jena

I was banded on Thursday and I really could have gone back to work today. I'm working from home this week. A couple of the wounds are a little sore, but like they said, a little walking around helps. However, I am probably the exception rather than the norm. When I had my hysterectomy two years ago I was ready to go back to work the following Monday. (It was on a Thursday) I was 48 then and had a full, open hysterectomy. My step-mom says I have the constitution of a horse! Jena

I was banded last Thursday, so it will be another 2 1/2 weeks before I can eat a meal! It will be a Lean Cuisine Hey, after 4 days of liquids and another 17 looking me in the face, a Lean Cuisine looks like a Christmas dinner with all the works! :lb12:

90 pounds Judy! That is fantastic! Jena

That's fantastic BeBe! I plan to do my pre-op diet when I can eat solid food before my first fill. As far as being plugged up, you should be shooting for 30g of fiber a day. The Special K protein water has 5g of fiber. Drink a couple of those a day (I love the Tropical Blend) that will give you 10g - a good start on those 30 grams. I also love Fiber Choice! It's a chewable tablet, much like a big Sweet-Tart. It has 2g of fiber per tablet. They have several different ones you can buy, one is a weight loss version with chromium picolinate and green tea, another one with calcium and another one with multi vitamins. I chew 2 tablets a day and that's 4g of fiber. www.fiberchoice.com Just make sure to check the fiber content of everything you eat and shoot for that 30g mark!

=D> Poor you! Here's a hug for your problem. > hahahahah Isn't it wonderful? To put on something that was always too small to wear and find it is to big. That's one of the sweetest rewards of losing weight. The numbers can go down, but it isn't until the clothes start becoming too big that it becomes a reality. Congratulations! Jena

No need to worry! You will bond with everyone there waiting for their band. It's sort of like a family reunion with family you've never met. > We were treated like queens the whole time we were there from Dr. Ortiz to the wait staff in the restaurant.

It was my step-mom and yes, she was able to ride with me as were all of the people who came with. On the morning of surgery, there was only enough room for the patients, the van returned and brought the other folks to the OCC. My step mom only had to take a taxi when she stayed with me after surgery. Someone from the OCC called for a taxi for her. The OCC is close by the hotel, and you can get pretty much anywhere in TJ for $5.00! If your friend has to take a taxi, I'm sure she could share with others.

What's up is that you are probably eating too much and not exercising enough. Taking "weight loss drugs" won't help you to change your lifestyle and habits anymore now than they did before the band. The band isn't the easy way out, but if you stick with it, you could be out of fatville forever. The pills are a temporary fix to a problem they will never cure. Jena

Hi Tanya! I was banded on the 8th as well. ALL of the staff at the OCC are wonderful. My family and friends were worried about what I was getting myself into so my step-mom went with me. She was so impressed with all of the staff, the OCC, the drivers, the hotel and the way we were treated that she's considering going there for the band herself - even if her insurance will pay for her to do it locally. She's got my sister 95% convinced to go as well! Hopefully, that will put your mind at ease. Jena

Why ask us? Call Dr Miranda and ask her because she is the first person you see when you get there. Trust me on this, if you can't commit to the pre op diet, it's doubly hard to commit to the post op diet. Things DO NOT get easier in the days after getting your band. Read the post op diet carefully. Dr. Ortiz has a high success rate and one reason is the paces they put everyone through before they are banded. They care just as much about your success post band as they do about banding you. By that I mean this is not a lap-band surgery factory. The OCC is dedicated to pre-care and post-care, but as Dr. Ortiz told me, the only determining factor of success is the patient. They work very hard to give you the tools to succeed. It's up to you to use them. Jena

I got home from OCC yesterday!! Everything was fantastic. About the pre op diet...I did it for 8 weeks. I wanted to make sure I lost the required weight and more. I had 17 pounds to lose and I lost 25 according to Dr. M's scales. I did it on Slimfast Optima in the morning and Lean Cuisine for lunch and dinner. I also had sugar free Jello and sugar free Popsicles. The first three days were tough, but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. I do have to say that I am single and live alone (with 5 cats and 1 dog) and I have no doubt that that contributed to my success. I will tell you, if you can't handle the pre op diet, you won't be able to handle the post op diet. 3 weeks before you can eat real food. 3 days of clear liquids, then add blended soups and yogurt smoothies. For 21 days. I was banded on Thursday May 8, and I haven't had anything to eat after a late lunch on Wednesday. It's now Sunday night. I've been physically hungry more than not, but I keep telling myself I can do anything for 3 days. Starting tomorrow, I'll be telling myself I can do anything 5 days and so on until 21 days are up. I have committed to going back on the pre op diet until I have a fill 3 weeks later. I am doing this because I have to take care of the band that is in me. I didn't go to all this trouble to try and buck the system. This is a generalization, there are always exceptions, but from what I've gathered in 3 months on this and other boards, the people who have a problem with pre op seem to have a problem with post op and then they have a problem losing weight at all. Make up your mind and you will do it. Just keep telling yourself "Hunger won't kill me." Honestly, what will that "last" flour tortilla or piece of bread or pat of butter or carton of ice cream (or whatever) do for you? Will you be able to taste and enjoy it after you are banded? Will it give you a warm and satisfying feeling when you remember eating it? Get started NOW! Jena

