Dolittle

I've been banded 15 months and I've found if you PB water,, your either drinking it so fast it can't get by the restriction quick enough,, and if you drinking slowly and you PB, your might be too tight. But,, I've know several bandsters that like the agressive fill and they know they have to drink or eat slowly. I think its all a personal preference. Just don't get a fill that has so much restriction you can only sip water. If you can't handle water,, you sure as heck ain't going to be able to eat anything without it getting stuck,, which will lead into PBing all the time,, which greatly increases your risk of a band slip. Play it smart! This is why its best to do the fluoro/barium during your fill,,, this way the fill doctor can see if liquid flows by your band.

I don't really do very much topic moderation or anything like that, but if there's something going wrong from a technical standpoint you can send me a message.

Also,, at the bottom of the Forum's home page,, there is a link to the moderating team,, you can click on that link and it will list the team,, from there you can send a message to anyone on that team. Were there to help and answer questions if needed.

Has anyone ever paid for their procedure with a credit card, how do you do this?. I am one of those people that use credit cards for everything. I tried to pay with credit card via pay pal for my deposit and I don’t know what the heck I did but I ended up paying via e-check (which is not allowed). Sorry for this next dumb question, BUT how do you wire money, I’ve never had to do this, can you do it at any bank?

Thanks

Call your patient coordinator,, they will be able to guide you through this process. That's their job. This way you know you've done it the right way. Their very nice and will help you with this.

My wife and I will be down at the OCC on May 14th and 15th,, So send me a personal message and let me know who's going to be there those two days.. Maybe we could all meet in the lobby at the Lucerna and maybe talk about lapbands or what ever. LOL, I hope to hear from some of you.

hey, doolittle, can you tell me why the time is so messed up on these posts? What time is it actually supposed to be? Sometimes the days are goofy.

I've mentioned this before too! It's something in the main frame and only the web master can correct it. I'll forward this post to him and we'll see if he can correct it. That's all I can do. LOL

Since I started reading the forum I have heard from and appreciated alot of the advise and imput from the people who where recently banded and those who are getting banded soon but not much from those with long term successes or struggles. As someone who is going to have this proceedure soon, I want to know what the long term experiences have been.

Thanks!

I've been banded for 14 months,, so far so good,, even my wife decided to get banded after I had been banded 7 months,, She saw my results and jumped on the "BAND" wagon. LOL. I'm down 90lbs since I started this adventure. Wifes down 35 to 40lbs. LUV MY BAND!

I am considering the Lab Band procedure and I decided to do a report for a research project for an English class (WSU) using this procedure in the hope of solving two issues at once--do I want the procedure and can I complete a satisfactory report for a class.

I would appreciate any and all responses.

I am 41 and aprox 170 pounds overweight.

My main questions are:

What do you wish you had know BEFORE the procedure?

The main thing I have noticed about Lap Band patients is that they did A LOT of research before making their decision. Is there any information missing or not available?

Any regrets?

Again, anything you have to share would be greatly appreciated.

Jean

WISH I'd known before the proceedure??? The only wishes I had was I wished I had done it 5 years ago when it became FDA approved. INFORMATION,,,, Lots of info here at this forum and at the LAPBAND website,,, more than you want,, don't overload yourself with to much info,, you'll end up with brain freeze and you won't be able to make up your mind. LOL. ANY REGRETS,,, NONE,,,, I LUV MY BAND AND I LUV THE RESULTS!!!!

I knew that she had been banded, but hadn't seen her recently. I remember an interview she did where she talked about her weight and the struggle she's gone through all these years. Wonder what happened???? :-?

I'm curious too. She used to be the celebrity spokes person for Inamed,, Another famous person who was banded was Sharon Osborne,, Ozzie's wife,, but last I heard,, she had her band removed.. She said she thought she could do it on her own. I don't know if either had complications or not,,, Lori might know.

I just can't belive the year is flying by,,, April showers bring May flowers and and new group of soon to be "BANDSTERS". Let's hear it from the wannabe's that are scheduling their surgery dates in May. See if you can hook up with your future banding buds before you get to TJ.. I'll be down in TJ at the clinic on May 14th and 15th,, so I hope to have an idea who's going to be there those days. C ya there.

Just a word of caution,, don't fall into a habit of blending your food. I know,, you'll find it easier to eat,, but you'll end up eating more and consuming more calories, then the next thing you know you'll be wondering why your not losing weight.

How is everyone doing? Mindy? Bobbi? Amber? Kari? Lisa's sister ( I forget her name) and the other sisters we rode in the van back to the ariport with (one from Texas one from ???) and Pete's wife and Evette!! And the others I forget you names, so sorry! And Nicole from Canada who rode in the van with us back to the border - you just got a fill. How are you all doing?

