sparetire

Are there any foods that you can never eat again? Do any of you have problems with heart burn or acid reflux. This scares me as my husband gets it and its awful.

sue

Hi Sue,

I was banded Mar 10, and previously I had heartburn on a regular basis. There is a bottle of tums on my nighttable, beside my computer and in the kitchen. However, since being banded, I have not had it ever. I was reading dr. Ortiz's book and he says that if there is a hiatal hernia, this could be a cause of the heartburn. When he fixes it, it goes away. so this is true in my case....

as for foods, so far i seem to be able to eat everything, but I have not eaten bread. I am basically following atkins right now so I don't gain any more weight before my fill. I assume that after my fill, I will have more issues with foods.

Is your husband banded? if so, maybe there is a problem....

hth

I had a hiatal hernia that i did not know about prior to surgery. Dr. Ortiz fixed it and told me after the surgery. the size of fill also depends on the size of the band that the dr. puts in. when i go for my fill with my sister, i expect that mine will be a larger amount as I have the 10cc band and she has the 4 cc band. I think Michelle hit the nail on the head with the reasons as to why all the excessive testing is done. Most obese/extreme obese ppl have apnea issues.

Which Dr in Delta will do your fills? We called all over and the only one who would accept us from a Mexican surgery ended up being in Calgary...

Here is a visual image of what the difference in a 10cc VG Band and the 4cc Standard band:

How I understand it is that depending on how much fat you have around the stomach determines what size band the doctor puts in place.

You can see why some with the VG band need more fills, since most doctors won't put more than 2ccs in at a time you would need 2 or 3 fills to get the same level as a 4cc band.

I have the VG band and Dr Ortiz told me in the evening that I had a hiatal hernia and he needed to put that one on me. I guess it also depends on the degree of fat around you stomach and how much overweight you are. My BMI was quite high. They make that decision during surgery.

NO MUSHY FOOD ALLOWED!!!

That is the last thing on Dr. Miranda's post-op orders, right? Sigh...

The other 3 that were banded with me have started having a few bites of mashed potatoes, mashed up green peas, chunkier soup..etc.

I am admitting that I have tried it twice against my better judgement. The other 3 that were with me keep it down fine and enjoy a bite every now and then.

On the other hand, when I try it, I PB it right back up. Why can they tolerate it and I can't? Does anyone think my band has already slipped from my sickness during my 1st week post-op? I am really, really worried.

Please be gentle on me..I know I have done wrong, but it is so hard to not chew anything for so long.

Why do you think I have to PB it up and they hold it down? I am worried about my band.

Do you have dr ortiz's book? Chapter 15 is troubleshooting the band. there is a section for right after you are banded, for solid food phase and later... I just read this chapter this morning and also read about PB'ing. Every person is different, that is #1. while your other bandster friends may be able to swallow these things, your stomach may be more swollen (especially because of the vomiting you experienced early on) and you need to follow dr Miranda's plan completely in order to heal properly. Make sure you call her if it continues when you are allowed to eat solids. then something is definately not right.

did you get the 4cc band or the 10 cc?

As for pb'ing, i have had this experience when I ate something too fast. I was actually reading on the forum here and didn't pay attention, took a second bite and the pain in my chest started immediately. I don't believe it was the food, or how much I chewed (although this might be another factor as I was not paying attention) but definately because i tried to eat too fast. Old habits die hard.

Here I am at my heaviest..probably between 235-240

Here is a pic of me last weekend at 215

Wow Kimmie! you are so beautiful. I had a totally different picture of you based on your avatar. And boy can I see the difference in your face. My kids say this is where they see it on me. I have a blown up photo on my computer here of my face with my grandson and all I see is big chubby cheaks. I look in the mirror, and I see the same thing. so I guess it is going to have to be my clothes that tell me I am losing, not the mirror. Isn't it strange how our minds can deceive us?

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone ended up wearing their wedding rings. My husband is going with me and could keep it with him while I am in surgery. But is it not safe to wear "out and about". What about taking a purse? Just leave it at the hotel? I feel so unprepared! What other paper work do I need to bring.....I have numbers for Rene etc, the original check, but what else..

