sunnee01

I am scheduled to be banded on May 21... I may have to postpone, depending on what happens on Monday..

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, and saying some prayers. Hopefully, this will turn out to be nothing.

hey audrey. I'm being banded the same day! that's one connection already. coming from phoenix, az on 5/22. hope to see ya there

dearis

Hi!

I was wondering if I was going to be the only one there. It's great to meet you. We will be fine.

Are you bringing any with you? What time does your flight get in from AZ?

Looking forward to the 23rd.

Audrey

Good for you! You are an inspiration as I get closer to starting my pre-op phase!

Audrey

Well Britt and Debbie are doing just great. We are going to post pictures in the next few days. See who you recognize. xxooo Jenn and Cassie

Good luck!

Audrey >

I was at my dr's office today, and found out the receptionist's sister just had LB in Monterray, CA. She was telling me that if you know an RN, they can do your fills for you. It's just saline. Anybody know anything about this??

:-?I am also an RN, and feel there is more to this than just accessing a port. If you fill too much you can obstruct, if you fill too little, it won't do any good. For me, I would rather spend the time/money to have people take care of me that are properly trained. This isn't the same as flushing a central line or drawing blood. We are taking shortcuts by going to Mexico, and not having the follow-up care readily available unless we to return . I don't think it's wise to take any more shortcuts.

Please be careful!

Audrey

Hello!~ Im getting my band on the 29th of April. I dont think I will be able to go back to OCC for my fills. I was hoping that someone in my area had good info in affordable fills. Thanks :-h

Hi Nebs Mom :-h

I am also from Portland. My band is scheduled for May 23rd..I will probably go back to TJ for my first fill, but I'm looking at the Fill Centers. I like the idea of using flouro.

There is a nurse practitoner in the Seattle area that several people have recommended. Here is there website:

http://www.northwestfills.com/

Hope this helps!

hi guys,

i did it!!

i am feeling really bloated, when does this feeling go away?

i feel like 6 months pregnant, is this normal?

also, what can i eat?????

chix broth is just not doing it for me HELP!!!

thanks,

claire #-o

Claire,

I finally read Dr. O's book from cover to cover. One of the problems they addressed was bloating, and his solution was to "move and take your pain meds." As far as the chicken broth, you need to stick with clear liquids, anything that you can see through.

I have been a surgical nurse for many years, but I really am learning a lot of this myself. His book gives a lot of good info; it's not uncommon for patients to feel overwhelmed with all of the information that is presented to them.

Hang in there!

Audrey

Great! It will nice to meet you. And thanks for the tips too!

How lucky your husband is to have you! I hope you two have a great trip down there! :-h

Thanks for making me feel better about this, MamaMichelle. I just can't figure out what that burning is in my back. Any ideas? I also still feel so bloated....I thought that maybe this is why my back hurts because I am trying to hold my stomach in so my muscles are tired!!!

Gina

Gina,

They use carbon dioxide to inflate the abdomen. Although most of it is released at the end of the surgery, there is still some that remains. Did you try some warm compresses for your shoulder blades? It is pretty normal to feel bloated for a few days.

Loved the panties! What a great idea!

Audrey

Hi Audrey! I'm a Portlander too! Wish we were going for surgery the same week!

Hi!

So do I! It would be great to have someone to go down there with me. I've already "met" two women who will be there at the same time . :-h

I just can't belive the year is flying by,,, April showers bring May flowers and and new group of soon to be "BANDSTERS". Let's hear it from the wannabe's that are scheduling their surgery dates in May. See if you can hook up with your future banding buds before you get to TJ.. I'll be down in TJ at the clinic on May 14th and 15th,, so I hope to have an idea who's going to be there those days. C ya there.

Hi Everyone!

I am being banded May 23rd. I just came back from San Diego yesterday. My husband and I went on a cruise to Cabo. There was so much food!

I look forward to not being self-conscious about my weight!!

Audrey

quote name='GaGirl77' date='Apr 5 2008, 12:40 PM' post='21381']

My passport came today... =D> My pic is sooooo fat on it. (

I was worried about going under and the impact on my body and my heart twice in a month. Then I search and read that at the OCC you don't have to be intubated and that made me feel much better. I had a horrible experience during a gallbladder surgery 3 days after childbirth during extubation, which is when my heart went CRAZY, my lungs filled with fluid and I almost died and woke up in ICU on a ventilator...so I have LOTS of anxiety about that part. Now that I know that won't be happening, I'll almost certainly have the surgery even if they have to take this pesky cyst out.

Now I can't hardly wait. Neither can my clothes. They are busting off me.

My passport shows this terrible double chin!!

There are ways to put you to sleep without intubation, but they will do whatever is the safest. I am so sorry you had so many problems, and I don't blame you for being scared..Are you bringing anyone with you?

