petnanny

I just wanna know if there is anyone out in band land that knowing what you know now, would you have NOT had your band placed.? And why?

If I knew then what I know now I would have never got the band. I was banded May 1st, 2008, I weigh the same as the surgery date. My first fill was June 08 and at the fill in TJ the doctor told me I should have lost some weight and I must eating too much! Well duh! I didnt feel any restriction! So, after leaving and feeling like crap, I decided to never get a fill there again. I got one close to home in July and it was too much so after throwing up everything included water I had to have some removed. Once again no restriction. I got a 3rd fill in Nov and I still dont have restriction. I eat as much as before the surgery and am always hungry. I cant afford to get any more fills and seeing the finance company bill for $300 every month for the next 4 years from the surgery makes me sick to my stomach! Sorry to bring down the high of everyone but, just thought I would let you know that not everyone thinks the band is great!

Thanks Lexi. I live in the phoenix area as well, and will definitely give them a call. I'm scheduled for my 1st fill on the 8th of July, but I think, after reading your post, I'll be getting my future fills there. Could you share how many fills you've had from them? how much restriction did you've had? Also if anyone wanted to carpool or else to get up there, maybe we need to start talking to one another.

once again thanks for the info

I had gotten in touch with Dr Berger from the reply from Snowbird. They seem great but just a warning that there is about 25 pages of paperwork that needs to be filled out and returned before they will even take your appointment. While in TJ I would ask for your Operative Note... The Flagstaff doc requires it and I am still waiting to get it which is making my appointment wait. I didnt realize that they only take 2x a month so that may screw me up yet... I was hoping to get in there on the 11th of July but with paperwork holdups??? I will let you know how it goes regardless Teri

I know some people have gotten fills in Az instead of going back to TJ. I love going to TJ but by time I add in the flight and transportation etc, it is about $400. My first fill hadnt gone as well as I had hoped.Too much info warning::::: flying give me gas pressure etc, it had never been a real problem except I had so much trapped air in my stomach I think it seemed to be restriction to the Dr. A couple of burps and my restriction doesnt exist. I only got 1cc. It is really hard to take a day off (petsitter) so trying to go back and forth is crazy. And flights really went up in price. So, if anyone has had experience with a AZ fill doc, that takes TJ patients, please let me know and how to do it for myself>>>> Teri

Here's a recipe for a 5-0 Cosmo from Diet Ocean Spray (It's a 50 calorie Cosmopolitan)

5-0 Cosmo™

3 ounces Diet Ocean Spray® Cranberry Spray Juice Drink

¾ ounce Absolut® Raspberri® Raspberry Flavored Vodka

Squeeze of lime

Lime twist, garnish

Shake ingredients (except the lime twist) until cold in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with lime twist. Makes 1 serving that’s just 50 calories.

Per Serving: Cal. 54 (3% DV), Fat Cal. 0, Pro. 0 g (0% DV), Carb. 1 g (0% DV), Fat 0 g (0% DV), Chol. 0 mg (0% DV), Sod. 19 mg (1% DV), Vit. A 0 RE (0% DV), Vit C 5 mg (8% DV), Vit. E O mg (0% DV), Calcium 0mg (0% DV), Iron 0 mg (0% DV), Folate 0 Ug (0% DV), Zinc 0 mg (0% DV), Pot. 0 mg (0% DV), Dietary Exchange: Fat 1

wow, thanks for saving my summer in the pool....I can wait to serve these!!!!

My 21 days is up on July 1, two days before my birthday. Im only having one problem with the liquid diet, I use to be abel to drink lots of water and now I cant. It feels like it doesnt want to go down.

This may sound silly but try to burp before you take a drink... during my post op deal water never wanted to go down because it was trapping air in the lower stomach so a good belch made it all gooooood!! I drink a gallon or two a day..now that I am 7 weeks out I can drink it like a fish....

So what size is smokin hot?? That is the size I am aiming for. I started high school in a size 14 and everytime I have fattened up I only got back down to that size. I would love to see a single number like 8. But my deep dark secret wish is to be something crazy like a 2..... Right now I am a plump 18 and dreaming of people looking at me and thinking, "I hate those skinny bitches who can eat anything and never exercise!" boy will they be fooled!!

