tlag

thank you denise, audry and kimra. The recovery is going to be fine. I am being even more careful, if that is even possible. The surgeon here in Kansas wanted $3000 to do the surgery. I also found out from Dr. Martinez, the doctor here in the states that tried to do my first fill (the time I found that my port was flipped) that she stuck me in the wrong spot and could have damaged my tubing. Dr. Martinez said he checked the tubing about 5-6 times to make sure it did not leak, what a sweety. He STRONGLY encouraged me to come back to Mexico the next time I need a fill. I called several places here that do lap bands and none of them do it under fluroscopy. I'm sure I will be going back to Mexico in about 3 months or sooner for my next fill, don't trust the doctors here as much as the doctors in Mexico.

I was banded on 4-3-08, and did not get my first fill until 5-21-08 (7 weeks). I have lost 9 pounds. I have been at 199 for the past 3 weeks. I have not weighed since my fill, so........will see if I have lost more. Have to wait until tomorrow to weight at work. I always try to weigh on the same scale and at the sametime everyday.

I just got back from Mexico. I had to have surgery to fix my band port. It had flipped. Dr. Martinez was wonderful and very good and patient at explaining everything. He said only 1 in 500 will flipped. Sometime it is caused by the tubing having a slight twist in it and in my case, it was due to fluid. He said everybody makes some fluid with surgery, but my body produced alot of fluid to the point that I had a fluid filled sac near the port area. They drained the area, flipped the port, then put steri strips across the opening instead of glue. They wrapped me up tightly to put pressure on the abdomen. They then did my fill. 2 days later before I left to come back to Kansas, I noticed that the area was swelling again. I called Dr. Martinez on his cell phone and he advised me to come back for a recheck. After being examined and the port being checked, he reassured me it was fine. He put some extra stitched in the abd around the port so it would not flipped again, (no guarentees). I was so impressed at how well they treated me even when they were doing it for free. It is something I don't think we would ever experience in the USA. Now............hopefully I can start losing weight again since they did a fill also. I just wanted to let everybody know what great Mexican Doctors we have!!! Tanya

Thank you all for your help. I finally gathered or shall i say, found all our birth certificates. I was going to have my ex sign a form allowing me to take my kids across the border and back, but sounds like I really don't need that. Thanks all, and best of luck with your fills and bands Tanya

I am taking my kids with me to have surgery on 5-21-08. I have 2 kids under 18, one is 16 the other 12. Any idea what I need to take inorder to get them back and forth across the border. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tanya

The port is down and to the left of the big incision, which is on the left side of the abdomen

Thank you all for all the support and kind words, i greatly appreciate it.

Hi Deb, It's not really a bump, it's more the size of an egg. I can feel the port which is a hard area, but the swelling part is the part he said was a fluid sack. It really does not hurt at all. I know some people say when your port flips that it is very painful, but I had no pain. The way I found out it was flipped forsure was by having an x-ray done. Has to be a lateral KUB view to see it. Tanya

Wow Michelle, Your pics are amazing. Is that the dress that you have been waiting to get hooked in the back? I'm with everybody else, the boobs are hanging to the floor, ok, maybe not that low, but sure seems like it. When you lay on your side, they go to the arm pit!! ha ha ha I have gone down a whole cup size, which I have plenty to lose. That's ok, I'll worry about them later, now to get the rest of the weight off. I can't wait until my port surgery so I can start losing again. I have been at the same weight for 2 weeks now with no restriction, so I feel thankful I have not gained any. I also have noticed alot of loose skin on my arms and inner thighs, need a total body make over when I am done. Sure hope Dr. Romariz(mispelled) is done with his training by then, He was such an awesome doctor. Tanya

Thank you so much Michelle for your help with directions. I thought the $130 was a bit much for transportation, although I understand it is difficult going across the border for them. I'm taking my 3 kids with me, so sounds like it will be quite an experience for all of us. Again........thanks a million. So I take it the transportation on the trolly was just as easy as coming as going back to san diego? Tanya

I am going on 5-21-08. He said they would have cut the incision where the port is and go in and flip it and resuture it. Said they do it under a local anesthetic. I'm kind of scared. I hope the doctor that tried to do my fills did not damage the port or tubing. Anybody going for a fill on the 21st?

