calicat

Took me several tries - but I finally got it!

Thanks!!

Keep trying - I tried several times in one day. And it's patients like me that were taking up all their time - I had 21 questions my first phone call!!!

Both coordinators are helpful and great. Lori was mine, and I could NOT have done it without her. She calmed my fears and answered every single question I had.

I'd like to meet you someday Lori!!!!

Thanks for all you do >

It's not uncommon for fill doctors in US to NOT use fluoro for their fills. And even then, when they do, the do it for the sole reason to find a buried port - they don't do it to measure the fill - most do not have license or whatever is needed to offer the barium while getting the fill. So yes, they charge more, and do not do what OCC does - which is actually meausure how fast our liquid is going thru.

Dr. Ortiz hopes to get us thru to our goal with only 2-3 fills in our lifetime. I know people who have had more fills at OCC, but if that's his goal - count me in!!!

You have pain when you're not at a meal, or only while eating?

I don't have my first fill yet, but I get solids stuck at least once a day, usually more. It's very PAINFUL. Last's up to 15 mins or so.

Are you PBing as well?

Yes!!! No more than 15lbs for 3 weeks. Trust me, you'll feel it if you don't adhere to that rule.

My suitcase was fine at 18lbs, but I lifted something out of the backseat of my car when I got home (just out of habit) and I felt a pinch pain. Told hubby, he'd had to lift it instead

I see you're spending more time there - why don' t you pack two lightweight travel bags (on wheels!) - and try to keep them both at 15lbs.

Good luck >

So glad you posted! Welcome to the club!! Know that we're always here for you - every step of the way =D>

I can't wait for your surgery date either >

Wow!! I told everyone I knew except for my son's piano teacher, and his baseball team!!

I was really happy and proud to tell everyone - no one, not one person questioned the expense. They all feel it was worth it. The only thing they questioned was why TJ. And when I told them I would fly anywhere in the world to have Dr. Ortiz perform my surgery - they got it.

I appreciated the support I received, as well as, the accomodations at home and work during the recovery. They all helped me bounce back =D>

Good job to all!!!

And yes, we all just can't say enough about how GREAT OCC is and Lucerna!!!

Have a safe trip home - and good luck with post-op...be patient =D>

Good job and thanks for sharing!! Welcome to the club!!

If he's afraid of dentists - I wouldn't surprise him with that gift. Tell him that's what you want to do for him, and see if he accepts. If he doesn't, you can spend the money on something else and have a happier man because of it!

I'm doing just what Dr. Saul, and Claudia have told me - several times....fasting for 2 hours, that's it.

I've heard other patients tell me 6, I've seen a post here from another doctor that said 6...but I've trusted Dr. Ortiz this far - he's the proctor for the band, so I'm confident he knows what the right precautions are for the fill. I'll do what his office directs me to do.

I'm having a nice breakfast at Lucerna at 8am, then going to get my first fill at 10am. Wish me luck!

Do you guys choose to do this powder instead of protein shakes? I noticed it's about 100 more calories to do the shake, but the milk would add calories too. Just wondering? I'm not getting enough protein, about 20 grams short and was wondering myself what to do.

Congratulations - scheduling the appointment is the first step...next...the Pre-op diet.

Good luck - and post here often if you need help - there are many of us who have gone thru it, or are going thru it now with you!!!

Thanks for sharing your story. Everyone's experience is different.

As for the pain - I'm sorry you had that, I didn't, so I cannot relate. I had and still have the terrible shoulder/gas pains. They suck!

For the hunger - I too was in your boat. I mistook my gas pain for hunger pains, because after I tried half of a chocolate milkshake - I was pain-free for 4-5 hours. It was blissful!! That's how I became the Cheetios Puffs sucker!!! They dissolve to nothing, and I only needed a couple to make the hunger twinges go away. I wasn't a soup person, so I sucked on many popsicles!!

Your recovery WILL get better. The worst is now - when your mental hunger affects you! You'll get thru it and you'll be ready to try solids, and not look back.

Good luck - hang in there!

Thank goodness I'm not the only one.

Guess we'll know when our cycle is coming from now on - like a warning bell...LOL!

That happened this week to me too!! I'm going to have to go bra shopping and get resized soon if this keeps up!!! Now if my underwear would just get bigger - that would mean less butt - and I'd be thrilled!!

Good job - keep it up >

I had gas pains from Day 5 thru Day 12 I think. I was banded in April 08. The gas pains were terrible - very painful because they were stuck and never came out. I spent a couple sleepless nights, or nights on the couch in an upward position.

Walking was supposed to help - but again, while the gas is "stuck", I found it hard to breathe, and my shoulders really hurt.

Best advice I can give you is Gas-X strips. Take them after every time you take something - drinking water, a popsicle, anything. That did help me alot. I waited until the pain was bad - taking before it became painful did work - I just found out several days too late!

Be careful on what you drink or how you drink your liquids. Try to take in the least amount of air as possbile.

People warned me about having gas - and I thought they meant I would burp and fart alot - no biggie. I actually had trapped gas, which causes great pains.

I feel for you. It seems like the opposite, but don't be afraid to lay down if you're uncomfortable. My body finally adjusted and I would just do a lot of burping in the morning. And don't be afraid of bloating - that comes with the territory. That should all go away for you by the end of the 2nd week pre-op I hope. At least it did for me.

And I also mistook my gas pains for hunger pains. I had half a milkshake one day and my "pains" went away for 4-5 blissful hours!!

Good luck - I feel for ya >

So I don't even have my first fill yet (next week), but already, I've started PB'ing. Only thing to change in last four weeks since my surgery is...my monthly visitor.

I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this during their cycle.

Your question isn't silly at all - it's quite valid!!

I personally was quite uncomfortable on the flight home - and it was a non-stop 2 hour flight! Standing up or laying down horizontally felt better for me than sitting up.

I had my surgery on a Friday and flew home Sunday. I intended to work full days M-F, but on Monday, I only lasted about 2.5 hours. I progressively was able to lengthen my time by 30 mins each day. My back hurt, my stomach hurt. I got gas pains - which showed up in my shoulder.

I'm sorry, but if you're asking for opinions, I have to be honest and say no. Unless you stop every 2 hours to walk around, and recline in your seat to lay down - that would be the only way. You're not going to want to sit up in the upright position for very long. And even then, I'm not sure how comfortable you're going to be feeling. I didn't have any pain after my surgery, so pain wasn't the issue. It's your muscles, and how your body is overcompenating for the surgery. Dr. Martinez helped me thru it so I could work longer hours at my desk job.

Up to you though - good luck

Call Dr. Ortiz - let them make that decision for you before you get there.

It's 4-6 weeks post-op for first fill - but Dr. Ortiz waits the 6.

It's a good thing - I wouldn't have been ready at 4 weeks.

I'm 5 weeks today and just now able to eat solids comfortably.

I slept on my right side nestled against a pillow every night for about the first two weeks. Then in the middle of the night, I've woken up to switch to the left side. It's an effort - and not like it has been. I used to sleep on my stomach all the time, but haven't had the desire to since the surgery.

I took a draw off the line of credit on my house. That way I can pay what I want, when I want. I used Paypal and paid it to OCC in one lump sum to save the $300 paypal fee later.

Hope that helps!

I took my Verizon cell phone fully charged hoping to run up my free nights/weekend plan. It didn't work. I kept getting a lady speaking spanish to me. I called Verizon when I got back in the states and they told me all I had to do was dial 01, or 10, can't remember which...and then the number. It's 99 cents/minute though. My husband did call me one night though. My phone rang, I picked it up, we chatted. That was in the back hotel rooms. When I stayed in the tower, it never rang, and beeped I had a voicemail, but of course couldnt' dial out to retrieve it.

It was like $1.50/minute from Lucerna to dial out - and another connection fee on top of that. Just not worth it for me.

Email in the lobby on the computers is free at Lucerna. That was helpful. And phones at the clinic in your room are free - you can call anywhere! I had a couple hours before my surgery and had time to call every person I wanted to before the surgery. There are computers for you to use at the nurses station at the clinic too after your surgery.

Hope this helps!

I called Rene - he said they were having issues. However, for my first fill, we all decided to stay at Lucerna in two weeks. We like the hotel, the service was good, restaurants were good, etc. Trip Advisor.com ranked Lucerna #1 and Camino either #4 or #5.