cfuture88

Dr. Ortiz has a video on youtube about slippage. View it.

No one from ct?

I am feeling the same thing and I think this if restriction. It is the food waiting to go through the band. Maybe you don't need a fill yet. Are you losing weight at a good rate, and following the rules. Or are you having to drink most of your food because solids won't go down? If you are doing the rules and losing weight and are eating 1/3rd of what you used to eat, you probably do not need a fill.

Dr. Ortiz said to me, the goal is to see how little you can eat and not be hungry. It is not to see how much you can eat before you are full. Try that and see if it helps.

I had edema (my face was swollen) everytime I woke up the first days after surgery and by day three I was so exhausted that I slept for 5 hours in the day and all night. I was bloated from intestinal gas, hungry and generally felt like shit. Called Dr. Acosta. He told me I was dehydrated, and was not getting enough protein (hence the edema). I was still on clears so these bullets came in handy. I diluted them 3 parts water, 1 part protein and drank two of them over the course of a day. I felt soooo much better. I am really glad I have them. Dr. Acosta says to drink a gallon a day (128 oz approx) at first.

Cathy- am thinking more about you and think (non of my business but here goes) that you had better be really careful. Shredded wheat is hard, stringly, and tough even with soaking and if you read my last post maybe you can hang out a while longer... Dr. Ortiz has a utube video on slipage and you should watch it. I am worried about you. You are only 4 days out!!!

Cathy- Grits are from hominy- From the net-Usually a breakfast item in the US Southern region. Made from the kernel of corn. When corn has been soaked in lye and the casing has been removed it becomes Hominy. The lye is rinsed out very well and the corn is left to harden. Then the swollen hominy is ground up to the texture of tiny pellets. When boiled with water, milk and butter it becomes a cereal similar to cream of wheat. It's used as a side dish for a good old fashioned Southern breakfast. Sometimes you can make it with cheese and garlic for a casserole. Tastes (to me) like rice. Some people eat it with butter, salt and pepper (like rice) and some use it like a breakfast cereal with sugar,or syrup on it. It takes longer to cook but I love it. It is an acquired taste. Why are you stressing over breakfast cereal if you don't like it/had a hard time getting it down. Dr. Ortiz says to try to eat as little as you can to make you not hungry. Don't try to see how much you can get down or hold or how much you can eat before you feel full. You do not want your pouch stretching at this point. (I was banded on the 10th also)- am still on clears for another 3 days. Then fulls for a week and protein shakes, etc for a week. No solids until 21 days- IF you can't drink it don't eat it!. Again, the way it was explained to me- you want to do everything you can not to stress out the pouch (or stretch out the pouch). To totally let it rest for now. And I know how hard that is- I AM STARVING. I have never been so hungry in my life.

I am starving. Started feeling like shit- drank two of the protein bullets and feel a lot better now. the burping is driving me nuts and the intestinal gas is now manageable.

yes paula- you too. Had a great time.

I took an exlax (I knew it wasn't too strong for me) on day three because I felt like if someone stuck a needle in me I would fly around the room. It really helped overnight. I was finally able to expel the gas the other direction. Before that All I did was rumbling burps like when I have reflux. The definition of constipation is hard stool like rabbit pellets, not how often you go. So, you are definitely constipated. May also not be drinking enough. Dr. Acosta told me today that I should be drinking a gallon a day. I would keep with the MOM daily or some lax until you have some results and take COLACE which is a stool softener with NO lax. Takes three days to work though. You can take up to three a day. If your stools get too soft then take less colace. As always call the clinic if you get no relief or are worried.

Hey Denise- you made it home Okay? how are you doing. Nice meeting you. and hope to talk to you again.

See my "blow by blow" and it might make you feel better- hope so.

