PamRN

Penni, I sure wish I lived close enough, I love a good scenic walk with friends. I'm going to look for one closer to home though, and we can compare notes ok?

FYI: 64 oz is 2 quarts (1/2 gal.) 128 oz is one gallon

Anyone know much of Dr. Ponce de Leon's reputation? I've been working with dr. verboonen in mind, but found out today he's out of office until late September. I'm scheduled for surgery September 21, 04 with Dr ponce de leon, (YAY I HAVE A DATE! ) and haven't been able to find much about him in regards to personal posts of experiences. What little I've found so far has been positive, so that's a plus, but like all of you can probably remember being during your pre-banding countdown, I'm pretty nervous!

I ate a nice prime rib dinner the night before, my doc said special diets weren't necessary prior to surgery. I didn't have any problems

Hi Sue, I did the Mexico thing, flew to san diego, then was picked up by my clinic's driver and taken for pre-op tests at the clinic in Tijuana, then they took me to a very nice hotel where I had a very nice prime rib dinner with my Mom. The next morning they were back and took me to the hospital for surgery. They put the leg wraps on, started an iv and gave me an anti anxiety med, that made me feel nervous... weird I thought. With in an hour I was off to surgery, the anesthesiologist gave me an iv med he called a margarita, and asked me to count, I think I got 2 numbers out. I was back in my room in approx half an hour. My mom was shocked at how quick it went. I had soreness at my puncture sites, but it wasn't unbearable. I dozed the morning away, but was up on my feet and to the bathroom by myself by 1pm. Surgery was at 9. I was moving slow, and trying not to use my abdominal muscles... definitely get a "splint" pillow! Coughing and sneezing was difficult for about a week. It's nearly two weeks out for me, and it's fine now. The port site remained tender and somewhat pinching, I had to guard it while walking and riding in the car, and it's still somewhat sensitive, but I feel a definite improvement daily. I only took the pain meds at night for 2 nights to help me be comfortable while sleeping. It was 3 nights before I could sleep on my left side. I still have to be careful with bending down, it irritates my port site, but all my sites are nearly healed over, and looking fine. I was up walking the day of surgery, walked more than maybe I felt up to the next day, and even more the next, but I didn't have gas pains at all. I'm sure the extra walking did it. It is SO worth it. I'm on working in regular foods already, and doing fine, I'm losing about a pound a day so far. Good Luck!

maybe it's time to increase your activity level, are you feeling up to walking? It could be the plateau phase I hear about on here too. Hang in there, I read that before our first fill we could even gain a few. Don't be discouraged, it's a normal phase, and to be expected. Think of those zig zag charts, and know that you are on a permanent downward trend!

Hi Butta & Welcome aboard!

How awesome that you are offering such sound and strong support. Your counterpart will surely succeed with you in their corner. I learned so much about being banded here. This site is priceless. Go to the home page and one by one select each thread and read for answers to nearly any question you may be having, or start a new thread with any question, and you'll be amazed at the open, inviting sincerity behind the myriad of responses you'll get. Good Luck!

Congratulations on the loss, and as for joining... count me in!

When did any of you pb the first time? I am just starting soft foods carefully, and haven't had one yet, in fact I'm not sure if I even have restriction, because so far everything I've tried is going down well. Fear is keeping me careful, but so far no real problems. I do make sure to eat slowly and chew everything to nothing, but I can eat more than the 2 oz I was told my pouch is. I think my serving size is more like 1/2 cup before I feel an ache coming on. Shouldn't I be more restricted than that?

I also had Health Alliance, I called and gave them the cpt code for the lapband, and they assured me it wasn't covered. I found a doc in clinton IL who would do it in Urbana for 14,500 via the inamed surgeon locator. Not including the preop tests and xrays, psyche eval. etc. I gave up and went to Mexico. So far I'm glad I did, though I'm hearing lately others who used the same surgeon haven't been so lucky. Research, read, and ask questions. You'll find a wealth of info here, that will hopefully lead you to make the best fitting choice for yourself. Good Luck

I bought a small chopper and blend my juices and slimfast Protein shakes etc with lots of chopped ice to help get more Water in, but when it comes to water, we really need more of it to be just water. I know there's water in a lot of these other things, like crystal lite, tea, icey shakes etc... but think of it this way, yeah there's water in it, but would you wash in it? Sometimes our innerds need a bath too.

ok... I need definition... NSV=? DH=? I guess I'm a little slow on the uptake, because some of these abbreviations are beyond my comprehension. any others I should know?

I had Dr jaime Ponce de leon, but I used the obesity goodbye group, Andres is the pt coordinator with the Bajanor Group. Dr Ponce is a surgeon in several groups. I'm not sure if it's about the surgeon as much as the group or not. I had to discuss my decision with the pt coordinator, he is the one who informed the surgeon that I'd chosen the Midband. I was given the box, the numbers and 2 cards with band info, so I'm hoping I got what I asked for. I think it's just plain evil to do something so deceitful as giving a patient something different than they asked for, and I do hope that there is some kind of retribution for those patients. That must feel like a total violation. I had a good experience with my surgery so far, but I have to wonder what it would have been had I asked for the inamed lapband...

Happy belated Birthday DeLarla!!

