mtnman428

I'm being banded next week, so I can't help you on the other stuff, but I'd say get the fill (as long as you need it). If you already have some restriction now, then maybe 1 fill will take you a long way. As far as the money, I hear ya. My health coverage was going to cover my surgery, but then I lost my job too. Now I'm a self-pay. I found a local Dr. that will do my fills for $165 (w/out Fluoro). So, as much as that does suck, it is not too huge of an amount from your savings. Good luck!

Hi! I'm also being banded on the 24th and am nervous and excited too! Where/who are you having it done? I'm going to Mexico. Good Luck!

Sorry I can't help-I go in next week, but great question! I'd like to know that too.

Hey everyone! I'm being banded in Mexico, (Dr. Ortiz) 1 week from today. I have been doing even more research again, and have been reading up on the newer Lap Band AP. I emailed my Dr.'s office to see if that is the one that I will be getting, but they responded that they use the regular Lap Band. She (receptionist/consultant) also said that the Lap Band AP is just a replacement version (with a few modifications) of the Lap Band VG, and that it's just a little tactic that Allergan uses to make that 1 sound better. From what I have read about the Lap Band VS the AP, I thought that the AP sounded better (it can be opened if need be without replacing, no tight feeling in the morning, etc...) So my question is, what do you all think and have inside you? Does anyone know if 1 is actually better than the other? Please tell me some of your experiences with having the AP (and those who don't). I do know that if my Dr.s office does not carry it, then they are not going to promote it, so that's why I'm asking all of you (and because you're all so helpful). Thanks!

Hi all, I'm new and have just scheduled my band for August 15th with Dr Ortiz in TJ. Fortunately, most of the research was already done for me since my wife got banded by Dr Otiz in February. She is coming down with me in august for a fill and to check out the plastic surgeon. She's already down 60 lbs and into the home stretch.

I'm new too. I am being banded on august 15th by Dr Ortiz in TJ I'm from okotoks, alberta, canada

I'm a chartered accountant in Calgary, Canada. I've sat at a desk for 20 years and its finally caught up to me. I am getting lap band on August 15th.

Just testing to see if my ticker works! I thought I did it right, but not sure. I can't figure out my Mac!

I would try to speak to the Dr. and nurse about it too! If it get to the point that you have to, then tell them that you feel that they were stalling your fills on purpose just to get money out of you now. If all else fails (because it may be hard to win that case, even if you are right), then you should definitely tell them that you will not be going back to them for a fill. Then find another Dr. or Fill Center in your area that will do your fills for you, and probably for cheaper. I'm self pay too. I'm going to Mexico, but I found a good Dr. in my home state, RI, that will do my fills for $165. Every state is diferent I'm sure, but just look around. Good Luck!

Oh you did, OK then I should be good then too because I'm flying Southwest!

Thanks girls! I'm being banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. My sports bra now is way too tight already, I'll have to buy a new 1.

Hello, I'm being banded next week in Mexico, so I have to start thinking about packing. I'm just wondering about right after surgery, and the incisions being sore. Is an underwire bra going to be too difficult to wear afterwards? What about pants? What did you all wear the few days following surgery? I have some loose enough (twill) pants, but they do have a button and zipper. Will that get in the way? Should I just plan on some kind of baggy sweatpants the whole time, and a non-underwire bra? Also, am I going to be able to pick up my luggage in the airport?? Or will I have to have my friend tote mine and hers? Any tips on what to bring with me? As of now, I have gas-X strips and a heating pad. That's about it. Thanks all!

Hi I am currently on the pre-op Protein shake diet as well for my 7/24 surgery. I haven't tried to many options, but the 1 that I did buy is yummy! It is Muscle Milk LIGHT in the milk chocolate flavor. They make about 6 different flavors. I just ordered chocolate Peanut Butter too, but it hasn't arrived yet. Each flavor has 25g of protein per serving and 195 calories. I mix mine in a blender with ice, 1/2 cup of skim milk, and about 7-8oz of Water. I think having it thicker and blended helps my mind to think that I'm fuller, lol. So far I haven't really been hungry (knock on wood) with it. I can have 2 shakes a day and 1 lean cuisine meal. Oh and I bought the 1st 1 at Vitamin world on sale for $25 for a 1.65LB tub. The new 1, I ordered from Vitacost.com for $26 because the sale was over at VW. Good Luck!

Yeah try to call around...what could it hurt. I'm going to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. It is $7950 and includes the stay for 3 days at Lucerna hotel. I did lots of research, and it came down to him or Dr. Rumbaut. I decided on Ortiz for a few small reasons, like money and location, etc... They are both highly qualified though.

