LoriBecky

The forum is going to be watched and monitored very closely (as much as we can). Patients come here for support and information, not to be threatened or harrassed. I won't hesitate to ban those that threaten our community or just want to shake things up by flinging insults at others. We need to keep this forum clean, safe and welcoming. I don't mean that posts need to be positive and singing praises... we all struggle and we all have different opnions, but negativity for the sake of negativity or just to "stir things up" isn't welcome here and will be shut down. That's just how it is and if you don't like it... sorry, find somewhere else to sling it. C'mon... let's get back to what this forum was intended for, supporting, encouraging, crying on each others shoulders (ok... computers) and generally helping each other through the ups and downs of life with the band. :cheerleader:

i feel a bump up is in order on this one...

Hi Donna, I'm so sorry you are having problems! I thought I would explain the charges in the event you need a replacement. Since often a band problem manifests itself in the port, we want to make sure that the problem is actually with your port and there is truly a leak. We don't make money from sending you out for an endoscopy. This is done to make sure we know what the problem is. I had my port moved a few months back and I was happy to pay the $250 to make sure I didn't have a problem with my band. Its a good idea to get an endoscopy periodically to check your band. If there truly is a problem with your port that requires a replacement we only charge the cost of the replacement port and the clinic fees, no charge for our physicians. If there is a manufacturer defect with the band, the costs will be reimbursed by the band manufacturer. We have to return the port to them for testing and if they conclude it was a defect, the port replacement fees will be refunded to you. I hope this better explains the fees involved. I know it BITES to have to put our more money for your band, that's why we only charge expenses for this service. If you need more of an explanation then I do suggest you speak with one of our doctors, they can probably explain it much better than I can! I really hope everything goes GREAT and you can get back on your way to success! :cheerleader:

i vote for San Diego (did I already vote? LOL) I'm sure we can get a visit from some of the OCC staff!!!

Ok bandsters I love you guys and love that you bring your heart and soul to the forum but.... this is a place for support and discussion - not childish arguments. Please... bring your opinions but leave the games at home with the kids. Dr. Ortiz does not want this going on at the forum and you will be seeing postings and topics disappear with the wave of my magic band wand if you don't play nicely. Now play nicely and no hitting, hair pulling or throwing of food (or broth if you are still on liquids) hahaha love you guys!

take a look at Dr. O's video!!! Avoiding a band slip by Dr. O

Border Parking

If you haven't already taken a peek - check out the Doctor's Corner area. The doctors at OCC will be answering questions and we are posting video's. Send comments and suggestions to LoriBecky or Dolittle :-h

Dr. Romero is pursuing some other interests... yes, but he is still a member of the OCC crew, he's just taking some time off. We still have 2 great fill doctors! Dr. Acosta and Dr. So... or as we call him, Dr. Marco. He has been a member of the OCC staff for well over a year, he has been our over night doctor and "back-up" fill doctor for quite some time, so most patients are familiar with him and he has been a LapBand doctor for quite awhile now. He has had the same training as Dr. Romero & Dr. Acosta and is now moving up to "prime time" and working during the day. So he isn't new to OCC or to our patients!

Hold the phone! Dr. Romero is on a long over-due vacation. I'm actually not sure for how long, I think he is taking some time to work on some projects of his own. Dr. Ortiz has hired an interim, highly qualified addition to our staff. As always, if you have any doubts about the after care/fill doctor you see, you can always request a peek in from Dr. Martinez.

you may want to contact www.cosmedclinic.com and speak with Dr. Quiroz. Let him know that Lori at OCC referred you and he'll speak with you right away!

Ok... this is a test area. We are still trying to figure out how to best use it Dolittle and I will review questions and submit them to Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez and the answer to chosen questions - the ones of benefit to the most bandsters - will be posted here. Specific questions about a problem you are having with your band or any immediate need question should be called it directly to our office at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 5 for after-care/fill doctors, ext 3 for Dr. Martinez or ext. 4 for Dr. Ortiz. Thank you!

Statements for Success….. Once you get the band your not home free…It’s the home stretch! Same Band, same surgical group and same follow-up…Why do some patients fail while others succeed? During the first two months, before your first fill, the presence of the band just hanging around your stomach will keep you from feeling too hungry. This means you and the band will work as a team. It offers you a chance at eating less and not feeling the extreme hunger you are used to when you were doing this all alone. The band is a tool. First three weeks (liquid phase): It will help you feel less hunger. Do liquids, just liquids…vary them. You don’t need the protein of constant shakes or high calorie liquids. Don’t do just one type of liquid, and please don’t use a blender! Do not use substitute shakes more than once a day during the last week. Liquid phase is three weeks is 21 days Yes you will hear that some patients did less days of liquids and nothing happenned. Well wait until six months have passed and you find yourself struggling with more band adjustments and not feeling the restriction. These patients enlarged their pouch. Once the harm is done it won’t show up imediately, but it will hinder your weightloss and you may never reach your goal. Now I ask you is it really worth it? By the way the only way to correct pouch enlargement is through surgical repair. Solid phase between three weeks and your first fill. Most patients lose weight. Some will challenge the band. Here is the mentality. You decided to have surgery, you will carry a foreign body around your stomach for life, you shelled out some money the least you can do is help this little ring out. How? Once you are on solids challenge the band, not by eating everything in site and then asking I don’t feel restriction, is this normal? Of course it is normal, the band is healing in place totally lose. The real challenge is by testing how small a portion you can eat three times a day without feeling too hungry. Reasons to follow these guidelines. I have studied thousands of patients and found common things to those who succeed and those who fail. Those that follow these statements tend to lose around 30% of their excess weight during the first two months. They also reach their weightloss goal earlier (sometimes less than a year) and with less fills and no complications. If you follow these guidelines, once the 6 to 8 weeks are up, you won’t be wanting a fill because poor weightloss requires it…you will be getting one because this last weight-loss effort and you deserve it! Dr. Ariel Ortiz, MD, FACS Board Certified Mexican medical doctor under license #2526822

Fills…..Facts and Myths A fill is basically the band being adjusted with the injection of saline solution through an injection at the site where your port has been implanted. Fills can be performed earlier than 6 weeks. Fills are performed at 6-8 weeks. Never before. Some bands are purged but this liquid in the band should never cause retriction, it would put undue tention on the band and either cause an early slip or a pouch dilation and render the procedure useless. Once I get the band I will lose weight. Wanting a fill earlier than recomended is usually a bad sign. It happens when patients expect to perform on it’s own. Remember the first two months after your banding is the home stretch, this is when the band permits you to eat less without feeling too hungry. This means you should do your part by keeping the 21 days of liquids, and then solids so it hels in place properly and you lose weight. The larger band requires more fills. Sometimes it does. But it does not depend on the band. When you get a larger band it is because one size does not fit all. It also means that you had a excess amount of fat around your stomach that required a band that would fit. If this happenned to you most probably as you lose weight you will notice your band required additional fills. Why you ask? Well simply because that fat around the stomach is dissappearing and the band loostens. I will request that a samll band be implanted The only way to logically get the smaller standard band is by pre-surgical weightloss. The more you lose the better your chances are. I read on the forum that patients need many fills Well usually you will find that some patients stay on the forums looking for answers they like. Our average number of fills on females is 2-3 and on males is 1-2, in a lifetime. Some folks get 5 but usually something also happened. Patients may have recieved two fills then suddenly they needed a band deflation and then started all over again by the time they reach their adecquate restriction level they are up to five fills. Makes sense? Patients that tend to overrely on the band also get more fills, thinking that restriction will compensate for the inability follow the simple guidelines. Some patients sadly started eating solids before their 21 day liquid phase and have stretched out their pouch permanently. These patients will never reach their weightloss goal unless they get corrective surgery. Fills performed under fluoroscopy are precise. Yes they are for many reasons. Even though we are dealing with something as dynamic as the everchanging human body we can get to an aproximation of your ideal restriction in less fills. This means tht the fill performed will be more or less precise at the date performed. You may lose this restriction as your experiment further weightloss, you learn how to chew, select better foods, eat slower etc. We can also see other changes that will let us know if you band is too tight (surely this will cause a complication in weeks) also if it is too loose and you won’t lose any weight. Sometimes it will tell us if the patient is not being sincere with us. Dr. Ariel Ortiz, MD, FACS Board Certified Mexican medical doctor under license #2526822

The latest word from our Oprah contact is sometime this summer.... more updates to follow

Dr. Ortiz bands professional athletes (including a professional wrestler) I'm sure you are OK, but if you swell around your port area or notice any changes just call our after-care doctors and review your symptoms with them. I'm sure you are OK

Happy Birthday Dave! Thank you so much for all your help on the forum. You ROCK! Hope you have an excellent Birthday! Everybody send wishes to our Dave, our excellent moderator and spaminator supreme!! =D> > :-h

