PBDove

Yes, IBD I have ulcerative colitis. A big headache. I guess unless you intend to tell everyone right up front, I wouldn't tell anyone. Because as you go on, you tell this one, not that one, and you forget who you told, and you don't know who told whom. No one really even mentioned my weight loss until I reached 50lbs.....I remember when I hit 35lbs, I couldn't believe no one noticed. Could you imagine if you lost that much and no one noticed? But it seems 50 was the magic number. Some people asked me point blank if I had surgery.....and I couldn't lie, because I felt that eventually they'd hear the truth, as time went on. So, it would be my recommendation, and my friends, either tell no one, or everyone. My mother thought it was OK to tell everyone, people I hardly knew, annoyed me. But other people feel differently, they tell everyone, but keep in mind, if you tell people, like people you work with or friends, and you go out to a restaurant or at a party with food, people look to see what you're eating. I personally feel like I'm lying when people ask me how I lost so much weight. Before I had the surgery, and if someone said they lost 50-100lbs, I'd give them the third degree, not that I was thinking they had surgery, I just wanted to know how they did it, hoping I could do the same. Did they eat a certain food, do a special exercise, something different that I had done over the years. So now people think I did something they couldn't do, and they feel bad, but if you tell them you had surgery, then they might not feel like their losers, know what I mean? Telling your brother is safe enough, usually men don't talk much, and if you tell him not to say anything, as a man, he likely wont'... Sexist, I know. Good luck, if you pay attention to the quailty of value of the food you eat, you will succed. Always have good food choices in the house, Soup, yogurt, cheese, veggies, milk, getting enough Protein is an issue. It seems that bad things go down easy and good things are harder, big surprise, right?! LOL So help making good choices easier by having the good things in the house and not having the bad things there.........less temptation......you'll do fine, best of luck.

Seems like a few different issues. I'm 54, had it done two years ago. I have IBD, and lots of Dr's won't do the surgery, and now I know why. I've had two major issues, not the bands fault, per se. I get an infusion of remicade every 8 weeks, and the office made a mistake in the dosage, I went into a flare, was in the ER twice, and all the fill was removed, for 3 mths total. At that point I had lost 90lbs, gained 30lbs back, refilled, not back to where I was, and still haven't gotten back the fill amt or to where I was at weight loss. I have another 20lbs to get back where I was, I am currently down 70lbs from the day of surgery. I had this done with a friend of mine, she lives in another state, we went to Mexico. Both of us agree, if we had to do it again, we won't tell anyone other than our spouses. There is a saying the only way something remains a secret when two people know, is if one is dead... No sense in giving up because you already have it, see another Dr if you're not happy with the one you're using. I'm sure you're not along with your lack of results, but find out what you can do, or have done that will improve the situation, it would be a shame to keep it unfilled,and continue to not have positive results. Look around the web, and your area for some groups you can get involved with online or in person. Good luck, but don't give up......

Hey Texas lady, I'm 54, live in FL, had it done two years ago, 4/09. I have an intestinal issue that caused some complications, but here's the results. I was 250lb, a year and a half later was down 90lb, had to remove all fill 6/00 for three mths, gained lots of weight back (no big surprise there), now, two years later I'm down 70lbs from original weight....so I"m 180. Looking to go back for another small fill in the next mth or so, I'd like to be 150lbs, but really, if I could just stay where I'm at the rest of my life, I'd be OK. I'm not skinning, but hell at my age who needs skinny. I was looking to live long enough to see my grand kids born,and with a little more luck, see them graduate college some day. I can now hike trails, tie my shoes without embarrassment, etc. Not that I won't still try for the other 30lbs, but I'm not going to consider where I'm at as failing. My only regret is I waited so many years to do it, but, before then the $$ would have been prohibitive. MY insurance didn't cover it, so I went to Mexico, Dr Ortiz, no complaints. I spent $7,300, last I took note is was under 7k. I'd think twice about Mexico now, for sure. But many of the US Drs are now competing better on price. My local Dr at the time wanted 17k, now he's asking 12k. For 12k I would likely have stayed here and dealt with a Dr that did the surgery for the fills. I was VERY lucky to find a guy tht would do the fills from any DR, never mind one from MX, her only charges $100 per fill, USA Fill is a lot more money and it would have been a 6 hr round trip, now it's only 30mins and he and his staff is wonderful. So there you have it, good luck. PBD

