La_madam

Braunshweiger or liverwurst with mustard worked mustard for me during the mush stage and has lots of protein..also another thing to help with the sweet tooth is riccotta cheese and peanut butter mixed together, tastes like cheese cake it also has lots of protein..refreid beans and hummus are great sources of mush protein too.

I know the Lucernas has internet access in the lobby...good luck. Hope all goes well with your surgery

I had heard that about Ponce De Leon but not about Lopez but that may explain that when I was in Dr. Ortiz's office on Monday...Very interesting ..

Dr. Lopez does not work for Inamed he was trained by Inamed BIG DIFFERENCE..There are many Dr.'s in TJ who were trained by Inamed but as Teresa stated , the problem with Lopez is he is not reporting these cases of port infections and erosions to Inamed it is the patients who have had problems with him and their bands that have reported them to Don Mills personally. Marie did Lopez stop getting Inamed bands? I agree that every Dr. has there issues and problems good and bad I'm sure Dr. Ortiz ( my Dr.)has had his porblems with patients but the fact remains that we are always ONLY hearing about one Dr. out here on ALL of the boards. And we all know what Dr. that is.. Strange coincidence. We are not triyng to scare you from your choice of surgeon but to inform you of al lthat we have heard and learned and read about over the last 6 months about Lopez..You are the one who has to feel comfortable with your choice of surgeons..and it seems by what we have read, that you are..and that is all that matters. You have researched him and feel good about your decision so I wish you the best of luck to& I hope everything works out great for you

Have a great time Babs..

Don't men know that a womans down fall is chocolate? I just found myself digging a spoon into the Haggen Dass Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream..there must be something in the stars or the moon right now. I havent had chocolate since the week BEFORE halloween...Don't feel bad Alex..I'm right there with you! Tomorrow is a new day...

Oh and I tok a bra with NO underwire since one of the incisions hits the bra line..

I met 2 different people in Dr. Ortiz's office this week. One had her band done in CHile and the other in Argentina..both did not have the Inamed band. One had the Swedish band and the other had the mid-band so neither of then could find a Dr. in the US to fill them which is why they were in TJ seeing Dr. Ortiz. He was able to give them both a fill....

When you get to Mexico you will no longer ask that question, it is not like it was in TJ 20 years ago. I just spent the entire day there on Monday seeing my Dr...its not what you invision I promise you. People say Mexico and everythings the worst..they think dirty , unclean..its nothing like that. You will love the Lucerna, they all speak English, the restaraunt there has the most delicious food and it is very nice! I do not know anything about the hospital...I havent heard of it..I had mine at the Oasis. Good Luck

Ryan...I love the way you write...have I ever told you that? You capture me every time with your words. I'm so happy to hear about the start of your journey especially the way you tell it. Congratulations to you! Rest up my friend, we need you here enlightening us with your words. Greg you are too funny !

Im still waiting TO look like my drivers license picture ..well atleast what the weight says I am

People who have not struggled with their weight all their lives..just don't get it, husbands included. I'm sorry you have to feel like you are dreading to go home. Does he realize the band was designed to be filled to help us in our weight loss? It is part of the whole banding process, fills, unfills etc...Someday maybe he will get it! Until then, you just keep doing what you are doing. You will succeed. This is not a race but a journey...Congrats on your 2 lbs loss. You are doing great! Keep telling yourself that! 54 lbs since June is fantastic...how many other diets or weight loss programs have you tried over the years where you lost 54 lbs in5 months? Let him chew on that for awhile!! Hang in there ~

ALot of us here went to Mexico to have our surgeries due to the high price in the USA. The price difference for me in Mexico was 10,000- 12,000 cheaper then here in California.

I have had 2 fills in 7 months and I am at 2'ccs. 2cc's is alot for your first fill. I have lost 65 lbs and this fill of 2cc's is good for me but I could not imagine being filled to 2cc's with my first fill.

As little as getting .2 removed can make a huge difference. My Dr. would not allow me to be Pbing on water or liquids, after a fill he makes us sit there and drink l;iquids in his office for a good 30 minutes to make sure. If you are filled too tight, waiting until after Dec 8th could be miserable for you and possibly do damage to your band and esophogus, I dont thin k you want that do you? Also being too tight does not always mean you will lose faster or lose more. In my opinion if I was unable to eat more then 1 bite of scrambled egss and feeling pain if I did.. If I was Pbing on liquids...I would go in for an unfill, just a slight one but that is me.

Good News Marsha!

I stayed at the Lucerna for my surgery..both my husband and I were very pleased with it, it is a beautiful hotel. As far as what to bring...pack light, bring a book for thewating around during pre-op tests..take along Gas X and adult strength liquid tylenol, both of those items came in very handy for me. I also packed a little bag of snack for my husband forall the waiting. ..I really do not want to comment on Dr. Lopez, if you have researched him and feel comfortable with him then thats all that matters. Good Luck to you.

SOmetimes not eating enough is the problem..your body goes into starvation mode if you are not eating enough and you will not lose.It will hold onto every morsel of food you put in it. Also you had the period where you were not able to keep down water or any food..so my point is well validated here, now that you are putting food back into your body, it is conserving it since you starved it for that period of time when you were too tight. It will pass once your body adjusts to it..it's probably in shock since the troubles you had earlier. Hang in there~

I tell everyone and anyone who asks.. I want to help as many as possible and get all the info I can about the band out there. I have had 2 customers of mine go and have the surgery becasue of me and also have another customer making the arrangements right now to have it done. My friends keep telling me I need to go to work for Dr. Ortiz and I keep telling them No thanks, its not about making money off people, its about helping them. You done good Nancy

Hi Marlent.. I was banded by Dr. Ortiz also..Congrats on your band and good luck to you..No not everyone gets the same fill..don't worry Dr. Martinez is the master of fills. He will fill you just right from what he sees under the fluoro and with the barium. You're in good hands oh and you are normal to feel hungry during the pre fill stage..we all have been there. Becki..cute post Good for you on the 10lbs and the 16 inches. Keep it up!~

Number 3 !!

It gets easier Zoe..I told my Dr. on Monday that I finally feel like I'm eating to live and not living to eat. I only eat when I am hungry.. and stop when I am satisfied and NOT stuffed....Part of it is for me that eating is almost like a chore since I have to eat so damn slow and chew my food until liquid form..with the tiniest bites. Eating is not as enjoyable to me as it once was...dont get me wrong I still battle the chocolate and have a bite of it every once in awhile but other then that I stay away from the junk food. I want this so badly to be thin that nothing is going to stop me, this is the first time in my life where I feel like I will never put this weight back on. These 66 lbs are gone forever!!!! I'm lovin' my band

Hi Melanie I had the fear of what it would be like after banding ..but I have to honestly say that I am doing great..no emotional eating or head issues. Maybe I did not eat for comfort, I dont know all I know is that this band is working for me with no issues! I wish you the best with your band. It has definately changed my life for the better, my kids are happier, my husband is happier. Ive always said that if I'm not happy how can I make my family happy..With my band and my weight loss..I'm happy so the rest of the family is feeling and seeing the results of it

WHy are you waiting until after Thanksgiving? "major" acid Reflux as you put it, is not good for your band or your esophogus. Usually when a Dr. wants you to go in for an unfill it means NOW! I know there is no way that my doc would let me wait a week. Don't jeopardize your health or your band...if you continue to have the reflux..go in sooner. Please!

Great News Rica! That is something to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving