apryl

Don't forget comfy elastic waist pants and maybe a book to read. They have TV at the surgery center but there wasn't anything good on. Congrats and good luck! Apryl

I think exercise is a four letter word, and I am lucky if I go to the gym once or twice a week. When I do go I do 30 min of cardio, 30 minutes of weights, and then 20 minutes of laps in the pool. On weeks that I feel overly ambitious, and go 3 times a week, I notice that I tend to lose an extra pound...so I guess it does help! I also have a treadmill that is currently being used alternately as a drying rack and kitty bed. My advice is join a gym instead because it is more fun and the time goes by much quicker. (30 minutes on the treadmill at home seems to take forever!) In all seriousness though, exercise is very important, especially if you want to avoid the "saggy baggy skin". I have slacked off the last few weeks and I noticed that the skin on my arms and belly are getting sort of soft and deflated looking. Yuck.

I eat about 1/2 (solids) to 2/3 (if I cheat and have some mashed potatoes) of a cup of food at a time. I usually go about 4-6 hours before I feel hungry again. Bread? Wow...haven't had any of that since the night before my surgery! Lucky you!

I am three months post op and I consume between 500 and 900 calories in a day. I have been told that that number should be closer to 1200, but I have yet to figure out how to cram 400 calories (one meal) into only 1/2 of a cup. I feel fine and have plenty of energy, but I make sure to take vitamins, and I try and eat foods that are healthy and full of protien. (About two weeks post op I went through a period where I had zero energy, but I upped my protien shake intake a little and noticed an improvement.) Since you are on liquids for only a short time, I wouldn't worry about too much muscle loss. Once you are on solids you should have plenty of opportunities to consume protien. My diet consists mainly of chicken, fish, seafood, and eggs (sometimes). Sometimes I eat a snack sized cottage cheese which is a great source of protien as well.

I went out to dinner and ordered turkey and after one bite I could tell it was not a good choice. Nothing got stuck but it just sat there and made me feel like I was going to choke. Not pleasant! I guess this Thanksgiving I will be eating sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie! Oh well!

Thanks Michelle....another perspective always helps. And you are right...as long as I continue to lose weight...I guess it doesn't matter how many cc's I have. I do have a question though....what are the "slimes". I have seen people refer to this, but I have no clue what it is! Sounds gross.

Ever since my fill I have been obsessing over the fact that I don't think Dr. M made me tight enough. The reason I think this is because even though I am only eating about half a cup of food...I have not had any problems with PBing (ever), and I can eat breakfast in the morning with no problems (95% of the time). I keep thinking that since I have not experienced these things my band is too loose. Bfore my fill I had lost about 34 pounds, and I was only able to eat about a cups worth of food (less than a whole Lean Cuisine), so Dr.M felt that I didn't need a huge fill. He gave me 1.2 cc's which seems to be less than a lot of people on here. I realize that the band is different for everybody, but since my surgery I am obsessed with the scale! ARGH! Since my fill (3 weeks ago) I have lost about 12 pounds, which I guess is what I should expect right? How can I know if I need another fill? Other than having the scale stop moving...what other "signs" are there? I know I need to stop obsessing over this, but I can't help myself. Thanks! Apryl

My piece of advice is to stay a few extra days in California or TJ before you go home. (If you have time.) I live on the east coast and I knew that it would be a long, tiring, and (somewhat) uncomfortable flight back, so we stayed in San Diego for 4 extra days. And while I wasn't really in pain ( we went sight seeing and shopping the day after surgery), I did feel bloated and kinda uncomfortable for several days. (Walking helps this feeling go away.) I was also a Dr.Pepper addict, and I was drinking them up until the day of surgery. I really don't miss them now, and whenever I get a craving, I remind myself that soda is bad, bad, bad for the band! (I have no willpower and this actually works for me so...) Good luck! : )

I was banded about 2 months ago and have felt great. However in the last few days I noticed that I wasn't urinating very much, and when I did, I was producing very little. Then, Saturday night I woke up with horrible abdominal pains, and went to the ER, where they took a CT and told me I had kidney stones! I have never had this before, and while I know it can be a hereditary thing (my Dad has had them), I was wondering if it could be a result of the band. (More protien in my diet, etc.) Has anyone else had this happen to them? Oh, and when I was at the ER and told them about my band...they had no clue what it was! And neither did my family doctor!