Arrived in SD and transported to TJ on the 9th before noon for preops. Was just banded 6/10- lost 10 before I got there. Surgery was easy. Stay in hospital overnight- you will get something IV for pain and GERD, and a sleeping pill. Two people who went to the hotel had to go back to the clinic in the middle of the night. Also would NOT recommend flying out the day they say. Better to stay in San Diego at hotel, or with friends if they live close, or at the TJ hotel. I have had fluid retention (face puffy), wicked abdominal bloating, no BMs, feeling very tired (all of this only after I was d/c'd from the hotel). I called Dr. Acosta (he stayed in the hospital overnight to care for people done on the 10th). He said I was not drinking enough or getting enough protein- so the water is not going to the cells but rather causing edema. It is really too early for protein shakes, but I happened to go on bariatriceating.com and ordered these clear liquid bullets (look like giant test tubes). They have 3 oz of protein drink worth 42 grams of protein. Watered it down 1/2 or more and feel MUCH Better since having one. Tastes like vitamin water or melted jello depending on how much you dilute it. Dr. Acosta said I should be drinking a gallon a day of water. Could not imagine getting on a plane on the 12th like I was supposed to. (my parents live in San Diego so I came to stay with them for a couple of days. Anyway, everyone was great. Preop- had blood drawn, saw the cardiologist and talked medical hx with him, had an ECG and Spirometry (they check out lung capacity), and met with Dr. Mirando who had a powerpoint presentation and post op instructions. Next morning- put in a gorgeous hospital room (small but had a satin bedspread, loveseat, chair, little fountain, and soothing music.) Anesthesiologist, Dr. Ortiz, the other surgeorn, and Dr. Acosta (the overnight dr.) ALL came to my room preop and chit chatted with me for 10-20 minutes before they gave me instructions. Dr. Ortiz brought his coffe cup with him, sat down, and did pt teaching. IV was started, had a ativan (tranquilizer) under my tongue, and walked to the OR. (Usually they bring a wheelchair, but I wanted to talk.) Dr. all speak perfect english. Nurses do not but they are very efficient and understand you even if their english isn't exact. Place is immaculate, everyone wears shoe covers so the floors don't get dirty. I am a nurse practitioner and could'nt believe how superior it was to ANY hospital in the states I have been in. I do not know how an emergency is handled but the run of the mill stuff was great. This was an outpatient OR, it was not a general hospital. The floor is Dr. Ortiz' and the other floors are not necessarily medical i.e. hospital wards. Overnight was watched by the dr. and nurses. Had popsicles and water that night and broth in the AM. Was encouraged to walk. IV stayed in till morning. Went to hotel at 830 or so, new patients were coming in. Took a taxi ($5) to Revolucion Ave where all the shopping is. Came back after a couple of hours. Went to the Restaurant. The waiter was banded 12 years ago (lost 45 lbs) by Dr. Ortiz, and knew exactly what we could eat and order depending on wether the people were there for fills or just banded. Walked to the grocery store late after noon and got more clears because the restaurant was expensive for broth (4.80 for a bowl.) Finally had some discomfort at bedtime and lots of abdominal bloating. Sorry for the long post but I like the blow by blow when I am at someone's mercy.

Just banded. Will return to TJ for first fill but need to plan my travel. Are you always filled at the first fill? AND... where are people banded in TJ who live in CT go for their fills? Will the docs here take you if done in TJ? How much is the charge. Where to get filled with Fluro? Thanks for the help.

I am sitting here with Denise who has been wonderful at making all of the doctors comfortable with her spanish. This whole thing was a piece of cake for most of us. Preop yesterday, Dr/nutritionist, cardiologist, spirometry (blow in a plastic thing), ECG. Went next door to a steak house/ mexican food place for a late lunch. To hotel. took a nap. Went to Revolucion Ave. and shopped. Bargain, bargain, bargain, even in the normal stores. Silver (make sure it is real), purses, etc. If you are quoted 120, should end up getting it for ~40 or less, do not be afraid to walk away. Anyway... back to the hotel. Sleep. Van at 730-800am. Waited- do not know what order you are going in.. Taken to a hospital room. New age music, water feature, IV. love seat, single seat, bed with satin bedspread. IV put in, medicine given, makes you want to doze. Come get you. Can walk if you request it or wheelchair. To OR. Up on table. Mask on face, wake up, go to room. Sleep a couple of hours and walk in circles. NO PAIN, Small burps (for me), some feeling of hearburn. Dr. Ortiz repaired my hiatal hernia (didnt know I had one.) Have had popsicles, water. Cant feel any difference. Many went back to the hotel but one is back here crying as she did not do well at the hotel. I am glad I am already here and would get help if I needed it.

have tried this many times- after I paste- I get FORBIDDEN-You do not have permission to access this document. What might I do??

I am coming from Connecticut. Flying in the 8th, staying with my folks overnight, going to the airport at 9am on the 9th to be picked up and taken to the clinic. Done on the 12th, going to stay at the folks again for a couple of days before flying out. I have a girlfriend coming with me. What do you know about the different hotels and do we get a choice. The lucerna has a pool and camino real does not?? Anything else different?