88KEYZ

Congrats on your surgery date! You will not regret it. Mine was 4/19 and I am doing very well. Main thing to remember is walk - walk - walk -walk....as soon as you can and don't stop. Our hospital said 15 min. per hour. That gets rid of the gas used to air up your tummy for the surgery. Follow the diets and doctors orders to the word, don't risk your own cravings as your band needs to settle properly and not slip or move. It is wonderful and you will lose the weight!!!! Keep us posted on your progress.

My doctor and my father's doctors have all told us the pre-op liquid diet is for 2 reasons. #1 - to shrink your liver as it is a delicate organ and has to be moved during the surgery to get to your stomach. #2 - to start shrinking your stomach and in advance prepare you physically and mentally for the diet of post-op.

This Saturday May 3 will be two weeks since I was banded. I have really been feeling great, losing weight very easily and keeping liquids down with no problem. Today I had severe left shoulder pain, :wub: which has not happened after the first 4 days or so. I ended up taking a cup of coffee, adding frozen yogurt, protein powder and ice, mixing it up in the blender and drinking about 4 ounces of it, it totally helped me to pass the gas and go to the restroom. :thumbup: Is this normal? Has anyone else had this much gas at 2 weeks past surgery day? My stomach is sore at the port area as well. Is this normal? Other than that I truly feel great! I am happy to have had this surgery and very happy for changing my life. :thumbup:

I was approved by doctors in the USA, but not by insurance. Also, I was approved by the doctors in Mexico as a definate candidate for lap-band. I will use Fill Centers USA for my fills, they are located in different areas around the country.

I was banded 4/19 and my hospital staff let me know that the gas is escaping due to blowing up the stomach with CO2. It actually escapes through your skin as well, you will feel oily. Gas products do not work on this, walking is the only thing that truly works. Mine is shoulder pain, some are in the mid-chest area. Hang in there it will get less daily. Six days later, I still have soreness, gas pain, but less than the beginning!

I am very tired today as I returned home last night........On April 19th (Sat.) I flew to San Diego, a driver picked me up and whisked me away to Hospital Angeles in Tijuana! Upon my arrival I immediately had blood drawn, x-ray completed, then taken to my private room which was very nice, then they did my EKG, blood pressure, etc. Soon there after Dr. Corvala came in to meet me and was just wonderful with me. I truly felt at ease. Shortly later the anestheseologist came in and we went over my history one more time, then within an hour I was taken down to surgery. Whirlwind....Yes it was! They are very good, very cautious and very caring! I would do it again. I am sore, having shoulder pain each time I need to burp or have excess gas, but once I do so, it goes away. The hospital staff were constantly checking on me, plus the nurses as well. My Mother was with me and my Sister-n-law. On Monday, they dismissed me and a driver took us to San Diego but instead of flying home we opted to stay 2 more days to enjoy the city. I am so happy we did, as I was too sore to fly home at that point. We rented a car and I was great riding around and it was so much easier to walk there and get stronger with new things to see! Oh the beaches, cliffs, landscapes, everything there is just beautiful! My eyes were so full looking in every direction. Then on Thursday 4/24 - we flew home. A great flight we had too. We were given medical papers, x-rays, and a wallet card to carry that would tell any authorities we were surgical patients and we were allowed to bring small lunch coolers on the plane with our liquids we needed for our special diet. It all worked out perfectly with no issues. Now that I am home, I am so happy I went through with it, I am truly going to be very cautious with all instructions given to me and make a healthier me! :thumbup:

I am very tired today as I returned home last night....:w00t:....On April 19th (Sat.) I flew to San Diego, a driver picked me up and whisked me away to Hospital Angeles in Tijuana! Upon my arrival I immediately had blood drawn, x-ray completed, then taken to my private room which was very nice, then they did my EKG, blood pressure, etc. Soon there after Dr. Corvala came in to meet me and was just wonderful with me. I truly felt at ease. Shortly later the anestheseologist came in and we went over my history one more time, then within an hour I was taken down to surgery. Whirlwind....Yes it was! They are very good, very cautious and very caring! I would do it again. I am sore, having shoulder pain each time I need to burp or have excess gas, but once I do so, it goes away. The hospital staff were constantly checking on me, plus the nurses as well. My Mother was with me and my Sister-n-law. On Monday, they dismissed me and a driver took us to San Diego but instead of flying home we opted to stay 2 more days to enjoy the city. I am so happy we did, as I was too sore to fly home at that point. We rented a car and I was great riding around and it was so much easier to walk there and get stronger with new things to see! Oh the beaches, cliffs, landscapes, everything there is just beautiful! My eyes were so full looking in every direction. Then on Thursday 4/24 - we flew home. A great flight we had too. We were given medical papers, x-rays, and a wallet card to carry that would tell any authorities we were surgical patients and we were allowed to bring small lunch coolers on the plane with our liquids we needed for our special diet. It all worked out perfectly with no issues. Now that I am home, I am so happy I went through with it, I am truly going to be very cautious with all instructions given to me and make a healthier me!

I am from Panama City Beach, now living in the Atlanta area, my band was done on 4/19. My family are being very supportive and helpful. I do have other family members also being banded, which is great. Just follow the doctors orders! Never stray from that. PLEASE check the wellness Center at Gulf Coast Community Hospital for support, they usually have a lot of programs. ** Emory in Atlanta performs this surgery and will be the most helpful of any place I found. Personally I had to go to Mexico due to insurance not covering me, but Emory was still helpful to me as I attended a seminar and learned so much before going through this.

I want to know everything about the Doc and your stay, etc. I will be there having mine by him on Saturday the 19th!!!! Please tell me everything.

I do know Hospital Angeles in Tijuana is accredited; My surgeon is Dr. Corvala and his bio is very thorough, extensive and brilliant! This hospital does 100 lap-bands per month and has done a little over 2500 total as it was built in 2005.

Congrats! I know the feeling of excitement to begin anew! BCBS would not pay for me, so I'm having mine 4/19 in Mexico. I feel very good about the facility and surgeon - as you did I have done a ton of research. Good luck and keep posting as you proceed.

Mine is a 7 day liquid - but basically it is low carbs (40 - 50 per day), no sugars, high protein; so with that said, I can have a hard boiled egg, mozerella cheese (0 carb - 0 sugar) and lean steak or skinless chicken breast to ease any craving of chewing or taste of meats; Today is day 3 - I have dropped 6 lbs so far and doing good. My surgery will be this Saturday the 19th in Mexico.

What was the cost for Dr. Corvala at Hospital Angeles? I have read he is very good.

I'm using the Atkins drinks, per my doctors recommendation. I like them in a blender with ice to thicken them and creates a larger drink.

My BC/BS would not cover me at all...the policy states they pay for 2 nutrition classes per year and nothing else toward weight loss. Therefore, next Saturday the 19th, I'm fly to Tijuana, Mexico and surgery is set for that afternoon after my pre-tests. :sneaky: I am excited, but right now on the liver shrinking diet of 40 - 50 carbs (max per day) and high protein, calories do not matter. So far - so good!

I am a newcomer! My surgery is set up for April 19. I am studying all info, diets, etc. Anxious, yet very excited. The pre-diet will be okay, but my biggest worry is flying out very early the morning of my surgery and being in the air 4 and a half hours, then driving to Tijuana from San Diego straight to the hospital, testing then surgery all on an empty stomach, not even ice chips. That is the hardest thought I have! Anyone else go through that?

I'm a newcomer and learning as much as I can absorb! My lapband surgery date is set for April 19th and happily joining me to have the same surgery the same day is my sister-n-law! :thumbup: WE can really support each other and I am looking forward to that relationship with her. My Dad is scheduled for his on May 28th. :thumbup: He is staying in Atlanta for his with insurance paying, but we girls are flying to Mexico for an adventure! :scared2: I will begin the pre-diet on the 12th, and praying for a flight that is easy on an empty stomach, we will fly out on the morning of the surgery and go straight to the hospital for the testing and procedure. Prayers are all I need and God will bless us both! :redface: Let me know what I might expect if you have been through this stage. :wink:

April 1--Bunky1965, April 2--MissLady April 3--GiGiRN, ebowling, alicia99 April 4--magic 1127, ColoradoChick April 5-- April 6-- April 7--davisd April 8--Carol422, CinniMae08, carol4784 April 9--Natasha, bft33, lizalee April 10-Turler, , cadencemarch April 11-Lynne (countingthedays), tatt2, LisaB411 April 12- April 13- April 14- DaNieLLe (Dshea8285) April 15-Chilly April 16-nurse7263, Bea1128 April 17-Johnst027 April 18-Astrid(scarlettbegonia),JennyLynn, April 19 - 88KEYZ - Debbie in Mexico April 20 April 21 April 22 - Pat (Tricia1105), April 23 April 24-Savedbygrace April 25-bling April 26 April 27 April 28 April 29 April 30

I am scheduled on April 19 at Hospital Angeles in Tijuana. I went through World Med Assist. Google both and you will get the information. They are extremely thorough and helpful.

There is a doctor in Roswell that will do this. I am trying to get his name and phone at this time. A friend of ours uses him after his surgery in Mexico and I will do the same as my own surgery is 4/19 in Mexico.

A process of changes is truly the way to describe this unexpected turn of events. I started checking out the lap-band procedure about 2 months ago for my father. He joined me in our home to attend a seminar held in Atlanta and we learned a lot about the surgery. My insurance denied me the opportunity for this surgery, :biggrin: but my fathers approved him. :crying: He is scheduled in May for his at Emory in Atlanta. After basically giving up the idea for myself a funny thing happened in a visit with my cousin. We found 4 people we knew that had the surgery in Mexico. Upon researching more, I am happy to say, I was approved today to fly out on April 19th to California and proceed to Tijuana for the procedure! :wink2: My mother will join me for support and my sister-n-law will join me as she also was approved! This is truly a family affair and we all are very excited at the opportunity given to us to change our lives! So with prayers needed, I'm ready to proceed to Hospital Angeles! This is my first trip to leave the USA - any border - ever! :smile:

A process of changes is truly the way to describe this unexpected turn of events. I started checking out the lap-band procedure about 2 months ago for my father. He joined me in our home to attend a seminar held in Atlanta and we learned a lot about the surgery. My insurance denied me the opportunity for this surgery, :thumbs_up: but my fathers approved him. :thumbup: He is scheduled in May for his at Emory in Atlanta. After basically giving up the idea for myself a funny thing happened in a visit with my cousin. We found 4 people we knew that had the surgery in Mexico. Upon researching more, I am happy to say, I was approved today to fly out on April 19th to California and proceed to Tijuana for the procedure! My mother will join me for support and my sister-n-law will join me as she also was approved! This is truly a family affair and we all are very excited at the opportunity given to us to change our lives! So with prayers needed, I'm ready to proceed to Hospital Angeles! This is my first trip to leave the USA - any border - ever!