Hi Tiffany, I haven't been on this in many mths, but I went to Dr Ortiz in MX for t he surgery, and Dr Domkowski for fills, he's just south of the Brevard/IR county line, he's great too. Hope that helps, oh his number is 772-581-8003. :cool2:

I hope this is a joke and you're pulling our leg. have to agree with the other responder, what an awful experience. You need to go to your reg Dr and get antibiotics or something. And did I read that right - your Dr gave you a fill right after your surgery or while you were in the hospital?? Soonest should be 4 weeks, some go as long as 8-10. You need to get a few books and do some research if you're going to stay with this DR and be more responsible for your own care. Good luck. pb

No checkup, surgery was done in MX, but I feel 100% today. Went to bed and was uncomfortable for a couple more hrs, but this morning I was fine, looking to see if it happens again this afternoon.......thanks for info. pb

What if you have that kind of pain, but didn't get a fill yet, it's only been a week and a half since surgery, very uncomfortable right now chest pain through to my back?? Still acid reflux you think?

Hi all, Had surgery a week ago monday........just a few hours ago I started feeling very bloated, hadn't had gas to this point, so I took gasX couple hrs ago, I now have a tightness in the middle of my chest - any ideas, suggestions, etc??? Seems like the band might be tight but I haven't eaten any solid food, just liquids and no cheating at all. Anyone experince something similar? is this kind of normal or not?? thanks, pb

Ok'd the friend thing, let me know if it doesn't take, not too swift on this forum... pb

Feeling OK, I think I over did it yesterday doing laundry, too much bending over and down. Just got back from the grocery store, and that was a bit of a challenge, the only time I want someone to help me out, it's a pregnant woman, so I have to decline the help! LOL don't mind the liquid diet when I can have the yogurt and creamed Soups, I have my first fill set up for May 6th, it would be nice to post pone for a while. One thing I wasn't too happy about is after the fact I'm told I have a 4cc band, not the normal 10 cc. Don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it seems you have less to play with, not that I could say anything about it after the surgery. But I have no complaints with the "service", no violence that I was aware of, we all made it safely back over the border to SD. I've been to the OCC forum, but I wanted to get some objective input before surgery, no one there was going to complain, and I wasn't sure if someone did if the comments would be removed, so I can hear to see if there were any major issues with Ortiz. As you can tell, I didn't find any... Let me know how you're doing afterwards, good luck! pb

I went to Ortiz as well.... Had my surgery on the 6th. One of the things you can do is get the emails of the other people you have surgery with that day and keep in touch as to what everyone else is doing. What state do you live in? I'm in FL, so returning for fills wasn't practical. If you don't live close enough to return start looking for local Dr's to do it, it's not easy to find local's willing to fill "Mexican bands". Feel free to contact me with any questions...pb

Was just banded a week ago, with a 4cc band. Anyone have any experience with this? What was the amt of your first fill, second, etc? Any info would be appreciated......thanks, pb

I had my surgery in MX last Monday the 6th. I went it about 11am, was out in 1/2 hr, left the clinic around 12 noon the next day. Didn't take any pain meds since I left. Got home Sat (FL) and did laundry - that was a mistake. No gas pains, or anything like that. It's weird to have surgery and have no pain - other than stupid pains, but i was feeling so good didn't think laundry would be an issue. I have a 4cc band and was wondering who else has one and how it's going? I'm down about 22 lbs, the first 15 was the pre-op diet. Clear liquids the first week, and full liquids the next two weeks, then solid foods. AFter the surgery, went to a local hotel, walked around the hotel quite a bit, nothing crazy. Then left there and spent 3 nites in San Diego, being a self pay and not local I wanted to make sure everything was OK before going back east. Did lots of walking in SD, it was nice and cool,a nd the hotel was right downtown. Flew the whole day pretty much on Sat,a nd Sun sat at mom's for Easter, feeling just fine with my drinkable yogurt.. instead of ham and yams! LOL So anyone with experience with 4cc bands, I'd love to hear from you. pb

Hi all you 50's... I was just banded in MX last week, a week ago today! IndioGirl, when you have some time, I'd love to hear how you set up your - whatever this is - with the date you were banded, the scale that says how much you lost, etc as I know I enjoy seeing that on others "sites" it's very informative. I'm on full liquids now for the next two weeks, then what kind of food do people generally start with, I was thinking over cooked pasta, mashed potatoes, etc Any suggestions would be a big help. I'm pretty sure this is where I'll be posting and reading, now that I've found this area. Thanks to whomever started the 50 thing...:smile: kd

