mansaw

You must have read my post wrong. I am in Canada - so for me I have to pay with canadian $ - so I have to write a cheq in US funds - but that costs me a lot more in Canadian funds. I didnt know where you were located - so I was saying if you are in Canada it is more than $7950 to us.

Just wondering how u guys are doing :huh2: I too was banded Dec 22/08!

yah - I wasnt thinking about the exchange rate either - but its stilllllllll wayyyyyyyyy less expensive than getting it here...over $10000 cheaper ..I lucked out and ended up getting it paid for by my hubbys insurance - I wasnt planning that at all and thought I would be paying for it all myself. But his insurance company said if I got a letter from my doctor they would pay. dont forget to include ur plane costs - food costs (for companion) and depending what your pre-op diet is etc. Id do it before the exchange rate gets any worse. ALSO - I know its a lot of money - but seriously, it is so worth it!

yah - being that they take US funds...I it cost me - I think it was $8975ish - I cant remember the exact number...u can go to an online currancy calculator to see what it would cost u today. But - yes it did include three days at the hotel and the clinics bus picks you up from the airport, takes u to the hotel, takes u to the clinic and back to the hotel/airport when needed and that is all incuded in that cost. Make sure u have aftercare arranged as well. I have a fill doctor lined up here who will do Mexican patients free (at a hospital here and I have to have an order from my family doctor). BUT - I loved the OCC so much, and had such a great time and met some great people so I have decided to go back their for my fills. :huh2:

I cant say anything about Dr.Kuri or how much he costs. I know the OCC was something like $7950 - I think they are still offering that price. It cost me more because of the exchange rate - damn shoulda went a few months prior lol The OCC was sooooooo clean! Even if u choose to go to a different doctor still check out the OCC forum - youll learn a lot. :huh2: It is totally worth it to me - I am almost (not quite though) half way to goal. I go for my first fill Feb 7. I definatelly feel restriction....I can eat about 1/4 of what I did before...I am just starting to notice I am getting hungry just a bit sooner - usually about three hours after I eat. Feel free to ask any other questions :glare: But Im sure youll bombard your sister with questions lol - wish I had a sister who went through this before me!! :glare: My opinion - what the heck r u waiting for lol....I wish I would have had this done ten years ago!

I went to Dr.Martinez ( dr.ortiz) at the occ in tijuana, mexico. If you look up dr.ortiz and go to his website they even have their own forum I frequent and learned a lot!!

I told my 9 & 11 year old that I had surgery to do with my stomach. That it was nothing serious, just to help me feel better. Honestly - for me, I dont want them to worry and neither of them have a weight issue and I am always worried about their self image. When they see what I can/cant eat now they ask if thats something I have to do forever. We just go at it in bits. I dont want it to be over whelming.

I was on liquids for 21 days. 1-7 was Clear Liquids only. Got to add drinkable yogurt(saved me) on day 4. Then day 7-21 we get creamy Soups - no chunks. I started solids this monday. I cant eat much though - about 1/2 - 3/4 cup at a time and stay full for about 3-4 hours. I get my first fill on Feb 7th. I decided to go back to Mexico (OCC) to have my fill, because I had fun, met some great people and feel 100% confident in the clinic - so Im making it a little vacation. Will go to the zoo etc in San Diego. The glue came off my incisions all the way as of yesturday. I have been at a bit of a plateau since I started my solids. Im at 162. I try to get in at least 1000 calories - but its pretty hard, because I am never hungry. Getting my Water in has been work too. I hate water and since I cant drink for an hour after I eat, plus if I cant drink for about 1.5 hours before bed or Im up all night (always been this way) :yikes: Just thought Id let u guys know how things were going. Sounds like u other ladies are doing great too!

just curious...I am 5'3 was 185 so bmi of 32.7 last week, weighed myself this morning 181 - I am always +/- 5 lbs or so - so now that I started pre-op diet this mornnig...what if I get to the clinic for my surgery next week and am down 5 or 10 pounds - does that matter? Especially since all I would have to do is eat a meal or two and Im back to 185 hope that makes sense! Im just so scared to fly to Mexico and have them not do it11

yup - this is definately a huge problem for me that I know will take a long time to combate. I try to take a bite - put my utensil down, chew. count to 5 lol - but Ive had too many close calls already.

