dreamweaver

clg8579 -- Yes, you may have seen me. I know that I and 2 of the other ladies who had surgery the same day as me stopped and chatted a couple of minutes with the patients in the waiting room the day after surgery -- so on May 26th. Were you there? How funny if you were. I had no idea any one else from Michigan would have been there. I also contemplated going to Dr. Pleatman for a fill but I figured that I will at least go the first time back to Mexico. Dr. Pleatman does not do fills under fluro and I felt, for myself, that it is important to have that done at least once. Also, I know someone who had the surgery and did fills in Michigan (not Dr. Pleatman) without fluro and had to have 3 fills over several months before she experienced any weight loss. I WANT RESTRICTION! My flight to Mexico cost less than $500 and I am being a kamikaze and flying down and returning the same day! Going on a Saturday so that I have Sunday to recover. Anyway, I might not make this trip again for the second fill. We will see how this goes first! By the way, have you asked Dr. Pleatman if he will do the fill under fluro? If he was willing to, and if it was not as expensive as the cost of a ticket to Mexico, I would probably go to him.

I was banded by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I did not wake up with a catheter and so if there was one, it had to have been put in and taken out during the time I was under anesthesia. But I really think I never had one. And by the way, I got up and walked within minutes of waking up.

Congratulations on making your decision! You will not regret it!

Dr. Ortiz banded me on May 25th. I had an excellent recovery and was very impressed by his professionalism and empathy. I was very impressed that he had a phone conference with me when I was trying to decide whether to have the surgery. He was very patient in answering all my questions. He is a real card and a cutie to boot! All his staff were responsive to me. I highly recommend him. I am going to be going back to Dr. Martinez in his office next month for my first fill. I live in Michigan and even though I could get fills here, I so trust Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez that I am willing to fly all the way there again for my fill. They have a lot of experience -- more than any US surgeon. Dr. Ortiz has performed more than 2,000 lapband surgeries. He was worth every penny for this surgery. He gave me a great deal of peace of mind throughout my whole decision-making phase. C an you tell that I a fan?

Donali, you made laugh out loud! Too funny . . .

Flower, don't worry. It will be over before you know it. Remember the complication rate is very low for this procedure. You will be fine. Focus on all the success stories on this board -- you will soon be one of them!

I recently read a magazine review of sunless tanning products. Can't remember which magazine I was reading. Anyway, it compared the expensive department store brands to drug store brands. And surprise, surprise, the "best" was determined to be a spray-on mist put out by Neutragena. I plan on getting some to try out myself, as I am as white as a ghost and have never been much of a sunbather.

Dr. Ortiz told me that his oldest patient is 78 years old. But, of course, he's in Mexico and so is a private pay situation. If your mother cannot get insurance coverage, I would have no qualms about recommending Dr. Ortiz. I was banded by him on May 25th and my recovery has been very, very smooth. Good luck!

Paula: Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration. I was banded last week (May 25th) and I would like to lose 100 pounds. If one year from now, I have lost 85 pounds like you, I will be absolutely ecstatic. I only hope I will be as successful as you. I know that I am sure as heck going to try! Again, thank you!

Nope, not a pound lost before surgery. In fact, I gained 7 pounds from the time I scheduled the surgery in early May until my surgery on the 25th! Yep, suffered from that last supper syndrome real, real bad! I know the nearly 15 pounds lost is mostly water, BUT I'LL TAKE IT!!! Still on clear liquids. Only had some watered down juice, sf popsickles, broth and sf jello. So I guess it's no wonder I am losing fast. I know it will slow way down once I am on full liquids. But I am sure enjoying the jump start!! By the way, my recovery has went amazingly well. Had a lot of gas the 2nd day but that was the worst. Very little pain. Am even able to sleep on my stomach!

I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on May 25th. Doing great so far -- sipping, sipping, sipping! I have lost almost 15 pounds! 85 more to go! Amazing!

Wow! You sound like you are doing great. I hope my surgery goes as well as yours did. I fly out tomorrow for Mexico and have surgery on Wednesday. I am having a lot of last-minute jitters. Good luck to you and keep posting so we know how you are doing!