skinnyagain

I was doing some pokin around and Aliegant Air, that operates out of Bellingham have flights to San Diego non stop for 68.88 one way...If you live anywhere near Bellingham, Wa (you canadians too)this is a cheap trip to the OCC...

Just a FYI--

Kim

Good luck tomorrow! You are embarking on a new you, a new way of life, a new way of thinking. You will begin to see food in a different way...If you haven't bought Dr. Ortiz's book, I suggest getting it soon. I look at mine over and over. It keeps the rules right there at hand. There is a section for trouble shooting. If I have a question and can't remember the answer, I can review the book..its real handy...Don't forget your anti-gas strips, and walk walk walk so you can move the gas out of your system. You can get pretty severe shoulder pain from the gas settling in your shoulder...Walking will assist with getting that gas out...

We are all here for you ...Consult us if you have any quesions. Good luck and welcome.

Kim

ummm fasting is necessary, bring your $$$, thats all I can think...

kim

I think port pain is so different for everyone. I had discomfort from my port...I think it was 3 weeks or so before I could sleep on my stomach. It is more tender since the incision that is made to bring the port to the outside of the muscle wall...Plus its sewn into place. As it heales, you have pain...The pain medication they give you is very light medication. In the US its Toradol. Toradol is a anti-inflammitory/pain medication/non narcotic. its like taking a big ol dose of motrin but better!

good luck with your healing.

Kim

there is this stuff called Lidocaine(sarcastic)that they can numb the skin before they stick ya...I have the place I go to get my fills use a little lido. Don't feel a thing

Kim

Thank you, I was hoping more folks would add their two cents worth...

22.--I am worth this journey, my life, for my childs life...to be healthy to live longer!

Revy--

I bought some chucks from ebay, and used them in the car and on the couch where I lived for the first few days. I only had seepage for 2 days. I used overnight maxi's without wings and they soaked up the seepage...I have extra chucks if you want me to send ya some. I am sure you have access to them also.

Kim

My fills are 150 per fill...I paid a chart set up...If I go in within 2 weeks the fill/unfill would be 50cc...

This will require some research on your part. There are tons of info on this site...You will have to search it...

Good luck!

Kim

I only worry about this young man having problems if he gets the band and cont to eat the same way he has been... All I am saying, as a mom and a nurse myself, is to make sure there isn't other underlying issues, which there usually is with a eating disorder...I think everyone on this site has battled weight, eating, etc, etc...i battled anorexia as a teenager and then bulemia until I was banded...(can't vomit with the band)...The band has cured my bulemia...So get this young man some help first then consider the band... He is over eating for a reason...

I appreciate everyone on this site...take care

Kim

I just found out today that best friend from Portland has decided to have her Lap Band surgery with me on June 2nd. Lori said we can be in the same recovery room together. I think they are going to try to get us hotel rooms that are connected too.

I wonder if I should just let my mom and daughter stay at the hotel the morning of surgery. Do very many people leave the day of surgery to spend the night at the Hotel or do most people spend the night at the hospital?

You have to stay the night after surgery to make sure there isn't any post op complications. OCC will take your loved ones back to the hotel if they are there...I left to go over to the boarder after I was dc'd home. I didn't stay the 3 days at the hotel..(I know I am bad)...The cool thing is that Dr. Ortiz is sooo flippin good looking...oops I mean your only in surgery for about 20-30min total. My hubby said that it was very quick...He must have this surgery down!!!! They use LMA's for your airway, so they don't actually use a endotracheal tube to secure your airway...google LMA and you will see what I am talking about. It looks like a oblong diaphram with a tube attached to it! They put it in your trachea to breath for you! Anyways...recovery isn't bad...I told my husband.."I love you" "you could ask me anything and I couldn't lie to you" I had truth serum running in my veins. lol it was funny!

Best of luck to you

Kim

Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome!!!!!!

This site will help you through the tough times, fun times, and will encourage you to keep going...Were here for you! Congrats on your decition...yaaaa

Kim

What I have learned since being banded...

1.--The band is a tool, like a hammer, if your don't use it right it won't work...

