BandDiva

Hey everyone.....I saw this post and wondered about them. Does anyone know if she called the OCC and got the info? I hope so! That would be a step in a brighter future! I know it is going to change my life & I can't wait. I am counting the days.....less than a month now! WOO HOO!

So with all the excitement, I sat down the other day and was checking out houses in my area. I have wanted to move for a while. I do love coming home for lunch and the short drive. But I am tired of the crime filled neighborhood. I found a wonderful home. My husband and I went out and we have now seen it 3 times. My realitor told me to take care of the surgery and when we get back, we can list our house and possiblity make an offer, contingent on our house selling. The hard part is getting our house ready. I found a housekeeper to clean it up. We need the yard done and then he needs to finish the floor. I think at that point we should be good to go. I am going to miss my pool. That is hard to let go. I worry that when we get back from TJ, are we even going to feel like doing anything? I dont want to miss out on this house. This is terrible timing. But wouldnt it be great to start our lives over with new body and new house. It has an acre and a half I could actually do so planting and yard work, in peace and quiet. Maybe I am looking for a distraction. I dont know, but it is beautiful and I hope we can work it out. I told the realitor that I would call her when we get back to let her know how we are feeling, we will just have to go from there. If we have to put the whole thing off then I guess that is what will happen. Meanwhile, I have to get ready for this trip. I look forward to getting some rest. I am going to really miss my son but at the same time it may be good for me to be away from him for a while. We will appreciate eachother more.

Just know that if this house is meant to be, it will happen. If it doesn't, you will find something you love even more. I had my heart set on a place and my heart was broken when I found out it had foundation problems ( I had already made an offer ). Anyway, 6 weeks later I found a home that was only 2 years old and it was immaculate! I was so happy that the other place didn't work out. So, everything happens for a reason. If it is meant to be, it will be there once you get back from Mexico and you have your strength back etc. If not, don't be discouraged because God has something bigger and better. (that is how I see it) Concentrate on your surgery now & becoming a healthier you & everything else will fall into place! (BIG HUGS)

Two things to consider about which day to do your lab and pre-op work:

1. Think about what time your plane gets in and then add about an hour or so until you get to the OCC if all goes well. You have to arrive FASTNG since MN so nothing on the plane or before you arrive. I was told only a sip or 2 of water if I absolutely had to have it to take pills or something. Ask them to be sure, they may let you have water I just don't think so but could be wrong. So depending on if your plane comes in early or later think about how long you will be Starving!! Since the van tries to pool folks you may have to wait at the airport for someone elses plane to arrive or someone who is lost. If you are a diabetic or prone to hypoglycemia it can be too long to go until the afternoon to eat. Once your testing is done it's still maybe an hour or so(?varies) before you get to go to the hotel and before you can get to any restaurants. BRING snack type food to eat at the OCC as soon as you are finished with the testing so you are not still starving for another hour or more. You have to wait sometimes for whomever else is with you having the testing before you go to the hotel. Now I also no sometimes they rush you right through as you may be alone or only 1 other person so I am not saying this is the only way it goes. Just trying to help people know what to be prepared for.

2. I've read more than a few folks that get there and on that day when they think they are just going to have labs they are able to go ahead and just have the surgery that day for some reason. Maybe find out what the schedule for the day you arrive looks like and if it's not full be aware they may ask you to move up a day. This certainly may not happen also as I know they are very busy and do many surgeries each day.

3. The advantage of just having it done all the same day is you only have to fast once. You only have to be stuck once for your IV and blood work as opposed to 2 times. And for me the day I arrived I was happy to just go to the Hotel and chill until the next morning. You may not be the first one to go into a patient room the morning of surgery because you have to do the pre-op stuff but there's alot of waiting time no matter what. You don't start getting into rooms until 9 or so and they have you there at 8 so be prepared to wait in the waiting room also the day of surgery so they can discharge the previous day's patients, clean the rooms and start all over again with you. There seemed to be no order to how they take you back one by one whether you had your pre-ops done the day before or not.

Hope this helps. Counting down to October for you Dana and others in October!

I am driving with my family. I am actually going to get there on the 4th. My surgery is not scheduled till the 10, but I have business stuff to do in San Diego plus I am visiting family. When do we visit with Dr. O? Just on the day of surgery? I was wondering if I went the day before for labs (like they told me to do), would I get all my answers then? Being stuck twice doesn't really bother me, just wondering if I broke it up, could I be one of the first on operating day. Since we are staying in San Diego, I will have transporation to and from anytime I need it. I have called the OCC twice and they just seem very rushed on the phone. Maybe I should call back and just try to nail something down. I am just trying to figure it out because my husband is not driving, I have to buy him an airline ticket because he can't get off work more than 2 days. So, it will make a difference in him coming in on Wednesday or Thursday night.

Hi Dana I am scheduled for surgery on the 10th too. I will be flying from New York to SanDeigo on Wednesday. I coming a day early with my mom and hoping to do some shopping. We have one month and I can't wait.

Are you doing your Labs the day before? I am trying to decide if I want to do them the day of.......