The first couple days after surgery I was a little scared, and wondered if I had done the right thing. The whole process is very emotional because of how drastically your lifestyle changes....especially if you use food as comfort, or a coping mechanism, or even to aleviate boredom. But when you see how your body begins to change...even slowly before your first fill...it all becomes worth it! Good luck and congratulations on your decision!

I just had my first fill with Dr. Martinez (goodness he is cute!!!), and I am wondering/worried about two things. The first thing is the amount of my fill. He only gave me 1.2 cc's, and I am worried that I won't lose any weight. I live in PA and I can't afford to fly to CA all the time. When he gave me my fill he said that since I had quite a bit of restriction prior to the fill, he wouldn't give me that much. Am I being silly about this, or was he too conservative. I don't want to start obsessing about this but I do want it to be effective. The second thing I was wondering is how much everyone really eats. I read that 1/2 of a cup is average, but I haven't even been eating that. I am having a hard time figuring out what "full" really feels like. Pre-surgery, full meant that you felt like an overfilled balloon...but what does it feel like now? After eating I feel fine, and I can go 4 hours or more without my stomach growling. Is this too soon, or normal? I was also wondering what sorts of things everyone eats...especially for breakfast. I am always extremely busy, and most meals are eaten while I am walking out the door. Obviously fast food and pre-packaged things are no no's (and part of the reason why I had to have the surgery in the first place) but do you have any tips for making food preparation quicker or easier? Thanks so much!

Thank you so much...I feel so much better now. She has lost well over 100 pounds, but it has not been easy for her. Her band has slipped twice, and she has been quite miserable I believe. I thought that what she was telling me went against what Dr. Miranda told me, but I just thought I would ask someone else!

I am so nervous because I am having my fist fill on Saturday. My friend, who has had her band for over a year now, said that after my fill I will only be able to eat liquids like smooties and soups. I know we have to be on liquids right after the fill, but she said that she wasn't able to eat anything "soldi" for many, many months. Is this true? I thought we were supposed to avoid "liquid" calories because they go right through the band and defeat the purpose of it. What do most of you eat? Thanks! Oh...one other question...how big of a bite should I be taking. I read somewhere that bites should be about the size of a pea.

When I was on my pre-op diet I found that after a few days I really didn't think of food much. I know this really doesn't help but you are going to have to make yourself stop thinking about food. After the surgery you will be on liquids again and while you won't really want food, by the time you get to the third week you will be willing to kill for something "real" that requires a fork and chewing! I hate to say this, but to be sucessful and happy with this procedure you will have to just get used to not eating like you did before. The hardest thing about this is the fact that while you aren't physically hungry, you are still mentally hungry. I had my surgery almost a month and a half ago, and it is still difficult for me to put my fork down after only a few bites. My stomach is full but my mind isn't. My advice is to find something else to do...if you have to cook dinner for your family, go for a walk while they are eating, or find something active to help take your mind off things. This in not to say that you won't ever be able to go out to dinner with friends or anything, but food will become a necessity not a recreational activity.

I know....I just hate to call if it is something dumb. The pain feels like a cramp...sharp and sudden. But now I notice that I am getting them even if I have not just eaten. Argh!

