calicat

I was a chew and spit outter. I was also the cheetios puffs sucker - they dissolved in my mouth! Tasting was good - but tricky. You really have to pay attention, and not be distracted. It's instinct to swallow - so when my hubby asked me a question, or my son needed something - I found myself unable to concentrate on both at once. Find a "quiet" time so you don't swallow

Okay - so I will admit, I did start eating a couple days early - but waited longer than some of my OTHER bandsters!! But let's not go there. I haven't had any problems like PBing, etc. yet. However, I do get a big lump in my throat along with some tightness pain, and I'm wondering if others have that too. I have the 10 band, not the VG one - I haven't heard of any restriction issues with that one. Anyways, someone on here mentioned it was my band itself, with no saline, causing restriction. Does anyone else have this? I find if it take too big of bite, or don't chew enough, I get this sensation. If I take small bites and chew like crazy - I'm fine, with no matter what food group I try to eat. Anyone else have this happen to them???

Yes - I'm flying out Alaska at 7am on 5/16, staying the night at Lucerna and leaving 5/17 at 6:30pm. There are 4 of us coming in that day and all getting banded on Saturday. There are two coming in around 11am to get banded on 5/16 from this forum. Our foursome probably won't see you at the clinic since you may be released on 5/16 - but we'll see you around the hotel for sure. You can't miss us - or hear us - we're a little loud!! The hotel has computers in the lobby - I'll be there a couple times a day for sure!!! Are you going solo? Do you want us to look you up at the hotel - see if you need anything, or have questions? You'll have 4-6 "experts" at your beckon call - just let me know

I'm 19 days post-op and I still get the shoulder pain. It's after I've been sitting for a while, like in the late afternoon. If I get it on the weekend, I go take a quick walk, and then lay down. It usually goes away and sorts itself out. It's not in your head!!

So I was newly banded on 4/4/08. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and feel great!! The glue has come off my incisions, there is zero bruising and like my son says - it just looks like I got scratched on my belly while picking blackberries!! So I went down by myself. I was a self-pay patient - in otherwords, my insurance company can't find enough wrong with me to pay for the surgery. My husband and I chose to take money off our line of credit from our house. I told hiim if we can do it buy our recent car - we can do it for my surgery! I fly by myself, and stayed by myself the first night. But when I went to the lobby at 7:30a.m. to meet Mrs. Ortiz - I was greeted by several other bandsters, and one lady who was leaving after being banded the day before. She looked great, happy, and had been shopping all day just the afternoon before. Wow! I wasn't scared or nervous one bit. I felt safe in the company of my new friends. We were all about ready to share this experience together. I didn't have time to be nervous. By the time Mrs. Ortiz dropped us off at the clinic, Claudia was calling our names into the different appointments for surgery pre-op. We had one bandster with us who literally kept me laughing almost the entire morning - if it wasn't for him, I would have been a nervous wreck. I'm a worry wart at heart - what can I say! Getting the surgery was easy - truly. There was nothing I "had" to do but just lay there and smile. Honestly, I never doubted my decision to do this, or to go by myself. I felt warm fuzzies from my other bandsters and the nurses and doctors. I couldn't stop smiling around Dr. Ortiz - he just has that charm about him. And Dr. Martinez - well, what can I say - he could make a girl's heart stop! After it was all over, the nurses made sure we were all up and walking. What they didn't anticipate us to do it all night! It was like a sleepover - a couple of us were walking and talking for HOURS! The nurses were waiting for us to tucker out. The worst part of my experience was 5 days post-op. I had gas pains so painful I honestly didn't know what to do. I called Dr. Martinez at 9:45pm - he answered, calmed me down, and told me what to do. I am looking forward to Day 21 post-op when we can officially eat, and 5/17 - when I get my first fill. This band has and will change me forever. Never again will I eat 6 pieces of pizza like it was nothing - or go to a restaurant and have what everyone else is having - bread, salad, steak, potatoes, dessert, and drinks!!! That's enough calories to last me a week!!! But I ate like that often - it's not wonder I gained so much weight. I love food - and for me, giving it up wasn't an option. Limiting it is though - and that's what my new friend (Mr. Band) will do for me. I'm certain of it. So for anyone who has doubts or fears - put them aside. I asked my husband and son to stay home, and I went on this adventure to TJ, to the OCC, by myself. I wouldn't trade my experience for anything - and am thankful for the friends I met along the way!

