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Chrissyw

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  1. Hi I had stomach stapeling and regained all the weight I lost and then some. I was banded in October and have lost 60lbs so far. I am well over 100lbs from my all time high. That 60 lbs includes 25lbs I lost before being banded. I had my 2nd fill today. I stayed very strict on the liquid diet they suggest. I did not do mushies and have had no vomiting at this time. I vomited all the time after the stapeling. They never really explained to me how to avoid it after the first surgery which of course was back in the obesity surgery early days. I have not really had restriction so far (although I feel much different after this fill). I did end up with a hematoma after the surgery over the port sight which was dealt with before I came back from Mexico but I had some issues for about 3 weeks. I'm also older (62) so I don't think I bounced back quite as quick as surgery I had when I was younger. Dr. Ortiz told me that people who have failed with previous surgery are more successful than average because they know that this is their last chance. Also I know that following the diet whether restricted or not has to be done. I also found out I had a fistula from the previous surgery when I went to Mexico. I was worried that would prohibit the surgery but it didn't. It's a much bigger investment of course that regular banding. I'm not sorry I did it in fact I'm thrilled with each piece of clothing I can give away. Good luck and don't be afraid to talk to the OCC and Dr. Ortiz and Miranda. I spoke with Dr. Ortiz on the phone before I ever went.
  2. Try marking as favorite or bookmark and you should be able to get back to it.
  3. I'm scheduled to arrive from Atlanta a little after 12:30pm in San Diego on the 6th to have surgery on the 7th but I am going to be ready to go on the 6th just in case they have time in the afternoon I have lost 15lbs so far and want to get another 15 off before surgery. Hope to see some of you there Christine
  4. Chrissyw

    Lap over

    Back in the 80's and also 70's bariatric surgery was in it's infancy. There were some procedures that were very drastic and people lost weight but suffered all kinds of vitamin deficiency problems and even died from this. the stapeling procedure also called gastroplasty was the least at that time.involved putting a band over part of the stomach for the opening (this piece of material has no relationship to the lapband) and then stapeling across the area. This procedure is rarely done anymore and anyone who does it I would avoid at all costs. You do get restriction and I lost weight. Then as I was eating one night the staples released. I could feel it. This wasn't painful but I knew the restriction was over. This was over 25 years ago. I had other unrelated medical problems and started gaining weight. There was no other help available. I'm very glad that Dr. Ortiz is willing to do the lapband. I have lost 80lbs over and over only to gain it back. I know this will not be easy I know what I went through before to lose weight and I still watched what I put in my mouth and exercised by swimming about 1/2 mile per day. When Bariatric surgery was in it's infancy the procedures were very extensive. I have a hugh incision down the middle of my abdomen. I have since had gallbladder surgery laproscopically and the difference is amazing. Also there were no support groups. Here in Atlanta there are support groups all over the city as well as what's on line. I think psychologists are more in tune with the eating disorders that are involved with morbid obesity and I am willing to do it all to lose weight and keep it off. I hope this answers some of the questions.
  5. Chrissyw

    Lap over

    You can talk directly with Dr. Ortiz about this. He does do remedial surgery and is one of the few MD.s anywhere that will band someone who has had surgery previously. I had a stapeling done in the '80's and he is going to take me as a patient. I spoke with him directly after I had made the decision. It is more costly and the surgery more extensive. He will do it laproscopically but expects it to take 21/2 hours and my recovery may be a little more than people who just get the band. I am also working at getting my BMI down also before surgery next month. Dr. Ortiz has more experience with this than other doctors here in the states. I spoke with a doctor here and he will only consider Stomaphyx which is a procedure that after researching I don't think will really help me. Good luck and let me know if you are going to go through with this. I'd like to meet someone who's going through the same thing
  6. Chrissyw

    Weight limit?

