Kay

Has anyone used Dr. Trace Curry in OH for a fill? If so how was your experience?

All I know about Dr. Curry aka Dr. C is that he is very helpful on the lapbandtalk.com and takes time to help bandsters that are not his own patients. I would imagine he would be grrrreat. He also has his own forum now. Good Luck.

Yes, I am very cute .

And speaking of cute, since many ladies point out how good looking Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez are, in all fairness, I must mention Dra. Mirandez is also a beauty, and the Post-op Dr. De.....???? (never caught her full name) is quite cute also.

And yes, the care at OCC is wonderful! Being mostly a self-pay facility, it is apparent that they go the extra mile to cater to their clients. After all, unlike US facilities, they actually have real competition, and must keep standards higher.

You need to post your pic out here since you are so cute. We are really curious now. Just kidding you and playing around a bit. GEEEEZ they must have adored you!

:-h I'm thinking about Lap Band surgery and I'm going to the first "meeting" on Saturday in Brunswick, Georgia. I'm diabetic and I'm taking meds. Can ya'll take "pills" post op?

I was on insulin and oral meds. I had a lot of trouble with my oral meds. I had to crush some and take them in yogurt. I still can't take my meds in the a.m. but can get them down later in the day unless I just had a fill. I now do the liquid Centrum to get my vitamins. Good Luck.

A lot of people experience an initial "de-fill" because air escapes from the band after your first fill, actually reducing your restriction. You may find that at your december fill you no longer have a 4.2 fill. But that usually only happens after the first fill.

I hear ya. I was on liquids then yogurt since I was on insulin. Then I added some mashed potatoes to a lot of turkey broth and that made me feel like I was eating something. Post op is for healing. You won't be restricted until your first fill or even the 2nd one

Kay in So Jo Mo

Here is the scoop I got from Lori there today. I just wanted to share it.

Kay,

You aren't intubated, you are under light anesthesia and for a very short period of time. They use something like a mouth guard to keep your tongue in place and keep your airway open. Prior to surgery you are given Ativan .2mgs and Cataprezan.

For surgery you are given Nimbex or Esmeron, Diprivan, Dormiquin & Fentaynl.

I hope that helps

Hi Kay

you may want to try reaching Lori at Lori@obesitycontrolcenter.com she is viewing posts in here but may not catch all of them she can also be called anytime I belive her extension is 82 somebody please correct me if I am wrong ---

THX for the info! >

Hi Kevin, Thanks for the info. I got my picture loaded this morning.

Woo hoo!

EJO,

I am so sorry you had to go through the situation that occured to you. Contact OCC directly for questions like this. They can be the most help.

If you feel it is an emergency call Dr. Ortiz on his cell phone number he gave you.

I so hope you feel better soon and get the answers you need.

Kevin

Kevin- can you tell me how to get my picture downloaded. I got it onto lapbandtalk.com but can't seem to get it loaded here. I see you have your pic with your signature.

Thanks!

Kay in St Jo Mo

LORI--I have written and asked about anesthesia but have not heard anything back from you. Would you look at my prior posts and respond after you visit with Dr. Estrada?

Thanks

Kay in St Jo Mo.

Lori- why did get rid of the forum Icon on the home page. New bandsters will have trouble finding the forum now. Can you let Dr. Ortiz know that we think they need to put the ICON back on the home page down at the bottom under his book like it used to be???????

Kay in St Jo Mo

Protein puddings for all you that can't eat breakfast folks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there,

I found some Sylvester Stallone high protein pudding at GNC and it works great for all of you that can't eat breakfast or lunch like me.

20 grams of protein

1 g carb

2 g fat.

It really helps and makes you feel like you had something which is more than tea, coffee, or soup does.

It is a little expensive at $1.75 a can but heck a Starbucks is $4 and does not have the same nutritional value.

They had choc, banana, and vanilla. I liked the choc the best. A bypasser turned me on to it.