I am so horrible with names, but I remember all of you from 3/24 and just wanting to know if you are all doing ok. We only have one more week until solids!! Any one lose weight?

I am ok now. Lost 10 pounds post op for a toal of 25. Still on liquids, obviously but really craving food. I had another horrific vomitting issue at home here a week ago. Creamy soups didn't sit too well. Not sure what the heck all these problems are, but hopefully they are behind me now.

I am having a dilema about scheduling my first fill. When I was still in Mexico with my vomitting issues, Dr. Martinez said I might be one of the very small percent of people who may never need a fill and not to schedule a fill until I was eating solids long enough to know I was eating too much. The problem with that is, the cost of plane tickets is so high, I need to be able to purchase them a month ahead of time to get a good price. If I wait til I am eating for several weeks, then decide I need a fill, then have to wait another month for plane tickets, I could very well end up gaining back all that weight I already lost. I did call CLaudia and scheduled a fill for memorial day monday, but didn't buy tickets yet. I just cannot make up my mind if I should go ahead and do it. I thought if I did go ahead and make an appointment and buy tickets, if I ended up not needing a fill, then I could just say I had a nice little vacation. Although I was intending to bring my mom back with me this time along with my neice. I am the one who's family freaked out when they heard where I was going. After seeing my movie and hearing about it, they are fine now. Then again, if I do that, dopn't get the fill and end up needing one 2 months later, I can't go back a 3rd time. I live in PA so it is really far for me to go.

Are any of you going back to the OC for your first fill? If so, when are you going? Has anyoen else here not needed a fill at all?

I was like you,, I ended up with the smaller 4cc band. I had lots of restriction from the get go. I waited till my 10th week to get my first fill and Doctor Romero only gave me 4 tenths of a cc on my first fill. I felt disappointed,, You read that most will have a nice big 1.8cc fill on that first fill,,, but nooooo,, not me. LOL. In the 14 months since I've been banded,, I've only had 4 fills and I'm up to 2.3cc's in my band. Every fill I've had they have just been small fills. That just happens. What can you say. LOL. Your like me,, your going to have to be carefull in that time frame between knowing you need a fill and when you can get one. You can do it,, just watch what your doing.

I was baned 3/28/08. Remember your surgeon or practitioner telling you about the risks of lap band surgery? Well, I do too, but never thought that I would be one of the 1% of people that it would happen too. But they Do happen let me assure you.

I went into the operatiing room about 11 am. The next thing I remember is being taking to my room and looking at a clock and seeing it was 6pm in the evening! That should have told me something right there. I was very groggy, but a hospital staff told me that my surgery was finished but my procedure went a 'little different' than expected. They then told me that I had "Open" surgery. The told me there was a complication in the operating room, and when the surgeon got all the instruments in me and started my proceedure, my spleen was nicked. (Remember...we were all told this could happen).

I was very groggy and really doped up at that time but also knew I was attached to a lot of instruments also that seemed a little strange. Well I slept then, and later woke up. When I woke up, I started feeling my body and then the realization sunk in what they had told me about my "Open" surgery. I had an incision from my breasts down to my belly button all stapled together along with all the other 4 incisions. I had tubes in my arms....tubes in my nose....and felt stiches along my jugular vein on the right side of my neck! Then I was scared and confused. I had a morphine pump also.

Well, to make a long story short...after I got in my right mind to understand things...here is what happened. When they got inside me, my spleen was nicked in the process of moving my liver to install the band. When your spleen is nicked or cut....you can bleed to death very quickly. It is a fact. I started to bleed to death, and that is why all the tubes in my arms, and my jugular vein was opened up for a blood transfusion because I lost so much blood. I have almost 40 metal staples in my belly after being sewn together from my lap band surgery. I am lucky to be alive. Yes mistakes can happen in any surgery, and did with mine. So don't ever take that little 'possible complication' lecture lightly when you are going through the pre-op process of getting your band. Complications are a fact that can happen to 1% of patients, and I was one of them.

Now I plan to recover from this and go on and do what I planned to do with my band. It is just going to take me much longer to recover from my "open" lap band Major Surgery proceedure than it would have the minimally invasive original lap band surgery.

I hope having my surgery will eventually start my journey to weight loss.

Annie Lou

Banded 3/28/08

Yes,, We'd like to know who this inexperienced surgeon was.. It's not that we don't know accidents do happen,, but a good rule of thumb is not to be lap banded by a surgeon that's only done the proceedure a few times.. I've heard the number 100 before I'd let a surgeon place a lapband. Experience counts!!! Big time.

