clg8579

I love this board - everyone is so supportive and helpful! I emailed him last night and told him about my concern with no restriction. One good thing he does respond right away. He told me to call the office and make an appt for next week. As it turns out I can't get in until 7/11 because of my schedule but I figure I will go back one more time and see if there is any difference. If not, Mexico, here I come. I will try to think of the $2,000 as an insurance policy for the next 2 years as it will cover any of his costs if something goes wrong. I was shocked when he told me he was proctored by Dr. Ortiz - perhaps he needed to listen more while he was there His procedure is to feel for the port with his hands, inject the numbing agent and then do the ultrasound to find the port. Then he marks the spot with a pen and stops using the ultrasound. Then he injects the saline. I felt a little gassy when I drank a cup of water so I'm assuming he finally got the saline in. He said something about getting the air out of the band and I should look at what he was doing. Can't stand to see needles though so I said no way I feel better since I know I will be going back in a little over a week and knowing I have made up my mind that if it doesn't get better I will be going back to see the sweeties at OCC. Thank you much everyone for making me feel better. Chris

Ok, here is an update. I had my first fill yesterday by a doctor in Bloomfield Hills. I had a real dilema deciding where I wanted to go for my first fill but figured I needed to see the local doctor first to make sure I had a local doctor. What should have been a 2 hour drive ended up being a 3 1/2 hr drive because of construction. I have been under a tremendous amount of stress lately and this delay just really set me. I was going to be late and KNEW they would not end up seeing me and I would have to reschedule. So I call the office, in tears, and they were ok with my still coming in. Got there all frazzled and just started signing papers - I didn't care. Gave them $2,000 for two years of aftercare, no matter what happens (except for hospital costs). After I did this, I was able to relax a little and look around the office. Hmm...not sure I like this set up. There is a small waiting room and a receptionist's desk. Right behind her desk is the scale and height board. In front of the waiting room! Know I don't like this. Go into the room for the fill and let's just say, the room needs some updating. Doc comes in and is still agitated I went to TJ for surgery, even though he told me he got proctored by Dr. Ortiz! Does an injection with numbing agent and then he does ultrasound to find the port. THEN, he can't get the needle with the saline into the port! I'm thinking oh, oh! He's pushing as hard as he can and it won't go in. Keeps taking the needle out and trying again. I'm like, what's going on? He says well the ultrasound doesn't show it but I think your port is tipped slightly. Finally, he puts in 1.5 ccs and says ok you can go. I say, wait a minute, I have questions. He says it's ok to eat immediately after a fill, most times the first fill doesn't take and I'll need another fill really soon, and I'll immediately not be able to eat anywhere near as much as before. Most of this contradicted information I'd read but he said don't believe everything I read. But then his nurses tell me do not eat food for the rest of the night! I'm disappointed. I didn't really notice much difference today other than I have to slow down when eating. But I could still eat a good sized tuna steak for dinner. I'm missing the wonderful care and attitude of Dr Ortiz and Dr Martinez and now feel like I've thrown $2,000 away, because of course, it's non refundable. It was a 7 hr flight one way to TJ for me but I think that's where I'll go for my second fill. Sorry for such a long post but I'm sad and still confused about my fills. Chris

Very frustrating but I finally got it. I emailed Rene and he sent it the next day. Guess I'll forget calling there in the future and stick with email. Thanks everyone

Does anyone happen to have a direct phone # for Sandy? I have left 4 messages to get a copy of my surgical report with no results. For Pete's sake! I have appt with a local doctor for my first fill Wednesday morning and don't know if he do it without this report. Can't seem to get through to Sandy on any phone # I've tried. Help please! Chris

Ok Shell, I really need your advice. I hold you up as an example with the success you've had and valuae your opinion. I'm stuck on this fill thing though. Dr. Ortiz did my surgery but I live in Michigan and it took 7 hours to get to San Diego and then the time it took to get to TJ. I want Dr. Martinez to do my first fill but damn, the time it takes is SO long. So I found a doctor about 2 hours away from my house and have scheduled my first fill with him for next week. BUT, he doesn't do them with xray (I've heard he does a sonogram to find the port). I'm really stuck on this one - drive 2 hours and run the risk he'll be too conservative and I'll have to go MANY times, or 7 hours+ to go to TJ. Help! Chris

I have the same dilema. Dr. Martinez is the doctor who does the fills and I have heard nothing but great comments about him doing this procedure. In addition, they tend to be more aggressive in Mexico with fills then they are in the states. I have my first fill scheduled for next Thursday by a somewhat local doctor because I live in Michigan and it was a 7 hour flight to San Diego + the travel time into TJ. Yet I still don't know if I should wait and go to Mexico! Chris