Thanks everyone! I am learning that EACH of us are different - and can handle different foods, etc. I guess I'm just going to try everything I want until I see what does or does not work. Thanks again!

Hi Hanna! As we're both from the same state - I can relate to the costs associated with going back to OCC for our first fill. Can you be more specific on what you did? I'm flying down 5/16 and getting filled 5/17, and flying home that evening. We were going to have dinner out 5/16 and a healthy breakfast 5/17 before getting my fill at 10am. Claudia said I only needed 2 hours fasting. I was going to ask to eat something - Claudia said they can order out so I can "test" my fill. After your experience, would you recommend I do something different? I too am looking at costs and not wanting to drive to Arlington to spend more! I don't mind driving to Arlington in a couple months for a second fill, but not just after I spent alot of money to get a fill at OCC - know what I mean!!! I appreciate whatever advice you may have And thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences - I KNOW we are all learning from them!!!

Ijust replied to your other post in the forum - check out patient testimonials - bandgroupie wrote a post about "small problem on 4/4 - i regret nothing". we were banded on friday and while shopping on saturday, she got a lump under her shirt around her port. it felt like i was gripping a baseball. we went back to the hotel. dr. martinez came to see her, and wrapped her in a compression type bandage wrap. she still has a bruised belly - but it's better than it was. she said her whole belly was black and blue. she had a hematoma. have your friend call dr. martinez - or if she's still there, call him now so she can be seen. bandgroupie is 2 weeks post op and it's still swollen and bruised - so it's not going to go away over night - but it will get better day by day.

it's under patient testimonials - 4/4 banding - i regret nothing by bandgroupie - check it out.

a Fellow banster (bandgroupie) had this happen to her. we were just banded on 4/4. she still has a bruised looking belly and we're at just over 2 weeks post-op. she hasn't had any other complications with it other than the appearance of bruising, and the swollen baseball hematoma. I think, if i'm not mistaken, she even swelled more past the baseball size i mentioned which happened on day 2 post-op. dr. martinez came to lucerna to visit her, spent an hour and half with her, and had her go back in to have her belly wrapped in a compression bandage. she wrote about it on here somewhere - check under post op or patient testimonials. or email her - she'd be happy to tell you what happened to her. her article said something about no regrets - it's not under general, but one of the other two categories. sorry - i wish I could be more specific. the swelling started with a baseball size protusion from her belly - we could see it under her shirt. did you call dr. ortiz or dr. martinez? are you still there - if so, please call them. they will help you. hope this helps!

I went thru the same thing! I thought I was having gas pains - but once I ate something with some substance, my pains went away. Here's what I did - does not mean it's right, or you should copy it - but it did take my pains away - which were hunger pains!!! On day 8, I went and got a chocolate shake. Took small swallows and only finished about half. It's all I needed - for 4 hours after that my belly was quiet, I had no cramping - and it felt blissful. Here was my other secret another bandster told me. On day 10 post-op - I tried Cheetios puffs. I took a half bite and let it dissolve in my mouth. It was next to nothing to swallow. Again - every person's body recovers different. I by no means and telling you to do what I did - I'm just saying what worked for me! Be careful though - you're still only 4 or 5 days post-op - way too early to try these tricks I think. I do know another recent bandster who upgraded early to the creamy soups. I tried it and I was bloated, had gas and was in pain for hours!!! It will go away if you can tough it out - I promise. My pains went away around Day 12. Hang in there - it gets better! >

So I'm hearing everything from fasting 6 hours instead of 2, eating light dinner the night before - no mention of breakfast - AHHHH - I'm confused. Has anyone needed an UNFILL from OCC on their first fill?? I would feel alot better if I knew it was fairly uncommon. Thanks!!! >

It sounds like you got your surgery in the US? I've read the post op guidelines online and it sounds very similiar. Dr. Ortiz recommends we stay on clear liquids for 1 week, then 2 weeks of creamy liquids - anything that can be sipped thru a straw. He wants us to eat 3 small meals per day, every day until week 6, when we can go in our first fill.

