NWMarc

I'm going to get my first fill tomorrow afternoon. I've selected a doctor that was at the Seattle Band Bash in Feb.

However, I'm real nervous about eating after the adjustment. (I know I'll be on liquids for a day or two after the fill.) Right now if I forget to chew enough and/or take too large of a bite of food I can feel it and then then feel it finally go through. My assumption is that after the fill this will be even more frequent and more painful.

Is my assumption correct?

I need the fill as I've not really lost any weight in a couple of weeks. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Marc

[if you e-mail carolyn agt dr ortiz office and let her know where you are although they prefer to have you fill it in their offices she might be able to help you i know she sent me the names of a few in the seattle area good luck i am getting banded in may25th quote name=CATCHUP' date='Apr 28 2006, 05:16 PM' post='2251]

SOMEWHERE I READ WHERE THERE IS A WEB SITE THAT WILL HELP YOU TO FIND DOCTORS IN THE US FOR FOLLOWUPS AND FILLS, DOES ANYONE HAVE THAT WEBSITE? HOWEVER I HEARD THEY CAN COST UPTO $600. IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO FLY BACK AND FORTH TO MEXICO. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET A FILL BY DR ORTIZ? I AM PLANNING ON HAVING THE SURGERY SOON. I AM STILL DOING SOME RESEARCH. I AM ALSO READING DR ORTIZ BOOK WHICH HAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION. I AM ALSO CONTEMPLATING GOING ALONE. WILL I BE ABLE TO LIFT MY OWN LUGGAGE. SOMEONE MENTIONED REQUESTING A WHEEL CHAIR AT THE AIRPORT. SO I WAS THINKING MAYBE I NEED TO BRING SOMEONE WITH ME. I HAVE A CAZZILLION THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. I DON'T TAKE BLOOD AND I NEED TO FIND OUT HOW DR ORTIZ FEELS ON THAT ISSUE AND ALSO THE FACT THAT I HAVE AND IUD AND AM WONDERING IF THAT WILL AFFECT ANYTHING AT ALL. I REALLY ENJOYED CHELLEY'S STORY IT WAS VERY VERY DETAILED. I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF THE $1000 PROMOTION IS SOMETHING THAT RUNS ALL YEAR? ANY ADVICE OR COMMENTS WELCOME.

Hi,

I had my band surgery a week ago. I went alone. No problems with luggage. I only brought a carry-on and my laptop bag. The hotel has wireless Internet access. A carry-on is probably all you need. You only need to pack two days of causual cloths.

NWMarc

Hi my name is Karen and i was banded on Thursday the 27th. overall all the surgery went well except for when i came out of surgery and they woke me up i was crying hysterically, now even though i was in a great deal of pain i don't think that's why i was crying i think the anastasia had me drunk and belligerent, i was so embarrassed the next morning when the doctors teased me about spilling all me secrets. my stomach did hurt a lot but once they doped me up with pain killers i was great!!

I had the best experience there everyone on Dr. Ortiz's staff is great especially the enfermeras. i wish i could take them all home with me!

The best part is it has been three days now and the pain and discomfort is mild and my boyfriend is waiting on me hand and foot ( it's about time!)

I go back to school on Monday so will see how that goes i am in college part time so few hours shouldn't be to bad.

one concern: I was hungary today like my stomach started growling so i put a little food in it and it made me feel full but i was so scared about my band slipping that i doubt i will do it again.

Hi Karen,

I was getting my pre-op the day of your surgery. I remember your mom and (I think boyfriend's mom) went in to see you and then came out and said you were just crying and they didn't want to upset you.

I had a similar but very delayed reaction. When I came home on Sunday after the plane trip and car drive I was a bit down for awhile. Maybe it was coming off of the great meds they give you. This liquid diet is ... very interesting.

Take care,

NWMarc

Hello all,

I was banded yesterday morning. I think I was second for the day. The room is very nice. I was asked to take off all of my clothes and put the wonderful gown on and lay in the bed. After doing so I turned on the TV. So can you guess what channel came on.... that's right, the food network. I chuckled at that. Then Havero (great guy) came in a gave me a couple of "I don't care pills"... After a few minutes... you don't care.

The very wonderful Jose came in and got my IV going. I was cooperative but my viens weren't. I told her I was pollo (chicken).

I talked to the Dr.s before surgery. Everything was ready and they weeled me in. Added something to my IV and was asleep REAL quick.

After the operation I felt pretty back for a little while but they game me medication. I was up walking around a little while later.

