KINGSKID66

Hi Wilma, Dr. Ortiz's website is obesitycontrolcenter.com. You will see the link for the book on the right side of the page. Let me know if you have any other questions. I thought the book was very informative. That may be why my surgery went so well, because I was quite informed ahead of time. Best Regards, Lynn

Hey Wilma, Dr. Ortiz normally charges $9,500 unless his prices have changes. When I say it was a BLESSING to get that $1,000 off, it really was. Previously, I had asked one of the lap band consultants if he ever does any discounts. She said No, I've been here for a few years and have never seen him discount his prices. Then lo and behold, a few months later he comes with the grand opening discount! I was so happy!!! And YES, I am a Christian. We certainly do know each other, don't we?! Again, get Dr. Ortiz's book if you can. I think it will answer a lot of your questions. Have a wonderful day. Lynn (things get confusing on this site when you dont address your message to anyone in particular ... i'll have to keep that in mind.)

Hey Wilma! Dr. Ortiz did my surgery back in April. I then went back in June for my first fill. I love Dr. Ortiz and his staff so much I wish I could make him my primary care physician. It could get a little costly every time I get a headache, though! (I live outside of Atlanta, GA) He and Dr. Martinez are the BEST! (And cute as EVER!) They are so awesome. I am so totally comfortable with Dr. Ortiz's facility that I have NO hesitations or reservations with recommending him. I was Blessed to have gotten in when he first opened up his new facility. He was giving $1,000 off as a grand opening special. It was all I needed to take the plunge. I too was self-pay. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I've lost 31lbs and still have about 40 to go. But I feel so much better. My procedure was sweatless and I believe you would be equally pleased with Dr. Ortiz. Nowhere in the United States would I EVER have access to my Doctor by way of cell phone or any other means. I have spoken with Dr. Ortiz on the phone numerous times. It is a LOT different than here in the states. Let me know if you have any other questions I can answer for you. By the way, Dr. Ortiz published a book on the lap band procedure. I ordered it and read it before I had the surgery. After the book, I knew I wanted Dr. Ortiz to do my surgery. His website is obesitycontrolcenter.com (I think!) God Bless and the Best to you. Write back when you can. Lynn

Hey Robin, Thanks for the info. Does the initital $210 include a fill? If no, that is quite pricey. If I don't have the time to drive to Tampa, I'm considering just using skymiles and flying back to San Diego and going to Dr. Ortiz. The $250 I'd pay him is probably cheaper than what I would pay here in the states. At least with fill centers usa the initial price of $299 includes your first fill. I can't remember if it's flouro or not. Are you are your sweet spot yet?

Really ... Who? Have you been there before?

yeah ... columbia, sc is quite a ways away from me. about 5-6 hrs. i may go to the tampa location. thanks.

I'm definitely not interested in paying $2,000 to get on someone's "program." I posted a thread about fill centers but don't see it on the board yet. Has anyone gone to fill centers usa? Lynn

Greetings All! I havent posted in quite a while. I'm down 30lbs and feeling great but have definitely stalled out. Has anyone ever had a fill and not feel any different? I had my first fill (2 cc's) in June and it made NO difference for me. I am considering going to a fill center in Tampa in a couple of weeks to get another one. They closed the center in Nashville and I see there was one in another part of Florida and it appears to be gone also. These centers are supposedly "Dr. Ortiz certified" so I wonder what's up with the closures??? Anyone have experience at these centers? Lynn

Jjolive, I had my surgery with Dr. Ortiz on April 6th. He is the BEST! I'm not sure who Dr. Spiegel is, but I can tell you from first hand experience Dr. Ortiz/Martinez and their staff are TOP NOTCH! I just returned to TJ this past Wednesday to get my first fill. I absolutely love those folks! As far as financing, I received an offer in the mail for a 0% interest credit card and that's what I used. Fortunately, I got my surgery done during the time Dr. Ortiz was offering $1,000 off in celebration of the opening of his brand new facility. That made a HUGE difference for me. I knew i wanted Dr. ortiz to do my surgery after I researched it for over one year. I just didn't know how I would afford him. This was a great decision for me. I feel so much better. After losing only 24lbs it has made a big difference in how I feel about myself and about life in general. I don't know if I helped you at all. Most of all, I just want to convey that you will be in the most capable hands with Dr. Ortiz and his staff. God Bless, Lynn

Hey June Bandits! Congratulations to you all who have (or will have) the surgery. I was banded on 4/6/06 with Dr. Ortiz and just went for my first fill on Wednesday. I am so glad I did it! I wish you all the best. The gas pains will go away. They are definitely a booger - I vividly remember that. I used GAS-X strips. They kick in right away and cause the pain to subside quickly. I think a lot of people think the gas is burping and farting gas. It's gas used to inflate your stomach during the surgery. It is painful when your body is expelling it afterward. I was really nervous about that. I didn't anticipate I would be fun to be around for a while!!! LOL. but it's not gas like we think. If I can answer any questions for anyone, please feel free to hit me up! Dr. Ortiz's staff is soooo AWESOME! I love them all. I wish I could make him my primary care physician. Of course, traveling to TJ from Atlanta because I have a headache would be a bit much!!! Let me know if I can help! God Bless, Lynn

