jkpenny376

OMGosh..I am feeling so nervous...I can actually count on my hands until I leave to go...that is freaking me out. I am so excited and NERVOUS...not knowing the changes I will face and my issues with food and how with a family of 6 I am going to be able to maintain and cook for them and myself...and make the changes. What if I am that one in a 100 that it doesn't work on..our mind playes CRUEL tricks on us and our perception of how it will be. I guess since I have failed at every other diet or attempt to lose weight I feel the odds are stacked against me in my UPHILL battle to fight this weightloss. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY is what I am thinking about now. My hubby got me a massage for xmas and I haven't used it uet..but it expires the end of June....so I have to get it before I get the band because I know I won't be able to lay down flat and get rubbed like I am suppose to....I am even stressed about that........oh goodness. I think I need to just stop and breath... Does anyone know how long before you can swim. We have a pool and the kids and I usually spend a lot of time in it and I was just wondering also how long you have to wait? Thanks Junsters...ready or not here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:biggrin2:

I would like to respond to this thread. Please do not take offense but with you being on the US side to have the surgery and me being on the Mexico side I think it only fair that I express my situation. When you say you should think more about having it...please know that this has been years coming...I didn't wake up yesterday and say you know I think I want to have lap band in a foreigh country. Now I will say that in the beginning I searched the states for a way to get the band. Our insurance makes it IMPOSSIBLE to get it done and then they cap what they cover..so I have a 10k lifetime payout..well HELLO it costs more then that so I would have to cover the extra 6-7k for the band and all the requirements they put on it..not to mention the year they make you wait and the hoops you have to jump through. I have 4 kids and we live in a rural part of Texas so seeing these specialist continually isn't possible for me as they require it. Now does that mean I am ignorant to the risks and that I am being careless with going to MX. NO. I made an appt. w/my general prac. and told him my plans. I had him to a complete physical and run all my blood work. He talked to me in depth about my decision and wants to see me after the band is placed. I am taking all the precautions I can to make sure I am safe. For some the adiitional couple of thousand dollars might not be a lot..for me being a stay at home mom of 4 kids, single income family it is nearly impossible and my family is sacraficing for me to have this surgery. I am just grateful to my husband for allowing me this opportunity. There is NO room in our budget to finance the surgery for the states....trust me I have looked into it before we researched MX. The monthly rates are like a mortgage payment...again not a possibility. I have 2 personal friends that have been banded in MX..one was 4 yrs ago and one was this March. I have also had 2 friends banded in the states. All are doing good. I think RESEARCH is the key. There are many drs with bad reputations.....and it's your job to find that out. So it really doesn't matter where because you still have to research. As far as cash pay in the states and negociating the $$$$ haven't found any that are even close to my cost that Dr. Rod is giving me, and I don't know I would even want them touching me. Just a little info on me. I was raised in South America for many of my child years. I am fluent in Spanish. My father was a entrepaneur and had many ventures...so I know the bad wrap of some of these countries we visited and sometimes lived in...just like in the states there are slums and bad areas. Although I know you can't sue your MX dr. know that their practice is geared towards Americans, and they know how big our mouths are. For me finding a Dr. wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I first disqualified the ones I wouldn't use or researched and found to many negative postings on...and then went forward with my search. I have spent HOURS upon HOURS reading posts after posts and websites after websites on peopls opinions and experiences. I have spoken to Inamed, Dr. Rod himself, and hospital Angeles. I just don't feel guilty for making the choices I did and did my research. I have aftercare set up and am doing everything I can to make sure I have a great outcome...now does this mean I am not nervous as HELL? Well no it makes me human...and yes I am scared to have this procedure and yes I hope my choice was the correct one for me...and I will answer that ????? in 2 weeks. I know you only mean good, but please don't assume we haven't researched because we are going to MEXICO and that if we researched more we wouldn't go there. I have and I am still going there. :thumbup:Kelly

I have heard about this muscle milk. Where can you find it?