It's been a year since I had my unfill at OCC. Are they only doing fills on certain days of the week anymore? I'm trying to figure out when and how I want to go down for a desperately needed fill.

Last time I checked,, they were doing fills Monday thru Friday and half day on Saturday. Always call Rene or Claudia at the OCC to double check and make your appointment..

Hey there,

Where can I find more information about the different types of bands that are being used ????

Thanksa zillion you for any help!

Check this post out and it has links

http://www.lapbandforum.com/index.php?s=&a...ost&p=18816

I was banded on 3/26 and think I have done relatively well with all aspects of recovery/healing/nasty post-op diet.....HOWEVER about 4 days post-op I unfortunately got the dreaded shoulder gas pain. If I drink even one sip of ANYTHING I immediately get the sharp knife in the left shoulder. I walk and it gets worse, I breathe and it gets worse. The one and ONLY thing I can do to get rid of it is to lay flat down for 10 min or so....kind of hard when you are at work.

Gas-X strips do nothing...any suggestions?

UGH,

Nikki

WALK, WALK, and walk. That really helps get rid of that gas hiding in your joints. It will go away.

Hi,myname is Prissy & I am scheduled for my lap band May 3rd.June 15th I am going on a land & alaska cruise.Have anyone else ever taken a long vacaton 6 or 7 weeks after surgery,if so how did you handle being around all the food on vacation.Can you give me advice on things I have got to take with me.

Little nervous

Well, since it will be 6 or 7 weeks after surgery,, If you haven't had your first fill, you'll probably be able to eat like you did before you were banded. I guess doing a cruise would be your last big chow down before that first fill. LOL.

Hi -can i ask what you mean by the bus and trolly? how much does it cost? i had a terrible experince with the pickup and drop off with the van and am trying to see what other options are. can you let me know?

$5 gets you an all day pass,, good for either/both the bus and tolley. Unlimited use on both,, all day long!!! What a deal!!! $9 will get you a 2 day pass!!

I have been banded 6 weeks on Monday and have never slimed or PB'd, until now. I will never deviate off track again.I pinched the skin off one of those ready cooked chickens and instantly regretted it. Intense pain in my chest ,hiccupping and then my mouth would not stop watering and I Pb'd 3 times.The relief was instant. (thank goodness)

Should I now have just liquids for a day or so ? I go back to the OCC next week for my first fill, and I don't want to screw up anything.

Any suggestions would be great.

Nicole

I'd say it was your first time you've had something stuck by your band. I'm also going to tell you this probably won't be your last. You'll find out certain foods will slide by the band and some won't do so good. Everyone is different, so chock this one up as an educational experience. LOL. When you get something stuck or if you have ate too much,, you'll experience the symptoms you just had. So learn your warning signs, but like I said,, everyone is different,, some bandsters won't have the same symptoms of what you experienced. But what you experienced is real common. So chew, chew, chew! I know,, sometimes you think you have chewed something to shreds,, but it never fails,, just depends on what it is. If you haven't irritated your stomach you should be fine. You could go on liquids for a day or so. Also,, depends on how you feel when you eat,, if your wanting to PB still, then you have irritated your stomach. Also,, read the post on how to get a good fill. It's posted several times here at the forum. If your wanting to PB after drinking something,, call the OCC.

The cheapest I've seen for a reputable US doctor is just under $10,000, in Colorado. Dr Ortiz at OCC is around $. You can find Mexican surgeons for less, but beware; sometimes you really DO get what you pay for.

I had insurance that paid for either US or Mexican surgery, and I went with Dr. Ortiz due to his experience and the quality of care. Very happy with my decision.

Call either Lori or Carolyn at the OCC for a currant price. 1-866-376-7849 ext 81 or ext 82

I am a nervous WRECK!!!!!! Gosh, I can't wait til this time next week when it's all over!!!

Anyway, Will I be able to swallow pills after surgery? I take one capsule and one small pill that I HAVE to take. They don't come in liquid form so can I swallow them?

Some patients have a problem with their meds,, 99% don't. I never had any problems and I take my daily big Vitamin and my little Synthroid with no problems.

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT USING MY CELL PHONE AFTER I LEAVE THE HOSPITAL AND AM AT THE HOTEL?? DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT'LL COST? I HAVE AT&T. SEEMS I READ AHILE BACK THAT MEXICIAN PHONE CO. ADD ADDITIONAL CHARGES SOME HOW...... ANY ONE MAKE CALLS IN MEXICO WITH AT&T?? ANY EXTRA CHARGES?? MANY THANKS!!

