NinnyEd

Has anyone heard from Dolittle??? I am anxious to hear how he is doing!

> Good luck tomorrow! Let me/us know how everything goes!!!

I got the flu just 5 weeks after being banded. Luckily my PCP has always been very supportive of me being banded and she immediately gave me a script for and anti-nausea medication - and gave me a few extra to keep around, just in case. I have only needed them once since then... Last month everyone around here had the flu, the FIRST moment I felt queasy I took the meds and never barfed, even once... I get my flu shot every year, but it is no guarantee that you won't get ANY flu... bummer! I hope you are feeling better now!

Hi Shelli! The answer to whether or not I would get my band again is a HUGE YES!!! Sure, I have had my band for over a year and have not lost as much as some... But that is ok - I know that the weight is gone for good. As for now, follow whatever pre-op diet the doctor recommends... Do not get into the "one last big meal" mentality, as some do, that will not accomplish a thing. What I did to get use to smaller portions (which I hardly notice anymoreuntil someone says something like "Gee you hardly ate a thing, does it taste ok?") is I started using a smaller plate when I ate. Or, and I still do this, when I would go out to eat, I would order my meal, and immediately ask for a "to-go" box and put at least half of the meal in there and eat the rest. I have discovered the joy of leftovers for lunch the next day! I have not been a perfect bandster. Sometimes I still eat sweets... But the band keeps me honest, I do not eat TOO much - it reminds me to stop when I forget and am naughty. The band is a tool and works great when you do as your doctor and nutiritionist advise. The diet afterwards differs with every doctor. But once you are on solid food it is basically normal food (of course you want to make wise food choices, lower fat and sugar, enough protein, etc.). Another thing to remember is to EXERCISE... Don't be scared, Shelli, you will do great! >

I have found that I do not steadily loose weight... I will go a couple of weeks and not loose an ounce... and then all of a sudden loose 7 pounds in a week... the maybe 1 pound the next, then none for a couple of weeks... Kind of like a roller coaster on a weird downhill slope.. My advice is to make sure you are drinking enough water, stay away from "soft calories" (dressings, high calorie drinks, really soft foods), get enough protein and last, but not least exercise!! Exercise, even just walking 30 minutes will help get your matabolism up and burn calories. Find something that you like to do and DO IT... Join a gym, just walk around your neighborhood, buy an exercise video, take an exercise class (I am a BIG fan of water aerobics - great when you have knee or ankle issues and the toning is WONDERFUL!), even just go and do a few laps of your local mall... whatever, just do something each day! Don't fret.. Just keep telling yourself that, even if you go a month without loosing an ounce, that you are STILL going in the correct direction! Good Luck!! >

I am looking to share a ride with someone on or about December 4 or 5.... Anyone looking to get a fill around then?

You are not wasting your money at all. Every pound that you loose will be worth it. The band is a tool and when used properly is a wonderful aid in permenant weight loss. Yes, there are ways you can "eat around the band" if you so choose. I love my band... I am not perfect and have been known to eat the wrong foods... but when I do, I have this wonderful little band inside of me that prevents me from eating 6 Baby Ruth bars - limiting me to just a few bites and I am happy. If I had been a totally good girl the past year, I could be pretty close to my goal weight... But I am happy with the nearly 70 pounds I have lost so far... Without the band I am sure I would have gained weight the past year. Another benefit... Because of this band, I no longer have high blood pressuer (yeah - no more meds!), my blood colesterol is normal now, and my sleep apnea is non-exhistant (NO MORE DARTH VADER SOUNDING, ALIEN-LOOKING MASK AT NIGHT!!!). And this is just at half way to my goal weight! Bottom line... If you follow your doctors orders on diet, try not to cheat, and get your fills when you need them the band DOES work. Good luck to you!

Take a deeeeeep breath, Donna... Relax, you are doing SO well... 37 pounds in 5 months is great!!! Just be sure you are exercising, eating enough protein and drinking enough water... I understand where you are completely though! I am at 6.4 cc's in a 10 cc band and still do not think I have enough restriction. Give it a little time, I have heard of fills not "taking" for two weeks... Fills are a fine science, 2.5 cc's may not be enough, but 2.7 might be too much... It is weird, but that is how it works. If we are both in the same boat in a month, we can ride back up for another fill! If you need to talk, you have my number! >

It is better to just do it than wait. I had my surgery at the end of October of last year. The holidays were just fine for me. I was the only person I knew who LOST weight during the holidays! I could have *A* cookie at a party, or just ONE piece of fudge and was perfectly fine with it. I did not feel "cheated" at all! Good luck!

