dietingqueen

LoriBecky, What does Ortiz recommend instead of aspirin? I have a jaw problem and the dentist said a week of heavy aspirin - is alleve ok or what can I take? thanks

I just wrote her this morning and asked - that is what she said to me too - at least she drove - if it was me or someone else - the price of the ticket, etc would have been bigger (though she did take off work)..anyway, I'l let you know what she says but previously she said it was some holiday!

Thanks - It wasn't a total emergency (she just feels she is too tight) but both her and husband took off work and drove several hours/went thru the border ordeal etc. - I told her I would have called the emergency number and demanded one of the docs come down. Someone in the office made the appt so no excuse. Thankfully she didn't pay for airfare and on a time schedule as I always am...

My bandsister had an appt today for an unfill - traveled all the way to Tijuana and THE OFFICE WAS CLOSED. What's up with that?

When I had my surgery Dr. Ortiz recommended it - most erosions begin long before anyone has any symptoms - if everything looks ok at 2+ years out then I guess it is pretty good indicator you are going to be able to keep the band - (not talkig about slippage that can happen anytime due to other reasons). I'd rather be safe then sorry and get it checked early as erosion only worsens etc. I'm not experiencing any problems per se but again just for ease of mind. I am almost at 2 years. I am also moving back east and wanted ortiz to do it if possible and/or a doc in mexico - cheaper etc.

Does Dr. Ortiz still perform an endoscopy? He had suggested one between 18-24 months as a precaution to eriosion b ut now i've heaRD he doesn't do them@ does he suggest another mexican doc we can go to?

I've been banded almost 2 years - had about 6 fills/2 unfills and finally at a restriction that I can lose weight - my total weight loss is 16lbs and 7 have been from my fill last month. I always followed the rules and exercise regularly but was eating around 1000 calories a day - now i eat under 600 and that is working. certainly never thought i could eat this little and i still have some hunger but once the scale goes down you can deal with most anything. I need to lose 60 lbs and i hope i can do it now. I can only exercise a little now as i have no energy but i still get to the gym 3-4 days a week. also for gas pains, i found slight rubbing, massaging, patting on the back/shoulder area got rid of some of the pain (you just have to put up with burping and passing gas but it feels wonderful)

If we were all perfect we wouldn't have needed the band so I'm sure you are not alone. I did follow the post op diet to the letter because i wanted to do everything possible to make sure that band was stiched and healed in place. That's why you are on that diet - your stomach has to move alot to digest food and you don't want that going on while you are healing. You most likely have not slipped your band as you would know it but why continue to risk it? Dr. Ortiz had a patient that ate some chicken a few days after surgery and slipped her band and others have too. Stop now and think about why you got this band and make a commitment to follow the diet to the letter - pbing this early in the game is asking for trouble. please think about what you are doing and follow the rules! good luck

NO WEIGHT LOSS IS EXPECTED until after your first fill and I am assuming you have not had a fill at 3 weeks. If that is correct then 6lbs is beyond super duper and you should be quite pleased. the first six weeks are solely for healing by following your doc's and nutritionist's advice with NO CHEATING. the band is healing in place - even if you feel terrific you are still healing inside. be patient

I emailed them (from their website) over a week ago and never heard back either - i would look around for another clinic - just me - responsiveness is key when I'm looking for a surgeon.

I love sushi and have had it many times - you must be careful as you can't cram the whole piece in your mouth which makes it hard with chopsticks etc - i tend to hold the pieces in my hand and bite them (or use a fork) I stupidly once ate a small piece of sushi role IN THE MORNING and it stuck so bad I ended up going to mexico for an unfill - horrible - do not do that!!!! I also find the seaweed portion (over the rice) can be harder to get down so skip that or be extra careful. Some people can't do rice but I find i have no problem if again you go slow with small portions and chew like mad. don't eat ANYTHING until your doc approves solids - for ortiz it is still i believe day 22 after surgery -then proceed with caution - your band is healing in place and you don't want to start out with a slip or worse. take care

here is what I ate over the last two days - I also think 1/2 cup of food is ridiculous and Dr. Miranda doesn't recommend it - she recommends having a small plate of all food groups including protein, vege, starchy and fruit. If you can fit that into 1/2 cup - go for it! I use a saucer plate (the kind a coffee cup fits on and I put 1/2 main protein on it and a vege cooked or small salad with spray no calorie dressing) If I still want more I have 1/4 cup or less of a starch and I'm done. B: EAS protein lite shake with 1/2 banana Mid morning snack - 1 cheese stick L: WW ravioli dinner and about 1 cup of salad D: salmon grilled and mixed roasted veges Snack: sugar free hot cocoa B: 3 hard boiled eggs with 1 tbls mayo - lite canola L: 1/2 grilled cheese sandwich + 1 cup tomato soup D: 1 cup of chicken curry - 1/2 cu rice and yogurt with cut up apple - about 4 spoons B: 4 slices of thin sliced deli meat with a sprinkle of chedder cheese melted on top - 1/2 cup fresh squeezed juice L: tuna D: don't know yet

