FurEllie

Sending good thoughts your way. Life has a way of showing you what's really important some times. I was all wrapped in my "career" when my son died. I had spent a lot of time working and not much with family and friends. It really made me stand back and take a look at things. As a result I've cut WAY back on working (I'm self employed), have renewed stale friendships and spend as much time as I can with friends and family. Get yourself better - fat and healthy is better than skinny and sick ANY DAY :girl_hug:

My response on another thread: I just got back from Mexico and Dr. Ortiz. I swear, it's like a private clinic I'm sure the "rich folk" use when they get their plastic surgery :girl_hug: Very clean, very efficient, each room is private with a loveseat, a few chairs, a nice waterfall type fixture, flat screen TV with satellite, etc. There were 4 of us but it looks like they can do up to 5. There were 2 nurses there the whole time (24 hours) so everything was instantaneous. They were running a special and my total, not including airfare and anything I bought at the hotel, was $8K. Everyone thought I was nuts for going "to a 3rd world country", lol, but Dr. Ortiz has written a book about Lapband surgery and trained many US doctors. When he wrote the book he had performed 4000. I'm sure it's more than that now. I'm headed back there for my first fill. Due to time/money restraints, I might not go back if I need more, but after seeing how they run things there, I feel I'll get a "better" one there than in the US! BTW, I had a hiatal hernia too - which I didn't know about. Dr. Ortiz fixed it and didn't charge another penny :girl_hug: Oh, and they will give you phone numbers for doctors in your area who fill patients with "Mexican bands". Also here: http://www.fillcentersusa.com/program.html <!-- / message --><!-- sig --> __________________

I'm 5' so just an inch taller and had no problems. I think they put the "big" band in me too.

Ah, OK. I haven't really had any so I guess that's why I haven't searched for solutions. Don't get me wrong, I have the gas, lol. Accompanied by a lovely diarrhea (TMI), but no pain or even feelings of the gas. Sometimes I hear it gurgling :girl_hug:

OK, what's the heating pad for? I have one (old) but haven't used it. What will it make feel better? I had my first CREAMY SOUP this morning. Campbell's Velvety potato, strained. I never thought soup could taste so good :girl_hug:

Is this something where it comes up suddenly? Is it just the food that recently went down or a good "barfing"? Can you descretly do it into your napkin or does your body shake like a vomit? If you have to "leave the table" do you have to time to get somewhere before it comes up? I swear in all the reading, I've missed this info somehow Sliming too - same questions. Thank you!!!

The first time I had the liquid yogurt it was like mentally eating a pie SOOOOO good! And tomorrow is day 7. I am so bad, I have my creamy Soup out and ready to heat.

I have visions of me holding my arms straight up in the air in a restaurant

That's how I've tried to explain it - it's "help" - that's all. I need control. I'm old enough and know myself well enough where I know what I can and can't control w/o help. I am a food addict. Period. Unlike booze and drugs, I can't just completely stop eating. Take an alcoholic and give them just a little bit of booze each and every day and see how they do.

Awesome info - thanks!! :mad:

There was a girl who looked like she had lost quite a bit of weight in the clinic getting her port redone or moved or something when I was there. Mine's on the bottom, far left. I have an incision mark right where the bottom of where my bra goes in the middle, but it's not the port.

I hate to admit that I know nothing about the special except that I got it Try the contact form on their site: http://obesitycontrolcenter.com/index.html They are REALLY good about getting back to you quickly. If you've already had contact with someone, hit them up. Seriously they are the most helpful people around :mad:

I just got back from Mexico and Dr. Ortiz. I swear, it's like a private clinic I'm sure the "rich folk" use when they get their plastic surgery Very clean, very efficient, each room is private with a loveseat, a few chairs, a nice waterfall type fixture, flat screen TV with satellite, etc. There were 4 of us but it looks like they can do up to 5. There were 2 nurses there the whole time (24 hours) so everything was instantaneous. They were running a special and my total, not including airfare and anything I bought at the hotel, was $8K. Everyone thought I was nuts for going "to a 3rd world country", lol, but Dr. Ortiz has written a book about Lapband surgery and trained many US doctors. When he wrote the book he had performed 4000. I'm sure it's more than that now. I'm headed back there for my first fill. Due to time/money restraints, I might not go back if I need more, but after seeing how they run things there, I feel I'll get a "better" one there than in the US! BTW, I had a hiatal hernia too - which I didn't know about. Dr. Ortiz fixed it and didn't charge another penny :mad: Oh, and they will give you phone numbers for doctors in your area who fill patients with "Mexican bands". Also here: http://www.fillcentersusa.com/program.html

Tomorrow I can have cream soup. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas

We didn't get a "mushie" stage. Days 1-3/7 (meaning days 1 through 3rd or 7th) - clear liquids Starting on day 4-8 add pourable yogurt Starting on 7 add creamy Soups Day 8-10 add Protein shakes Don't go past that for 3 weeks, then eat whatever but chew 30 times and no liquid an hour before, during or an hour after. Also once you start eating everything must be a "meal" - no protein replacement shakes. When you eat, protein first, then veggies, then fruits, then carbs.

Yeah, that's what I was told. And I haven't had ANY juice But like a friend pointed out: Liquid in/Liquid out :mad:

The nutrition doctor told us - Clear liquids until at least day 3, then you could add store bought liquid yoghurt. No creamy Soups until after a week and you have to make sure to strain the "bits" out. Basically they are trying to keep you from PBing so you don't screw the band up while the stomach is healing. She also said patients were having trouble with Jello so they've removed that from the "OK" list for the first 3 weeks.

Done! It was a breeze :woot: 5 incisions, one a little bruised, covered in the superglue. Gas and "the runs" have been frequent friends, but besides that, I feel great. I started on liquid yoghurt last night and that helped with the hungries. I'm already sick of broth and tea The nutrionalist didn't recommend a "mushy stage" so I have serveral servings of baby food and applesauce....I'm sure after 3 weeks I'll be happy to eat them even though I can eat "real food" by then. Also ordered a new scale - mine's a $10 Walmart special that's at least 10 years old and fluctuates a few pounds w/in minutes. I need something more stable so I can keep an eye on things!

I was searching for info on pills and found this. I take quite a lot of medications that don't come in liquid or chewable form. I've been crushing them but that seems to cause more problems than chewing up the darn things. I really don't want to be chewing them up for the rest of my life Some are smaller than an M&M, some larger. I'm not going to even try right now because I was just banded and don't want irritate by throwing up but DID want to get some more experiences so I bumped the thread :woot: Thanks for any info.

Oh good grief. Thank goodness I saw this. I was thinking I accidentally drank some water in MX, lol.

You don't need a passport for land or sea travel until 1/08 http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

I haven't had my operation yet (MONDAY! :eek: ) but SOME doctors put you on a liquid diet before the operation (not all) and you're on a liquid diet for a few weeks afterwards while waiting to heal. Most people are eating "real food" 3-4 weeks post op from what I've read.

Well, if I wasn't worried about them reaching down there and hitting the incision areas whilst they free ball.....lol!

*scratching off bowling ball and exercise tape from packing list* How about a pie? I wonder if they'll let me bring a pie......

Well, I went to Walmart and bought SEVERAL sportbras (thank you Walmart). I could't find any shorts like I wanted - I have some old Lands End shorts that are PERFECT but I've outgrown them and they no longer sell them. Nothing in the women's department. But AHA! The men's department Stretchy shorts and big t-shirts for less than $6 each. Some of the sports bras are like "shelf bras", i.e. not much support. I figured with a big T - no one can really tell. If you see a short fat chick walking around TJ next week looking like she bought her clothes in the men's department of Walmart, that'll be me