2thebeach

So today I was cleaning out my closet in preparation to move. Normally this is a dismal time where I reflect on all the money wasted for clothes that never fit, tags still attached that just took up space in my closet. Also a very depressing since I never lost "enough" weight to actually wear them. Ever notice how the smaller the size, the cuter things get?? ughhh

Today was different....

Knowing I had lost pre-op, I actually put on those cute jeans in a size I haven't worn in years. I DIDN'T have to lay on the bed to button. I didn't have to suck it all in to get them to zip. All the tags were still attached and to my amazement they WEREN'T stretch jeans.. they were the normal kind!! AND.. it's my tom... AND I'm still a bit swollen from surgery on Monday (8-20) ... WOW!!! I'm still in shock ... Ive gotta go do some more "shopping" in my closet

Here's to us my fellow bandsters.. I hope everyone gets to experience this awesome feeling!!!

Amber

hi Amberlam! i know exactly how you feel! i was banded 8/17/07 and words cannot describe how perfectly EVERYHING went! the day after my surgery i walked for 3 1/2 hours just shopping and enjoying the sites of TJ! and as i walk more and eat less i notice changes already and they are great! i know i have a long road and lots of work ahead of me but, this time TRULY is different! thanks to this wonderful band i dont have to worry about the inevitable re-gaining that has been the story of all my weight loss attempts for the last 20 years! words truly cannot describe how wonderfully i was treated at OCC.

the whole experience has been so great that now my mom has decided to get banded by dr ortiz and the OCC! and my aunt is scheduling her surgery there now, too. i dont want to sound like a broken record i just cannot imagine having it done anywhere else now! i am already looking into my closet for smaller things to wear! im looking forward to my fills!

dallas

I'm thinking about you all (Dallas, Anne, Sally, Mimi, Cherai)! Feeling great here, despite moving yesterday. It's gotten easier each day (Pain-wise). I'm so excited that I get to have protein drinks tomorrow. Are any of you hungry? I'm just starving.

~Christie

hi christie! im doing well but am hungry sometimes. i am afraid that i am going to hurt my band by drinking too much at a time. i dont feel full until its too late. i have cheated and eaten food - a tiny piece of chicken meat that i chewed about a million times- i did not feel any pain or anything after it so i guess it was okay. i really like the danimals drinkable yogurt!

RELAX is the best advise. It's a piece of cake.. the hard part is the next year dealing with all the compliments!!!!! Not gettigng big headed and reassuring your spouse you aint leavin him/ her.

i read your post and laughed out loud! i leave thursday to be banded friday (so i'm pre op diet starving) and when you said piece of cake all i could think of was how hungry i am! it will be worth it tho! Dallas

Hi Dallas,

tomorrow I will be flying out. I am so nervous and I cheated a little too. It has been very hard, but I am hanging in there. Dallas I will be looking for you ok.

Minnie : )

hi minnie, i am almost frantic! i am about to start my period and becuase of that it looks like i have not lost that much weight .

i am terrified that they wont do my surgery ( . i am starving and walking but i live in texas and its 104 here today so i can only walk so much. oh, im sooo worried now. i will look for you too. dallas

#-o I HATE THIS PRE-OP DIET!!!!!! SEEMS LIKE I'M MORE OBSESSED THAN EVER ABOUT FOOD!!!!!!!!! My surgery is tomorrow, and I'm STARVING!!!!!!!!!! I have a headache!! And I'm in a bad mood!!!

Anyone else out there find the pre-op diet unbearable!!?? That "band" had better work!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hate to sound negative - but i agree with you 100%. i'm very, very hungry and i get headaches every day ( and it really is affecting my mood) i feel lightheaded and weak and nauseated. it got so bad this past weekend that i ate a peice of baked chicken and some green beans- and i felt bettter in about 10 minutes. my surgery is in a few days and im afraid that i have cheated too much .. help?.... (

Dallas,

our time is drawing near. we will be banded in about a week.

