Vangirl

This is the first time I've read anything negative about Dr. Ortiz. I'm getting banded by him on the 26th. So far everything I've read and heard has been positive, so this comes as a surprise.

Hey there fellow pre-op bandsters. I'm scheduled to get banded on the 26th, two weeks from today, and have been on a strict pre-op diet for two weeks already, due to the large amount of weight I need to lose to have my surgery. It's been a very difficult, emotional roller coaster experience. Immediately after starting the diet (two Meal Replacement shakes, a lean cuisine, and green veggies for hunger), I started feeling awful, headachy, and just downright miserable. I was also exercising intensely, because I wanted to prevent my body's metabolism from adjusting to the low calorie diet. My body went into starvation mode, and at one point, even gained a couple of pounds a week into the diet. After stopping the exercise on the advice of my nutritionist, I started to lose some weight, but I have not lost anything since Monday and am starting to get panicky again. I have 5.5 pounds to go, and if I don't lose it in two weeks, I will have to postpone my surgery. I haven't even bought my plane tickets yet (I'm going to Mexico) because my weight loss on the pre-op diet has been so slow and inconsistent that I don't feel confident about whether I'll reach that goal in time. Anyway, I've also started to notice some menstrual irregularities since starting the pre-op diet. A few days after starting the diet, my period came about ten days early (on Halloween). It lasted the usual amount of time (4-5 days) and then it was over (or so I thought). Then a few days ago, I started to get rust-coloured discharge, which is something I usually get either immediately before or immediately after my regular periods. This has continued and now seems almost like a mini-period. This also, interestingly, started on the day that I was originally supposed to get my period in the first place. I'm not sure whether this is a continuation of the period I got on Halloween, or if it is a new one. Obviously, the rapid changes in my body have to be responsible for this, but I'm curious about whether any of you have experienced such menstrual irregularities on the pre-op diet or after the band.

Sorry if this question seems ignorant, but what is the significance of protein in a very low calorie diet? I know we need to have a certain amount of protein for general health reasons (obviously), but I'm curious about what a high protein intake does to help with weight loss. I've recently switched from drinking a Meal Replacement shake with 12 grams protein twice a day to a 35g Protein Drink twice a day. I hate the taste of the higher protein drink and am missing the sweet chocolate-milk taste of the earlier drink I had, but am willing to stick it out for the remaining 11 days of my pre-op diet if the higher protein content helps me. If it doesn't, then it seems like I might do better just going back on the earlier drink.

I'm curious, what causes a port to flip?

Hi MJay, I missed the last sentence. Obviously you are on top of this, and good luck! I hope everything turns out fine.

Thanks for the advice MJay. I will give that a try. These Pure Pro drinks are just disgusting! I have to gulp it down really fast in order not to taste it, and my stomach doesn't seem to agree with it either. Regarding your port problems, have you tried to contact Dr. Arseneau at St. Paul's Hospital? He is now seeing people for fills, and just needs a referral from your doctor. He was away until the 10th, but replied promptly to my email when he got back. To my knowledge, I don't think he discriminates whether you had your surgery in Mexico or wherever. If you email him for an appointment, you might be able to get in within a week: richarda@interchange.ubc.ca. I too am about to have my surgery in Mexico, and I'm well aware of the risks, particularly for aftercare. I am in no position to give advice, having not yet had the surgery yet, but I'm wondering if you are able to contact your surgeon directly to tell him/her what is going on and get some advice. Good luck, and I hope everything turns out fine. -Vangirl

Nat, Have you had a colon cleanse before? I've never had one, but it sounds like it would be a good idea, either before or after the surgery. At the same time, I'm a little scared of the idea. Never had anything go up or in, only out :thumbdown: One of the things I've also been considering is going to one of those spas and sitting in an infrared machine. They say you can burn up to 600 calories (which I doubt) but maybe that might help to flush out some of whatever is built-up. I've got 5lbs to go, to get to my pre-op weight loss goal, and it's stubborn! -Vangirl

I've been going through the same emotions as others have described on here - worries about whether it will work, will I have restriction, will I lose the weight - as well as the emotional roller coaster of the helli that is the pre-op diet. My surgery is scheduled for the 26th, but I'm still not totally sure I'll make my pre-op weight loss goal by then, so I haven't been able to really take it in, that this is actually going to happen. Good thing there are so many people that have been in this place before and gotten through it. So far I haven't met anyone, either online or in person, that's regretted getting the band.