My darling in-laws live in Housten and have 2 rental properties right on the coast south of Galvaston. When I say right on the gulf I mean like 1 1/2 blocks from the water line!! This is a very small town with no barges or anything to prevent the water from just washing ashore and causing massive destruction. Yikes!! Actually they are here in Portland with us currently as after our lovely vacation together they came in their motor home to spend a few days here. They have property they need to check on in Seattle today and will hurry back to Portland to head home depending on the severity of the storm. Their rental property area was totally evacuated by the bus load yesterday and everything is boarded up. They just last week had gotten the news that a pipe at their residence home in Housten had broken in the living room so they already had a flood there. We are closely watching the news and praying for all others in that area to be safe and for as little to no damage as possible to come out of Ike!

My brother just moved out of Houston and his friends are calling him freaking out. We live in Dallas which is about 4.5 hour drive. I hear Dallas is filling up with visitors. I pray it is not going to be as bad as they say it is.

Isn’t it amazing how much ignorance there is in the world?

I love Mexico; I know there are good things and bad things there. (I'm a teeny bit Latino American and my new grandson is mostly Latino American) We landed on Plymouth Rock, I'm everything....

I love the US – I also know there are good things and bad things here. (I’m a proud DAR and we have a lot of history in this Country).

One important thing – I know that in the US we don’t have a run on all of the best doctors or knowledge in the medical field. I’m a smart lady and I respectfully acknowledge that many Countries have more experience in certain fields than we do. A perfect example is the lap band – since it wasn’t approved in the States for 10 years after its first use throughout Europe I grudgingly understand that they have more experience and knowledge about this procedure than we do. Dr. Ortiz has proctored many of the Doctors in the US, and I respect his knowledge – whenever someone makes assumptions without research I consider them an idiot. So unfortunately the nurse you dealt with is an idiot in my book. Drop them like a hot rock and move on. Stupidity is something that I have no tolerance for and I would be afraid to have them looking after my needs.

Best,

Lisa

My primary care Doctor and myself have talked about lapband for the last couple of years as an option for myself. When I called his office last month to leave a message with his staff to have him call me so we could discuss my decsion about having the surgery I got his nurse. Ofcourse she wanted to know what it was regarding. She went off! She said, "He is not going to like this." "We don't like our patients going to Mexico, for ANYTHING!" I said look, "would you just have him call me?" (I was a little ticked) When he called, He said, Hi Dana, What is going on? To make a long story short......He said,"What Dr. in Mexico? I said Dr. Ariel Ortiz. He said, I totally support your decision and I think you will do just great. I want you to fax all your test results and call me as soon as you can and let me know how everything went."

I was really excited by his response and his support! I love & respect my Dr!!! When I heard that, It just gave me more peace about going to Mexico! It just goes to show you that Dr's over here do have his respect for Dr. O & these nurses (sometimes) are just stuck up snobs that don't know any better.

So, I have noticed Dr. Ortiz recomends just a few fills, correct? Is this view different than that of U.S Doctors? Alot of you are going for a second fill just a month or 6 weeks after your first fill. Is this standard? My book hasn't arrived yet. Just wondering if you are doing this because you feel you need it or because Doctors are telling you to come for a fill? I am not understanding when you go for a fill (how often)? It seems everyone has a different opinion. I called another place today, and they told me something else! I am confused! HELP! I guess Dr. Ortiz will set me straight. LOL

I would be very suspicious of this doctor. No one should be going in every 4-6 for a year. That would be 8-13 fills in that year. WAY TOO MANY. That doctor sounds like he is out to make some money. And think of it this way. Add up the cost of those 8-13 fills with him. Then add the cost to travel back to the OCC for 1-3 fills. I bet it's cheaper to get the fills from the OCC. Unless you can find another local fill doc, I would go to the OCC and stay clear of the other guy.

I am going to let the OCC know they told me this. They might not want to refer patients to him anymore. RUH ROH!

I am not a coffee drinker but I havn't read anything here that says you can't have it post band. You are right about the carbonated drinks and beer though, they are a NO NO.

Thanks! I can handle giving up soda, beer is going to be hard but the thought of coffee too made me reallyyyyyy sad!

Oh Geez....I agree. No Soda, No Beer, No Coffee. Plus, No Drinks with meals. It would be hell. LMAO! I have to have a cup of coffee yall. Please don't tell me I can't have a cup of coffee. I don't even have to have cream or a pot! But, I need atleast ONE BIG CUP!

Wow. This is really great to know. My surgery is 10/10. The Dr. that I called here locally to take care od my fills once I get home (Dallas TX) told me I will need to come once every 4-6 weeks for the 1st year of weight loss. I really think that after hearing what you have to say, I will not only want to go back to the OCC for my first fill but for all of them! I will just have to plan ahead and buy my plane tickets ahead of time when they are affordable. If I watch, I can get them for about 360.00 round trip.

