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Phil McDonald

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  1. I stay there frequently and think it is the best hotel to stay at based on location. I have stayed at the Marriot, which is a nicer property, but far removed from OCC, shopping etc. I also thought the area around the Marriot may not be as safe. The Camino Real has a decent (average) bedding package and is more similar to staying at a Best Western, Quality Inn or Clarion in the U.S. as far as overall condition and appeal. I have also stayed at the Lucerna, which is of similar appeal to the Camino Real. I like the safety and ease of walking across the street to the Plaza Del Rio Mall and shopping or getting my caffeine at Starbucks as well as the few blocks walk to the OCC. The Marriot seemed to have more staff members fluent in English and as a result the staff seems friendlier at the Marriot. However, I do not speak Spanish and seem to manage pretty well at the Camino Real. In fact, that makes it more of an adventure. Having made many trips I began feeling somewhat confident in my ability to navigate with a limited Spanish vocabulary until my last trip with my 9 year old son when I took him to McDonalds and he ended up with a sandwich that was nothing close to what he told me he wanted. He put things in the proper perspective after taking one look at his sandwich he turned to me and said "You don't really know what you are doing down here do you Dad!" Good Luck
  2. Hello, I got my first fill on Nov. 1st, about 7 weks post-op. I had a local doctor do the fill with fluro, but no barium swallow. He was pretty agressive and got me up to 6cc on the first fill. The restriction was just about right. I had a couple problems last week, the restriction was correct, I just needed to chew my food better. Half way through the second week, I feel a bit less restricted, but still enough and I have learned how to eat with the band. I have been eating about 1,500 - 2,000 calories a day since the fill. No significant weight loss yet, but it will happen if I stay at this level of food intake. The only food I have had a problem with is a bite of really tough pot roast. I have been able to eat everything else including bread as long as I chew it to mush. The fill doctor said that I would probably end up with about 8cc eventually, but it is wise to work up to that. Having had a couple problems with food getting stuck last week, I agree that the first fill should be enough to teach me how to eat with the band, once I get that down without any problems, then I will get another fill if I need one. I hope everybody else is having good luck with the VG band, let us know what level of fill you have so we can all compare notes. Take Care Phil
  3. I had my surgery on September 6th and got the VG band. I lost about 10 pounds during the first three weeks of the liquid phase. When I went to the solid phase I did not feel at all like I had a band. I could eat the same as I could prior to surgery. I gained back the 10 pounds from the liquid phase and was back to my surgery weight. I got my first fill on November 1st by a local US doctor. He used Fluro, but without the barium swallow. He was very agressive with the fill. He started with 5 CC and had me sit up and drink some water. I did not feel anything different. He then took it up to 8cc and had me drink some water, I noticed that right away. He then took me back down to 6cc and that is where I stayed. Right away I felt restriction. The next morning I forgot about the fill and after just a couple of bites got something stuck. My first exerience with pbing. I did not chew enough. After that I got with the program and started chewing everything to mush. I had one more pbing episode that same week, this was from eating a bite of tough beef roast. I have been able to eat everything else, including bread with no problem. I did not show any weight loss during this first week after being filled, but was eating less. This second week I got a bit more focused and have been careful with the calorie count. So far I am down about 2 pounds. The restriction is tigher in the morning and loose late at night. I have not been eating hardly any fast food since being banded, but had occasion to dine at Taco Bell at the request of my five year old son. It was interesting to notice that my 130 pound wife was eating more food then her 315 pound husband. Before surgery I would have had a minimum of three items, probably four at Taco Bell. This time I had one item, ate slowly, chewed to mush and was full at the end of the meal. Like everybody, I want to have this weight gone as fast as possible, however having experienced getting something stuck and the benifits of eating correctly with restriction I am more patient today. I can handle the lifestyle change with this level of restriction and while I am not melting away the pounds, I am eating less and eventually the weight will come off.
  4. Hello, Thanks to each of you for posting your similar experience. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who has had this feeling. Is anybody else going back to TJ for a fill, or have you gone back to TJ for a fill? I really want to get my first fill at the clinic, but due to the travel etc.. I will have to wait a few additional weeks. I could get it done locally with x-ray for about the same cost as the travel and fill in TJ, however I would prefer to have it done in TJ. Thanks again for your posts. Phil
  5. Hello, I got the VG band on September 6th. On the liquid stage of the post op diet I did not notice any restriction, but thought on the solid stage I would notice restriction. I have been on the solid stage for a couple of weeks now and I am suprised that I do not notice any restriction. I did not expect much untill I got my first fill, but thought I would notice something. I am finding that I am getting really hungry. Even more so then before the surgery. This sems strange to me, but given the pre op diet and the post op diet I am sure that as I move back to solid foods my body is going through some changes that have nothing to do with the band. I can't wait to get my first fill so that I can start to realize the advantages of the band. I am very glad I got the larger band. I would rather have no restriction during this stage then to have complications or be over restricted. At first I was concerned that my band might have slipped or even come apart, but I have had absolutelty no problems such as feeling sick or anything, so I assume everything is fine and this is just the way it is. I really want to go back to the clinic for my first fill, just so they can take a look and make sure everything is alright. Hopefully I will find a way to fit this in my schedule in the next couple of weeks.
  6. Hi Jennifer, Thanks for posting your experience. I was banded on Sept. 6th and remember reading about your two hour surgery in a different post. I am sorry that you were unable to have the band. I would agree with you that Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez are the ultimate professionals and the clinic is top of the line. My experience was far better then any experience I have had in the US. Good luck with your weight loss, I hope you find something that will work. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
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