sawdawg

I'am 15 days since I was Banded and I read everything on here and I see everyone saying no pain feel great I feel great but I still have some discomfort when I bend and or sit to long does any one else have this or should I contact OCC Thanks for all the great help this forum has given me. but would like some feed back on this.

hi

The VG band holds 10ccs of saline. I don't know how long it is.

Hope this helps.

nicolek, do you have the vg band?

may card reads VG that it so what does that mean?????????

Did you get the VG band, too? They didn't tell me anything like that, atleast I don't think they did, those 2 days are a drug induced blur..lol. However, if that's the case, it will kind of suck

Yes I got the V G band too and I believe thats what they said because it hold more fill

I guess we will have to wait and see Hopefully not but I always enjoy a reason to go to

san diego. LOL

I just scheduled my surgery for Feb. 26th! I am really excited yet a little nervous...but I can't wait to start the new journey to a healthier life!

maybe I will see you there I have my first fill on feb 26th

TRY TRY TRY!!! I just had surgery and lost 12 of the 14 I needed to lose. I was very worried that I would not lose the weight, the last few days before the suregery I walked and walked, I scrubbed my house down I did everything I could think of to keep me moving and not sitting on the couch to lose the last 6 pounds in 7 days. It worked for me. I drank about 6L of water a day and drank lots of tea as well. Just keep moving and the weight will come off.

Remember this is not the last time you will ever get to eat something again, its just the last time you will eat somthing for a few months. Stay focused and you can do it!

Jenelle

Jenelle, I was wondering how you were doing how did everything work out for you at OCC? How are you feeling?

Hi!!! How are you doing on your post-op? Yes, I did make my appointment. I am having it done at the OCC on Feb 20th, they are picking me up at the border at 8:30 am. Then my daughter and I are going to Sea World for the day (she is ditching school..lol) So it should be fun. Did you make your appt yet?

This whole soup thing is already gettin old but I can hang in there! yes I made my appointment Feb 26th I looking forward to it I think we will have to have a few more fills because

of the size of are band Is that what they told you?

That does sound yummy.

Hi Ckiki, Have you made your appointment for your first fill at occ ?

I didn't mind the creamy soup stage as it kept me full and I had a variety of soups made ahead of time. Mostly I like the Campbell's Cream of Potatoes and Cheddar Cheese soup. I would go on this soup after each fill too, for it's very filling and lots of proteins. If I needed more protein, just add a scoop of unflavored protein powder! With the potatoes, I just mashed them down to thicken the soup and if I did see any large chuncks, just take them out. To make this soup:

2 cans Campbell's Cream of Potatoe

1 can Campbell's Cheddar Cheese

2 cans worth of milk (I used 2%)

Optional ~ add spices to your taste (I used garlic powder, rosemary ~ crushed, and when I am in the mood, a dash of hot sauce for a kick)

Add all the indredients in a pot and stir. It freezes good, when I do a double batch of this, otherwise it's gone with in a few days.

I also did tomatoe soup and dock it up with whatever spices/hot sauce I wanted at the time.

Soup serving: During the creamy soup stage, I did 1/2 cups at a time, as many as I wanted during the day.

I amde this soup It is wonderful, add the garlic powder and the hot sauce Thanks for all the good tips!

Well how have the rest of the Jan surgeries gone?

I'm doing real good this is the frist day I could have soup and I had 1/2 cup can't believe Im full way full. It really was good I think I can have pudding but

not sure this is all so new I"m afraid of doing something wrong so I wait and Keep reading the forum to find out things. So glad everybody shares there

story and how it worked for them

How are ou doing good I hope

I was lucking to already know 3 people who had there lap bands done in TJ so I have already decided to get it done and plan on calling next week to set up a surgery date. My question is has anyone had any trouble while in TJ? I know they currently have alerts set for some of the border areas including TJ. My husband and I would like to go before things get worse but are curious to know of any trouble any one might of had during there trip? Also does anyone recommend a time frame to stay.... I have read a few post where people stated they wish they stated longer for the travel back was miserable? What is the average stay?

