RavensRiches

According to the official website.....Quoted.... "On effective dates below, all travelers to or from the Americas, the Caribbean and Bermuda will be required to have a passport or other document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. On December 31, 2006, the requirement will be applied to all air and sea travel to and from Bermuda, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Mexico, and Canada. On December 31, 2007, the requirement extended to all air, sea, and land border crossings. For more information or to confirm effective dates, visit the State Department’s consular web site www.travel.state.gov or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s web site at www.dhs.gov. " "U.S. citizens who travel to a country where a valid U.S. passport is not required will need documentary evidence of their U.S. citizenship and identity. Proof of U.S. citizenship includes an expired U.S. passport or an original birth certificate. A certified copy of the birth certificate is also acceptable, but it must have the registrar’s signature and a raised, impressed, embossed, or multicolored seal. If you were born abroad, a Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship, or Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States will suffice. To prove identity, a valid driver’s license or government identification card are acceptable provided they identify you by physical description or photograph. However, for travel overseas and to facilitate reentry into the U.S., a valid U.S. passport is the best documentation available and unquestionably proves your U.S. citizenship." "MEXICO - *Proof of citizenship such as original birth certificate, naturalization certificate or voters registration card and photo ID. Tourist card is required. Tourist card valid 3 months for single entry up to 180 days, $20 fee, requires proof of U.S. citizenship, photo ID, and proof of sufficient funds. Visa not required of U.S. citizens for tourist/transit stay of up to 30 days. Obtain tourist cards in advance from Consulate, Tourism Office, and most airlines serving Mexico upon arrival. Departure tax $10 is paid at airport when not included in the cost of the airline ticket. Notarized consent from parent(s) required for children under age 18 traveling alone, with one parent, or in someone else’s custody. For additional information, check with the Embassy of Mexico, 1911 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20006 (202/736-1000) or nearest Consulate General: AZ (602/242-7398), CA (213/351-6800, 415/392-5554 and 619/231-8414), CO (303/331-1110), FL (305/716-4977), GA (404/266-1913), IL (312/855-1380), LA (504/522-3596), NY (212/217-6400), PR (809/764-0258) or TX (210/227-1085, 214/630-7341, 713/542-2300, 512/478-9031 and 915/533-4082). Internet: http://www.embassyofmexico.org/" Hope this clarifies things! Oh yeah, here is the link to the website.. http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html

Yes, the Campbells (umm, umm, good!) is a 2 serving carton. All of the different flavors are good. :hungry:

Thanks for all the support! This really is a great place to be. Today is a new day and so far so good.

Congratulation! Way to go!

I LOVE squash soup! Any kind! The absolute easiest recipe (besides buying ready-made....) is using canned pureed pumpkin. I love Indian food so I make mine with curry and a pinch of garam masala. It is so tasty but right now, I'm so sick of liquids, I don't even want that. Butternut squash, Acorn squash, even cucumber! Try them all!

Doot-Ta-Doo! Toot your horn! Way to go! Both of you!

I'm sorry I laughed at your egg story but, as they say, misery loves company. We'll get the hang of this and before you know it, we'll be skinny little rock stars!

I wanted to be a rock star like Ziggy Stardust (a.k.a.David Bowie on fun drugs) and Debra Harry. My Mom would let me stay up late on school nights whenever rock concerts were broadcast on TV. Other than that, it wasn't so much what I wanted to BE but rather, what I wanted to DO! I wanted to gripe-out the Wizard for lying to Dorothy (and crew) about his true identity and for sending them off to do his dirty-work (coward!). I wanted to dig a hole straight down to China. I wanted to be a treasure hunter and travel to the places I'd read about in Nat'l Geographic. I wanted to go off and live with Jane Goodall and the Chimpanzees and become one of there own. To be continued......

I was banded March 28, 2006 in Monterrey, Mexico by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. Looking forward to losing 50+ excess pounds that have been hounding me for about 8 years now. :clap2:

Hi Jill, I don't have major depression (God bless you) but I do have dysthimia (sp?) which is mild pervasive depression. I'll tell you how I feel but I wouldn't generalize to anyone else---we are all so different. I've learned that my depression is directly linked to my hormones. For example, when I am pregnant, I am so happy-go-lucky and optimistic. When my hormones are wacky (post pregnancy, starvation/ caloric restriction) I am a major cry-baby. For the past couple of days I have been feeling so sad and depressed. I am continuing on my Wellbutrin but I may need something else to help during this time. My weight loss is going so much slower than everyone elses and I am really really hungry---not just wanting munchies (although I want that too) but hungry. I am getting at least 50grams of protein per day but I really think I need more carbs. Actually, I don't know what I need. I guess I thought the band would help but I'm wondering if it was just a waste of money. I'm also irritable and just plain sad. Sorry everyone! I think I'll take a break from the group for a while until I feel better. I really don't like spreading bad feelings around.

