Iulizbug

Dr.Ortiz is an EXCELLENT surgeon who has been doing lap band surgeries for a long time. He is world-known and has written a book on it, Lap band for Life. I highly recommend him--you are treated like royalty by him and his staff. Plus he isn't that expensive. When I went he was running a special--everything except travel to San Diego for $8,500. Well worth it!!! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241/199 :clap2: /150 5'7''

June 7th breakfast-1 package of low sugar oatmeal 120 cal snack-1 1/2 servings of cottage cheese--lowfat 150 cal lunch--lean cuisine ---240 cal dinner--soychips--140 calories 650 calories ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241/199 :clap2: /150 5'7'' Onderland is great!!!!

I went all out and had "last supper syndrome" :hungry: in which I put on 10 more lbs in the last month before I started my 1 week preop diet. I knew that I shouldn't have gorged but I was so scared to give up food. It is coming off now though so I am happy! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241/200/150 5'7''

6/04-- breakfast- Southwest Egg beaters with Reduced fat cheese (350 calories) --lunch--wheat thins with hummus dip (200 calories) dinner--a "little bit" of grilled chicken salad with reduced fat ranch (250 calories) total--800 calories ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241/202/150 5'7''

Hi Granlady! It sounds like you aren't properly restricted yet and I know how frustrating that can be. :help: Trust me--once you are restricted with the proper amt of saline you WILL begin to lose. It does usually take most bandsters 3-5 fills to get to that point. Any weight lost before your sweet spot is considered bonus. I know how depressing it can feel to not see the scale move but please continue to try to eat your Protein and veggies, drink your Water and exercise and your restriction will come. When are you scheduled for your next fill? It may be THE ONE for you. Hang in there~ I didn't feel anything from my first fill and thought that I was going to fail but my 2nd fill did it for me. Good luck to you. :biggrin1: ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241/203/150 5'7''

Well lets see....I was happiest when I was in college in an 8 or a 10 but right now I think I would settle for a 12 b/c I am older. I was actually doing modeling when I was an 8 so that would be my ultimate goal. We'll see how far the band will take me! I am in a loose 16 now but most 14's are too tight so I am in limbo there. I will wear my 16's till they fall off b/c I was self pay and do not have $ to go shopping as I would like to. I started off in VERY TIGHT 16's and 18's so I know I have made some progress, it is just slow. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204/150 5'7'' Dr.Ortiz

Tricia, Your dolphin/moon on your ankle looks almost identical to mine on my lower back!! I am thinking about getting another one, definitely not now..... maybe a tiger on my back someday if I get thin enough to want to show my back off again. I used to love showing off the one on my lower hip when I was thin in a bikini. Hopefully I will get back to that point eventually. They are so addicitive!! ~Liz~

Colin would win my vote for overall hotness out of those candidates but Tyson has the yummier body. I would also have to include Matthew M. (can't spell his last name) b/c he looks like a cuter version of my boyfriend and I adore Johnny Depp too! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/203/150 5'7''

Well, since my boyfriend is OBSESSED with Salma I would have to say her as a first choice. Realistically, thats never gonna happen so I will shoot for Mia Tyler's body. She is built similarly to me *(once I lose a FEW more lbs..) Nicole Richie looks disgustingly thin and looks like she will pass out any minute from poor nutrition :faint: Definitely not cute. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237surgery/203/150 5'7''

Bread, pizza crust/dough, broccoli, some noodles, deli meat, steak Those are my no no foods for now. I am sure I will discover more along my WL journey. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Oritz 241 highest/237 surgery/203/150 5'7''

Did you by chance go thru FillCenterUSA in Louisiana when you got your first fill? I had a similar experience with them on my first fill and had to pay even though the NP decided that I should wait until 8 weeks to get my fill done. So I basically paid the $300 for nothing. I was so mad about it that I contacted the regional manager and got a refund minus the office visit fee $75. It didn't seem logical or fair that I should have to pay $300 for no service. I was 6 weeks out too so it didn't make any sense that she would want to wait to fill me. I eventually found a qualified, competent bariatric surgeon in my area (FL) to do my fills but it does still cost me $400 each time so I understand your concern on wanting to get as much restriction as possible for your $. You may have better luck with your 2nd fill--I felt nothing from my first one (2 ccs) but my 2nd one (.7cc) did the trick and I am doing better now. Good luck to you!!! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/203/150

Yep--Same thing happened to me with UHC. I had co-moribities, three actually but they weren't severe enough to qualify me. I guess they pretty much wanted me 6 feet under at 25 yrs old to qualify!! Absurd!! I was VERY LIVID after the denial but now that I am happily banded on losing I am over it. UHC is definitely tightening up on coverage for WLS. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't cover it at all in a few years. More $ for them...:angry ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/205/150 5'7''

I had Ortiz and am surprised that he would make you lose that much pre-op. :omg: What is your BMI? He really is one of the best out there..Good luck on your surgery! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/205/150 5'7''

DonnaGT, Don't be scared and PLEASE PLEASE don't regret that you had the surgery! You just took a HUGE step to get healthy :clap2: and to take control of your life and live happily w/out health problems, self-esteem issues, etc. Yes, there will be a tiny % of people that do develop problems with the band but you will find that with any WLS. No surgery will work for EVERY PERSON. The band is by far the least invasive and you have a much better chance of remaining complication-free from this than the bypass. If you do have a problem down the road, oftentimes it is fixable. Please take this time to heal and remain positive. You are on your way to a happier, thinner you! :biggrin1: ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/205/150 5'7''

