Hi Everyone I am back from my appointment with Dr. Ortiz, First let me thank all of you for your support and thoughts that were with me all this morning.

I arrived at Ortiz's office at 9:30 as I was waiting for Ortiz to show up, Dr Martinez called the office to make sure I arrived OK.

Dr. Ortiz arrived at 9:45 and I was his only appointment today he made a special trip just to see me. Martinez is out of town so no fills scheduled ( he is the fill master they only do fills on Mondays & Saturdays surgery the rest of the week) Ortiz took me into the fluoro room where I explained all that was going on. I told him about my ALMOST PB on a bite of bread last Monday night. I explained how I had all the symptoms of a PB, the slime, watery mouth and golf ball feeling but the bite passed through and there was NO PB, so I thought since I did not actually PB I did not have to do 24hrs of liquids like he wants his patients to do after a PB..I was wrong, he told me even though I did not actually PB my esophogus went through the motions of a PB for a long 15 minutes..He put me under fluoro, had me drink the barium and I was so pleased to hear that my band has not slipped, no erosion..I just have Esophagitis due to me not doing liquids right after that episode and eating normal until Wednesday when I could not take the discomfort any longer..so my esophagus was inflammed and irritated. He then took me into his office where he spent a good 40 minutes talking with me , he prescribed me a medication to regulate my esophagus, to make it work slower if it is working too fast or to work faster if it is working to slow..I will start taking it today for 2 weeks 2x's a day. I love that Dr. , he did not even charge me a penny for his services and got me my meds at a discounted price of 14.00

He told me some very interesting things..He told me that Inamed both US & Mexico Inamed is really frowning on Dr.'s who are using patient coordinators and making money off of them and are trying to regulate this since it is illegal in the US..Inamed is discussing and weighing options of supplying bands to any Mexican Dr. who is using patient coordinators. I asked if he used a patient coordinator and he told me NO even though people think he does, what he does is if a patient comes in referred by another patient his gives the new patient a 500$ discount and the patient who referred him a free fill( 100$ savings) He also today told me he has opend up Centers all over the US, there is one in Cancun, Texas and New York..these are for patients who have their surgerys done in Mexico but can not or do not want to travel back to TJ for aftercare..the Dr's at these centers are Dr's he has personally trained through Inamed and will be working at these centers for aftercare.for example Dr. Grossbard who is actually a patient of Ortiz's but also is a Lap Band surgeon in Florida will be working in the Cancun office..this is also great for others who did not use Ortiz for their original surgery but need aftercare in their areas or at least closer to their areas without having to fly back to TJ. We also spoke about his book..the book needed one last go over by Ortiz which is why the delay, the books are all being shipped this week Mon, Tues & Wed so for all of you who ordered they are coming. I asked Dr. Ortiz if I was filled too tight and why I have this problem, he told me NO, if anything you have less restriction then most but since I'm losing every week and my weight loss is now at 70lbs he sees no need for a fill or an unfill..for all of you who PB..please do the 24 hrs of liquids, do NOT make the same mistake I did, this is the most irritating and uncomfortable thing I have experienced in a long time..I have been miserable for over a week now but how ironic it was that this morning on my way to TJ I was feeling better then I have in a week..My mind is at ease and I'm on the healing phase, doing liquids and soft foods for a couple of days but its OK with me knowing my band is in good shape! ..

Where are you, Michelle? I was just looking for you wondering how you were feeling, and now I see that you're still not doing well. I hope it's something simple like a reaction to the medicine. Maybe they can give you something milder?

And about my first (and only) fill: I was laying on the table having my port removed, and all sudden I thought I was going to faint (got all light headed for one second.) I said, "what the heck was THAT?" And Dr. Kuri replied, "oh, that's just me giving you a fill, baby." Strange sensation but not painful. Then he sat me up and had me drink Water till I burped, so he gave me a little more, then he took my port away. I'm grounded from my port.

