trizzy

Hi bingo--Congrats on your weight loss already!! That is so great! I would definetly take a Taxi to the shopping area. It was pretty far, and by the time you get done walking there, you wouldn't have any energy left to shop!! I did pretty good at first--but I tired out about an hour into shopping. We took a taxi back--and I was so relieved to get into bed! Also--don't worry when the taxi drivers drive like a bat out of He__, they are the craziest drivers I have ever seen--but they got us there and back safe and sound! Again--congrats on the weight loss already--you're doing great!

Hey Bingo--sorry so long--life gets so hectic around here sometimes! I think I am at my sweet spot--I lose five pounds all at once, then nothing for two weeks--then five pounds--AHHH! So far I've lost 55 pounds--but I don't eat the way I should. I now LOVE to eat Soups, mashed potatoes, that sort of thing, so my weight loss is slow. I didn't switch any money over to Pesos. Everyone/everything down there will accept American money. I had no problems with taxis or shops. Just make sure to bring money for tips for the van driver, and taxis, etc... Are you going to do the week long Protein shake diet before you go? Do you plan on starting to diet now to lose the weight? I was worried that I had not lost enough before I went down, but I lost some, and obviously enough for the surgery! For everyone else--I have heard good things about Dr. Patterson--I too called her office for the price, and she quoted me around the same amount of $20,000-$30,000.. NO WAY I could afford that, so I went to Ortiz and paid $8,500.

Hi Bingo-- I think I am at my sweet spot--although to keep up the weight loss I may need to go in this summer and get a SMALL fill--I am going to wait until then to decide! The trip back across the border was fine! They let us stay in the van, and one of the patrols came out and checked our ID's. This was before the passport requirement took effect--so I don't know if you'll need a passport or not. After the fill trip we had to get out, cross the border on foot, and then get back in the van. I went shopping the next day after surgery! We went to the tourist part of TJ and walked along the sidewalk, looking and buying...it was fun. I, of course, tired out earlier than I usually would have, but it was amazing to be walking the day after surgery! We only bought things for our kids, so we didn't pay any duty or anything. I'm not sure on what/how they do that. Do you have an exact date on your surgery? Are you flying down or driving down? Is there someone going with you? It helped me to have my husand there---but a lot of people went down solo. Have a great day!

Hey bingo-- I didn't have any co-morbidities, I was borderline diabetic, but they were sure with weight loss it would go away--which it has. I didn't make a pre-op with Dr. Fitzpatrick--I had heard good things about her on here, so I just went ahead and made an appt. I tried to make one for November, but she had just been up to Portland and wouldn't be up again til December when I got my fill. So--make sure you call a month in advance before getting your next fill. Dr. Fitzpatrick said that she usually does a 1.5-2.0 fill for the first time, so Ortiz's office did good with that. I felt a little restriction in the am with the first fill, and maybe lost another 10 pounds. After the second fill, I found out what restriction was all about! I live in Milwaukie; SE of Portland---if you have any more questions--don't hesitate to ask--and I'll try to answer them if I can!

luv2bingo07---Hi! I did exactly the same thing! I had Dr. Ortiz put my band in late August of last year, then went down to Ortiz again for my first fill. I wanted to do my first fill with him because he does it with the fluroscope and I wanted to be sure everything looked good. They gave me a 1.6 fill in October; it didn't do much. I went to Dr. Fitzpatrick in December and she gave me a REALLY good fill!! She was nice and it was relatively painless. She had a bit of a hard time finding my port because of my weight, but once she did it wasn't bad! They wanted me to lose 15 pounds, but I only lost 10 pounds. I think they just want to shrink the fat a little to make it easier to insert the band. I did the Slimfast thing for a week before going--it wasn't too bad. Good luck with everything--I think you have chosen a great doc!!

