beery

Hello, I'm a newbie [as you can see] and I think your progress is wonderful!! CONGRATS!! I was wondering though, how tall are you? I'm hoping to be banded soon and we weigh about the same at your start,[ I'm a little heavier] I'm 5'5" and my lowest weight as an adult was 140lbs. and I was comfortable there. I wouldn't mind going to 135lbs. Keep up the good work! Darlene

I am 5'8" Darlene.

Hello all! I am just wanted to give everyone an update. I had my lapband done on June 19th and now I have lost down to 175! Yeah!

Beery,

I went and got my first fill today. My flight left PHX at 955 arrived late at 11:30. My appointment was at 12. I didn't get there until 12:30. No problem they still took me. We had to wait for other psgrs they were picking up around the same time. Arrived we had our fills which was cool to watch with the flora and were out of the OCC by 1:30. Our flight wasn't until 4:55 but they said we should leave asap as the border had at least a two hour wait. The driver took us to Lucerna to pick up other psgrs and they went to the other border (i think its called mesa) and we were suppose to walk and wait in line, which was super long, but the drive told the border agt we all had surgery and walking would be hard. Anyways, we got to the airport at 2:55 only to find our 4:55 flt delayed until 6pm. But we asked if we could standby another flight and they didn't mess around they got us on a 2:55 flight that was running a little late and we got home to PHX a little after 4p. Although we didn't get to shop or spend time in San Diego. It all turned out well.

Oh my band was filled to 1.7cc - now liquids until Monday.

best of luck!

Jazzy

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Thanks Jazzy!

Sounds like your fill trip went alot like mine.

I flew into San Diego yesterday. Arrived at 8:30 they didn't get there to pick me up until 10:00 due to the border being so crammed. I got to the OCC at 10:30 and had to wait until 11:45 for my fill, not sure why it was so unorganized but people were everywhere. There were 5 people waiting to be taken to the hotel and Mrs. Ortiz was running behind. Three of them just took off walking because they were tired of waiting. There were 5 other people waiting there for fills. Normally you are in and out in 15 minutes but it was taking alot longer for some reason. Anyway had to wait for the driver but he came within 20 minutes, he had to pick a couple up from the lucerna. Francisco was running errands for Dr. Ortiz and couldn't take us. We waited at the border for over 2 hours and I finally made it to the airport by 2:30. My flight didn't leave until 3:40. Everything worked out great.

Oh by the wait the fill was 1.6 and it was cool seeing on the Florascopy. It didn't hurt just looked and felt weird having that long needle stuck in my port.

Have a great week!

Annette

Lisa I am due for my fill next week and am from Texas and decided to go back to TJ for my 1st fill because I want to make sure everything is OK after surgery. I really appreciated reading your post since I really didn't know what to expect. I went for surgery by myself and will also be traveling alone for the fill. Thanks for the post

Did you guys know that you can go to TJ and get your fills from OCC on a Saturday. I was having issues taking off and they told me that they also do this on Saturdays. So, I am flying in on June 9th (Saturday) at 8:45 am and flying out 3:45 same day.

I was wondering if anyone out there has had plastic surgery in TJ? The plastic surgeon that Dr. Ortiz's office recommends is probably the best but their prices seem very similar to the US doctors

I am really getting concerned because my weight is slowing creeping back up. Is this normal?

Hey Annette,

I'm Kelly C. I was banded on 4/26. I have been on clears. I'm sick of not the broth and juice but, I'm sick of the BIG D.! It seems I'm running to the bathroom every other hr.! I had bottled water at the hotel and didn't eat anywhere but there. My bottom can't take much more. Did you have this problem?

Kelly C.

Banded 4/26/07

Highest 241

Now 220

No, Kelly I never had "THE BIG D" I am sorry. Perhaps you have a touch of the flu? Hope you are doing better. My problem was just the opposite, but once i incorporated the other items, not just clear broth I was better. Looking forward to my first fill.

Take care!

Annette

My question is when did you start on the regular soup. I am on liquids right now and am unsure when I can eat something like tomota soup.

Thanks

Shannon

The Dietician, Miranda told me that if you can drink it you can have it. Just no chunks. Hope this helps.

The clinic is picking me up from the San Diego Airport on June 9th and am looking for someone else who is flying in that day and would like to share the cost. It is $65 each way. I am flying in at 9:30 and flying out at 3:30 the same day.

Well, I am 9 days post operative and have lost 12 pounds and can tell you I am sick of soup. I have taken so much flack from my co-workers. They are even to the point of making fun of me. But hey, this is my life and its what I want so I don't care what they think. If they are really my friends they can just get over it. It's not like I just keep talking about my surgery non-stop. I never even mention it. They are the ones bringing it up all the time. OK - thanks for letting me vent.