I don't know if this is normal or not but sometimes after eating I have pain where (I imagine) my band is. I noticed it after eating chicken and some thin crust pizza. I chewed really REALLY well, but I am wondering if maybe it was just the wrong thing to eat. And sometimes I just seem to have some pain in the area even when I have not eaten recently. I also read some of you saying that you began solids after 4 weeks, but my directions from Dr. Mirand said only 21 days. I waited 23 days before I ate solids but was that enough? Did I misunderstand? I am a little scared that I did something wrong. I can only eat small portions (less than a cup), I have lost around 25 lbs, and I have not had any problems with PBing or vomiting (knock on wood). Is this something I should be concerned about or has anyone else experienced this? Apryl

Hi everyone. I am planning on going back down to TJ for my first fill around September 19th, and I was wondering what to expect. Will I be picked up from the airport like I was before, or do I have to find my own transportation to the office? I was planning on staying at the Lucerna again, but if I have to drive myself over the border, I may just stay in San Diego. What does everyone recommend? And what is the actual fill experience like? What exactly do they do? Is it painful? Am I supposed to go back on liquids again before and/or after? Thanks! Apryl

I forget what Drs Ortiz and Martinez told me. Ok ok...I will admit it....i was distracted by how cute they are.

Hello everyone! I was just banded on August 4th and I am so happy. Everyone in Mexico - from Eduardo and the staff at the GORGEOUS Lucerna, to Dr. Ortiz, Dr.Martinez and their entire staff were just wonderful. When you think of Tijuana you think ICK...but everything I experienced made me change my opinion. Even my mom (who had a poor opinion of this procedure and my choice of location) changed her tune when we arrived for my pre-operative testing. She and I were both thrilled with the level of service and attention I got. I would recommend OBC to anyone who is considering this! Today I was able to start on protien shakes, which is a nice change from plain broth. I did replace on of my meals with some tomato soup though. Will this be ok? And I skipped the yogurt because I despise it. Another question I have is how much weight can I expect to loose during these next couple weeks? In 10 days I have lost 14 lbs. I know everyone is different, but if you could share your experiences that would really help. I have to admit that this is the strangest feeling....I am not hungry one bit. I havent even wanted to finish a 1/2 cup of broth at each meal. Is this normal? Thanks!

I was just banded on August 4th and they really, really want you to return for at least your first fill because they say they have seen many inexperienced doctors do a poor job, and the initial fill is really important. However, I did find a doctor in Vienna (not sure how far away that is) and his name is Dr. Elariny....check www.alagsa.com, which I believe is his website.

Just wondering if anyone else has the same date as me.

Hello Everyone! I am so excited...my surgery date is August 3rd and I can't wait. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on what I should take with me the day of the procedure. I think I remember someone saying GasX but what else? I was also wondering if it is normal that I have not heard anything from Dr.Ortiz's office. After booking my surgery and faxing the medical history and paperwork in, I have not heard from anyone except Rene...and that was when I gave him my flight info. I assume that I was not expected to start a pre-op diet or anything. Any help or advice would be great! Thanks!!!! Apryl

I arranged for my aftercare by requesting a list of approved doctors from Inamed. I then called each one until I found a doctor who would take me on as a new patient. (Most did nto want a patient who had had the procedure done in Mexico.) I live in Maryland and am going to be driving over an hour to meet with my doctor in Virginia. I am paying $ 2,000 for 6 months of care and 2 fills....after that I pay 200 for a fill and 100 for a Drs. visit. Hope this helps. Apryl

Thank you everyone for your replies and support! I am very excited about going, and I can hardly wait to get started on this new, healthier, and more fulfilling chapter of my life.... Apryl

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting on the board, but I have been reading for quite some time. Thanks to all your honest answers, and the success of a very close friend, I have decided to have the procedure done with Dr.Ortiz on August 4th. I am very excited, but I am having some trouble telling friends and family that I am having this done. I feel embarassed and wonder how everyone else broke the news to other people. So far only my mom, friend, and husband know, and I am wondering how I am going to explain to people that I am going to California for a week. I am afraid that other people will think that I am taking the easy way out buy having this surgery. (I am only 25, and have only been 135 lbs overweight for the past 6 years.) Any help you can give me would be appreciated! I was also wondering if I am being overly optimistic by planning a 4 day vacation in San Diego 2 days following my surgery. I know that most of you have said that you felt fine, but will I be up to sightseeing and walking around? (Sea World, Zoo etc?) Thanks! Apryl