Welcome Veronica! I think you'll find this the most informative, educational, entertaining and supportive site there is. These folks are true gifts for those of us new to banding. I wouldn't be banded now if it werent for this site. I'd still be researching wondering if I could actually do it. So pull up a chair and sit a spell!

Hi Penni, yeah I read that, and find it very discerning. After much research I decided on and asked for the midband. He gave me the box and numbers and cards with info. So I'm assuming that's what I have. I plan to go back to mexico for fills, so I'm not worried about that. But I am absolutely mortified to hear that story from the patient that got duped. If I'd had that info pre-surgery I might have gone a different direction. I didn't use the Bajanor group site, I used obesity goodbye, so I didn't have Andres for a pt coordinator, I had Marlon. But I did have Dr. Jaime Ponce de Leon, he does surgery with both groups. I was given the option of the midband, swedish band, and inamed lapband. I chose the midband because it's not rigid so fewer issues with blockage, less slippage, less discomfort. This is information I got from researching the different bands, not from the doc. I hope to hell I got what I asked for!

My surgeon said that fill times vary per person. You need to get a fill once you've stopped losing weight for a few week period. There is no set time to get one because everyone is different. Go with how you feel. I like the quote it's a lifetime tool, enjoy your vacation, then get the fill. That's my opinion.

I feel you girl, this last couple of days my appetite has really picked up. I'd been worried because I haven't had any trouble with anything I've eaten yet, though I've been being fairly careful. I kind of jumped quicker into full liquids and mushy's because I needed more to eat, and wasn't having problems. My weight is going down, about 1/2 a pound a day. I'm still weighing every morning, but as it slows I'll do the weekly thing. Thank god for this site. Reading today has picked me up again, and I'm feeling better already. Hang in there!

Hi Jodie, I too am an RN, but was just banded the 24th, so I'm concerned about the same things, I'm due to go back to work next friday night, so I'm hoping 2 1/2 wks is long enough. My pt coordinator said I'd be ready in a week... he was SO wrong. I'm doing well, but not THAT well yet. How long did you take off? We'll have to compare notes. Good Luck and congrats on getting banded.

oops duplicate

Good luck to you both. I just got back from TIJ on 9/24/04, and am doing fine mostly, I find I have the most difficulty getting up and down, and am just now comfortable sitting in a desk chair. I didn't have much gas pain, and only discomfort at the port site. I was up walking the same day of surgery, and walked up and down several blocks two different times the 2nd day. I was able to turn in bed ok slowly, but couldn't lay on my left side for a couple of days. I read that there is a national law in Mexico that businesses must have a Water purification system if they serve the public, so your hotel is probably ok for ice and water. Mine was. Clear liquids there was a challenge, but room service is pretty cheap in comparison to room service here. I read up on tipping before I went and learned the following tip your bellboys $1 per bag, Maid service is $1-2 restaurants are 15% like here, tip roomservice likewise, I also read do not tip taxi drivers, make sure to say how much before getting in the cab, and say no if they ask too much. My most expensive cab ride was $6 to go quite a ways for shopping. I guess the cab tipping thing would be up to you, I read not to, and I didn't, and nothing was said. also I invested in a small electric chopper, and am drinking juices and slimfast in lots of crushed ice to help get the water in, and am using it to puree Soups. Best wishes for a safe and comfortable trip for you both!

I'm here, I'm home, and I'm doing ok...I think. I haven't been comfortable sitting in my desk chair yet, I won't be here long today. I was trying to get online again yesterday, and felt a stitch pop... at my port site. I'm praying to god that it wasn't my port popping loose. It hurt like hell! I'm down 9 lbs, and aside from port site discomfort and careful movements getting up and down, I'd been feeling pretty good. I opted for the midband, and the surgeon said my stomach was small ?? so he put a 6 cc fill in. I've started on full liquids and a few soft foods, and haven't had any problem, though I sure know when I've had enough by that nice chest ache that starts to come on. I did a lot of walking on discharge day and the next couple of days both in Tijuana and at the airports on the way home. So far I haven't had much gas pain, and have only needed the liquid tylenol twice, the second time yesterday after the searing pain of the stitch tearing free. My 4 sites are all clean and dry and looking well, with only minimal bruising at a couple of the sites. The whole procedure went very well. The doc was impressive, though required an interpreter for everything, and I only saw him just prior to surgery, and again just prior to discharge. The office staff were way less professional looking than I expected, but did their job well, and the driver "Tony" was a real doll, he was the glue that made my whole trip work well. My mom just loved him. the hospital was beautiful to look at, and though they seemed somewhat less modern, they were very proficient. At this point, I feel comfortable recommending them, and I'd do it again in a new york minute. I'll post a more detailed journal of my experience on another day when I'm more comfortable in this chair!

My prayers are with you and your's Penni, I hope everything goes better than you expect. good luck and godspeed

I took a look at that site and it does sound pretty promising. I plan to look for it at our health stores, or buy online if I have to, and give it a try. Since my intake will be so dractically changed I'm sure I can use the nutritional support, and I always appreciate an energy boost! I bought a huge bottle of flintstone chewables, but ick... the after taste... FYI: There is a warning not to take it if a person takes sulfonamide medicines because the PABA in the Vitamin changes the drugs effectiveness. But I didn't see anything else in it that would be anything but beneficial, i.e. no caffiene, high sugars, ephidrine, etc...