The thing I most worry about is not making it back to my children. That if something were to happen would this weight surgery thing be worth leaving my children for...but on the other side if I continue adding this weight I won't live my life to it's fullest and it will be cut short. With my other surgeries..c sections, hysterectomy those really weren't by choice. I guess you could look at it that this isn't by choice either..it is really about life and death.

I just placed my order for the Unjury product and you can order samples of the products instead of the whole shabang...which I would rather pay $4 for shipping on 3 sample packs to find out I didn't like it rather then paying $20 for something I don't like or want...so you should try it out this way and try the samples rather then the whole container. The sample packets run $1.75 per sample and my total for ordering 3 samples and the shipping was $8.70 for everything. Again I would rather have a few samples then a whole lot of stuff I don't want. Just FYI incase anyone else is also thinking about trying this stuff. Kelly

I AM SO PICKY ABOUT THESE THINGS. i AM NOT A MILK DRINKER AT ALL. The only way I can drink it is with lots of choc. or straw. syrup or in a milkshake. There is no way that I can drink anything that tastes anything like MILK alone. I am the kind of person that if I can't have the real thing and what I want I would just as soon not have it. I guess that's why I am the weight I am hu?

:frown:I found my email and have attached it...it appears those lovely wal mart type slim fast shakes that I like so much isn't good for the pre op phase...not enough Protein and to much carbs and sugar...rats that figures.:biggrin: PRE-OP DIET - for Dr. Rodriguez Dr. Rodriguez now requests that all patients with a BMI over 40 do a pre-op diet for two weeks before surgery. IMPORTANT: The key is to try to keep your carb intake less than 50 grams a day. The pre-op diet is designed to help you be internally healthier for surgery. The effects are not immediate. It takes about 10 consecutive days before results show up internally. The goal is to have the liver let go of some stored fat. Some people also call it a liver shrinking diet. This will mean an easier recovery for you post-op. BACKGROUND INFORMATION In the obese, the liver is a huge, fatty organ. It is “in the way” of the surgical area during band surgery, and must be held back with surgical instruments. An enlarged liver is very fragile and bleeds quite easily when touched or manipulated during surgery. This bleeding can be difficult to control, and the extra care required with an enlarged liver increases surgical risk, as well as surgical time. Longer surgical time and extended time under general anesthesia can make both immediate and longer-term recovery much more difficult for you. An especially large and fragile liver has even caused some band surgeries to be cancelled, for the safety of the patient. Following this Pre-Op Diet is extremely important. The goal is not to lose weight, necessarily, but to enter a temporary period of dietary ketosis, which is not harmful to you at all. However, many do lose a good amount of weight, which will jump-start your Band weight loss as you begin to regain and improve your health. It is this dietary ketosis that results in liver-shrinking and the normalizing of your metabolism so that you can do well with banding. Pre-Op Diet: THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A LIQUID ONLY DIET. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, KIDNEY OR HEART DISEASE; PLEASE CONSULT YOUR LOCAL PHYSICIAN BEFORE ALTERING YOUR CURRENT DIET. Start with proper protein sources (no less than 20 grams of protein per serving with 6 total grams of carbohydrates or less and 6 grams of saturated fats or less per serving), keep a close eye on the fat intake (don’t over do it). Some choices are lean chicken, turkey, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar free jell-o, pudding, Beans. Please include fresh fruit at least 2 times a day. PLEASE eat *only* solid protein! Choose only a piece of chicken, a lean steak, a hard-boiled egg, or some low-fat cheese. PLEASE: NO mayo, BBQ sauce, ketchup, sweets, junk food, cereals, or anything else. Even the smallest amount of non-protein, carb-laden food can take you out of ketosis and easily negate many day’s worth of the low carbs that are so greatly decreasing your surgical risk. Those that choose to use a Protein shake, please read the labels. You should try to choose a protein shake with between 20-30 grams of Protein, less than 6 grams of total Carbohydrates, and less than 6 grams of saturated fat per serving. Count only the NET CARBS that are on the label, not the “total” carbs. Please eat and drink NOTHING that is not clearly labeled as to net carb content. With some products, the “Net Carbs” are called “Impact Carbs” or “Effective Carbs”. Protein Shakes are NOT required, but are very convenient. These are just some of the brands that have the correct protein/carb/sat fat ratio: Iso Pure, Slim Fast LOW CARB, Designer whey, www.unjury.com. Your local GNC or other nutrition store will have a variety of drinks and bars to try. We suggest getting one each of several kinds to try before you buy a larger quantity, so you can find some you really like. Many find that the unjury brand of Protein Drink is the best tasting and among the least expensive. It is available only online, but ships very quickly. www.unjury.com Do a web search for “low-carb protein bars” and compare costs, grams of protein, and grams of Net carbs. Online sources are often much less expensive than those found in local stores, and the shipping is often free. We feel that the Atkins ADVANTAGE and ENDULGE Protein Bars are excellent, with about 3-4 grams of Net Carbs per bar, but there are several other brands that are fine. Watch out for things that you would normally not consider food! You must also have NONE of the following things that are full of sugar: · chewing gum with sugar or carb sweetener · breath mints · cough syrup · hard candy and cough drops. NOTE: Increasing your Water intake for 2 weeks prior to surgery greatly reduces difficulty in starting the IV. Your goal should be to drink enough plain water to keep your urine out-put pale to clear each time you void. Of course, nothing can beat a positive attitude. Deciding that you are "worth it" & willing to learn a new way of life is key. Thank you for following this very important first step toward a successful Banding and great Band weight loss.