Hi Judy! Yeah, there will be a bit of saggy skin - it is just a fact of life. But I would take the saggy skin and having normal blood pressure, no more apnea machine and normal blood colesterol over fat and no flabby skin! I too have issues with my joints. My knees and ankles are really bad. I have found that doing water aerobics is a wonderful way to exercise!! You should look at your local health club or YMCA to see if they are offered! It has really helped the saggy skin on my upper arms and upper thighs! Good luck and congratulations on the weight loss!! You are doing great!

I was able to talk to both Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez when I had my surgery last year and was impressed by both of them. There is no reason to be nervous AT ALL!! He has trained extensively beneath one of the world's most skilled doctors (Dr. Ortiz) in this surgery and has assisted Dr. O with MANY MANY surgeries. That does not count the many, many bands I am sure he has placed alone. I would have no qualms at all if I was told that Dr. Martinez would be doing my surgery! Good luck!!

Yes he is!!! I had my fill Friday and am VERY happy with Dr. Vitello!! He gave me a good (1.4cc's) fill and I now have decent restriction!

I am not sure what part of Michigan you are in, but if you are in Southern MI, is Chicago too far for you? There is a Dr. Vitello there that does excellent fills under flouro.

Take a deep breath and calm down... This is perfectly natural when you have a large weight loss. About 2 or 3 months after I was banded I started loosing tons of hair. I freaked out too, since I had already lost quite a bit of hair after my hysterectomy a couple of hears ago. It lasted for a while and now I am growing new hair in again. I did not go bald or anything, but my hair did thin - I was the one that mainly noticed it. You have to remember that you are being good and eating enough protein NOW... but your hair lags a bit, so this is probably from around surgery time when you maybe did not get enough. Just keep up the protein intake and it will slow down soon. I try and get at least 6 ounces of protein a day.

Wow... First off - RE: Lori... I just want to go on record on how wonderful Lori was when I was preparing for surgery last year, she was was helpful and always available to me either on the phone on by email when I was "the question lady". I have not needed to contact her since, but I know if I have a question or worry, I can always call her for assistance. Ericsmom, I am sure Lori doing everything in her power to make sure this works for you. OCC is not about the money, Dr. Ortiz and the whole staff genuinely believe in this surgery and dedicate their lives to helping people like me and you loose weight and have a healthier life. They are simply the best anywhere, no question about it! I have not had one second thought about my surgery, it was simply the best thing (and the most important) I have ever done for myself. Lori has had the surgery too, and has been very successful! She is not just an employee of OCC, she is a bandster, like the rest of us! Good luck, Ericsmom, I am sure something will work out! >

Hi Judy! I have been dealing with a back problem... I am paranoid about taking any NSAID just in case it does cause erosions or other problems. So what I have been taking is arthritis strength Tylenol. It is extended release and seems to help - and it is not an NSAID. You might want to try that to see if it helps.... Otherwise, I would call one of the docs at OCC to see what they think.

Was it Dr. Vitello? Three of us are going to Chicago within the next week or two to see him. I have never been there but the other two going have and really like him.

Don't sweat it Danielle... I too was used to drinking SOMETHING with my meals! I have just gotten used to drinking about 10 minutes before I eat - it is no big deal anymore. I was also a Pepsi addict before surgery, not even diet, the real, leaded stuff with LOTS of sugar. No more for me, I had a sip of my daughters a few weeks ago, YUK, that stuff is nasty. My family is shocked, they called me a "Pepsiholic" for years! Down the line you MAY be able to have a diet soda on occasion, but that will not be for at LEAST 6 months, if ever. Everyone is different, I can drink a less fizzy diet soda like Mountain Dew once in a while, as lont as it is no where near a meal. I really do not miss soda though, I now drink diet tea. As for the chewing thing... At first you worry about it, but it becomes habit. It has been almost 10 months since my surgery and I do not even think about it. I thought I would look like a cow chewing it's cud when I ate, but I do not. I do not really have any issues with any foods. Not to say that you won't, or even I won't after my 3rd fill in early September. But for now I can eat anything, I just get full faster and eat MUCH smaller portions. In the end, you CAN change life-long habits for the right reason. I am a slow loser, partly because I put off my fills, but that is ok, I have lost 61 pounds and my health is so much better now. My health was my big reason to loose this stinkin weight! I am off my blood pressure meds, my colesterol is at a normal level, and my sleep apnea is GONE - no more nasty mask and machine at night! It is also nice to get up in the morning and put on a pair of slacks for work and get irritated and rip them off again to find another pair... Not because I ate too much last night and they are just too tight, but because they have gotten so large they look like clown pants on me! You will do great, yeah, it will be hard at first, not going to lie to you there, but it goes away. Most likely by the time you are back on solids again, you will not miss the soda at all. Good luck! >