Greetings Lapbanders

Imagine my surprise today when I got my Sprint cell phone bill with charges of $36 for Mexico usage..... When I went to Mexico I turned on my cell for all of about 10 seconds just to see if I "had bars" I then turned it off and never made a call or received a call... Sprint did take off the charges after I demanded a Supervisor a lovely 25 minute call.... but I learned that if you even turn you phone on you can be nailed with charges. I guess any call that calls your phone, hangs up or leaves a message etc, you get billed for those minutes. The funny thing is, no way did people call me about 25-30 times as all the charges were 1 or 2 minutes!!! Don't be sorry, leave it off!!! Teri

once again tkanks for the support. You all are a great backbone. And when he asked today how I heard about the center. I creamed THE FORUM of course! he was very happy, needless to say me too...whom ever idea was to start the chatting room is the bomb. It helped me make my mind right away...

ps: I just found that the surgeons in my area of ARIZONA that was badmouthing "south of the Border" surgeons... was trainned by who else??? DR ORTIZ! He told that....

Welcome to bandland.. I am from Mesa. I believe the doc you are referring to is even on Dr O's website in his picture section... What a traitor!!!

\

Teri

Yes, I was banded at OCC. I havent called because I just noticed it last night and I am a bit afraid that they will tell me to come in and I cant get a plane ticket right now...... Teri

Okay, I was banded on May 1st. All the glue is off my scars and one feels funny. All of them feel alittle "hard" beneath the skin but one feels like there is a little metal piece behind it. It is not the big port one. I swear I can see a piece of something about the size of the head of a pin. Am I crazy? Anyone else have funky things in there?? Teri

Ok, so I just got my fill May 5th. I started eating solids yesterday and I do feel a little more restricted than with the band empty. I can still eat bread and pasta. I know a lot of you out there have difficulty eating these things and I know that we are all different. I called to day OCC and made another appt for June 2 for my second fill.

Before I decided to go to TJ to get my surgery with Dr. Ortiz I was trying to get approved by my insurance here in Mesa AZ. Long story short I decided OCC. When I got back from TJ I called that Doctor in Mesa and ask if I could get my fills with him. His office told me that they don't take any patients that have had the surgery outside of the United States. I was very shocked by this news. I called my Internist who is one of my very good girlfriends and she said she would talk to him. So his office called me and told me they would see me and his fills cost $200. I thought great, I will get my first fill at OCC and then I would get me next one here in AZ.

I called today and they told me the Dr here doesn't use the fluro process. Again I was shocked. I asked the nurse how he knows how much to put in and how is he going to know exactly where my port is. I asked if he did the fluro at all and she said yes, but that would be more.

With all this I have more confidence with OCC than with this good Doctor. I will be getting all my care with OCC they really know what they are doing more so than some think.

Maytee

Hi, I am in Mesa AZ too. I looked on the internet for docs here and found no one to do it. The fill centers here dont have fluroscopy. Even the dr that was proctored by dr ortiz wont fill TJ patients... UGH Teri

Told my sister, had to listen to all her fears about Mexico, told my friend, had to listen to all her fears about Mexico... Told my Mom when I got home,( she was babysitting my pets) she said okay.... My sister lives in another state and cant keep her mouth shut as well as my friend who lives here.... I really dont care who knows as its not their concern..... to those who give you grief, tell them to blow it out their a$$ !!!!! I do

Hi Lorrie,

I posted on Manny's post. I know what he is going through. I do feel pretty good most of the time. I was feeling crappy and realized it was dehydration and gas.... I so used to drinking 1-2 gallons of water everyday and it has been hard getting water down. Until that is I realized gas was the culprit!!! Every sip felt like something was trying to push its way back up... damn that gas! Glad to hear you are doing great!!! I cant wait to see the pics!! Feel free to email me at... petnannyaz@cox.net We have to organize a fill party!!!! Later, Teri

I had surgery on a Thursday at 4:30 pm, stayed at the clinic that night. Walked to the hotel the next morning, shopped all day and left for the airport at 4:30 pm on that day, Friday. Tuesday I was back to cleaning houses and pet sitting.....it has now been a week and a day since surgery... my advice drink drink drink, my only problem was feeling crappy due to dehydration, ( I usually drink 1-2 gallons of water a day)

Well hello bigmanny and dimples!!!!! This is Teri, I was banded with you guys on the 1st... Dont feel bad about the pain you are in, as I am in the same boat! Sometimes I feel nothing and others I feel like water is boxing its way down! I have tried the gas-x strips and go so-so relief and then I tried phazyme and it really worked better. I have horrible neck/shoulder pain and once I do the phazyme it goes away. I have been really eating a lot of cream of potato soup and learned that if it is too thick I feeeeeeel it going down. You do realize that it has only been a week since we had this done sooooooo. Some people take a bit longer to heal. Also, have you ever had a cut in your mouth? notice how it takes so much longer to heal? its because of saliva and stuff passing it all the time, cuts are to be kept clean and dry to heal at maximum speed, good luck on keeping a stomach clean and dry Remember, you and I are going to drop our "hundred" by the end of September e me if you want to chat!!! petnannyaz@cox.net Teri

Alright so I woke up this morning with some new strength! Im having a lovely protein shake for breakfast and working from 1400-0230am so I packed my lunch with only soups and liquids so I would have to follow the post-op diet. Thanks for the support.

