MimIN

I had my port replaced and tubing repositioned at OCC May 10th. Mine was a little different then a standard port replacement because my actual issue was unknown I went into surgery, they did an exploratory and then fixed me. almost two weeks later everything is great, the incision hurts a bit still but the port itself (it's lower then the incision) is good and no pain.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez in Sept 2006 and had tremendous success, I was very happy with my band. I did not go back to OCC for fills or follow ups, I found a Dr closer by to do all my aftercare. I went through an ungodly amount of adjustments. Too tight, too loose and constant up and down and after awhile my port became obstructed and I could not be adjusted any longer. The Dr was able to get a bit out leaving me at 1.4cc in a 4cc band and "hoped" that would be loose enough. Well, it was not but I ignored the symptoms of being too tight until it became too much. I called OCC, spoke with Lori and Dr. Ortiz and without being seen, it appeared as though I would need a new band so I made my appointment and secured the funds. I arrived at OCC Monday May 10th for my appointment, prepared to have my band replaced. Just as I had done the first time, I came armed with all the paperwork and form of payment. This time it was a bit different because I already had a band. I went through the pre-screening and had all the tests run and then went in for a barium swallow with Dr. Martinez. To my amazement, he said my band was in good position and although my pouch slightly dilated, it was within normal range. He confirmed my obstruction and tried to do an adjustment, but nothing would go in or out. He told me he believed the problem was somewhere within my port or tubing but wouldn't know for sure until I was in surgery but could offer no guarantees. I might wake up with a band, I might not - it would depend what they found and what they could do. The rest is a blur; I went alone so I didn't have anyone to think for me. I remember going in to the OR and the anesthesiologist asking me what my hobbies were and then I woke up in my room. I have no idea how long the surgery took but I woke up with a band - my original band. Dr. Martinez came into explain to me what they had done, but I did not really comprehend. I was confused by everything (anesthesia haze) and tried to find out how much the actual surgery cost and became further confused. This is where Lori stepped in to help smooth everything over! The actual cost was much less than what I had paid; Lori helped sort everything out as well as getting Dr. Martinez on the phone to explain to me yet again what they did and guaranteed a refund of the difference would be sent to me. The care I have received at OCC the first time, and this last time is top rate. I was not just a number or nameless face. They really care about their patients. I commend Lori for putting up with my neurotic questioning and machine gun emails, she is a saint! The biggest lesson I learned in all of this is I need to go back to OCC for all my aftercare, if I had done so I probably would never have ended up where I was and from here forward, I will only go to OCC.

I 100% agree with LoriBecky, I'd rather have hanging breasts or in my case NO breasts than be overweight. I had breast augmentation March 23rd of this year. I did not have huge breasts to begin with however I lost almost all that I had and felt it necessary to have breast enlargement. Next to the band it was the best thing I have done for myself. I have had no lose of sensation whatso ever, I'd say it's quite the opposite. I think the girls look much better now than they ever did.

I have called a few times and I left a message - they do not respond.

Has anyone successfully had a virtual consultation with cosmed? I spoke with someone a couple weeks ago to inquire about a lower body lift, I was told to take pictures (front, both sides and back) and email them in and within 2 business days I would get an email back from the dr. I did so, emailed it in and waited. A week went by and nothing, so I emailed again. I got an email back saying they tried to call me but my phone number was always busy. Not sure why, it is a cell phone that has call waiting and to be honest I am seldome on it but it is always on and always on my hip. Not to mention they have my email. I called and left a voicemail - no return. I emailed again and gave a couple more phone numbers and still nothing. I am frustrated!!! Is it customary to ignore a perspective customer?

Here is an average day for me... Breakfast: Protien smoothie (55g of protien) snack: Cheese string Lunch: Lean cuisine meal or similar snack: ss/ff pudding Dinner: 3 oz chicken, veg snack: sf/ff ice cream When I travel (I travel quite a bit with my job) I just make wise choices. I often take pre-made protien drinks with me for breakfast or I will get a fruit cup and glass of milk. At restaurants I order whatever I know will work and eat what I can and leave the rest. It is harder to stay on track when I'm away from home but just do the best that I can.