I hope you don't mind an unsolicited opinion but if you really have pb'd over 100 times (is that right???) in a week I would NOT being getting another fill so quickly regardless if you can eat now you are probably swollen beyond belief- please talk to your surgeon for advice as it is cause for concern. You could have a slight slip and a fill will only make it worse. Please be careful. good luck

I was quoted 3800 a few months ago by rene in the office (for a non emergency removal)

I ALWAYS call Martinez and get a very quick response - i always try to explain quickly my situation and how urgent it is as I know they are swamped. I also heard from another patient his number has changed and she had to reach him through rene at the office - i had my surgery in 05 so others may have a more current number.

WARNING LONG. A fill (or most likely fills) is when the doc (can be the same doc as does the surgeon or another medical practictioner) puts saline into the port piece of the band. The saline 'tightens' the band around the stomach causing the patient to feel 'restriction'. Proper restriction is typically thought of being able to eat approx 1/3-1/2 of what you ate before banding and to feel a sense of fullness for 3-4 hours. The goal is to eat less, feel satisfied longer so you can eat 3 meals a day. The band creates a pouch on the upper stomach so not much food can fit into the pouch (restriction) and it takes longer to move thru the pouch to the stomach (feel fuller longer). Once banded a patient must heal before getting a fill - most fills begin about 6 weeks after surgery. Not everyone needs a fill - some bandsters NEVER get a fill and lose weight but that is rare. Most people need 3-5 fills to get the right level because everyone is different, there are different sizes of bands, and different fill doctors 'fill' differently. Some are more agressive and some are conservative. Some docs fill a little every month until they patient feels the correct restriction. Properly restricted also means you should be able to eat 3 solid meals a day. While many report being tight in the mornings if you can't eat solids MOSTLY then you may still not lose weight. Liquids and mushies go through the band easily and will not keep you full -hence you will tend to eat more. Many bandsters prefer being very tight because they don't have to make food choices and they let the band do most of the work for them. While they may lose weight eventually they will need to know how to work the band and do the work. Also, I know personally and have read of many bandsters that remain too tight, pb often and end up slipping their bands. Being too tight is not good and will eventually hurt you. The band is meant to be a tool - I think of it like a 75/25% split - you have to do 75% of the work and the band does 25%. It won't let you overeat (you will throw up when the band gets too full or you will stretch out your pouch if you constantly overeat). The band won't let you take big bites and not chew or it will get stuck in the small opening to the pouch. The band will let you eat soft food and junk food - greasy things go down good - things like ice cream, chips, candy all seem to go well. The band will keep you somewhat full but doesn't do a thing for head hunger, mindless snacking or grazing. The band will teach you why you needed the band in the first place but only you can change your behaviour, food choices, lifestyle etc. Some people like me struggle with finding the right fill level and have/had many fills. If you are getting banded you must commit the money and time and effort into fills because the fill level is the key. Fills can be done 'blind' or under floroscopy (can't spell it but it means xray) Some people swear they wouldn't ever get a fill without flouro others do it all the time. Florou allows the doc to see the position of the band and the movemement of fluid going through. I'm all for it and thinks its best. I had one fill done without it and the fill was not accurate - what I thought was in there wasn't. Now that isn't really because of the floro - I don't think he pulled it out and measured it right. Regardless, for me I would say get it under flouro (again, sorry I can't spell it right). I'm no expert but that's what i know about fills and I've had MANY and still trying to get it right. Mary

If you're bmi is very high you will lose weight faster but everyone usually tapers off to a more moderate rate as they drop. One to two pounds a week is phenomenal over the long haul (remember every pound is 3500 calories so if you are losing 2 lbs you are cutting out 7000 calories!) 1-2 pounds is the average docs are looking for. some lose more, some lose less. Some poor souls like me can't even get that off in a few months - everyone is different. I would be jumping for joy if i lost 10lbs already - you aren't even suppossed to lose weight until after your first fill. I've only lost 13 pounds in over 15months. Be happy and relax.