Okay I pulled out a can and here is the stats on this thing. Serving size is 1 can 11 oz. 45 Calories from fat Calories 170 Carbs 24g Fat 5g Sugar 17g Sodium 210mg Potassium 650 mg Dietary Fiber 5g Sugar 17g It is the WalMart brand Ultra weight loss shake.

:thumbup:I have a great little trick to help those shakes go down. I use the walmart brand slimfast-"weight loss shakes." I slice up some bananas and put them in snack size baggies in the freezier. I do a whole bunch at a time so that I can just grab and go when I am ready to make my shake. At any rate I add into a small personal blender (found it at Wal Mart and it's a life saver. It is by Hamilton Beach) the can of weight loss shake aka slimfast and into that I put one teaspoon of vanilla and the forzen banana's. If it isn't frothy enough I add a little ice and blend that baby up. It tastes just like a banana milkshake...I could drink them all day. I have also added frozen strawberries and raspberries (no sugar added of course) but I didn't like those as much...there is something about the banana that goes so well with it. My husband is on the CINCH plan and this was a recipe that they use on their powder stuff. I like mine much better I must say...lets hope that is what I can drink, because his is to chalky type tasting....if anyone of you knows let me know please. Have a great weekend. Kelly

I am reading this stuff about protein shakes...I have been trying to get use to drinking these pre surgery. I am scheduled to have the band placed in MX June 5th. I have been drinking the Wal Mart brand Slim Fast shakes and wondering if this is what they were talking about. I know it is a meal replacer, but I was wondering if it had enough protein and if it was okay. HELP. I know nothing about this stuff and trying to decifier it all. Thanks

Okay guys. Anyone else getting nervous with your date approaching. I hadn't been nervous until now...I go onto my high protein diet starting Monday and I think it has finally hit me....I am really doing this and my life will forever be changed..........just wondering about anyone else about to be banded and how they are handling it? Kelly

:biggrin2:Will anyone else be in Mexico being banded in Juarez on June 5,6 or 7th?

I don't mean to be a pain but I need to be on the 5th instead of the 6th....sorry......