DARLENE :-h

If you don't have International calling on your cell phone, use the phones at the OCC clinic,, They are free for OCC patients. You also have free access to their computers while your there. The Lucerna has free use of their computers too. You can use your cell phone if your high enough in TJ to access an American Cell Tower across the border. Just check your cell phone and see what tower it is using at the time you want to make the call.. For an example,, if your have AT&T cell service,, your phone will show if your accessing a AT&T tower,, If your phone shows something like MexTel or something you've never heard of,, beware,, you'll be charged big $$$ for that phone call. Also,, Mexican cell providers use auto dialers to call American cell phones after you cross into Mexico. If your cell phone rings and the caller ID doesn't show who's calling you,, don't answer,, as soon as you do,, you've made a contribution to the Mexican cell phone company. I have AT&T service and I was able to use my cell on the second floor of the OCC clinic and if I walked outside on my room balconey at the Lucerna I could pick up a AT&T tower on the American side of the border. It just depends on where your at in TJ if you can use your cell phone and not be charged big $$$.

I called a Fill Center USA near me and was told that the doctor did the fill then you went to another facility for the floro after the fill. I thought fills and floro's occurred at the same time?

SJ

All the fills I've ever had were with Fluoro,, at the same time as the band adjustment. The OCC does it this way. This way you can make those fine adjustments as you watch the barium pass through the band. I've heard that some fill centers don't have a fluoro machine at the same office and have patients go to another location for the fluoro. It doesn't make sence to me to do fills that way. I'd call it a blind fill if that's the way their doing it.. I hope they don't miss the port and/or at the same time over fill you or under fill you. I hope their fill prices reflect that too. Your always better off going back to the OCC for your fills. Not only do they use fluoro at the same time,, they really check you out and make sure the bands in the correct position, etc. They have a reputation to keep and its the last thing they want is to have patients walk away with a incorrect fill. Even with fluoro, you could end up tight or loose,, that's why they want you to stay in town for a day so if you have any problems you can get back to the clinic and have it reajusted before you leave town.

Increase Your Chances of a Good Fill

The following suggestions are good rules of thumb and will greatly increase your chances of getting a good fill.

1. Be sure you are very well hydrated when you come in for your fill appointment. That means at least 6 to 8 full glasses of liquid every day for at least several days before the fill.

(Remember, water is your friend).

Drink especially well the morning of the fill. If you're flying in, it can be much harder to stay hydrated, so take an empty drink bottle and fill it after you pass airport security. TSA rules state you can bring an empty water bottle past the TSA security check point. Bring some of those "to-go" packs of Crystal Light, they’re ideal! Ask the flight attendants for a refill of your water bottle, pop one in, and then you will have plenty to drink.

(Hint - If you flying in for a fill, while you're on the plane, grab a couple of those white barf bags.

It’s good to keep one in your purse or car, for "emergencies".)

2. Do not to have any solid foods for at least 6 hours before the fill. Don't eat a huge or late dinner the night before. If you're having any trouble (reflux, possible slip, etc)

please have nothing but fluids after dinner the night before.

In some cases, food can still be in the pouch for 12 or more hours.

ANY food in the pouch will make it impossible to give a good fill, or get a good fluoro

3. Don't drink COLD fluids for an hour before the fill. That will shrink your stoma and give a false fluoro reading, and a poor fill. Room temp fluids are fine. Let the ice in your drink melt and hour before a fill,

and then you'll have room-temp fluids to drink right up to the fill time.

4. Avoid getting a fill during a menstrual period or a few days before an expected one. During this time, girls are usually retaining water, and the fluoro will not be as accurate, and the fill will not be either.

5. If at all possible, hang around for at least a few hours after a fill. Don't run right back home or to the plane. It takes the normal swelling after a fill 1-2 hours to develop, and by that time you might be too tight and need to come right back.

6. If you fly in, If at all possible, stay overnight and catch a plane out the following late afternoon or evening. If you are too tight, this will allow time to get a small unfill before you leave. This is not very convenient, but sure beats having to possibly return to TJ in a few days, on short notice, in pain, and at high last-minute plane fares! This is "prevention!" Overfills are not common, but they DO happen, even under the best of conditions. Be prepared, and think about this overnight stay. Test your fill the next day before you leave.

7. After a fill, please have liquids only for at least 24 hrs. This allows the stoma to rest and heal. Then, a day of soft foods, then back to regular foods. Full liquids are fine, no need for clears. Remember, if you staying over night test your fill before you fly out.

