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! ..

Yeah Michelle!!!!!! I am so glad you are feeling better!

That's such good news, Michelle! Here's hoping those spasms are gone for good!!!!

What a great place to learn about things that can happen, or have happened and we didn't know what it was or is. This is my first message but I met you in Mexico at Dr Marteniz office when we got fills. I did not know that I should go on liquids for 24 hours after a bp episode. What else did I miss? Does bping alot cause erosion? What else can it cause?

Hopeful, (Brenda)

Dr Ortiz, September 24, 2004

307lb. now 264lb

Michelle - I am glad to hear you are doing better. Are you still able to eat the solids?

Thank from Me also Michelle,

In the past I would resume eating after a PB episode not anymore I actually had one last night completly my fault I ate some cheese and Salami here at work won't do that again. Anyway after the episode I let my esophagus rest and did liquids all day I can say I feel alot better today and will take it easy tonight for dinner.

Michelle, we can all learn a lot from your experience and through your example of speaking up and taking care of your band (and yourself). Thanks for posting your story.

Had a PB last night..took all my employees out for Christmas Party Dinner..had a few cocktails and then dinner came I split Prime rib with my husband, now mind you I had all ready had a few bites of appetizers ( crab cakes ) & salad everything was going down fine, Then when the main course arrived I took one bite ( small bite) of my prime rib and that was it! It got stuck I was too busy talking while I was chewing and a little buzzed from the cocktails so I know it was my fault totally, it was not the size of the bite that prime rib was the most tenderest I have ever had , I did not get the watery mouth this time but I got the white foamy stuff, no slime, strangest thing, never had the foamy stuff before...this bite was not going no where so after about 15 minutes of suffering and having that look of a deer in headlights I excused myself and went to the ladies room, not in there for 10 seconds and up came that bite, not painful or nothing..felt great after that BUT after this whole espohagitis I learned my lesson. I have been on liquids all day long! Feeling little spasms through out the day and burping alot which is something I hardly ever do since being banded other then that I feel great.