Hi Tina, Congrats to you! You will love Dr. Ortiz I'm sure. He is awesome. I wish I could convince my insurance to make him my primary doctor!! I am 5'6 and now weigh 208 and feel great. Now that I am learning to not drink really cold beverages I'm doing a lot better. I ate a little salad with some grilled chicken yesterday evening. My husband is really helping me to do better. On occasions I do eat, even with small portions, I still tend to put too much on my plate (even using a saucer). So, my husband told me to fix it then divide everything in half and that is generally a safe portion for me. It has worked. I'm still not really hungry though. I can drink a protein drink and be just fine. The head hungers are probably moreso what I deal with. I wish you well, Tina. Please let me know how things go for you when you return. Make sure you take gax-x strips with you. They will probably come in handy. Take care! Lynn

Hey Everyone, I haven't posted in a about a week. I am 14 days post op and feel so bloated and nasty. Did anyone else have this feeling? Did anyone else have a hard time taking a "dump" after surgery? Initially, it seemed like the swelling in my stomach was going down. Now, it appears to be swollen again. I wonder if being on my period has anything to do with this. I haven't had much to eat but this bloated feeling will not go away. And what does everyone mean when they say their band feels tight? What exactly does that feel like? Maybe that's what I'm experiencing. Only, I'm tight all day long! HEEEEELLLLP!!!! Lynn

hahahaha!! Mandi (that's easier!) that is too funny! i'll use Mandi from now on. I will look for the benefiber. Dr. Ortiz told me that I am probably experience spasms from drinking too cold beverages. I realized when exactly the pain started on Friday. It was right after I drank a bottle of cold Water. And you know what? I did the same thing again today!!! I have to get out of the habit of drinking stuff with ice, at least for now. It wasn't until AFTER I drank it and the pain began that my husband reminded me. I feel better now. Thanks for your help! Lynn

Aragon, Yeah, I think I've practically O.D.'d on the gas-x. The strips have been a lifesaver for me. I am so happy to be feeling much, much better today. I can definitely tell the inches are coming down. I'm real excited. I will go get some Metamucil/Benefiber or something. I obviously need a little help right now.

Thnaks, Carol. I guess I'll have to up my water intake. I feel a LOT better today. Some of the bloating has subsided. I felt like a balloon ready to burst at any moment! It was a horrible feeling. I feel great today. Thanks for your input.

Hey Everyone, I am 2 days post op. I feel great except for the gas pains in my chest. Of course, my port site is sore also. I had a rough night of sleep. My heating pad probably kept it from getting any worse. I chewed a gas-x, but don't think that made any difference. Any suggestions. Thanks, everyone. Lynn

Hey Dody, I think the gas pains actually come from the gas that is used to inflate your stomach during the surgery, itself. I'm not certain, but I think the pains come from the gas dispersing from your body. It's not like burping and farting gas - at least it wasn't for me. Maybe some others need to weigh in on it. Come to think of it a good B or F probably would have felt good!!! Lynn

Hey Paula, How great you have it - mashed potatoes and carrots on the post-op diet. I know Boo probably hates you right now!!!! Dr. Ortiz is very conservative with his patients. We don't get to eat solid foods really until three weeks out. I have been living off a can of tomato soup with week. It has been fine. Boo is hungry and frustrated also. I can relate to wanting to have something of substance to eat. Do you plan to cook for your family for Easter? I will. If I would like to mash something up and eat it, I may. As long as I don't feel any side effects I think I'm fine.

Paula, You were banded on 4/7 - was Dr. Ortiz your doctor?

Paula, You are doing great! How did the mashed potatoes go down? Did you have to make them really thin?

Boo, You are hilarious!! Paula said she was told she could have mashed potatos. I don't remember if Dr. Miranda told me or if it was written somewhere about mashed potatos once you move to the mushy food group. I believe Dr. Miranda mentioned it though because she said to make sure it's really thin!! So ... nanny-nanny-boo-boo! I still don't want to eat anything. What is so funny, I dreamed this morning that I was hungry. (How insane is that?) But when I woke up, I wasn't at all. I barely get in 500 calories a day right now. As long as I'm remaining upright and the pounds are dropping off, I ain't complainin'!

Hey Paula, Boo sent an e-mail to Dr. Miranda because she was really weak from not getting enough nutrients. Today, she and I are now 6 days post-op. Dr.Mirando bumped her up to the 8 days post-op diet. Mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC would probably be delicious if I could stomach it. I'm sure it would needs LOTS of gravy so it goes down smoothly. I have been so blessed not have hunger pains at all. I have to force myself to eat something. I barely ate 1/4 cup tomato Soup and a Jello cup yesterday. I felt so bloated afterward. It subsided after a while and I just didn't eat anything else. In the second phase you can eat eggs can't you?

Hey Debbi! Yes, I am back. Actually, my husband and I got back from San Diego on Monday. Dr Ortiz, Martinez and their staff were amazing. My surgery has been a BREEZE! (I pray it stays this way.) I know I'll probably be hated by those going through agony right now. The gas pains in my chest went away after 4 days. I've lost a total of 9 lbs. My incisions are still a little sore. I went back to work yesterday. I had short cases yesterday and today so it was good not to have to work a full day. But I feel fantastic! Still dealing with the head hungries, but physically cannot eat much of anything. I forced myself to eat about a 1/4 soup and a jello cup. Couldn't eat anything else. Trying to make myself drink more water. The Gatorade is working though. Thanks for checking in, Debbi. I feel GREAT!

I'm actually doing quite well today. I'm 5 days post-op and feel great. the gas pains have subsided, considerably. I'm using a sippy cup because I drink too fast otherwise. When I don't use it, the pains come back. I never had shoulder pain at all. Praise the Lord! It sounds very painful. Can't do that bending over suggestion yet. Incisions still too sore. Thanks for the advice.

No ... You are hilarious! I told my husband what you thought I would look like. We were cracking up!