I completely understand where you're coming from. I'm the same way - my metabolism instantly adapts to any diet, and when eating normally I gain. The pre-op diet seems to differ depending on what dr. you go to, and people's experiences around it differ. Mine is two Protein or Meal Replacement drinks and a lean cuisine for dinner, with some green veggies, SF Jello, and crystal light allowed for hunger. For me personally, it's been hellish and my weight loss has been really slow on it. Especially in the beginning, I was headachy, lightheaded, exhausted, and my stomach literally hurts with hunger (it doesn't seem to interpret the liquid meal replacement as actual food). But the weight has gone down, albeit much more slowly than I would like. If hunger/control is an issue for you, you might want to consider something like the induction phase of Atkins rather than a liquid diet, but I suppose it will depend on what your dr. recommends. I would have chosen Atkins myself if I didn't have a short amount of time to lose a large amount of weight, so I opted for the harder option. But everyone's experience is different, obviously. Just try to remember what is at stake in the end. I find that that has helped me sustain my motivation, where before I would have given up and cheated a long time ago.

Oh and another thing, yesterday I changed my brand of shakes, because I was worried about my Protein intake. Up until yesterday, I was drinking a 'high protein' 225 calorie Meal Replacement drink, which had various Vitamins and minerals and 12g of protein. It was the London Drugs brand and was quite tasty - exactly like chocolate milk!. But because I wanted to increase my protein intake, I bought this more expensive drink at Superstore called Pure Pro, which is 170 calories, no vitamines or minerals, has 35g of protein, and contains skim milk (and therefore calcium). It was yuck! Plus, I don't think my stomach likes it very much (felt gassy and unwell today). Does anyone have any recommendations of a high-Protein Drink that is not gag-inducing?

I am scheduled to by banded two weeks from today on Nov. 26 by Dr. Ortiz at the OCC in Mexico. I'm having a hard time feeling like this is actually going to happen, mainly because the pre-op diet has been an emotional roller coaster. My body went into starvation and didn't lose any weight for a few days. After I stopped exercising, I started to drop some of the weight my body was holding. But now I've gone into another plateau (haven't lost anything since Monday), and am fearful about whether I'll achieve the remaining 5.5 pound weight loss I need to achieve in two weeks. So it's been hard to really sit back and believe that this is going to happen, and therefore prepare myself mentally for this significant life change. I haven't even bought my airplane tickets yet because of not knowing whether I'll get to my pre-op weight loss goal in time. But all I can do is keep pushing on. Graphic female stuff is to follow, so guys continue reading at your own risk A few days after I started the pre-op diet (two Protein shakes and a lean cuisine, with green vegetables allowed for hunger), my period came ten days early, on Halloween. It lasted the usual amount of time (4-5 days), and was over (or so I thought). Then, a few days ago, I started getting rust-coloured discharge, which I normally get at the very beginning or at the very end of my period. This ironically started on the day that I was originally supposed to get my period for this cycle. This has continued for a few days now, and seems almost like a mini-period. It's very unusual for me to get periods early (if anything, it's late) and to have two within a 10-14 day period is really weird. I'm not even sure whether this new thing is even a period or if it's a continuation of the earlier period. I'm wondering if that might have something to do with my lack of weight loss these past few days (Water retention?). I know this is because of my body losing larger amounts of weight than it is used to, so I'm not overly concerned, but I'm curious whether any of you have experienced changes or weirdness in your menstrual cycle since the band, or even beforehand. Sorry for the long post, but it really helps to be able to hear other people's experiences (and some of this will be cross-posted on other parts of the forum). -Van

I am scheduled to be banded on the 26th, by Dr. Ortiz at the OCC. It's hard to believe this is actually going to happen, two weeks from today. I haven't had any time to really let it sink in because I've had a lot of pre-op weight to lose (due to my BMI) and I've been working hard to lose that weight, for fear that my surgery date might get moved if I don't lose it. I have 5.5 pounds to go, but my scale hasn't budged since Monday I get discouraged really easily when I don't see progress, especially when on an 800 calorie diet that's really taxing every resource I have. Two shakes and a lean cuisine, and some green veggies (which help minimally). I'm hungry all the time! I need some encouragement. I'm worried about whether I'll meet my pre-op weight goal in time, and because of that I haven't been able to mentally prepare myself for the huge life change that is about to occur. It all seems to be going so fast, but when I made my decision, I knew this was right for me, that with the amount of weight I have to lose, that this is the only option that I feel is going to achieve substantial results. I'm nervous though, and am a baby when it comes to pain, operations, needles, etc. (I've never had surgery). Ah, my head seems like it's going a mile a minute sometimes with this whole process! -Vangirl

I woulda done the same thing.