Oh Michelle... I'm so sorry that you are still having problems... please let us know what happens with your doctors appointment as we are all going to be worrying about you. (((hugs)))

Darcy

Ok Im back from my PCP

Interesting...Remember in my post earlier I said it felt like it was more painful and I wondered if it was the medicine..Well IT WAS!! The medicine was making my spasms worse and making me have them more frequent. I took the medicine with me and had him look at it and then once he told me to stop taking it I threw it right in the trash can. Everytime I took the medicine I noticed an increase in spasms and pain.He told me exactly what Ortiz told me that it is a regulator for the esophagus but by what I was describing to him that it was over regulatiing mine... So he told me to up my prevacid to 2x's a day even though I have no reflux or heartburn he said it will still help heal my esophagus..if I am not feeling better by Monday he will schedule an endoscopy, but he really believes if I stop this medication I will have relief in a couple of days... I told him I had the fluoro and barium on Monday and all was good with my band but he said just to be safe and to have a very accurate account of my band. I'm hopeful I will start feeling better soon..Thanks for allyour well wishes..this soft food crap and liquids is for the birds!

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you Michelle!

Gee, Michelle, I sure feel for you. I do hope you are feeling better soon.

I am also having another esophagus episode. Hoping this one doesn't weeks like the last one. I guess mine just gets so irritated and takes forever to heal. And I'm on Nexium all the time! Mine actually got better when I buckled down -- I hate it -- and stayed on only liquids. I'm trying to eat soft things now, but may have to go the total liquid route.

Hope your Prevacid takes care of it in the next couple days. Hang in there!

Michelle, how awful. I'm glad you figured out what the problem was, and that hopefully you're on the road to recovery.

I wonder, do they ever use smooth muscle relaxants for esophageal spasms? A couple of years ago, out of the blue, I started having horrible spasms, couldn't swallow my own saliva (hey, sounds like a band experience, but I'm not banded yet so I think it was just stress). I was prescribed a smooth muscle relaxant specific for esophageal spasms and got IMMEDIATE relief. I took it for a week and have never had a recurrence.

Do they ever prescribe such a thing for bandsters? Are esophageal spasms fairly common??

Michelle, sending you (((hugs))) that you start feeling better very, very soon!

hi, michelle

so, glad you were able to know that it was the medicien. and you'll maybe feeling better soon, it must have been so stressful, just to go thur that pain, will you be sore,

hope you recoup fast, best of health.

margie

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margie

4/5/04

295/258/140gol

Michelle and Miss Becky Lee... I sure hope you both feel better soon! (((hugs)))

Sorry to hear you both have been having a rough time. Hope you are feeling better real soon.

Thanks Darcy. I was actually able to eat a normal dinner last night -- roast beef. Mmmmmmm. So it wasn't so bad, just a couple days of liquids.

How are you doing today, Michelle? Hope things are improving. I get so annoyed when I have trouble eating, not to mention the pain. Hope you are back to normal very soon.

I'm still in some discomfort but I have not taken that medication since I threw it in the trash..it is usually around 1-2 in the afternoon when I noticed a big difference in my spasms so we will see how today goes without taking that medication. I'm praying I feel just a "little" better. I'm missing eating real food..even though the Dr. wants me on a soft diet it is so stragne that after 10 days I'm not hungrier then I am..my daily intake consists of 1 Cup in Hand soup..1 atkins protein drink, and a small bowl of watered down cream of wheat. & juice, thats about it..I have no appetite for liquids, softs or solids! Thanks for asking Becky

Ok Guys..It had to be the medicine that was making me worse..this afternoon.. I feel great! I went out and got our Christmas tree all by myself loaded it and unloaded it from the van..I actually want to eat, I have energy and an appetite! Oh my gosh I can not tell you how good I feel right now..I still have a teeeny tiny discomfort from time to time but nothing like yesterday or the days prior to today. Thank You Lord!

Glad to hear you're feeling better, Michelle!

I just eat a small piece of thin steak and a half of a small baked potato..That was the best damn tasting food I have ever eaten

I havent eaten solids in 11 days

It feels soooo good to eat. I do not even care if I don't lose or gain this week! I'm eatin!!!

Thanks Leatha