Grace

Hi all, Recently moved to Red Buff and I'm looking for a fill center or doc. I thought I saw a center advertised in Sacremento and now I can't seem to find it. Anyone know? Grace

Don't know what part of Oregon your in, but I just checked with the Bariatric doctors in Coos Bay and they said yes they would do fills for other patients. I didn't however ask the price. m

Asking her to be fair and liston to all of our good experiences. And as others have said, Oprah herself has had this struggle.. I don't think anyone who meets Dr. Ortiz and all his wonderful staff could not help but find them, well wonderful. I keep wanting to take them homemade cookies are something...silly uh? Then I thought hand cream....or lotion. I remind myself there are cultural differences in what I would like as a lotion and in what would appeal to them. I think we all have such a high regard and love for Oprah and everything she is about, that it would disapoint all of us if her "take" on lap bands was negitive. marcy

I'm trying to scare anyone, just want to remind people to be careful traveling in TJ and the rest of Baja as well. There is some bad gang activity going on. I believe we are all safe if we take a taxi from the border to the clinic and back again. I personally would not go shopping by myself or even with my husband. We are old... I also don't ware my rings, diamonds in my ears, or what might be considered expensive cloths... Truth is I think all border towns between the US and Mexico tend to not be as safe as other cities in Mexico. Don't get wrong I love Mexico, headed for a small town on the coast called Bucerious for a ten day vaction in 2 weeks. Oh to be warm again! I'm very happy with my 50 pound weight loss, but my gosh I am so cold!!!!!!!!!! I've traveled the world (military brat) and I think almost all of the US citizens could be a heck of a lot more polite and aware of what other countries traditions and "way of life" of others. With that said I head out at 6am on the milk run down the coast for my second fill on Tuesday. Get my fill then turn around and fly back arriving home at 10pm. Makes for a long day but it saves me the money for a hotel. As well as time away from work. So in conclusion PAY ATTENTION AND BE SAFE!!!!! marcy

I sooooo agree FurEllie!!!!!! I have two good friends who are doctors and I have had this very same conversation with them. The bad care in the hospital part. They wouldn't dare challenge me on why I would go to Mexico, in part because they see how bad the health system is in the states. I actually suggested to one of them that they go into the biz. He is as personable as Dr. Ortiz (and as cute). I watch him run ragged from too many patients a day, too many stupid stupid er calls (example, a women who get not get her tampax out) Being a doctor is not what it used to be. Thanks for posting about your experience. I still can't figure out the folding over part..... and I'm not real sure I am interested in a visual. Yes, I am a wimp... I am trying to make sure I have all my ducks in a row, meaning my primary is getting educated (hm, he never said why mexico) I travel on business and I have found the right docs where I travel. I may not be super prepared in all parts of my life, this one I'm a bit obsesive. Your experience and posts have helped alot. Take care! m He pointed out he wasn't a surgon... oh well....

Good luck Donna! As far as shopping goes south of the border, I suggest having the clinic get you a taxi and taxi man who will stay with you while you shop. TJ is a border town and I think it is important to be careful and safe. I have seen posts that say they have walked from the clinic to the border and other people saying they go shopping, I wouldn't do it alone. NOT trying to scare you, do want you to be safe. That said, I also will add my husband and I are headed wayyyyyy south of the border to a wonderful town Bucerious which is on the coast near PV. I love mexico, I love the people, actually trying to get my husband to consider retirement down south. TJ is a border town and extra care needs to be taken. Military brat here, paid attention to what my dad said about being in other countries. marcy

I'm certainly glad your ok, what I would like to figure out and hopefully we can get some input from other banders... when does one decide to head for the hospital and find a doctor who will do a unfill? To add a bit to my experience, I dry heaved about 5 hours before I called the clinic. Their attitude was, yes you can have the flu with the lapband and be ok. I was so relieved I decided I would try another form of anti-nausa cure durring the time my husband was driving to the store for the pills. It involved a very small pipe..... that immediatly stopped all feelings of nausa. Soooo should we all find a doctor after a certain length of time? Or should it be based on horrible feelings of pain which would be different then flu symtoms? I am new in the area I live in and have a primary doctor (he looks like he is 16) who knows I have a band. I sent him Dr. Ortiz's book and told him I would be counting on him to connect me with a surguon here if a unfill was neccessary. The closest Barriatric surgoun is a 6 hour drive away near Sacremento who I think will do fills, unfills for us who are Dr. Ortiz's patients, the clinic is a 6 hour flight due to flight connections. Ok people! Let's here some more experiences and solutions! marcy

I'm headed back to TJ at the end of the month for my second fill. I'm using air miles so my only cost is the $100 to the clinic. Eventually I would like to find a doc closer, mainly if I get over filled, or some other problem. Any suggestions? m

Looking for a buddy, or two... marcy

It is very easy and I enjoyed the experience. The last time I was on a bus was in Disney World. Anyway, what I wanted to share is at the border you don't just walk threw a gate as I remember from 30 years ago... you have to walk on a .... trying to figure out how to discribe it. It's like a parking garage drive threw. Meaning it tilts up and you walk maybe 300 yards, then it turns, then you walk down a corrador (sorry guys dyslexic here) then down and then a good distance to the taxis. ok, reason I'm telling you all? Ware walking shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ware Dansko's cause I'm unable to ware shoes with backs. I've worn them for years and find them very comfortable, but that was a challenge. My appointment was in 10 minutes and I was moving! I can only imagine what the taxi drivers thought of the crazy old fat lady running towards them (clomp clomp clomp) waving money and shouting Andalay andaly!!! Ok, second part, on the way back I'm standing in line to cross over wondering about where to buy my ticket. Turned around smiled at the young women behind me and "do you speak english?" Answer was yes. She took me to the machine and actally bought my ticket for me explaining that it took her about 20 minutes the first time she used it. Chances are good I will do the same thing again and I will also be waring my Tevas! (very good walking sandles) I was banded October 8th, 9th?, no 8th. My beginning weight was 226. I now weigh 186. And I feel skinny, how weird is that? Most of my weight loss has been more from sheer determination and calorie counting then restriction. I also took maybe 4 diet pills 3 days apart to get me off of sugar. Who needs herion when there is sugar around.... sorry hope I have not offended anyone. My goal weight is 150. I was 140 or less my intire life until the onset of menapause at 45, which smacked me up side the head and I went to 240. And to end on a light note, have you all noticed that someone lowered the toilet seat!!!!!????? ok, I'll stop. m

And to be frank it scared the s___ out of me. Of course it didn't help that it was the day after thanksgiving and we were in the middle of no where on top of a mountain with family. Oh yeah, our truck had a flat tire too. My poor husband was almost in tears he was so scared. He has a lively imagination... After the little bit of food I had eaten for breakfast came up I think I dry heaved for a good 5 hours before I got scared enough to want to call down to the clinic and talk to the doctor. So I pulled out my card saying that I had a lap band, making the assumtion the phone number would be on it. Not! Lucky for me, I had my lap top and I was able to acess my email to get the number. Lesson one, put the obesity center phone number in cell phone as well as Dr. Ortez's phone number. I'm not sure which of the sweet docs I spoke with (sorry I'm old) but he quickly reasured me and said "It's ok, you will be fine and this does not mean your band has slipped and you will live." He told me to go get some motion sickness pills for the nausa. lesson number two- always carrie those pills. hmmmm I need to go buy some more, cause I can't think of where they are! I went for my first fill about a week after that and everything was fine. Except for the fact that the doc said" hmm been eating and drinking at the same time haven't you?" That has been a real hard lesson for me. I have fixed that by moving any fluid off the table I'm at. So in conclusion everyone, I suggest putting those phone numbers in your cell phones (or phone books) and making sure you always have some nausa pills. Happy New Life everyone! marcy

Hi Chris, I think we maybe passing in the.... halls. I fly back out Thursday. I would like to keep in touch as we will be banded almost at the same time. I will figure out how to leave a business card at the clinic for you with all my info. Chris from Washinton and Arizona, right? Also, names Marcy, Grace is what I'm working on. I have been doing pretty good on the liquid diet, (I think) mind over matter? This too shall pass? Nothing tastes as good as being thin? ok... I'll stop. After all it's only been 3 days. Lookin for Grace...

New here, been thinking about this for a long time, made the call, ready to go. I'm coming from northern california, translation, small stupid planes all the way down....I will be taking lots of books and my knitting. I have a couple questions for you all, not to rain on anyone's parade or anything, but what is all this talk about a "last dinner" Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of this stupid liquid diet I have been on for 3 days and counting.... Is frozen yogurt ok? Do cell phones work across the border cause it is so close to the border? I apprieciate all of your posts on this site, helped me make my desision... (sh...., yet another board without spell check) Grace (because for the past 10 years I have prayed and prayed for it. Plus we all could use some grace)