Wow - never thought of Peanut Butter. Creamy kind I assume...right?

A few of us 4/4 bandsters are headed back to TJ to get banded for our first fill. One of our buddies needs a travel buddy. She wants to get her fill on Friday, 5/16. The rest of us are doing it on Saturday, 5/17. Is anyone taking the trolley or getting a ride across that morning? We'll be landing in SD just before 10am. Thanks!!!

This is interesting. I told everyone and never thought was that I was embarrassed by it, or ashamed of it. It was the indirect reactions I've heard since - that have basically been asked to my husband - not me! Anyways, I agree with Dawn - it's no secret I'm overweight. And I'm proud of my decision - I have no problem telling people what I did or why I did it. What's interesting is - I joined WW last year, and had been to about 4 meetings at different times on different days trying to find a group I felt comfortable with. At one of my meetings, was a girl I play Bunko with. We're not BFF, but we said hello and I was hoping to sit by her. Well, she didn't stay. She pays her money each week to go to the meeting, and instead of staying, she weighed in at the start, and left with a buddy to go to the casino to have drinks that night. And the weird thing is - she hasn't lost any weight in a very long time - and I know the reason why!!! She was distant at the next Bunko night too - almost like she was embarassed I knew about her secret. She whines to everyone all the time about the struggle to lose weight, but then doesn't take advantage of the opportunity she gave herself to actually do it. I would be more ashamed to pay WW weekly and never lose a pound, then to pay $8k and finally get the results I'm looking for. I'm proud of my decision - I think it shows great strength and commitment to say - I'm worth it!!!

Thanks - I will have to keep track of that. I don't think I'll be blessed and not have saggy skin after this weight loss. I have been overweight for so long, it's just not going back - I can already tell after 25 pounds of weight loss!! So thanks for the info - I'll have to keep that in mind. How long was your recovery from surgery? I know it was 10 years ago, but just a guesstimate. I'm assuming it's much longer than our lapband recovery - which to me was quick and painless!

So I was banded on 4/4 - yeah!! I lost 10 pounds the first week - yeah!!! I lost 0 the second week....hmmm. I read alot of your posts about making sure to get enough calories, etc. So I'm trying that - but I questionning it too because I'm not hungry. Honestly. I don't have any stomach rumbles, cramps, or pains like I got in the first week after pre-op. I'm just wondering - are you eating when you're not hungry too...just to get in the right amount of calories?????

Thanks for posting this. I too have felt a little overwhelmed and even discouraged at everyone's amazing weight losses. I keep thinking...when's my going to start. I know I'm in the 3 week healing period, but so was everyone else while they were losing too! I lost 10 pounds the first week, then its stalled. I've read the posts that say to eat more, but I'm not hungry - so I feel like I'm force feeding myself. I miss eating. Not to comfort me, but the art of eating. Sitting down at the table with a plate and fork, and even a knife! I'm just past 2 weeks out pre-op and I'm tired of drinking or using a spoon for my calories. I was going to try some scrambled eggs this morning. I had a few bites of egg salad last night - yummo! And I needed a fork....LOL!!! Hang in there. Maybe we're just delayed weight loss losers - our time will come - I'm convinced of that >

So I'm a little confused. At week 3 - Dr. Miranda has us eating solids....right? But I'm reading a few posts here and there that refer to "sticking", or "getting stuck", or breads not being good, etc. So if our band is not restricted yet, and our swelling is theoretically gone, what's to stop us from being able to eat steak and pizza and....?? Can someone please explain it for me?? I do understand how the restriction works, and how that will affect the foods we choose to eat, as well as, the amount we eat. I'm just confused about the non-restricted phase between week 3 and our first fill?? Thanks bandsters!!!

