elain67

Hello! I wanted to let you know that you can do this. I was so scared when I went in for my surgery, I even made my husband go with me and now looking back would have had him stay home. I stayed at the Marriott and it was great. Everything about OCC, the staff, arrangements, facility and the surgery was better than I ever expected. The surgery was so easy, when I awakened after the surgery everything happened so fast and I didn't feel a thing I actually thought that they had forgotten to do my surgery! All of us who had surgery that day were up around and laughing within an hour or so. We all went back to the hotel that afternoon and didn't have to stay all night at OCC, although that wouldn't have been bad because the staff was so attentive. I do have to say that my weight loss is going a bit slower than expected but it is of my own doing. I am on my forth fill (not from OCC) and am finally feeling some restriction that is obvious. Please remember that the band isn't the cure all, it is a helpful tool. Best of luck on your journey - you will do great.

Hi There! I am from Columbus Ohio and have a great fill Doctor that is VERY fairly priced compared to what some of the people on here have posted. I went to Dr. Ortiz for my surgery and go to the Barix Clinic in Groveport for my fills. You can just google Barix Clinic Groveport Ohio and that will give you the information. Dr. Witt is the Doctor there, he and his entire staff are great! I highly recommend going there. I was just there today for my fourth fill and I can really feel the restriction this time. I hope this helps. Good luck on your journey!

You look great, what an inspiration!!!!!!

Hi Carrie, You look so great! I finally could see the pictures. Thank you so much for posting and encouraging me to take lots of pictures of myself. I am down 15 pounds since my surgery in September, before I went to OCC I took 3 pictures that I had forgotten about. I just took 3 more and compared them, it is amazing how much difference it has made in my face with only 15 pounds! This is so encouraging. I haven't decided whether or not to post any pictures but can see with the progress that I probably will eventually. I have been worried about people finding out that I had the surgery, my job is really public. So far only my husband knows. Thanks again for encouraging me, and YOU LOOK AMAZING!

Hi Carrie, Where can I go to see the pictures, I am sorry but I couldn't find them. I need all the inspiration that I can get right now. I just got my first fill and haven't noticed any restriction. I know that this is typical but cannot wait to start shopping for skinny clothes. I saw your pictures you had posted under your profile and you look amazing, unless I missed them somehow I didn't see the newer one. Congrats on your success and thanks for posting!

You look great! I am still pretty new into the banding journey and this gives me so much hope.

My experience was wonderful. I had my husband go but after going and experiencing I would have gone alone. They surgery was so easy, I actually woke up afterward thinking I had woken up before they had a chance to do the surgery Ha! Ha! Of course they had done it and everyone on they staff was great. I didn't have any pain just kind of a dull feeling that my abdomen was a little sore. Good luck with your journey.

Thanks for all of your help! I am thinking that going local will be the best way to go time wise and cost wise. I appreciate all of your responses.

Hi Everyone, I will be ready for my first fill really soon. When I was at the Obesity Center getting my surgery Dr. Ortiz mentioned that it would be better to come there for all of my fills. I would have to fly from Ohio and that can get really pricey over time and I saw that there is a fill center about 85 miles from where I live. Does anyone have any thoughts about what is best? Please let me know. Thanks!

I know that you will do great, I had a wonderful experience.......sending you the best!

I only told my husband, I just didn't think that it was anyone's business. I briefly mentioned that I was researching the procedure to a few of my co workers and their reaction was so negative, and both of them have had plastic surgery! One of them had liposuction and the other a face lift and chin implant, I really thought that they would understand. I was really shocked at the reaction. This weight problem has been such a personal struggle. People who have never gone through this have no idea how painful it is. I didn't do very well on the pre op diet but have lost 10 pounds since my surgery which was less than 2 weeks ago. I wouldn't change a thing about my decision. Maybe one of these days I will tell people, not sure though.

Carrie that is awesome, hopefully I will be right behind you. I just got banded on Tuesday of this week and have already lost 6 pounds! Keep up the great work. Susan

Happy Birthday and congrats! Hopefully I will be where you are soon!

Sorry guys I was wrong about the water intake before the testing and surgery. Thanks for following up, I would never intentionally mislead anyone. There was a lot of information to take in & I was really nervous so obviously overlooking some important details. Thanks!

Hey All, I am on day 3 of clear liquids and it has not been bad at all. So far I am not feeling any hunger, I thought that this part would be really hard but is turning out to be pretty easy so far. I had seen on another post that it was helpful to bring bring boullion soup cubes with me to use at the hotel and was very glad that I did. I rinsed out the coffee maker really well and ran water through so I would have hot water to make some clear soup. I also brought some crystal light individual packs to use in the water when we were out and about. Hope this helps. Good luck to everyone that is having surgery soon, it will be just fine.

