Paula Bee

Thank you!

Sunday update: Started yogurt drinks today.. yay! I have felt great, except my dang body is still on pacific time instead of Eastern.. lol I even went with my hubby to walk the dogs tonight. woot Paula

Best wishes to you.. I will be rooting for you! Paula

Honestly, phazyme works much better for me.. tiny little capsule. I have had no gas at all to speak of. Paula

Nope, no x-ray at all. I would have felt neglected/forgotten, but I was just as glad not to do it. lol Just beware the Mexican slow pace compared to our overpaced expectations. And, bug the receptionist if you need to. Paula

Banded on Wednesday, March 19 Let me preface this by saying I had a GREAT trip! Francisco picked us up at the airport, right on time, with Brandi and Kelly. We got to the clinic about 40 minutes later, and went straight in to the clinic. This was the only sour part of the trip for me... the receptionist was so overtaxed that she couldn't call one of us up to send us to one of the tests without the telephone ringing constantly. I never felt like I got her full attention.. not ever. I don't know who is responsible by her lack of attention, but she was the weak link in the whole plan for me. She was on the phone CONSTANTLY and interrupted her calls to sort of tell us where to go. There was lots of waiting, but we had already adjusted to the fact that Mexico does not move at American pace. I saw Dr. Miranda first, and she is a doll. I fully understood everything she had to say, and she does use a power point presentation to make her points, but she does go fast. My recommendation is that If you feel like you missed something or didn't understand something, ask her to back up and explain again or explain more. One of the individuals waiting said she didn't understand a thing, but you need to ask if you don't get it. ASK ASK ASK. She did tell me that I could eat that night, but not to gain a pound before surgery. > I was so happy. I never got the ekg or breathing test til the next day, and I never got the blood work at all, but again, I blame the chaos at the front desk for that. Come on, OCC, hire another receptionist to help this girl. Mrs. Ortiz took us to the hotel around 4:00 and told us that she would be there in the morning at 7:00 to pick us up and take us to the clinic. I read in one of the other posts that they wouldn't let someone's hubby ride in the car on the way to the clinic, but she let mine. Maybe it is because he is so skinny that he didn't take up any space. When we got to the clinic, it was wait wait wait. We saw the girls from the day before making their laps around the clinic, and then, one-by-one they were released. It dawned on me while this was happening that none of us would be "admitted" before the 6 rooms were empty and cleaned. I finally got my breathing test and ekg. I was worried about the breathing test, because I am asthmatic, but he told me I had passed with flying colors, and my ekg was fine. Like I said, I never did have the blood test, which was not really surprising considering the chaos at the front desk. I think I was the last one taken back to the rooms and the last one to have surgery, but I enjoyed visiting with my hubby while we waited. I did love the nurses so very much. I almost giggled at the sweet little nurse who was putting the compression hose on me. She was so intent, and all I could think of was how many thunder thighs she had seen doing her job. I really nearly lost it. The other nurse was so good...that was the slickest IV I have ever had, and boy, have I had a lot of them. It didn't make any type of bruise, and yesterday I couldn't even find the puncture hole. Before surgery, Dr. Ortiz came in, relaxed on the little loveseat, and chatted with us for about 30 or 45 minutes. He was so funny and informative. One thing he said that struck me was that once your body weight is 30 percent fat, it resets all your trigger mechanisms, and your body will use that setpoint from now on. You can lose weight... I told him that I had lost 100 pounds 3 times, and he said that I can lose it because I am restricting my food intake, but once I reach goal and loosen up a bit, my body starts moving back up to my set point. Since you can never lose fat cells, only shrink them, it is just a matter of time. The only way to keep that from happening is to keep your food restricted forever. Hence... the success of the band. Dr. Ortiz also told me that I had a hiatal hernia, and when I asked him how he knew, he said that he recognized certain upper body confirmation that indicated hiatal hernias. After surgery, he told my husband that I had a very large hiatal hernia and he repaired it. He also told me to quit the nexium, and I did I don't remember going in, and I don't remember coming out. I did think that it was strange for my husband to be sent to the hotel around 4:00 because visiting hours were over, but that must be the way things are done there. The wonderful nurses brought me liquids of assorted types all night, and being the curious person I am, I went up and down the rooms, checking on people and chatting a little. I seemed to be the active one of the bunch. They took me for one lap around the clinic, but not more.. I guess that I did enough running around on my own. I was released on Thursday morning, feeling fine and happy. Mrs. Ortiz took us back to the hotel gave us our pick up time for Friday. We went to the restaurant right away and I got broth and apple juice. I tried to order coffee, but they wouldn't let me, which I thought was hysterical. "No, no, no! You just had surgery and you must have juice only!" <lol> That evening, we just strolled around the hotel grounds and took pictures, then we went upstairs for the night. Next morning, shopping day! We caught a cab right after my juice and broth breakfast, and shopped for about 3 hours. Someone was right... the merchants practically chased us down the streets to make a sale. I finally had to use the "I just had surgery, and I am not feeling well" tactic to escape one. I got a silver, mexican opal, and pink amethyst ring, my husband got a beautiful ring, and we bought a purse, tequila, vanilla, couple of bracelets, and a leather hat for my son. Word of caution: most, a large percentage, of the vendors do NOT take credit cards. Hubby had to run across the street to use someone's cousin's machine twice. Believe me, we will just take cash next time. Also, what cash we did take, we split into different compartments and pockets. Twice, David pulled an amount out of his pocket that was significantly lower than the merchant had asked, and they took it because it looked like all that he had. Trip back to the airport was slicker than grease. Everyone was on time, the trip across the border was adroitly handled, and we got to the airport early. I feel wonderful.. virtually no pain.. bruises fading.. starting yogurt drinks tomorrow. Thinking about going back to TJ about May 16 for my first fill. Okay... I know your eyes are broken from reading this.. hope it was useful and reassuring, Paula

