JennaR

CALL DR. MARTINEZ OR DR. ORTIZ RIGHT AWAY... NOWWWWWW! GO TO THE PHONE AND CALL THEM. YOU NEED TO BE UNFILLED.

Hi! I have also heard that the DS is a great choice for RNY patients that did not do well. But again, it is only what I have heard not researched. I have also heard that bypass patients do the band but I don't know about their success. Try going to www.lapbandtalk.com and use the search button. They have a lot more members and more information and other people's patients may be able to help more. GOOD LUCK!

Most of us fly back to Tijuana or Can Cun for our follow up care. Without insurance, it is cheaper still.

Hi Happy... Okay, I am going to have a little bit of tough love here but I am thrilled you are asking questions... HOWEVER, if you have the questions that you have right now I would say that you have not researched enough about the band and may be rushing things a bit. Just those questions are veryyyyyy basic that you can learn just by google. So my only concern is that you are running into getting a band without really researching the option. It is not for everyone and some people are very disappointed with it if they do not understand what they are getting. With your general interest, January is coming sooooooooon. That being said.... at first, it is very hard adjusting to the new way of eating food. But it is hard mentally because you are making the choices. The band doesn't force you not to eat junk and twinkies and such... you have to make the choice not to eat it. Unlike gastric bypass, there is no foods that really aren't allowed. There are foods that individually we don't feel go down well, but there isn't something we absolutely can't have, like sugar. The band does not make you eat healthy, you have to choose to eat healthy. The band is only a tool to make you feel full and satisfied sooner. You have to make the choice to eat 1/2 a chicken breast and green beans rather than a bag of chips. You can drink alcohol. Who told you you cant? Alcohol is just full of empty calories and no nutrients so it isn't the greatest choice. I think the point is not be be out at the bars every weekend. Carbonation is also a no no. But, if I wanted to have a glass of wine I could. The problem lies in not drinking 30 minutes before or after a meal. So no wine with dinner. The carbonation has been rumored to stretch our pouch and some bandsters have said the carbonation is extremely uncomfortable. Something does not get stuck in your throat. The stuck feeling is when food is not chewed properly or eaten too fast or just doesn't agree with you and does not pass through the stoma. The stoma is the opening created from the band from the pouch to the rest of the stomach. I won't lie, when it gets stuck, it hurts. But, if you are very careful, the stuck feeling does not happen often. With all good things, there are bad. There are negative possibilities with the band. Erosion, slippage, non adherance to rules, etc etc. Those are some of the negatives that EVERY bandster that chooses the band should know before having it placed. It does happen unfortunately. And there isn't anything you can do to prevent it sometimes. There is a ton of information at www.lapbandtalk.com if you use their search button on their site. I welcome you to the bandster land for researching the lap band. I wish you good luck and success in whatever choices you make!!!

I waited 6-8 weeks before any exercise. The doctor kept me off work for 3 weeks minimum from carrying my gun belt (cop here). I would assume he wouldn't want you skiing after only 2 weeks. My guess is the 6 week mark.

Welcome to Bandland! Yep, the hard lump is totally normal. It goes away after a few months. Liquid diet is definitely tough, but stay strong and try and keep at it!

Oh my gosh! I am shocked. Completely jaw dropped shocked. Did you know this was happening and just didn't tell us? I know you don't want sympathy, and I won't give it to you. You didn't do this by the band, you lost the weight because you needed and wanted to! And you can CONTINUE to do so! Stay strong Michelle!!

I think they have only been doing the band in the US for the past 3 years. And Just recently they started doing more frequent bands. In other countries for 10 years. I don't think there are "LONG term" effects information yet. I expect to hear more of that information within the next 5-10 years.

If I could go back and do it all over again..... I would have done it sooner. If you have already decided on the band and you are firm and informed about the decision, then my suggestion is..... hold on and ride the wave!! Weeeeeeeee! My only thing that I couldn't live without is my heating pad. Go ahead and spend some money for a plush comfy one too.

The doctor determines your first fill by the results of your barium swallow. We are all at different amounts. It all depends on your body. You will go on a diet of 48 hours of liquids, no solids. Sometimes if you live really far away, he wants you to try and eat something though.

I agree with Shell. I was discouraged overall about the option but my phone consult with Dr. Ortiz made my decision solid. Even at the surgery event, I was doubting this would work and I was certain I would be the one that it didn't work. I was wrong. Call for a phone consult! Doesn't cost a thing!

1.8% Slippage My insurance will cover emergencies but it all depends on your insurance I think. Plus, TJ is not far for me, so I would probably go back there. For the same cost as my deductibles and co pays, I could have Dr. Ortiz fix me if something went wrong. Any time... day or night.... they have NEVER not answered the phone. Still amazes me!

Here I am, Here I am!!! Okay....here are a few suggestions I have for pain, bruising and scars... Pain... Try leaning into a pillow on your port side while sitting. And maybe couple that with a little heat from a heating pad. Also, liquid tylenol will help dull some of it from the get go. Bruising... Gently massage the bruises. Not hard, like butterfly touches, I call this "whispering" the fingers over the skin. This helps the bruises to dissapear faster. Maybe it is an old wives tale, but I swear it worked on me. Scars.... Very important that you be absolutely religious about this.... Vitamin E oil (pure, from the drug store) every night before bed. Yes, it can be a bit sticky at first, but give it a chance to dry and walk around naked or something to let it dry. Then, Cocoa Butter (pure, not just a lotion that has it in it) in the morning. I prefer Palmers Cocoa butter. Smells good, not too greasy. I swear you WILL notice a difference within 2 weeks if you do BOTH every day. Regarding Pain, everyone has different thresholds of pain. I am a huge baby, but I am also a fast healer. When I did have a little pain, I was moaning and griping. When I didn't have the pain, I was running around and all about. Just know that no matter what threshold of pain you have, it will get better and better as time goes on. Some people are out exercising and doing all sorts of activities around the second week. I was fine to do some walking around and shopping but there was NO way I was looking at any jiggling, bouncing or stressing until about the 2nd month.