Your doctor may not give you a fill if you have lost 12 lbs in the last 30 days because that is WAY faster than is reccomended--1 to 2 lbs a week. I would hold off of on the fill if you are losing that fast. My doctor won't fill me if I am losing 8 lbs in a month or more. You are definitely NOT a slow loser. Congratulations! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/205/150 5'7''

Dr.Ortiz is EXCELLENT and was only $8,500 total when I went in March. I had absolutely no complaints whatsoever and there are a good number of people on LBT that can also testify that he is wonderful as well. Go to obesitycontrolcenter.com and you can check him out. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 241 highest/237 surgery/202/150 5'7''

I would try the Inamed site before the FillCenterUSA one. I went to FillCenterUSA after being banded in Mexico and received HORRILBE service, as have others I know. Just be forewarned--if you go to one of those clinics you WILL have to pay for the session even if you don't get any fill/service done. I went to my appointment and the NP decided she "didn't feel comfortable doing my fill yet" and still charged me $300 for nothing. I was 6 weeks out and there was nothing wrong with my band or port. Plus, the Nurse Practicioner who is supossed to do your adjustment often has only been trained in a weekend course on how to perform the fills. It was very scary to think that somebody with such little experience was ready to possibly screw up my port. I eventually found a very competent bariatric SURGEON in my area to help me and even though I pay much more ($400) I feel it is worth it to be receiving excellent care. Good luck to you. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/205 now/150

I have a question. Once we are at goal, do we still need to go in regularly for adjustments to maintain our weight? Or are we fine indefinitely? We shouldn't be leaking out saline naturally should we? Thank you guys for your insight. I have to pay $400 a fill and am dreading having to pay that FOREVER just to keep my weight off. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237/204/150 5'7''

OMG that is awful!!! I am so glad that you pulled through. By the way, I was banded in Mexico as well and this kind of stuff makes me nervous. You never mentioned who your doctor was? Do you mind sharing? ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204/150 5'7''

I am already loving the changes I can see in my boobs. I have only lost 33 lbs and my bra size went from a 40 E to a 38DD and they look much perkier. Also the veins are smaller AND I only have to wear one sports bra to the gym now instead of two!!! Yeah!!! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/204/150 5'7''

What gorgeous pictures! And you don't look like you weigh 265 either! You look about 200--I am at 205 now and I look much bigger than you. You carry your weight very well. Good luck to you! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/204 now/150 5'7''

Hi Patti and Welcome to LBT! This is a great place to come for questions, concerns as well as support. I also was banded in Mexico on March 10th. Who was your doctor and how are you feeling? Good luck on your WL journey!! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ariel Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204 today/150 goal 5'7''

There are MANY excellent doctors in Mexico. The three that come to my mind that I have heard no complaints from are Dr.Ortiz, Dr.Kuri and Dr.Rumbaut. If you had done adequate research than I am sure you would have ran across these great surgeons. I personally feel like I received better care than I would of here in the States. I never got the impression that my doctor just wanted my money and I had fills included for a year after my surgery. I don't think you would have needed WLS only weighing 168 lbs. I am surprised that you found anyone to put a band in with that low of a BMI. Good luck to you. ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204 now/150

Hi Sherri, I know how difficult this part can be. I went through the same thing myself, only I found out my insurance needed a year and a half of documented weight loss attempts and that was just too much for me. At the rate that I was gaining weight, I didnt' want to wait another year and a half to start on this journey. I was just too depressed and miserable. However, if I knew I would be approved and only had to wait 6 months I think I would try to wait it out. I wasn't even sure that my insurance would approve me, unless I gained another 30 lbs or so in that time period which I refused to do. I was already fat enough in my opinion but my BMI was 37 with no comorbities so my insurance co. didn't think so. I ended up going to Mexico b/c I was ready to lose the weight NOW and get on wtih my life happy and healthy. It really is up to you. I know that 6 mos seems like forever but you would be saving ALOT of money by using your insurance. I think I would wait 6 mos. If you do decide to go to Mexcico make sure that you pick a competent surgeon--I recommend Ortiz b/c that's who did mine but Rumbaut and Kuri are just as good too. You can find out what aftercare providers will take Mexican patients from the bariatric coordinators for these doctors. But be forewarned the fills aren't cheap. I pay $400 a fill but my surgeon is excellent and feel it is worth it. You also have the cheaper option of FillCentersUSA where it is $150 a fill (after your initial $300 for the first one..) but you have a Nurse Practicioner doing your fills and oftentimes they aren't the best and you are risking the care of your band. Not worth it to me. Hang in there and try to remain positive. Your surgery will be here before you know it! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204 now/150 5'7''

You are right about normal. Most doctors fill about 1 to 1.5 cc usually on your first fill (for a 4cc band). I whined enough to get a bit more and received 2 ccs on my first fill. Of course all of this depends upon your level of restriction. Some people only want just a little bit of saline, like a half of a cc or so, because they already feel a bit of restriction from having the band around their stomach. And then there are people like me who felt nothing from the band! I was wide open until my 2nd fill which I just had on Monday. It seemed to help quite a bit. I am now filled to 2.7cc and it feels much better. You will probably be filled over 2ccs on your next fill. Good luck! ~Liz~ banded 03/10/06 Dr.Ortiz 241 highest/237 surgery/204 now/150 goal 5'7''