Sufina

Dear Wasabubblebutt, You say the band got you to your goal and the sleeve kept you there? What do you mean? Was the band insufficient to use as a maintenance tool? Did you regain or did something go wrong with the band leading to a subsequent surgery? Just curious what your rationale for both surgeries were for? Why not just the band? Why did you need further surgery? I guess I'm most curious as I don't often hear from many who get to a size 4....thanks for any info you care to share. Sufina

To: wasabubblebutt: Have you posted any info on your subsequent sleeve surgery after the LB and if so, where can I review it? thanks, sufina

Hi Sheila, I am looking for a fill w/ fleuroscopy. I live in PDX. Can you give me a phone number for where you are in Salem? You could email me at: bdy@spiritone.com Thanks, Beverley

Since most of us have had ongoing love affairs with food, it's going to be a challenge to find other things to focus on. I've been giving this some thought during my first 6 days post-op with the limited array of choices (broth, broth or juice, water, tea etc). I would fantasize fixing myself meals (and even tho I live alone as a single person believe me, I cooked like it was serious entertaining!), each nite. Sometimes I would gather my ingredients from 3 different stores so I know alot of time and money was given to my food obsession. Now, I'm trying to consider what else there is in life I can get involved in. I know there are (thin probably) people out there for whom food isn't given much consideration so I feel this is going to be a real "growing" experience- that ultimately is going to make me feel much better about my life and feel healthier. I was (at 64) starting to get alot of the "co-morbidities" as a result of being overweight. i was about to resign myself to only a few years left at being very inactive and limited but now, I'm seeing a new future spreading out before me. This is going to strengthen us if we keep our dedication in focus. Love to read your input guys. thanks, sufina:tt2:

Hi Mary (Cadets) We were banded same day! Mine was in TJ, Mex, by Dr. Ortiz. My sister lives in Vegas; I'm in Johns Landing in PDX. I should let you know when I come down there; probably when weather is cooler. If you do know of any docs who use the fleuroscopy when doing a fill, I'd be interested in knowing who they are. thands, sufina (Beverley)

Here's a funny/sick example for you new bandsters that you can relate to, Remember, I'm just 6 days post op, headed to the gym at 3 pm for a little treadmill then on my way to Home Depot and guess what? I felt very hungey cuz I'd only had a cup of broth at 1 pm all day (except for am juice/supplements),, so I stopped at one of Portland's many coffee houses and sternly said to my inner wild child, "now, just get coffee and none of that other stuff (like goodies)" and proceeded inside. "Will there be anything else" said the girl. "Yes, I'll have the lemon sesame cupcake". You see, my "inner food police" has as much authority as Barney Fife so there I sat in my car, first just sampling a mere nibble. Nothing happened. I proceeded to take in larger and larger pieces, lusting for that full in the mouth ecstasy I remembered. Gulp- guess what happened? Just what was supposed to: my band rejected the material and back up it came. I'll spare you the details. It was not so pleasant a sensation. Once this passed, would you believe, I still looked at that muffin (I always eat the top off first) and wondered how I could trick my band and still shove it all in down my gullet?????Gaaawwwdddd! This at least convinced me that, Yes, they actually did install a band in my body, lest I forget that and IT WORKS! I'll keep ya posted guys. Came home and solemnly fixed my humble broth, Warmly, Sufina:tt2:

Hi, I was just banded by Dr Ortiz on June 5 and stayed at the Lucerna hotel. It was a wonderful experience. The clinic was immaculate, the hotel top rate service, staff very friendly, drivers pick up at airport courteous. Came home and decided I wanted to learn Spanish and maybe visit other parts of Mexico in the future. It was a very good experience and surgery was successful. Good luck to you; don't worry, it's probably safer than alot of stuff that goes on in this country. Sufina:tt2:

I could echo most of what everyone else is saying; I'm now 5 days post-op banding and because I've been surrounded by the mental attitude of staying on the liquid diet thru this period, I made some good soups and have juices, liquid supplements etc, food begins to fade just the tiniest bit. Not something you'd think would happen to someone who did all the typical "last supper" days. Shit, 2 days before surgery, I'd gotten rid of all my junk food, but like a maniac, scrounged thru the kitchen, found a box of brown suger, boiled it into taffy and ate the whole pan of it in one sitting. Did I feel bad? duh...Yes, us food addicts have it bad; it is not an easy thing to come to grips with, but acknowledging it, like an alcoholic does is a good place to start. Stay in touch with the support group, read up on compulsive overeating and if need be, find a good eating disorder therapist to work with. I'm reading something my therapist recommended called, "Eating under the light of the moon". It's very gentle and reassuring. Keep the faith! You've been led this far so I think the band is a great tool that will help us. warmly, sufina:cursing:

When I had my last gastroenterologist exam, a hiatal hernia was found along with gerd and a "schatzi" spot (whatever that was) but Dr. Ortiz banded me successfully as far as I know; I'm home 5 days post-op and the main complaint I have is soreness at the port site. I feel like the movie, "Ironman". Anyone else have port pain? Sufina:tt2:

and I will be visiting in the fall as have family there. I may need to find a fill doc there who also uses fluroscopy but definitely am looking to stay in touch with other bandsters. I went to Mexico for a June 5/ 08 surgery and am doing the liquid boring diet thing but glad I see a thinner future ahead with a different way of relating to food than I used to. Love to hear others input. thanks, sufina