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated.

I was just down there and we walked all around and had no trouble I stayed 2 nights at the hotel and then drove back to yuma with no problems I felt great

I hope this helps If you have any more question just ask It was the best ever.

Did you have surgery at OCC? If so what did Dr. Miranda give you on your paperwork. If not then did you get instructions from your doctor?

yes I had it done at occ the paperwork said 7-11 soup does that mean day 7 or day 8

Hi everyone,

I am 5 days out and Im wondering when can I have soup day 7 or day8 I can't wait

Hi everybody Im still at Occ but the Surgery is over now and I want to thank eveyone for helping me get to that place

Dr Oritz was wonderful and Everyone here has taken real good of me

Hi Labella ~ Dana and I were banded just 3 days apart and I can help with the answer. After your fill, you are directed to go on full liquids (the creamy soup stage) because your band just gotten tighter and to help adjust to this tightness, you want to progress slowly back to solid food by starting off with liquids, then softer food, and then complete solid. Depending on your fill dr, they will have instructions for you to follow. Not all drs are the same as to how many days you do certain things. For me, I went for my 2nd fill on Dec 20 and I received a good restriction and I still do (YAY!). I was to go on full liquids for 3 days, but on the fourth day, I couldn't really eat, so I went for another 2 days and then started eating smaller solid food portions.

Hope this helps you...

IM doing good still at occ but the suregery is over and i feel good

Hi Shelby...oh yes, the chewables are MUCH better...trust me!

Now when I was on the soup stage, I never really had a hard time until the last 2 days...knowing that I was to have to 'real' food within reaching point was very tempting...but I held ground and never cheated. I varied my items I can have...it helped me alot. I would have my yogurt first thing, then a shake, then I would have the soup...drank my choices of water, protein water, Special K20 water, and also Cyrstal Light varieties. Then come dinner time, I would have soup and then i treat myself with a fudgescile or popsicle. THE next day, I mixed it around...have the soup first thing, or have my dessert first before I had my soups, etc. Also, I didn't do alot of different kinds of soups either. I pretty much stuck with Cathy's simple Crm of Potato and Crm of Cheddar soups and mixed in some herbs and spices and then I did the same thing with the tomato soup.

I also took the Fiber Choice and Benefiber too...to keep it 'rotor rooter' clean! LOL

I must be looking in the wrong places I can not find special k20 water where do you buy it and you posted something about you buy at costco can you tell me what that is

thanks. I will get this information from you when I get back to my moms thanks

Got banded today about 12! I am doing fairly well, the doctor let a few of us head back to the hotel tonight which is really nice because now I don't have to spend the night away from my hubby! I am feeling really sore around my abdomen but other than that I am not having any shoulder pain. yet that is. My husband and I are going to be heading back to San Diego tomorrow and spend the night with friends since we are pretty bored hanging out here at the hotel.

The whole process was a LOT easier than I thought it would be and I am totally happy with the OCC and Dr. Ortiz and staff, great experience. Now begins the real work! YAY!!!

Did you lose all the weight that you were suppose to? I getting real scared that I will go in the morining and they say sorry we cant do the surgery You did not lose the weight

We arrived at the OCC at around 10 yesterday morning, and had my lung test, ekg and talked with Dr. miranda, all donw pretty quickly. However, I ended up being the last surgery, so I had to wait until 2...the waiting was killing me..lol. When Dr. Ortiz came in to talk to me, and I has already my relaxation pills so I was alittle out of it. I just couldn't believe how handsome he was in person, actually all of that staff are so pretty and so nice..I just loved them all. Once they wheeled me into the OR, I had a mask put over my mouth and I was out...such a strange feeling. I had a hard time coming out of it, and was feeling nauseated when they made me go on my first walk. So they gave me some motion sickness meds in my IV, that knocked me out, and once I woke up I felt really good. Later on a got some broth, Capri Suns and some Otterpops..yummy! At around 8 pm, they gave me pain meds, and then around 9 pm, they gave me a pill for under my tongue that made me sleep all night long..it was so nice. I woke up at 5:30 and changed, got some more broth and water, watched a little tv, then my mom showed up and waited for a driver to take us back to the border parking lot.