I had the same reaction from my husband! However, after about 4-5 days, and asking me different questions about it every day, he realized - I have done the diet and exercise things. He's been with me for 6 years and seen me get up at 5:30pm to go to the gym, train for two Danskin triathalons only to gain 2 pounds, etc. So, he realized that the lap band is an extreme measure, but a successful one. I, and a couple other girls on here, have PCOS. This makes it extremely difficult to lose even a pound. So once he accepted the lapband surgery, then we argued about where to go. It was a short arguement - I don't have enough "wrong" with me in the US to have my insurance pay for it. So I was going to take out money off our line of credit on our house. We did it to buy a new car - I thought I was worth more than a car! So like I said our arguement was short - I could have it done here in town locally for $17k - and that wasn't all the fees. The surgeon has done about 500 surgeries. Or I could fly to Dr. Ortiz who's done 5000 surgeries for $8k. Dr. Ortiz is the proctor for the company - he's probably trained the majority of the US surgeons I was considering going to. There is a bit of a stigma TJ has, and I can see why. But you're not going to TJ to visit TJ...you're going to have one of the best lapband surgeries, give you the gift of life. That's how I looked at it. Once I was confident in my decision, my husband joined my side and was happy I was doing it. He had the stigma to overcome as well when he began to tell his friends what I was doing. TJ is kind of the big shocker. In fact, I begged them to let me have the surgery in Cancun - even though it cost more, just to avoid future conversations I felt I would have to defend my decision on. But once Francisco dropped me off at the Lucerna hotel, and then the clinic the next day - I had no reservations, no fears, and was sooooo GLAD I made this decision. You'll see once you go thru your experience. It's okay for your friend to have doubts - she probably cares for you and is worried about you. But encourage her to do the research you have to ease HER fears, because they are her fears. You're making the right decision to go with Dr. Ortiz - he and his staff are well trained, wonderful, and the facilities are great. Good luck with you decision. >

So I'm a little confused. At week 3 - Dr. Miranda has us eating solids....right? But I'm reading a few posts here and there that refer to "sticking", or "getting stuck", or breads not being good, etc. So if our band is not restricted yet, and our swelling is theoretically gone, what's to stop us from being able to eat steak and pizza and....?? Can someone please explain it for me?? I do understand how the restriction works, and how that will affect the foods we choose to eat, as well as, the amount we eat. I'm just confused about the non-restricted phase between week 3 and our first fill?? Thanks bandsters!!! >

So me and a couple other bandsters are going back to Dr. Ortiz's clinic to get our fills. Love it there! But what can we expect? Does it take long? Can you feel the restriction? Any hints would be much appreciated

Funny Dawn - yes - I was asking everyone for the truth. I too was a self-pay - apparently not "enough" wrong with me to warrant insurance to pay for the surgery. So I don't want to risk anything either! However, I was asking the question because I looked up lap band post op diets here in the U.S. (UCSD in particular). They specifically state to start mushy and soft foods at week 2. I'm at week 2 and although I feel good - I just don't know that I'm ready. Maybe it's mental, maybe it's that little choke feeling I get sometimes when I suck on my dissolved Cheetios puffs (does that count as food?). I'm waiting too - what's another 6 days when I've gone this long!! Thanks for the heads up about the steak too - I can't WAIT to have steak!!!!

I too was told gum was okay - and it actually helped settle my tummy. Whatever you do - pack lightly. Carry little jewelry and bring your phone numbers and emails. Phones at the clinic are free to use. Computers for emails are free at the hotel. Good luck - and enjoy!! I loved the new comfy comforters!!! I slept like a baby at the clinic Be ready for how cute the surgeons are too!!!