Yummm

Kay in St Jo Mo

I would also like to know what he used.. It was wonderful.... I was up walking within about 20 minutes of coming out of surgery and felt great, just a little tired!

It has only been 24 days since my surgery and my incisions just look like pink lines...

LORI---have you had a chance to ask Dr about it. Was it just Diprovan as mentioned in a reply to my original. We are waiting for confirmation from you....................THX.

Hi Everyone,

Ok I am new to this forum, and it says I am a Newbie but please let me reassure you I am not. I am the 2nd youngest to get Lap Band Surgery by Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz. I am also shown in Dr. Martinez book.

I have been starting to get more e-mails from other teens wanting to get the surgery done so I know I need to post here to help any other teens looking to answer any questions they may have. So if you have any questions or need to just talk please, I would like to hear from you. Thanks Cassie

Cassie how do we get the book by Dr. Martinez? Is it similar to Dr. Ortiz's or is it different?

When I had my band placed by Dr. Ortiz and staff --- I was told they used a new technique and I was not intubated and maybe that is why I woke up without a sore throat. I am trying to let future bandsters at my support group here in ST JO MO understand how easy the procedure was for me and I had very little pain. I just don't feel well versed about this anesthesia technique and I am a radiation therapist so I guess I should learn about it. What is the technique called? Is is Blind Nasopharyngeal? LORI can you help me out by asking Dr. Estrada about it.

There were 3 of us at our meeting and our scars looked waaaay nicer than the folks who were banded here in the US. I tell them I am sure that is because Dr. Ortiz is waaay more experienced than the docs here. Some have have done less than 500 bands. I also think the gluey antibacteral stuff they use vs. tape helped.

Thanks to the lucky person that knows the answers to my questions.

I sent Dr. Ortiz my new pics but have not heard back from him yet.

Hi,

I'm new to these boards but I wanted to get some feedback from others out there who may have gone through my situation. I had my Lap-Band surgery at a top hospital in NYC in May 2006. I lost 10lbs in the first weeks after surgery when you are on liquids and still healing. Now I have a hard time eating solid protein and tend to eat high-carb foods that get past the band easily. As a result, I haven't lost weight in the last few months.

I contacted the hospital and they say that if I cannot tolerate proteins and am going to unhealthy foods instead, my band may be too tight.

I feel like the band has failed me and that if I do end up losing weight in the long run, it will be the "traditional" way, without the assistance of the band.

Has anyone else experienced this and could you shed some light or provide a glimmer of hope?

Thanks & best to all.

Jess

Jess I have never been able to eat breakfast, can get down soup for lunch and maybe by dinner can get some protein down. However I can NEVER get chicken down. I have made it as many ways as BUBBA does Shrimp on Forrest Gump and it will NOT go. I get frustrated. I have found if I make the meat in a sauce it works better but I just never know. Amazing that crispy chips will go and I need the protein. I do get mad and eat some things that are not a good choice. You might try some breakfast sausage for dinner and see if you can slide it past the stoma.

Don't give up. You need to drink protein shakes to get enough protein and keep trying your meats with sauces.

I am tight all morning but if they take some out then I can waaaay overeat at my evening meal. Some of us just can't eat 3 meals a day starting with protein like they say.

You don't want to be too tight either as that can lead to a slip. I have lost 40 since January. It is slow but it is working. Hang in there.

Kay in St Jo Mo

I'm feeling very frustrated with my band experience, and I'm hoping someone can relate and share their experience to help encourage me!

I was banded early July, first fill of 3.5cc mid-Aug. (had lost 23lbs at that point), after eating my first meal (after the 3 day liquid diet post-fill) I felt no restriction whatsoever. Spoke with Dr. Ramirez, then Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez. Dr. Ortiz had me email him a food journal of what I had been eating. He was going to go over it with Dr. Miranda and get back to me, but I never heard a word from either of them about the matter (disappointing)...a week after my surgery, I left a message for Dr. Ortiz at the office, but he had never returned that call either, come to think of it. Fortunately, I was able to search out many answers/suggestions via this forum--thank you.

