Sherri

I now have 7.6cc's in the Johnson and Johnson, Realize Band. ( I think it holds 11cc's total) I still do not have any restriction. Dr So at the OCC told me after 7.5cc's the next fill is usually only .5-1cc. so be careful your next fill. I had an overfill on a "blind fill" so I am not going to push it too fast. It is sure easier to lose weight if your band is helping you fill full.

I wanted to pass on another option for a place to get a fill in the USA with a Doctor who uses Flouro. Dr Houston will "adopt" patients who have had their surgery in Mexico. This is my second go around on fills after getting my band filled twice at the OCC without problems. After that my horrible experience with a third fill attempt at the IL Fill Center by a Nurse Practitioner who did not know what she was doing. I had to be hospitalized and have a total unfill then wait 6 weeks to start this process again. I still don't have much restriction yet but Dr Houston said he did not want to take a chance with my band being too tight. I really like him and his office staff. I stayed in the Union Station Wyndham Hotel, which was beautiful the night before and then drove 5 minutes to his office. I bid on my room at priceline.com using the Downtown Nashville option and got a great deal. Another place that is fun to stay at is at the Opreyland Hotel. If anyone wants information you can call Dr Houston's office. His phone number is (615) 342-5820 . Elizabeth is his secretary. I was able to get my Flouro paid by insurance for $40 instead of $150. Hope this helps

I had to switch to medications that are chewable or the new medications that dissolve when you put them in your mouth. I had my pharmacy call my Doctor and and they were able to change the prescription

Sounds like it could be your Gallbladder.. Does it hurt more in the evening? I had to have mine removed. My Gallbladder was filled with Cholesterol Sludge from loosing weight too fast.

I would stay off the scale for a few days... You might want to check the sodium on your soups. The Bear Creek potato soup is WONDERFUL but it had a huge amount of sodium.. Also Chicken Broth has lots of sodium.. You can get lower calorie protein shakes or make your own using Almond Milk. It is only 60 calories per cup unless you get the vanilla which is 90 calories. Then add ice and protein powder. Stay away from high calorie juice and switch to crystal light. You can also make the sugar free Jello... Hang in there...

Nicole, I feel for you. I gain weight when I do not eat my protein first and then vegetables. I don't like meat so I have to MAKE myself eat it... I went to Costco and stocked up on Fish and Chicken and try to eat the size of 1/2 my palm.. That is what Dr So told me to do when I was gaining weight. I love carbs and sweets and they go down just fine with my band... ...When I force myself to go to the gym 5 times a week I loose weight faster too. Hang in there.. Sherri

I totally know how you are feeling.. Here is my story... Why did I risk my life and travel to a place that is unsafe with Drug Cartel Murders etc? I did it to improve the quality of my life. The risk was worth the danger to me at that time. I have lost about 40 pounds since June and I am glad that I had the surgery. Dr Ortiz and the OCC are wonderful. Mexico on the other hand has some severe issues to take into account. In June my friend her husband, my mother and my 11 year old daughter and I traveled together using the OCC transportation from the San Diego Airport to the OCC for our surgery. They were having elections in Mexico at that time and it was a bit scary hearing the screaming and yelling of the demonstrators in the street. We felt safe at the Marriott with the Security Guards who looked like the "Secret Service" at the front doors with huge guns and security officials on each floor.. Down the street there was also some kind of military set up with sand bags and lots of people with guns. We were told they were the police... Needless to say we did not leave the Marriott at all during our surgery stay. My mother and daughter has fun spending time together at the pool and in the room. My friends husband was able to do his work using his computer at the hotel. We did feel safe while at the Marriott.. The night before our first fill in July, my friend got a text from the US government that said they were pulling out all US government workers and their families from Mexico. A travel advisory was also put out saying not to travel to Mexico border states. Even though most of the killings were drug related, the problem with collateral damage to Americans still existed,needless to say I freaked out and called the OCC and also posted a SOS here on this list... I got several replies that made me feel better about traveling.. My friend and I took off all our jewelery and put our old sweats and only took our cashiers checks and a small amount of cash. We stayed at the Marriott that night after our fill. The large majority of killings that day the OCC told us were in the Texas border areas not in TJ. In August I had my second fill at the OCC. I had the OCC driver take me to San Diego to stay the night instead of staying in Mexico. That might be a safer option for anyone who is worried about their safety. Dr So had us order food at the front desk and eat it right on the patio to make sure we were able to keep it down before we went back to San Diego. For my third fill I went to a fill center in the US and had a horrible experience... I am unfilled at this point because I had an inexperienced Nurse Practitioner did a blind fill and then left on vacation with no way for me to be unfilled... I am getting my next fill in the US by a MD who uses Floroscopy to do his fills. It is 31/2 hours from my house but easier that traveling to Mexico for me. I wonder if I had the choice of Plication or the Sleeve in June if I would have chosen that instead of the Lap Band? The good thing about those surgeries is you don't have to worry about traveling to Mexico or finding a doctor in the USA who will take a patient who was banded in Mexico on as a patient and do their fills. I am here to tell you that it is not worth having someone who is inexperienced doing fills overfill you , especially if you live far away and they are not available 24-7 to unfill you for the next 72 hours. It can turn into a medical emergency that I wish nobody else here has to experience. ... Sorry this post is so long... Hope it helps...

