Clynn

I don't know the Pittsburgh area at all so I can't help you there, but if you look for a support group or another lap-band surgery center around there you can probably ask some questions and get a referral on who locally can do fills.

1) They don't use stitches at all. They actually use glue (Elmer's I think - just kidding) which will dissolve on its own. My incisions stung a little when the glue started to dissolve so I put a band-aid over them to hold the skin still until I healed a bit more. 2) I've never asked, but I'm sure between them and the forum here you could get a few names. What city are you looking for?

I'm sure we've all had second thoughts at some point in this process. This is a major life change and those things can be scary! Just know that we are here for you and the clinic is there for you and you can come and talk to us about anything.

The clinic had some instructions for smokers. I don't smoke so I didn't pay any attention to them and therefore don't remember what they were. When you sign up for the surgery they'll send you an information packet that includes all of this.

Oh honey so glad to hear it turned out ok! I was at Dr Neal's on Wed and I agree with you, they are wonderful and I'm glad they and the hospital were able to take such good care of you.

My impression is that Dr Ortiz will not do the surgery on someone who has a condition which makes it a risky proposition. Heart, breathing, or lung problems are the first things which come to mind. I would image certain digestive, immune system, or bleeding issues would also make the doctors pause, but I'm not a doctor and can't say for sure. I have heard that if Dr Ortiz can't operate on you then you get most or all of your money back depending on the situation. One of the testimonials they sent me tell about how one woman had some breathing issues and had to go home. On the advice of Dr Ortiz she did breathing exercises to increase her lung capacity, then went back and successfully had the surgery. Pardon my asking but do you have some sort of health problem you are concerned about and that is what prompted the question? If so, you should discuss it with one of the doctors as quickly as possible so the both of you can decide the best way to proceed.

It could also be your port. On some people it does form a bump and is more noticeable.

Ok, I know all of you who went to the last one are going to recognize each other, but what about those of us who are going to be new this time? How are we to know which group is the right one?

Beyond the whole trust thing, what if something (anything - stroke, car accident, whatever) happens to you and you need medical treatment but can't communicate. They'll ask your husband about your medical history and if you've had any surgery or anything that might cause complications and he'll say, "no, nothing out of the ordinary." You could be putting yourself in jeopardy because the docs could not give you the proper type of care due to lack of information.

Go for it Autumn. I did the whole Southern California touristy thing 8 weeks after surgery when I went down for my fill and it was FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC!!

Thanks so much for your efforts CalKev - they are appreciated

I had this problem before I got banded. Allergies were causing my nose to drip just a bit and it was going down my throat while I slept. The coughing was my body's attempt to keep the liquid out of my lungs. Doc gave me some Nasonex and it's no longer a problem.

With Verizon it depends on your plan. My plan had no international calling and stopped working shortly after crossing the border. On my first fill the taxi driver dropped me off at the wrong spot. I was lost in Tijuana with no phone! Luckily the payphones down there take American quarters.

I'm not a nurse but I'll answer as best I can: 1) I would think they would want you to take your contacts out of the actual surgery. I'd be concerned about my eyes being open a bit and then they would get dried out. I'm sure you it would be ok for you to wear them before and after but depending on how much vision correction you need, you should probably bring your glasses no matter what (stuff does happen after all). 2) When food gets stuck, it doesn't actually get stuck to where it cannot move at all, it just moves past the band very slowly or not at all. Drinking water will only make the situation worse. Walking around until the food either moves past the band or comes back up does the most good. 3) I'm not sure what tipping etiquette is in this situation as it changes from country to country. A quick Google search shows that tipping the driver for a complimentary shuttle service is around $1-$2 per bag. For a paid shuttle service it is 15% plus $1-$2 per bag. If you are going down for your surgery then the shuttle is complimentary. I guess it comes down to whatever you are comfortable with. Fransisco is a sweety so I gave him $5. 4) If you are taking the shuttle back to the airport, the clinic will tell you what time they'll pick you up to catch your flight. They do it often so they have a pretty good idea of how long it takes on what day. If you're taking the shuttle back you get to do some major cutting in line but if you are walking you have to stand and wait a bit. Saturdays seem to have longer waits than weekdays.

I had the same problem. In two days I had maybe an eighth of a shake and lots of lettuce. I emailed Dr Miranda and told her the problem I was having and she gave me an alternative pre-op diet. I was sooo HAPPPPY that words cannot express the level of my ecstasy after two days of practicaly no food. Call/email Dr Miranda and she can help you, it's what she's there for.

Hello Karen, If you continue to eat around the band, know you are doing it and that it is wrong but cannot stop, then obvisouly it is not a matter of your band being tighter or looser and it is not something you can solve intellectually (i.e. by learning what you should do and should not do - something like this runs deeper than that). I suggest you start talking to a therapist who is used to dealing with eating disorders. This is the type of thing where if you get your mental health in order then your physical health will fall into line behind it.

Yup I remembered. He wrote me out a prescription for something called promethazine hydrochloride. He said it would suppress vomiting and make me nice and sleepy so I could just doze through the ickyness. It is a suppository so I'm supposed to double ziplock bag it, stick it in the fridge, LIE to my dinner guests when they ask what it is, and it will last for quite a while and be there should I need it.

I've got a fill schedule in the next couple of weeks with Dr Neal and was quoted $375. If I needed an unfilll within within two weeks of the fill then that would be done at no charge but if I wanted a bit more saline in that time it would cost $150.

Stuff getting stuck probably won't require a doctor's visit. I've had stuff get stuck twice. It can't go past the band so it just comes back up. Just take it easy for the next couple of hours and you should be fine. The only time you would need to call the doctor is if stuff is getting stuck on a regular basis in spite of you eating slowly and chewing carefully. All this will be explained to you when you speak with Dr Miranda during your pre-ops.

Keep in mind this forum was set up for patients of Dr Ortiz in Tijuana (though we certainly love hearing from people who go elsewhere to), so opinion of who to go to might be a teeny weeny bit biased in his direction.

PB'ing mean productive burping and it is what happens if you eat something that cannot get past the band. Basically you just throw it back up. Sliming usually preceeds pb'ing and it is when your body creates a lot of saliva in your mouth and mucus in your stomach to aid in throwing the stuck item(s) back up. It sounds gross, and well, it is, but if the band is properly adjusted pb'ing can be avoided by chewing thoroughly, knowing which kinds of foods are likely to cause a problem for you, and eating slowly. I've pb'd twice, once when I tried to eat some pasta and once when I ate too fast. I learned pretty quick what the rules were and haven't had a problem for quite some time now.

From what I understand, if you have a slip, it's pretty obvious. One girl described it as feeling instantly sick to her stomach and unable to keep any liquids down. Vomiting can cause a slip but I'm told if you contact your physician they can give you something to have on hand which will suppress vomiting in case you get food poisoning or the stomach flu. I'm heading into my doc tomorrow and will try very hard to remember to ask (unlike my last several visits). I'll let you know what he says.

I had this done at 25 and I think the 20's are an excellent time to do it. The body needs to do some adjusting under the band and needs to be able to heal. I bounced right back after the surgery (almost literally) and time and time again the doctors said that youth was on my side.

Not so sure on this one but I think sliming refers to a large amount of saliva being produced in the mouth in preparation of vomiting and/or a large amount of mucus being produced in the stomach in reaction to food getting stuck down there.

Yeay Tammy!! =D>