Pamela

Congrats Becki, we are so proud of you. =D> Thanks for all your encouragement!!!!

How much does he charge for a fill under floro???

I did the same thing before my surgery. I still ended up loosing 6 pounds by right before the surgery. However, you will be able to eat again just in smaller portions. Stop now so you don't gain anymore weight. Don't panic!!!

I'm glad they figured out what it is that has been causing you so much discomfort! Now it's time to get better!! =D> Keep us updated!

Good luck!!!

Thanks everyone for your support!! You all are great! >

:-h "Hello everyone". I can't believe that I am 21 days post op!!! It looks like I get to eat real food tomorrow. However, I don't know how excited I really am about it. I mean, food has been the enemy for so long. I guess it's not really the food that is the enemy rather than the amount that I used to eat. I am going to be prepared for tomorrow with a meal plan that I will put together today. I plan to eat a protein bar for breakfast, Lean Cuisine for lunch and a small dinner. No snacks in between. If I get hungry, I will sip on chicken broth. I am hoping to go long as possible without needing my first fill. The main reason for this is that I can't find a fill doctor in my state for a reasonable cost so I am going to fly to Tijuanna. I am hoping that I can wait until the middle of April or early May. I have a Florida trip planned for Spring Break in March so I can't turn around and go to Mexico too. I will if I HAVE to. So far, I am down 10 pounds which doesn't seem like alot considering my post op diet. But I am happy with it and I am now going to the gym. Last night, I walked 1.5 miles and did some light arm weights and leg weights. Next week, I plan to amp my workouts up! Good luck to you all and I will check back in a few days to let you know how my solid food eating plan is holding up.

I did a bunch of research before I decided to go with Dr. Ortiz and I must say that the whole experience was wonderful! Of course I was skeptical at first but once I saw this board on all the great things that his patients are saying about him and the clinic, I decided to go for it. Dr. Ortiz has peformed over 4000 lapband procedures and he wrote the book "Lap Band for Life". He is fantastic and so are the people at his clinic!!! I had the sugery done on Friday and flew home to Oklahoma City on Sunday. I was back at work on Monday and nobody knew anything (unless I told them). You are in good hands with Dr. Ortiz!!

I only took off one day from work as I had the surgery on Friday and was back at work on Monday!!! Good luck!! =D>

I only took off one day from work as I had the surgery on Friday and was back at work on Monday!!! Good luck!! =D>

I will probably get my fill in April as I have a trip to Florida planned for March. Sounds like you are doing good!

The only think I ate/drank at the airport was a passion fruit tea from Starbucks. I also had an orange juice on the plane and I always have a bottle of flavored water with me. Take some fruit punch Crystal Light on the go packets in your purse (whatever flavor you like). You can mix that with a bottled water and sip on it at the airport. Oh, I also chewed gum and that helped keep my jaws busy. I didn't use the chicken broth cubes but I do love them. You'll do fine!

My opinion is that Dr. Ortiz is the best for the Lapband procedure. He has performed over 4000 surgerys and wrote a book called "Lap Band For Life". The website is www.obesitycontrolcenter.com The facility is very clean and nice and the people are great. I do not have one regret!

Have you tried Spiru-tein in Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl? It is really good. Especially when you add a small scoop of real peanut butter. Hang in there!

I had some pain around my port incision but not bad enough to warrant taking pain pills. Everyone has a different level of pain tolerance so it would be hard to compare yourself to anyone else. You will start feeling better soon. Hang in there!

Cheryl, I am now 14 days post op and I really feel great! The mental hunger does get easier over time but there are still a lot of old habits to break! Every now and then, I want to reach for a chip or I catch myself looking aimlessly in the fridge for something tasty. However, the lapband has stopped me from putting so much stuff in my mouth. I would have eaten A LOT by now if I did not have this band. Hang in there and stick to your liquid diet for the time your doctor told you to. I decided that I was going to treat my band right and allow it to heal properly. I didn't want any chance of a slip or anything else to go wrong because of me eating something I shouldn't. Good luck!!

Forget the scale, you got to buy jeans in the regular size department!!!! That is SUCCESS!!!! Way to go!!

Good job Greg!!! Keep up the good work.

I thought I called Dr. Floyd and was told that they won't do fills for Mexico patients. Have you already spoke to them? I would rather return to Dr. Ortiz for my first fill and I hope to do so but I need a back up just in case. Thanks.

