luv2bingo07

Hi all, I am 6'1. weigh about 385. I believe that alot of that weight is alot of swelling from lymphedema in my legs and feet, starting at the waist, but mostly in my legs and feet. Has anyone had this condition that was dramatically changed due to being banded and dropping poundage over a somewhat short period of time? I would love it if it did. I know when I was diagnosed diabetic, alot of my swelling went down, but it is very finicky and went back to normal after I didn't stay with the better eating part, by leaving out sweets and high carbs. Thanks for any replies. Peace, Judy

Just an FYI...Star Jones had gastric bypass. I saw it told on a an entertainment show a couple years ago or so. Of course, she looks great, but it's very sad that she became a diva since she lost so much weight, her personality seriously changed due to the dramatic weight loss.

Wow! VelvetKiss, you are an inspiration for sure to us higher BMI people that want or are looking to be banded. That's amazing that you never had a fill yet. Best wishes and good luck to you after your fill. I so hope that when I am banded, I will drop weight as well as you have without needing a fill too soon. If you don't mind, could I give you my email address and we can keep in touch? Maybe you could help me figure out how to and when to eat? Peace, Judy

I am 6'1, weigh around 385, large frame. My BMI is 50 or so. Been heavy all my life and moreso since about six years ago, starting after my first pituitary surgery, and then hysterectomy. I have lymphedema in my legs, so that is a big part of it I guess.

Hi, I am planning on having my surgery done with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. Heard nothing but great things about him and I also bought his book Lap Band for Life from Amazon.com. It explains everything in there and I know for a fact that all he does is lap bands and have done many surgeries on high BMI patients. My BMI is over 50. You will have to go on a pre-op diet to lose some pounds before your surgery, but from what I have read on his forum lapbandforum.com, it's rough, but worth it if you are serious enough to get banded. Hope this helps somewhat. Good Luck with whatever you do. Judy

Hi, I have been reading the Lap-Band for Life book by Mexican surgeon Dr. Ariel Ortiz and Lap Band means Laparoscopic gastric banding. It is the procedure for the surgery(laparoscopic), and the band used in the surgery placed around the upper part of the stomach(gastric). Hope this helps understand it better. Judy

Well, the Protein Shakes would be a start for sure, but it's the clear liquid diet I am concerned mostly about for before and after. I know I will get weak and shaky and nauseous on that, so was worried about something else that might qualify for the clear liquid part that would keep me going. Thanks all, Judy

ok...I will put my 2 cents in then. From what I have been reading on two different boards including here is if your doctor doesn't want to do a lap band surgery on a higher BMI patient, then that doctor doesn't have enough surgeries or experience with the surgery as most do. I am planning on having my surgery with Dr. Ortiz in MX and he has done high BMI's and low ones as well...all adding up to over 4000. Not to mention, he has trained many US docs on the surgery. Judy

Thanks BB! I am only on one med for my diabetes. Someone told me on the other board also that too much protein could cause kidney failure. BUT...I just got Dr. O's book Lap BAnd for Life in the mail today. OMG! It is a must have for all bandsters whether you have surgery with him or not. SO full of information, diets, phases, care, surgery, and troubleshooting after banding. Awesome reading so far and I just started.

Hi all, I am working on getting my 401k withdrawn for surgery with Dr. Ortiz in TJ, and hoping I can make that life changing appt. for mid-April. One of my biggest concerns is I am diabetic and if I don't eat right or enough, depending on hunger and the right foods, I get very weak and tired. I am worried about getting enough Protein and nourishment to keep me going on the pre-op diet. I don't have a big income to buy all the special meals and supplements to get me through alot of the liquid stages and so on, but am willing to get them when and if necessary. I read alot about protein, protein, protein to keep your body and your stomach running smoothly, but it sounds really complex to me. I may by thinking to hard on this, but would like some advice and suggestions anyway. Thanks so much in advance. Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9846--> <!-- THE POST -->

Hi, I was wondering if anyone who had been banded by Dr. Ortiz from Oregon set up aftercare consult with Dr. Fitzpatrick in Portland? When I got the letter from my doctor for withdrawing my 401k, she recommended I have a consult with her before heading off to TJ to get the surgery. My family is also concerned about aftercare and also to have someone nearby that could help me with any problems that could arise after surgery and also getting fills which I would want to go to TJ for my first like so many of you do. Thanks, Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9824--> <!-- THE POST -->

Hey all, I had an appt. with my doctor to ask for a letter that stated I needed to withdraw my 401k due to medical and financial hardship to be able to have LBS. She typed it up right there and then and I thought she would type it up and send it to me. I was amazed at her wording of the letter. She was so professional and foward about eveything that needed to be said. She is also concerned about me going to Mexico to have this surgery and stressed that I should have a consult with the doctor here that I will be having fills at after surgery. I really would like have my first fill in TJ, but we shall see I guess. She was also concerned about my going alone and I assured her I would not be going alone for sure...LOL Wish me luck so I can get all my money to pay for surgery and can hopefully have it in April. May is out, so if not April, then June. Peace, Judy <!--IBF.ATTACHMENT_9731--> <!-- THE POST -->

He is going to do my surgery for 8,000. Hi Sparkette, I have made my decision a couple months ago to have surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I have researched alot about him and the people that have had their lap band surgery with him. He and his staff sound awesome! Would be a nice vacation for me too. You mentioned their price for surgery is 8,000 now instead of 8,500? Are they running a special right now? I have tried to email Lori to ask about that, but I guess she is on vacation. I am trying to withdraw my 401k to pay for the surgery. The holdup right now is I need my doctor to write up a letter for me stating I need this surgery and that I have a medical financial hardship that is keeping me from any other options to finance it. Unfortunately, my doctor is only in the office wed. thru fri. Thanks and good luck with your decision and journey to get banded. Judy

Oh ok...thank you. How sad and I am very sure she is missed by so many here.

