Nurseygirl

Hey, I heard that your taste buds change after surgery so don't buy a lot of protein shakes... You my start to dislike what you currently like.

I am scheduled June 3rd for lap band removal and VSG. I had my pre-op on Friday... No special diet though. I just have to have liquids only the day before... I am excited and anxious... I hope by the end of the summer, I will have to buy smaller size clothes... Good Luck to you all!!! I am excited for you all and can't wait to share our journeys and discussing our moments

I'm believe everything will work out! These dog on insurance requirements are such a pain! Good luck to you.

Hello everyone, I am scheduled to have my lap band removed and VSG on June 3rd. I had my pre-op yesterday. I did not need an EKG... I think they will do it on the day I go in. I wasn't given a pre-op diet to follow, I just have instructions to have liquids only, the day before. Lap band SW:233, lost 30lbs Current wt-246 Goal weight-150

Hi, I had a lap band placed in April/2008. I am scheduled for a lap band removal and a gastric sleeve on June 3rd. I am excited... I know that this will be the tool to help me loose weight finally. My doc didn't put me on a pre-op diet. He just told me to have only liquids the day before and nothing after mid nite. I am 40... And I've been battling obesity for the last 10-12 years. There is so much going through my mind.. Like, how will I look after I loose weight? How will my body look? I'm not worried that I won't loose weight.. I'm pretty confident, but I'm worried about complications, not loosing enough, how I will start to look.... Sounds silly, huh?

Hello, I was banded on 04/23/08 by Dr. Juan Antonio Lopez-Corvala at Angeles Hospital. I recieved my 1st fill today (06/02/08-2.2cc). You have asked really good questions. I can answer some of the questions that you ask, but only a few. Dr. Corvalla said his erosion rate is 6%. He has done quite a few lap-bands, more that most MDs who do them here in the states. The reason being that he has been doing them a lot longer and this makes his erosion rate higher than the average (3% for most doctors who have done 3 times less). I have read different medical journals, about the topic of erosion in lap bands. There are hardly any research articles that discuss erosion in debt but I did find one. Erosion cases in Europe (comprehesive of studies in UK and Germany) were studied in debth this was published by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2005. This article state that 90% of the studied band erosion cases the cause are unknown. There are many reasons that are believed to be the cause of erosion (high acidic diet, immune responses, over production of the acid in the stomach, enzyme abnormality, infection and the most popular, "the unknown". The misconception that when erosion occurs it is always the surgeon's fault is untrue. In fact only 1% of these lap bands erosion occuraces were the surgeon's fault. When it is the surgeon's fault it is because they place the band too low. I will get you the volume and issue #so you can read it. It is very long though. I don't know any surgeons who specialize in laproscopic adjustable lap band procedures who do not have an erosion that has not occured. Given the article I read, it really doesn't matter. Tell your friend that he/she should do the research themselves before choosing the surgeon who is going to do it, its more authentic and going off a suggestion or promoter of other people can be disasterous. This website has a lot of suggestions on how to go about researching surgeons. [/img]

I was also banded on 04/23/08. I have lost only 10 lbs. It seems like I am loosing at a slower pace. I had a very uncomplicated experience when I was banded in Tj, Mexico. I am eating soft foods now and so far have not eating anything that doesn't agree with me. I get hungry but when I eat, I get full really fast. Has anyone scheduled their first fill yet? Has anyone started with any exercising? Resi 230/219c/137 [/img]

Originally Posted by mamacita April 1--Bunky1965, mamakatken, nortone (Erika), alicatcyclist (Allie) April 2--MissLady, Natasha, Leoyne, dogluvr(Amanda) April 3--GiGiRN, ebowling, alicia99, p3photogal,BigBandFan(Amy),dsk April 4--magic 1127, ColoradoChick, cheercoach08 April 5--southerngirltx April 6-- April 7--davisd, Lizb88, Susanbee, mrspws, thunderstorm816 April 8--Carol422, CinniMae08, carol4784, Cori in WA, Mrs. Green April 9--bft33, lizalee, moosey52, warrior April 10-Turler, cadencemarch, dreamsize8, Denise (from Canada), VegasJen, Leslie2Lose, Karly1, Ashleykay5, jeepsssss April 11-Lynne (countingthedays), tatt2, LisaB411,Susan{livn4jesus}, tweety63 April 12- April 13- April 14-DaNieLLe (Dshea8285), Sluefoot April 15-Chilly April 16-nurse7263, Bea1128, Hunee B, yarddog, Andy (RedDirt), Pearlygirl April 17-Johnst027, Jo Skinnie, Asenft April 18-Astrid(scarlettbegonia), JennyLynn, Cameroncapt ,Shakara(tyme4change) April 19-88KEYZ (Debbie in Mexico) April 20 April 21-Marisa (dancinglamb), Kris (kalipso2), sldeems, BIG DAWG LONG ISLAND,Carol(dandy75)LV, April 22-Pat (Tricia1105), CTCUTIE,Katkeen(Kathleen), Jeanie3b, NewDiva2008 April 23-Pearlygirl, Yvonneb3, Resi97 in TJ Mexico:tongue2:, April 24-Savedbygrace,KatieBelle, Blund, Bobbiedoll, Baggio April 25-bling, Tamboclan (Tammi) April 26 April 27 April 28-bigdaddy:thumbup: , ImWkgOnMe, jrob281, newl April 29-lisa65, nesser081982, Maria79, schoolrn (Sharon), wdwcrazy April 30-Enchanted (Christine),mamacita (Laura)