The day of my surgery (3/19/08), my BMI was 32. So far, so good. I'm down to a 30 now. :-)

Just curious... did you have to go on the preop diet? If so, how much did you lose?

Thanks,

Audrey :-?

I haven't booked my flight yet. I have a dr. appointment for a large ovarian cyst and I'm worried he's going to want to operate to remove it. It's a follow-up appt. Can I have surgery twice in a month? Is that safe?

I applied for my passport a few weeks ago. Caroline said I wouldn't need it if we came in before June 1, but since it's so close and just in case... I'm 30 years old. It's about time I had a passport anyway. Who knows when I might win an exotic vacation??

Way to go momma....

Yes, you could win an all expense paid trip to Tijuana!!

As far as having surgery twice in a month, I am not sure...The banding is considered elective. If the cyst is persistant, they may want to remove it first. I hope it's gone! Its up to you and what your doctors recommend..

Audrey

I'm torn between returning to TJ for a fill or to find a doctor locally. There is a fill Dr. Locally who has been recommended by 2 other bandsters she charges $190 and does not use Fluoroscopy.

I called my local hospital, OHSU, who "specialize" in obesity surgery and they told me I would have to submit and application & referral and they would have to review this information to see if they would 'accept" me as a patient since I was banded in Mexico. I just hung up the phone.

There is another well know Bariatric Place a little over an hour from me that charges $375 for each fill and uses Fluoroscopy.. oh and they have no problems with patients from mexico.

I could probably do Mexico in a day but I would feel more comfortable spending the night/ having 24hrs from the fill in case there needs to be an unfill or something isn't feeling right. I don't mind taking the trolly/bus / taxi to get to Lucerna ... I just can't decide what to do?

Can I get some feedback from my experienced bandsters who had fills with and without fluoroscopy ?? Or just some opinions/facts in general.

money is and issue but then again isn't an issue... I would fly out on an early am flight and get to the clinic on monday for the fill and then get a late evening flight home on tuesday... of course these specific flights are about $250 r/t.. and while I have no prob w/ public transportation.. time is of the essence and it would be nice to be picked up , taken directly to the clinic then to the hotel then back to airport next day.. know what I mean.

I"m wanting to go around the 2nd week in may... if anyone else is going this time and wants to share a room with a stranger.. hahahah

Mindy,

Please let me know who else in PDX does this..I've started checking air fares for June, and it's up to $300+..

How are you feeling??

Audrey

That is awesome Audrey! Not about your health, but about you changing paths yet continuing on with a career you love.

I'm not taking a year off from working like George in the Summer of George - wish I could - but I did change jobs last September and it's turned out to be the best job I've ever had.

You know what? Other than the number 50, this year may turn out to be the best so far.

Jena

Jena,

I agree! My family teases me that I'm having my mid-life crisis..Maybe I'll get the boob job next!!

Jena,

I finished my master's degree and became unemployed because I could not longer continue to do the lifting that was required as a surgical nurse. I have been on disability since the end of Jan..

The last two months have given me time to figure out what is important.. My family and my health..Although I am considered a "lower BMI" patient, I have significant risks to my health and just needed to do something about it..

Good for you for taking some time for yourself! Although I can no longer scrub a kidney transplant, I will be a nursing instructor. I start teaching Apr. 14th..

Audrey

We promise to make it brief!!

Audrey

Hi Mindy,

Here's a website that I found in one of the other postings:

http://www.northwestfills.com/

Hope this helps..Let me know if you use them; I may have to also!!

Audrey

Kimmie,

I will try this again. I would try Gatorade. This will give you some fluid and electrolytes, plus you need to have some calories..

I am so sorry you are having problems..

Audrey

Jena,

I will be 50 on the 29th of May.. God, that sounds so old!! (This is my birthday present to me!)

Audrey

Hi Kim,

Sounds great! Being from the Pacific NW, I look forward to any chance to spend some time in the sun. I am flying in from Portland, OR.

I fly back on Sunday morning. I could have probably left on Saturday, but thought it would be better to hang around, just in case.

Don't worry about the posting errors. I'm pretty computer savvy, but this is a challenge! :-?

Audrey

Hi,

I also have three cats. I would not wait. Cats are known for having both kidney infections and kidney stones. The sooner it's treated, the better.

Audrey

Hi Kim, :-h

Moral support would be good! What time do you get to San Diego? I just booked my flight yesterday, and I get in at 9:05 a.m. and leave on Sunday morning..I am excited and trying to start making the changes that I need to make this successful.

Audrey

Hi Heather,

That is my birthday! I've been a surgical nurse for 15 years, and it is perfectly normal to be scared. (I am also coming down by myself!)

As a nurse, the best thing for our patients to do is to educate themselves, so that nothing is a surprise. Also, I liked Jena's idea of starting to make the diet changes early, and to not expect perfection right away.

Hang in there. We are all in this together.

Audrey >