    I started at I 340lb and am 5'6" so my BMI was well over 50. I have lost 18lbs so far with a goal of reaching 305 by 10/6 when I go to be banded. I'm working hard to get there and expect to be there or very close. I talked with Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Miranda and set my schedule. I booked the airfare today for my trip and am very excited. I'm looking forward to continuing this weight loss and feeling better. My blood sugar is already much better. Will see my Primary care doc this week to discuss meds and what needs to be continued. Good luck and please call them. They are the ones with the answers
  7. I am scheduled for surgery in October. I am still losing my presurgery weight. I'm very excited and hope to meet others there. Christine
  8. Hi When you call the OCC call during the day so you can talk with everyone. I spoke with Carolyn first and I am having a special surgery. I had surgery back in 1985. a stomach stapling. I spoke with Dr. Ortiz directly and he told me what to expect- time it would take etc. He told me about the previous types of like surgery he has done and what my expectations could be. 70% of the weight I need to loose gone. I weighed 340lbs. I also spoke with Dr. Miranda and she told me the diets she would suggest. They want my BMI to below 50. I have been losing weight for 3 weeks. I've lost 12.5lbs so far. At this weight and my age of 61 I'm also not very active. I'm trying to change that and bought the Wii fit this week and also some dvd tapes to walk by. Realistically I can't walk a lot. I can walk around Walmart and Costco and I walked up a steep hill at work today. My surgery is not scheduled until October. I think doing this like this is very helpful. I have read Dr. Ortiz's book. I am losing weight and eating Protein, veggies and minimal carbs just like I will be after banding but more of it. I wish you luck and they have made me feel good. I have weekly support by emailing Dr. Miranda my weight and how I've done each week. I can ask questions about the diet. This week I asked about coffee and diet coke for instance. I'm am increasing my water and decreasing caffeine however. I really am convinced that surgery for most of us that are morbidly obese (such ugly words) . I'm also convinced that since I'm spending a fair amount of money that I want Dr. Ortiz to follow me which will mean extra visits to Mexico and of course extra expense. I am also convinced that if I need a psychologist, nutritionist or trainer I will get that. I want to live at least 20 years longer and I want that time to be healthy and I want to be able to get around. I can see not walking in 5 years if this continues. My highest weight was 387 and I was so miserable. I know with men that if you have a big belly and most men that are overweight do that the procedure is more difficult. However I also know that if you can lose some weight before the procedure it will be easier to perform and easier to recover. I wish you well. Hope this is not too long winded
  9. Hi I'm getting my band in October. Did you guys start getting your fills in Roswell right away or did you go back to Tijuana for the first one? I'm trying to figure out when and where to go. Do you have a cost comparison. Obviously the trip would be $300+ for the flight. It would make my life easier to stay here in Atlanta what with work etc. Thanks
  10. One of several studies about people after weight loss surgery is switching additions from food to alcohol. Since alcohol will go down easy it can pose a problem and also has empty calories. I think being aware of the risk would help make a decision.
  11. Hi I'm getting ready for surgery in October. I've been eating what Dr. Miranda has spoken to me about a shake for breakfast, and lean cuisine for lunch and supper along with a large salad. I've been doing this for 2 weeks and have lost 7lbs so far. I'm trying to get my BMI down below 50 before I have surgery. She gave me several choices to do and if I hadn't lost weight this week I would have changed. I think it only makes sense to start loosing as soon as possible it is less I have to do and when you realize that the odds are against loosing 100% of the fat I have anything to help. Also knowing that this process of loosing is going to take years not months is something else I'm trying to get into my head. I'm seriously thinking about going to a psychologist after i have the surgery. I know that at Emory here they have a hugh program for obesity control good luck.
  12. Hi I'm so sorry you had such a difficult time. I would definitely go back to Mexico to refil instead of induring this. I know that at some centers (not necessarily the fill centers )doctors have nurses do the fills. Also as a nurse myself I have accessed ports before Not for bands but port a caths that run into the heart and other similiar devices and you don't "slip" off a port. You should hold the port with one hand while you inject it. You do not under any circumstances stab a port blind. Protect yourself and either find another fill site or go back to Mexico. I'm still awaiting banding myself. I guess this is why when I spoke with Dr. Ortiz he said come back to him to make sure it's done right. Good luck Christine
  13. Hi Vix, I don't know whether you have tried this. I'm not scheduled for surgery myself until Oct. 6. I am trying to get my BMI down to a more manageable stage. Anyway I told my grown children last weekend and to say I got mixed reviews was an understatement. They all understand that I really must loose weight because of the co-morbities I now have. My brother is a physician and I haven't told him yet. That is for today. Anyway I ordered Dr. Ortiz book off of Amazon. It was sold out here on the website. The name of the book is Lap Band for Life. The Complete Patient Guide to Success with the Lap Band. As I'm reading it things and expectations for success are very clear. This has helped one of my sons in particular understand that I'm not going for quack surgery but am putting myself in the hands of an excellent experienced surgeon. I have had previous weight loss surgery. Back in the mid 1980's they did a stomach stapling that involves restriction. I lost 82lbs and then the stapling opened up. There was no support back then. No internet and no support from the physicians. I never spoke with a nutritionist. (I have already spoken with Dr. Miranda here and am emailing her my weight on Fridays) The surgery I'm going to have is more complicated than most bandings. In the United States few surgeons are capable of doing this. I have spoken to various surgeons here and they are only willing to do things like Stomaphyx an endoscopic procedure that makes pouches out of my stomach from the inside. The weight loss with this procedure is only 15-20 lbs. Let me suggest that you do much more research both for yourself and to satisfy the people that love you that you are doing the right thing. We as consumers of health care must have the pros and cons of everything we do and be very clear that this is the right thing at the right time for us. My primary doctor is on board with my surgery. I'm am looking at controlling and informing myself on all aspects of weight loss. I know that the people we love need to be able to support us in this journey. Good luck Christine
  14. From everything I've read including Dr. Ortiz's book don't panic. There are solutions now for many things including thickened normal saline. I'm still awaiting banding so I don't have the experience of the others but I want to offer my support. I also hope the doctor withdrew the saline that was there before adding more to make sure there was no air there. Good luck Christine
  15. I think wallet cards are the way to go. I treat people with defibrillators and or other types of cardiac implants and they do not wear alerts they all carry (or are supposed to carry) wallet cards. Good luck Christine
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