Willi333

I'm such a chicken that I have not even tried to eat anything that even looks like bread

I loooove sandwiches/pizza/burritos/pasta and such, but just the thought of getting something stuck makes me not wanna risk it. Hope this will last for a while - since that kind of food gave me all that extra weight in the first place

AWSOME !!!! Great job !!! :lb13:

I haven't really tested my band yet since my first fill. I can eat pretty much anything (pasta and bread included) without any problem. I haven't forced the quantity issue but know that I'm definitely eating 1/3 less than what I normally would eat. But again, I don't wait until I get a sign to stop; I simply stop eating when I think I should. I also put very little on my plate to begin with. So when it's gone, I'm done. Sure I've felt hungry in between meals (usually around 4 p.m.) but I hope that's just mental hunger

Sorry I haven't been much help.

I figured in two weeks, I'll look at the scale and the quantity of food I've been eating, and make a decision at that point if I'm heading to Roswell, GA!

Be sure to drink a lot of water throught out the day. I was told no drinking one hour before each meal and not until one hour after. That sorta limited my water intake - so I'm going to have to work on that!!!!!!

Three meals, no snacks!!!!

Dawn,

In case you decide to go to Roswell within the next weeks or so ... I set my first fill date for 05/31 it is only 5 weeks post op, but Darlene the NP who does the fills in Roswell is NOT working on 06/07 and the week after on 06/14 she is in Moultrie GA. So she is in Roswell either 05/31 or then 06/21. Since waiting 8 weeks for the first fill is not an option for me ;-) I went for the 5 weeks ....

Dr. Martinez was scheduled to do my surgery because Dr. Ortiz was out of town. However the morning of my surgery Dr. Ortiz showed up at the OCC so they did all the surgeries together. However, I was totally comfortable with Dr. Martinez. He answered all my questions and put me completely at ease!! Go ahead and schedule with him, you'll do fine!

Yep, doinfi9 is absolutely right !!!

I posted my answer on the General Discussion as well ....

:lb5:

Dr. Martinez is great !!! when I scheduled my surgery, Carolyn told me also that Dr. Ortiz would not be on duty, but after reading on here from people who got banded by him and hearing all the great experiences with OCC I felt comfortable.

I would absolutely trust him as much as I trust Dr. Oritz.

Have to say, that Dr. O surprised all of us by being in the office at the date of our surgery ... but for me it did not make a difference.

Either way you are in great hands !!!!

:lb11:

:lb5:

Dr. Martinez is great !!! when I scheduled my surgery, Carolyn told me also that Dr. Ortiz would not be on duty, but after reading on here from people who got banded by him and hearing all the great experiences with OCC I felt comfortable.

I would absolutely trust him as much as I trust Dr. Oritz.

Have to say, that Dr. O surprised all of us by being in the office at the date of our surgery ... but for me it did not make a difference.

Either way you are in great hands !!!!

:lb11:

Hello all April 28th bandsters... and HAPPY SOLIDS DAY!! (Even though technically I caved over the weekend) >

Girl, you are so funny :girl_haha: I also moved my first day solid foods to yesterday :lb18:

... just could not wait any longer ...

Happy Solids Day to you and your family too >

Hope everybody is doing well ??

Maybe I should try the "milk trick" since I'm dreaming about eating ice cream (DOVE Irresistable Rasberry) LOL

Wooohooo =D> Hat's up Lisa- you are a very beautiful woman

What an inspiration !!!

I ate a day early too. Didn't kill me and I was fine.

How is the doggie? What happened? Will he/she be ok? I am an avid animal lover and can definitley feel your pain. I have 9 cats, all special needs, so I know what you are going through. Although, I haven't lost any yet. I sure hope you didn't either and that you dog will be ok. I will say a prayer for him/her.

Thank you Mona >

We have 3 doggies (all rescue puppies) and the one injured (see pic) was nearly beaten to death. We got her as she was 3 month old, but due to the beating she did not developed like she should have and got arthitis in her hips and both rear legs at the age of 1 year old. Now she is 4 y/o and has arthritis like a 10 year old ... On Friday she did'nt use her left rear leg and we had to find out that she has a thorn cruciate ligament ... usually in large breeds, this can only be fixed by an expensive surgery (very painful & slow healing process), and in her case the chances that the surgery will be successful is about 20%. Chances that she will rupture it again within the first year is like 90% due to the arthritis ... The vet said it would be more human to try to see if she can live without surgery and being on pain med, before letting her go to this ordeal...

Well did not mean to write a book ;-)

I watched it tonight too, it's a good show but I really didn't like those doctors attitudes towards the band... I mean I'm sure they know best but it really seemed like they were pushing gastric bypass over the band. That woman who was 500lbs who came in asking for the band, they kept telling her that it wasn't going to be enough for her, and said that band patients only lose 40% of their weight and that bypass people lose 60%-80% I don't think that is an accurate statistic and they didn't even mention the long term benefits of the band..

