kristy_wa

Has anyone been to Northwest Fill Management and used their new fluoro option? How'd it go - comparable to the OCC?

Anybody start this yet? I'm interested to hear how it goes.....!!

Hello everyone. I am scheduled for my 1st fill on Jan16th. But, I am flying out a couple hours after my fill. I wanted to know from those of you who have gotten fills, what your thoughts are on not staying the night. I am debating on whether I made the right decision on not staying the night. Do you guys think a couple hours at the OCC is enough to determine if my fills right?

I'm flying in on the 17th and out that night! You'll be totally fine with that. Just be careful to stay on liquids for a day or two and no alcohol. (Chips and Tequila are hard to turn down when in Mexico!)

I am struggling with what to do, it will cost about $500.00 for me to fly back to Dr Ortiz office for my first fill that was included in price of surgery, his office does under floroscope.

Below is the cost I have been quoted to drive 4 hours each way from the closest fill center to my home...

"The pricing for any provider in our network is $349 for the initial visit, which does include the first fill. The follow up visits are $165 for a visit with an adjustment and $85 for a visit without an adjustment. The price for the annual program is $1372. This includes 4 visits with adjustments and 8 office consultations. You do have the option of trading in 2 office consultations for 1 fill visit up to two times within this year. This would give you a total of 6 adjustments.

This provider doesn’t have access to the fluoroscopy.

What is everyones experiance with floroscopy vs non-floroscopy fills, do you have to go more often to find the "right" amount if not done under foroscopy???

Just banded on the 6th of January but want to book flight in advance if it would be better to go back and have done under floroscopy by Dr Ortiz' office

Anyone know of fill center that does under floroscopy here in states that may be cheaper to fly to than the 6 hour flight going back to Mexico?

I will do whatever it takes to try and get the right fit in the least visits as our money is very limited, it took me 4 years to save for surgery and first fill and I still had to finance some of it and my loan payments started this month. While cost is important, getting fills done right is more important.

Looking for the guidance of those who have gone through this already

LaWanda, I also went to someone locally for blind fills to save money, but it didn't go well... no problems finding the port, but they can't tell how much food will get through the band without the fluoro. It's so frustrating to get a fill, go on liquids for a day or two, then find out you don't have any restriction. I paid $150 for each blind fill - did 3 of those, with no real restriction, then went back down to OCC to get it fixed. So I paid $450 and wasted all that time when I should've been losing weight! I think blind would be okay for your first fill since you probably won't have a lot of restriction, then use fluoro for your 2nd so it can be adjusted properly. It also might be okay when you know you only need just a tiny bit more or less. I highly recommend to at least mix it up so you know everything is good. Just as you said, you'll probably go for more fills if not under fluoro.

Keep asking around and a better solution might come up eventually. I just recently learned of more docs in my area that I had no idea did fills.

Good luck!!

That's my understanding as well. Blind is free and fluoro is $100. I'm surprised to hear that!

Sorry for the bad experience coming back. I'm headed down in a few weeks and only have my DL.... hopefully it will all be okay!

You know when you work out, and you gain muscle or retain water from your muscles healing, well..that would obviously make the scale go up, and that is something I don't need to do right now. So would it be better not to work out at the gym, and maybe just go walking instead. I need all the help I can get with the scale..lol.

Yep, the goal is to reduce the fat around the liver, not necessarily to lose pounds. Building muscle is totally fine and will help you burn more fat in the long run!

You won't be turned away. Do your very best, but it's not anything to stress over!

I think the main problem I've been having is the inconsistency of the restriction. A bite of anything before noon has to come right back up, and in the evenings I can eat a whole hamburger and still be deathly hungry. Twice now I've had fills too tight that needed emergency unfills, but at the same time, those same fills were at times not very restrictive. Has anyone else found it to be so extreme? Any advice on how to be more consistent on the food intake?

My husband ordered room service the whole time and was very happy. The cheesburger looked great, although EVERYthing looked great to me.

My mom also came with me who is not into mexican or spicy food. she loved the hotel restaurant. they cater to the bandsters with liquid food, but my mom was totally happy there. it's a really nice hotel. i hate to say this but wasn't quite expecting so nice in TJ. all will be fine!

beginning of my weekend when I first get to TJ or at the end before I go home? Okay - so I admit, I thought of doing it before so if I need a defill I am there...but if I wait then I can have a little more freedom for the weekend.

Definitely as soon as you get there. It's a little frustrating you will be on liquids while there, but at least you'll be distracted with fun things. I made the mistake of drinking a little too much Tequila while hitting TJ after a fill and had to get unfilled the next day. Thank god I hadn't flown home yet. Stick to protein shakes!

I was banded in February 2007 by Dr. Ortiz and have only lost about 20 lbs. I'm 29 and live in South Bothell/Juanita area. Are there any other girls that want to work on this together and hold each other accountable? It's time to lose more weight!!

Kristy

Hi. I was banded in March by Dr. Ortiz. I had my 1st fill with Dr Acousta in May. Then in June I had a second fill with a Dr in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Flouro wasn't used. I have about 2.1 cc in my band. At least that is what I was told on June 6th when I had my 2nd fill. I didn't have any trouble until about 3 weeks ago. I started having trouble with PBiing. I was having days where I could eat and days I couldn't eat hardly anything at all. But the past 3 or 4 days it has actually been painful to eat and to even drink. I am able to drink but it hurts when it goes through. I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this happen to them. My husband wants me to have an unfill but I don't want to go run out and spend another $350 to get it unfilled. I've been trying to just do liquids to see if it just needs to heal after going through the PBing I was doing. I can't afford to go back to TJ right now. But I'm also a little afraid that if something is wrong and if maybe not doing something about it might cause the band to completely close up. Could that happen even if its been over 2 months since my last fill? I would appreciate anyone who might have some ideas.