Thanks for posting about the Camino Real.. We had issues at the Marriott too. The first time we stayed, they overcharged us on our meals we got a $250 dollar bill for food at check out. They did not understand our food orders either. Our second visit I requested a bill at the time of our meals as we were charging it to our room and they told us they do not give receipts. Finally they gave us a receipt in Pesos.... The best thing to do is pay at each meal.... Then you will not be shocked when you check out.. I wish the OCC would open up some type of "hotel" or aftercare place for their patients. That would be great.

Rosie, I bet you are excited. Are you having your Pre Op work up done at the OCC today? I thought of something else... You can get Gas X in tablets that you can chew to cut down on the post op gas pains....

Hang in there.... It is normal to be anxious... This month will go fast... Best wishes, Sherri

Nicole, Just wondering how your surgery went? Hope all is going well Post Op....

As soon as your doctors see you come home from Mexico and have only good things to say about the OCC along with you loosing weight and getting healthier they will be fine.... You can always say you are going to San Diego since that is where you fly into.... It almost makes it easier.... LOL

I think they did a CBC and check for your hemoglobin. They also do respiratory test where you have to blow into a machine. If you don't pass it they will give you a breathing treatment before and after surgery. . Why don't you go to your family practice doctor and get a complete blood work up just to make sure all is OK.. I had this done two weeks before my surgery and brought back the results to the OCC but they still wanted to do their own testing.

Are you staying the weekend in Mexico or San Diego? You can get some great deals on Priceline.com on the four star hotels in San Diego by the airport. I got one for $80.00 that was usually $290.00. Then have the OCC pick you up from your Hotel before your surgery... Just a though... Best of Luck on your new band!

I am off to get some Full Bars....Thanks

Since I had to have my band unfilled on October 22nd from my overfill from "hell", I am having a hard time maintaining my previous weight loss.. I crave all my old comfort foods like Macaroni and Cheese, chocolate,breads etc. I feel like scarfing down food like crazy now that I have no restriction..... Any suggestions.....?????????????

I was a size 22 when I started. I was wearing size 18 two weeks ago and now I am a 16 ...So I am glad I only bought 3 pairs of size 18 pants now.. I am still wearing a 1x shirt... So hard to find tops that don't look like Maternity in the Fat Lady part of the store.. But the regular xl does not look good with my tummy rolls. I hope that someday I will get down to a size 12...

I know... I wonder if that is why they are doing more of the other surgeries at the OCC where you don't need aftercare with fills?

Glad to hear all is well after 4 years... You give me hope that this band might be able to work for me after all.. Thanks for posting.

I just found a doctor in Nashville TN that does Fluoroscopic fills. Dr Hugh Huston. (2200 Murphy Avenue Nashville, TN 37203-1826 (615) 342-5820) Someone on the Lap Band Forum said he would take patients that were banded in Mexico. The cost will be less than flying to San Diego and staying in a hotel etc. I made an appointment for December the 10th . It is about 3 1/2 hours from Memphis. Elizabeth at Dr Hustons office said I had to wait 4-6 weeks for my band to heal before getting another fill. I will let everyone know how the fill goes as this may be a good option for those of us who live in the Mid South...

I had to have a total unfill two weeks ago after getting a bad fill at the IL USA Fill Center. I was not able to hold any liquids down a hour after the fill on Tuesday until Friday evening. I was admitted to the ER form to get IV fluids with Potassium and IV Zofran which helped with the nausea but still did not allow me even my saliva. . The whole ordeal really messed up my GI system. Lots of nausea and vomiting and feeling awful. My Upper GI results I just had showed that my band did not slip. Thank goodness. I lost ten pounds that I have already gained back after eating solid food again. I have stayed in touch with Dr So the whole time at the OCC. Dr So said to wait 4-6 weeks to let my GI tract heal... I am very scared that I will gain the weight that I have lost back during this time. I think that I am going to have to go back to the OCC for my fills since I don't trust the Fill Centers near me.. The one in Alabama is a "pain clinic" that has just started doing fills. The one in IL has a Nurse Practitioner that is nice but she does not do many fills. The one in MO only does fills once a month .. Not many options here in the Mid South for getting fills. The Lap Band Surgeons near me will not take patients who have had surgery in Mexico... Here is my question. Can anyone share their experience with the process of getting unfilled and then refilled? Do they have to fill it slowly or do they usually go back to where you were before your unfill.. I was at 7.5cc's in a Johnson and Johnson band before my 3rd fill Does anyone know if RN's can get certified or if you have to be a NP or MD? We are able to access poracaths in our patients. I work at a Women's Hospital and when I was really sick and could not find anyone to unfill my band I was almost tempted to get a long huber needle and a syringe and unfill myself.. That is how desperate I was... LOL. Thanks in advance for any shared experiences on getting your refills.... You could also email me at Dgrehder@aol.com

