JNo

Hello all, I have been traveling this past month, but feel like I did will. I feel good and my clothes are loose. I didn't lose anything, but didn't gain anything either. I had my second fill last Friday and feel restriction for the first time since surgery. I am going to try for 10 pounds this month. I haven't had a lost since last month, so I am due. Take care

You are welcome. Fills in the DR plus a mini vacation for the weekend. How fun is that! Good luck and I will be thinking of you in April....My 2nd fill will be at the end of March or the beginning of April. Take care.

My ending month weight is 237. Down a total of 25 pounds. Yeah ~ I have a few pairs of pants that fall off. That is a good feeling. My goal for February is 10 pounds. :thumbup:

Hi everyone, I just got my first fill today so I will weigh in on January 31. I have gained and lost the same pound for a week. Just happy it was only 1 pound. Hopefully I will meet my 5 pound goal by Saturday. Thanks! :bored:

Hi there, I used Dr. Edgar Leino from the Global Medical Services in Dominican Republic. I am an expat living here on a 2-year work contract. I was banded on December 12. I would be happy to chat with you about my procedure. I just came from his office after my first fill (fills are included in the price). The band that is used is J & J. I asked and they showed me the box. I saw my band on x ray today and Dr. Leino is trying to get me to watch the video of my surgery. No thank you! My total surgery was $6900. I did not use the transportation services and did not stay at the hotel, however, Dr. Leino had Wilson, the driver, take me home when I was discharged. I asked, and received those deductions for my surgery costs. I went from the hospital back to my apartment. The hotel stay is at Dominican Fiesta which is in my neighborhood (5 blocks from my apartment). The hotel is ok but I have never seen the hotel rooms. I have a membership to the fitness center and use the pool on "non-traveling" weekends. The neighborhood is safe, upper middle class and upper class (Sammy Sosa has a penthouse apartment down the street), and Mirador Sur Park is right across the street from the hotel. MSP is equivalent to Central Park. I walk there most afternoons. There are several colmados, fruit stands, and Bravo (grocery store), within walking distance of the hotel. The only concern that I had was my spanish is not that good. Dr. Leino speaks English and is understandable. Dhanya was there with me at the beginning and helped me every step of the way. I was so tired from the surgery that I slept for about 24 hours straight. She said she checked in on my three times, but I never saw her again because I was sleeping. Not her fault. I thought I was leaving the hospital at noon and I left at 10:30 AM and was offered a ride home so I took the free ride. She called me several times my cell phone to check in on me. I had a little trouble communicating with the nurses but to be honest, I rolled over and went back to bed. Make sure they show you how the bed works ~ very confusing. If you want more information, let me know. The weather right now is perfect and should stay this way through March...after that, the humidity will be high. Take care.

Finally have found some other December bandsters. I would like to join this group. I am joining late so I will set a realistic goal. surgery date: 12/12/08 heighest weight: 262 preop weight: 262 current weight: 241 weight loss since surgery: 21 my end goal is to be: 125 goal for the rest of January ~ 5 pounds Can I use the banner as well?

I also had surgery on a Friday and went back to work on the following Thursday. I moved slow, didn't drive to work, and made sure that I didn't lift anything. If you can return on Thursday, you would benefit from the extra day of rest knowing that your last work day was Friday...leading to two more rest days on the weekend. Just my thoughts....I know everyone is different.

I am on a 2 year work contract in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I have been living here since August 2008. Before I moved, I started the initial inquiry with Global Surgery Center in June 2008. It took 6 months of phone calls, emails, and research before I made the decision to move forward with the surgery. So glad I did. I was banded on 12-12 by Dr. Leino at the Centro de Cirugia Plastica y Especializada. I have not had any problems since the surgery. I received the best care possible! They almost didn't perform the surgery because I had a cold. I received breathing treatments all night long before the surgery and for 24 hours after the surgery. During the surgery, they discovered that I had a hernia and it was removed. Again, so glad they did because I feel fantastic. (no extra charge). I am one month post-op and have dropped 21 pounds. I am starting to feel like I can eat anything, so before I do, I will visit the doctor this Thursday for my first fill. (fills are free ~ included in the price of the surgery).