alysedg23

I am def going to make an appt with my dr. for Chantix...thanks for sharing your success stories

I also smoked before and after...even smoked the day of surgery (before). If you cant quit and you do smoke right before...whatever you do, dont tell them that you did. yes, i am telling you to lie...I know some of you are going to be upset with me for saying this..but hey, truthfully, its not going to put her at risk for anything negative. The way I feel is that once you get your band and start losing weight..you can work on quitting smoking..thats what I did and am now on my way to a smoke free life.

Well like I said, I'm still in the getting to know you period, yesterday and today I had salad with chicken and it went down okay. Like everyone always says..I took my time and took small bites, and everything was okay. I had about 1/4 cup, so I think the amount of the fill is just right. As I'm sure all of you encountered, its just trial and error about what goes through easily and what doesnt...I just find it funny!!

The doctors cannot tell you up front what to avoid since its different with every body...boo boo kitty....as you read here on this thread, some people can eat bread and others simply cannot!! It takes time to get to know your own band, and that is what I am going through now. Thats what this thread was initially about, how it takes time to get to know what makes you feel bad after you eat it....it wasnt really about bread. But since someone asked if its easier if its in a sandwich form....uh...no...its all the same. But dont get me wrong, I am so happy I did it...vanity prevails...I never was a bread person anyway....the only thing i'm going to miss are my Lean Cuisine panini's...but hey, thats okay. I lost 25 lbs in the 1st 6 weeks and I can honestly say, those last 3 weeks I wasnt exactly an angel in terms of eating well. But now that im restricted I have no choice but to be good, so hey, NO REGRETS!!!

Its not just white bread that blows up in the pouch, its all types of bread and other things too...most thing just dont go through the band which causes everything to come up and out.. Cyndilou..you made me laugh...yes, I wish a lot of different foods got along with the band, I'm starting to think this band has NO friends..oh except for liquids, it LOVES LOVES liquids....

I know its a gross subject, but how is it? Are they pretty normal or has anyone experienced anything out of the usual? Thanks

You should wait at least a week for any type of cardio exercise..however, walking around the block is okay...although the lap band is a minimally invasive procedure, it is still a surgery so give your body a little rest to heal. One week and you should be good. Good luck!!

2 days out and I feel great...not even hungry, and the post op diet is easy to follow!! I am so glad I did this and am looking forward to a slimmer me. To anyone who is not sure about it...dont think twice, it was an easy surgery and the recovery is great!!! Dr. Ortiz and his team and wonderful, not to mention HOT!! Whewie, every single male in that clinic is hotter than the next, with Dr. Ortiz topping off the list...

Usually the use absorable sutures, are your sutures under the skin or are they individual blue or black stiches??? If it is under the skin and you cant see it, then they are the absorable type, however, if they are black or blue and you can see them, they need to be removed...

There's a surgeon in Glendale that does them for $14,000, but unfortunetly, I dont know who it is. I went to Dr. Ortiz, just got back actually, and it was a great experience. $8500..great price and they take really good care of you.

Thanks for that story...I will definetely remember you if I want to eat before its time...

Oh darlin' you are not the only one cheating....anyway, tomorrow is Monday and Mondays are the day to start diets, right? Keep up the good work, a few little mind tricks I play with myself when I want to eat is this: 1) Think of yourself thin...and 2) When you want to eat something, wait 10 minutes and then talk yourself out of it. I find that the waiting makes me forget about it.... Good luck and YOU CAN DO IT....just make it happen!!

Hello!! I just scheduled my surgery for June 12 with Dr. Ortiz, and have to say, I'm a little nervous. I have been an Operating room nurse for over 14 years and have heard AND seen the horror stories firsthand. I have been scanning this board for the last couple of days to see if anyone has anything negative to say about their experience in Mexico, and have found none regarding Dr. Ortiz or clinic. I just need some reassurance that Mexico is the right place to go for this. I went to see a local doctor here in LA, and what a waste of time!! The office staff was terrible and the surgeon was a pompous asshole!! Thanks to anyone who can put my mind at ease

Depends on your surgeon and how busy he is. Some surgeons dont have a big surgical load so they can get you in fairly quick. I would definetely stay on top of things by calling and making your nutritionist appointment and once you have that, talk to the office and schedule your surgery date. It should move fairly quickly from here on out, but stay on top of things!! Good luck, let me know when your date is!!