I would contact the OCC and ask one of the fill doctor's what they know about this subject. Maybe she has a leak in her band?? I don't see how you could eat so much food with a completly full band. That sounds strange. Also, I am in Oklahoma and looking for a fill doctor. Who do you use in Texas and how much do they charge? I would be willing to drive to Texas if I have to. Otherwise, I will fly to TJ for the fill. Thanks.

Good luck to you! I was banded on Feb. 9th by Dr. Ortiz and the experience was terrific. I did not get any gas pains in my shoulder that you hear about. I think that walking after the surgery really helps with gas. I normally keep a water bottle with me at all times full of juice or flavored water like Crystal Light. When I get hungry, I take a few sips of flavored water and I feel better. Remember that you will have some mental hunger when you smell foods. Be prepared for that struggle at first. It does get easier day by day. I also like to drink suger free hot cocoa when I have a sweet tooth. Once you can have full liquids, try Campbell Soup At Hand (sip cup style) in Velvety Potato and Cream of Broccoli. They taste good and you get full off them. Let us know how you do!

I forgot to update you all on what I found out at CosMedClinc. It was a very nice and clean facility and the staff seems really nice. I met with the Chief Surgeon, Dr. "Q" and he seems very informed. I just asked general questions like botox and facials and laser facials (IPL) and everything seemed reasonably priced. The IPL (intense pulse light) that helps eliminate sun damage and fine lines cost $180 per session for face only. I then called in my home state of Oklahoma and was given a price range of $450 for face and $700 for face & neck. Looks like CosMed has better prices for that. Botox at Cosmed is $200 for first area and $100 for each additional area. I think that is really reasonable too. As far as breast lifts and other more invasive procedures, you have to email them a picture before he can give you a quote. However, he said about $3500 for a breast lift again depending on the person's needs. All in all, I was pretty satisfied with my visit. I didin't have one specific thing that I really need done as of yet so it was kind of hard to get good info on tummy tucks, face lifts and other major procedures. I would like to have some facials done there to include the IPL facials. You can buy a series of 4 for $600 which is a good price compared to my home state. Hope this helps.

Well, this weekend wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. I normally eat all the fattening stuff on the weekends. This past weekend is the first weekend at home with my new band. I did fine except on Friday I had too many liquid calories. I had two margaritas with my best friend and then later we got a small hot cocoa from 7-11. It tasted really good so I know there had to be a lot of calories in it. Saturday was better and I drank a lot of water. I blended up some spaghetti and it tasted pretty good. I had that for lunch and a protein shake for dinner. I don't really feel any restriction at this point but that is because I am still on liquids and mushy foods. Those just flow through the band but I am still in the healing process. I am 11 days post op and have 11 more days before I can get eat solid foods. Once on solids, I should feel fuller faster and longer. I also bought a new digital scale. I didn't want to weigh myself until I felt a difference in my clothes but I couldn't resist. However, I am only down 5 pounds since surgery. I feel like I should be down at least 10 pounds considering the lack of calories in my diet. But, your body adapts to that lack of calories pretty fast. I have been trying to drink 700 calories a day with my drinkable yogurt, soups and protein shakes. I don't want my body to be in shock when I start on solid foods so I am trying to even my calories for the two phases. I was on a 300 cal per day when on clear liquids. So, my body might be adjusting to the added calories over the recent 4 days. I am not discouraged one bit. 5 pounds is great and I am excited to loose much more than that in the future. More later.

Yep, my stomach made a lot of noise the first week after surgery! I always have a bottle of flavored water with me. I am always sipping on something. I found that I don't have to take small sips any more. I don't guzzle it down but I can take bigger drinks than I thought I would be able to. Becky, try those Campbell Soups at Hand (sip cup style) when you get to the full liquid phase. There is a Velvety Potato and Cream of Brocoli that are really good and they help you feel full! I love my protein shakes that I mix up with the Peanut Butter Chocolate Swirl protein powder I found at Akins Health Food store. Mix it with fat free milk and some ice. I added a small spoon full of peanut butter and blended it up real good. It is really tasty. Randy, I guess you are finally eating solid foods??? I am hoping that I feel some restriction once I start on solids. Let me know how you are doing.

Yep, we still have to eat healthy food and the band should help us feel full longer and not deprived. I plan to eat a protein bar for breakfast, a Healthy Choice or Weight Watcher meal for lunch and then a sensible dinner. I am hoping to hold true to this plan for 6 days per week and then 1 day to eat what I want (in smaller portions). Becki, your new picture is so cute!!! Teri, I hope you are doing okay. This band can be really fickle. Good luck to you!!