Annette

OK, I found out why. Apparently I need to be doing my deep breathing. This will cause you to have a low grade fever if you aren't fully expanding your lungs after surgery.... Now I know. #-o

Is it normal to run fever after having surgery 4 days ago?

Hello All! I just got banded on April 19th and am already wanting to think ahead for the fills. I too would like to go back to Dr. Ortiz for the fill but the airfare is not so great right now. I don't want to wait until I need the fill because last minute airfare is horribly expensive. I was wondering if anyone else is on here that just got banded this past week that might have the same dilemma?

By the way I love my new band and restrictions. The only problem I am having is I keep overstretching the port closure and it feels like it is going to bust open.

Annette

=D> Hello everyone! I just got banded on April 19th and am so excited about it. It was a long journey from Texas but well worth it. I was never in pain throughout the whole experience the only thing was after the surger I was a bit uncomfortable with the swelling. I so loved Carmelita (One of the Dr.'s nurse) she was the best!!!!

Hey there Beery!

I'm going by myself too! I'm trying not to let it get to me. I have enough stress with my job. I just try real darn hard to stay focused on what my Goals are. It is hard I find the weekends are the hardest for me. But, you are working at making your life better. I started my per-op diet on the 4/1, my surgery date is 4/26. I have lost 14 lbs. I'm very happy with that!!!

Kelly in Fl.

To be banded 4/26/07

Highest weight 241

Still working on Per-Op

weight 227

Wow that is great! 14 pounds. I know what you mean about the weekends they are super hard. Good luck! I will let you know how it is going by yourself. I sure it will be fine. Everyone I talk to says its no problem.

I AM HAVING MY SURGERY ON APRIL 20

I WISH YOU ALL GO LUCK.

Hey Kirk! I am having mine on the 19th. Maybe I will see you there. Good Luck. Thanks for the reply

I really need some help. I am haviing such a hard time staying on the pre-op diet. I am so stressed out about having to go by myself and about the surgery that it is making me eat more. I haven't lost any weight and I go for surgery on Wednesday. HELP!!!!

I am really struggling with my pre-op diet. I had to go out of town this week for a 3 week conference and it seems everytime I turn around there was food infront of me. My surgery is 1 week away and I haven't lost hardly anything. Any suggestions

Hey Everyone!!! I am having surgery in 1 week - YEAH!! I am so excited and really ready to just get it over with. I am looking forward to some time off as well. Only a few days but it will really be nice.

Fly into San Diego Tues 17th, pre-op that day, surgery Wed 18th. We are staying until Sat. See you there!!! >

Hi! I am flying in on the 18th and surgery the 19th - I then will fly out of San Diego on Saturday the 21st.

Maybe we will see each other. =D>

Hi my bandster family,

I just wanted to apologize for not being around very much lately - I had my hernia surgery and that recovery is taking much longer than I had thought (even though my doctor warned me it was a very large, very deep hernia!) he also had to do some other exploratory work and repair in there... so I was pretty beaten up.

Dr. O has been keeping me very very busy with surgery patients lately so I've had very little time to spend with all of you. I wanted you to know that I miss you guys and that if anyone needs to get in touch with me, just email me directly at lori@obesitycontrolcenter.com and i'll get back to you ASAP!!

Thanks to my helpers on the forum for keeping up with the spammers!

> > > > > > > > > to all of you!!

Hi Lori!

I enjoyed speaking with you on the phone the other day. I am so sorry to hear about your hernia and the surgery but I am glad you are doing ok now. I can't tell you want a great person you are and Dr. O is very lucky to have you. You make the patients feel so comfortable and at ease. I had lots of anxiety about my surgery but after speaking with you I now am very confident about it. I just hope I can lose my weight that I need to prior to surgery.

Take care of yourself!! >

Hi Karen,

I am going through what you are. You do need to be able to drink. I have a very hard time in the morning and early afternoon, then it seems to lossen enough to take very tiny sips, and able to eat very tiny bites and very slow. You may be to tight, that is a scary feeling. There is no way I can chug anything anymore. Can only take very tiny sips and then wait till it goes completely down. If you continue to pb, you may irritate the stoma, creating an even tighter experience. Take everything slow, and if you need to, get some drained. You dont want to ruin your vacation worrying and not be able to drink. Have fun though.

TEri

Teri, with all the problems you guys have had with the band, are you sorry you got it?

I will share the ride with you Dove when you decide to go since we are having our lap bands put on at the same time.

That