we stayed at the Lucerna. Great place! The staff here are more than wonderful, as is everyone at the OCC. I'm not hungry at all, we did some shopping and are now back at the room. Don't worry to any of you coming. you will fill like a queen, or king as the case may be!

Well, the May 8 girls are banded and back at the hotel. All in all it was an really nice ordeal from beginning to end. The people at the hotel could not be any nicer or helpful. The people at the OCC could not have been any nicer or helpful. The doctors at the OCC could not have been more gorgeous. Wow! hahahaheheheh I think some of us are going shopping today. Jena

I'm here now! We got in around 12:15, went to the clinic, then to the hotel. The hotel is very nice and the staff are wonderful! My only complaint is the rooms and hallway smell like someone dumped a giant container of Carpet Fresh rose scent on the floor. We have to open our sliding door to try and get fresh air in. The place is a clean as a whistle though. The Mexican restaurant was wonderful and the prices are surprisingly low. Mom12? Did you make it in? Alana are you coming tomorrow? See everyone soon!! Jena

my step mom is almost here, we're leaving Atlanta tomorrow morning at 9:55 and arrive San Diego at 11:30! I get banded on the 8th, wooo! for all of us! I'm as nervous as a cat with a long tail in a room full of rocking chairs. Thanks for the well wishes everyone. > Jena

You are doing GREAT! That is exactly the diet I followed and I lost 25 pounds in 7 weeks. Dr. M wanted me to lose 17 pounds. Add in the stationary bike at least 3 days a week. 30-45 minutes. It will make a huge difference. You ARE giving it your best effort, just KEEP giving it your best effort! One other thing, make sure you are getting lots of fiber, 25-30g per day. Try the Fiber one yogurt. They key lime tastes like Key Lime pie filling. They also make great snack bars. Special K protein water is also good. 5g protein and 5g fiber. Several great flavors and it also comes in those little one serving packs that you can add to a bottle of water. Also don't forget the Sugar Free Popsicles, 15 calories, and sugar free Jell-O. In order to lose weight, you've got to eat, and you are right in the target zone. 1,000-1,200. When I stalled I upped my calories to around 1,200 and I started to lose again. Don't even think about the outside pressure to lose weight, think about the life changes you are making that are preparing you for when you do get the band! You are doing everything RIGHT. Keep it up!!!

Notice how happy they all look in the "after" picture?

wow! That makes me value the support I'm getting even more. Everyone at work is excited for me - I slowly let most people know and I'm sure they will tell others when they ask where I am, and that's fine with me. I work at a small company with only about 40 people. My family and friends are also supportive. My step-mother is driving up from Savannah to fly out with me. I don't know how people who don't tell their friends and family do it. Jena

Well, now I'm going to have to start a list and add belly button piercing to it! MamaMichell, your incisions are looking great!!

SIX KIDS!!! Girl, you should have anything you want!! Wait till you start wearing their clothes!!

I'm officially sick to my stomach in honor of flying out on Wednesday. What are we doing? Thank goodness we'll all be there to hold each others hands. Jena

Thanks for the best wishes Darlene and everyone! I forgot that one thing I have been thinking about is doing an Ironman in a year. I don't know why I picked that of all things. I've never run in my life unless I absolutely had to, I'm just now learning to swim (at 50), and I haven't been on a bike that wasn't stationary in longer than can remember. But I want to do it, just to prove to myself that I can. Oh, and that Playboy thing...Do they take 50 year olds?

Looking forward to meeting you Alana! It's fantastic that you can pull off the weight loss at the last minute. I, on the other hand, have lost more than required because I KNEW I would do some stress eating the last couple of days and I was right. Thank goodness I don't have much at the house to eat! Hang on! Just a few more days and we'll be there. Jena

Happy 29th birthday Paula!!

You can always go to your bank, take a cash advance and get a certified bank check. It cost me $6.00 at my bank. Then all you have to do it fax a copy of it to OCC and bring the check with you. Much easier for everyone! Jena Oh! Why do they charge extra? Because the credit card company charges a fee for each transaction to the merchant! Businesses lose money on credit card transactions!!