The entire staff was excellent.

One recommendation. Bring gas-x with you. I didn't and I really wish I did.

I still enjoy a good glass of wine occasionally, and have begun to play golf again. I just KNEW that would never happen again. Life is good once more...I even bought a convertible earlier today....

Best wishes...

Arnold

Arnold, I don't get it. You do something extremely positive for yourself and then you go ahead and start the insanity of golf. I guess you have to replace one crutch with another... LOL.

I'm looking forward to hiking again. And yes, I might dust off the clubs also.

6 Days and counting till poke day.

Glucerna

Good luck....Dr. Ortiz should be nominated for Sainthood...he is a worker of miraculous things!

Arnold

Thanks for the information .... everyone.

I've opted for the Slim Fast Optima. I saw the Glucerna, however I wasn't constrained to it since I don't have Diabetes. The Optima had fewer calories and it was about 2/3 the cost of Glucerna. The taste is good but I'm only had one Rich Chocolate so far. Since I'm less than a week away I'm going to be drinking quite a few of them.

I have no doubt in Dr. Ortiz, or I wouldn't let him poke holes and put foreign objects in me later next week.

Once again, thanks for the info.

NWMarc

You should absolutely conduct extensive reasearch on banding possibilities. You can listen to everyone else's research which may help but the final decision is YOURS. I even considered and was in the early planning stages of going to India. Even with the air fare I would have spent less money. But then I went to the Seattle Band Bash in Feb. I learned so much that day and got to hear 5 doctors. Actually talked to a couple of them myself. The 3 Dr.s from Mexico all seemed to be at the top of their professon. My final decision was to schedule my surgery with Dr. Ortiz for April 28th.

So here are my recommendations:

Research, Research, Research

Go to a "Band Bash" or some other gathering. Most folks you hear from will say Dr. "Fill in the Blank" was excellent.

Don't listen to anyone bad mouth anybody without specific names and reasons. I've seen a U.S. Dr. put down Mexican Dr.s.

You may have to pay for the surgery yourself. Ask yourself how much money your life is worth. As much as possible don't make this a money issue. Make it a "is this the best thing for me" question.

Hello all,

I'm in the mode of trying to drop some lbs before surgery. I like the vanilla FIT365 drinks I make from powder. However, they messed up my order and can't send the chocolate until two days before I leave for TJ. I'm running out of the vanilla real quick.

Does anyone have any good alternatives? I get Gout and I believe soy protein might cause an attack.

Thanks.

who's on troll patrol?

Troll .... you're too nice.

As a guy I notice I am out numbered. I wonder whether the Guys are just too uptight and macho to post or just or am I in the wrong forum. !

I'm pre-op and have been wanting to hear from men who have had their band. Maybe we should have a "Guys Only" running posting.

I have set a surgery date with Dr. Ortiz for April 14th. Is there anyone else that is going to have theirs around the same time with Dr. Ortiz?

I have to say that I am getting so excited and wish I could go sooner but my schedule will not permit.

I'm scheduled for April 28th. Yep, getting excited also. However, I need the time to try to drop some weight before the surgery.

Why no carbonated drinks? I can't see why champagne would be any better or worse than wine.

Just a guess here, but I think it has something to do with the drink goes straight through the banded small part of your stomach to the larger part. There may be a higher chance that gas will build up down there and have a tough time coming up. I would equate "tough time" with pain.

Great response, thank you!!!  I love the analogy of an "affair".  It is so true.  I am still a little worried about Mexico, complications, aftercare.

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Hi Lisa,

Don't know where you live but to bad you didn't come to the Seattle Bash this weekend. There were several hundred (my guess) people there. A few of us were pre-band but the majority were banded and most of them seem to have been banded in Mexico. There were three Dr.s from Mexico there. After the panel discussion I choose Dr. Ortiz. The other two Dr.s seemed great but one is a bit further away (not in TJ). The other seemed great also but I thought Dr. Ortiz was best for me. Before the bash I even considered going to India.

Aftercare was an issue for me also. However, if you look hard you will probably find one fairly close. There happens to be one in the Seattle area that was at the bash that seemed excellent. However, when you look at the cost it's probably almost the same to fly to TJ. I will absolutely get my first fill there and maybe any others also. There is also a company just starting up call Fill Centers (or something like it) they will be doing fills for anyone.

I know this is going to be the BEST thing I have ever done for myself. I'm scheduled for late April and I am very excited.

Good luck in your decision process.