Erica, Yes it was a blind fill. That rural clinic was the only place I could find that I could drive to and could get me in on a day I was off work. The Nurse Practitioner ended up putting 1'cc in the band for a total of 8.5 cc's on Tuesday afternoon. The next morning she took out .7cc's so it left me with only .3cc's added at that fill. . I was still nauseated but able to drink water so she told me I would be OK after the band rested a bit . She kept filling it and taking fluid out over and over.. I think it was almost 1/2 an hour with the needle in my stomach.. Dr So finished my fill at the OCC in only a few minutes because he had the floroscopy. .. She had filled my band to as much as 9.5 cc's.. I was worried because Dr So told me the average third fill should be .5 cc - 1cc. I told the nurse what Dr So said and was kind of scared about her putting 2cc's in .. Even thought the water was able to go down. She took out another one cc out because I was concerned. She had me drink 4 glasses of water just to make sure.. I was nauseated from that amount in the band. Was it the ice water that shrank my stomach? ... Who knows what happened...... I don't think the Fill Center USA should book appointments where the Fill Center can't provide aftercare with the same person who did your fill. They should unfill you if it happens to be too tight within 72 hours .. I told them I am sending them sending them my ER bill and the $290 for my unfill. Not sure if it will help. I wanted to talk to the president of the company and they told me she does not speak to patients.. LOL Last Friday I had to have my band unfilled all the way... The Memphis doctor did it as a "courtesy" to the ER doctor who took care of me on Thursday night. The "mean" Surgeon told me that I needed to go back to my "original surgeon" for any aftercare..She would not accept me as a patient... It makes me mad that so many Doctors in the US have this problem with Mexico and even with Dr Ortiz but what can we do about it?.. I wish I had the money to open a Fill Center with a good doctor not like the ones who will accept us if we are banded in Mexico.. The Gastric Sleeve may have been a better option for me after all.... Darn Darn Darn... Dr So said I have to wait 4-6 weeks to go back to the OCC since my stomach is still irritated from this awful experience.... Last night I tried some meat and I felt like it was stuck in my throat for a few hours.... I had an upper GI that looked ok, the band had not slipped... Thank goodness... Thank you all for your concern and replies to my ordeal.... I would love any suggestion to where I might get a good fill near Memphis if anyone has one.... I would love the information about New Albany... 2 hours sounds wonderful especially if I have problems again.. 4-5 hours it too far to drive if you are vomiting and nauseated from a bad fill....

I have had the worst week.. I drove 5 hours from Memphis last Tuesday to get a fill at the Fill Center USA in IL. Denise the Nurse Practitioner added 1 ml to my band at 4pm. By 6pm I was vomiting non stop and could not hold down any fluids or saliva. I called the local ER at 1am and they did not have anybody on staff who could unfill a lap band so I went back to the Clinic at 8am. The Nurse Practitioner took.7ml out. I still felt severly nauseated and had increased saliva that if I swollowed made me vomit. I was given a shot of Phenergan and a pill for my Gastrointestional distress. After about an hour I started to fell a bit better and held down a few sips of water so I began my five hour drive back to Memphis. Before I left The NP told me she was leaving town after lunch that day. To my horror uring the drive home I was so nauseated and could not even tolerate a small sip of water so I called back to the Fill Center. The clinic called me in a RX for Phenergan rectal suppositories and was told that it would be better in a few days... I called the OCC and was told by Dr So to go to the ER and that I need to be unfilled ASAP. I went to the ER and I was admitted to the hospital for nausea, vomitiong and dehydration. My potasium level was very low and I recieved IV's with potassium and Zofran IV for the nausea. The ER Physician was unable to locate a doctor who would agree to unfill my lap band during that night. The Fill's Centers option was to repay the total price to go to another fill Center in Alabama to get unfilled. I was upset because it said that they will follow you for 72 hours after a fill and they did not provide that service. My ER doctor was able to find a Bariactric Surgeon in Memphis to agree to see me for $290 as a medical courtesy Thursday at 10am I had 4cc's removed from my lap band. I continued to be nauseated and unable to drink so on Friday morning I was unfilled totall. I am waiting for an Upper GI tomorrow to see if my band has slipped. I am still very nauseated and have not had solid food since last Tuesday. At least I am able to keep down fluids. Dr So has been wonderful talking to me by phone but I wish I was able to find a doctor close to Memphis to get fills and aftercare. All the ones here will not even TOUCH a patient who has been banded in Mexico. It is all so frustrating.

I did not have any restriction before my first fill. Dr Acosta said to always eat protein first every meal.. Even though I fill very little restriction the protein does fill me up for a longer period of time. I hope to have some more restriction after my second fill . I have lost only 7 pounds since my surgery on June 2nd. It is a lot of hard work trying to eat right and exercise. Not much help yet from my band yet...Hoping and praying that after my 2nd fill things might get easier? I sure hope so.... Best Wishes and Hang in there,