My favorite recipe is Isopure Dutch chocolate (50g of protien), 1 cup of skim milk, tablespoon of reduced fat peanut butter (5g protien) blended with ice. I drink that once a day and I have yet to get sick of it.

Congratulations Becki!!!!

I took a week off but I felt great and could have gone back within a few days.

Becki: I did have an small unfill, I don't EVER want to go through that again! I was more afraid of what would happen to my band then the pain - we've become buddies;) Teri: after my 3rd fill I could no longer eat tortilla chips and everytime I have I regret it. I love them and I miss them but it was just not worth the risk. The band is my willpower, if it says no I have to go along with it. I do 'diet' but it is not a specific one. I try to remain low carb/fat in most that I eat, I drink a ton of water and I exercise a lot. I do allow myself to have chocolate or whatever I am craving or I would lose my mind!

I have been fortunate and have not had many problems with my band however last Monday I thought for sure I was going to lose it. On my way back from Phoenix I had a layover in the Minneapolis airport and I was absolutly starving. I couldn't find much that I could eat so I decided on taco bell, nachos supreme without the nachos (sounds dumb but they'll omit the chips if asked). I was pretty excited as it was the first bit of food I'd had all day and at this time it was 4pm. I took two bites, probably much to big and to fast and instantly stuck. I did pb and felt ill, threw the remaining food away and shortly after boarded the plane. While on the plane the stuck feeling did not subside and I started vomitting and I have never truely vommitted with a pb. I was absolutly miserable, I was up and down to the tiny airplane restroom until the flight attendants told me I had to stay seated. I got back home and Instead of getting better the pain got worse but I thought it would be better by morning. Wrong, next day it was even worse. I started to panic and attempted to contact my local band Dr but he was unavailable, the midwest was shutdown with snow and no one was open except the ER. I remembered that in my filing cabinet I had all the paperwork from OCC and dug it out to call Dr. Ortiz. It was about 12am my time and I felt bad calling but I didn't know what else to do and I had felt I already put it off long enough. Dr. Ortiz answered the phone on the second ring, I introduced myself and explained what was happening. he told me I needed to get an unfill right away and an x-ray to rule out a slip. Sadly I already knew I needed this but we were in the midst of a blizzard and my car was burried under snow, roads are closed and I felt lost. He told me to stick with clear liquids until I could get to my Dr. I can't say that speaking to him made me feel better about the situation but it was fantastic that I got a real person on the phone and not an answering service. He showed genuine concern and actually sounded like he cared. This cannot be found in any Dr around here. Two days I stayed on clears and then finally last thursday the roads were good enough and I made it to my dr. By this time the pain was gone and I started to take in mushies without any issue. The x-ray revealed no slip, everything is in place and his best explanation is I strained the stoma and it swelled up giving the illusion of an overly tight band or slip. Today better than a week later I feel fantastic, back to eating normal. I'm just so thankful Dr. Ortiz listened to me freak out and calmly offered suggestions. It was the first time I have ever called and it is comforting to know he is there when needed!

I'm queen of convenience so I had to make sure everything was already made and ready. I stocked up on sugar free jello cups, Swanson's beef and chicken broth (in the containers with lids) sugar free Popsicles, sf freezies, crystal light single bottles and a lot of bottled water. When I was in Tijuana I also bought a ton of c-light so I had a variety to choose from, not pre-made but I got the to-go's so was easy to add to a bottle of water.

I went through some depression right after surgery (onset by a death of a family member and already being an emotional basket case) and I had a few days where I wanted the band OUT. I beat myself up for doing something so drastic and how could I be so weak that I couldn't do it on my own. The reality was I wanted to turn to food for comfort and I couldn't. Without having food to turn to I had to deal with raw emotions rather than burying them in the pain of overeating. I think it is natural to have doubts before and after the procedure. The band is life altering and no matter how much you read or think you are prepared everything changes after that silicone band is in place. For me it has been all for the better, even through all the tears! 4 months later I often forget that I am banded. I have learned how to eat and live with the band and it does not hinder anything except my ability to eat a double cheese burger.