Hi there; I was also banded June 5 and mainly feel port pain, earlier gas and bloating; now tightness to take deep breath in heart area. Had acupuncture and massage and daily walks to move the energy; making very nutritious soups (cheated with a couple nibbles but not too bad); don't really feel hungry but would love to chew and crunch on something - like nuts maybe or cheese....Sufina from Portland (formerly Vegas 20 years)

Hi Oregon guys! Thanks for your support; yeah, I leave tomorrow morning so I'm excited to know I'm going to get some real relief from what has begun to feel like I'm a prisoner in my own body to food. I notice how many times I just get a big charge out of cruising the grocery stores. Shit! But I've been in the worst of it for me so I am praying the procedure is going to give me a big boost at turning this around. By the way, it is not out of the question for me to return to TJ for a fill so if we ever need to go at the same time, we'll have to make it an occasion! sincerely, sufina

Hi DebOregon, I'm leaving tomorrow morning for San Diego to be picked up for Dr. Ortiz at OBCT Clinic; charge is $8000. I live in Portland. Sufina

Oh thanks, Judy... I'm doing kinda 1/2 ass on this pre-op thing but don't have an extremely high bmi so hopefully, I'll be ok for surgery. Yes, I noted there is about 7 of us scheduled for June 5 so hope to have a good visit with others. I'm looking forward to getting it started. Seems like the buildup is long but it is a very important transition for all of us. thanks, sufina

Hi fellow Portlanders (and others in OR as well!); I've been away for a month due to a family emergency. I had scheduled with Dr. Ortiz in Mexico for May 7 but now r/s for June 5 so in 2 days I start my "pre-op" diet; I'm afraid I've been "loading up" on food for the past month, thinking I'll never eat like this again! Jeez, this food thing is so hard but I'm really looking forward to taking this step. I have been a bit more active on the lapbandforum.com as it relates to those going to Dr. Ortiz since it is his website but I want to stay in touch with you guys since we have a common bond with our locale and some of us going to see Dr. Fitzpatrick. I spoke on the phone with her and she was really nice and helpful. I liked her right away; she is actually a Naturopath which is great in my book anyway. One of the things I noticed is when I drifted away from "you guys in the support group", I went back to bad old habits so I feel this connection is super important to our health and success just like AA can be to the alcoholic. I proved it to myself for sure. So, stay tuned and let's keep in touch. thanks all, Sufina

HI Angelic - My lap band date is May 7. Where are you having yours done? Sufina

Hi May flowers. I'm lol-ing as I read you guys' stuff. Talk about having a fit with your c-paps, weather, men, guilt over $ etc. I'm rite there w/ u all. Got annoyed with most of my family members over this or that and had to go to bed -alone again! with a frigging mask. again it's lol time. Going to Walmart to try and find some good protein shakes I can take to work for pre/post op nutrition. I notice now that my date is near (may 7), I'm getting more energy, waking up earlier, hating the continued binging I sometimes do, wonder what I'll do with all the time I won't spend: thinking about food, which recipe I'll prepare, what concoction I'll make (I cook for 10 and live alone of course), the cooking time and the clean up time and over and over. Guess I might have to take up knitting or crocheting? Or....maybe something really cool like shopping for new smaller chothes???? oh well, smiling on Sunday, Sufina

Thanks Kiki- I'll be seen by Dr. Ortiz in TJ, Mex. I'm in Portland, Or. Sufina

I've decided not to tell my mom ahead of time simply because she is old and sick and there is no point in alarming her as that is all it would do, But I do have a small collection of other friends I've shared it with- telling them adamantly that I definitely wanted their support, not their negativity, I guess for me, it has felt "so right" that nothing will stop me. The minute I decided, I felt like a huge weight lifted like now I can really have hope! Warmly, Sufina

Hey there May-Dayers! I'm going to be a "Band-ee" on May 7. Yeah for us!!! MEXICO is the place I go and really jazzed about it. Sufina

Well, good, at least I know someone reads what I have written. I did not know how to find this out and was feeling very frustrated like no one was there. I want to feel part of this process and have never chatted online or posted things before and have been trying to figure out the technical parts of it in order to relate to others who, like me, want to get their bodies to respond to and manage food intake in healthy ways. I get banded may 7 in mexico by dr, ortiz and can get fill from a dr. kelly fitzpatrick here in portland, who, apparently does the surgery and will do fills for those who got banded elsewhere so that's good; too expensive to fly to mexico for a fill each time. I didn't even know what a fill was until tuning in to these website forums. So, thanks brandy and kathi for your responses to me; I really appreciate that. warmly, sufina:tt2:

Hi, Sufina here; my band date is coming up soon: May 7!! I'm feeling really encouraged by being able to come to this site and "check-in". You guys are very inspiring and I sooooo look forward to a new way of relating to food, I have come to realize it has been a long-growing addiction for me that my love affair with food had begun to be my primary interest and it was narrowing down my ability to have energy to do anything else except go to work, come home and watch tv and binge., I even came home early from a vacation last year in Costa Rica because I had no energy to keep up with the activities, I felt such shame and blamed it on the heat and my (newly treated) high blood pressure, I now feel such hope and will count on this forum for my support. thank you all! warmly, sufina:tt2:

Hi, how/where do I find a thread for mayday bandsters? I'm excited, getting all my stuff in order, live in portland and go to mexico/self-pay. thanks, sufina

anyone know about how long it will take to lose 75 lbs?

I have posted information several times on this site and no one has responded even once. What do I have to do to be acknowledged here? Is this a closed clique or what? sufina