hopeful

How long are we on liquids after a fill? My first fill is in April and just curious.

Once the days start getting longer I always manage to get back to my weight lifting routine ... although I am sure the regulars at the gym chuckle under their breath at my fat body coming in year after year without much of a change (20 lbs up and down). Now that I am back into my routine I am dreading having to stop when I have my banding done on April 3. My question is how long will it be before I can get back to the weight lifting. Walking yes....I know we can and should be doing that immediately after surgery, but I hope it isn't more than 3 weeks or I'll lose all the strength I've gained these past six weeks.

Janice

I was banded on 3/8 and I was told that I could resume walking or stationary bike after 3 weeks, but nothing heavier than that for 6 months - he specifically mentioned anything abdominal, like crunches.

Hopeful,

Schedule your fill. If Dr. Ortiz is still doing the surgery as he did when I was banded (correct me if there has been an update to this) you do not have saline in your band if you do it is a minimal amount. No saline = no restriction. Six week increments has worked well for me. Consult OCC for your own timeframe if it differs. Kevin

You are right, there is nothing in the band. I guess what threw me off was the fact that there was a lady in the waiting room that had lost all her weight without a fill! She had started to gain a little and was there to get her first fill. I guess I had in the back of my mind that maybe I wouldn't necessarily need one at 6 weeks. I doubt very seriously that I can lose any weight without a fill. Thank you for your help!

I have a question for you band pros out there. I was lucky enough to be a member of the March 8th patient group. My question is this: Did you go ahead and automatically schedule your first fill for 6-8 weeks, or did you wait to see if you "needed" the fill and then schedule? I am a week away from solids, and think maybe I should see what kind, if any, restriction I have before I schedule. Any input appreciated.

I am a week and two days out of surgery, and my gas pain only went away in the last couple of days. It was much milder than the first couple of days (didn't know if I would be able to get on the plane because of the discomfort), but it hung around...just remember that it will go away! Hang in there!

No. He does not cover the cost of removal, from what I understand. I think I heard that the removal is around $6,000.00...

Has anyone here tried the Unjury protein powder, and is it any good before I order it?

My trip to band land is coming up next week! WHOOO HOOO....but pre-op is killing me...man alive am I grouchy!!! I have lost 9 lbs. in 7 days though... =D>

my trip to band - land is coming up two weeks from today! WHOOOO HOOOOO!

anyone know if dr. ortiz sends you home with a copy of your medical records? thought that it would be easier to get treatment here in case of emergency...

i am confused...i am doing the pre-op diet, and i was told to drink slim fast for breakfast and lunch and a lean cuisine for supper. the paperwork didn't say anything about protein drinks... am i doing something wrong?

I am scheduled for surgery on March 8th... I will be arrivin on March 7th, early morning... I can't wait to have this done... I'm sure I will be meeting Hopeful there, perhaps we can go out shopping or just walking together...

YEA!!! someone is going to be there the same time as me! look forward to meeting you!

okay...i am scheduled for surgery on 3/8 and have just started to get a tiny bit nervous...nothing major, but just little thoughts like "am i going to be okay...what if my body rejects it..." and all that. i have never had any type surgery, so i am sure that is part of it.

here is my question for today...am i supposed to already have a local dr. on stand-by in case of an emergency? because i don't. i have just sort of pushed that to the back of my mind until today for some reason. does dr. ortiz give the names of dr.'s in your local area that will treat you? i know some doctors will refuse to treat you if you had your work done by another surgeon.

i read a post here earlier where someone had to call dr. ortiz on his cell, and his reply was "you need to get to a dr. for an unfill..." and i am not sure i would know where to go or what to do?...HELP.

hey - i have bc/bs of alabama, and our policy does not cover lap band. a few of us at work called, and they said that they used to cover it, but it has been removed, and is now on some list for review, but with no foreseeable approval. they do cover the gastric bypass though, but you have to jump through some hoops to get approved.

