sassyredhd74

I will be at the clinic on Oct. 11th for my second fill. I am very excited to take this next step. I feel very comfortable in saying that getting banded is one of the best things I've ever done. I have had no complications and have been losing weight slowly but steadily. I am ready to pick up the weight loss pace with this next fill.

Momof4, I gained 5 pounds after surgery, but it went away in a couple of days. Your body is swollen and retaining water. Drink lots of water and stay hydrated and those after-surgery pounds will fall away!

I just scheduled my first fill for August 28th. For those of you who are getting the surgery, it was a positive experience. I have not had any complications and I have already recommended Dr. Ortiz to people. You won't regret this decision!

When I went to the OCC for my surgery a few weeks ago I felt totally safe. I just scheduled my first fill for the end of August and I plan to use the OCC shuttle service because it made crossing the border so much easier.

Hello everyone! I am one week post-op and doing really well. I've stuck to the liquid diet and I really haven't felt hungry, which is weird to me. My weight went up five pounds right after surgery and it took about two days to go back down. Since then, I've been losing about a pound a day. Including my pre-op phase, I'm down a total of 15 pounds. The port area is the only thing that's bothered me, but it hasn't been unbearable. I'm still anxious and excited about the journey ahead. I feel really good about my decision.

Hello Everyone! I had my surgery yesterday and I can't say enough good things about OCC and my whole experience. The clinic is amazing and so is the staff. From the moment the OCC driver, Joel, picked us up until he dropped us off, it was a positive experience. The Marriott was comfortable and clean. The OCC staff was so kind and they all have a great sense of humor. My port area is sore. Otherwise, I feel great. I have not felt nauseous at all. I can tell when I need to drink fluids because I start to feel a little weak. If you are considering Lap Band and reading this post, the OCC and Dr. Ortiz is the BEST option. The experience was worth every penny and I look forward to going back for my first fill in six weeks. Thank you OCC!!! Feel free to send me a private message if you have any questions about the OCC experience. Now, let the weight loss begin!

Delestere, I'm sooooo glad you're feeling better. I am sitting in my hotel room at the Marriott in TJ the night before surgery. The hotel is clean and we've received great service. The OCC driver, Joel, was on time to pick us up and he was very friendly and was able to answer a few of my questions. We ate an early dinner in the Marriott restaurant, which was fabulous. There are only 2 or 3 English speaking channels on the TV, so my hubby brought along his computer so we can watch DVDs. I am feeling very calm and confident about my decision. I'm looking forward to tomorrow afternoon when the surgery is all over. Talk to you all when I am banded!

Thank you DrCif! My husband and I are loading the car and heading out the door in moments. I will post as soon as my surgery is over tomorrow.

Sherri, Glad to hear all went well! I'm looking forward to a successful trip since I'm getting banded on Monday.

I just went onto the U.S. Dept. of State website and this is what it says about people getting taken out of hotels: "In recent months, DTOs have used stolen trucks to block major highways and thus prevent the military from responding to criminal activity, most notably in the area around Monterrey. Also in Monterrey, DTOs have kidnapped guests out of reputable hotels in the downtown area, blocking off adjoining streets to prevent law enforcement response. DTOs have also attacked Mexican government facilities such as military barracks and a customs and immigration post." While the article does warn people about traveling to Tijuana, they are most concerned about the areas of Chihuahua, specifically Ciudad Juarez, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Durango and Gomez Palacio, and the area known as “La Laguna” in the state of Coahuila. Here is a link to the complete article: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html Mainly, what I gather from the article is to stay in well-populated areas, to leave jewelry and valuables at home, and to stay alert. My husband and I are leaving for OCC tomorrow, so we plan to stay at the hotel and if we venture out, we plan to stay in well-populated areas. We should all be fine!

Congrats CaliGirl! I'm a Southern California girl, too. Where in So Cal are you? I live in Moreno Valley and work in Riverside. My surgery is just a few days after you. We'll be going through this journey together! I look forward to hearing all about your progress.

I'm with you on the pre-op diet. Luckily, my husband is doing the pre-op diet with me (for the most part) to be supportive. And, my teenager was feeling left out, so she does Lean Cuisine and salad with us for dinner. I fluctuate between 6 and 8 pounds lost. It has to be water weight because I've been very strict. I look forward to reading your journals. I think I'm going to video tape my journey. I want to look back on it and remember the process. Hopefully, a year from now we will all be amazed at our progress.

Delestere, I'm getting banded on July 19th and I'm a teacher, too! I'm hoping to get my routine down before school starts as well. Please post to let us know how you feel after surgery.

Hello everyone! This is my first post. My surgery is scheduled for July 19th. I am planning on starting my pre-op diet tomorrow because I know my body and I don't lose weight quickly. I want to make sure I lose 5% before surgery. I'm not nervous about the surgery itself; I'm more nervous about life after surgery. I know it's going to be a journey and I'm ready for the ride.