Love to hear from you soon!

Brook

I wore my rings, all the time... I am unable to take my wedding rings off after 23 years and 100lbs of excess weight... the nurses tried but then said it was ok. As for when you are out shopping or in the hotel etc, if you are really concerned, there are safe boxes that you can use at the hotel. we used it (and always do when travelling to a foreign country) to put our passports into until we needed them again. the only way they can be opened is with the "hotel's key" and the key you are given.

Good luck!

I have come up with a little list of rewards for losing weight. Every 10 lbs. gets a new reward (hair color, $X for new clothes, facials, trip to Vegas, etc.) for me. These are things I have always felt guilty about spending money on since I have 5 kids... but this is hard, and I totally deserve it! I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

So is anyone else doing this? I'd love to hear what others are rewarding themselves with.

I hadn't thought about doing that yet. I am still having a hard time not putting myself into "diet" mode. Everything I have read about Lapband surgery is that you are to learn to not "diet" anymore and learn to eat as a normal skinny person. Right now, being 4, almost 5 weeks post-op, my concern is back into diet mode and not gaining before my fill. Maybe rewards will help me... hmmm

btw, I have 6 kids... they are getting older though and moving out, first 2 gone already...also giving me a hard time as I really miss having them all around me.

I am interested in hearing if people are still "dieting" with the band...

Here is my family...at christmas

and a few weeks ago

Hi All,

I'd love to compile a list of what everyone had for their first meal after being banded. I think this would be great info for people who will be banded soon to give them an idea of what they can eat.

So banders, please respond with what you had for your first meal!

Thanks,

Alana

*May 9th, here I come!"

In the morning, I made myself a 2 egg omelet with salsa... that kept me so full all day... then we went out for dinner(first day to eat and also celebrating 23rd anniversary) to a local pub, I had a steak (wasn't very good as it wasn't cooked right) and veggies. I left the home made fried potatoes as I was absolutely stuffed. I chewed and chewed and also watched other who came in after us, ordered and finished before me... hahaha... I was pretty proud of how I ate. Can't say i have been all that good recently... I am a little on the depressed side I think.

I did a quick sarch and "Pat in Washington" posted the following in THIS thread:

Also, someone mentioned "The Lapband Companion Handbook" by Mark Watson and Daniel Jones. I ordered it immediately from Amazon along with Dr. Ortiz's book. They arrived 2 days ago, and the Lapband companion book is awesome! it has very detailed photos explaining the surgery, where and how the band is placed, reasons for the 2 sizes, how fills are done why they are done, diet before, after and how and why everything is done. I am really enjoying this book. It has helped me tremendously with my struggle this week with finally eating normal food.

Wow guys!!! Thanks so much for the sweet words- I still have a long way to go but I wanted to make sure I had a map of where I had been so that's why I decided to take pictures every month, I actually took a set of pics in a bikini and while that's where you can really see a difference I don't think anyone wants to see me in that, lol maybe when I am into the 150's...

Awesome Michelle! =D> you are looking fab already! I haven't been taking photos (I did just before surgery but none ince except last week I wanted one just of my face) Every one says they can see loss in my face, but that is it. I didn't lose that much pre-op as it was just shy of 2 weeks, but so far 24.8lbs...5 weeks...

I am so glad you are sharing your photos and you know, even here the bikini would be fine... we are all in the same boat.

Hey everyone! And Hi to Diane, Val, Antsooz and Lovetta!

Yesterday was my first official meal!

I invited some family and friends over. (I love to cook) I grilled salmon, steamed broccoli (with home made lite hollandaise sauce). I made yellow rice and black beans, bruchetta, and a few other munchies for my guests. I was able to eat about a 3 inch square of salmon, broccoli and a small piece of bruchetta. I was full. I know bandsters have moderate troubles with rice and pastas, so I only gave the rice a little taste. The trick was taking small, deliberate bites and chew, chew, chew. Eat slowly and take the time to enjoy your meal. AND don't drink! That was hard. I am so used to slugging down at least 1 big glass of water with a meal.

