Richie

Hi Debbie. Good to see another Islander on here. There are a few of us actually.

I live in Shawnigan Lake and work in Duncan. I am a Registered nurse and being banded was the best thing that I ever did for myself. My only regret is that I never did it years ago.

I was banded on Sept 29th at the OCC. Being a nurse I was a little nervous about going to Mexico. But after I researched Dr. Ortiz I was completely confident that he was the most qualified surgeon for me. I also read this forum daily and asked tons of questions and read everyones experiences especially nurses and doctors who were banded.

I can tell you as a nurse that the OCC was cleaner than most hospitals or clinics I have been in . They used state of the art medical equiptment and their OR was all the most up to date equiptment.

Staff was amazing!!!!!!!!!! All the doctors were fantastic.

I did not tell anyone I was having my band done or where because I did not want to hear any negativity. I researched it, made up my mind and flew down by myself to have the surgery. Everything went very smoothly. I flew down Monday, Had surgery on Tuesday, flew home Thursday and was back at work Monday.

I have not had a fill yet. I am loosing consistently and not hungry so I will not bother getting a fill until my weight loss slows down for several weeks or I get really hungry.

Hope that answeres some of your questions and I wish you the best of luck with your decision making process. If you keep reading this board I am sure it wont be long and you will be making plans to fly to Mexico

Debbie :lb11:

Hi Debbie,

Thanks your reply, Wow you were brave going alone. Have you told anybody since joining bandland. What has their responses been? You look like you are doing awesome. I first saw Dr Ortiz on the show The Doctors and tucked it away in my mind as an option. I'm thnking maybe the time has arrived. It's hard to come to terms with the realization that you can't do this without help. If you can do this on your own but it will take forever. Do I want to waste time or do I want to get healthy. I'm almost 53 if not now when?

Where will get your fill done? Cherly, another Islander, mentioned a Dr in Washington. You answer most of my questions, I have so many more. I'll write again. I have to run.

I'll have to figure out how to turn on the spell check. (spelling and grammar not one of my strong suits)

Thanks again,

Debbie

Hi Debbie...I just read your post and thought I'd say Hello to you in Ucluelet !! I'm in the Victoria area and am heading to Tofino next month for a little getaway!! You live in one of my favorite places on the Island...

I traveled to T.J Mexico last month (Oct. 15) and had my band inserted on the 16th. It's been a great experience and the weight loss has been substantial! And I haven't even had a fill yet! Thus said, there is no Dr. on the Island that will do a fluorscope fill. If you had an emergency situation Dr. Armson/Dr. Tang in Victoria will do an UNFILL using the fluorscope.

I am going to Marysville, Washington on Dec. 5th to have my first fill (fluorscopically) by the NorthWest Fill Management Clinic. The clinic is about 40 miles north of Seattle. If you want more details you can email me.

I have tried many doctor prescribed diets over the past 27 years. My G.P here in Victoria suggested the lapband as a possibility for me. I have two friends that went to OCC in Mexico and they highly praised Dr. Ortiz and his team.

I'm so glad that I took their advice. It's allowing me to become healthy and fit and at the ripe old age of 58..it was now or never!! LOL

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Regards,

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

Thanks for your reply. I do agree Ucluelet and Tofino are pretty great but I love the hustle of Victoria and oh the shopping!!! It's very limited and expenise here. Where and when are you staying in Tofino? We have a beautiful oceanfront suite that we just open in Sept. With this wind and rain storm you should see the waves. I hope you enjoy your stay in my neck of the woods.

Did you go down to Mexico alone? Is it hard to make the adjustments to the eating or lack there of? Are you worried about not getting enough food? Do you think you can live this way for the rest of your life? So many questions. Are there not Dr.s in Vancouver to do the fills? I know there don't have the exray machines to do a proper fill but does the Dr. in Washington have a exray machine? What is the cost? Please email his phone #. I think what I find hard and will have a difficult time explaining to my husband is that I can't do this without help. And of course the cost to do this. I look at what stage I'm at in my life (I'm soon to be 53) and than say if not now when? My weight is taking years off my life and if I don't get healthier soon I'm placing one foot into my grave. I want to live a happy and active life with my wonderful husband that has stuck by me though all of my weight gain.

Have your friends done well with their banding? When did they have it done? What happens if you have trouble with eating or the band being to tight? Where did you fly out of? Anyway, I have to run. We will talk later.

Thanks again,

It's nice to talk to someone in the same boat.

Take care and enjoy your stay in Tofino.

Oh by the way 58 is not so old. I nipping at your heels.

Debbie

Sorry to hear you are having so much difficultywith the band. I would suggest you call the OCC. It sounds to me like you are too tight. I could not see when you were banded but you should be able to eat more than 3 bites so give the OCC call and get their opinion.

Debbie

Hi Debbie

Are you from Vancouver Island? I am from Ucluelet, Vancouver Island. When do you have your band done? Where did you get your fills done? I just in the consideration mode and I not sure if this is the right road for me. It's nice to know of other BC'ers out there to chat with.

Debbie