clg8579

I put it on my credit card and am paying off gradually. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? You bet!

Either way you go you really do need to make arrangements to have a local doctor in case there are problems. Even Dr. Ortiz will tell you that. Sometimes that's the hardest part because a lot of US doctors won't see you if you have the surgery done in Mexico. Dr. Ortiz did my surgery but I have a doctor 2 hours away I have gone to for fills. I plan on seeing Dr. Ortiz for my next fill because he will do it under fluro (some US doctors won't) and he will be more aggressive with the fill. The US doctors tend to be more conservative with the fills which is one of the reasons many people have to go back more frequently. Dr. Ortiz and staff are great if you choose to go to Mexico. Good luck! Chris

CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to bandster land!!! Very best of luck with your success!!!! Chris

Kgirl, I am just over 8 weeks post op and have lost 28.5lbs. After about a week and a half of eating anything I wanted after I was banded I started behaving and following the doctor's instructions. Now the weight is coming off. As Shell said below, the band is a tool. I was willing to do the work, hopefully one last time, with the hopes it would be the last time I would have to worry about the extra weight. You'll need to eat right and exercise and do what the doctor says and I'm confident you'll be fine, without having your guts rerouted. Good luck Chris

KeeKee, You don't need to know spanish - all of the doctors and nurses speak english, although a few of them don't speak a lot of english. Although my BMI was higher, I have heard of people having the surgery done who only needed to lose 70lbs or so. Follow what the doctors tell you and I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck Chris

I had surgery done in TJ but have had my fills done so far locally. I'm kind of sorry I did this because my local doctor is definitely more conservative. First fill was 1.5 cc and did not take at all. Second fill was only .3 cc and I got good restriction. My local doctor will fill you every 6 weeks if needed. I'm pretty sure when the next time comes I'm going back to Mexico though.

Good luck Robin! I'll keep your date in mind. I have good restriction right now so hopefully I won't need another fill for quite awhile but the next fill I am planning on going to TJ for it. Chris

If you are having surgery done by Dr. Ortiz the first 8 days are liquid, then you add protein drinks and then a few days later you add yogart with no fruit. You can have jello, popsicles and water, water, water (as well as other liquids). Try as hard as you can to stay on it for 3 weeks. Then you go to the good stuff! Chris

No issues so far. But you're right - my jaws get tired too I'm getting alittle tired of oatmeal and I'm not a big egg fan so I was trying to find something high in protein, low in fat and quick.

I think the size of the port depends on the size of the band. My port is somewhere between the size of a dime and a quarter and you cannot see it at all. Of course, I'm a long way away from reaching goal and I don't know if you'll be able to see it at that time.

If you can't get any responses here, I would either contact Dr. Ortiz's office or try lapbandtalk.com. Good luck!

Hi Debbie, Dr. Ortiz charges $9500 which covers the surgery, pre work, hotel stay for surgery and all fills. I believe there is a $100 charge for the fluro for fills and of course transportation and hotel costs for fill appts if you choose to stay overnight. Hope that helps. Good luck Chris

Wow Nikki, that doesn't sound good at all! I have not had this problem nor do I remember ever hearing about anyone having it. You may want to go to Lapbandtalk.com to see if anyone on that board has had the same problem. Good luck! Chris

Karen, where do you get on the Mexi-coach bus? I've been wondering about this too. Thanks Chris

Ok, here's the latest - I went back to the local doctor on 7/11 and had .3 cc fill. What a difference!! It's funny because I was ticked off he wouldn't add another 1 cc (he normally only does .25). The next two days restriction was very good. It has since settled down some and I'm eating normal bandster meals. In fact, I truly found out what SMALL bites mean - 2 days in a row I had chicken that I must have taken too big of bites or ate too fast and both came right back up. Yuck! Hard protein has been hurting so I finally started putting just a teeny tiny amount on the ends of the tines of the fork and that seems to work. Very slow eating. Here's hoping this restriction lasts a long time Chris