I was banded on 04/23/08 (15 days since surgery). I don't think I have totally followed the recommended post-op diet. I have been eating soft foods since about 10 days post-op. I am pretty much eating all foods accept junk food and fried foods. I have lost 11 lbs since my surgery date. A few days post-op I had no appetite and I felt full all the time. I had to make myself eat something. Then about 7 days post-op I was really, really hungry. About the 10th day, I ate some eggs and I had clam chowder for lunch (I went back to work 5 days post-op). I tolerated the meals with no stomach ache and I never had any nausea/vomiting. So I felt it should be ok to just eat things of that consistency. The only reason why I believe I am still loosing weight is because my portions are significantly smaller and I am eating healthier. I cannot eat a lot at a time (I get full really fast). Its been great because I've been eating what I want and just having a little makes me feel satisfied and full. What really gets me is that I actually want things that ae healthier. I have not called for my first fill appointment yet because I thought you can't get a fill until your weight loss has come to a halt. Is this true? Can someone elaborate more about the fill procedure? Does it always hurt? Resi [/img]

Dr. Corvala performed my lapband procedure on 04/23/08. Everything went well. I think he and his staff were very professional. I am a nurse and I have been in some really crazy looking hospitals, but this was the best one I have ever been in. I was very comfortable. I had an uncomplicated recovery and went back to work on 04/28/08. So far I have no reqrets. As far as the patient care, I think they need to be more culturally sensitive and get more education about pain management. I also suggested that they have an English version of their procedure consent forms. Those were my only issues that I had. I got the pain management that I needed but I just had to be more proactive about it. I made them explain the consent form in debth. They didn't like having to do it, but I told them that in order to fully inform patients who do not speak or read Spanish, this is what they just have to indure while suggesting that the include an English version in the future. They were nice about everything. Resi Banded on 04/23/08 by Dr. Juan Antonio Lopez-Corvala at Angeles Hospital [/img]

The cost is $8000.00 for my scheduled lap band on 04/23/08.

Hello Legallyblonde2, I should have said that I read all of the threads (good and bad). I have read the 3 pages (when I do a name search). If there are more please direct me because I am new to this website. I totally understand what you are saying when you say "I almost died" what else does the person need to hear. When a person reports that they almost died, I am wondering what the conditions were. What happened? Its a statement with no other facts to support it is what it means to me. The threads that I have read, reports that they were not happy with Dr. Corvala's bed side manner, They have also stated simular things that you have said. I have not read any details of anyone's bad experience, maybe I can go back and read all of your threads, I don't know. I need to make sure I read all threads related to Dr. Covala, I think I have done that but I don't know. I understand and respect that you do not want to explain your obvious terrible experience because you have in the past and you do not want to rehash what happened to you. I am simply saying that when people are reading these threads (including myself) the details of what people say are what help people the most. For example, the reason why people may go through the surgery with Dr. Corvala is because all the positive feed back is detailed, they are praising the service, the success of their surgery and their weight loss journey. These things are more noticable and desirable than a few statements, that Dr. Corvala almost killed me or I almost died without any other explanation. Actually its a little irresponsible if you are trying to bring awareness to a group of people. Its like your saying "I had this bad experience that almost cost me my life but I don't feel like telling you about it". What are people like myself who are new to this website and are eager to have this surgery to do with that. I'm not trying to be nosy but If you said something like, I almost died because Dr. Corvala did not do my sutures correctly, therefore I got terrible infection or he did not do any pre-op tests (that happened to a friend with another Mexican doctor) or I suffered from a hemotoma because Dr. Corvala nicked my gastric vein. Those things carry a lot more weight. I sorry, but I did not read details like this in anyone's bad experiences. People stated general statements similar to yours. Let me know if there are more threads than the 3 pages that I have read about Dr. Corvala. And I am truly sorry for your bad experience. Resi

Hello, I have read everyone's reply about Dr. Corvala (bad and Good). When I decided that I would have my lap band in Mexico, I set out to research doctors as I would hear in California. I actually called Allegan and verified that he is indeed a proctor for them, I have a friend who called the Mexican Board of Medicine and found out that he has a valid medical license. I beleive that Dr. Corvala is definetely experience and skilled enough to perform this surgery for myself. I think educating myself about the surgery itself, the possible complications and researching doctors who practice in Mexico (which is quite challenging) helped me get to where I am in deciding to have Dr. Corvala perform my surgery on 04/23/08. For those who gave negative feedback about Dr. Corvala. I would like to know what complications you had. Having this information is helpful for me and others who really want to make the right decisions for their healthcare. I would like to know what complications you had because it will help me determine 1. Was it really "surgeon error" or was it just a complication that occurred? 2. Is the complication manageable if it happens to me? and 3. Does these complications make me not want to have the surgery? I am not trying to get in your business but it think you really could shed some light on the negative feedback for many who read this. I for one am a surgical nurse, and I need to know more objective information before I can make a decision. All docs have their good qualities and bad (like all people) and not every surgery will go 100% ok, however, the personality of surgeons especially, is that they are perfectionist (most don't believe they are capable of making a mistake) so they think immediately that it is the patient must have done something. Resi