It was great meeting you, too! I froze the whole time, not just at the hotel. I am doing great... no pain, no gas. I will be happy to add the liquid yogurt tomorrow, though. Hugs, Paula

We left on the 21st, and we had no trouble at all. Francisco picked us up at the exact time we were told, and when we arrived at the border, he told us that we would have to walk through customs with our luggage and then about a block where he would pick us up. Things went very smoothly. In fact, one of the border patrol interrupted the line and let us cut ahead of everyone. No luggage was opened; we just had to declare what we had purchased. We walked the very short block and were picked back up by Francisco. He got us to the airport with plenty of time, and we were very happy with our drive. It is amazing how different things can be. One thing; I did call the drive coordinator before we left, and he told me that Francisco would be our driver. Paula

This is how I handled it. I researched it carefully, and marked the website of all my research. Next, I sent my deposit in to the clinic, and paid for my airline tickets. Finally, I told only the essential people in my family. When they started their anti-Mexico retoric, I told them forget it.. non-refundable deposit and plane tickets already purchased, and if they objected, to please keep it to themselves, because it was too late. I told them that I was sending the research to them to reassure them. Nobody said one more word about it. What was the point? Paula

Yeppers. Paula

That is SO funny. We just got back, and we were told that the heat was off for the season and they only had ac at this time. It so happened that I was COLD, so they sent up a little radiating heater. They must have only one or the other on at the same time. Paula

I am so excited for you! I have been banded 4 days, and I feel wonderful... I felt that it was the beginning of a new life for me. Paula

Wow.. it was good to meet you! I am sorry the weird scheduling kept us from getting to know you better! Paula

Phazyme is the only thing to use.. tiny gel cap. I have not had ANY problems with gas pain. Paula

I agree.. I hope to be with you there soon. Regardless, I find the Biggest Loser extremely motivating and get great satisfaction from each individual's success. Paula

I was banded day before yesterday, on March 19th. I went shopping in Tijuana all afternoon the next day, and just got home from a 7.5 hour flight. I feel tired, but great. Go for it. Paula

WOOT! Thanks, Darlene.. I will check in sooner then. Paula nitey night for me gotta plane to catch in the earrrrrrrrrrrly morning

ditto =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

Hi, Everyone! Unless I post again tonight, I will be out of touch until next Friday. My husband and I haven't had a vacation without the kids since our honeymoon, so even though it is a tiny vacation, we are flying to San Diego Sunday. We will go to Sea World that afternoon. Monday we will go to the San Diego Zoo. If we get tired early, we may see if we can hop a boat with a whale watching tour. I will have a protein shake for breakfast on both days, and a protein bar for lunch in the parks. Supper we are still working out, but I have eaten enough lean cuisines in my life where I can approximate the amount of chicken and vegetables in them. David can get supper and I will just have the little bit. Also, I was a Weight Watcher's leader for about a year and a half (before I got too fat again to be one... my second loss of over 100 pounds,) so I am very good at approximating Tuesday, we will go back to the airport and turn the rental car in. We will meet the driver at Air Alaska, where another patient is arriving at 12:30. After that, you know the routine... to the clinic for the pre-op stuff, back to the hotel, evening free, back to the clinic with everyone on Wednesday for our big day. Hopefully, we will go back to the hotel on Thursday for some recovery and maybe some shopping. Finally, early, and I mean EARLY, we will go back to the airport for our flight home. Alas.. we cannot take such light luggage, as we will be there a couple of extra days. I am not taking the laptop, although I would love to, because the suitcase is full and we don't want to take another. So.. no e-mail from me until Friday night. That will be day 3 for me. Those that are going to be there while I am... Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.. I do hope to meet you and get to know you a bit before we all go home. Hubby David will be here if you have family members that want to go shopping in a group with a male presence. He will also go when I go, and you are welcome to go shopping with us. Look for the tall, brunette fat woman with the taller silver haired skinny man, Paula

I need a new theme song! My current one will cease to be after my surgery on Wednesday. I look forward to hearing your creative suggestions! Paula

Thank you! I appreciate it. Paula

Thank you, thank you! My husband is feeling better about it. Paula

Heck, no! I am not at all nervous. I have had other laproscopic surgeries, and they are a big nothing except for about 3 days of soreness. I cannot wait! I almost feel like Christmas is coming. Ask me how I am feeling again after 6 days of clear liquids! Doing the happy dance! (well, sort of... my knees ARE 53 years old!) Paula

You better be there, girl.. otherwise I will miss you! Social Security card is a good choice, too. Regardless, have your mom send your birth certificate to you the fastest way possible. I understand you can get in just fine, but you do have to prove citizenship to get out. Paula

My husband is stressing over the address of the clinic. We have the mailing address, but need to know the street address. He also wants to know if you can walk safely between the clinic and the hotel. We fly out tomorrow, and he is being anal retentive. Paula