La_madam

Any of you watching the news, there was an earthquake in Tj/ Rosarito 5.2 magnitude, I thought I felt something at around 3:30 ish so I put on the news and there it was all over the news....

Hi Bailey, Glad your home and everything went well. I could onlyfind the adult strength liquid tylenol at Wal-Mart. Take it easy and do not over do it. My gas pains kicked in 3 days post op and boy did the kick in! 3 boxes of Gas X and 12 days later I was still blowin' em all out of the room! My boys and hubby loved it though to see their mommy fart like a pro! Michelle

I agree with Alexandra...you are an amazing woman Lisa.. You still can make us laugh with all you are going through. My hubby just vaccums and fold the clothes...loved the impression ofLopez the best You had me rolling on that one girlfriend! I have my fingers, eyes and toes crossed hoping everything goes smooth for you and Penni too! Michelle

Lisa..whatever works best for you is finewith me..Please do not feel like you even have to stop by I was jsut giving you an invitation is all, Heck you may not even feel like stopping on your way home with all you have been through. I will just have to make sure I come see you when I'm in Vegas in August. Thanks to Donali for helping me with my picture.. Michelle

Hey Lisa...I'm sorry I must of misunderstood you this morning . I thought you said your appointment with Dr Kuri was between 10-11 so I just figured since you were leaving Vegas @ 3am you would be coming through Mission Viejo at around 7am with plenty of time to get to TJ by 10-11. From my front door to the door of Dr Ortiz's office and parking on the Us Side and walking over and getting a taxi just 1 hour and a half on a Monday morning I left at 8 am and arrived in his office at 9:50, my appointment was at 10am Either way, stopping by the restaraunt on your way in or way home is great..I would enjoy meeting you if it doesnt work out I'm coming to Vegas for a week on August 1st we can hook up then! I'm just so glad you are going down to get everything taken care of...I hope everything goes well for you while in Mexico!! Michelle

Lisa you crack me up..I'm over here rolling with laughter! Love the impression of Lopez Michelle

Absolutely right Delarla!!! this could of happened anywhere, and I'm sure Dr Lopez is not the only doctor who has problems with his ports. Like you said , I'm sure Dr Ortiz has had this problem (as well as many others) Glad to hear Dr Lopez finally contacted you and that you will be seen on Saturday, I'm sure it is a huge relief for you. My offer still stands if you need a place to saty on Friday night on your way through to Mexico. You will be in my thoughts Michelle 4.6.04 Dr. Ortiz 265/238/160ish

I agree with Donali.. Dr Lopez's office needs a wake up call. Having some one from the U.S as a patient liasion is a great idea. I know Dr. Ortiz's office has one and when I cant get through to Mexico directly, I call Robin and she Patches me through to Dr Ortiz or Dr Martinez right away on a three way call. We pay damn good money for our surgeries and should no way be treated like this!!! It is an outrage to pay the money you did to Dr Lopez and to not get the proper aftercare! Hang in there Lisa...there is light at the end of the tunnel ...if he does not call you back you call Ortiz or Kuri, I know both of them will be willing to help you. Michelle

Hi Pen I experienced the same pain in the sternum area, it seemed to go away between the 2-3 wek post op time. It was definately gas and some swelling from surgery. I felt like I had to burp all the time but I couldn't becasue it was so painful. There is light at the end of the tunnel..it does go away! Michelle

I'm sorry to hear about your infection, but you must have some relief in your mind now that you know what is going on withyour port incision. Antibiotics will kick in soon, hope you are up and around soon! Michelle

I had my first fill Monday and my doctor told me 3 days of liquids. I get to eat tomorrow! :cool: You girls are lucky!

Hi Jacqui I live in southern california and i had my surgery in tiajuana Mexico with a great docotr. the follow up care is easy since i'm so close. i had blue cross and there was no way they would approve the lap band so i did the self pay. self pay is alot cheaper in mexico, there are several awesome doctors in mexico, Dr. Ortiz, dr. kuri, Dr. Lopez. all of these doctors are great! I know that my doctor is a proctor for inamed the company who makes the band. self paying in the states is almost 3 times the price of mexico. several of us women and men on this board and other boards have gone to mexico and have had great success with our bands. its pretty cheap to fly from sacramento to mexico for follow up care also, there are many women andmen who live in other states and still do their follow up care in mexico. my surgery was 8995.00 and I pay 100.00 for fills. the cheapest i could find in california was 17,000 plus cost of fills. Michelle

Bailey I was the same way as Delarla, everytime I did the Atkins before the band I would wind up having my period for a whole month once my body went itto ketosis and I was at the doctors office. Now that I'm banded I have not had any bread or Pasta, I did have a tortilla and it did not go down so well. I get my carbs now through healthy foods like veggies and fruits. I'm afraid to try bread pasta or rice, I have a dreaded fear of Pbing. The tortilla was a bad enough experience and I was not even filled yet when I ate that! I got my first fill yesterday so I am really afraid to do the bread, rice and pasta. The diet my doctor gave me after banding is very similar to the Atkins, my doctor told me to eat proeteins first, then veggies and then fruit, if I had room I could do carbs. SO far I ahve not missed bread, rice or pasta, it is so weird to not have that craving for those things.... Michelle

well dont beat yourself up too much, you are pregnant so you have a legitimate excuse, just know that you are one of the lucky ones becasue after your pregnancy you have an awesome tool with the band to get you right back on track versus a woman who has no band. You will get that weight off in no time, you have done it once before ...you'll be just fine once the baby is born, go and get a nice fill and get back on the band wagon! :cool: Michelle

Hi Delarla I had the same pain it is like a side ache from running to hard or fast. It is normal according to Dr Ortiz. It has been 9 weeks for me post op and I still have it occassionaly. It was at it's worst 5 days post op up until a month post op. Don't worry your normal!

I have not heard this before either. I have had my fair share of sunflower seeds since I was banded 9 weeks ago. I have also eaten strawberries. No problems so far . Like Donali said it might just be your nutritionalist's personal preference. Mine never mentioned anything likethat nor is it in my post op instructions. Hope this helps Michelle 4.6.04 265/238.5/160ish Dr Ortiz

I lost 19 pounds in the first 3 weeks on liquids. It has been 9 weeks since surgery for me and I have lost a total of 27.5 pounds 8.5 of that was in the last 6 weeks on food. I'm going for my first fill tomorrow. It slowed down for me onceI started the soft food stage. But I'm so happy with my weight loss in the 9 weeks. No other diet have I ever been so successful!!! I shoot for 1-3 pounds a week, that is my goal. some weeks I met it and some weeks I did not... Good Luck Michelle 4.6.04 265/238.5/160ish Dr Ortiz

Delarla, my first period was scheduled to arrive 4 days after my surgery and it did not happen. The following month it was late by 5 days. But my PMS was strange . I got bloated and my band became very tight I actually lost 3 pounds during that time since all I could do was liquids and yogurt I was so tight . This month is the same thing, the past week I have had this tightness and again I have lost 2 pounds but have not actually started yet but I know it's on it's way. I have the classis symptoms. My Dr. (ortiz) told me this was all normal, rapid weight loss and surgery can delay a womans menstrual cycle, he told me it could take up to 3 months to regulate. Don't worry, I think this is the norm for most of us new bandsters. Hope this helps Michelle 4.6.04 265/238.5/160ish

Chantal If you'd like I could call here for you from California if she does not respond to your emails. Let me know if I can help you

I had my surgery on April 6th and I am having my first fill Monday June 7th at 10:00 that will be almost 9 weeks post op. Each week that goes by I get hungrier and hungrier and I have not lost in 2 weeks so I tihnk it is time Michelle

Hi Chantal Did you try calling the toll free number from their site 1-888-777-4202 ask to speak to Susan Maria Leach she is the owner of the company. I have ordered from all over the internet and never had a problem yet, so maybe its just a matter of callingto confirm they got your order, that is what I have doen in the past. If they did not send you a confirmation number maybe it did not go through. Hope this helps Michelle

I live in Southern California but had my surgery in TJ Mexico My doctor does his under fluoro with a barium swallow. You might want to call one of the Mexican doctors they will usually help anyone regardless if you had your surgery with them or not, my doctor charges 100.00 . His name is Dr Ortiz, here is the number to call to inquire about fill info. 619-270-1126 ask for Veronica she is very sweet and helpful. I just scheduled my first fill for Monday June7th, I'm driving down to the border and taking a taxi to the clinic. There are many other wonderful doctors in Mexico who can help. Dr Lopez, Dr Kuri just to name a couple of others. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

In my written post op instructions from my nutritionalist it clearly stated in big bold capitalized letters NO CARBONATION EVER AGAIN!! I never questioned why, I just figured these were the instructions from my Dr. and my nutritionalist and since I was a self pay and paying alot of money .I'm going to listen to their directions. They are the professionals with more knowledge about the banb then I have.. However I have heard all kinds of different theories as to why not to drink sodas ie: band erosion, reflux, pouch stretching so if any of this is true , having a soda is not worth it to me. Just My opinion Good Luck to you Michelle

I hae the adjustable gastric band made my Inmed (lap Band) My surgeon was trained by Inmed and is a proctor who teaches other doctors how to preform this surgery. I felt very confident with my choice of band and surgoen. It has been 8 weeks today and I have had no problems with my band and have lost 25 pounds. I have yet to have a fill but will be having my first fill next week or the week after. Michelle 4.6.04 265/240/160ish Dr Ortiz

Hi My insurance company denied me too, the told me I had no co morbitites that go along with being obese. I weighed 265 at my surgery. So instead of fighting and appealing my insurance company which can take months even up to a year. I decided to go to Mexico and self pay. My surgeon in Mexico is trained by Inmed he does 4-5 lap bands a day and he is one of the top Lap Band surgeons in the country, he also offers financing throught Capital One. Has your brother ever considered going to Mexico and self paying? To me it was so worth it, then trying to fight my insurance company. I have been banded for 8 weeks today and I have lost 25 pounds. I know for a fact if I was stil ltrying to get coverage from my insurance company I would still be fighthing them today and I would not have lost 25 pounds. Just my thoughts and something for your brother to think about. My brother is 38 years old and weighs over 350 pounds. He is going to be having the surgery and he will be a self pay also. He lives with my husband, kids and I and he has been following my post op and is very excited for me as well as himself. Michelle