mansaw

You must have read my post wrong. I am in Canada - so for me I have to pay with canadian $ - so I have to write a cheq in US funds - but that costs me a lot more in Canadian funds. I didnt know where you were located - so I was saying if you are in Canada it is more than $7950 to us.

Just wondering how u guys are doing :huh2: I too was banded Dec 22/08!

yah - I wasnt thinking about the exchange rate either - but its stilllllllll wayyyyyyyyy less expensive than getting it here...over $10000 cheaper ..I lucked out and ended up getting it paid for by my hubbys insurance - I wasnt planning that at all and thought I would be paying for it all myself. But his insurance company said if I got a letter from my doctor they would pay. dont forget to include ur plane costs - food costs (for companion) and depending what your pre-op diet is etc. Id do it before the exchange rate gets any worse. ALSO - I know its a lot of money - but seriously, it is so worth it!

yah - being that they take US funds...I it cost me - I think it was $8975ish - I cant remember the exact number...u can go to an online currancy calculator to see what it would cost u today. But - yes it did include three days at the hotel and the clinics bus picks you up from the airport, takes u to the hotel, takes u to the clinic and back to the hotel/airport when needed and that is all incuded in that cost. Make sure u have aftercare arranged as well. I have a fill doctor lined up here who will do Mexican patients free (at a hospital here and I have to have an order from my family doctor). BUT - I loved the OCC so much, and had such a great time and met some great people so I have decided to go back their for my fills. :huh2:

I cant say anything about Dr.Kuri or how much he costs. I know the OCC was something like $7950 - I think they are still offering that price. It cost me more because of the exchange rate - damn shoulda went a few months prior lol The OCC was sooooooo clean! Even if u choose to go to a different doctor still check out the OCC forum - youll learn a lot. :huh2: It is totally worth it to me - I am almost (not quite though) half way to goal. I go for my first fill Feb 7. I definatelly feel restriction....I can eat about 1/4 of what I did before...I am just starting to notice I am getting hungry just a bit sooner - usually about three hours after I eat. Feel free to ask any other questions :glare: But Im sure youll bombard your sister with questions lol - wish I had a sister who went through this before me!! :glare: My opinion - what the heck r u waiting for lol....I wish I would have had this done ten years ago!

I went to Dr.Martinez ( dr.ortiz) at the occ in tijuana, mexico. If you look up dr.ortiz and go to his website they even have their own forum I frequent and learned a lot!!

I told my 9 & 11 year old that I had surgery to do with my stomach. That it was nothing serious, just to help me feel better. Honestly - for me, I dont want them to worry and neither of them have a weight issue and I am always worried about their self image. When they see what I can/cant eat now they ask if thats something I have to do forever. We just go at it in bits. I dont want it to be over whelming.

I was on liquids for 21 days. 1-7 was Clear Liquids only. Got to add drinkable yogurt(saved me) on day 4. Then day 7-21 we get creamy Soups - no chunks. I started solids this monday. I cant eat much though - about 1/2 - 3/4 cup at a time and stay full for about 3-4 hours. I get my first fill on Feb 7th. I decided to go back to Mexico (OCC) to have my fill, because I had fun, met some great people and feel 100% confident in the clinic - so Im making it a little vacation. Will go to the zoo etc in San Diego. The glue came off my incisions all the way as of yesturday. I have been at a bit of a plateau since I started my solids. Im at 162. I try to get in at least 1000 calories - but its pretty hard, because I am never hungry. Getting my Water in has been work too. I hate water and since I cant drink for an hour after I eat, plus if I cant drink for about 1.5 hours before bed or Im up all night (always been this way) :yikes: Just thought Id let u guys know how things were going. Sounds like u other ladies are doing great too!

yup - this is definately a huge problem for me that I know will take a long time to combate. I try to take a bite - put my utensil down, chew. count to 5 lol - but Ive had too many close calls already.

I know you probably want to hear from those who have been banded longer than I have - but yes...100% I would do it again. I feel much better already. The only thing I would do differently - is exercise a little for awhile before surgery :wink: Id go back to Mexico, Id do everything the same - no questions asked.

I ordered some of that body mint - I wanna see if its any good...thanks for the link :wink:

which doctor are you going to? Yah - I was sooooooo excited too! You will be happy u made this life decision. Its still a lot of work though! So be prepared! Hope everything goes as great for you as it has for me! Have u started your pre-op diet yet? I found that the most difficult - but stuck to it pretty good. I am lower bmi - so I had to do two shakes and a light meal at dinner and I found that hard! Jeesh - Im a wimp!