Hi Bitten, I had called Carolyn at OCC about a month before I scheduled my appointment and I spoke to her for about an hour asking her a million questions (she probably wanted to strangle me, lol!). So I asked her about the pre-op tests and also to explain the whole trip to me from start to end. She said that the 1st day that I fly in will be my pre-op bloodwork as long as I arrive at the SD airport before 12PM. If I were to arrive after 12 then my bloodwork would be on the morning of the surgery, then after it came back OK, I could be taken into surgery. Maybe yours will be on the same day. You should probably just give Carolyn or Lori a quick call (or email) to clarify. As for my pre-op diet, there were 3 different options in the paperwork to choose from. Depending on your BMI you will have to lose the amount required. My BMI was 46, so I have to lose 12 LBS by then. If it is 50 or above you are supposed to lose 20LBS. I am on the diet option of 2 protein shakes (Muscle Milk Light) a day, and 1 Lean Cuisine for dinner, then green salad, cukes and celery if you are still hungry, and a metamucil capsule to fill you up (with fiber). Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Actually I live in small RI, and thought that there were no fill centers near me. My Dr.'s office in Mexico told me that there is a great fill center in Long Island-if I want to drive to NY. She also told me that there is 1 in Boston, MA, but they get some complaints on that 1. You can go to Fillcentersusa.com to find the fill center closest to you by zip code or state. You can also call around to your local Lap Band surgeons and see if they will fill you. That is what I ended up doing and it is cheaper then using Fill Centers USA. Everyone was telling me that it would be difficult to find a Dr. willing to fill me if I got my surgery done in Mexico, but I called one of the best RI surgeons and his office told me that he would do my fills (even if I go to MX). I'm being banded 7/24/08. I hope this helps you! Good luck.

My Protein shake is pretty yummy, maybe you'll like it (Penny). It is called Muscle Milk Light. It is a whey Protein powder that you can mix with either Water or milk. I mix mine with 1/2 cup of milk and 1 cup of water in the blender with ice. I have the chocolate milk flavor and I just ordered the Peanut Butter chocolate flavor online (cheapest at vitacost.com)(got 1 in store at Vitamin World). They come in like 6 different flavors. I think that post-op I have 1 week of Clear liquids maybe, then full liquids (AliNSanDiego).

There really is no easy answer, but unfortunately it must all get done! I feel some of the best options would be to either break up the walks into 10-12 minutes at a time or take the baby in a carriage. Other than that, you can buy or rent workout DVDs that can be just as or more beneficial than walking. Also, I don't know how tight money is for you right now, but you can get a treadmill to walk at home while your child plays along side of you/watches TV. Depending on your budget, you get one at Walmart for as low as $129, or get a better quality one for more (elsewhere or at Walmart). As long as it gets the job done. They even have the ones that the bottom folds up to keep it out of the way. I hope you find a solution!

I just ordered some. Thanks alot! I hope they're good.

Tad, For the most part my family has been quite supportive, but nervous for me at the same time, especially my younger brother-he does not want me to have this surgery at all, but now understands my decision. They were all very nervous about my decision to be banded in Mexico, but I feel that I have thoroughly checked out Dr. Ortiz and I am confident in my choice. Now they have come around too. Some of my friends are a different story! I guess that is how you can determine your real friends. I only told a handful of friends. The one that is coming with me is supportive and even checked out my Dr. too to be sure. One of my other friends is the total opposite. She ridicules my decision, and has even told some other people after I asked her not to. I really wish I had not told her!!! How about your friends and fam?

I'm going on my 4th day of the pre-op diet, and it's not really all that bad-yet! Although, my Dr. told me that I can do the diet option of 2 protein shakes per day, then a low-cal dinner (like Lean Cuisine), so maybe that is why it's not so bad. Plus I snack on celery and cucumbers if I get hungry. If I am not losing 1LB. per day then the nutritionist wants me to switch to 3 shake per day instead of a meal. So far so good...the scale says I'm down about 4LBs. Fingers crossed!

Hey Jenn! I have a quick question for ya; how did you find out that you were allergic to Splenda?? Did the Dr. just conclude that, or did they do some sort of test? I used to use Equal and was fine with it, then my sister kept pushing me to use Splenda instead, so I switched a few months ago. It could just be a coincidence, but now I am always bloated and swollen, although that may be from my weight gain too. What do you think? Thanks.

Woohoo great job! Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing!

Hey, I'm being banded by Dr. Ortiz on 7/24! I'll be in for my pre-op blood-work on 7/23. For those of you that went to Dr. Ortiz already; did he check your Gall Bladder before or during surgery (do you know)?? I'm curious because I have a family history of bad gall bladders and my mother passed 6 years ago from Gall Bladder Cancer (at 53), so that part definitely scares me a bit. I'd like to just have it taken out if it's a problem. Thanks, and Good Luck to us all!

Thanks for letting us know how you feel after surgery Josh. Have a speedy recovery! And good luck to all July bandsters.