Thanks for the info! Things like this make me realize I am making the right decision choosing the OCC and Dr. O! =D>

I feel the exact same way. I am very happy and blessed to have found this forum and to be making so many new friends. I know some people don't find it until right before their surgery, or even after. But, it is nice to be able to get so much insight from all of you before "going under the knife". haha It just really settles the nerves. Thank you all so much! Much kuddos to you all! I can hardly wait to be "ONE OF YOU." LOL

Hi Donna,

My Surgery is scheduled for Oct. 10, hope to see you there!

I know you can't drink with your meals. How long do you have to wait to drink after you eat? This is going to be a hard habit to break for me. Thanks! I am starting all these new habits now, a month before surgery! I started my pre-op diet a few days ago and down 3 lbs of the 14. So, off to a good start. I have until 10/10.

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:

That is US HealthCare for you. But, you would have had to wait 6 months right? Or did you already go through all of that?

Just wanted to bump this up for those who are struggling or the newbies who might not remember all the rules!

Wow! This is wonderful for all us coming up to surgery! Thanks Michelle, YOU ROCK!

WOOHOOOOOO on the chandelier....

The swimming pool... in the pool, on the side of the pool... that way there is less pressure on the port. If no pool is handy, spooning in the shower works GREAT.

Upside down in the pool is not adviseable, because one or two parties will have to hold their breath for a LONG time.

To quote a famous movie from my generation... "It's the pelvic thrust..... that really drives me in-saaaaane....." Anybody else in the mood for the "Time Warp again...?"

I didn't know a band was needed for all of this. LOL

Just curious if anyone is using the Optifast and if it is sugar free? Or do you just look for lower glycemic levels in your shakes & powders? I use SPro 20 by Sly Stallone, and it is higher in protein, potassium, burns fat, and tastes great. Here is a link to Sly's powder.....

https://www.myseriesse.com/ProductPage.aspx...amp;ID=danaball

But, just not sure if Dr. Ortiz says no sugar at all in your shakes. ??? Curious what you all used..... or still use as meal replacements when you have a shake. Other than the norm Slim Fast.

Thanks! Just want to get started on the right foot. Getting started on an early pre-op.

Hi all, I was banded on aug. 22 by dr. ortiz and my mom and i stayed at the lucerna. unfortunately, i can't afford to go back for fills yet, maybe later, but i left some armwarmers in my room that i bought at the airport and was really bummed when i called the hotel and they said it would cost $45 to ship back! i was just wondering if anyone would mind picking them up and then i could pay you via paypal to ship them back once you get home? i don't know what else to do, thanks!!!

I can get them for you. But, I won't be there until Oct 10 for surgery. Someone else might be there sooner???

Diet pop is going to be the hardest thing for me. I drink about 10-12 diet pepsi's a day.

I guess I should try to stop drinking it now. I only have 4 left here at home, when those

are gone I will not buy anymore.

Aspartame is so bad for you anyway. Carbonation or not. I have gotten used to drinking de-caf tea and if you must sweeten it, use splenda. You can also use green tea drops with acai berry that are really great for you. I add these to my water and tea, I drink water all day long and always have a bottle of this in my purse. I actually cut soda months ago when I got hooked on this.....check it out, it just might help you kick sodas as it did me. Seriously, I drank just as many Diet Dr.Peppers as you do Pepsi's. But when I learned about Aspartame, I quit! This atleast gives your water different flavors with no calories or sugar!

http://www.myseriesse.com/GreenTea_shop.aspx?ID=danaball

Hi Jessica & Shelby!

Nice to meet yall! ) I guess we are in this together. heehee Soon, we will know all this "lingo" everyone is talking about. PBing, Slime, etc. HAHA I wish you both the best! Blessings to you both! :-h

I am enjoying this forum so much! I have already made friends and I am looking forward to meeting more of you. I still have so much to learn before surgery & I am sure I will learn so much more after surgery.

Anyway, my date is October 10! Just curious who will be there that day and who else will be going to OCC in October!

Congratulations on your hard work! I can't wait to post my accomplishments! I have my shakes and a starting my pre-op diet this Monday.

Not at all, love naughty and Christian is a major hottie!!

ArmyWives! Me and my husband are addicted. LOL Also, love The Unit & October Road. I liked Greys Anatomy until last season, it sucked.

You look so good!!! Thank you for inspiring me.

I know you said you were going to take the bikini pictures

off, but having a before picture really is nice. You don't even

look like the same person in the face. You are so pretty.

Not that you weren't before.

I don't know, maybe you have another before picture you

would want to post.

I love your hair!!! Keep it up!!

Tara

Michelle~

You are very inspiring! Thank you! You make me want to move up my surgery date! LOL But, I can't I gotta lose about 15 lbs by then. LOL I guess I can wait another month Thanks for posting the pics! They really make me believe I will get there too!

Inamed, the band manufacture says,,,, 4 to 6 fills the first year is normal. But remember, everyone is different. I've known bandsters that only had 1 fill and did fine and I've known bandsters that have more than I want to count. If you think you need a fill, then it's your call.

I called to discuss fills with a doctors office here in Dallas that OCC recommended and they told me they recommend every 4-6 weeks for the first year! I was very surprised at this! I guess I will just wait & see how I feel. My band date is 10/10.