We'll see how this week goes.

Anyone with menu ideas for the post-op? Please post! Tell us what works for you!

I am still mega excited, super happy and I have a whole new outlook on life! Thanks Dr. Ortiz!!! >

Kate!

Hey, I know what you mean!.. I am eating my first meal right now.. ham/cheese omelet with salsa. I have a hard time with breakfast, I always have coffee in the morning and now I am finding myself having to make conscious decisions (paul mckenna?) anyways, it was good to hear from you!

Who knew that soup would be so yummy.... And when I added the drinkable yougurts I almost swooned. Nothing has ever tasted that good.

Freezing a protein shake now for lunch.

unfortunately, by the end of week 3, youwill be thinking that all liquids are sooooooo grosssssss. I can't wait til Monday when I can eat food. tomorrow is our anniversary #23 but i can't have any of the cake I bought. I am not even really wanting it, since it is sweet, but man oh man... give me a chicken breast and some broccoli I would be in heaven!!! I hope to go out for dinner on Monday night and you can be sure I will order something light but with a salty taste. hmmm even salmon steak sounds good.

Hey all!

So, here we are. A few days after the fill - already down 5 lbs. Of course, a liquid diet never hurts weight loss. I am determined for this to work. I am determined to let the band work how it was designed to work. It takes WAY more work than I was ready for last year, but I am ready now.

Do any of you "successful" bandsters have any tips for me? Diet, exercise, etc? I would love any help I can get...

Thank you Stock Princess for sharing your tribulations with us. It has reminded me once again that we need to work with the TOOL and not against it. I wish you much success as you have a go the second time around with us. Be sure to post lots, and read here too, Everyone is so inspirational and really keeps me on my toes.

take care,

HA HA Funny story!!!

When I got to the Lucerna (it was Feb. so not very hot) I LOVE to sleep when it's very cold in the room. (Hello I live in GA- HOT HOT HOT and HUMID) So anyway I turned the thermostat to "cool and hi" I left and went to Starbucks (right across the street) came back and it was so HOT!!! I called the front desk and did the whole "Hello this is Cindy and my AC is broken, can you please send someone to fix it" in my sweet southern girl in distress voice. On the other end I hear "Oh Miss Cindy we do not have air conditioning in the hotel rooms" As I sweetly hung the phone up, I though HOLY COW I am glad that it is Feb and not JULY. This hotel is full of "fluffy" people and there's not any air conditoning!!!!! So just an FYI open the sliding door to your balcony and there is a wonderful breeze that comes in, I slept with it open and it was heaven. DO NOT TURN THE THERMOSTAT TO COOL AND THINK THAT IT WILL BE NICE A CHILLY WHEN YOU COME BACK!!! I wonder how many calls they get about that anyway!!! ha ha ha Good Luck to all future bandsters!!!!

Very strange, :-? we set it to cold and it was freezing when we got back from our walk. we kept the fan on for the "white noise" but i had such a cold nose all night...

Oh okay that's not too bad. Would a roll luggage, a laptop bag, and a carry on case be too much? I have no idea about flying!

This is what I had... and a purse... my roll luggage, i checked in and carried laptop and carryon bag. My sister carried my laptop through any check points, but basically i only had to remove it and put it in it's own container. just a tip... when wearing jewelery back from TJ, make sure it is real... if it isn't it sets off the walk through scanner. The guy on the corner sold me a metal bracelet even though it is stamped with the famous 9.25 which is to signify silver... haha... good thing I bartered hard...

Can anyone help? I am scheduled for surgery on April 11th and I am following Dr. Miranda's diet and have added walking to my routine. However I am not losing weight, I have only lost 4 to 6 pounds give or take the day I weigh what the scale says. I have emailed Dr. Miranda for suggestions but was wondering if anyone else had or is having this problem. Please help.

Looking to the Future

Lora

which diet are you following? 2 shakes and a lean cuisine is what worked for me... I believe there were 3-4 options on the diet sheets... so it would help if we knew which one or what you are eating. Also, make sure you are eating enough. I found that when I cut back too much, my body went into starvation mode and hund onto every lb. when I bumped up the caloric intake just a bit (about 1000) I would lose.