I am coming to Mexico for surgery ( my port flipped). I heard it is alot cheaper to use the trolley instead of paying the $130 for OCC to pick us up and return us. I looked up the trolly and it is so much cheaper, but soooo confusing. Can anyone help me out. I will need to go from the air port to the mexican border, then from the mexican border to the Ramada Plaza on2151 Hotel Circle South. Tanya

wow, do I feel stupid. I put my banding date at 4-8 and it was actually 4-3-08! Wow, wonder if i lost a few brain cells instead of pounds. Tanya

I was banded on 4-8-08. They pick you up at the hotel at about 7 (i think). After you get your room (the rooms are cool, you get your own HD TV and all long distance calls are free), all 3 doctors will come in your room and talk with you and will let you ask any questions. They are very good about answering your questions and putting you at ease. I went with 2 of my friends and I was the first to go back. It was amazing. No incision pain!! The only pain was gas pain. Take plenty of gas X. It really helps and walk alot. They will give you medication before you go back, actually give it to you when they start your IV. They also will give you an injection, I think it was like Lovenox, which helps with blood clots. If you have alot of questions, write them down so you will remember to ask. By the way, this place is very clean, puts some the clinics in USA to shame. Best of luck with your sugery, it will be great!!!! Tanya

I had gone for my first fill and the doctor could not get it in after several sticks. She sent me for an x-ray, which showed it was flipped. It was weird, cause I never had any pain with it flipping. Tanya

From What Dr. martinez said, I told him I have had swelling around the port site since the day after surgery, he informed me that it is not a hematoma, that it is a fluid filled sac and that probably caused the port to break loose and move around. He was very understanding and supportive. I was very impressed, however it does suck having to do surgery again,,,,,,,but things happen. Tanya

Good luck with your preop diet. It is tough. I don't think you are the only one to want to eat food before the diet. I know my friends and I all did the same thing. You start thinking....wow I may not be able to eat bread or flour tortillas and etc. It's not bad, you do get used to it somewhat. I think this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I wish you the best of luck with your preop diet and surgery. What day is your surgery. I am going on 5-21-08 to have them flip my port back. It's a great place and the people are wonderful. tanya

Good luck with your preop diet. It is tough. I don't think you are the only one to want to eat food before the diet. I know my friends and I all did the same thing. You start thinking....wow I may not be able to eat bread or flour tortillas and etc. It's not bad, you do get used to it somewhat. I think this is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I wish you the best of luck with your preop diet and surgery. What day is your surgery. I am going on 5-21-08 to have them flip my port back. It's a great place and the people are wonderful. tanya

I just wanted to let everyone know. I found out on Thursday that my port was flipped. I called and spoke to Dr. Martinez, he told me if I wanted to come to Mexico he would fix it free of charge. Amazing!!! The great service does not end after the sugery, it continues on. I was very impressed while talking to Dr. Martinez. I just want people to know, these doctors are not just in it for the money, they do care about their patients. Tanya

The doctor that tried to do my fill today told me that she usually only gives 1 cc if the patient tells her they have no restriction, If they have any restriction she only gives them .5cc. She said the reason for it was because if you get too much of a fill and then have problems with vomiting, you will cause your band to potentially slip. Tanya

I don't recall anything discomfort or anything. From day 1 I noticed my port site was alittle swollen, kind of looked like an egg under the skin, but I just figured it was a hematoma or something under the skin cause it did not hurt. I have felt great. this was a total shock to me.

I don't want to accuse Dr. Ortiz of anything, sorry If i made it sound like that. He is an excellent surgeon, I am just so upset that it is flipped when I have been so careful and have done everything I had been told. I will probably call him tomorrow and see what he says, but I don't blame him. I know things happen, just stinks

by the way, this is Tanya, sorry I forgot to put my name

I just went for my first fill today and found out that my port is flipped. They state they don't think it was tacked down. I have done everything by the book, and at 5 weeks,.........not good news. Would like to know what Dr. Ortiz charges to flip it back and if anybody else has had this problem. Please let me know. Very upset!

I'm with ya'all with the boob implant. I paid 20,000 14 years ago to get rid of my boobs, now that I am losing weight, they are like empty milk bags!!! I think a lift and a small implant would be great, maybe 6 boobs for the price of 3 ha ha ha.