Hi Kim, You are not going to believe the care you get from Dr. Ortiz and his staff. I had surgery May 26th and have spoken with Dr. Martinez once and Dr. Ortiz once since I've been home. The relief I felt after talking with both of them was ENORMOUS! What caring, gentle men! The only problem I have had with the rest of the staff is trying to get a copy of my surgical report. I am probably going to have aftercare provided by a local doctor and he needs the report. I've tried 3 times to get it to no avail. I would suggest getting a copy of the report and the card to keep in your wallet before you leave Mexico. Good luck Chris

Hi, Although I had Dr. Ortiz do my surgery I am going to have my first fill performed by a more local doctor, primaryly because of the convenience. I'm not sure this is what I want to do on a permanent basis but for the first time I think I'll try Dr. Pleatman. Just in case anything serious happens in the future I would like to know someone is close by. Good luck Chris

Hi, Dr. Ortiz will recommend a chewable or liquid vitamin. I use Centrum liquid.

Hi Barbara, I was banded by Dr. Ortiz on May 26th. I had narrowed it down between Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Kuri, both practicing in Mexico. I chose Dr. Ortiz because he has more experience and I was able to get more information about him. In addition, I bought and read his book. Finally, it came down to who could do my surgery on the date I wanted. Dr. Ortiz was it! Absolutely best decision I made!!! What a wonderful surgeon! Good luck! Chris

Shell, So basically you do exactly what we were all told to do and now, 14 months later, you have lost almost 100 lbs! Before surgery I asked Sandy if I did exactly what I was told and watched the quality of food was there ANY way I wouldn't lose weight? She said ABSOLUTELY NO WAY! I've gone a little nuts this week since being off liquids but you know what? It stops right now! I knew I would have to work at this. You have helped me so much - thank you for sharing your story! Chris

Sheri, Can you share the names/types of foods? Thanks! Chris

Shell and Burnsun, you are both an inspiration! I am 20 days banded and was supposed to start solids this Thursday. I couldn't take it any longer though and last night I had a few bites of tuna w/mayo. Of course, right away I felt like a failure. Can you tell us what you have been doing to make you both so successful in your weight loss? I would love to hear how you've made this great change in your life. Thank you! Chris

Chris, Thanks so much for the information. Maybe I should think about going to Dr. P since he is a 4 hour drive instead of 6 hrs on a plane. And also good for fills. Was your experience in TJ a good one and is the price ALL inclusive as stated? SherylM SherylM, My experience in TJ was fine but my after experience with Dr. Martinez and Dr. Ortiz was GREAT! I was really nervous about a few problems and was able to reach both of these doctors right away. Dr Ortiz is the greatest. The $9500 I paid to have the surgery done in TJ was all inclusive except for travel. My plane fare was $500. For the fills though you need to pay (I think) $100 for xray, hotel and cost of transportation. Dr. Pleatman's site says $12,500 total which includes 2 years aftercare and all the fills you need. Since I had the surgery done in TJ it will cost me $2,000 for Dr. Pleatman to provide the 2 years aftercare. I'm still at a loss on what to do because they tend to be more aggressive with fills in TJ then they are in the US. So perhaps I would only need 2-3 fills in TJ where I may need many more in the US. I don't know - I can't decide. Keep us posted on your decision. Chris

Hi Sherylm, Um let's see, 2 1/2 weeks post op - down 14.5 lbs (more for sure but I don't weight myself until Monday). YUP - definitely worth it! You deal with the hunger pains and belly growling. If you get really hungry try a popsicle or broth - it helps. If you are going to Dr. Ortiz it is 3 weeks liquid - on day 22 you start to eat solid foods (no mushy stuff). Day 8 you add yogart which also helps a lot and on day 10 you add protein shakes 3 times a day. I used Slim Fast and it really helped. I too, am a little worried about food getting stuck but I took the advice of fellow bandsters and bought baby spoons and crab forks and plan on using them for awhile. Most of the posts I've read say 2 things: if it gets stuck - STOP eatting and wait, or if it gets stuck or too much you will get sick and PB. I guess after the first time it happens I'll know better . PLEASE don't do what I did - you need to line up aftercare before you have the surgery done! I did not and when I got really concerned about my port incision I was lost. I'm not sure where in Ohio you live but I will be seeing Dr. Pleatman in Bloomfield Hills, MI for aftercare. Although I am very happy I had Dr. Ortiz do my surgery I didn't realize Dr. Pleatman will do the surgery and provide aftercare for $2,000 more than Dr. Ortiz. This may have been worth it for me instead of going to TJ. The last thing I'll say is this - how bad do you want this change to your life? I would have easily paid $10,000 for a personal trainer to come into my house but I couldn't find one. Since my weight problem was on my mind EVERY day and causing so much stress, the surgery and aftercare was definitely worth it for me. Remember, it is a tool only and you'll still need to work at it but if you do, you will never find yourself in this position again. Best of luck! Chris

