cathmo

Hi freeradical, Yes, I had it done in Monterrey, Mexico by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. My fills will be done by Meggin Blex in Coffeyville, KS. My follow up care as far as diet goes is online with Dr. Rod's staff. Are you self-pay? I had heard of Dr. Wellborn in LR, but I just couldn't afford to pay the amount that he was asking. Are you at the Fayetteville campus? If you are self-pay, did you try to get QualChoice to pay for it? I thought about trying, but when I called QualChoice, they told me that I would have to have many good reasons why they should pay for my procedure.... then go through the psych and medical evals, etc. I wanted to get it done this summer. I didn't want to wait 4 to 6 months to see if they would approve me. I'm so glad that I didn't wait. My surgeon is wonderful. I can call him anytime on his cell phone if I have any problems. I've lost about 16 lbs so far, but most of that was the 1st week on Clear liquids. When I started eating solid foods, I started losing again after having stalled for about 2 weeks following the 1st 12 1/2 lbs. I will be a slow loser as I am hypothyroid. I just expect it. I go for my first fill on July 12. If you are in Fayetteville, we should either meet sometime or talk on the phone. Cathy

Hi kato, Congrats on your weightloss! I was banded by Dr. Rod as well, on May 17. Isn't he great?! :cool:) As for eating mushy foods, if they are truly mushy, you won't have a problem with it going through the band. I put chicken or tuna and salad dressing in a blender (Magic Bullet) so that it would have no chunks. I had no PBing with that. Just be sure to eat slowly and chew, chew, chew anything that you eat to make sure it's mush (if it isn't mush before you start eating it) before you swallow. Keep up the good work. Cathy

Hi noccobella, Which band did you get? Just curious. Thanks, Cathy

Hi Marci, I did the same thing last week. I was so hungry, and ate some roasted chicken, but didn't chew it well enough and took bites that were too big. I pb'd once, and that was enough to teach me! haha Cathy

Hi DrewsLou, I am having the same problem as you. I was banded on May 17. I lost about 12 1/2 lbs during the week that I was on Clear liquids, and then when I started eating mushies, I gained back about 3 lbs, and since then I have been going up and down about 2 or 3 lbs. No loss. I've had thoughts that maybe this won't work for me since my metabolism is so slow. So I'm hoping that I will start losing after I get a fill. I'm glad that you are doing better....... that gives me hope! Cathy

Hi Amy, Since everyone else is tooting their surgeon's horn, I will do the same. I was just banded on May 17, 2006 by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey. His website says that he has done over 3,500 surgeries, but I know that it's more by now. I can't say enough good things about this man. If you want an experienced surgeon AND a very nice person, you can't go wrong with Dr. R! :girl_hug: My surgery took about 20 minutes and I was released the next morning about 11 am. I did my research and I actually also checked into Dr. Joya, Dr. Ortiz, Dr. Rumbaut and Dr. Sanchez and decided on Dr. Rodriguez. There are so many choices of doctors, and so many are experienced. You just have to find the pros and cons of each and decide which one would be the best for you (price, location, experience, etc.) Good luck with your decision! Cathy

I would post my info but I was just banded on May 17, 2006 by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. I don't think that I could offer much "data". :girl_hug: Cathy

Hi Tammy, I was banded the day after you were, May 17. Glad you are with us! :confused: Cathy

Hi 3loves, I bought the Magic Bullet about 3 weeks before my surgery and I love it!! It was the best thing to get to make all the mushy stuff that you want. I just made some chicken salad yesterday and used the long blades, blended in short spurts, then shook the cup, and did that until I got the consistency that i wanted. It's very easy to make it too mushy, so be careful not to blend too much. I also make smoothies with it in the blender attachment. You will love your Bullet! :confused: Cathy