Minnie : )

i am so excited minnie! how are you doing on your preop diet? i cheated but i cheated by eating some baked fish and asparagus. and i confess that i have done this more than once ... but i am losing weight and not eating any fat so i hope it will be okay. ... ps. also ate scrambled egg 2 times... but i read a psot on here that recommended sugar free popsicles and they have really helped me behave. are you nervous?

dallas

Hey everyone,

Just checking to see if anyone is coming in on 12th and having surgery on the 13th. I see everyone is around my dates

How is the pre op diet going? i am really struggling ... im am soooo hungry. any tips? i am terrified that i will

not lose enough weight before my surgery date of 8/17/07 ....

I also financed. But I will put in a claim to Tri-care Prime after my procedure and pray. My surgery date is 8/16/07.

Minnie : )

i have united healthcare - good luck to both of us

Hi 2 the beach. I'll probably see you because my surgery is the 16th of August. Have you started the pre-op diet yet?

hi dawn. my real name is dallas and i look forward to this so much !!!!! i have started the pre-op diet but i am TERRIFIED that i will not lose as much as im supposed to! i only started the pre-op diet yesterday - im sure i will get used to it, i will do anything i can to make everything go as smoothly as possible. i weigh 274 and am supposed to lose 15 lbs ? approx, i think. ..its been so long since i have felt 'real' hunger pains' ....lol.. im feeling them now...

have you started the pre-op diet yet? i talked to dr miranda and she said to do the protien shake/protien shake/ lean cuisine plan 2 weeks prior to my surgery.

it looks like there are 5 of us lucky ladies getting our bands on the 8/17/07 weekend- unless i counted wrong

wee- hee ! i am traveling alone but i dont mind i have LOTS of support waiting for me back at home

and i wont feel alone with all of you down there too

Thanks so much for the reply. I have a friend that is flying in with me, but I hope I get to meet you and speak with you. My friend is not having the surgery she didn't want me to come alone. To tell the truth I was afraid to come alone. My real name is Minnie so look me up while your there. : )

i cant wait to meet everyone thats coming on the 16th -18th weekend my real name is Dallas and i'll look for you

It seems like everyone is going to Mexico I am just at my very first stage which, is the consultation and the pre-surgery exams. Is there a reason everyone is chosing Mexico? I live in New Jersey and they have a Beriatric Center @ Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, NJ. This is where I intend to go. Are there more benefits in chosing Mexico?

wow.. i just read what i wrote and it sounded like the only reason i chose mexico was the price... i admit the price is the reason i looked into mexico, but once i started do a little research i realized that Dr Ortiz and the OCC was the only place

i wanted to go. i could tell by the way they spoke to me and by the questions they asked that my health and well being is their #1 proirity, i was impressed! and the more i read this forum the more at ease i feel

with my decision and am convinced that i will return to the OCC for all my fills. also i was impressed by how fast everything was moving ahead for me. i had a confirmed surgery date within a few days! this meant sooooo much to me

especially since i had already wasted almost a year trying to meet the insurance companies demands. so now its 20 days away and i am so happy! good luck to you as we all get healthy together!

I am preparing to have this done. Can you please tell me how you felt after the surgey and if I would be able to go back to an office job after a couple of days?

i have an office job too and i will fly out thursday, have surgery in friday, spend saturday walking around and resting, fly back sunday adn go back to work on monday... everyone that i have talked to says i'll feel well enough to return to work in 2 or 3 days as long as i walk alot to help with the gas pains.. dallas

I can relate to the baby thing. I was about 240 when I got pregnant with my first baby (20 mos. old) and 250 when I got pregnant with my second (10 mos. old). I don't want to see another New Year start without having made some progress. I sure will miss them when I come for surgery on the 17th.

hi christieL.. congratulations on your surgery date! my surgery is on the 17th too its gonna be great >