Does your doctor have any type of support group he could refer you to? Most towns or hospitals have one and I'm sure talking to people who know what it's like would help. I was banded on 10-30 and haven't had a fill but everyone says that will help a lot. Don't get down on yourself and try to remember how you felt about your life before the band. Let that be the motivation you need to keep you going. Remember that you already made a very pro-avtive decision about your health. Good luck to you and I'm here if you want to talk. Tammy

Mine were REALLY bad too. I cried everyday. It settled in my shoulder, neck and back. I was bloated so bad it looked like I was pregnant. On the 6th day it got better, the 7th day it was just a dull ache and by the 8th day it was gone. Just hang in there and get movin. The more you move the better you'll feel. I was like you and didn't want to drink. I got dehydrated and was told I had to drink a gallon of pedialyte in 24 hours or risk being admitted to the hospital. How gross!!! So my advice is to drink and get moving. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

I had the same problem. I called my doctor and he said some people, after stomach surgery, develop a temporary lactose intolerance. He said to mix the protien powder with water or buy a protein drink that is lactose free. He said when I get to the stage of my diet when I can add back in some solid food to also add back in milk products in small amounts every day. Maybe this will help. Good luck!

Dang it! Why can't the US speed things up and get this on the market. It sounds awesome!!

I had my surgery on 10-30-08 and I am going to drive for the first time today.

I went to Dr. Ortiz too! October 21st!

Congratulations Sabrina! I decided to go with Dr. Ortiz as well, and my planned surgery date is for November 25. It's slightly tentative in that I need to meet my pre-op weight loss goal in order to have my surgery on that date, but I'm hoping that it will be reached. I'm know we met at the Lions Gate meeting, but I'm really bad with names, so probably will know you by face if we meet again at the next meeting. Definitely it's important to surround yourself with support and positive energy going into this. I find personally that if I talk to people who are apprehensive, cautionary, and/or nonsupportive, it puts me in the wrong place mentally. Conversely, it helps me when others are positive, hopeful, encouraging, and keep me reminded of all the potential benefits I will experience long-term from this. I'm sure we have all considered all the pros and cons of what we are about to do and are making an educated choice to do something important in our lives. Anyway, congrats, and look forward to seeing you at the next meet! Vangirl

Hello! I was banded on October 21st at the Obesity Control Center by Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I want to utilize this site more but have become frusterated. I love the little weight loss tickers everyone seems to have on their profiles but can't figure out how to get one on mine. I weighed 242 on the day of my surgery and am down to 230 11 days post op. I am struggeling with a few things including not feeling like drinking anything (boy is that a change!).

wvgal-I hate to hear that you are in so much pain. Is it from the gas? The gas pain for me is bothersome in my shoulders-had my surgery yesterday. I have some soreness in my port incision but nothing that worries me or bothers me much.

Well hello ladies! I've been in Mexico since last Friday. It's freakin HOT here. We landed in Puerto Vallarta and I thought I was going to die. It was so hot I was drenched in sweat within a minute. Then we had a 2.5 hour ride to my in laws house-in a car with no air conditioner! Mexico is so beautiful but I was in culture shock for the first 2-3 days. It is like taking a step back in time. No clean water, no air conditioner, mosquitos are everywhere. My legs look like I've got a disease I have so many mosquito bites. Literally looks like I've been a contestant on Survivor! Anyway, last night we were to land at San Diego at 10:40pm but got diverted to LA due to fog then the airline bussed us to San Diego. Didn't get to the hotel till 2:30am local time and had to be up at 5am and get ready for surgery. Needless to say I was super tired. The OCC surgery center is awesome. I met all the doctors and the place is very clean. It is a tiny place so there is lots of one on one attention. I was the first one of the day and didn't have time to get nervous. I was out and it was over before I knew it. I feel great excpet for some gas pain in my shoulder. My port incision is a bit tender and I am fully expecting to be pretty sore tomorrow...but am hoping that won't stop me from doing some shopping. I am so glad to hear that all of you did fine as well. We are on our way to being the healthy girls we all want to be. Tammy