That makes me feel so much better! Thank you so much for telling your experience. I am glad that they give you something to calm down before surgery. I am pretty sure that I am going to be a nervous mess! I am so glad to hear that you are feeling well!!

>

oh my... talke about calming down... when they were prepping me, they first gave me 2 little tablets to calm me... normally my BP is quite high. when they took it after those little pills, my BP was 90 over 60. I have never in the last 15 years had a BP like this... I was so calm... and the nurses just giggled cuz I think I was even slurring a bit...

Today has been the 4 year mark since I went to Dr Ortiz to have the lap band

I am so happy

its like my new birthday!!

Congratulations Cassie!Happy Birthday... you are an inspiration to all of us!

Hi all was told I need gastric bypass/lapband surgery, I have several co-morbidities, live in alaska--Christall looks like you are a neighbor!

I ran across OCC and would like some detailed info, like-how many visits to the center before surgery--(flight cost ouch!) do they do insurance? any hidden costs you found after getting there? I researched several clinics, found a lot to have hidden fees, or didnt want the business based on my location and followups its getting frustrating and i am seriously looking outside the us for surgery!

any help would be appreciated!!!

thank you!! #-o

hi there.

I am from Canada, just a little south of you. My sister and I were banded Mar 10 by Dr. Ortiz (1week post op now) and we found no hidden costs. There were only phone pre-consults, no visits. The drs are great and available to speak to or email when you have questions. Follow the pre-op diet and you will be fine.

The only hidden thing was a hernia that I had and as Dr. Ortiz said "I owe him" cus he fixed it. I gave him a kiss and promised to lose weight. That is all he wanted...

As for fills, we will be going to Calgary Alberta (we have no coverage by any insurance) because it is a 6.5 hour drive and we can go shopping there. Cost I believe for the fills will be $125.

I would love to go to TJ for my fills but due to the cost of flying from Canda ($600) and going through customs and length of time getting there, it is just not a wise decision from our viewpoint.

Overall, I would recommend Dr. Ortiz and OCC over anyone else hands down...

Name and Location: Val, BC Canada

Age: almost 43

Gender: Female

Band Date: March 10, 2008

Height: 5'5.5"

Highest Weight Ever: 283

Weight at start of pre-op diet: 280

Weight at Surgery: 268.4

Current Weight: 260

Goal Weight: 150ish (wedding weight and feeling sexy here)

OOOOPS, I meant it because I have been on the pre-op diet for 6 weeks now. First Atkins, now I am on the milkshake diet part because I had to lose 20 pounds befor surgery. It was for when I was going to reward myself for doing so well on my diet. Thats all. I know it's not really my last meal, sorry for the miscommunication!

Thanks!

The resteraunt in the Lucerna offers a fabulous quesidilla... it was huge though and both my sister and felt we could have shared it. This was probably because we had also been on the shake pre-op and were not used to consuming so much. That being said, I think TammyLu also had the same thing...

BTW, when we went to Mexico back in January, we were specifically told not to eat outside the resort and to stay away from the fruit. Just a thought... don't want to get sick on top of surgery.

How I understand it is that depending on how much fat you have around the stomach determines what size band the doctor puts in place.

You can see why some with the VG band need more fills, since most doctors won't put more than 2ccs in at a time you would need 2 or 3 fills to get the same level as a 4cc band.

Or if you had a hernia that had to be fixed (nothing to do with the fat around it). That is what I had and Dr Ortiz fixed it but had to use the VG. He also told me that I would probably only need 2 fills just like my sister, hers would be 1 cc or less and mine would be probably 2.4cc for the first and maybe one more like that. Of course (the disclaimer ha ha)I don't know this for sure as we have not gone for our fills yet.

Thanks for the visual MamaMichelle... I was having a hard time explaining to my husband why I got a different one than my sister.

I just returned from OCC due to what I thought was reflux/problems and most likely a band slip. Unfilled Feb. 18 totally but still experiencing this burning in throat and mouth (tongue, sometimes lips)..that I THOUGHT WAS HEARTBURN. local lapband quack gave me nexium and never called me back when I was in distress. Dr. Martinez (saint), Dr. Romero (saint), called me back quickly several times to try to help me. We all pretty much were sure slippage so I came down last Friday. Prepped for surgery in case then sent for endoscope and comprehensive barium swallows to find out MY BAND IS FINE! Had another gawd awful test where they stick a tube thru your nose down to jesus' (so to speak) and YOU ARE AWAKE AND NOT PLESANT. THEY SEnd you another doc for the endo and this test - the second test was my choice to check esophogus and he is sweet as pie but I love it when I ask him - If we need to stop can we" and he says "No,we don't stop, just remain calm' LOL

My undying respect and love for Mrs. Ortiz - an absolute angel who carted me around all day to the doctors - so kind and nice to me - like my mother - even took me to the bank! Rene in the office who could not have been nicer to me too and so on top of all my last minute arrangements and helping my husband make it to the Lucerna to be with me.

The drivers - the office staff - and all the doctors - as I sat there boo hooing like a baby - holding my hand - comforting me like you can not believe.

The nurses are also angels - so gentle - loving - caring. If ANYONE HAS DOUBTS ABOUT GOING TO THE OCC - GET OVER THEM QUICKLY. You are in better care than I think you can ever receive in the states. And, even if you have good after care in the states - whenever you need Occ THEY are there for you. 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Anyone can email me privately but know this - OCC is beyond number one in my book. The patient is everything to them - you are number 1 in their eyes and you feel it.

I still don't know what is wrong with me but Dr. Martinez suggested some additional tests to have done in the states and i can eat solids again, etc.

I did not see Dr. Ortiz on this trip but he also called me during my earlier distress and he is also a saint in my book. Honestly these docs and nurses are sooo competent and caring. The competency is critical but the caring is hard to come by (in the states IMO).

Just wanted everyone to know.

mary

Hey Mary,

I think we met you at the Lucerna! My sister Diane and I spoke with you the morning of our surgery. Glad to hear your band is ok, but I sure hope you can find out what the problem is.

Thanks for all the reassurance > and for letting us "feel" your port One thing we noticed is that you don't have any real visible scarring. Do you know why that is? What can we do to prevent it?

Thinking about you! >

Has anyone been banded and felt that in the begining they were starvin themselves? Also how soon after gettting banded did you cheat and eat something other than broth?

Seriously though, please don't tell me it's mental, because I have strong will power and haven't ate anything since I've ben banded and all I've had has been broth and unless I'm always drinking I'm hungry. Is this normal? It can't be!! Isn't my stomache suppose to be swollen from the band placement and therefore not hungry?

If Dr Ortiz reads this please email me at ruth.toro@yahoo.com

I am on day 6 of clear liquids and oh my goodness, I think I am about to faint... can't wait til Monday when i can start having some thicker liquids and get some substance in me. Today I did take a chewable fibre tablet (benefibre?) and that has helped with the extreme hunger. I just feel like I am not getting enough calories. broth has 30 per cup and popsicles are only 50 at most. i suppose juices would be more, but i have the runs as it is and don't want to make that worse. anyways... you are not alone!

on the upside... i am down 6lbs since surgery and as i said, that was on Monday...

Hello ladies! My hubby just approached me this morning and said that I shouldn't go shopping in TJ when I go for our fill. He says that there's been turmoil in TJ regarding drug issues. I haven't been following the news lately. I have been preoccupied. Does anyone know of this? Anyone that's been there recently find any peculiar activity in the area?

Hanna

We were interviewed by FOX tv when we were shopping in TJ last Tues (the day after surgery). We took a "hotel" cab and asked him to also refer the cab company to come back with. Didn't notice any violence or drug activty, and the questions were regarding "how safe did we feel, where we satisfied with police presence" etc... as I said, we were in a group, Kate and her hubby Norm (who got to sample all the Tequila that we couldn't) my Sis Diane and myself. I think if you are in a group, you are fine.