Overall my experience was wonderful, the place was so clean, and the staff so nice, I forgot I was in TJ, infact it looked alot like Los Angeles..lol. Even my mom was not nervous about going back to the hotel by herself. I never got the see the hotel, which was sort of a bummer, but I was anxious to get home. Dr. Ortiz told my mom after surgery that I had a lot of stomach fat (which I knew I did, because that is where I carry most of my weight) so he said the surgery was sort of difficult. I had to have the largest band (I guess the VG) because of that reason and because I am so tall.

So now I am home, and just had some broth, and I feel pretty good. Just walking slow, and my stomach is real puffy and just real sensitive, especially near the port site. It's kind of hard to bend or get up and down. I am so excited about this, and I am not even hungry

I want to thank you for your post I go tomorrow to be banded and you have put me at ease I hope everything goes as good for me I hope to be back in san diego

as a possible sounds like you went home right a way

Got banded today about 12! I am doing fairly well, the doctor let a few of us head back to the hotel tonight which is really nice because now I don't have to spend the night away from my hubby! I am feeling really sore around my abdomen but other than that I am not having any shoulder pain. yet that is. My husband and I are going to be heading back to San Diego tomorrow and spend the night with friends since we are pretty bored hanging out here at the hotel.

The whole process was a LOT easier than I thought it would be and I am totally happy with the OCC and Dr. Ortiz and staff, great experience. Now begins the real work! YAY!!!

Thanks for let us hear from you I will be banded on monday and I 'am kind a scared when do you go to mexico and tomorrow you are going back to san diego

so they dont make you stay for 3 days could of you left today to go to san diego

My fill date is Monday. I have the normal fears and concerns, but overall, I am SOOO ready for this. I can't do it alone. I am more afraid of what will happen if I don't get this done. Jan. 12, here I come! Sandra

I will be there on the 12 thats the day I will be banded hope to see you

sawdawg...I've got my eyes on you! I can't wait until you are banded! You are in GOOD hands there at OCC! AWESOME people and the everyone is soooo helpful! Also, when you get the chance after surgery, get everyone's email and ph #s, so you can keep in touch with your 'band buddies'.

Keep in touch babe! I will keep the computer on that night and see if you come on! Good luck...Jude

Hey Jude,

They changed My surgery date to Mon the 12th One day early. After surgery I will be at my moms for a day or two, But I will be online so I will let you konw

How things are going

I am having my "last meal" tomorrow night which will consist of rice and chicken cooked on a grill at a Japanese Restaurant. I need to get my fill in, incase I can't have it later. I decided to do my last meal tomorrow night so it's not just sitting there in my stomach on Thursday. That way Wed I can eat really lite and hopefully drop a pound or two.

Today, was the first day...I got really nervous, to the point that I was making myself sick thinking about it. I was thinking about what if something goes wrong, do I really want to do this, etc...I was freaking myself out. I am ok now, thank goodness.

I can't believe only a few more days..ahh!!

I get banded next week, after you are banded are you going to try and tell how it went? I sure would like to hear from you

Hi JennHB I am going on Jan. 2nd also. I can't wait. I am flying into SanDiego on the morning of the surgery. I am excited, have you started you pre-op diet yet? And what are you doing. Wow talk about a New Years Resolution.... no backing out this time. Please feel free to PM me.

Hi JennHB, how did things go for you I will be bnded on the 13th I have never been to this place before and just wondering how things went for you

thanks janet

Hi everyone, I was hoping to see if anyone else was scheduled for January 2nd. I am getting banded that day! I live in Orange County and arriving the morning of the surgery, do most people get to leave the next day??? I am assuming I will be able to go home on the 3rd (assuming everything goes as planned). Im so excited!

Good Luck with your banding, please let me know how it goes I will be banded on the 13

I will be banded on the 13th of jan and now I am scared to death the unkown is getting the better of me