mtnman428

Quote: Originally Posted by vegasgirl44 Ok, if you get offended by that time of the month talk, I apologize, and please read no further. HOWEVER, if you are intrigued, please continue. I am on day 9 of my preop diet of Protein shakes. I am supposed to stay under 1200 calories per day and have actually been hovering around 600-700 per day. Saturday night I ate a package of turkey bacon. Sunday morning, I gained 1 lb and today, I woke up and gained another half lb. I simply cannot tell you how discouraging this is. I'm supposed to get my period next Monday (I think this diet has thrown me off schedule) but I'm already bloated and cramping. Maybe I'm starting sooner, but I'm still pissed off that my scale is not going in the right direction. I have not had anything except that damn bacon, and I still came in under 1200 calories that day. I think I just need encouragement and a similar story...yeah, that would help. My scale is going to go down a lot after my period comes, right? I'm 47 years old. I should know this by now, but I need a hug. :thumbdown: Or just some cheese with the wine. :cursing: Hey Vegas...I'm probably a bit late on my reply, but I just read your post and wanted to offer my opinion, and past experience on this. I do think that your period will affect your weight loss, and once it is over you should notice a drop (as long as you haven't cheated). However, I also think that the Turkey Bacon may be the culprit to your bloated weight gain. Even if that package of turkey bacon was in your calorie allowance, it still mostlikely had way over the recommended sodium intake for the day; which, probably retained Fluid in your body, making you bloated and more weight. I say this only from personal (bloaty) experience. Cutting some of the sodium should help with the bloating, as well as adding lots of Water to flush out the sodium. Although, my Dr. told me NOT to take any diuretics to take away the water. So just do it the natural way, and celery and cucumbers help too! I hope this helps somewhat. Good luck!:thumbup:

I just had to get online again (I'm addicted). Thanks Orea, and you have a safe surgery too in a few days!

OK, I'm really doing this!!!! I leave at 7:30AM for my surgery in Mexico; which, is scheduled for Thursday the 24th. I probably won't have computer access, but I'll get back onto Lapbandtalk when I get back after the 27th. Wish me luck please And Good Luck to all of the upcoming Lap Banders! :ihih::seeya:

Hi Steve, I just wanted to also reach out to you and say good luck with your issues. I'm also being banded in Mexico on July 24th. I leave on the 23rd-so soon! My story is much like yours. I lost 75LBs as a teenager, kept it off thru high school, then gained it back plus some. In 2002 I lost 87 more pounds, and swore that I would not let myself gain it back again! After a break-up I used food to comfort me, and just didn't care. That spiraled out of control, then it was harder to manage and/or lose the weight. Now I realize that I need more help other than calorie counting and exercise and I pray that the band will be the answer. I SO know what you mean by tasting the good life. I was so much happier with myself (and the attention) that I got as a thinner person. Now I won't even date (on the off-chance that I could) because of my own discomfort with my body. Whoo, seems like I had to vent too. Good Luck and safe trip to you!

Whoa, :ohmy: yeah find a new fill Dr.!!! $400 just for the visit is outrageous! What does he fill the band with-gold???

Yikes! Let's look on the bright side, and hope that we all get to our desired weight, health and happiness from our investments in ourselves! :ohmy:

Thanks Dr.C and SpecialK (and others before that)! Although now I guess it is too late for me to change anything anyways. My surgery is in less than 4 days!!! I had originally thought that I'd just be able to ask my Dr. for it, but I guess that the AP is not available in Mexico; which, I find so odd since Lap Band was available there before it was available in the US. I emailed Dr. Ortiz and he said that he will be placing the Lap Band, and that the AP is not really more advanced (and that it just has a mechanism that allows a Dr. to open it if he does not have the ability to open the buckle) He said that we could discuss it more when I get there Wednesday. I'm still not completely sure that the AP wouldn't be better for me, but I hope that the original one will be fine as well, since that's what it looks like I'm getting. :biggrin::blushing::ohmy::sneaky:

Hey everyone! I'm being banded in Mexico, (Dr. Ortiz) 1 week from today. I have been doing even more research again, and have been reading up on the newer Lap Band AP. I emailed my Dr.'s office to see if that is the one that I will be getting, but they responded that they use the regular Lap Band. She (receptionist/consultant) also said that the Lap Band AP is just a replacement version (with a few modifications) of the Lap Band VG, and that it's just a little tactic that Allergan uses to make that 1 sound better. From what I have read about the Lap Band VS the AP, I thought that the AP sounded better (it can be opened if need be without replacing, no tight feeling in the morning, etc...) So my question is, what do you all think and have inside you? Does anyone know if 1 is actually better than the other? Please tell me some of your experiences with having the AP (and those who don't). I do know that if my Dr.s office does not carry it, then they are not going to promote it, so that's why I'm asking all of you (and because you're all so helpful). Thanks!

I'm being banded next week, so I can't help you on the other stuff, but I'd say get the fill (as long as you need it). If you already have some restriction now, then maybe 1 fill will take you a long way. As far as the money, I hear ya. My health coverage was going to cover my surgery, but then I lost my job too. Now I'm a self-pay. I found a local Dr. that will do my fills for $165 (w/out Fluoro). So, as much as that does suck, it is not too huge of an amount from your savings. Good luck!

Hi! I'm also being banded on the 24th and am nervous and excited too! Where/who are you having it done? I'm going to Mexico. Good Luck!