I know you probably want to hear from those who have been banded longer than I have - but yes...100% I would do it again. I feel much better already. The only thing I would do differently - is exercise a little for awhile before surgery :wink: Id go back to Mexico, Id do everything the same - no questions asked.

I ordered some of that body mint - I wanna see if its any good...thanks for the link :wink:

which doctor are you going to? Yah - I was sooooooo excited too! You will be happy u made this life decision. Its still a lot of work though! So be prepared! Hope everything goes as great for you as it has for me! Have u started your pre-op diet yet? I found that the most difficult - but stuck to it pretty good. I am lower bmi - so I had to do two shakes and a light meal at dinner and I found that hard! Jeesh - Im a wimp!

I am 3.5 weeks post op. We tried at about 2.5 weeks - it hurt too much, Ive been scared to try again. But today I feel great - so maybe its about time to try again :wink: I think just take it easy the first time, base it on how u feel - just like exercise! Have fun!

that is so awesome!!! Excellent NSV!

congratulations! I was banded in Tijuana by Dr.Martinez who works at the OCC with Dr.Ortiz. Very happy with it all. If you have questions feel free to pm me. They have their own forum as well. Good luck! :wink: M

It was two weeks for me. I wouldnt have been able to go back sooner...but everyone is different Id say at least give yourself a week.

um guys - Im three weeks post op and it still hurts to laugh this much - I have tears in my eyes! I cant remember all the times I have been out - but apparantely I always say stupid things. This last time with the band, my friend said the doctor came into the room and asked if I had a drug problem he didnt know about...because when I came out of it I kept telling them all how awesome the drugs were and asking the doctor if I could take some home...he said that was against the law, I told him I wouldnt tell anyone!! OMG - how embarrasing - I am so not like that. Also - apparantly I kept ranting about how hot the two doctors and one male nurse were - they were though (to my defence)...I can only imagine what I said - I probably asked them to come home with me...geez I only remember the other story from my one c-section that I was swearing at the doctor cuz it hurt so much and I told them to just put me out in the first place...and I guess I was a real b*tch (put hey, they tried doing the c-section with me awake at first and the epidural didnt work so who can blame me - it hurt like u wouldnt believe)

I had my first PB too - yup it was horrible. Mine had nothing to do with chewing - simply the type of food I ate...meatpie - I will never have that again booooooooo my mom makes it so yummy - but that feeling - um I never want to experience it again!

Ill have to let u know later on...cuz Ive only been on solids a few days - have lost two pounds in the last two days so far. BUT I am lucky to be able to get in 900 calories - I am working on it. I feel full quickly and it last about 3.5 or so hours. I make myself have some yogurt between to get some more in. Ill try to remember to post again in a few days I wouldnt worry about it too much - though I know its hard... just make sure to follow ur surgeons advise until u get your first fill!!!

Here is the link to make a ticker... Graphical Tickers and Trackers: Weight Loss, Trying To Conceive, Pregnancy... then u just cut and paste the link they give u into your signature on here! Where/Where are you getting your surgery? I could get my fills close to here - but I have choosen to go back to the OCC in Mexico - I met some great people there and use it as a little holiday! It would only cost me about $600 but I pay for my friend to come with me too - cuz we have lots of fun :laugh: I am getting my first fill feb 7 :ohmy: I am excited to be able to lose more! I go to Myan Riveira in June and July so hoping to be close to goal by then - which considering Im almost halfway to it now I think I should make it! Do u have a lot to lose?

:laugh: Im down 16 post op now...well I added a ticker so u can see my total from pre-op to now. The plane ride was no problem. My friend came with me and she took care of any luggage I had. I mostly slept on the plane :ohmy:

I was only banded dec 22. Yes - I can feel mine. It creeps me out too. Its the only spot that still hurts a bit since my surgery. Mine is under my left ribs Cant comment too much more since I am so new to this.

I am in alberta. Through Alberta Health Care and my private health insurance everything was paid for...I just needed a doctors letter...and the letter just said - I recommend for __ to have lapband surgery for medical reasons. Thats it. Just call your health care provider. I didnt think my health insurance would pay any - but I called and they covered anything that alberta health wouldnt cover! I was amazed!