CancunGirl

I spoke to dr. verboonen Today, he asked me what kind of band I want; and gave me an explanation of the 3, I asked him which one he though was better, he recommended the midband. Since all the research I have done previously was about the lap band, it would be a great help if anyone who has a midband can share with me the reasons for their decision, and any link wold be appreciated too. Thank you!

They are great! I´m Very happy. In Cancún $8500, in Tijuana I think is about $7800. (You have to check with them) their site is: http://www.obesitygoodbye.com/

I been banded 11 days, (I´m on full liquids) and lately I dream of food every night lol, also I don't cook, but when I am watching T.V. and changing channels, I stop if I see someone cooking and watch mesmerized all the cooking shows!!!!

1. What is your name? Carmen. 2. What color shirt are you wearing? Navy Blue. 3. What are you listening to right now? My kids playing. 4. What was the last thing you ate? 1/4 cup Isopure. 5. Do you wish on stars? Yes. 6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? brown. 7. How is the weather right now? sunny, hot. 8. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My Grandmother. 9. Favorite Sport? Tennis. 10. Favorite drink? Margaritas. 11. Hair color? Brown. 12. Eye color? Brown. 13. Siblings? 1 sister. 14. Favorite month? January. 15. Favorite food? Mexican. 16. What was the last movie you saw? The 40 year old virgin. 17. Favorite day of the year? Christmas. 18. What do you do to vent anger? Talk it out. 19. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie dolls. 20. Summer or winter? winter. 21. Hugs or Kisses? Kisses. 22. Favorite ice cream flavor? Caramel (cajeta.) 23. Restaurants or home cooking? Restaurants. 24. Will everyone care enough to respond? yes. 25. When was the last time you cried? when I got my band (happiness). 26. What is under your bed? a reebok core board. 27. How long have you been a member of Lapband Talk? 2 months. 28. What did you do last night? watch 24, 4th season on DVD with the family. 29. What are you afraid of? bad people. 30. Favorite car? I would like to have a Hummer. 31. Favorite flower? orchid. 32. How many keys on your ring? 5. 33. How long have you been at your current job? 12 years. 34. Favorite day of the week? Saturday. 35. What did you do on your birthday? Stayed home. 36. How many states have you lived in? 37.How many cities/towns have you lived in? 4 38. What is your favorite form of exercise? spinning. 39.Your favorite store for bargains? Marshall´s. 40. Wasn't this fun?yes.

OK. here is my adventure: I got all my tests done the previous days: 3 blood tests, chest x rays,oh and one thing I didn't expect was for the EKG you practically have to be naked! It would have had to be done anyway but still they should have warned me! (a bra that open at the front, a blouse with front buttons and shaved legs are a good tip for the EKG day), the hospital internist checked all and give me green light. So yesterday, I met my doctors (dr. verboonen and Dr. Ponce the Leon) an all the obesitygoodbye team, they were soooo nice and professional that I didn't feel nervous at all, one second I was in the OR chatting and the next second I'm being taken back to my room. (wow! that part was easy). This is the best part; I read all the posts everywhere so I was braced and ready for everything: hiccups, burping, farting, dizziness, diarrhea, excruciating pain at port site, gas pains, depression, hunger etc.... Well I have nothing of that. My doctors are so good and I am so lucky!, so far I feel excellent, only tenderness in the ab area if I move too fast, and I have good restriction already (since my midband is really flexible they put 7cc in it) So I am ecstatic, while I carefully sip on my Isopure, I can´t stop smiling. I named my band, She has a beautiful name, her name is HOPE! I really feel like this is the beginning of a new life for me, I want to thank you all for your support, kindness and encouragement, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU ALL! AND I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! :) :)

I know its hard!, I´m not really hungry at all (must be the fill), but when I´m preparing or serving food to my kids. I see it and touch it and smell it and want to eat it so bad! OMG! and I am only supposed to "eat" 2 ounces of liquid (clear) every 2 hours. So I'm living on Isopure (but I'm tired of it by now). I find so confusing that everyone have guidelines for their diet that are sooo different, I have a friend who has to be on Clear liquids for 3 weeks! and envy your 6 ounces of soup. ....for me in two more days full liquids:). I am so happy to have my band and want to take excellent care of it, I know this stage will pass ...but when you are not eating time goes by so sloooooow. But I bet we will be laughing about this soon!

I Know is a great feeling! Welcome to Bandland! hope you are feeling good, I wish you lots of success :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!!!

The power of positive thinking, sounds great! I am going to copy your ritual, I am Carmen, the name of my band is Hope, and we are very pleased to meet you both.

You are great! Thanks for the inspiration! :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny :Bunny C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!!!

My doctor indications said "first week clear liquids: juice, tea, and broth". But I really want (crave) a little skim milk. Do anyone drink it in the clear liquids stage?

Wow! low fat chocolate milk! sounds sooooo good! my mouth is watering

You are right!!! the band gods were smiling on both of us yesterday! I hope you are feeling even better today, We are banded!!!! Wow!!!! a new brighter future is ahead of us!!!!