I have a problem with rice, whole beans of any kind (I can do mashed beans or refried), string beans and artichokes. Chicken will at times not agree and I absolutly cannot eat pork. I can however eat bread in super small bites, potatoes, tortilla chips and popcorn without issue unless I fail to chew as I should.

You are kickin' butt yourself, 51lbs! That is AWESOME, you'll be well into ONEderland in no time!

I am 4 months post-op and in the beginning I experienced exactly what you have described. I am extremely paranoid about damaging the band and freaked out, lol. I was told by my band aftercare physician that feeling soreness or a dull ache is normal, even after 4-5 weeks you are still healing and at that point you are only just really getting into solids. The solids can irritate the healing pouch/stoma and that can lead to soreness. After 8 weeks or so that weird heaviness stopped. Periodically I will eat something that irritates the stoma and the ache will return, when it does I will go to mushies for the day and will be fine the next. I have had an upper GI at my request (did I mention I am paranoid?? ) and everything is still perfectly in place. I still take all my vitamins and meds but after getting a couple stuck (horrible feeling!) I crush them or find it in a liquid. GNC carries everything you mentioned in a liquid form, not everything has a plesant taste but it is well worth it.

I was banded just about 4 months ago and now that I am almost at my goal I am looking into cosmetic surgery. I am scheduled locally for breast augmentation late march but I also want a tummy tuck or lower body lift and the cost locally is far beyond the realm of what I can afford. Has anyone had a tummy tuck or body lift in Mexico and lived to talk about it?

Thanks Teri! I never in a million years thought the weight would come off as well as it has. Once I started working out it slowed down some and I'm more comfortable with the rate of loss now where before I thought there was something wrong with me! lol.

I too had a problem with over endulgence in chocolate. I made the mistake of "trying" a piece around halloween, found it went down no problem and then could not resist eating more. Then I had a fill and everything changed. I'm seldome hungry anymore but when I am or I get a craving I eat a sf/ff fudgcicle or I will drink an EAS carb control chocolate fudge shake - seems to satisfy the cravings.

If you are fortunate and have an employer that opted for the rider that covers bariatrics no more than 3 weeks if you meet and/or exceed their requirements. However I have UHC and was told that bariatrics were covered and was later denied based on exclusion. Get a copy of your certificate of coverage from your employer before you start down this road and don't trust anything the customer service reps tell you. I spent over 6 months fighting my insurance company because they gave me incorrect information (and had it all documented!) and lost two appeals and a state board appeal and still ended up self-pay.

I have also gone to Dr. Curry (due to finances and convienience) and found him to be awesome! I have had two fills with my second one just yesterday. He and his staff are so nice. I also really like that his dietician Erin is also a lap band patient. I find talking to her comes easy knowing she has gone through everything that I am going through.

Thanks all for the condolences and advice. I am doing much better now then I was a few days ago. I switched to full liquids and am no longer wanting to run out to all my favorite restaraunts. Getting back into the "one day at a time" mentality and it is helping. What is hard is being around my family who love to eat as they look at me wondering what on earth is wrong with me; why I'm not having any matzo balls with my soup and why on earth did she say NO to chicken kiev?? I haven't told most of my family as I just don't want to deal with their comments and judgement. The comment I just heard my aunt say to my cousin "She's just like her mother with those crazy diets, I bet she's taking pills!" tee hee... whatever they want to believe is fine by me.

I was banded 5 days ago, the first 4 days were super easy. As long as I have popcicles, I am just fine. Today I received devistating news that my uncle passed away. My family is closeknit and it has hit hard. The first thing I wanted to do was eat. All I thought about all day was food and how I wanted to eat this and that. I left work early (today was my first day back) came home and looked in the fridge a dozen times. I ate a few popcicles and slipped and ate a bit of peanut butter. Right now I am miserable - I can't eat, it hurts to cry I'm generally exhausted and I don't know how to deal with it. How do most of you deal with emotional eating? I don't know how to, it just makes me more miserable