Hello, I'm being banded next week in Mexico, so I have to start thinking about packing. I'm just wondering about right after surgery, and the incisions being sore. Is an underwire bra going to be too difficult to wear afterwards? What about pants? What did you all wear the few days following surgery? I have some loose enough (twill) pants, but they do have a button and zipper. Will that get in the way? Should I just plan on some kind of baggy sweatpants the whole time, and a non-underwire bra? Also, am I going to be able to pick up my luggage in the airport?? Or will I have to have my friend tote mine and hers? Any tips on what to bring with me? As of now, I have gas-X strips and a heating pad. That's about it. Thanks all!

Sorry I can't help-I go in next week, but great question! I'd like to know that too.

Hi all, I'm new and have just scheduled my band for August 15th with Dr Ortiz in TJ. Fortunately, most of the research was already done for me since my wife got banded by Dr Otiz in February. She is coming down with me in august for a fill and to check out the plastic surgeon. She's already down 60 lbs and into the home stretch.

I'm new too. I am being banded on august 15th by Dr Ortiz in TJ I'm from okotoks, alberta, canada

I'm a chartered accountant in Calgary, Canada. I've sat at a desk for 20 years and its finally caught up to me. I am getting lap band on August 15th.

Just testing to see if my ticker works! I thought I did it right, but not sure. I can't figure out my Mac!

I would try to speak to the Dr. and nurse about it too! If it get to the point that you have to, then tell them that you feel that they were stalling your fills on purpose just to get money out of you now. If all else fails (because it may be hard to win that case, even if you are right), then you should definitely tell them that you will not be going back to them for a fill. Then find another Dr. or Fill Center in your area that will do your fills for you, and probably for cheaper. I'm self pay too. I'm going to Mexico, but I found a good Dr. in my home state, RI, that will do my fills for $165. Every state is diferent I'm sure, but just look around. Good Luck!

Oh you did, OK then I should be good then too because I'm flying Southwest!

Thanks girls! I'm being banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. My sports bra now is way too tight already, I'll have to buy a new 1.

Hi I am currently on the pre-op Protein shake diet as well for my 7/24 surgery. I haven't tried to many options, but the 1 that I did buy is yummy! It is Muscle Milk LIGHT in the milk chocolate flavor. They make about 6 different flavors. I just ordered chocolate Peanut Butter too, but it hasn't arrived yet. Each flavor has 25g of protein per serving and 195 calories. I mix mine in a blender with ice, 1/2 cup of skim milk, and about 7-8oz of Water. I think having it thicker and blended helps my mind to think that I'm fuller, lol. So far I haven't really been hungry (knock on wood) with it. I can have 2 shakes a day and 1 lean cuisine meal. Oh and I bought the 1st 1 at Vitamin world on sale for $25 for a 1.65LB tub. The new 1, I ordered from Vitacost.com for $26 because the sale was over at VW. Good Luck!

Yeah try to call around...what could it hurt. I'm going to Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. It is $7950 and includes the stay for 3 days at Lucerna hotel. I did lots of research, and it came down to him or Dr. Rumbaut. I decided on Ortiz for a few small reasons, like money and location, etc... They are both highly qualified though.

Hi Bitten, I had called Carolyn at OCC about a month before I scheduled my appointment and I spoke to her for about an hour asking her a million questions (she probably wanted to strangle me, lol!). So I asked her about the pre-op tests and also to explain the whole trip to me from start to end. She said that the 1st day that I fly in will be my pre-op bloodwork as long as I arrive at the SD airport before 12PM. If I were to arrive after 12 then my bloodwork would be on the morning of the surgery, then after it came back OK, I could be taken into surgery. Maybe yours will be on the same day. You should probably just give Carolyn or Lori a quick call (or email) to clarify. As for my pre-op diet, there were 3 different options in the paperwork to choose from. Depending on your BMI you will have to lose the amount required. My BMI was 46, so I have to lose 12 LBS by then. If it is 50 or above you are supposed to lose 20LBS. I am on the diet option of 2 protein shakes (Muscle Milk Light) a day, and 1 Lean Cuisine for dinner, then green salad, cukes and celery if you are still hungry, and a metamucil capsule to fill you up (with fiber). Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Actually I live in small RI, and thought that there were no fill centers near me. My Dr.'s office in Mexico told me that there is a great fill center in Long Island-if I want to drive to NY. She also told me that there is 1 in Boston, MA, but they get some complaints on that 1. You can go to Fillcentersusa.com to find the fill center closest to you by zip code or state. You can also call around to your local Lap Band surgeons and see if they will fill you. That is what I ended up doing and it is cheaper then using Fill Centers USA. Everyone was telling me that it would be difficult to find a Dr. willing to fill me if I got my surgery done in Mexico, but I called one of the best RI surgeons and his office told me that he would do my fills (even if I go to MX). I'm being banded 7/24/08. I hope this helps you! Good luck.

My Protein shake is pretty yummy, maybe you'll like it (Penny). It is called Muscle Milk Light. It is a whey Protein powder that you can mix with either Water or milk. I mix mine with 1/2 cup of milk and 1 cup of water in the blender with ice. I have the chocolate milk flavor and I just ordered the Peanut Butter chocolate flavor online (cheapest at vitacost.com)(got 1 in store at Vitamin World). They come in like 6 different flavors. I think that post-op I have 1 week of Clear liquids maybe, then full liquids (AliNSanDiego).

There really is no easy answer, but unfortunately it must all get done! I feel some of the best options would be to either break up the walks into 10-12 minutes at a time or take the baby in a carriage. Other than that, you can buy or rent workout DVDs that can be just as or more beneficial than walking. Also, I don't know how tight money is for you right now, but you can get a treadmill to walk at home while your child plays along side of you/watches TV. Depending on your budget, you get one at Walmart for as low as $129, or get a better quality one for more (elsewhere or at Walmart). As long as it gets the job done. They even have the ones that the bottom folds up to keep it out of the way. I hope you find a solution!