Firecracker

Well let me start by saying that my name is Fabiola (fabi) for short I live in South Florida, I have 4 kids a 10yr old 8,3, and 1 and I been married to my hubby for 6 looong years lol, and my story like most of all is that my insurance does not cover the surgery so I have to pay out of my pocket and thats how I ended up here after much research I decided to go with Dr, Ortiz and after reading what you guys have all said about Dr, Ortic and the center I feel like I made a good choice. Well I can also say that Iam pretty much on this alone my hubby and mother keep trying to talk me out from going to Mexico to get surgery but I know iam making a good decision by getting the lapband and I feel confident that everything will go well you guys that post comments give me that confidence that I made a good choice so thank you for that, also I would like to make some new friends on here and get advice from people that have gone or are going thru what I will be going thru O by the way Iam scheduled for March 16 so if anyone will be at the occ around that time please let me know so that I can have someone to talk to and know someone when I go because I will be traveling alone , I have tried many other dieats and yes i loose weight but I end up gaining the weight I lost and more so at this point Iam tired of waisting my money and strenth on dieats that dont work atleast not for me, so this is like my last resource and Iam really scared but anxious to get the lap band because I really want and need to loose weight Iam on my highest weight right now at 280 pounds and iam just tired of haveing no energy to play with my kids and havent joint pains so lapband here I come well I already made this post a little long so Ill stop typing now and hopfully I get some new friends, thank you for reading

Hi Fabi and welcome! :-h I got support from my husband but did not get the support from my mother and father. My husband and I had a bet going as to how long it would take for my mom to change her mind. I figured once she started seeing me drop weight and she was still struggling, it wouldn't be too much time before she would be jealous of the attention. That's my mom. It was a surprise to both my husband and I when I got home from Mexico that within 3 days she said that if this new diet she was on didn't work she too would be calling and making an appt. Imagine that!! My father still is reluctant, he suggested that I stay on the pre-op diet until I lose all my weight, then I wouldn't have to pay so much. Way cheaper in Mexico than here in the states. I told him I could do it for a short period of time, not long term.

You are doing the right thing, remember this is a tool for you, not the answer. You still have to work with it. But don't be nervous about Mexico, the Dr's and staff are absolutely awesome!! The hotel is very nice and comfortable, plan ahead as to bringing the necessary things for after surgery. You can read about everyones experiences down there also. You will not regret it!!Only wish you had done it sooner!

Firecracker(changing my screen name)

Congrats!!!

Thank you for the weather update!!! My wife and I are going down on Weds for surgery on Thursday and I had been wondering how cold it had been. Did you guys make it to Revoulution Ave for some shopping?

My husband and I did not enjoy Revoulution Ave at all, they were extremely pushy and nothing I wanted to spend my money on, just junk. A couple of the stores I would have liked to go into, the guys were so overwhelmingly pushy that it wasn't worth my time, we grabbed a cab and went back to the hotel. We also went to the mall just down the street, it is an outside mall with a movie theatre and regular shops like a Sears and it has a grocery store also. I had heard there was somewhere else to shop that was good also, but I can't remember the name, sorry.

Hi

I had my surgery done about two and half weeks ago. I was wondering if the area around anyone's incisions were irratated? I think the glue used during the surgery may have irratated the skin just around the incisions. It's a little itchy. Anyone else have this problem? Thanks everyone.

Hi, I am on day 12 post-op and my largest incision was the one that stayed red the longest, just this evening the scab came off and the scar is minimal. I had been applying neosporin to my incisions a couple times a day and then covering them with a band aid. I am now starting with Mederma since the scabs have fallen off. If your incisions are itchy, that's good, it means you are healing, just lightly scratch around the incision, this feels sooo gooood. When in the shower clean them normal with cleanser and pat dry. Your doing fine. If your skin is more irritated than normal, you might want to contact the dr.

Kim

Hi Kim. Congragulations on the 21 lbs! I am soo happy about the full liquids too. How much water are you drinking. I still dont think I am drinking enough b/c still dizzy & feel quite weak. Anyway, 2 more wks and on to solids!

