jena

Katie, I am doing well! The Atlanta fill office is great. It's like visiting family when I go. As a matter of fact, everyone who works there IS family! The nurse Darlene was one of the first people Dr. Ortiz trained to give fills. Her brother-in-law is a retired MD and also does fills so you will be well taken care of. All fills are done using a fluoroscope so there is no guessing involved. You get to watch your band in action! Nothing to worry about in the Atlanta office! Good luck to you. I encourage you to get it done!

It's not just women who have them. Many men have them too! Especially men who lift weights. You don't necessarily have to be fat to have stretch marks. Many people get them on their hips, thighs and behind during puberty because you are developing your curves and the skin stretching over that area gives you the marks. Next time you see a man with really muscular arms, look really closely and I bet you'll see stretch marks. Jena

I too had a small hernia repair at the time of the band. If I hadn't been told, I would never know. Took a gas x strip before the surgery and I've had no problems with gas or anything since. I'm about 36 hours post banding. :smile:

I have to agree with the person who said they were treated well from the moment they stepped off the plane. Dr. Ortez could not be any more nicer and the entire staff are fantastic. There is a doctor on staff 24 hours a day. The rooms are like small hotel rooms! Sofa, chair, bed, cable tv. I was lucky and have no problem with gas. I made sure to take my gas-x strip before the surgery. Maybe that helped. My incisions are a little sore but not uncomfortable. Sort of like being bruised. My step mom and I went shopping on Revolution St. today where all the vendors are. We had a great time and came home with lots of souvenirs. I haven't been hungry today, I have had juice, Water & chicken broth & some tea. Anyone thinking of seeing Dr. Ortiz, I've had a great experience down here. You are treated like a queen. Jena

I had already paid my deposit and was ready to do it before I told anyone I was going to Mexico. When I did let my sister know she blew a gasket! I listened to her concerns and let her know that I understood how she feels, but I had made up my mind and there was no discussing it. Other people had "that" look on their face (horrified!) but I wasn't asking anyones permission and I guess they sensed that because no one had anything negative to say. Most everyone wants to be sure that I've done my research and I assure them that I did. I'm going this week to TJ to be banded and I can't wait to go!! Good luck! Jena

I'm from Atlanta as well and I will be flying to TJ on Wednesday and have surgery with Dr. Ortiz on Thursday, May 8. I'll let you know how it goes! He is an excellent doctor and is a proctor for the maker of the Lap Band. He's trained many of the US doctors in the Lap Band!! You can get your fills done in Roswell at Fill Centers USA, and from what I hear, they are wonderful there. I found the same thing you did. Self pay in Atlanta was just way too much. With all the charges - surgeon, assistant, anesthesiologist, surgery room, etc. it would be over $24,000! That doesn't include all of the pre-op testing that has to be done and insurance won't pay for because it is part of the Lap-Band process! Jena

Ugggh! Egg white powder is just that. It returns to regular old egg whites when you add Water. The only thing I can imagine that makes it better than cracking an egg and using the white is that the powder is pasteurized so there is no danger of bacteria. Now maybe if I whipped it up with a little sweetener and made meringue...add some crushed strawberries....hmm...maybe it's not so bad after all! Jena

That is such an inspiring post, I had to quote it so it would be posted twice! :tongue_smilie: Jena

From my dietitians instructions as soon as you are able to eat food, you should not be drinking the shakes. They are only to give you Protein while your band is healing. So, hopefully, they won't be a big part of your afterband life!

You love your wife very much and it shows. The thing about being overweight is that it is a very personal thing. Even as close as it seems you are with your wife, she's having a struggle inside her that, based on my experience, she hasn't even shared with you. I was pretty much in the same situation when I was married. My husband was kind and caring and understood the problem because his weight went up and down, but there wasn't anything he could say or do that helped in the long term. He was totally supportive for me, offered to go to the gym with me, walk with me, everything. It didn't help. He was torn because he was hurt that I was hurting inside, but on the other hand disappointed in me when his attempts to help failed. That didn't make it any easier for me. So, with all that being said I have some advice for you. :tongue_smilie: ASK HER how you can help. Quit offering suggestions to her. I know they are coming from your heart, but what she really needs is for the pressure to be off. You can really be the best support by just asking her what she needs. If she's depressed or crying about her weight, give her a shoulder and a hug. Tell her you love her. As was mentioned above, if she's not excited about getting the band, then even with it she will not be successful and it will be just one more time she failed. Hugs to you and your wife, Jena

Good luck sweety! Can't wait to hear how it goes. I'm having mine in 2 weeks, 3 days!

I eat things I can eat on my pre-op diet. sugar free popcicles, sugar free Jello and sugar free jello pudding. I'll drink Special K Protein Water. If I'm really starving I will have a Lean Cuisine turkey/greenbeans frozen meal. It's only about 150 calories. I'm not on Atkins, though.

Do people really watch you while you sleep? That makes it sound like people are standing around your bed watching you sleep. :rolleyes2: But I can totally understand why you think that. Actually, in my case, there was a tiny camera up on one wall that was pointing at the bed. They HAVE to watch you in order to see if you quit breathing and if you wake up while sleeping. I don't think they actually watch you all night long, just when the monitors show you have stopped breathing. Maybe someone out there who is a nurse can tell us more. If you are worried that you might do something to embarrass yourself while sleeping, I suspect they have seen just about anything that could happen! :scared2: Loud snoring does not always have apnea associated with it. Some people are just loud snorers!

Good for you for doing liquids for the next two days!! You will do fine, the weight you gained is probably just Water weight since it is so much in so little time. Two days of liquids should get most of that off of you. Drink, drink, drink water all the time. I sometimes have edema (swelling of the feet) and my doctor staid drinking fluids is the best way to get rid of water weight. Good luck and relax!! Jena