Blazn

Traci, whatever you decide to do, just keep in mind that these surgeries are not miracles. They do not melt the fat and they do not push the plate back. Although they do help, and speaking of lap band, they help a lot you still have work to do. Just as you can stretch the pouch out that is created with lap band you can also stretch out the new route going to the intestine with bypass. It happens!! The risks with gastric bypass are greater as you are actually rearranging organs. When I was in nursing school I took care of 2 patients that were in multi system organ failure years after gastric bypass from the malabsorption that is associated with gastric bypass. You are probably like I was....I heard that you lose more weight with bypass. Most 5yr statistics show that lap band patients lose the same amount of weight as gastric bypass patients. Whatever you decide to do - Just do your research! Research the procedure, the long term effects, the number of patients that have had it done, the MD, the facility, everything. Leave no stone unturned. For me, I did consider gastric bypass....but I did not want the invasiveness of that nor did I have the money for it. I really like the idea of lap band but I did not have the money for it either. But when I heard about Lap band in Mexico and the price difference, I knew it was for me.

Again thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. > > I have been eating and drinking fine. No slippage. I actually am going for my fill Saturday and I can't wait. I will post my experience afterward!!

Thanks Michelle!!

Yes there are scars, 5 of them total. 4 of them are really, really small - like 1/4in. The one near the port is about 1 inch. Here is the link where MamaMichelle posted a pic of her scars. Keep in mind that although her scars looked good even then I bet they look better now - this was several weeks ago and they fade as time goes by.

http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?showtopic=5388&hl=

Good luck!!!!!!! You'll do great!!!

Absolutely, I felt safe. You'll see. This is a great tool for you and your sister - this forum. Go to the patient testimonial link and read those. Everyone had great experiences.

Interesting clip I totally identify with her issue about seeing the food and wanting it... I used to watch DAYS for 2 years in college so I'm no expert but is the acting and the actual production of the Guiding Light was always so bad??? Seemed like an amateur production and not a main stream soap... Maybe it was just a problem with whoever recorded the clip, a bad video stream??

No the soap has not always been like this. I have watched GL for years and in February they moved their set to Springfield...somewhere - not sure what state, but they did this because the show has always been shot in "Springfield". Anyway they had this big change and their motto now is "This is life". They changed their approach to be more "real" so the filming does come across as very amateur but it's like they want to get up close and in person with the actors. I can't really describe it. It is kinda aggravating though.

Name and Location: Misty, Georgia

Age: 26

Gender: F

Band Date: March 17th

Height: 5'3"

Highest weight: 224

Surgery weight: 218

First Fill May 3rd, 2008 - Weight: 200

2nd Fill July 15, 2008 - Weight 182

Current Weight: 180

Goal Weight: 140

Thanks for the update!! Wow, I have a fear of puncturing the tubing. It is reassuring to know they can fill you with a thicker substance so that it don't leak out.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers, please keep us posted.

Well that is great. I was really discouraged by your previous post but this makes me feel better. So will you post-pone your next fill for a while now?

I have lost 31 pounds in just 2 weeks. Wow, the fat is melting away. I am just starting week 3. I am at the mushies stage. What all counts as a mushy? I know mashed potatoes and very soft fish but what else can I have.

Ok so the post op instructions of Dr. Miranda do state NO MUSHY FOOD ALLOWED but I think I know what you are talking about. I ate mashed potatoes, grits, oatmeal, finely chewed up chicken and fish, pudding, yogurt, get my drift? Anything of that consistency. I would not try something like dumplings or sticky pasta - even though that is soft it may get stuck. Just take it easy. Start with the softer foods and then advance to thicker substances. Your body will let you know what is too much.

I feel much better today. I ate some Tomato Soup for lunch today and a few saltine crackers and everything went down fine. Thanks for all your support.

I am wondering if I cheated this morning. I made some cream of wheat breakfast "soup". I drank it through my kids' bowls that have straw attached to it. After I ate I felt full and satisfied. No pain, just wondering if that was a no-no food. If it is I won't have it anymore. Thanks to all.

Brook

Dr. Miranda said anything that can be sucked through a straw was okay. But be careful about actually drinking through a straw because this can increase gas.

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and prayers. I do feel better. I even ate a few crackers and all went down fine. I am still achy all over and my stomach is still not just right and for that I will still take it easy tonight which I never get hungry when I am sick. Anyway, thanks again.

Are you having surgery at the OCC? Why can't you move it up?

This is my first time in a forum room so first I will apologize for the boring format:) I am considering lapband and have been reading about some of your experiences. Some of my questions are where are you going? costs? I live in Spokane, WA. We have a reputable agency that does lapband but is pretty expensive. Any concerns about going out of country? Thanks for taking the time to read and help me with this decision.