8. Review the eating and food guidelines again before every fill. You’ll need to refine your eating more and more with higher fill levels, and there will be less and less room for goofs. As you reach a higher fill level, you'll no longer be able to "get away" with things you might have before!

9. Please don't get a fill if you are having ANY trouble with the current level of fill. This means ANY regular pain, PB or barfing more than maybe once a week at the VERY most, not able to get enough

calories in, not able to drink enough, able to eat only soft foods or fluids.

More fill will NOT help, and will make things worse. Discuss all this carefully with your doctor. You may even need an UNFILL, to keep your band and stomach safe.

10. First fills are routinely given at 6-8 weeks after surgery, but only as you need them. Many people do, some do not. Your doctor will help you decide if you need a fill, just ask. There is no rush for fills. Too much can very easily get you in trouble, and you end up further "behind" than if you had gone slower with fills.

11. Give a fill at least 2-3 weeks to test it. Some fills don't "settle in" for a week or two, and sometimes more. Your weight loss is what determines how a fill is - not any feeling of restriction, necessarily.

12. One of the most important things in determining if a fill is good is choosing proper band foods. Soft foods, liquids, junk foods, sweets, etc, will NEVER be well-restricted, and will never tell a thing about having a good fill or not. Only solid foods give useful info.

A good test meal is 2-4 oz of solid meat or chicken - be sure it's soft and moist - and about 1/2 cup veggies. You should be able to eat about a cup of food (no less) and this should keep you satisfied (NOT "FULL", but simply "satisfied, not physically hungry". for about 3-4 hrs.

13. Plan regular meals. A good fill will keep you satisfied for 3-4 hrs, but no longer. If you are hungry 5 hrs after lunch, it is not because you have an inadequate fill! Regular meals at planned times are important for a number of reasons; including avoiding snacking, maximizing your calorie burn and normalizing metabolism, which is essential for weight maintenance later on.

14. Learn to recognize YOUR "soft stop" sign. Common ones are chest tightness or "fullness", a sudden runny nose, a single hiccup or burp, an eye twitch, back pain, left should pain. All mean the pouch is full enough and we should STOP eating, even spitting out the bite that may be already in our mouths. If you do not, you could progress to the "hard stop" - slimming, pb, barfing.

Please remember that good fills are very elusive, even with highly- experienced docs and fill people. There are just too many individual factors involved that the docs cannot control. Even the fluoro is only a clue, and not entirely accurate - for some of the reasons above.

It usually takes 3- 5 fills to slowly and safely creep up on a good level, and they can be safely given a month apart.

Trying to go faster with a bigger fill is not the solution, and the stomach rebels at big sudden fills. The goal of the first few fills is NOT to achieve a good restriction, but to gradually get your stomach used to some pressure so you can tolerate a GOOD fill later.

SLOW and GRADUAL is the key!

Going slowly with fills can be frustrating, but is well worth the wait to avoid problems.

Forum: Support / General Discussions · Post Preview: #18694 · Replies: 15 · Views: 351

This year is just flying by. I hope all that have had their lapband surgeries, your weight is flying off too. I see that everyone that's scheduled in February and March are posting and emailing their bandster buddies with the same dates. All lapbanders have this common goal,,, to lose weight and to have a new outlook on life. When you meet your new Bandster buddy,, you have a new friend for life.. You'll email and telephone your new friends for the rest of your lifes. Their going to be your support group and you'll share stories together of your lapband journey.. I know that patients are starting to schedule April for their surgery dates.. Its that time to hear from you guys.. So,, come on April bandsters,,, lets hear from you..

bump

My husband is stressing over the address of the clinic. We have the mailing address, but need to know the street address. He also wants to know if you can walk safely between the clinic and the hotel.

We fly out tomorrow, and he is being anal retentive.

Paula

I've walked between the Clinic and the Lucerna dozens of times. It's about a 8 block walk and along the way you'll find all kinds of things,, like a mall,, couple of grocery stores,, which all take American money and there's many restaurants. No one has ever bothered me or have I ever saw anyone being bothered. Its almost a straight shot from the clinic to the Lucerna along the Ave of the Hero's. Just be careful crossing the street at those circle intersections,,, LOL,, Those who have done this walk know what I'm talking about. LOL. Here's the address: Obesity Control Center, #1510 - 2nd floor, Leona Vicario Street, Zona Rio, Tijuana Mexico. The clinic is located just a half a block off the Ave of the Hero's on Leona Vicario ST.,, The Ave of the Hero's is the main street and it runs North and South. The Lucerna is located 8 blocks South of the clinic, along the Ave.