I love these------granted, I'm an Okie! You are 100% Oklahoman if: 1. You can properly pronounce Eufaula, Gotebo, Okemah, and Chickasha. 2. You think that people who complain about the wind in their states are sissies. 3. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel. 4. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway. 5. You've ever had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day. (I had to do this a couple of times this week!) 6. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade. 7. Stores don't have bags, they have sacks. 8. You see people wear bib overalls at funerals. 9. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent. 10. You measure distance in minutes. ("I'm about 5 minutes away.") 11. You refer to the capital of Oklahoma as "The City." 12. It doesn't bother you to use an airport named for a man who died in an airplane crash. (ex. Wiley Post, Will Rogers) 13. Little smokies are something you serve only for special occasions. 14. You go to the lake because you think it is like going to the ocean. 15. You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit. (AMEN!) 16. You know cowpies are not made of beef. 17. Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date. (So True! It also goes in reverse...my dumb-ass Brother-in-Law wouldn't come to a family funeral because it was on the same day as an OU home game. Priorities:heh: ) 18. You have known someone who has had one belt buckle bigger than your fist. 19. A bad traffic jam involves two cars staring each other down at a four- way stop, each determined! to be the most polite and let the other go first. (We also wave at other drivers if we know them or not.):clap2: 20. You know in which state "Miam-uh" is and in which state "Miam-ee" is. 21. You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, and bait all in the same store. (This would be the local Wally-World! God Bless America!) 22. Your "place at the lake" has wheels under it. 23. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol. A Ford F350 Dually is. (Diesel at that!) 24. You know everything goes better with Ranch. 25. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned how to multiply. 26. You actually get these jokes and are "fixin" to send them to your friends.. 27. Finally, you are 100% Oklahoman if you have ever heard this conversation: "You wanna Coke?" "Yeah." "What kind?" "Dr. Pepper."

Cindycam, I was banded 3/28/06 and have lost maybe 11-13 pounds so far---piddly compared with some, but I'm trying not to get discouraged. Everyone is different and my BMI was in the low end at 30; I've read and been told that the lower BMI folks lose at a slower rate than the higher BMI folks. I don't know how accurate this is but it seems to be my case. As for your insurance question about Aetna, I have no idea. I was a self-pay due to my lower BMI and opted for Dr. Rodriguez in Monterrey, Mexico. My surgery experience was wonderful with no medical difficulties or complaints at all. Good luck with the insurance!

"Productive Burp" or a.k.a. ub-chuck to my kids, reflux to my hubbie, nasty-ass taste in mouth to me!

JillyB----I am about 9 days post op and I am craving red meat so bad! chips and dip also. Maybe I could compromise and do a Fear Factor sort of puree-------mmm, yummy!

Hi Kelli! I see that you have a pet named Greta. That is my eldest daughters name---Greta Isabella (meaning: Beautiful Pearl).

I was a size 8 for most of my life except the last decade where I hover around 14/16 or 1X. I want to get back into some rock-star clothes again like black leather jeans. I had some in college that I wore out! M an I was HOT back then!

I need some encouragement. Today I am 10 days post banding and I too, am starving! I went to lunch with my Mom (who, by the way, got approval for the RNY) to one of our fav Mex. restaurants and although I got the tortilla soup w/o tortillas, I practically drank the queso! The waiter laughed and brought me more! I took in more food than I have since being banded which depressed me and made me think that maybe I have caused the band to slip or that I don't have any restriction. I could cry. I want to follow the plan and stay with the liquids but I doubt cheese flavored lard is on the recommended diet! I'm so hungry----starving really! I have never in my life been so fixated on what to put in my mouth. I need to chew something. Can I have jerkey at this point? What about a big juicy rare steak? Fried chicken (just one thigh, I promise)? Fritos and bean dip? :hungry: Help!

I was banded by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez in Monterrey, Mexico and would say the same about him. Google him and you can see his qualifications and such. Great bedside manner and attentive staff. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking WLS outside of the STates. :clap2:

http://www.lapbandassociates.com/ Here is the website for my doctor and his team in the US. There are lots of educational links and information here so search it over. I hope this helps! Call Susan and/or Patti and they can fill in any missing answers you might have. Tell them Hi! from Raven if you would.

To ttbseffy, I don't mind posting my cost with Dr. Rodriguez at all. I don't know if it is the same for everyone but for me, the entire process including surgery, hospital fees, and hotel room was $8,100 USD which I took in a bank check. My food and extras were another $200 (granted--I love silver jewelry and Mexico is known for their silver). My flight from OKC to Monterrey (stop in San Antonio Airport) was a little over $500. You can probably get a better deal on flights if you schedule at least 45 days in advance. I booked and purchased my ticket just under 2 weeks before surgery so the cost was higher; still not to bad. So all in all, I invested about $9000 into my future health and happiness. As a side note....my mother is about to have RNY surgery in Norman, OK and the fee is aprox. $30,000. For the band, they charge aprox. $20,000. :ban: Her insurance has finally, and I mean FINALLY, agreed to cover the cost (90/10 split) of the surgery. Now we just need to get my baby sister approved. :party:

Hello, I had a high weight of 200 pounds but had lost some before surgery so my surgery day weigh-in was 180. I went to Monterrey, Mexico to have my band put in by Dr. Arturo Rodriguez. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the Doctor, his staff, the accomodations, the entire experience. I am one-week out of surgery and have lost over 10 pounds so far! I have a loose goal weight of 125 so I have aprox. 45 pounds to go! I haven't had a fill yet but am looking forward to it (sounds weird) but I am anxious to "get on with it". I have had a weight issue for about one decade now and no matter what diet I've done, I've gained it all back. Motherhood has been the hardest on my body though--I've been pregnant 6 times and have 4 living children. Each time, I gained 60+ pounds. Some weight would come off post delivery but I was always left with a little extra Momma belly. I love being a mom but I want my old body back! I want to be able to at least recognize myself in the mirror when I peer in. So Yes! There is hope for those like us who are low BMI in Mexico! It's too much work and discomfort (remember, only 1 week post surgery) to use as quick fix but for me, it is/ was the right choice. :ban: