ZnewMe33

Hi there Hanna, Michelle, Linda and other bandsters... well my experience is somewhat similar to yours Michelle. I too as you know, got only the 1.6cc. I am still drinking my proteine shakes and coffee in the morning, a soup for lunch (may I say goes down with no problem) and THEN! come dinner time, I find that I can eat and the restriction is not as restricting as I thought it would be! Daaaaaaamn!... I had 3 crackers the other night and those didn't go down to well, I got that horrible pain, and the feeling that your gasping for air. But as far as other foods? as long as I chew, chew, chew, they go down fine. I of course am taking in smaller portions only cause thats the way it "should" be, but I can actually eat more if I let myself. Which I don't. So I too have too use more self control, instead of having my band do the all the work. So until I go see Dr. Romero I am on my own. So we'll see how it goes for me. One day at a time.

As far as for eating after a fill... I think it should be done (next day, that is). I see it as testing the fill... cause if you don't how do you know if it actually worked. Mostly for those who have to travel so far. I say liquids for the rest of the day of your fill and then try to eat the next day.

So Michelle let me know when your ready for the next trip. Lucky for us we are not that far. : )

Z.

Oh I forgot to answer your first question. I had my surgery on a Thursday, only cause Friday was booked, I was back to work on Monday. Your able to walk as soon as your anesthesia wears off, your a little sore, but of course that is normal after a surgery. Of course you also have limitations as with any other surgery, no lifting, exercise or strenuous work. Don't be scared, the surgery is a the easy part.

Znewme33

What would you like to know... If you call the OCC and speak to Carolyn she will answer your every question. I did alot of research before I decided to Band myself. Once I found the OCC I was so excited I couldnt wait till the day of the surgery. I lost 6lbs before surgury and im at 9lbs after surgery. I was banded on Feb 28, 08. The treatment at the OCC is EXCELLENT, I have not one complaint. There were 8 of us who got banded together, we still keep in contact thru the forum and do a lot of story sharing. It helps when you are on your post op diet. Liquids only. We all just remember that we have invested a lot on our band and how we have to take care of it, and our bodies. If your considering doing it, I would encourage you too. I was feeling like you, I felt my weight was out of control. I had to act fast, cause our health is at stake. Yesterday was the first day I got to eat solid foods, it was nice. Didnt eat too much, yet it seems to be a lot after have been on liquids for such a long time. I will not lie, I had a bite here and there after the surgery, but I made sure I chewed and chewed before it went down. Its a new way of eating from this day forward. If I want to change my life, living and health I have to start by changing my bad habits...one day at a time.

Hope this helped. Take care.

Znewme33

4yrs! Way to go! Please tell us newbies, how its been? Do you have any before and after shots? do you have any great recipes that don't make you feel restricted from the great food out there!... Please keep us posted.

Thanks and Happy Re-Birthday!

Zulma

Hi Girls, Its me again... I went into www.lapbandtalk.com and found this posting interesting.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f73/how-lap-ban...-refills-45563/

If any of you find posting, that can answer questions we may have a newbies... please post.

Thanks

Zulma

Hi all you bandsters!

I hope all you guys are doing great! This is the week we get to eat... I hope it goes well for all of us. My weightloss has seem to have stopped. I am locked at the 13lbs since the 5th. Hummm! I also think my scale is not working. haha! (I doubt thats the case)... well I can't get discouraged... I will see how it goes by the end of this week. Sigh!

Well for those for the fill on the morning of 18th, you can all jump in with me. I will be driving in and I can go to Lucerna

Hotel to pick you all up. I have a mini van, so all you fit. Just let me know for sure, so I know how many of you I am picking up. Please email me ziracheta@verizon.net or call me (562) 712-9011 to let me know.

Take care and Happy weight loss!

Zulma

Hi Kimmie,

Don't be nervous... I got banded by Dr. Ortiz on Feb 28th, you've probably been talking to a few of us who got banded that same day (Hanna, McKenzie, Diana...). We are all alive and doing great!. I didnt' loose too much weight before getting banded (7 lbs), I thought they wouldn't do the surgery, but they did, and everything went so well, its all a blurr now. I was so relaxed and calm about the whole thing, that when I woke after the anesthesia wore off, I thought nothing had been done. They take care of you so well, the entire staff is at your every need and any questions you may have they will answer. I only live 2hrs away from Tijuana, so I've been there hundreds of times, but this time was so different. The hotel you will stay in is very nice, I forgot I was in TJ when I was there, I thought I was off at a resort. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I didn't post my whole experience, but if you have read Hanna's it was all the same for me too.

I see you've been researching places you can do your fills, well I can't really tell you how good your options will be around where you live, but you never know, you may be one of the few that don't need the fills to begin with.

Stay calm, you have nothing to worry about.

Zulma

HI Diana,

Hope you and your daughter are doing well... are you tired of the liquids yet? I sure am... I need some crunch in my mouth! hehe!...So I finally weighed myself, I've lost a total of 13lbs, I think on my pre-op I only lost like 7lbs, so since the surgery its been another 6lbs. This will probably be the month we all loose great amounts of weight, cause as soon as our 20th day hits and we can eat solids once again, the weight is not going to be coming off as easy.

So when is it that your coming for your 1st fill? I can probably meet you the day you come, let me know so I can call and make my appointment and maybe hang out with you two for a bit. I live 2hrs away so I won't be staying the night anywhere.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Zulma

"if you can't drink it... don't eat it"

Dr. Miranda

Hi God4me-

We were all saying when we were at the clinic how valuable the forum was to us, and everyone expressed amazement at how folks did it prior to the forum. Before the trip for surgery we were on the forum everyday devouring everything about this procedure. For us (me and teenage daughter), it really helped us prepare not only for the the procedure itself, but also with the details of traveling to Mexico. On behalf of all of us Newbie bandsters, thanks to all who made their way before us and have posted here to let the rest of us know what to expect. Your experience and posts have been invaluable!!

Blessings,

Diana

Hi Gals Banded on 2/27 & 2/28... I thought I was the only one fighting head hunger... I remember Dr. Mirandas words "if you cant drink it, don't eat it!"... well that cookie that went in my mouth last night, sat in my mouth till it became mush and it went down fine. But I had just one. How terrible of me, but sweets are my downfall. I had a better day today... had some broth and later some drinkable yogurt, all these liquids are drowning me! I'm glad to hear all your stories and mental suggestions for keeping our minds free from food. I hope the stories continue, I know this will get easier and later we will be grateful. Tomorrow I will weigh myself and see how much ive lost since the preop, I hope it makes me happy. We want miracles overnight, it just doesn't work that way. Well I wish everyone "strength" on this band journey. I know I need it.

p.s Broth anyone?

Hi Hannah,

I also got banded on the 28th, I was the latin girl next door to you! haha! Zulma, remember me? I'm glad your doing well. I too am still a little gassy, I guess its normal. I'm a lttle sore around the bigger cut, but overall I am doing better. Today was the first day I came into the forum, hopefully I get in touch with the others in our group so we can all give eachother support. I hope you feel better, and im glad to hear your glucose level is lower.

By the way thanks for perfectly describing the experience, I too have only good things to say about the OCC and their staff... and yes

Dr. Ortiz is mmm mmm handsome! LOL

Take Care

Zulma

First of all let me say hello to my fellow bandsters that were there: Stephanie, Kelly, Lisa, Linda, Melody, Mackenzie there were more but my brain can't seem to remember right now. But anyways, it was great seeing all of you. I had a great experience and yes to my amazement, my daughter, Charlene, was such a big help. After surgery I was very groggy and sleepy, I walked a few times around the clinic but my recollection is a blur.

First things first:

Francisco picked us up at the airport. Three parties, Kelly, Stephanie and myself. We were brought into the clinic and were filling out paper work. Somehow there were two openings for surgery that afternoon and Kelly and Stephanie opted to do it. There were only 2 openings so I was left to my original date of Feb 28... those traitors!!! Hehehe.. it worked out well as Linda and Lisa were new bandster friends that I got to know and had my last dinner with at the hotel before we had our surgery on the morning of the 28th. Well to my amazement that morning there were 8 of us scheduled for surgery. Wow, I said! I talked with Dr. Martinez not realizing it was him when I asked for an extra blanket for my daughter and then I acknowledge who he was and he came into the room and conversed with us for a little while. Within a half an hour Jossi (I think that's the nurse's name) was prepping me for surgery, IV, pain killer, my insulin, I'm diabetic. I also had to have oxygen inhaled (tube like thing I was breathing into) because I was only 74% on the lung test breathing tube thingy. So yes practice your breathing. Next thing I knew Dr. Ortiz sat down beside my chair and was introducing himself and being his comedic self again, just like when I spoke to him on the phone. Wow these doctors are awfully handsome. Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz whoohooo.. but I'm sure they are both married so keep your hands off ladies. Off goes Dr. Ortiz and then next thing I remember is I'm in the operating room (my daughter claims I was wheeled away in a wheelchair). No recollection of the wheelchair... I must have been out of it already. I opened my eyes looking for Dr. Ortiz. I even remember saying "Dr. Martinez, where is Dr. Ortiz?" Dr. Ortiz replies on the right side saying count to 10 Hanna and close your eyes. I did until I got to 5 and then reopened my eyes. Again Dr. Ortiz asked me to count to 10 and close my eyes and he said see you after the operation. Next recollection my private room (30 mins. is all that I was gone per Charlene, my daughter). She said I was walked around a few times then wanted to sleep... Yeah.. I remember being very sleeepy. I slept and slept till the following morning I wanted to walk some more. Anyways that morning I checked out and checked into a hotel in San Diego. I chose to do this because my flight back to WA was at 6:30am in the morning today!!! March 1st and here I am posting. I didn't get the shoulder gas pain that Lisa and Linda got but I've got lots of gas. Yes pretty gross aye? Anyways thanks for the gas X strips Lisa, they sure helped immediately while I was in the airport this morning. Gotta get me more. Overall, my experience has been great!!!! I love to meet people and am happy to have hooked up with all the nice folks I met there in TJ, including Martha who gave us a ride to the border. My greatest news that I have to share with you is that I took my fasting glucose yesterday and today and it said 120 for both days!!! My fasting glucose has not been under 170 for almost 6 months now and that alone was worth my getting banded. I'm so elated! I don't know if I'm just jumping the gun here but an added bonus is I've lost another 4 lbs! Just weighed myself. Here's to good start on banding!!! My port area hurts but probably normal. No bleeding, remarkable thing they used was human glue on my surgery cuts. This is to reduce scarring..I even bought the anti scarring cream... we'll see if it works. I loved the clinic and the whole experience. I'm an adventurer by nature but the bond we formed immediately as bandster there, together was just awesome. I have to create a MYSPACE so we can better keep in touch with each other's progress and plan our fills to Mexico new friends of bandsters.

Blessings to all of you,

Hanna/WAgal

196/pre-op 189/now 185/goal 125??