I've hit a disappointing plateau, have not lost any weight since my first fill, and still feel no restriction whatsoever. I am travelling back to Mexico tomorrow for my second fill. Feel very glum about what to expect from this second fill...I don't want to get my hopes up and be disappointed when I get home and perhaps, see no progress.

I know we need to find the sweet spot, but I'm worried that I feel NO restriction...why wouldn't I have at least SOME restriction with the band itself, let alone a 3.5 cc fill?!

I'm not questioning whether this was a crazy thing to do, if I just flushed 10G in the toilet, and how embarrassed I will be if this, too, fails to help me slim down.

I'm so bummed...

You are freaking out waaaaay too soon. I have the smaller band but did not get much restriction with my first fill either. I was filled in KC to avoid the expense of airfare and time off from work to travel. It is NOT unusual not to have much restriction until the 2nd FILL. So hang in there and please don't be disappointed yet.

Keep us updated on your progress.

Kay in St Jo Mo

Crystal light is completely fine the whole time. I didn't know they has so many flavors in Mexico. I might have to look when I go for a fill trip.

Becki

EBAY has the Mexican Crystal Light. Search under CLIGHT and you will find it. I noticed theirs is a little less sweet than the US versions. Clight is made by KRAFT.

Do you have a 401K with your day job maybe? I borrowed against my 401 K then you pay it back to yo urself and the interest goes back into your 401K. Just an idea.

I think I almost had my first pb today. I had my second fill yesterday. I was told 24hrs of liquids so I decided to try a a hard boiled egg around 10am since my fill was yesterday morning. I ate a couple of bites and felt a kinda scary tight feeling in my throat/chest area...not like I was going to choke and no foaming or anything like that... just tight with some pressure. It scared me and I started walking around the room thinking oh, no and rubbing my chest but it went away after a minute or so. Is there any warning...is this maybe a warning to stop? I did stop eating and threw out the other half of egg. I was still hungry though and all I had the rest of the day was a slice of mild chedder cheese. Can you guys tell me in your own words how a PB feels before, during, and after so I know what to expect? Thanks!!

EGGS are one thing that I can't seem to get down. I even made my cream cheese eggs thinking they would be soft enough and NO GO----had a PB. If you do try eggs I would make sure it is in the evening. I am the most open in the evening. I have been too scared to try them again.

Kay

I have posted this twice already and I continue to not be able to find my post later. When I had my first fill I asked the doctor about carbonated beverages. He said that you could drink them if you let them sit for a minute. Has anybody else asked this question or do you know anybody who has done this. I was on vacation this past week and did have soda and beer and did not notice a problem except that it did not taste as good as it use to but I think that was because I knew I should not be drinking it. C

What I do is put crushed ice into a cup and then pour it back and forth into another cup and the majority of the fizz will be gone if you do this 4-5 times. I am super careful about soda. I would rather be SAFE than Sorry. I totally understand how hard it is as sometimes you just miss the flavors of the sodas and this is the only way I have found to feel like I had a soda and not worry.

Good Luck,

Kay

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Does anybody else out there just throw up sometimes? I will feel water running in my throat and I can barely make it to the kitchen sink. I never even make it to the restroom @ home. Then the slimey stuff comes up which I know we all have in common. This is not me putting my finger down my throat like a forced vomit. This happens really quick. I barely have time to get from the kitchen table to the kitchen sink.

O'kay fellow bansters...........................have you had this happen?

Hola Ladies,

I am new to the forum and have replied to some bandster and I haved no response. I hope I'm doing this right. I went to TJ to have my first fill and was amazed that my Dr. gave me 5cc of a fill. I fill confused of still felling hungry and not losing that much weight. I was banded 3/24 and have only lost 15lbs to date. Can any one relate to this slow process or am I just getting anxious.

I truly enjoy reading everyones experiences they are very informative.