Hello everyone! It has been almost three months since I have posted anything. I have been very down with the whole band thing---until TODAY!!! I had a fill with Dr. Ortiz of 1.6 cc in October, but on Friday I got a fill of another .98 from a local Doc, and I FINALLY HAVE RESTRICTION!!!!! I am so happy!!! I have only lost weight from the liquid diet of post-op surgery, and now I can only eat a few bites of food and I am full!! I am so excited thinking I will finally be able to lose some weight! Well, I am seeing that everyone else is doing FANTASTIC, and hopefully soon I can join you in the weight loss game again! Merry Christmas everyone, and the "slimmest" of New Years!

Hello all fellow Oregonians! Just wanted to say that I had a fill by Dr. Fitzpatrick on Friday. She gave me .98 cc ( already had a fill of 1.6 from Ortiz) and I FINALLY have restriction!!!!!! She was super nice, but did have to poke me two times to get the right positioning for my port. She said as I lose weight it will be easier to find it. Anyway, just thought I'd let anyone interested in getting a fill in the Portland area know about her. She charged me $180 for the fill, but that was for the first visit. Her website is www.gastricbands.com Have a very Merry Christmas--and the "skinniest" of New Years!

Okay--found Dr Fitzpatrick's website. It is www.gastricbands.com All the info you need about her is there!

Sweetrepose: I e-mailed her at drkmfitzpatrick@hotmail.com She responded right away, and for my next fill I plan on using her! Good luck!

This is what we teach our children: 1st : Tell person to stop--or leave me alone! 2nd : Tell teacher/parent/responsible adult. 3rd : Do whatever is necessary to keep bully from hurting you. If we don't teach our children to stand up for themselves, they will be lost. My son has never had a 'physical' altercation with anyone. The first two steps usually solve it all. However, he will be going into seventh grade next year and I know it is coming. I have told him that he will never get in trouble at home if he follows the above steps, even if he gets in trouble at school. If there is no adult supervision then he shouldn't get in trouble for defending himself. Also, we let them know that if a child hits them first, they have every right to skip to number 3!:boxing:

Sweetrepose, Dr. Ortiz is a lap-band surgeon located in Tijuana Mexico. It only cost me $8,500 to have the surgery there, compared to the $15,000-$25,000 it would have cost me here. I don't have insurance that covers this operation either, and Dr. Ortiz is a SUPERB doctor. He does about 5 or more a day down in Mexico--his center is very clean, and all the staff were great! I was very apprehensive about going to down to Mexico to have surgery--but it was a very good experience! If you have any more questions about him you can PM me or write here! Good Luck to you!!

Hey PR--I have a confession too! I have started on solids a little early! I just had to have some solids yesterday--so I had some, then ate liquids for the rest of the day. Today I have been even worse!!! Oh well, hopefully doing it just three days early won't be too bad! For any Ortiz patients---I am getting a fill on October 21st. My plane lands in San Diego at 9:30 am and then I'll be leaving same day at 5:00pm. If anyone is going around then, maybe we can share a taxi, trolley, etc... I may be meeting up with one other person--so the more the merrier!! If interested let me know!:girl_hug: Everyone keep up the good work--we're doing great!

Chrissie--ARGHHH! I hate it when that kind of crap happens!!! That usually makes me reach for the Swiss Cake Rolls or potato chip bag! Good luck on your new fridge buying adventure! As for me--well, the scale has decided NOT to move past a 20 pound loss, but I have been noticing my stomach is shrinking! Thank god or else I would really be gettting depressed! I am however going to change my goal for September to 5 pounds--not 10-- because I am starting solids this Friday!! YEE-HAW! Keep going ABC--we're doing great!

Kate--thank God I am not alone!! I have been brushing my teeth 3+ times a day, and I only used to do it once a day! Isn't that weird? I wonder what causes it? Oh well, my little girl told me I should talk to her with my mouth closed from now on--lol---so I guess that's one way to solve it!:speechles Anyone out there going to get a fill with Doc Martinez around Fri. Oct. 20th-Sat. 21st? I am thinking of scheduling a fill then, and was wondering if anyone would like to meet up, share a taxi, etc..(if you don't mind my bad breath!):couch2: .Either PM me or write in here, hope to hear soon because I want to schedule it by Monday!