CaliGirl

2 lean cuisines and one protein shake a day. I lost 13 lbs in one week. Oh and brisk walk 30 mins a day

My mom told me that she would pay me $5 for every pound I lost because I was 245, now I am within 15 lbs of her. She is eating those words now.

Got banded by Dr. Ortiz July 16, 2010. Date of surgery 223. But before pre-op diet I was 240.

Today 157. Happy, healthy and so ELATED with my decision. I would do it over again in a heart beat!!!!

I use the BlendTec from Costco.

All vendors prefer US dollars. You need to take a taxi to the mall $5 each way. Do not pay the taxi drivers more. The Marriott is not very close to the mall. Can you change your reservations to the Lucerna? That is walking distance to OCC and the mall and is a much nicer hotel. The Marriott is in a not very nice neighborhood. The Lucerna is in the financial district with lots of restaurants within walking distance and even a Starbucks:) across the street. I have stayed at the Marriott once and the Lucerna three times. I wish someone would have told me this before I stayed at the Marriott, also go to Revolution Ave. Another $5.00 taxi trip with lots of souvenir shops. I have been to Tijuana 15 times now and drive in from my home in California so I have tons of experience there.

Hey that's what I was gonna name my book, "Bandwagon". LOL

Has anyone read :

Lap-Band for Life by Dr. Ariel Ortiz?

I am gonna order mine tonight as well. Thanks. I am going to need it through the holidays. My daughter baked cookies for the 2nd time this week. The only way for me to hide is to go for a walk. Then I have plates of cookies all over my kitchen. Need some courage till this passes.

http://articles.lati...-death-20110924

Another Lap Band death from 1-800-GET THIN. I am so very happy I went to Mexico and not some uneducated Dr in California. I actually called this 1-800-getthin number to ask how much it was. They gave me the run around and told me they would have a Dr in my area call me. They are actually just a referral service. Similar to the 1-800-dentist campaign. The Dr that called me also wouldn't give me a price over the phone. After getting very frustrated I found a Dr in Orange County (where I live) that told me $18,000. That's when I made my appt with OCC. Since July 2010 I have lost 78 lbs. I am getting so close to goal and thrilled with my results. Thanks to Dr Ortiz and the whole team at OCC.

The Lucerna is a lot nicer than the Marriott. It is closer to OCC, shopping and super yummy food for your companions. Never pay more than $5 for a taxi. Some may try to rip you off. Make sure to visit Revolution Ave before you return home.

You don't have any fill at this point. But you don't want to traumatize your new tummy by gulping down gobs of liquids. Sip, sip, sip no gulping or chugging. I have never heard of anyone stretching their pouch by liquids only by over eating and not following the guide lines.

First of all, change your reservations to the Lucerna, the pool is amazing and the rooms are very clean. It is walking distance to OCC, near the mall and by my favorite taco place "Baja Sonora". I stayed at the Marriott my first trip to TJ and wont do that again. I was not impressed. Not to mention it's not in the greatest of neighborhood's and we couldn't find anything within walking distance. Just my 2 cents worth

I just had plastic surgery and thought it would be better for me to go to a recovery house in Mexico afterwards rather than be alone in a hotel. Well I found a recovery house and stayed two nights and it was aweful. The dogs jumped on me after my TT, the lady running the house was mad that she eroded her band and talked bad about LapBand for two days solid. I called my PS Dr and asked if he could suggest another recovery home. Well now I'm at Club Medical. The couple that own and operate the home are very passonate about their patients. They are from California and are fluent in both languages. All of your meals are healthy, LapBand friendly and sooooo delicious. I wish I knew about this place before I got my band. They provide airport service, DR appt transportation, shopping trips, etc. Here is there information clubmedical.org

UPDATE: They did remove my liquid from my band before surgery, something about swelling and being able to take meds post op. They told me they removed 7cc and to return to Dr. So for fill or adjustment. I had 9.5 cc so they must have left what was in the tubing there. Well personally I haven't noticed that they removed any fluid. I am gonna wait till I feel hungry before I go back to OCC. I don't know if I feel the same because of the TT and everything is tight or swelling. I just know I feel great.

Then you can factor in the savings:) Food you won't be buying. Restaurants you wont be ordering meals at. Fast food you wont be eating. LOL My band was $6200 in July 2010. Plus 5 fills at $100 each. I live kinda close so I dont really have travel expenses. But all the money I have saved on food and beer is now being used for plastic surgery:) Good Luck, hope you get your band soon.

Has anyone else noticed this since being banded? Or is it just me? I crave jalapenos, salsa, hot wings. The hotter the better. I never ate these things before. I'm kinda thinking it's my bodies way of getting tons of flavor in a small amount of food.

Ok thanks everyone for the fast replies. I will keep my current fill. My band has been tight all week. Probably from the excitement/stress. I got stuck on eggs this morning which was a first for me. I guess I need to just take it slower and easier for the next few days. My port is in a good place, I have the "low profile" port so it doesn't stick out or rub. I will ask the PS how he feels about it's placement during my TT and leave it up to him. May need to go deeper after he pulls everything tight:) T-5 days and counting.

Do I have to have an unfill for TT and lift? I have read on here that people had unfills for PS but my surgeon has not mentioned it and when I asked Dr So he said "if your Dr wants you unfilled he can do it while he is in there". Kinda vague if you ask me. I am having PS next Friday at Dr Campos Leon. I would like to get my unfill or partial unfill at OCC Thursday if it is necessary. Please help, I am so confused

I am going to Dr. Campos next Friday for PS after a 5 month wait. I researched Quiroz and Campos for over a month and decided I liked Campos work better. ie scars, etc. Both have excellent bedside manner. That's what's so great about living in America, you are free to choose any Dr you want in Mexico to do your surgery

Guess I should have started here first. LOL I spent 3 hours researching dentists in TJ and decided to schedule an appt with Dent-Art.

I actually googled "Dr. Mendez Tijuana" and found NOTHING. Red flag for me:)I was hoping to find tons of awesome comments about his thriving PS business and how he was relocating to Dr. Ortiz office. But NOTHING!

3 doctors later and still hasn't caught on. hmmm I scheduled with Dr. Campos Leon in Tijuana after tons of research. Wasn't happy with the "caliber" of doctors OCC has been hiring.

I too check back a few times a week, mostly to update my ticker. Not very many people on this site are active. I just thought it was because they reached goal weight. I still have a ways to go, so I will check in from time to time

Then you might glow in the dark

I got my band July 2010. They told me fills are $100 because you are paying for the fluoroscopy equipment. Like paying for an xray. So it's makes since that you pay for "band checks". Also, it's like getting several xrays, which isn't so great for you. Maybe $100 charge will discourage people from doing it too often. IMO