When I had surgery Dr. Miranda said 7 days of clear liquids and 2 weeks of full - on clear we could have full strength juices as its not about weight loss at that point -it's getting some calories and nourishment so you can heal - grape juice was wonderful, orange juice super duper and i believe she even approved sugar free hot cocoa. I also hate broth but liked the ramen noodle broth best - i would let the popsicles melt and practically drink them. oh yeah and i hated tomoate juice until banding and have loved it since. if its too thick water it down and that is very filling. Whatever you do - now is the time to stick/follow the diet - even if you chew to goo your stomach still will have to work to get it through (it doesnt matter that it might not hurt or it seems ok - it isn't) don't mess up now - we all cheat and make mistakes or we wouldn't need the band but dont do it at this stage - you are healing and want that band to stay in place.

In my experience if you need the doc/s call them do not email them. Carolyn and LoriBecky both respond quickly to email as does Rene in the office.

Wow Pamela the CosMedClinic website has some amazing pics - i wish that had some with the pulse lasar - i'd like to get that done too - may check on it next time i'm in tijuana - thanks for the information - mary

I'll be going back AGAIN (I should just move to Tijuana) for a fill on the 27h - I arrive in San Diego at 12:20 (later than usual) and will be heading down by trolley - happy to help someone do this. I return the same night at 6:20. NinnyEd - so sorry to hear about your troubles walking back - the longest I had to wait was approx 1 hour and it is usually about 30 minutes! I always try to go during a weekday although the longest wait was on a Friday - i think around the weekends are busier but good to know it can be longer for planning. I take the bus/trolley cuz i've done it so many times I actually kind of like it and it saves me a bit on the money side of things. The last time I went I arrived Thursday night and by the time I got to the border it was almost 7:00pm and that was a little scary as it was dark and I didn't know what the taxi situation would be like. I always bring the directions to the clinic or hotel with me (in spanish) and verify 'cinco dolars" (5 bucks) before heading out etc. mary

Dr. Miranda gave me a rx for raductil which i filled in mexico and i always travel with my birthcontrol pills - no problem . They did stop me at the xray (i usually walk across the border and do the trolley) and took my fruit from the hotel Lucerna - I could keep the banana but not the apple or pear - bummer.

Pamela, Just checked in and saw your post - Can't believe you are 21 days out - yippee. Congrats on your 10lb weight loss and all the positive changes you are making in your life/lifestyle. I know you will do great - keep up the good work and enjoy your 'first meal' tomorrow. mary

After 15 months being banded, the band has provided me with with everything I wanted except the amount of weight I wanted to lose and I no longer really care if I lose any more weight - I don't imagine I will as I am not changing anything else with my fill, diet or exercise - what the band has given me is: eating like a normally thin person - I eat when I am hungry and I stop when I am satisfied I never eat to full, I never binge, I can throw food away on my plate without pain and I can watch others eat without suffering I really don't care that much about food and I have found other things to do when I am bored, sad, mad, happy, etc. I eat three very small meals a day - actually on a saucer plate and sometimes two snacks a day if I exercise heavily I eat a wide range of foods including starchy carbs (although those are eaten like condiments) I eat very healthy I do not own a single clothing item that doesn't fit me - my closets and drawers are purged of every size I weigh myself rarely My original weight loss goal was 65lbs but I'm happy with 11 - my pre surgery pants aren't tight and I haven't gained. For a yo yo dieter for over 20 years that is amazing. Please don't ask me about my weight loss -or offer suggestions - If I lose doing what I'm doing, fine, if not, that's fine too. My body has decided it wants to be this weight and I can live with it. My nsv's are equally if not more important.

After 15 months being banded, the band has provided me with with everything I wanted except the amount of weight I wanted to lose and I no longer really care if I lose any more weight - I don't imagine I will as I am not changing anything else with my fill, diet or exercise - what the band has given me is: eating like a normally thin person - I eat when I am hungry and I stop when I am satisfied I never eat to full, I never binge, I can throw food away on my plate without pain and I can watch others eat without suffering I really don't care that much about food and I have found other things to do when I am bored, sad, mad, happy, etc. I eat three very small meals a day - actually on a saucer plate and sometimes two snacks a day if I exercise heavily I eat a wide range of foods including starchy carbs (although those are eaten like condiments) I eat very healthy I do not own a single clothing item that doesn't fit me - my closets and drawers are purged of every size I weigh myself rarely My original weight loss goal was 65lbs but I'm happy with 11 - my pre surgery pants aren't tight and I haven't gained. For a yo yo dieter for over 20 years that is amazing. Please don't ask me about my weight loss -or offer suggestions - If I lose doing what I'm doing, fine, if not, that's fine too. My body has decided it wants to be this weight and I can live with it. My nsv's are equally if not more important.