Oh and to answer your question about the liquids. It is for healing purposes. When solid foods are put in the stomach, the stomach is a muscle that must contract and "work" to digest. They don't want any unneccessary "work" for the stomach as it may cause your newly placed device to move around. At least, this is how I understood the explanation they gave to me. In my opinion, the "no mushies" is purely for optimum weight loss though. That part sucks as by the end of the second week I was hurting BIG time and wanted/needed/dreamed of a mushy.

Eating any type of fresh bread is shear torture and pain for me. DARN!!!

I only really know that I am an Ortiz patient. I am Princess_n_thep on that site. There are pictures of my scars at different months. The very first picture on that thread is mine right out of surgery. Don't be fooled by the glue.... he kinda slathers it on for good measure and that is what give it that dark look. They really weren't that bad. As for everyone else, they are sharing their scars and their bands were done all over the US and Mexico in different ways... some staples, some stitches, some glue. Dr. Ortiz only uses glue I think. Which to me.... worked best. I really need to take a now at 8 months picture. They look MAGNIFICENT!! Vit E oil at night, and cocoa butter in the morning is the KEY!!! Re the stretch marks... there are some pictures on there with those that have really bad marks... make sure you look at all the pages. I think there is 4 pages of pictures to that thread.

As long at that 2/3 cup is solids........I think that sounds perfect! Make sure you are taking in lots and lots of water too!!!!

I think exercise is VERY VERY VERY important. However, my treadmill is a place to hang my clothes to dry that can't go in the dryer. I prefer to walk outdoors. Pilates tapes are good too as they are low impact.

Sounds like you are on your way!! That is terrific! Congratulations. Now the waiting starts..... oh that part is terrible. Don't get too worried or anxious. We all got scared just before the surgery. I really think Dr. Ortiz is a master in the scar lines. I was SUPER worried about them too. You can see my scars as well as many other peoples scarrings (from other doctors as well all over) at http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?...&highlight=scar Good luck!!

Great to hear of your experience. I am glad you are safe and home resting comfortably. You could always meet up with any of us, just post your fill date and see if anyone will be there. I have met some very cool people through this site! You might meet some other people on www.lapbandtalk.com too that don't come here to this forum but are Dr. Ortiz patients and are lurking around in there. It is also a good site for searching common questions. (kee kee you haven't called me in over a month, now call soon ) Anyways, I am a complete non spanish speaking person and I go down for my fills just fine. I take the bus to the trolley to the border, then a taxi to the Lucerna, then walk over to the office. No problems. They will send a driver for you but the cost is $65 each way which is quite different than the $6.00 I pay for my way. I usually use that money as an excuse to upgrade my hotel in San Diego. WELCOME TO BANDLAND!!!

I understand how important a special event can be to really try and lose as much as possible but please don't try and rush the process. It takes time. We didn't gain it all at once, so we shouldn't expect to lose it all at once either. Keep doing what you are doing in eating healthy and doing exercise and you WILL do great!! Don't try and restrict yourself into starvation mode as that will not be healthy. If you are wanting to "boost" your weight loss, try some really good fat free diets to pair up with the tool of your band. Also, you can mix up your exercise choices to get the variety to boost your metabolism. Breathe, relax, and keep on truckin'!!! You will get there soon enough and you will look FABULOUS at your daughters wedding!! GOOD LUCK!

Wow. Turkey goes down great for me. I have never had it "dry" though. Always "turkey salad sandwich" or "turkey with gravy". YUMMYYYYYYYYYY!

I think Dr. Grossbard no longer accepts Mexico patients because he was overwhelmed. So many patients were coming to him. He used to accept them a long time ago, but they kept coming and coming and coming. About the sister with no restriction. I am sorry to hear this as it must be tough for her to see you succeed and her gain more weight. But I do not think that the doctor that suggested GB is horrible. Some people (very rare IMHO) just simply do not work with the band. GBypass is not a horrible option and is the smart option. My mom and sis both have GBypass and never had the band. I think the band would have worked for my mother but it would have NEVER worked for my sister. I think the doctor who suggested the bypass was suggesting a very real possibility after her 6th fill and no results if she wanted to still use surgery as help. There are ways to "eat around" the band too. If someone does this, then they will not lose weight and may even gain. Also exercise is a HUGE part of the band. Many think the band is a magic tool that makes the weight disappear and expect the lbs to just melt off. I am not saying this is what you sister thinks, but maybe she needs a little boost in the right choices and examining her lifestyle? Saline gone, some there. .1 cc is equal to two droplets of saline. Sometimes a bit is lost in the extraction process. Are we talking about having 1.8 cc's in and only getting .7cc's back out??? Or are we talking about having 1.8cc's in and getting 1.6cc's back out? Congratulations on your own weight loss! That is terrific. I will warn you, the last 20 lbs are really work. I am still working on mine. But you should be proud of yourself for doing so well thus far!!! Tell your sister to try and stay positive. Hopefully the right answer will make itself clear soon.

I believe the answer is no. I think you must be completely unfilled for the term of the pregnancy. The baby needs the nutrients and food intake. But.... check with the doctor for sure.

Your gonna make me blush! Thanks.