2.--I cut meat up very small.

3.--Barbeque sause can be your friend.

4.--Use a baby fork so you can't shovel food in fast.

5.--Carry a zip lock baggie in your car or purse for those emergency PBing episodes.

6.--If you follow the rules, you will succeed!!!!

7.--If you ignore the rules and think the band is a majic tool and you will automatically going to lose weight your cheating yourself.

8.--Be careful of those that want to shuve food in your face...Grandma's etc

9.--You can make a meal out of veggies and be satisfied.

10.-Your body can live off of wayyyy less food than you ever dreamed of...

11.-Get a dog, its a excuse to walk...or a necessity...

12.-You look at your life in a different way as you lose weight. The future begins to look brighter!

13.-As you lose weight, you do more, you feel lighter, your self esteem improves, you feel more sexy...

14.-I usually know where all the bathrooms are in a public place, just incase!

15.-I reread Dr. Ortiz's book over and over. Keeps the inspiration going.

16.-I know I can't eat a whole meal until later in the evening. Band is tight in the AM...

17.-Crystal lite is one of my staples in life. Plain water is nasty!

18.-Its ok to lose slowly, I didn't gain this weight over night...

19.-Try not to make, "taking that one last bite" a habit...Constant PBing may cause a slipped band...

20.-I have made new friendship from this site, honest non biased, true reply's...My band has opened up relationships, helped my life, my self esteem...I am sure there is more that I have learned..Please add to this list...

Kim

The first time I did that this red light in my brain went off and I thought "this is what everyone is talking about" ...I vowed that I would never do that again...but I did! What I found out 1.--if I drink enough fluids before I eat I reduce PBing, and If I do PB, wait 5-10 min, I can usually eat the rest of the meal...When I get the slime out it like opens up and I can eat...weird...

You will cont. to learn more and more about you and your band...We are so proud of you and are glad you are on this site with the rest of us...

Kim

I don't want to be a party pooper but..I am a nurse too and a ER nurse...Unless she is having an emergency..IE can't eat, labs off, stomach is about to perforate etc...most ER;s won't wisk you away to the OR...Yes you will get a referral or even a consult in the ER...It all depends on what that band looks like...They would probable do a CT scan, then determine the severity...I would definatly call your insurance company and ask if they would cover a band adjustment...or removal...That is such a bummer!!!--Good luck on your appt. keep us posted on your adventure.

Best of luck

Kim

I have carried ziplock baggies with me, I carry these barf bags in my car..like the ones you get on the airplanes...Just in case...I have also been known to pull over on the side of the road to PB also...I am sure the passer by's are wondering what the heck is wrong with me..

Kim

if you kiddo has someone with her, that is a totally different story...I was under the impression that your kiddo would be alone. I have taken my kiddo to Mexico when he was 5 or so...He got to see a different way of life and now he is 14 still remembers kids selling chicklettes etc...So if they have someone with them then ya i would...

Kim

when I go to eat at a restaurant I am usually VERY hungry, so I may eat faster than I should. So I begin to PB, so my STOP meter is triggered and I try to keep foods down. So then off to the BR I go to PB to stop the quasi vomiting. Or when I PB in my mouth and need something to spit in...and your at a party or at work or at dinner and you have to find a place to get rid of what is in your mouth...

Over time I have gotton better to not do this..But that is my most embarrassing moment as of yet...

Please share if you have anything to add!

---I am a slow looser---In a year I have lost 25lbs...I have a total of 65lbs to lose when I was banded...So I wasn't needing to lose 100's of lbs...So I am a slower loser...still a loser though...It does get frusterating when I read posts of those that have been super successful, but we are all made soooo differently. Plus I didn't gain all this weight over night...But I sure would like it to go away over night...

11 days ago, I had a Tummy tuck, breast lift and lipo on my waist flank area...i KNOW that I have lost 10+lbs from the surgery, but I haven't weighed my self...This ssurgery has inspired me to tone up the rest of me...So when I am cleared to begin exercising again, I hope to firm up those problem area's..

So slowly I will cont to lose, and I will cont my journey, not matter how slow it takes me. This is my life now and I will never give up!