I think you answered your own question, perhaps the bites are too big? Also, the digestive system breaks down different foods different ways, thats why whey you eat certain foods its harder to go through the band...also when its too big...i'm just thinking about it physiological and thats what I come up with...dont know if it's the right answer...

If you are young and relatively healthy, there should be no concern of you not waking up. Once the surgery is over, I promise, you will wake up!! If you are having a general anesthia, which you will during this procedure, you always gets a breathing tube, it's how the gas to keep you asleep is delivered. Usually, they induce you and once you are asleep, they place the mask over your mouth for a few minutes, then place the tube in. Most anesthiologists use versed, a pre op sedative, that is given to you before you even go into the OR. That drug is wonderful, you wont remember anything once you get it. Again, nothing to worry about, I'm an OR nurse and have been for many years, and every single one of my patients have woken up after surgery. It is very safe!!! Put your mind at ease!!

Hold on there Cinward, I never said, Oh, before having a band placed you dont need to follow a pre-op diet, who am I to tell others what to do?? Dont be putting words in my mouth, I dont appreciate that. As far as my proof, just read some of these pages, there are many who havent followed a diet and are operated on, isnt that proof enough? As far as a patient being on the table and the surgeon looking at the liver and saying, uh no, I dont think this patient followed a diet, let's close her up, wake her up and send her home, what, 10,000 worth of supplies and etc wasted? It's okay, we'll just bill her insurance for it.... Now does that seem realistic? And Again, I dont mind the pre op diet, cleansing your bowels before ANY colon surgery can never hurt..I never said I wasnt going to do it or discouraged anyone else from following it, I was simply stating my surgical experience.

There have been cases of banding surgeries being *cancelled* after the doctor goes inside and sees how fatty the liver is. Really?? Show me proof. I find it hard to believe that after the patient is asleep on the OR table, $10,000 of supplies have been opened and you have 2 ports already in your filled up belly, that they are going to cancel the surgery. Let's not forget that when a patient has their appendix removed through the scope or someone is having a laproscopic colon resection or whatever laproscopic surgery, its always the same technique, the liver is held aside with a surgical tool, and THERE IS NO PREOP DIET. Espcially when they are doing a laproscopic appendectemy, since this is usually done as an emergency procedure. Dont get me wrong, I dont mind the diet, I lose weight very quickly on my own, I am simply saying that in my experience WORKING IN SURGERY, the liver was never an issue.

Okay, so here is the thing, I have been an Operating room nurse for over 14 years and the MOST dangerous part of the entire surgery is when they put that first trocar (port) in your umbilicus, this is the most dangerous because it is done blindly. Once they put that port in, the scope goes into that port and then they can watch the other trocars/ports being introducted into the cavity. Sure, its always best to reduce fat around your organs, but what I am saying is that NO OTHER laproscopic surgery requires a pre op diet, so I think that this diet is mostly to get our bodies accustomed to eating a certain way. The liver is simply grabbed with a surgical tool and held aside by an assistant, it plays NO part in this surgery. Thanks

Hey, that sounds like me!! It;s called addictive personality disorder and we are THE BEST at negoiating with ourselves, arent we?? I am going through the same thing as you right now..my surgery is scheduled for June 12th and my feelings are, well, i can eat this cheeseburger now cuz in 2 weeks, i wont be able to....or I better have pizza now cuz no more pizza for me in a couple of weeks... ANd pre op diet!! What the hell is this all about??? When surgeons do a laproscopic gallbladder removal or lap ovarian cystectomy, there is no need for a pre op diet!! They say its to remove fat from your liver, but they aren't even going close to the liver during this procedure!! The last couple weeks before surgery should be a going all out eat fest!! Favorite foods, restaurants, cocktails....I'm kinda pissed off that they require this weight loss before, but okay, whatever, this is going to be a life changing event and the reason we are fat in the first place is because we cant control what and how much we eat. Regarding failing after the band placement, thats going to be hard to do unless you like throwing up alot, once the pounds start coming off and you learn how to eat, you'll be fine.

I am not banded yet, but have tried NutriSystem, all the food tastes the same and after a couple weeks, you just get sick of that taste. Its cheaper than Jenny Craig, but I dont know if its better, since I havent tried JC's food..

You shouldnt be swollen there after 12 days, perhaps the doctor didnt make a big enough pocket for it... Wait a few more days then make an appointment with your surgeon