ToddS

My wife & I just got our first fills. I got 3.6 cc's in a VG 10cc Band. She got 1.8 cc's in a 4cc Band. We are having Zoom treatment before we leave. Then 3 days of liquids due to fills... The journey continues.

Thanks for the reply. The trip to TJ in a couple of weeks is going to cost me over $2000. More than half of that is us staying a couple of extra days to go to Sea World and the Wild Animal Park. Our flights were about $650 alone plus $100 each for our fills under Fluoro, puts us over what Pac Surgical would be. I am even more convinced to go there next time. Even though I think OCC is the best.

I am also interested in Pacific Surgical. What do they charge? My wife & I are going bac to OCC for our first fills, but do not want to go there every time due to travel from Vancouver, WA.

Just scheduled fills for my wife & I for Friday, June 12. We will also be getting the ZOOM Teeth whitening on the same day.

Wow, quite the list of no no's. I had not heard of most of these. 1. No Straws (started) 2. No Gum (started) 3. No Hard Candy (started) 4. No Carbonated Soda, Water, Liquor or other Beverages (started) 5. No Liquor, Wine for at least 1 year (started) 6. No Caffine (started) 7. No Beverages while eating (wait 1 hour prior to eating and 1 hour after) 8. No Popcorn (started) 9. No Nuts (started) 10. No Flour Based Pasta's or Rice (technically I started this today...lol) 11. No Bread unless it's Toasted (ditto) 12. For OCC Patients ... No protein drinks until post op diet allows. 13. Take a MultiVitiamin each day (started) 14. Take a calcium supplement each day (started) Some of them I actually heard the opposite. Like sugar free gum, it helped get through liquids so you actually had something to chew. Nuts are an excellent source of protein in a small serving after the liquids stage. Drink up until eating and wait 30-45 minutes after. I also have been told that you do not need any supplements if you are eating right. That is one of the things that makes the band better than some of the other surgery options. As far as popcorn, bread, pasta, tortillas etc. the reason to avoid them is mostly nutritional. However, some do get stuck with these foods. If you want them every once in a while you should be able to have them. I say all of this without having had a fill and being only a month in after banding... My theory, and it is just a theory until I have restriction, is that the reason why "everybody is different" is mostly due to how well they chew combined with their ability to produce saliva. If you always have a dry mouth and cannot really liquefy the food you eat before you swallow, you are going to have problems. Anyway, I have always been a multiple diet coke's with my meal kind of guy so it was hard not to drink at first. However, I now find it is easy and my mouth really does not dry out. It is funny how many of us get our information from the same sources and yet, we all have differing opinions on what we are and are not supposed to do. I do not claim to be an expert and your list may be much more accurate than my information. Good luck on your journey and in finding what works for you!

I am not familiar with anyone in the Bay Area, but I would (and did) make the trip to Dr. Ortiz and the OCC. They are the best and I am almost 100% positive that it will be less expensive for you there. Good luck on your search.

Thanks Stormy. We may give her a try after we have our first fill done under Fluoro at OCC. We both really don't like the idea of a blind fill, but I have heard that many have had really good success and it would save us a flight to San Diego and/or the drive to Olympia or Salem.

Thanks for asking. We are both doing great. There is still some occasional discomfort at the port but that is about it. 3 weeks of liquids was the hardest part, but it was mostly head hunger for me. Leanne had more problems with physical hunger than I did. After about 10 days on solids, we are both able to eat everything that we have tried and unfortunately have no apparent restriction. This is to be expected though without a fill. We both lost quite a bit of weight since surgery day. (14/18 pounds) and we both have gained a couple of pounds since starting on solids. That is to be expected too. We then lost a couple of pounds and have stayed steady for almost a week. It has been the best decision for us to have done this together. I cannot imagine how hard it would have been for us if one of us was eating normally during the liquids stage. Have a happy day and good luck on your journey.

That is great news for you! Where are you getting your fills? My wife and I were banded 4/6/09 at the OCC and will probably go there for the first one. After that, it would be nice to stay local.

Great job Greg! I too am down dramatically from our surgery day. I have lost 16 pounds since 4/6 and 50 pounds since starting pre-op on 2/1/09. We can do this! Keep up the good work.

That would be us. I hope his trip home is a safe one and that he is doing well.

Thank you all for all of the positive thoughts. I posted an update in a new thread titled "We are back home!"

Well, Leanne and I made it back home safely. Both surgeries went well. Hers took about 45 minutes. Mine, however, took over 3.5 hours. I had a previous surgery 12 years ago for acid reflux. It is a procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. I guess mine was one of the most challenging surgeries they have ever done. I am not sure of all of the reasons why, but apparently the previous surgery was done well. Anyway, it took so long because the previous surgery had to be undone, then the lap-band placed, then the previous surgery needed to be put mostly back. (If I understand it all correctly.) We both met some wonderful folks while we were there and will remember the experience positively. I cannot say enough about the incredible care that we received. Dr. Ortiz and everyone else at the OCC are the best!

Hi All- This journey for my wife Leanne & I has been a long one. We first went to a weight loss seminar in 2006 and decided then that we would do the band together. Our insurance, however, would not cover it and self pay was too much in the US. We were quoted about $30,000 each. About a year ago I saw an article on medical tourism and began to look for options. I am very happy to have found the OCC. My wife & I are both very comfortable with our decision on going there. My wife even found out about a week ago that we know someone who has been to the OCC for his surgery. That really put our minds at ease. We are both getting our bands on Monday at the OCC! We are both very excited and about as prepared as we can be. Even though we live about 20 minutes from the airport, there is a bridge between here and there so we are staying at a hotel at the airport tonight. I will likely not see this site until I get home next Wednesday. It has been great to read all of the posts and experiences. We also read Lap-Band For Life by none other than Dr. Ariel Ortiz. I consider this book a must for anyone who is considering lap-band as an option. Anyway, I know we are in good hands, but wish us luck. I look forward to meeting the others who will be there while we are. Todd

My wife Leanne & I will be there as well! We will see you then!!! Todd

Christy, Greg & Jaz. I can't believe we are less than 10 days away. I can't wait!

My wife Leanne & I will be getting ours the 6th!

What brand is it and what section did you find it in?

Thanks everyone. I guess most hotels have firm beds. I will try to email them and ask.

Can anyone comment on the comfort of the beds at the Marriott or Lucerna? At home, I have a Select Comfort "Sleep Number" bed that I like very soft. My wife and I are getting banded on April 6 and like to looks of the Marriott over the Lucerna, but would like to stay wherever the beds are the softest. Neither one of us does well on a firm bed. Usually, it needs to at least be a pillow top.

My wife and I are scheduled for April 6th. GregP, I guess we will see you there a month from today!