Littleroo27

So, um, how did everyone deal with the pre-op liquid diet and the post-op liquid diet in the relm of bodily functions? I have IBS and am a little scared to go back to the relm of intestinal cramps and... other icky things.

What is your BMI, if I may ask? I've heard that people with a lower BMI can have a really hard time with slow results.

Sadly, I'm pre-op. Right now I'm working 2 jobs in order to pay off my credit card before I smack down $10,000 for this thing, lol. I'm looking at probably March 2007 for the surgery, which will be a 27th birthday present to myself.

I'm pre-op, but honestly, I don't think you will have any problems being a veggie and being banded. Being vegetarian is not all about fruits and vegetables. You can eat boca burgers and soy cheese, soy chicken nuggets, etc. I'm very familiar with these as I rarely eat meat and when I do, it's only white meat or shellfish. I have IBS already, so I have the same problems a lot of people with the bypass have - can't eat raw fruits and veggies very well and whole grains cause a lot of pain. That is why I was so excited to find out about the band. A lot of people do have problems with breads and pasta (carbs) post-op. I think because they are "gooey" foods and tend to swell and block the band. So that is something to keep in mind. I think you should still be able to do beans though.

Chew lots of gum, lol. Not so good post-op, but it may help you get there!!!

That's what he said! I'm not sure if I have a website on that one (I might, but I'm at work and can't check), but I did write it down in my notes from the Scripps pre-op meetings, where the surgeons answer questions.

The information came from one of the lap-band surgeons at Scripps Weight Loss Clinic in La Jolla, CA. I would also like to clarify that there are two types of erosions - stomach erosions and band erosions. I was refering to stomach erosions.

Janel, I asked Lori about this because I too didn't want to have to pay $10,000 and then ANOTHER $10,000 if the band had a problem! As I understand it, if the band erodes and you need to have a second surgery, you will pay for only the cost of the surgery, not for the new band. As for slippages, this is getting more rare as time goes by and doctors improve their techniques. It is most likely to occur if you eat too much and put pressure on the band or if you vomit (ie: really bad flu), so they stress taking meds right away if you do get sick. I'm not sure who pays for the surgery if it slips - it might depend on the reason for the slip - Lori will probably provide more info to us on this Also, erosion happens mostly when the band is too tight, which is why a lot of doctor's are doing more fills with lesser amounts so that they don't over-fill the band. OCC does fills under fluroscopy (X-ray), which really helps to reduce or eliminate the risk of overfilling a band. I haven't heard of the procedure you are talking about, so I can't say anything good or bad about it, but the thing I like about the lap-band is that it is adjustable and reversable, if needed. Way less scary to me!

I've had some problems with e-mails, but I'm not sure it was anyone's fault. One got lost in cyberspace, which has been known to happen with my office's server. The other I sent to Lori while she was out of town, but after I re-emailed asking what was up, someone else from the office got in touch with me, so that was okay. Of course, I am still pre-op and have not scheduled a date or put any money down. I have read a lot of e-mails from people who used Dr. Ortiz's cell phone number and had prompt replies, so maybe it's just the paperwork part that they aren't so good at?

As I understand it, the van trip is $130 for the group of you. If you go with several other people, you can split the charge between you. Lori can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is built into the charge for the surgery, but not for the fills. That is why a lot of people choose to just take the local transportation down.

January 8, 2007: A passport will be required for re-entering the United States by air or sea, from the following destinations: Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, in addition to all other foreign destinations that already require a passport. December 31, 2007: The passport requirement will be extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

This is kinda fuzzy, cuz I did it with my camera phone, but I thought some of you who don't have the chance to go down to the office before the operation might appreciate it. This is a pic of the reception area, which shows pretty much what the whole office looks like. It's very pretty and clean with bright lighting (not hospital lighting, but bright), natural stone and lovely decore. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/cof...OrtizOffice.jpg I wish I had gotten the chance to take more pictures, but I really didn't feel right asking to stop and take pics of people's hospital rooms while they were recovering, and there was a surgery going on during my tour, so I didn't get to see the operating room.

Wow, it's kind of funny that you posted. When I went in for my orientation session on Monday he told me about the possibility of a slip and the WOMAN WHO ATE CHICKEN (I see it in all caps!) and her band slipped! You are now like a poster child for sticking with the post-op diet, lol. I'm really glad you are okay though, and thank you for sharing your experience as a warning!

The rates will vary depending on your assets, of course, but for me I ended up deciding to do the low interest credit card thing - just make sure you have a FIXED APR!!! I talked to my bank and several different loan companies, but my visa ended up being the best option with the 7.99% APR. Plus, if you can pay it off in a year, a lot of companies offer 0% interest for the first 12 months on credit cards. try www.chase.com/creditcards. That's where mine is from and I've had really good luck.

You could probably get some betadine and do a test patch on your wrist or something and see if you react. If you do, I bet Dr. Ortiz could find something else to use instead

I don't suppose you'd be willing to make me a little counter thing like yours??? It's SOOOO CUTE and I want to use it on my Live Journal!

Does it get easier? Yes, but it's never easy! Your tummy should stop growling within 4 or 5 days as your stomach shrinks. That won't make the head hunger go away though Sux that you have to make the SO dinner - I find it's easier to try and ignore food entirely, which is hard to do when you're cooking!!!!

Just an FYI, one of the surgeons at Scripps mentioned someone's port having to be redone after a Tye Bo class. Not sure if it was from over-twisting the abdomen or what, but the port is very much tied in with the abdominal area, so be careful!

Also, check in your organic food aisle. There are some FABULOUS cream soups that are also dairy free and low in fat. I like the mushroom one myself. Can't think of the brand, but you'll know it when you see it. Comes in those square cardboard containers instead of cans.

I bought a knifty knitter to keep my hands busy when my evil "feed me" monster came out of the woodwork. It worked for quite a while, but then I got so busy that by the time I get home I'm too tired to knit!!! Of course, I don't seem to be too tired to eat. Must work on that. I've found the 2nd job to be a good combination of aerobic exercise and weight lifting. I spend at least one hour 5 days a week walking the parking lot and pushing rows of carts in. That's really good for sweating, lol. Then, the rest of the shift is spent lifting gallons and 24 packs of water into people's carts, along with dozens of hundreds of grocery bags over the course of the day. I'm so glad my "real" job is a desk job or I'd be dead right now!!!

I posted this in my little blurb about my consult yesterday, but thought it would be worth noting here as well: Round Trip Trolley: $5.00 Taxi to OCC: $5.00 Taxi from OCC: $5.00 Border van (this will vary): $10.00 Total cost of "self transportation": $25.00 Total time to get there: 90 minutes (from 5th and C trolley stop) Total time to get back: 2 to 2.5 hours

This is just a friendly note and can be ignored if you wish, but I wanted to let you in on a little hint when it comes to e-mails, instant messaging and message boards: ALL CAPS IS THE SAME THING AS YELLING! I even find myself reading these messages in a loud voice in my head. So please, for the sake of your reading audience, turn off the Caps Lock button.

No, it's not very far at all, though he did get lost for a bit, I think. The trip back to the border was quicker (about 10 minutes). I think it would be helpful for OCC to provide directions to the clinic in both English and Spanish so that we can provide the Spanish copy to the taxi driver. I gave him the address and the directions in English (with the street names bolded) and eventually we were close enough to the building that I saw that sign (Institute de la Vision) and pointed him over that way. The only part that was really time consuming was getting back home!

Not yet. I'm still thinking it will be March before I have my finances in such a position that I can do it.

I do have another book that is VERY VERY specific (like, it's full of charts listing various foods consided clear liquid, liquid, semi-solid, etc). I haven't looked at it too much since I got what I needed from Dr. Ortiz' book, but it might be very useful for the post-op phase. I will look at it when I get home (assuming I don't pass out right after job #2!) and let you know what it says.