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WOW that is so good to know! I just think that Dr. O knows so much more about this than most of the US docs since he's been doing it so much longer. I will definitely go back to the OCC just because I am afraid of other stuff happening to me. Thank God you were aware of what your body was saying. I'm so glad you got it taken care of!

I'm going to write them a letter since I've been on the phone with them before and have never gotten anything done. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

Michelle you look absolutely gorgeous!!! :lb24:

That's just fantastic Donna!!! I had no doubt you would "wear him down"...lol...Can't wait to hear when you have a scheduled date!

Thanks guys. I will check into it and see if I can get something back. I bet that the portion the insurance company would have paid the people here is more than the $8,000 that the OCC charges. Still...it just burns my butt that it even happened...grrrrr...

I just got a letter in the mail today from my insurance company AND a voicemail while I was out from the bariatric office I went to here in my town saying that I was APPROVED!!! This is 10 days postop by the way where I went to OCC. I am freaking out because I can't BELIEVE that they had told me my insurance was not approved! Honestly, I am not disappointed that I had my surgery at OCC and might have done it anyway, but this is just going to really upset my husband and it makes me SO mad that they are so unorganized. I did call the office back and tell them that I'd already had it done. They seemed a bit surprised, but not as surprised as I was... Is it just me, or do I have a right to be freaking out? I'm just so emotional about the money aspect of it ..... :lb12:

Okie dokie...that clears it up then. I looked on my card and have the same as you....10 cm. I don't plan on going anywhere else to have my fills, but you are right...it's probably good to know.

I found this posted by Lori on the board previously. It was posted in 2006, so don't know if things have changed since then or not. I guess I'm not very bright because I don't even know what size band I have. It doesn't matter to me really because I trust Dr. Ortiz to make the correct decision for me and to give me the one that I need for my size and anatomy. Is this something I need to know or to be concerned with? Group: Admin Posts: 590 Joined: 4-June 06 From: Sunny California Member No.: 958 Hi all, The 4cc band is the 10cm band. The larger, VG band, holds 10cc's and is 14cm long. Dr. Ortiz uses the 4cc band for most patients. For those with a higher BMI, or for those that carry more weight around their mid-section, Dr. Ortiz may use the larger VG Band (10cc). Sometimes he makes that decision while you are in surgery, but you will be informed if anything other than the standard 4cc band is used. I hope that helps. -------------------- Lori Patient Care Coordinator Obesity Control Center Lori@obesitycontrolcenter.com www.obesitycontrolcenter.com 1-866-376-7849 ext. 81 please remember, I'm not a doctor, so the opinions expressed are my own and what has worked for me. If you have specific questions, you should contact Dr. Ortiz Dr. Ortiz is a licensed physician in Mexico. All items posted are for general information only. If you have specific questions please contact your personal physician.

You have made the absolute best decision ever by coming here to familiarize yourself before surgery. This literally kept me sane and answered all of my questions. I am only 9 days out from surgery, and when I went for my surgery, I wasn't afraid at all, but rather excited, because I was prepared. You will love it here! :lb9:

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: Honestly Cathy...you look like an entirely different person! You look absolutely wonderful!!!

Congrats on making the decision to get your band! I'm only 3 days ahead of you, so hopefully someone else with more experience will have more info for you than me, but I just wanted to say that I truly think from reading this board and others that everyone is different in the way that they adjust to the band. I too could feel the band in my chest when I took a deep breath until about yesterday, but it's completely gone now. If you are bloated, I would imagine it is the gas. I didn't have any problems at all until my 6th day and then I had a horrible "knife-like" pain under my left shoulderblade. It's still there now and the only pain pills I ever took were because of this pain. It was worse when I ate. I think that people are so different in how they react to the things in their bodies, that it is just going to take you some time to adjust. You are only 5 days out...it WILL get better. One thing that really helped me was to sit with a heating pad on the lowest setting on my abdomen and then on my shoulderblade. Maybe that would help you too. And, of course, walk, walk, walk.... Don't get discouraged and don't give up. You should start feeling better as the days pass. >

Hi Paula, You poor thing...you sure seem to have had your hands full recently. I hope that things start going better for you and I just wanted to tell you that with your losing over 50#, you are a huge inspiration to me...just starting out. I look forward to hearing that things are looking up for you soon! >

Welcome back Julie! Glad you had a good time and you will have the 3# off in no time!

...but who's looking at ME anyway???!!! Just proof that the good doctor is still as smokin as ever!

That sounds so yummy Cathy! I had cream of broccoli today and strained the broccoli. It still tasted like heaven after being on clear liquids for a week...

UGH!!! It was so bad last night that I had to take a pain pill before bed! I hadn't had to take ANY pain pills before that and it makes me mad that I had to for stupid gas pain! It helped to lie flat on my back. This morning I tried to associate it with food, but it hurt before I ate and after. I decided to go walk to try to get rid of it and I went to a mall and walked for 2 hours and it STILL is there. It shoots up into my neck and is so bad that I am literally sick to my stomach from it. I researched it and found that this is a very common place for it to settle after lapband surgery and a lot of people have it. It is caused from the gas (carbon dioxide) that they use to blow up your belly when they do the surgery. GasX or gas strips will not help this kind of pain because it is not in your pouch but in the abdominal cavity (as I had earlier suspected), so pretty much nothing we can do but wait for it to go away and according to some people I read about, it was weeks... ( Anyway...off to take my second pain pill and I'm not very happy about having to do it...

Congrats Alana! That has to feel wonderful! =D>

Well, for those struggling on the clear liquid diet, you can do it since I just did! Today is one week exactly since my surgery and I finally am able to have the full liquids. I found out yesterday that I could have started yogurt on day 4, but I didn't and decided I would go ahead and make it through with the clear liquids for the entire 7 days. Yes, it was difficult, but more boring than anything because I am an emotional eater. I also waited until this morning to weigh myself for the first time since surgery and lost 4#. I know that 4# certainly isn't a lot, but it's A-OK with me! (I have only had one BM in the last 13 days, so that probably has a bit to do with it...lol). My biggest problem is the danged left shoulder blade pain and it's definitely BAD! I felt great the first 6 days and then yesterday this came on me. But, interestingly, it goes away when I lay down...so at least I know it's an air bubble. I'll survive...just wanted to let everyone know who are getting close to surgery what my experience has been.

That is WONDERFUL Cathy!!! You are shrinking away on us! I'm so proud of you!!! =D>

Gorgeous!!!!! You look so wonderful! =D>

I have no clue what a Samantha Jones vibrator is and when I looked it up on google...well I'm sure that's not what you were referring to...LOL...but what a GREAT suggestion for using the heating pad...I'm doing it right now. It has helped the gas in the front every evening so why not the back. THANK YOU!!!!!!

I hope you get to feeling better! Just the thought of nausea with the band really scares me...you poor thing! :lb12:

CONGRATS Christina!!! Ain't it great???!!! A funny story about the lovely "paper panties"....my husband kept threatening to take a photo of me in them! I would have killed him! lol

Wow! I thought I had been pretty lucky so far with having such a small amount of discomfort, but today I have the most horrific left shoulder blade gas pain that shoots up my neck and into my left arm. I've had this little "pocket" of gas that I've felt below the left shoulder blade since surgery, and it's been a bit bothersome, but not complete PAIN like it is today. Has anyone else experienced this type of discomfort? I guess the body must have all sorts of weird pockets where the air can settle. It's a real ouchy for sure!

Thanks Jess...I thought that's what it was but just couldn't find my folder. I still think my mind is a little fuzzy...lol