Democracy at work! You voiced your opinions and we listened! We are officially back at the Lucerna for all our patients!! =D> woohoooooooo! Information on Hotel Lucerna or Hotel Lucerna Info (link directly to Lucerna - in spanish)

one of these days we need to have a bandster party where we can all meet and greet and support each other in person! I know one of the patients was talking about doing something in Vegas - that would be AWESOME! I'd be there! Even if we just planned a weekend in Vegas and got together for a meal or a show or something, it would be great! It doesn't have to be anything formal, just a date and time and pick a hotel so we can all stay in the same place. If we planned it in San Diego area we could probably get Dr. O to come. If you guys figure something out let me know, i'd love to meet everybody!!!

awwwww you guys made my day! Call me anytime if I"m on the phone I promise to get back to you as soon as I can Everybody have a GREAT weekend!!! xoxoxxo >

Announcement We are happy to announce to our patients that we have been able to secure an agreement with a newer hotel that is even closer to our clinic, The Camino Real http://www.caminoreal.com/tijuana_i/main.php. The Camino Real also has higher ratings than the Lucerna for customer satisfaction. As you can see, this is an upgrade for our patients comfort and convenience during their stay in Tijuana and we are happy to be able to offer them this option. If you have stayed at the Lucerna in the past and would like to stay there during your next visit to the clinic we still maintain our relationship with them and are happy to make those reservations for you. If you have any questions please call Rene at 1-866-376-7849 ext. 80 for more information.

Ok... i got this recipe from a patient and Dr. Miranda approves. It sounds yummy!! > 8 oz of nonfat milk > 1 scoop 100% whey vanilla protein powder > 1 tsp instant coffee/decaf or a tsp of caffeine okay? > 1 TBS of sugar free French vanilla cappachinno..red box..got at > Walmart a little ice..mix until blended! I let it sit in the fridge > for a bit, because it gets really frothy. > You can also use Nescafe Hazelnut. Good luck!

Just a clarification The poster is not a patient of Dr. O's and Dr. O has never had to open a patient to place the band. Annie, you are welcome to post, find support and share your struggles and your successes here! I'm so sorry that you had these complications!

Ok - i heard Sharon Osbourne on an interview and she didn't say anything about "having" to take the band out - she said she wanted to take it out so she would force herself to deal with her food issues. She was tired of "throwing up" because she was overeating even with the band. I find it interesting that celebrities change their story based on the reaction they get. Let's be honest, if the band had a 5 year life, insurance would be approving it as an alternative more and more. I talk to people that have had their band beyond this 5 year mark, so that doesn't even make sense, besides she got her band in 1999, so she's beyond that 5 years anyway. If I can find her interview i'll post the link found one: Sharon Osbourne Interview excerpt

Hi OCC Family, I've been trying to do some research on Ann Wilson and am getting conflicting reports, whether or not she had her band removed. So I can't confirm that that is the case, but if she did have her band removed, that would for sure explain the weight gain. I, too, was very surprised and heartbroken for her when I saw her last night. As we know, this is a tool, you still have to do the work. It is possible to "eat around the band" by eating high calorie liquid or liquifyable foods, or making unhealthy food choices. I have been on a plateau for months now and started analyzing WHAT I'm eating, because I have plenty of restriction. I realized that since Christmas I had fallen back into my bad food choices (high carb NO nutrition "food") Thankfully the band kept me from gaining weight, but since I wasn't feeding my body what it needs (protein!) i had stayed the same (thank GOD!) I know without my band I'd have headed back up the scale! I'm back with my post-op diet guidelines (plenty of protein!!!) and my weight is coming off again... I WILL GET THIS LAST 10 POUNDS OFF!!!! So... remember the band is a tool that really does help but you have to take care of yourself and take care of your band by following the post op diet recommendations. This isn't just about losing weight, but getting healthy! By the way, I heard Sharon Osbourne was going to get her band removed so she could work out her issues, OK just my humble opinion.. but is she NUTS?!?!! hahahhaa - I say work on that, of course, but keep your band! She looks fabulous, hasn't reported problems with her band, she just didn't like the restriction. I dunno, I LOVE that the band controls my portions, because obviously, I was unable to do that on my own. And I'm guessing that if I had the band removed, I'd start struggling with those issues as well. If you are looking for a temporary fix, why not do something besides surgery! I love my band... i'm keeping it