Got banded last Wednesday, July 18. I have lost 8 pounds since then, I had lost about 5-7 before that, my pants I wore today are already looking like clown pants, I'm going to have to retire them. I am somewhat hungry sometimes but it's not that bad. I went to Walmart tonight and got some Nouriche yogurt smoothies, I have some chicken broth a couple of times a day, usually one small glass of Slimfast per day. I still have my coffee with Coffeemate in the morning because, well , I just have to start my day with coffee. I did buy some C-Light drink mix at the grocery store not too far from the Lucerna Hotel, there are about a million flavors and they are good. Still a little sore at one of my incision sites, in fact I need to call tomorrow because it is really sore if I push on it with my fingers, just want to make sure that is normal. This is great guys, I just can't wait till people start noticing my weight loss !!! Pam

congratulations pam!!!!!!! in going to be banded 8/17/07 and i cant wait! did you feel like walking around the next day? i am literally counting the days!!!!

> hello fellow banders... i have alot of stuff to say today.... first of all i have to admit that i had never thought about the benefit of NOT having the yoyo weight loss thing when i posted...this is a huge benefit. i started at 215 and was growing larger after being clean off meth for about a year.... i had my lapband in jan. and now its been alittle over 7 months and i weigh 170... i never went up and down... just have been losing slowly... this is a good thing... i went from a size 18 to now a size 11 purple... which means i can get them on but i cant breathe... #-o my biggest complaint is... well that i expected too much.... a miracle or some kind of rapid response to a life time of bad habits.... it was my own "head" thing... now that i have assessed the "WHOLE" situation.... i have to say "its been a benefit".... a good thing.... i feel better,,,, i can exersize.. my arms lay down beside my body. my boobs are bigger than my stomach.... i am the first one done at meals... i dont think about food all the time..... i save alot of money on the fast food i dont buy..... =D> and i am finially feeling like i look like i am losing weight.... it takes awhile.... it isnt over night...... it still requires more than the surgery... but its workable.... i feel like i might be in my sweet spot now.... i hope someone gets something out of this.... i just wanted to be fair and tell ya all its a good thing...........TODAY.....

DEBI

debi... i want to thank you for your honesty... I am to be banded on august 17th and i am 'ra-ra' about the surgery, but your post has brought me a much needed reality check. thank you, thank you, thank you. i am still soooooooo excited about the surgery, but you have reminded me that it is not a miracle and that i will need to make good food choices, and exercise and follow up with my fills and most of all ( and maybe the hardest of all) i will need to be patient! you have a great sense of humor and i look forward to your future posts! i am still counting the days and its gonna be great, but i will have plenty of work to do. you have saved yourself from some thing very bad already and will save yourself from unhealty food habits too. best of luck and please know that your words meant alot to me..... dallas

I was banded 1/15/07by Dr. Ortiz. Surgery was a breeze. Recovery, fine except for gas pain in left shoulder for about 10 days. It passed. After liquid phase, no restriction. I understand this is not unusual. I guess if all depends on the size of your stomach and how much fat you have in the area where the band is attached. Got a 1.8cc fill March 1st. My highest weight was 218 and now I'm 199. Most of the weight I have lost has been hard earned from triditional dieting rather than something I can really attribute to the band.

I'm assuming I need another fill, but I just got back from 3 weeks in Paris, (It was great!) and didn't think it was a good idea to get a fill before leaving the country. Instead I did a short program at Lindora that I had already paid for, complete with appetite surpressants, so I can't contribute that 12 pounds to the band. Now I'm back and ready to continue the pursuit of weight lose via my band. I am going for a fill, probably next week ... live in LA so it's easy to go to TJ. This I hope will be a boost, but I have already learned that losing via this surgery is easier for some than others.