Hi There! Do not fret the weight gain, I actually came back from TJ 7 pounds heavier!! It is because of the massive amount of fluids they pump into you after surgery. I know it was about a week later and for a whole day I just COULD NOT stay out of the bathroom... Then I was back to loosing weight... I am not sure when they told you that you could start proteins, but as soon as you can, hunger pains will go away. Once you are off clear fluids, which I assume you are by day 7(??) and are on full liquids try this protein shake: 1 scoop vanilla flavored protein powder (I like EAS); 1/4 - 1/2 cup milk, water, or soy milk; and one container of the premade jello sugar free pudding, any flavor. Just blend or shake up... they are yummy, very filling and full of protein! It has been 9 months since I was banded... I have lost 61 pounds and have not regretted my band even once. I can eat whatever I want, just in much smaller portions and NEVER feel like I am on a diet. It is not easy sometimes though, I have had 6 week periods where I ate right, exercised regularly and not lost an ounce.... then would loose 10 pounds in two weeks... You will be fine, head hunger was a big issue for me in the early months... I would walk into the kitchen, open the fridge and think I am hungry, but I really wasn't. I would sip a glass of water and the feeling was gone..... Good luck!! You are on your way! >

Yeah, I think that is normal.... Mine was watery and a lovely orangish color for a couple of days immediately after my surgery...

Hi Judy! I would be confident to say that you will probably need another fill in October. (BTW - I was banded in October, TJ is beautiful that time of year!) I have just had two and they were 4 months apart. My last fill was in March and I have needed another one for quite a while now, but my present work load is preventing me taking time off and going back to TJ to get one.... I am hoping to go to a guy in Chicago for a quickie fill. The VG band seems to need a bit more "tweaking" than the smaller one. Good luck on your fill tomorrow!

You may be a little sore but I would imagine that you could, if you had to, go back to work after 3 days. I had my surgery on a Tuesday and was back to work the next Monday just fine. You may still have a little gas pain, but if you make sure to walk, walk, walk and then walk some more after surgery you should be ok. I guess it really depends on what kind of work you do. As for being sick... I was not sick at all, never have been, I have not even done the dreaded "PB" even once. Good Luck! >

I have always looked for whey protein as soy protein causes me to become very gassy... Not good at all! It is easy to find, just go to any health food store. I like the taste of EAS whey protein powder... I usually buy vanilla and flavor it with whatever I want... strawberries, banana... if I am feeling naughty chocolate syrup... My favorite protein shake recipe... 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 cup water or milk or soy milk, and 1 individual container of sugar-free Jello pudding (the premade stuff) - You can make it in any flavor the pudding comes in! Don't sweat it... I have been banded 8 months and can eat anything I want, just in much smaller amounts.... Good Luck!

Good idea! Our bands are just tools to help us eat better... That is only part of loosing weight and leading a healthier lifestyle though. We MUST exercise also! My husband and I joined the local YMCA after I got my band. We make sure we are there a minimum of 5 nights a week. I take a water exercise class 3 or 4 nights and do the treadmill/exercise bike/weights thing twice a week. If you are scared of exercising, or have other issues like knee, ankle or leg issues (I have really bad ankles), you might want to try a water exercise class. I am so glad that I did! I love the water and it has increased my strength SO much! I used to have issues just walking around the block. Last night my husband and I walked for an hour and it seemed like nothing. I am even going to take a stab at "spinning" soon.... My next challange is the evil eliptical machine....

Chicken, cheese and thinner pancakes are no problem for me.... Once in a great while, if I am not careful and do not chew well, I can have an issue with chicken... but normally I can eat anything.... Just in smaller portions than before the band...