Traci, first and foremost you are doing the right thing by joining a group forum like this. We are a great bunch of people that are here to answer any questions you may have. As some have already said - most of us were banded by Dr. Ortiz and Martinez in Tijuana. The place was clean and beautiful. We all were taken really good care of. Most of us paid $7,950 for the surgery, transportation to and from the San Diego Airport, and hotel stay while there. If you decide to fly, which I suspect you will - I map quested your drive and it's like 20 hours, you will have to pay for air transportation. Fills are "free" but you must pay the fluoroscopy costs which are $100. They have a package that cost $299 for transportation to and from San Diego, 1 nights stay at the Lucerna, and the fluoro fee. But you could use this forum to announce your fill dates and try to team up with another banster to split transportation costs which are $130. But....Dr. Ortiz is on the advisory board for Fill Centers USA and they are very familiar with his patients. The cost for the initial appt. is $349 and each additional fill is $165. However, this does not include fluoro and that price varies. There is a fill center in Washington, so that may be the better option. I am having my first fill on May 3rd with Fill Centers and the initial fill (with Fluoro) will be $549 and each additional will be $285. Anyway keep us posted on whatever you decide but you must check out our testimonies.

:lb9:

Update on GL and the lap band surgery.....This is from Tuesday's episode. Ashlee is now on the post-op diet and drinking only liquids. Ashlee's mom tells her to support her she is going to do the diet with her. Ashlee also tells her mom to feel her right shoulder - "it's an air bubble" she explains (I didn't know you could feel them.) She explains about the pain in the shoulder associated with gas and actually describes what is happening....even mentioning how they pump the air into your body which gets trapped under the diaphragm...etc. Anyway she tries to show her mom her incisions and let her feel her port but her mom tells her no. She also talks about the importance of walking to prevent blood clots, work out soreness, and get air out.

Here is the video link.....only a little over 8 minutes.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5X4FCRracqM

Ok - well it has been a really rough week. To make a long story short my Papa was killed Friday in a tragic accident and because of the nature of his death they had to do an autopsy so they did not release his body until Monday and we were not able to have the funeral until yesterday. So it has been some really long days and a lot of food. So today is my first day home and I woke up with an upset stomach. I started feeling a little better so I ate a small bowl of oatmeal and a couple of hours later drank a Dannon Light & Fit Smoothie. I just love those things. Well about 30-45 minutes after the smoothie I started feeling really nauseated. So I went to the bathroom (again! - trying to not get too graphic) and dry-heaved a couple of times but did not throw up. I broke out in a cold sweat :heat: and just really thought I would pass out. So I laid down and 30 minutes later I was in the bathroom throwing up. :bad: I threw up about 5 or 6 times. I immediately felt better and although my stomach is still a little queasy I still feel better than what I did before I threw up. So I tell you all this to ask.....I know a lot of people have slippages from vomiting....but how do you know if it has slipped? I have only had a small G2 since then - I figured I would keep it to clear liquids until I feel completely better.

My mom, also a nurse, said that I may have gotten sick from all the food we had this week since my body was not used to it. But I know all the food went down with no problems. I also know that my cousin had an upset stomach Monday. I honestly think I just caught a bug. But I am a little concerned about my band. Since I am a nurse I have tried to be extra careful not to contaminate myself with someone else's bug to avoid vomiting and the consequences that may occur with the band. Anyway....any thoughts on the matter will be greatly appreciated. :help:

Hey - thanks for posting the pic. You do look great Michelle.

Do you know if this replacement with a low profile port would cost anything/how much ?

Ute

I am not positive but I feel sure it will cost something. Not sure how much. Good question to ask though. Maybe I will email Lori and ask.

I am having my first fill in Roswell, GA on May 3rd at 11:00am. Just checking to see if anyone else will be there that day. I though I heard someone say they had an appointment that afternoon.

I too, unfortunately, can eat anything I want. Well...I guess I do get fuller faster but I don't think it has anything to do with my band. I think it is because my real stomach has shrunk. My first fill is scheduled for May 3rd and I can't wait. I don't want to eat all this stuff but my will power is slipping!!

Scared, Every time I eat my port site sticks out a little. Just keep in mind that your port is nowhere near your band. Your band is at the to of the stomach just under your sternum and left breast. The port is closer to your belly button. The port is anchored to your abdominal muscles and has scar tissue around it so when you eat and your "big" stomach (not your pouch) expands it pushes against your abdominal muscles and pushes the port out a little bit. My looks like a little lump there when I eat. I bet you don't have a lot of truncal obesity (stomach area). Most of the time only the people who have less fat around their abdomen experience this. In fact, the more weight these people lose the more it sticks out. Dr. Martinez told me that I would probably have to have my port replaced with a lower-profile port and possibly even put it behind the muscle when I lose my weight. That is kinda aggravating but a small price to pay if I actually lose that much weight.

Michelle you do look great. Even in the last pic. Just imagine what that pic would have looked like before you started the pre-op. Keep up the good work.