I drank water on the morning of the fast, I was under the impression that it was OK to do that. Please check with the center though because I may be wrong about that.

Thanks! I found the band on the back of the card they gave me - Johnson & Johnson SAGB VC Band. Hope that helps. For the person who asked - does it matter what kind of band you get? I was just curious, I had done more research on the surgery and experiences that people had rather than the brand of the band. Just wondering if it makes a difference brand to brand. Thanks!

Hi All, Just got back from walking around all day and shopping. I had to take it a little slower than usual but not bad at all! Dr. Ortiz didn't tell me what band he was using, I am sure that he would have if I had thought to ask. All I wanted to do was get the surgery over with and I drew a blank when it came to asking him questions. Everyone on the staff is great and the Dr will come in and talk with you one on one before your surgery. Sorry I couldn't help more with your question. Keep me posted on how your surgeries go! I am sure that you will be just fine!

Sorry guys - I accidentally posted this twice. I didn't think the first one went through opps!

Hi All, Before my surgery I learned so much from everyone's posting so I wanted let everyone know how my surgery went yesterday! I am so glad that it is over. The trip was great, just as promised by the coordinator. We were picked up at the airport on time no problems and then taken to the facility to have some tests done. That only took a few minutes and the facility is beautiful and clean. Everyone on the staff is wonderful and will do everything they can to make sure that you are comfortable. On the day of the surgery there were 5 of us there together, some with their spouses and others alone. The surgery was so easy, I can't believe I wasted so much time worrying about it. All of us were done by 4 pm after that we all went back to our hotel, we didn't even have to stay the night at the facility. When I woke up after the surgery I didn't even realize what had happened, I didn't have any pain and thought maybe I awakened before they were able to do the surgery! I was up and walking a half hour later with very little discomfort, although later in the evening I was a bit tender but nothing terrible. I had my husband come on the trip with me because I was afraid but after going through the experience I would have had him stay home. After I went to the facility for the first time I was at ease, I had him stay at the hotel the day of my surgery because I didn't want him to be bored to tears waiting for me all day. I would have been fine doing the trip alone. I will keep everyone one posted along the way about my journey with having my band! Thanks to all of the people who have posted in the past making my decision to do this an easy one.

Hi All, Before my surgery I learned so much from everyone's posting so I wanted let everyone know how my surgery went yesterday! I am so glad that it is over. The trip was great, just as promised by the coordinator. We were picked up at the airport on time no problems and then taken to the facility to have some tests done. That only took a few minutes and the facility is beautiful and clean. Everyone on the staff is wonderful and will do everything they can to make sure that you are comfortable. On the day of the surgery there were 5 of us there together, some with their spouses and others alone. The surgery was so easy, I can't believe I wasted so much time worrying about it. All of us were done by 4 pm after that we all went back to our hotel, we didn't even have to stay the night at the facility. When I woke up after the surgery I didn't even realize what had happened, I didn't have any pain and thought maybe I awakened before they were able to do the surgery! I was up and walking a half hour later with very little discomfort, although later in the evening I was a bit tender but nothing terrible. I had my husband come on the trip with me because I was afraid but after going through the experience I would have had him stay home. After I went to the facility for the first time I was at ease, I had him stay at the hotel the day of my surgery because I didn't want him to be bored to tears waiting for me all day. I would have been fine doing the trip alone. I will keep everyone one posted along the way about my journey with having my band! Thanks to all of the people who have posted in the past making my decision to do this an easy one.

Thanks for all of the replies! I just wanted to be sure that it was safe to take the laptop with me, my whole life is on it! Ha! Ha! I will let everyone know how it goes. A little nervous but keep telling myself if I can go through natural childbirth without any drugs or an epidural this surgery should be a breeze compared to that! Thanks again for all the responses.

Hi All, This might sound like a really silly question! In the paper work that we had to fill out it stated not to bring valuables. I have some things for work that I really could be working on while I am recovering and it would really be helpful if I could take my laptop with me. Do any of you guys that have already had the surgery think it would be a problem if I took my laptop with me? I am leaving early on Monday September 14th Thanks!

Hey There! I am new to the forum, although I have been reading and searching it for quite some time now. I am scheduled for surgery on September the 15th, a bit scared about going to Mexico and about having the surgery. I just know that I need to take a drastic measure to get this weight problem under control. I have some amazing things happening in my career that could potentially put me more in the public eye and I don't want to be hiding from the world because of my weight problem If it weren't for all of the great information on this forum I would probably still be contemplating have this procedure. I appreciate all of the advice and comments that everyone has taken the time to post. Wish me luck on my journey