Help!! I did not think about this before, but I´m starting my period today, so I will have it the day of my surgery OMG!. What is the protocol here? Tampax and underwear? sanitary towel and underwear? just Tampax? (how embarrassing!).. Has anyone been trough this predicament?

http://www.calorieking.com/ I love this one because they have a version for your PALM handheld (handheld diet diary), so its practical and easier, and it keeps up with your Protein and caloric intake.

Pam congratulations!!!!!:banana , you are an inspiration to me, you see I'm getting a MIDBAND next week, and love to read your posts.

Hi! Congratulations on your decision, I think this group can be useful to you: European Bandsters Web page http://www.euroband.org

I assume you want to have your band with you for life, but is this realistic?; I mean if there are no complications how long can the band be intact inside your body? are there studies about this?

Somebody answer the same question in smartbandsters, I will paste the post here because the links are very useful and inspirational!!!! Hi Carmen, There is a discussion about the possible benefits of the MIDband on my website: http://www.kinderwishes.com/WLS/index.html I have yet to finish the darn thing, but at least *that* page works! I chose the MIDband because that is what my surgeon uses now, exclusively- he started with the Swedish,then the Lapband. I chose my surgeon based on his complication rate, which was the lowest of any surgeon I contacted (and I contacted doctors all around the world - it was a while ago), less than 1% (including slippage, erosion, and removal for other reasons). I don't know if Dr. Frering's low complication rate is because of his skill, the MIDband, or a combination of both - and honestly, we will probably not know for many years... although Medical Innovation Development (MID) is working on starting FDA trials, you know how long that takes. So until thousands of people all around the world have had their MIDbands for a long time and somebody does a decent study, it's basically guesswork - although I do believe the MIDband has some great things to recommend it. BUT- the most important thing is follow-up care. If you can get follow-up for a non-FDA approved band where you live, there's no reason not to get a MIDband. If your post-op care is contingent on having an Inamed band, however, then that's what you should get. I am fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest, where there are many options, so I was able to choose the surgeon I wanted.Let me know if I can answer any other questions, and you might also want to join the FrenchMidBandsters Yahoo group: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/FrenchMidBandsters/ Sarina McDonald MIDbanded 11/06/02 by Dr. Vincent Frering in Lyon, France 215 / 115 / 115

I will have my band on September 29!!! Good luck and my best wishes for a speedy recovery and a fulfilling new life to all of you!

My surgery date is September 29!! Good Luck to all of you!!! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I got a letter today from the makers of the midband and it explains the advantages of the midband I will paste it here in blue: "Hello, We thank you for visiting our website www.midband.fr, we know Dr verboonen very well, he's an excellent surgeon with very good experience in our adjustable gastric band. The MIDBAND is an adjustable gastric band made in silicone and it is implantable by coelioscopy. One of the biggest differences between the MIDBAND and other gastric bands is that the MIDBAND is extremely flexible. It has no sharp surfaces which could contribute to erosion of the gastric wall<O:p</O:p The first MIDBAND was implanted on August 2<SUP>nd</SUP> <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com2000, in</st1:metricconverter> <ST1:pLyon</ST1:p by Dr FRERING and to date approximately 16 000 MIDBANDS have been implanted in the world with excellent outcomes. We hope we answer your question, if you need further information, do not hesitate to contact us , Best Regards, Nathalie MID Company"

As I understand the 3 most used bands are Lap band by inamed (American) Midband by lowate ab (French) Swiss band by Johnson and Johnson There is also a German band, but is not so common. Most Americans prefer the lap band since is the only one approved in USA. But I live in Mexico so my doctor said the midband would be the best choice because is more flexible and has better stats. but I cant find much information about it.

Thank you Kell, I am really small 1.50m I think thats almost 5 ft. my BMI is 34 or 35 this days, but it has been a lot higher at some points in my life (91kg), I have been a yo-yo dieter all my life, I am hoping the band will help me to keep a healthy weight, I eat healthy and exercise everyday, my problem is that I am always hungry and can eat a whole cow by myself.

Thank you for your answers, Dr. Ortiz is not working in Cancun now, they send me a message and they don't know when he will be back again, several other doctors work here in Cancun, I checked all and choose Dr. verboonen, his curriculum is amazing, he is a lap band expert and the team he has here is the best I found (http://hopeparadise.com/) and the patient coordinator Karen has been great supportive and helpful. I hope I am choosing right. As far as I know he had always worked in Mexico (Tijuana and Cancun), please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong also I have read all the posts from his patients here and in all the lap band groups I could find; the only negative thing I found is the insurance stuff, but since I don't have insurance well is really not relevant to me. Starr I hope we can stay in touch and compare experiences is so nice to know we are sharing a band date! This 17 days are going to be loooong. The best of luck, and a speedy recovery to you too girl!!!

I am so happy!, today I received a mail from Dr. Verboonen, I finally have a date September 30, just 17 long days away, and I don't have to travel because he is Cancun to do lap bands the last week of every month. I just made my ticker and will be reading every post here night an day!, I think that because of this forum I have realistic expectations of things to come. Thank you all for sharing and cheering!!!