Miper70

I really need to know if this is normal or I need to go to the Emergency Room. When I got out of surgery (Mexico w/ Dr. Ortiz), I felt great and was up walking. I'm sure that had alot to do with the meds in me, but the next two days I also spent a few hours shopping etc. Now I'm 6 days out and feel worse than ever. The port side is so sore that I can hardly stand to touch it and it feels like there is something stuck in my ribs when I take a deep breath. In fact, it's hard to take a deep breath most of the time. I can also hardly walk upright. I feel like I have to bend over. I don't know if this had anything to do with it or not, but yesterday I accidently swallowed a piece of gum. I didn't even think about it I'm so used to doing it. I threw the pack out so no more chewing gum. Please tell me I didn't mess up my whole surgery.

The only difference I can see in what you have told me is that the pain is the front (side) instead of near the spinal area. It also hurts worse when I lay down. makes no sense to me. I have no problems going to see my chiropractor, but right now I can't stand to be touched. It hurts too bad. I can't even imagine having an adjustment right now. Does it hurt to wait longer until the soreness from the port sight to subside a little?

I just posted a thread about pain. I'm 6 days out and feel horrible. Around my port it hurts ALOT and it also feels like something is sticking in my ribs when I take a deep breath. I can't sleep either. I hope and pray nothing is wrong because my Doctor is in Mexico and I can't afford to go back right now.

and doing ok. I'm very sore and swollen. I overdid it on the shopping in Tijuana I think. Today, I do nothing. The experience was wonderful. The staff were awesome and oh so cute. Easy on the eyes doen't even come close. Good news is I'm down 8 lbs. already and that's with the swelling. 9 more to go to be in onederland.....woo hoo!!!

One of Dr. Ortiz's drivers picks you up. I don't know his name because I speak absolutely no Spanish and he spoke no English. He took us straight to the Lucerna where they actually speak fluent English so it's not so hard once you get there. Dr. Ortiz's Mother will you up for tests and surgery. It really is ok...you're taken care of. Oh yeah...just prepare yourself for the driving over there....LOL! They drive fast and they don't care who they cut off.

The whole trip was a great experience. Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez are wonderful people......I especially liked Dr. Martinez. The rooms they put you in are very comfortable. The staff is great and at your beck and call. I just can't say enough. If I had to do it over again, I definitely would. For those of you about to fly over....DO NOT be scared. From the minute you step off of the plane, you're in their hands. They take care of everything. Rene (sp?) is so sweet and will help with anything you need. Dr. Ortiz's Mom......there just aren't enough nice words for her. She is one of a kind. She spent half a day chasing down my husband and daughters because I was having surgery on Thursday instead of Friday (they didn't know). I had gone to the clinic to supposedly have tests run and come rght back to the hotel, but that didn't happen. My tests turned into surgery and my husband was clueless to what was happening. She eventually tracked him down and got him there just as I was going in. One thing I can tell you is topack your own snacks (soups, juice etc) for after surgery because there just isn't anything there. They only have orange juice with pulp which is a no-no and cactus juice (yuck) in the hotel restaurant. There's a grocery store down the road, but who feels like getting groceries? Just pack your own so you don't have to worry about it.

I can see my port.

I am so glad I am not the only one. It's so scary to get banded in Mexico, come home and swell up like this. What makes it worse for me is that I have already had a tummy tuck so I am TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT! I pray it goes down very soon. Reading this thread makes me feel a little better.

Got another question.......Has anyone tried the butternut squash soup? It sounds so gross, and smells even worse, but it is SOOOOO good. I'm going back to get somemore today for after the surgery when I can eat mushies.

Oh, it's 2 servings???....LOL!!! Thanks for the recipes. I can't wait to try them. I never dreamed I would be eating squash Soup but yummmmmm!

Big difference in the face also. You look great....Congratulations!

I am also going to Dr. Ortiz this coming up Wednesday. $8500 for everything. I have looked for weeks for anything negative about Dr. Ortiz and have nothing.......zip....not 1 bad word. He seems to be one of the best.

Did anyone get really, really bad headaches on their pre-diet? I know I decided early on that i wasn't going to giveup my 1.5-2 cups of coffee in the mornings, so it's not a caffeine issue. It's bad and I can't seem to get rid of it. The only thiing that works for me is Motrin and I can't take it now. Tylenol doen't even touch it. Any suggestions?

I posted this on another board and got so many conflicting stories, it's not even funny. If they had lap-band then it was the greatest thing. If they had bypass, it was the greatest thing. There are quite a few of us still trying to make up our minds and it's hard.....really hard.

The surgeon I "was" going to puts his patients on post-op liquids for 4 days. He said people cheat anyway, so he might as well change it.

Do they do it laprascopically (sp?) now? Just another thing to file away in the back of my brain.

So how are you doing? Wow, I leave next Wednesday......hard to believe it's already here.

I'm in the south You're syaing people are being approved to go to different surgeons or just to Walter Reed?

It's kinda funny, but even if I went that route, it would cost me almost the same amount as going to Mexico. If he is the only Dr. doing it for Tricare, can you even imagine the wait time he has? I have no doubts that Tricare will announce anytime that they're going to cover it, but I don't want to wait any longer. My health is already bad enough.

Congratulations! It sounds wonderful and for those of us about to jump in........reading these posts makes us feel so much more excited.

Those of you who went alone...was it scary or did you feel ok about everything? My husband wants to go, but I would rather him stay here with our kids. He is petrified of sending me off to Mexico alone. By the way, I am planning surgery with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana.

He does look good!!!!!

That's why I'm paying out of pocket for lap-band.

I wish I knew before I fork over 8500.00.

I am so excited I can hardly sleep. I would love to know who else is planning their trip to Mexico.....when...where.....with whom.....what you're doing to get ready.....anything...everything. I just order my vitamins, gas-x, cute little slippers.....not quite sure what else I should be getting. What is the cheapest way to get the protein shakes in? I spent all of my money on Mexico...LOL!