat about 2-3 bites of anything solid and right now I cannot even get down more than 3 bites of cream of wheat with protein powder. I have all kinds of sounds coming out of my throat like a clogged drain. Yesterday, I was barely able to eat 600 calories and that was trying to figure out how I could get more calories into me. Never thought I'd have that problem. What should I do? I'm obviously a bit too tight right now but I am able to swallow liquids so should I just wait and I will probably loosen up in the next couple of weeks. I do not relish the idea of heading back to TJ so soon. I do like the idea of losing a lot of weight quickly as I'm pretty close and I am going to Hawaii in 2.5 weeks. That's another thing I want to be able to at least eat some in Hawaii. Anyone who this has happened to please let me know about your experience and if there was any foods/drinks that you particularly found satisfying at this time I'd like to know about them, too. Thank you for your support.

I actually got a prescription while at the OCC for oral Zofran. It didn't work.

I was banded 9/10 and went to DL 9/19 and 9/20. I rode whatever I wanted (everything) and had a great time. I felt fine. The only problem is making sure you stick to the diet. Have a great time.

Unfortunately, I just had this experience myself. I have been needing a fill but I still had trouble actually vomiting anything up. Now my husband doesn't want me to get a fill because he is so scared that I'm going to "damage myself". Amber it sounds like you are pretty tight and that you did okay. Would you let me know where you are on the loose/tight scale? Thank you for your help.

I have not been able to find any fill doctors nearby. I joined Mexican Bandsters on yahoo as suggested by Lori Becky but I cannot find where they have a database of fill doctors. Can anyone help with how to navigate their site? I have been back to the OCC and this time I have a good fill. I am still able to eat portions about 1/2 what I would have normally eaten, I am not PBing but I am still losing weight at a pretty good rate. I will stay here for now but the more thought I give it and the more I read on this message board about problems people have had with fills, I think I will continue to go to OCC for my aftercare. My only concern is an emergency situation that could arise. I think that for anyone who is considering having this surgery, you really must factor fills into the cost and those fills may have to continue to be in TJ. It definitely increases the cost and frustration when it doesn't work like we hope but we have to protect our investment. Anybody else notice that they like sweets a lot less and veggies a lot more when they have a fill that's working?

oops, sorry for the multiple posts.

I got back from a fill in TJ last week-my first. I have no restriction. Dr. So told me I shouldn't come back for 5 weeks. I am feeling very frustrated. I feel like my husband is looking at me thinking "wow, we sure did waste a lot of money". Besides having no restriction from this fill, my trip to TJ that was supposed to take 1 day took 2. There was an accident on the way to the airport and so everyone was arriving 4-5 hrs late as the freeway was completely shut down in both directions. I had to stay the night in San Diego and then go to Dr. O's the next morning. Then I waited 1 1/2 hrs to be picked up at the airport and going back they took everyone back just before I had my fill and so I had to wait another hour when I was finished when I could have just went with the first bus if they had waited 10 minutes. I don't mean this to be insulting but sometimes there tends to be a different view of time in Mexico so I really cannot blame OCC as I do believe it is cultural. Having to stay an extra day really was inconvenient, not to mention a lot more expensive. That of course was not the OCC's fault, but this whole experience has made me realize that I need to find a place closer to get my fills. While I was at the OCC, I met a woman from the Sac area who said that her sister was getting fills in Sacramento and that I could find the info at FillCenter.com. There's nothing there about a place in Sac. I called them and they said they are hoping to open a center soon. Does anyone know what place she was talking about? Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't mind having to drive but I would rather not have to fly. I live in Napa which is pretty much between Sacramento and SF. I know there are places in SoCal but I might as well go to TJ if I'm going to go down there. Does anyone know if the five weeks thing after your first fill is a hard and fast rule. Thanks for your help.

I got back from a fill in TJ last week-my first. I have no restriction. Dr. So told me I shouldn't come back for 5 weeks. I am feeling very frustrated. I feel like my husband is looking at me thinking "wow, we sure did waste a lot of money". Besides having no restriction from this fill, my trip to TJ that was supposed to take 1 day took 2. There was an accident on the way to the airport and so everyone was arriving 4-5 hrs late as the freeway was completely shut down in both directions. I had to stay the night in San Diego and then go to Dr. O's the next morning. Then I waited 1 1/2 hrs to be picked up at the airport and going back they took everyone back just before I had my fill and so I had to wait another hour when I was finished when I could have just went with the first bus if they had waited 10 minutes. I don't mean this to be insulting but sometimes there tends to be a different view of time in Mexico so I really cannot blame OCC as I do believe it is cultural. Having to stay an extra day really was inconvenient, not to mention a lot more expensive. That of course was not the OCC's fault, but this whole experience has made me realize that I need to find a place closer to get my fills. While I was at the OCC, I met a woman from the Sac area who said that her sister was getting fills in Sacramento and that I could find the info at FillCenter.com. There's nothing there about a place in Sac. I called them and they said they are hoping to open a center soon. Does anyone know what place she was talking about? Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't mind having to drive but I would rather not have to fly. I live in Napa which is pretty much between Sacramento and SF. I know there are places in SoCal but I might as well go to TJ if I'm going to go down there. Does anyone know if the five weeks thing after your first fill is a hard and fast rule. Thanks for your help.

I got back from a fill in TJ last week-my first. I have no restriction. Dr. So told me I shouldn't come back for 5 weeks. I am feeling very frustrated. I feel like my husband is looking at me thinking "wow, we sure did waste a lot of money". Besides having no restriction from this fill, my trip to TJ that was supposed to take 1 day took 2. There was an accident on the way to the airport and so everyone was arriving 4-5 hrs late as the freeway was completely shut down in both directions. I had to stay the night in San Diego and then go to Dr. O's the next morning. Then I waited 1 1/2 hrs to be picked up at the airport and going back they took everyone back just before I had my fill and so I had to wait another hour when I was finished when I could have just went with the first bus if they had waited 10 minutes. I don't mean this to be insulting but sometimes there tends to be a different view of time in Mexico so I really cannot blame OCC as I do believe it is cultural. Having to stay an extra day really was inconvenient, not to mention a lot more expensive. That of course was not the OCC's fault, but this whole experience has made me realize that I need to find a place closer to get my fills. While I was at the OCC, I met a woman from the Sac area who said that her sister was getting fills in Sacramento and that I could find the info at FillCenter.com. There's nothing there about a place in Sac. I called them and they said they are hoping to open a center soon. Does anyone know what place she was talking about? Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't mind having to drive but I would rather not have to fly. I live in Napa which is pretty much between Sacramento and SF. I know there are places in SoCal but I might as well go to TJ if I'm going to go down there. Does anyone know if the five weeks thing after your first fill is a hard and fast rule. Thanks for your help.