I too am scheduled on March 8th. When are you arriving? I will arrive the evening or afternoon of the 7th. I am from the Portland, Oregon area. Where are you from?

i am from birmingham, alabama. i was beginning to think i was the only one scheduled for march!!! i wish the surgery was happening tomorrow! i am sooo tired of wishing i were smaller and wondering what it will be like again...i am so excited...

i am scheduled to arrive on 3/7. i am sure we will all cross paths...look forward to seeing you.

first of all, thanks to all of you for the help with foods to stock up on. You guys are so helpful. Now, I have another question...the pre-op diet. Did anyone here do the slim-fast for breakfast and lunch and lean cuisine for dinner? I already feel like I will starve to death. I've read so much about the different things people eat, that I get confused...it is just slim fast for the pre-op right? not the protein shakes i hear about...those come after surgery right? I am just getting a little anxious as my date is nearing...and I am one of those that wants to do everything right...thanks again!

I am getting my band on March 8th and would like to ask what are some things to stock up on now for right before and after the surgery? I think I will do better if I just have almost everything I need here at home. Any ideas?

:-hi am scheduled for surgery on march 8th!!! anyone else scheduled that day or close?

The only horror story I have heard which I can confirm is from a friend of my mother's. She got banded in Mexico (NOT with Dr. Ortiz) and they did not use the Inamed band but instead a generic type band. Eventually the band broke and she could not find a doctor in the states to help her because she had gotten it out of the country. This didn't scare me much because Dr Ortiz does use the Inamed band and if anything happens I would want to have it fixed by him anyway. My gynecologist has told me she's seen cases where people with the band have had erosions in their stomach and suggests about a year and a half out patients have and endoscopy to check for those. My understanding is that if you catch the erosions early the band can be taken out and the stomach will heal back up.

I am wondering how my ob/gyn is going to react to my doing this in Mexico. I hope she is supportive, and doesn't chew me a new one. I still plan to have another child and would hate for her to shoot me down! I would love to hear how everyone told ther doc and what the reaction was...

I GOT AN EMAIL THAT ASKED WHERE MY PICTURES WERE SO HERE THEY ARE:

WE JUST GOT BACK IN, AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME AGAIN AT THE OCC. I JUST ADDED A FEW MORE PICTURES FROM THIS MORNING FIRST FILL. THAT NEEDLE IS VERY INTIMIDATING!!!

http://www.webshots.com/homepage.html

JUST USE MY USER NAME, NELSENETC, AND THE PASSWORD IS ORTIZ EVERYTHINGS IN CAPS IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. THEN CLICK ON "MY SHOTS", THEN "ALBUM".

YOU GUYS ARE SO HELPFUL AND KIND TO POST YOUR PICTURES. I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED BY EVERYONE'S POSITIVE EXPERIENCE! I FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT MY DECISION - SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH.

I am scheduled for surgery January 15th.... Are there any pieces of wisdom you wish you'd known before surgery that would have made post surgery life a little easier???

I am scheduled in March, and I amazed at how many positive things I've read from people post surgery and how few negative things they've written. I am excited and "hopeful" for a positive outcome. Has anyone out there read or heard of any horror stories? So far, I haven't come across enough to convince me this isn't a great tool worth the risk. Any comments are appreciated.

Yesterday I stepped on the scale and it said I had lost 60 lbs, which is the same as my most successful diet ever and leaps and bounds over every other diet I've ever tried. I'm absolutely ecstatic, in part because of the weight loss but also because I really think it can stay off this time. I haven't felt like I've been depriving myself and I haven't been having any food dreams (you know those dreams when you're on a diet and are surrounded by all the food you can't have anymore and they sparkle and shimmer like a new Ferrari).

Still a long way to go but I really think this is one of the best things I've ever started in my life.

I think that is wonderful! Congratulations on your success - it makes me wish i could have surgery in January instead of March!

Depends on the type of band they had. I've heard some patients with the larger VG band have some saline put in at the time of surgery to prime it. What exactly do you mean by soft food? With Dr. Ortiz after a week I could have yogurt, which I guess could qualify as soft food or a full liquid depending on how someone wants to look at it.

Oh, I see. Well, that makes sense. What factor determines whether or not you get the VG band, or the regular one?

I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Ortiz March 8th!!! I am so excited to get this show on the road!

I know of someone who had the lap band procedure done about two weeks ago here in Alabama. They had him on soft foods in a week, and he has since had to have the saline removed from his band because of swelling. I wonder if this is from eating too soon. I thought they didn't put any saline in until later, but apparently they do it here. Dr. Ortiz's plan sounds much better to me...any thoughts from anyone?