Hi kato, We stayed at the Quinta Real the first night and I don't remember that they had free internet there, but I wasn't looking for it either. I don't think they had a computer which you could use in the hotel. This was one of the reasons we switched to the Hilton the day after my surgery. The Hilton has 2 computers in the hotel which you can use for free. I believe they have free internet connection in the rooms as well. The Quinta charges you for everything and the Hilton has a lot of amenities. You will have to ask Gaby about the internet connection at the Quinta, I'm just not sure. Good luck and have a safe trip! Cathy

Hi Heth, Just checking to see how you are doing. Cathy

Hi Mandy, You will do fine! And "just barely" is still in May! You're still one of us!! Good luck on Wednesday. I'll be thinking of you. Cathy

Hi marz88, I went to Mexico because 1. it would have taken an act of Congress to get my insurance company to pay for this type of surgery, and 2. since I was self-pay, the cost was half as much as what I would have had to pay in the states, ($16,000 in the states, $8000 in Mexico) and 3. the surgeon I went to has so much more experience than any US surgeon. Those were the main reasons I went to Dr. A Rodriguez in Mexico. Cathy

Hi Anne, I was banded on May 17th by Dr. Arturo! It sounds like you're doing great! Congrats on your weight loss! I lost 12 1/2 lbs, but can't do any exercise yet because I'm still battling a chest cough. Cathy

Hi Kato! I was banded on May 17 by Dr. R! Say hi to him for me! Just know that you are in experienced hands. That's the way I looked at it, and it was a piece of cake. :grouphug: You will do fine! You're in good hands with Dr. Arturo. Cathy

I'd be proud to be your friend! :grouphug: Cathy

Congratulations, Jim, on being an official Bandster! :clap2: Fill us in on your experience when you get back. Have a safe trip home. Cathy :cake:

I'm in northwest Arkansas.... Fayetteville. :cake: Cathy

Your friend sounds like a friend of mine. My friend was totally against me having this surgery, even though over two years ago, she had the RNY surgery herself. She has gained some of her weight back, and now she's mad at me for getting banded! I saw her on Tuesday, and she started describing her lunch to me (while I'm on a liquid diet!!) How mean is that? I told her that I didn't want to hear about her lunch as I am dealing with only being on a liquid diet. She told me, "I had to deal with that when I had my surgery!". I just thought it was absolutely insensitive. I've decided that if she does that again or talks negatively about me having this surgery, I'm going to tell her that she is being insensitive and I can't talk to her anymore if she is going to act like this. I was very supportive of her when she went through her surgery, and I really don't appreciate her attitude. You should say something to your friend, like "why can't you be happy for the success that I've had so far, do you know how hard it has been for me to get this much weight off so far?" Something like that..... and then tell her if she can't be supportive of you, then you will have no choice but to stay away from her.

Congratulations, Carol and Dianne and all other May banders ! :clap2: Happy healing! :cake: Cathy

I'm in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Hi Letty, I'm doing better than I was, but I'm still coughing. I still have a lot of congestion. The coughing is making my portal site more sore. I guess that wound is more sore for most people though. I'll be glad to be over this cough so I can start feeling well, because it's wearing me out. What are you eating now? I actually had some scrambled eggs this morning! The first solid food I've had. Of course they were made with a lot of water, but still! I was so happy to EAT something. LOL How are you doing? Cathy

Hi Letty! I got banded by Dr. R 5 days after you, on May 17. Dr. R is wonderful, isn't he? Cathy

Hey Angelator! I got banded on May 17th, as well! Our banding birthdays are the same! I got mine done in Monterrey by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. Where did you have yours done? I've lost about 11 lbs also. My wounds have only itched a little. My biggest problem right now is that I contracted a chest and head cold on Sunday. I'm having deep coughs, and everytime I cough I have to put a pillow over my stomach. As for the BMs, yes, I agree......it does cause the wounds to hurt some. Just try not to push so much. Be easy on yourself. Are you still having problems with that while being on a liquid diet? I'm not having ANY consipation problems at all now! LOL Keep us posted! I look forward to keeping in contact with you. Cathy

Hi again, Tricia, Forgot to say, my surgery only took 20 minutes! I was so impressed with Dr. R! Cathy