I drink at least one of the smaller water bottles, plus one bottle with the protein mix added and one bottle with the fiber mix added. I also can drink about 3 oz of the yogurt smoothies about twice a day. Those have really helped with the light headedness. I am excited to try a few of Jazzy's soup recipes. It's been hard this last week making dinners for the family, OMG I have been making really good food. Last night I made whole wheat spaghetti with browned butter and mizithra cheese and a red sauce with ground turkey, onions, and garlic. Plus I added bread with garlic powder and parmesan cheese. I actually enjoyed making it and my husband and kids said it was amazing! Can't wait to try that in a couple of weeks!! What is your progress? Did you start your rotations yet? Are you still having pain at your large incision? I am. I started adding an antibiotic ointment to it a couple of times a day, and I will soon be adding Mederma to them all.

Hang in there, keep up the water!!Flluids, tea, whatever liquids on the plan to keep you from falling from being to dizzy. Gotta go, going to make soup!!!!!! :lb21:

I started bigger than you, but I had a lot of folks asking me why I was having it done asking if I was big enough. Don't let it phase you - you have to do it for you! I me the criteria and after struggling all my life it is the best thing that has ever happened to me! No matter how much you have to lose it is still very hard.

Oh and I must agree with Cindy - the tomato bisque is the BEST!!!!!!!!

Thanks Shelby for your support, I did get a few funny looks from other girls the day we left, but I dealt with it and I am very happy with my decision.

When I here you and others talk about vitamin water, what exactly is that? Do you have any brand names that could help me?

The special K water is with the diet foods/shakes area. I bought the little powder packets you add to your bottled water, I like the iced tea. I got it at Fred Meyer. And thanks for the support.

Today is the last day of just clear liquids Yeah!!The vitamin water and fiber packets that you add to your water have been a life saver. I also have enjoyed the yogurt smoothies. I am one of the smaller gals here and I have heard mixed reviews from people as to why we would want this surgery. I am doing this to help me maintain when I get to my goal. I can always lose but cannot keep it off. I am excited about my new tool. My weight the day before surgery was 166 and this morning I am 156, at the start I was 175, so I am down 21 pounds!!!Cannot beleive it. Been doing better on my water intake and that has helped with the dizziness. Tomorrow is creamy soups, which one to have first, hmm? They all sound fabulous. My feet and fingers are shrinking as well as my boobs! Might have to put the water inserts back in until I can get a new bra. My mom is now thinking about doing this surgery as well. Just an update in case anyone was interested. Saba how are you doing?

Hi Kim! I am so glad to hear your doing well. I havent tried the metamucil but I absolutely love the benefiber. I dont think im getting enough water either. My goal is to increase it from today. Please tell your hubby my husb says hello

Oh, I am so glad to find you. I thought that the pic was you, but wasn't sure by the name. The powder may be benefiber brand I can't remember. I couldn't do the chewables they hurt. I also added some liquid tylenol, just sips, and with something other than water and that sure helped take the edge off. Yeah for you for loosing 10 lbs. =D> Hang in there and pace yourself, and try not to catch anything so you risk vomiting. Stay healthy and Shawn says hi back to your husband.

Hi it's day 6 for me also, according to Dr. Miranda you can do drinkable yogurt as early as day 4, and there is a Metamucil powder non-thickining that you can add to water that tastes really good and fills you up. I couldn't do the broth either but I used the top-ramen seasoning packet and hot water, I also get tired easy and in rereading the paperwork I may not be drinking enough water. I am down 7 pounds! Are you Saba?? :-h

Hi Kim...no problem babe! It sounds good to me but not sure why you are taking Tylenol?

For the pain, I am all out of the sublingual pain pills from dr ortiz.

Hi Judy,

Thanks sooo much for the quick reply. I took half a chewable, liquid tylonol, and a phazyme. Do you think that concotion is OK?

So far the gas is the only issue, everything else is going good.

Kim

Banded Wed the 3rd and having alot of grumbling and gurgling. Was wondering when is too soon for the chewable fiber? Also thought it might help with bowel movements. Any suggestions? Thanks, Kim

Ha ha ha. Thanks for that. I'm sitting on the net at The Lucerna right now thinking, what the hell am I doing? I needed to hear that. I get picked up in 45 minutes for surgery so please send more happy thoughts my way. Prayers would be nice too. I'm not particularly religious (I pray going through turbulance on a plane) but I know some of you are so I'm sure it won't hurt!

Sabrina:)

Hi,

My name is Kim and I flew in this morning with my husband to get banded tomorrow, I am also at the Lucerna and would love to meet you since you are here. If you are feeling up to it, you can call my room and we could meet to just talk and maybe later we could order soup together?!. My room number is 514. Hope you are recovering well.

Kim