How do you PM, I'd like to ask a few questions, but don't want to do it so publicly. I'm hoping to book this week, but figured before I did, I'd like to talk with you...thanks, PB

So how did it go with Aceves? I'm thinking about booking with him......he seems to come highly recommended. How was the trip to and from the airport, especially after the surgery? Did you get lab work before and afterwords? Pain meds and meds to prevent nausa? When did you get the surgery and how much have you lost since then? Anything else I should be asking... PB

Has anyone used this Dr? I was thinking of Ortiz, but with all the violence on the boarder, I wanted to move away from boarder. Better yet, does anyone know someone in Central Florida that would do the surgery for under 10K? Found a few in the country but not in Florida, one in Denver, Detroit, TX. Would be grateful for any info...thanks, PB:smile:

When did you have yours done? I see you went to TJ, it's very violent there now, did you go recently? Did you like the facilities? have you lost weight? I heard some negative things about him, but I don't want to go to TJ and would like to find a DR inland away from the boarder, Cancun seems to a good place, but that doesn't seem to be a good enough reason to choose a Dr. I'm getting a headache with all this.....thanks for the info PB

Hi, I don't know how to PM, so I hope this is OK. did you have the sleeve too as well as the LB? What does your DR Alveres charge? And what is a DS? Is your DR on the boarder? I was all ready to start booking and the violence on the boarder broke out and I'm looking for some place in MX not on the boarder, or a Dr under 10K in Florida- as you might have guessed I"m self pay. Was thinking of a Dr Verboone, but then I heard he was in jail! I was reading a pretty lengthy post on how to research Drs, but I just take it for granted they lie. Ortiz seems to be the big name in MX, claims he was a proctor or lap-band, I called the company and it was true, but I could tell something else was up, as he no longer was and they wouldn't tell me why. Also, all the questions I'm suppose to ask about infections, who is going to tell you the truth? If they killed 10 people that week they wouldn't tell you. If you ask how many bands they've done, how would I know if it were true??? I don't want to give up and pay a fortune to do it here, but hell, I don't see how I could trust anything any Dr would tell me - they're going to say they're great with low infections, and no serious problems, they've done thousands, etc. You seem to be all over this forum, so I take it you're very experienced and knowledgeable, so who would you recommend that's not on the boarder? I looked at your guy and it appears you have to drive through Laurado, which I'm not doing without a few hundred well armed swat guys. Any help, suggestions, etc would be appreciated. .......thanks so much, PB

That's pretty funny, I went to my PCP for diets pills and he told me to go for the lap-band, said I'd never lose the amt of weight I need to and if I did I'd likely not keep it off, not that he had to tell me that, I already knew that! Also I have ulcerative colitis and asked my GI Dr what he thought, and he said fine go ahead......get a new PCP would be my suggestion...PB

It's an issue between the group he worked with and one of the largest insurers in Brevard. I had to leave my GI DR because of it. Nothing to do with him, I have friends that are nurses and they rave about him personally. I'm hoping the practice folds and my GI Doc goes elsewhere and I can return. Again, nothing to do with him, he is excellent by all accounts, his contract with the group said he couldn't practice in Brevard county, so he went to IR....:tt2: PB

Hi, got your private message, but I really don't know how to use this site very well yet...:thumbup: I couldn't figure out how to respond to you from there. I think they figured out who you were, they mentioned your place of employment and we guessed that was you. I'm actually working through some financial issues before making my final decision. I wanted to have this done in Jan, Dr D is scheduling for April as of now....:tt2: I have several options, but if the money can be worked out I'd prefer to stay here. He did say he'd do the fills, whether I have the surgery with him or not, which is a big help. thanks again, if I go with him I'll let you know, hope you're working on commission! LOL PB

What kind of pre-op diet did you have to do? I was just talking with his office, haven't made a firm decision, but some Dr do and some don't require pre-op diets, some of these seem extreme. If I could do a liquid diet for 3 days or a week or I even read 2, I wouldn't need lap-band! LOL What is the norm? PBD

I called today, they apparently didn't know what to say the cost was as I believe they've not done just fills for someone who had the band done elsewhere. I told them I was referred to them......and of course they wanted to know your name, :mad2: She said they'd get back to me with the fill price and the lap band price. I told them I'd rather stay here, but with the price difference it's hard to justify. I told them you asked Dr D about the fill and that you were likely there in the last few days, so they will likely ask if he remembers who asked before giving me a price. It would sure be nice if he would do it for less than Fusco so I wouldn't feel inclined to leave the country. Thanks again for your help.........PB