Paula Spurlock Butts

Hello to all! My name is Paula and I joined the Gastric Band talk a few years ago when that was my choice of action. Since then, and almost since that surgery, I had nothing but frustration with my band. I am not sure it is anyone's fault for not listing this as a possible side effect, but my medications would sit just above my band until they finally disolved, leaving my band area irritated. Now, I do take a lot of medications, and it just happened over and over. I would go have a fill reduced, feel better, get irritated, and then go to get it reduced again. On the last go-round of this, I just had them remove everything from the band and I gave up hope that it was the way for me to succeed. About two months ago, I started hearing about the vertical sleeve, so I contacted Dr. Ortiz's office at the Obesity Control Center, and finally, after some serious discussion with my husband over the financial end of it, (self pay,) took the plunge and flew to Tijuana to have the procedure. OCC is the most wonderful, spotless surgical center I have ever seen! (I have seen MANY over the course of my life.) I didn't even take my husband, because I was so comfortable with the way I would be treated. I am not far enough along to definitively call it a success, but it was much less painful than I thought it might be, and painful for a shorter amount of time. I spent just short of a week there, with daily checkups on my sleeve, and have been home a week. I am NOT hungry, and I am not completely sure I am getting enough Protein or Water, but it is a new adventure, and I am excited to share my journey. Less is more, Paula

Hello to all! My name is Paula and I joined the Gastric Band talk a few years ago when that was my choice of action. Since then, and almost since that surgery, I had nothing but frustration with my band. I am not sure it is anyone's fault for not listing this as a possible side effect, but my medications would sit just above my band until they finally disolved, leaving my band area irritated. Now, I do take a lot of medications, and it just happened over and over. I would go have a fill reduced, feel better, get irritated, and then go to get it reduced again. On the last go-round of this, I just had them remove everything from the band and I gave up hope that it was the way for me to succeed. About two months ago, I started hearing about the vertical sleeve, so I contacted Dr. Ortiz's office at the Obesity Control Center, and finally, after some serious discussion with my husband over the financial end of it, (self pay,) took the plunge and flew to Tijuana to have the procedure. OCC is the most wonderful, spotless surgical center I have ever seen! (I have seen MANY over the course of my life.) I didn't even take my husband, because I was so comfortable with the way I would be treated. I am not far enough along to definitively call it a success, but it was much less painful than I thought it might be, and painful for a shorter amount of time. I spent just short of a week there, with daily checkups on my sleeve, and have been home a week. I am NOT hungry, and I am not completely sure I am getting enough Protein or Water, but it is a new adventure, and I am excited to share my journey. Less is more, Paula

Best wishes... he is so good you won't need luck

I think I will take my empty Florida Gators tall coffee cup because it has a sippy lid. I can keep it in my purse, empty, and just fill it at water fountains as I pass them. I hate paying so much for bottled water!.

I didn't think to check and just quit wearing them, thinking that it was an allergy problem or something. They would just pop out. When I went for my regular eye appt. the doc commented that my eyeball size had shrunk!

I LOVE Dr. Ortiz and OCC. He has the best bedside manner and the best staff. His facility puts US hospitals to shame. I went there for my lapband and 2 fills, and I am going back this Sunday for a vertical sleeve. (I think we all know that the lapband has problems inherent to the band, not the doc.) I am so comfortable going there that I am going alone.

Shoes AND contact lenses

WOOT!! Congratulations!!

Wow.. I would definitely pare that list down if you can. Remember not to take anything bigger than 4 ounces or they will take it and throw it out. (I forgot and bought some wonderful Mexican vanilla, and I nearly cried when they chunked it.) You should be VERY proud of your weight loss AND the fact that you stopped smoking. You will be doing 2 things to help extend your life with this surgery.

I am flying from Jacksonville to San Diego on Sunday the 22nd. Your concerns are exactly the ones I wrote in my blog, and I think all of us feel that way. When the flight attendant gives you the seat belt extender on the first leg of your flight, just "keep" it for the next leg. Still keep it on the first leg back, and on the final leg to Tampa, leave it on the plane. That at least gives you one less thing to worry about.

Oh, yeah.. forgot to put ear buds for listening to your kindle.

After thinking about it, I am not sure my body knows if it is head hunger or real hunger, because I have always just gratified whichever one by eating. Maybe during this liquid stage I will begin to be able to separate this out.

LOL.. there are no tragic fitness efforts. There are only tragic non-efforts.