Kim

---wow---tough call...I agree with Lindsay...I would start with something else than just jumping to the band. If he is gorging himself until he vomits, just because he would have the band he would try to cont to eat the same way with the band...which would open up more problems like band slippage, perforated stomach...putting his life at stake...Even at 38 I have had to really think hard about the choices I have to make r/t the band...at 13 I don't know if he is mature enough to handle these life altering decisions...

If this was me, I would start with the basics...Nutritionist, counseling..( does he eat to comfort, does he eat to shut out the pain, does he eat because he is bored?...) Sounds like he has a eating disorder...before I would put the band on this child I would want to make sure his mental health is wnl...( YES I AM A NURSE ALSO)...

placing the band on this child at this point in his life in my opinion would not be the best thing...I think if his underlying reasons for the over eating was addressed and counseled and he learned to make changes...then that would be a time to reconsider the band.

Wish you the best of luck...Those of us that were born to cargive have this drive to want to help everyone, and when that person is our own flesh and blood a drive in us goes into over turbo drive...My husband calls it "mama bear syndrome", try to step back and use your critical thinking skills and reassess..( I hate that term)...

Were hear for you

Kim

I would not bring my kiddo either...I don't know if the OCC would let them stay the night at the clinic...And I would not want my kiddo alone in TJ, mexico...

So No I didn't bring my kiddo with me, and would never do it!

Kim

So today is day 10 and I am suppose to be off bedrest after today. Since my drainage was 89cc for yesterday I don't think it is coming out any time soon. Follow up on Tuesday, so I might get it out...I guess we have to weigh that the drain is a source of infection, open portal to the abd. vs. increased drainage and having to hAVE MY BODY absorb the fluid! I guess thats why we rely on the knowledge and experience of the Dr.s...

This morning I was treated with breakfast in bed by my 14 year old son. We watched a movie and then off to the shower. I am not having a lot of pain, just soreness...I can sure tell a big difference when my binder is off. I have to wash it every other day or so, cause it gets nasty...So while that is drying I get real sore...

I tried to load some before and after pics, but either its my computer or the OCC programing and I couldn't get them to load...I got a error notice...

Take care and happy banding...

Kim

welcome to the Lapband world...We are hear for you just write and we will be able to help with your questions...

Have a great journey, everyone of us has a had a slight different journey...

Kim

I AM NOT A DR. BUT I JUST HAD A TT/LIPO/ AND BREAST LIFT ON APRIL 30TH...MY DOC WANTED TO STAY AWAY FROM MY PORT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO I WOULD THINK IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE MD, AND HOW MUCH LIPO THAT WOULD BE NEEDED.

KIM

A HIP OR KNEE REPLACEMENT IS A MUCH MORE INVASIVE PROCEDURE THAN HAVING THE LAP BAND PUT IN YOU. THE HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENTS REQUIRE THE MD TO CUT THE BONE AND SQUREW IN A PLATE TO ONE SIDE OF THE BONE...VERY INVASIVE...THE LAPBAND IS A CLOSED OR LAPORASCOPIC SURGERY, (5 TINY HOLES VS A VERY LARGE OPEN INCISION WITH A HIP/KNEE). YOU DO GET ANTIBIOTICS PRE BAND...THIS IS TO KEEP ANY INFECTION THAT YOU MIGHT GET AT A MINIMUM...I ASKED MORE THAN ONE PERSON CONNECTED TO THE OCC WHAT THE INFECTION RATE WAS, AND I BELIEVE IT WA LESS THAN 1%...BETTER THAN US HOSPITALS...

THERE IS A RISK WITH ANY SURGICAL PROCEEDURE THAT IS DONE, SOME MORE AND SOME LESS...I THINK THE OCC HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AT KEEPING SURGICAL INFECTION TO ALMOST NONE...

I HAVE NOT READ IN THE LAST 2 YEARS ON THIS SITE OF ANYONE HAVING A POST OP INFECTION...

KIM

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD POST TO POST BECAUSE I HAVE POSTED SOMETHING TO ALL THE OTHER TOPICS...

KIM