Why is this? Perhaps those of us who don't weigh as much to begin with lose more slowly because of that. But I'm wondering if it might also be the kind of eaters we are. If I had gained weight because I eat massive amounts of chicken, bread, salad, and sticky rice I would have lost twice what I have and wouldn't need another fill. I choke up on these thing after a few bites, but what about tortilla chips, popcorn, pie, fruit, potatoes, etc. I understand about eating around the band. No matter what the fill I will always be able to eat ice cream and melt chocolate in my mouth. I understand that it's my resposibility to avoid this, and that much I think I can mange... at least most of the time, but are you guys that are doing so well with you weight lose sticking only to chicken, bread, etc. or can I hope with the additional fill most of these other foods will be self-limiting as well?

did you have your fill in tj?

Email Obesitylaw.com...they helped me with my insurance after I was denied twice by the insurance........most cases they are free because they are sponsored by the makers of lap band......they may be able to help you overturn the denial...and you'll be reinbursed the cost......I was banded and 7/9 and so far so good down 10 pounds.

Good Luck

Mona

i read your post and am DEFINATLEY going to follow up with them and hopefully get reimbursed. but even if i dont it will be worth it. thanks sooooo much for the info and CONGRATS on your wieght loss!

dallas

can anyone tell me the general cost of this procedure? i doubt i will be covered by insurance

my insurance states it is a covered service but i have tried for 1 year to get them to approve it, my doctors have written letters, and i more than meet their criteria, but every time i give them what they asknfor, they deny it and send another list of their requirements. i even hired an attorney to help me with all the appeals. after the 3rd denial letter and l got fed up and found dr ortiz online.. the cost is $8500 and i had to finance some of it, but i am sooo happy! no more waiting! i contacted

dr ortiz and within 1 week i had a surgery date ( august 17th ) and had finalized all the financial arrangements. i cant wait! i know it will be the best 'investment' i have ever made! good luck to you

hi minnie.. im flying in 8/16/07 for surg on 8/17/07.. i am soooooo excited! i'll be alone but thats okay!

are you coming alone? dallas

thanks for the info.. i will file with my insurance after i get back.. it is a covered benefit under my plan but i have tried for 1 year to get them to approve it... after the 3rd denial from them, i decided to pay for it myself ( financed ) but at least im getting it .... its sure is worth a try! congrats my surgery date 8/17/07

My friend Joanna and I are both traveling from Oregon to get our bands put on August 6. Good luck to all of my fellow August patients! Are you all as excited as I am? I hope so!

Nancy

PS: My BF is really worried, despite all my attempts to reassure him. Anyone else have a nervous spouse/partner?

yes.. i understand! my bf is very worried also, even though i he has seen all the same pics and read the same info i have.

he is getting better over time but i think its because i am soooo excited and looking forward to it so much. he does not say too much because he knows how this procedure will make me feel better and make me healthier- he has been there thru my tears and frustration regarding my year long battle with the insurance company to pay for this, (after the 3rd denial from them, i decided to pay for it myself-the only way i could get this done was in mexico. ) but i can tell it bothers him alot.

mostly because its in mexico.. i show him things from this message board often and he is seeing more and more that

we are all 'regular' people and he can see how many have had it done and they are all okay, even better than ok.

good luck to you --its gonna be great my surg date is 8/17/07

hi.. my surgery is on august 17th.. and im flying solo, too. im coming from the dallas texas area.

my surgery will be 8/17/07 ( wee - hee!) how soon and how often should i expect

fills? i think the first one is 6 to 8 weeks after banding- but what after that?

just wondering -- i plan on getting all my fills in TJ -- based on what i've read

here, they are the best and have the best results. i just want to try to

plan ahead financially

my surgery date is august 17th and im soooo excited! i work in an office and sit most of the day, how soon will i be able to

go back to work? my boss is very supportive and understanding and will give me all the time i need, i was just curious.

i welcome any tips from recent banders ps i love this message board! it has been very helpful and has given me

ideas about how to spend my 'recovery' day--- Revolucion Ave shopping

cant wait!!!!! 31 days away! weee-heeeeeeeee