Hi, I too had Dr Ortiz perform my surgery on 5/26. The first three weeks are liquids - jello, broth, water, Gatorade, etc. On day 8 you can add yogart (with no fruit); on day 10 you add protein shakes, preferrably 3 a day. On day 22nd you begin solid foods, with no drinking during meals. They no longer want you to have a mushy food phase. Hard but doable, especially since I am down 14.5 lbs in 12 days! Good luck. Chris

Hi Dianechef, I am now 2 1/2 weeks post op. I personally would not have gone camping as I was still pretty sore a week after surgery. In fact, 6 days after surgery I had severe pain in my muscle and my port incision started leaking - pretty scary. The pain is now gone but my incision is still leaking. I'm not sure how comfortable I would have been camping. Best of luck Chris

Hi Bellagato, When did you have your surgery?

Yes, I was looking for aftercare in Michigan. I was fortunate - Dr. Pleatman in Bloomfield Hills will treat patients who had surgery in Mexico. I have my first fill scheduled for 6/29 (makes me a little nervous as this is only 5 weeks after surgery). Still waiting for surgerical records though - I've talked with Rene and emailed Sandy but no results yet. Feeling stupid as I don't even know what size band Dr. Ortiz used.

Well, I sure screwed up. I did a ton of research on the procedure but neglected to research a local aftercare facility or doctor. Now I have a slight problem with my port incision and need to followup with someone local. MMPC does the surgery here in Grand Rapids but I've heard they will not do followup on people who've had the surgery done in Mexico. Does anyone have an aftercare doctor in Michigan, preferrably in Grand Rapids or Holland? Thank you! Chris

Hi Robin, I just had surgery this past Thursday. I hadn't read anywhere on this board where people had lost and gained but I did over the weekend on another board and I got a little depressed. I didn't think you could gain it back after you were banded. Then I remembered one of the things Dr. Ortiz says "you control the quality - the band controls the quanity". People were posting daily food journals on the other board and I was amazed at what they were eating; in most cases high calorie foods and drinking with their meals. These are the people losing and gaining it back. Then I read about others who are eating right, exercising at least occassionally and their losing a lot! Point is you've got to do your part - the band is only a tool not a fix all. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. Chris

Hi Orlando78, I can't say I have been overweight all of my life but I have been for the past 18 years out of 43. I was 182 when I was 9 months pregant with my last child and weighed 219.5 the day before my surgery this past Thursday. Might not have been too bad if I wasn't just 5'4" tall. During those 18 years, I have lost and gained so many times I quit counting. When I first heard about the lapband my first thought was "this is for me!". My second thought was "are you nuts?" I figured I just needed to find the willpower AGAIN. I finally opted for the surgery, primarily because I knew once I had the surgery I would NEVER find myself overweight again - if you follow what the doctors tell you you can't overeat - you'll get sick if you do. I was nervous about having it done in Mexico so I checked the states first - $25,000 not including fills to have it done locally and insurance did not cover it. $9,500 including fills to have Dr. Ortiz do it. hmmm $500 for me to fly in plus the cost of any meals. I called and set my date for 2 weeks later (could have gotten in a little sooner). Surgery was Thursday and today is Sunday. I feel great. Drs. Ortiz and Martinez are wonderful! You can call them anytime. Personally, I don't know if I would have gone through it without Sandy, General Manager for Dr. Ortiz. She is fabulous and a lapbander herself! Dr. Ortiz will tell you he prefers to be alittle more aggressive than the doctors in the states. Typically you'll have fewer fills by having them done in Mexico. You should continue to read up on this as much as you can and don't hesitate to contact either Dr. Ortiz or Martinez. Good luck!

Hi Wishy101, Just got back yesterday from having surgery on Thursday and feeling fine! Try not to be too nervous. I sat down and talked with Dr. Ortiz shortly before I had the surgery - what a great guy! He was very informative and very pleasant to talk with. He told me surgery is approx. 1 hour long from start to finish, and most patients are up and walking around within 2 hours after waking up. Expect some gas and mild discomfort but EVERYONE I talked with who had surgery Wed or Thurs couldn't believe how great they felt after just having surgery. Walking around is highly suggested some of us went into town to shop at the market. Today is Sunday and I still have some gas and my port incision burns a little but other than that I feel great. Good luck and let us know how you are doing!

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum so please bear with me. Had surgery on 5/26/05 and feeling great! JennaR, I have a question though: You had surgery 2 months ago and you're down 30 pounds already? WOW!!! You say you are working extra hard - what exactly are you doing to get these amazing results? Thanks clg8579