Okay, dont feel too bad, I was banded on Thursday the 1st and I have cheated too. By Saturday night I felt so weak in the grocery store I really thought I would pass out so I decided to move up the protein drinks to day 4. I know I was bad but I got really light headed every time I stood up they made all the diffference! Stay away from chewable food as I think it may "scratch" on the way down!! Good luck, I'm right here with you!! Teri :dash2:

No no no!!!

A diet coke slushie still has carbonation! Want to feel a horrible burning sensation? Then have one!!! Here is a bit of info to get you to kick the coke habit! The sweetners in soda are hunger creating.... as in drink more, want to eat more!!! I loooove diet coke but limit to one a week because it makes me hungrier!!! And it is a proven fact. I sorry to say however am sucking down my last few since I go under the knife Thursday Give it up and spend that money on skimpy new hot clothes... Teri

okay, so here is a little bit of my life to relieve your embarrassment... Over the year of 2007 I lost over 110 pounds. What do I have to show for it? Only 30 pounds have stayed off and losing/ gaining those pounds have cost me over $3000. I feel horrible when I see people that saw me at my 70 pound down mark (since that was the most that was gone at any time) I find myself avoiding friends and family so as not to have to admit I cant keep myself from shoveling it in! I turn 38 this summer and am soooooo single its sad. I have no idea how much I have lost in the past 20 ish years but I think I am up there with you! In 8th grade I used to pack an apple and a can of diet soda for lunch because I was about 20 pounds overweight and everyone was thinner! When you get your band, dont look for the ways to "eat around the band", look to this site and your new friends to make this the best decision of your life!!!

Teri - Petnanny--------due to band 5-1-08

Just wondering if anybody out there is scheduled for May 1st. It's getting close!

Lorraine

Hi, I will be there too!! Teri-petnanny------Arizona

Hi Teri,

How do you know you don't have a private room? No one has told me anything about my room. I requested to have surgery early in the morning so that maybe I could go back to the hotel that same day. Yes those paper panties don't sound like alot of fun...LOL

Hi.... They told me that I wouldnt be in a private room, they would have told you already. I just found out on the forum that I may not have a tv soooooo, I will be fighting tooth and nail to go back to the hotel that day. I have to do my tests on the same day since I do not get into San Diego until 6:20 Wednesday eve. I can not wait... Im sooo excited. By the way, my friend is a true friend because she plans on going on a strict diet when I get home so I dont have to suffer alone! Glad your hubby is there for you!!!See you Wednesday, I am 5'6, blonde bob hair and a little bit loud so you should be able to find me!! I never shut up eighter so I think the nurses will welcome my early departure! 2 days left!!! Teri

Unless they tell you otherwise, you have a private room. Also, the paper panties are a HOOT. As a fattie, I have never worn a thong, and this was my chance. I laughed so hard. Many of our forum got an extra pair and had the doctor sign them as a souvenier. Go with the flow.. the whole thing is facinating.

Hey Paula,

Yes, they did tell me I dont have a private room because this was the only time that I had to escape from here and I think all the rooms were full. As a fattie, I once bought a thong and now keep it in my drawer to remind me of not purchasing stupid things, besides, I have all the dental floss I need in the bathroom! Teri

Teri

So glad to hear someone else is goingfor that same day that post on this forum. I am looking forward to meeting you. Are you coming alone? I will have my husband with me but we would love to maybe get together. What area are you from?

Lorrie - dimples1966

Hi Lorrie,

I am going with a friend of mine. We are coming from Mesa, Arizona. No worries, I have a friend that had this done by OCC about 4 years ago and she said it was the best thing she ever did and has never regretted it. I am going to be in a non-private room so I am wondering who my roomie is. My only concern is how long we have to wear the paper panties before I can return to my cotton comfeys!! Teri- petnanny

:lb5: I am a newbie and am scheduled for surgery May 1st. I will be arriving on April 30 from Mississippi. I am nervous and very excited. Would love to meet anyone else that will be there the same time.

hi, I too am a newbie with the same dates as you!! Teri- Petnanny

I WILL BE THERE NO MAY 1ST,SO EXCITED.

PRISSY

Hi, I arrive on Wednesday eve the 30th and am scheduled for banding on Thursday the 1st.... Look for me, Teri