That's my only beef with the show but overall it was pretty inspiring to see people's successes with WLS!

I totally agree with you Michelle,

We have DishNetwork at home because they have "German channels" and we do have such a show in Germany as well. The other week, they showed a woman who had about 400 lbs and decided to get the band instead the gastric bypass (although they told her she would not be successful with the band due to her size) and she did lose 230 lbs. in a little over a year !!! Now she is maintaining the 170 lbs since 5 years with great success. This lady was just one of many they showed and all have been successful !!!

So bandsters - keep up the great work - we can do it

Although I was suppost do start eating solids tomorrow .... I had to have it today :lb18:

We had a really emotional/stressful weekend (one of our dogs is badly injured) running back and forth to the vet, I fell back to an old habit ... trying to comfort myself with food - that is ....

Being tired of the soups & broths anyways and know being very sad, I fixed a yummie salad and some mini (ground turkey) meatballs for lunch. I know I shouldn't have - but it was soooooo good I thought I could eat like a horse, but I only had maybe 1 1/2 cups of salad and 2 meatballs not even the size of a golf ball and I was stuffed. Everything went down good and nearly 6 hrs. later I'm still full.

Now I'm feeling baaaad because I catched myself not doing what I supposed to do.

- Eat to live and not live to eat -

Michelle- thank you for sharing your trip with us !!!

YOU LOOK STUNNING !!! :cheerleader: Not only your theeth are sparkling ;-) :lb24:

You are a inspiration for all of us!

Hi Dianna and :lb9:

I am only 3 weeks post op, had the same fears you have, but after loosing 23 lbs. in 5 weeks (pre op and post op) shows me that it does work.

Of course you have to change your eating habits and you can cheat around the band. It is a committment! But if you do your part, the band will do the same and will help you to shed off the pounds. It is a great feeling I wished I would have done it sooner ;-)

:lb11:

YAY :lb21: hope this fill will be "the one" for you :lb11:

That is really expensive. I went to a fill center in Austin, TX it was 349.00 for the first time and only 80.00 for the fluoro and after that it will be 165.00 plus the 80.00. I wonder why the price is so different here.

As far as I understood ... the visit/fill price is set by the Fill Centers, the price for the fluoro on the other hand is set by the NP who does the fills.

:lb5: and :lb9:

:lb11: for your 2nd fill !! Have a great trip and keep us posted how this one is working out for you!

50 lbs since January ???? :lb13: :cheerleader:

Hot picture Ute!

I would like to know how much you pay for your fill in Roswell. I'm trying to decide if I should go to Dr. Ortiz for mine or go to the Roswell fill center. They told me it would be $549 for the first fill and floro. Sheesh!!

The cost is pretty close to me going to TJ!

thanks for any info,

Jena

Hi Jena,

I just set my first fill date for 05/31 - still a little sceptic because it is only 5 weeks after surgery, but I def. do not want to wait 8 weeks

The first/initial visit & fill is $349.- and $200 for the fluoro, total $549. After that it drops down to visit & fill $165 and the fluoro $120 -> total $ 285. I think it is a little expensive, but if I would go back to TJ with ticket & fill package it would be more expensive and time consuming, but also no turn around if something would not feel right ... so in the long run, Roswell is less expensive and also very convenient for me since it is only 20-30 min. away from home. All the GA bansters who went to Roswell are very pleased with Darlene (the NP), so I thought I'd be in good hands

I will keep you posted ;-)

Let me know how are you doing and maybe we can meet up for a fill in the future :cheerleader:

Hi,

I did call today and set a date June 27th. I think I will be going by myself my husband cant get off work. I'm ok going by myself after reading all of the wounderful things that people have to say about OCC. I did find out that Dr. Ortiz will not be there the day of my surgery and so Dr. Martinez will be preforming my surgery. I guess thats ok. I have not heard anything bad about him.

Thanks for the chat...

Janell[/font] [/font]

You will be in great hands !! Dr. Martinez is awesome Nothing to worry about :lb11:

Way to go Michelle!!! I made it there today too..I was thrilled! I told you we would celebrate together!! =D>

:lb10: Kimmie :lb13: I can't wait to get there as well - one day ... Keep up the great work =D>

Thank you Evette > I can't stand the thought of waiting 8 weeks - I guess I go with the 5 hoping everything will turn out o.k.

:lb10: You'll be just fine! We all know how you feel! The OCC will take good care of you :cheerleader:

Keep uss posted ...

:lb10: Great to hear you are doing so well :lb24: Keep us posted !!

I just called the Fill Center to make an appointment for my first fill and hoped to be able to go on June 7, which would be 6 weeks after surgery.

Well, Darlene who does the fills in Roswell can get me in on May 31 or June 21 so that means either I get a fill after 5 weeks or I wait and get a fill after 8 LOOONG weeks. She would be o.k. with the 5 weeks unless my port incision has not healed up.

WHAT ARE YOUR SUGGESTIONS ???