Thank you in advance.

By the way I was 197.5 when I decided to get banded and today I am 159.5. I love my band!

How did things work out? I'm going through the same thing right now. Had my 2nd fill 2-3 months ago and now I'm having trouble for a few days at a time. Can't always even get liquids down. Once I PB, that's it for the day - no more eating. I'm also in the same boat not really having the cash to get down to TJ real quick. But there are also some days I can eat quite a bit.... eeerg! Don't know what to do!

Hi there.

Just a few thoughts.... definately go get the next fill.. the third fill for me dropped me 25-30 pounds. Ive dropped 55 pounds since 9/7/07 not a record, but I challenge you to try to gain that 30 pounds back...I have put off another fill and haven't gained a pound back. The band literature says it takes 2-3 years, but everyone always looks for results 2,3,4 or 6 months out.

If it weren't for Butterfingers and Instant Mix Coffees, I would have lost another 30 or 40 pounds. Calorie ins versus calories out is a big T truth. So I blame me, not the band. Another challenge is to post your daily food intake for a week. Sometimes we thing we arent eating alot because we are constantly hunger ( wrong fill amount) and in fact we are eating smaller but more often.

I"m frustrated too, but not at the band, at my continued attitude towards food. The word Buffet still makes me desire all the food i can eat, but I realize its a wase of money no matter what my desire is.

So don't give up.. be patient and don't kick yourself around for spending $8500 you'll save that on buffets in a few years:)

Speaking of Butterfingers, SlimFast has a snack bar for 120 calories that tastes the same as a butterfinger. I thought it was too good to be true! It's the Optima Peanut Butter Crunch. What a great snack when you really need a sweet!

Have you guys tried Viactiv? It's the chocolate and caramel chewables. I know, I know, it's a solid, you say? Not if you keep chewing until it's dissolved! They are YUMMY. I eat them when I just have to have something sweet. I eat the multi-vitamin chocolate and the calcium caramel ones. They are also geared towards women, rather than children, so you may be getting more important vitamins... although I haven't really researched it. You will LOVE taking your vitamins if you get these!

I will be arriving Sunday early and was wondering if we were close to the beach. I live in North Texas and would really love to see the ocean while I am there if possible. Smell the air etc. Or should I stay close to the hotel this my first trip to Mexico in long time and I want to experience as much as I can in my short period of time .

Yes you are close!! If you have all day sunday, I'd recommend going up into san diego. imperial beach is really cool, and it's nothing but beaches and oceans there! on the mexican side, rosarito is supposed to be nice, however it's a half hour cab ride that would be expensive. I really wouldn't recommend driving in mexico. you have to get extra insurance and it's a little crazy and easy to get lost. i'm hoping you fly into san diego and could rent a car for the day there. all of san diego is right on the water. driving up 101 is great also. lots of cool little beach/surf towns. just grab a map at the rental place and go explore! ocean beach is really fun to hang on the beach.

also, god bless TJ, but it is a border town.... don't be expecting cancun.... you can take a cab from the hotel to "Revolucion" which is a touristy street that is pretty fun. It's a $5 ride. Lots of street vendors, fun restaurants, and probably the best place to go if you decide to stay in TJ. There is not much right around the hotel.... some apartments, a mcdonalds, some businesses... some restaurants....

hope this all helps! go to SD!

All is good!!! And thank you SO MUCH to sanjay and those who called for encouragement! Dr. Martinez called me back within half an hour, very concerned, and was happy to hear I didn't fly out until Sunday night. I met Dr. Romero at the clinic sunday at 9am. He took out .3 cc's and I'm feeling wonderful! As of this morning (Wednesday) I've lost 3lbs since the fill sunday. I'm extremely excited because I didn't have any restriction with my first fill, and now it's starting to work.

I don't think this is something that happens often, but what support! I've learned there's no need to panic if it's too tight. They fix you right up - nothing to worry about.

Thanks to Dr. Romero (I totally ruined your fathers day!) and the team!

^{Hi, this is my first post here. I am 27, and have had my band in for nearly 2 years. I feel that I have not lost enough weight in all this time, I have had many fills, and my question is, when the doc does a fill, is he supposed to remove all the saline, measure it, and then put it back and more?}

^{The reason I ask this is that my Father had his procedure 9 months ago, he hardly can eat anything, and is nearly at his goal weight. He was always heavier than me, but I feel like I am getting no where. He says that when he goes to his doc, they take out and measure the saline before putting anymore in, he says that the band is supposed to leak, and does, so there is no way of knowing how much saline is in the band without measuring it. I am wondering what you all think of this...?}

^{It makes sense to me, as my eating is not restricted at all, the only reason I have lost weight is that I have restricted my eating myself, but for the last 7 months, I havent lost any at all, and am feeling totally defeated. I am trying to get this weight off so that I can have fertility treatment, otherwise I wont be having any children. ( Can anyone help?}

^Thanks.

ask your doctor to pull it out and check it! you should feel restriction. if you don't, it's time for a fill. communicate to your doctor your concerns and i'm sure they'll do it!

Hi, I'm down in SD and had a fill in TJ today. It's too tight and I can't even keep a sip of water down. It's pretty painful and I need to get back in tomorrow (sunday) to have a little removed. I called the 24/7 phone number for doctor martinez on the website but it's not working. I of course left all the emergency contact info at home. Could someone who had dr ortiz/martinez and has the cell phone numbers for emergencies give me a call with the info?

thanks!

kristy

Getting banded 2/26 by Dr. Ortiz!!

Getting the band on 2/26 - anyone from Seattle down there at the same time?