Wendy B

Hi there, I'll write more of my experience in Mexico later, but right now I wanted to say that I had my surgery 4 days ago, and I could literally hula-hoop, if I could keep the damn thing on my hips. I flew from Vancouver to Puetro Vallarta on Friday, by myself I might add, and had surgery that evening with Dr.Joya. I can't believe what a smooth pain free operation it was. I never expierenced any gas pains, though I brought two boxes of Gas X with me that I never opened. I also never had to use the heating pad I faithfully packed. That evening I slept peacefully in the hospital on my side with a pillow tucked under my tummy. The next night at the resort I was back to sleeping at my stomach like usual. I could put lotion on my legs and tie my shoes, though I was in Mexico so I had flip-flops! I have 3 insicions about a centimeter long and 1 about 4 cm. There is slight bruising around them, but I was able to wear my big old wire support bra home from the hospital. I spent a couple days at a resort and got some sun, and have felt no discomfort. I made the long trek home to Canada today, and I'm sitting here tonite and absolutely amazed at how quick and pain free this has been. Of course going to Mexico, for my first time and staying at an all exclusive resort where I couldn't swim in the Ocean, relax in the hot tub, have a Maragarita in the pool bar, or stuff myself with all sorts of yummy dishes, is a whole nother story! I hope that everyone has such a great lap-band experience. Wendy

One of my surgeons suggestions for lapband living is NOT to drink wine, but drink beer instead because the carbination will fill you up quicker and you'll drink less and ingest fewer calories. Had anybody else heard this? Wendy

I Know exactly how you feel. I never thought I would go to Mexico by myself for surgery either..it's crazy. You will get picked up at the airport and taken to the hospital. Everyone was very nice and talked me through everything. I am two weeks post op and feel fantastic, but as I have the lapband and it has no fills yet, I am hungry and am trying hard to continue losing weight before I get my first one. It does feel like bandster hell. I know I had surgery, but right now everthing feels the same as before and I have NO restriction. I'm sure that everything will go just as great for you as it did for me. If you have more questions I would be willing to talk to you on the phone. Just let me know. Wendy

I saw this thread awhile ago and loved it and have started a list of my own. Things I won't miss about being fat. 1. Never finding a towel big enough to go all the way around me and tuck in the front. It always looks so cute when my skinny friends do it! 2. Constantly pulling down my shirt to try and hide my big, low-riding tummy. Who do I think I'm fooling? 3. Cringing or running everytime someone pulls out a camera. 4. Always checking the room to confirm my worst nightmare...I'm the fattest one in the room. 5. All the junk food wrappers in my bedside table! What things won't you miss about being fat? Wendy ps I'm getting banded in Mexico in 5 more days. It's gonna be great.

I am on day 9 of my 14 day pre-op diet and had fully intended to have quit smoking by now, but have only be able to slow down to 4 or 5. I know this is horrible, and I'm scared it might affect my surgery, or they will cancel it, and as I'm going to be in Mexico, that would really suck! I would like to hear surgery stories about people who still smoked during surgery(and have hopefully now quit this horrible addiction). Did it make surgery harder? I now it defianately affects the healing process. Feeling very scared right now. Wendy

The night before my pre-op 2 week diet I ate a t-bone steak, mushroom and garlic bread. I figured it might be the last barbequed steak I'd ever eat. It was delicious. I also contemplated having Burger King, but opted for the steak. Wendy

I have been reading these post for a long time and have finally decided it's time to post. I am from Vancouver Canada and getting banded in 8 more days by Dr. Joya in Mexico. Holy cow...am I crazy! To make matters worse I've opted to save a bit of money and travel alone, instead of taking one of my support team. Even though I was very through I'm scared that I didn't do my research well enough and Dr. Joya isn't the right choice for me. Does anyone have some encouraging words about him? I keep imagining how scary and surreal it will feel to be in the hospital for the pre-op testing and those minutes right before the surgery when it all starts to feel REAL. I hope I don't freak out and panic and make a fool of myself. I hope I made the right choice. Wendy