:confused:There must have been some sort of miscomunication...is all I can think about..and actually Dr. Rod quoted me a higher amount then Belite...at anyrate I haven't sent my deposit and will ask a few more questions before I go any further. Thanks for the response.... Kelly

Skinny---I was not implying that you were not legit in warning us..I just stated that I knew you had posted negatively about Belite. I was just wondering why Dr. Rod would contact them rather then going directly through patient to Dr. Because he or should I say HIS OFFICE contacted Belite and had them contact me. If he might not get the surgery then why would he risk losing the sale....not making sense to me...and I had already set up the dates with them and then Jessica reaffirmed those dates so I know she talked to them....I was not in any way trying to offend you and I am sorry if I did. I do appreciate all your info and posts... Kelly

Okay...in my last posts I talked about going through Dr. Jose Rodriguez directly. I contaced his office talked to Dr. Calderon and then to Dr. Rod himself....I then talked to Lupita a few days later to go over what I thought was the surgery information...I was asked how it was that I got their number---because of I guess their contract with Belite....and making sure as to not step on any toes....I GUESS!!! well I told them my friend had the band placed and she used Belite but that I wanted to go directly through them (the Dr.s office). Lupita said okay and that she would contact Dr. Rod and finalize everything and get back with me...the next thing I know Jessica from belite is calling me and saying the Dr. called her to set up my band....it's not that I mind...but I was just wondering why they wouldn't want to deal directly with the patient...I know there is a language barrier...at anyrate..it is cheaper then I thought it would be...and I asked Jessica about Dr. Rod doing the surgery..and she stated that if an emergency happened and Dr. Rod couldn't be there they could have another surgeon take his surgeries, but that I would be notified and have the option to reschedule, but that there would be no switching of surgeons as previously stated in some peoples posts without the patient knowing about it.....and that I would know if Dr. Rod was not the surgeon that would be performing the banding.....I asked her this NUMEROUS times and she assured me that it wouldn't happen. I just want a safe procedure done. I don't want the run around and I want to know the facts. I am wondering if because my friend used them (belite) then that makes me an automatic referral for them (belite). I know skinny despises them...and has nothing good to say about them..but it appears that now I will be going through them and am just interested in finding out more and what others have experienced good and bad. Jessica is my facilitator and my friend said she really liked her and had no complaints....so I am not necessarily saying its a bad thing..because I like knowing I am understood and that there was no lost in language type items...especially when we are talking about my health...I want em to KNOW what I said without a doubt. :biggrin2: I received all my pre and post op diets along with my health worksheet...and got my date...June 5th...woohoo. Anxiously awaiting your responses. Kelly

:thumbup:My band date has changed to June the 5th...getting it done one day earlier...YIPPY.

:redface:Hi all I am interested in hearing from those who were banded in Acuna and Juarez...and wondering why you chose your paticular hospital? I am scheduled to be banded on June 6th in Juarez, by Dr. Jose Rod. I like the fact that it's newer but just wondering what everyone elses experience was at Acuna..and about driving..we are talking about driving down...anyone have any info on that and how hard it was to find and crossing the border and taxies. I am not going through any facilitator..am speaking directly to the Dr.'s office so I was just wondering if anyone had any info. Thanks Kelly

:confused:Is anyone else having surgery in Mexico?

WOOHOO I just talked to Lupita w/Dr. Jose Rod's office and I am scheduled for June 6th...I can't believe it. I got my 10 pre op diet. Has anyone else gotten this and if so and you have already done it can you recommend some premade drink mixes that worked for you.:smile2:

I have been researching going to Dr. Rod at the Angeles hospital in JUAREZ, but I am interested in finding out if you have to use Belite, which I think is just a scheduler for them? Can anyone tell me what the service is they offer and if you can infact get it done there with that doctor and not use that service. Thanks Kelly:confused:

How can I get the ticker to show up on my profile?

:biggrin2:I am referring to Jose Rodriguez that is out of Juarez and Acuna. I don't know this first hand just what I have read on the posts but there seems to be some people not happy with Arturo...do a search in the top field and it will come up with all the posts that he is in and you can read for yourself...but Jose Rodriguez is who I will be using...and I personally know a friend that went to him and have talked to him and so far so good. Best of luck in your research. Kelly