May I intrude to ask what happened to Blossom? I hope it wasn't band related. I thought I remembered see her posts before. Thank you, Judy

That is one thing I am worried about down the road when I get banded. I am diabetic and if I don't eat, I get nauseous and my sugar drops, therefore, get weak, shaky, the whole nine yards. Should you force those protein shakes or water down even when there is no appetite.

They were running a special and my total, not including airfare and anything I bought at the hotel, was $8K. Hi FurEllie, I am in the process of getting the money from my 401k for surgery with Dr. Ortiz. I will only have about $7500 or so after taxes and will have to beg, borrow, or save up the rest for the $8500. But when you said there was a special so recent as last week for $500 less, I was really even more excited! I'm hoping it wasn't a typo...lol If not, then how long is the special for? Congrats on your surgery and I am hoping my journey starts real soon. Peace, Judy

Wow, some really cruel people in this world that put on us their unhappiness in their own lives. Feel bad for all of us having to go through the awful cruelty in our young and some adult lives. Myself, has become pretty much numb when people say things at me or about me and yes even my family. They are unhappy in their lives and decide to lash out at someone they feel aren't suffering. I guess we are supposed to be "jolly" or something like santa...NOT!!! I think one of the things that really got to me for awhile and that I remember the most since it was most recent, was early last year from a doctor other than my reg. doc(she was booked). This doctor, ho I had seen before years earlier, was stick thin since I last saw her. I saw her this time for alot of extra pain in my legs and swelling. I could not believe what came out of her mouth right off the bat! She said, "I think your body is finally starting to kill you." If she was trying to shock me into losing weight, it didn't work. I was rather stunned by that comment. Was of course dwelling on it for a long time. Got my pain resolved, but was really thinking about that comment. Probably why it is still so vivid in my mind. Well, of course, now I am definitely believing that comment and therefore going after having Lap Band done this year! No more freakin' diets for me! Peace, Judy

Thanks so much Kat and big congrats on your weight loss and how it all worked out for you! I really hope that is all I need is the letter, but not totally sure how my doctor would write it up and what to put into it without getting too personal. Take care and keep up the good work! Judy

How did you go about getting your money from your 401k? I was told I need a letter from my doctor stating what it says about medical hardship in my 401k rules and why I need this money for the surgery. I am looking to having surgery with Dr. Ortiz also. THe 401k money is my only hope and I really hope it doesn't cost me my job or I am severely taxed on it. Peace, Judy

Thanks so much eveyone for your replies. I am learning alot of what to possibly expect after surgery. When some of you mentioned back pain, well, that really bothers me because I have a bad back and when most surgeons do the surgery with your legs apart so they can get between them, I hope they don't overstretch because I don't want to be in so much pain from my back and hips cuz they are bad also with arthritis. I have had some big surgeries too and I wake up from them usually not wanting the oxygen mask on me. I have severe sleep apnea so I hope they take that into consideration as well. Speaking of which, would the pressure from the CPAP mask cause more gas pains?? Hmmm. Also, I read about a few of you having a hiatal hernia and had it repaired at the same time. Will the Mexico docs do that for you with no extra charge. I am planning on going to Dr. Ortiz in TJ. Thanks again everyone and keep them coming! ) Peace, Judy

Hi all, I hope someone gets this post because it is rather old. I am looking into withdrawing most of what I have in my 401k for surgery in MX with Dr. Ortiz. I have completely ran out of options for financing(denied twice even with a co-signer), and my credit is so bad that every time I turn around, I am being garnished by someone. What I am wondering about is, if I can take that money out of my 401k account without penalty by just saying I will be responsible with paying the taxes next year. I was told by my employer that I would have a financial hardship to do this, but if it is taxed for penalties, then I am stuck again by coming up short for having the surgery. I am to get a letter from my doctor stating my medical financial hardship and then give it to my employer to review with the board and make a decision about getting that money. I hope and pray it will work out. Peace, Judy

Hi Audrey, I hope you can help me with this. I just found out that I can withdraw the money I need from my 401(k). It has to be a medical financial hardship and I need a detailed letter from my doctor for it. I don't have the full $8500 for surgery with Dr. Ortiz, but most of it...I will save up the rest with airfare, etc. How did you go about getting yours? Did your doctor have to print up a letter for your company and so on? I will not have surgery with anyone else. Dr. Ortiz is my #1 choice and that's it. Thanks so much for any advice and suggestions you can give. Peace, Judy PS...how are you doing with your weight and I think I read that you had your first fill recently?

Hi all, I was wondering what everyone felt like right after they woke up from surgery. I have had these strange visions and feelings like something inside me is strangling my esophagus from where the band was placed on my upper stomach. Weird huh? I hope that is not the way it feels. I know I may feel some pain from the incisions, but really don't want to have the other feeling. Gulp! Thanks for any replies. Peace, Judy

Well, I found out that my company's insurance is through Regence BC/BS. They are the ones that have the exclusion for any kind of WLS. So, it cannot be changed at all. It is their crappy policy. So, now back to square one....still fighting and looking to get financed for surgery in Mexico. Peace, Judy