lisaWA

Hi I also had Dr. Ortiz and I live in Washington. I go to Dr. Fox in Tacoma for my fills(195). It's about a 2.5 hour drive for me. I just got my third fill 7/14/05 and Iam so tight that I have a hard time getting coffee down in the morning. I can only get about 3-5 bites of soup to stay down in the evening. No problem with water though. Before this fill I could eat anything I wanted, but not as much I was able to at 2.5cc. Now I am at 3.2 and oh boy what a difference. I was also very discouraged,but now Im excited and motivated again. My Dr. says if you can eat breakfast you need a fill. You should only be able to get a protein shake down in the morning. Let me know if you want Dr.Fox's number. He won't be taking Mexico patients much longer because he lowered his price for the band to 12,800. Good luck

Hi Im so sorry to hear of your experience. I also had Dr. Ortiz for surgery. Dr. Martinez did my first fill and I was instructed to be on warm liquids for 3 days. Are you sure he didnt mean for you to eat soup or something like that? I have had three fills and I have always been told to stay on liquids for three day so the stomach doesn't have to work to digest and it stays still. I have hard time with dry foods like bread. Sometimes I can have it and sometimes it comes back up. I pay close attention to the first 2 or 3 bites of anything solid. Sometimes the first bite or 2 seems to trap air in there and cause pressure, if thats the case I will quit for about 5 or 10 minutes and walk around then finish my meal with no problem. I wish you lots of luck... take care. LisaWA

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Nov.2004 and he was wonderful. I took my best friend down to him in Jan.2005. She was so scared but after talking to him she was just as confident as I am in him. I had a great experience and I'm so confident in him that I would take my teenage daughters to him if they needed it. All of the staff are wonderful!! LisaWA

Michelle how much of a fill do you have now?

Hi Becca, It's good to hear you are feeling good. You will feel better everyday so hang in there. As far as your hunger, try warm jello it seemed to be more filling than broth and I didn't get the gas pressure from it. Take care, Lisa

Hi Ellen I live in Sedro Woolley. I had my band placed on Nov.19th 2004 in Mexico by Dr. Ortiz. I went to seminar at Dr. Fox's office and he works closely with Dr. Rumbaut and will set everything up for u. I did alot of research and decided that he was to far from home for me. I wanted to be able to drive there if I had to. Dr. Ortiz is a proctor surgeon by the Iname Co. that makes the band. He has taught many Doctor in the U.S to place the band and has been doing the surgery much longer than U.S. doctors. When I met him and his staff they were just as nice as everyone had said. I paid $9,500 and that included everything but the flight and that runs about 200.00. They us the Lucerna hotel in Tj Mexico and it is very nice. My surgery and recovery was a piece of cake. I am going back on thursday to take my best friend down to have surgery and Im getting my first fill. His web site is www.obesitycontrolcenter.com if you want all the info. Maybe we could get together sometime with everybody from our area for coffee. LisaWA

Oh I can so relate. I went to dinner at the Outback last night and eat 1/4 of a blooming onion and then a ceasor salad and then when my dinner came I eat 1/2 a baked potato and 3oz of salmon. I'm 4 weeks post-op and I have very little restriction. Im scared Im gonna gain back the 14lbs I lost in the first 2 weeks. I can't wait for my first fill.

Thanks that really helps. I am 17 days post-op and I had some crab, potatoes and rice on the 15th day and 3 triangles of a cheese and chicken quesadillas on the 16th and 17th days. I hope I didnt damage anything. I didnt have any problems, but I will know what to eat. LisaWA

I had surgery 12 days ago and I am still on liquids. Im getting hungery in the evenings so I have had mashed potatoes and cream soup on occasion but I don't loose when I do that. I weigh daily and I have been losing 1lb a day. So I am scared that when I go to solids that I will gain. Has anybody experienced this?

My Dr. didn't say anything about mushies they recommend yogurt and protein drinks from day 8-21 then on to solids. What does your Dr. say?

I am surprised to hear that people are having pain. I had a little soreness but no pain. Did you have the open surgery? Which docter did you have? Hope you are feeling better soon. Lisa

Im so happy to hear that you had a wonderful experience and are doing well. I'm gettting banded on Nov.19th IM SO EXCITED. LISA 233 lbs 5'0 SIZE 20 FOR THE LAST TIME!!:banana