NINNYED

I live in the Quad-Cities on the Mississippi River (Bettendorf to be exact). I was banded on 10/24/06 by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. I had a wonderful experience with him there and am glad I went that route since I was a self-pay. He is simply the greatest! I wonder if your doctor does fills on Mexican patients, in case I need one but do not have the time to run to TJ. Cedar Falls is maybe 2 hours away from here. I really love my band!! I have lost 28 pounds and go in for my first fill in Tijuana this Saturday, December 9.

Yep, same here.... I am still pretty early on this ride, but even with the 27 pounds that I have lost most of my clothes are looking pretty bad. I call my dress slacks for work my "clown pants" now! I am lucky though, I saw an old friend the other day, turns out she had the RNY surgery in April and has lost 120 pounds and had TONS of clothes from size 30 where she started to size 16, the size she just got too small for. I am down to a 22 now, so she gave me everything she had from a 22 down! So I now have a variety of dress clothes that I will be good in for a while! Do not stay in your "big" clothes, you need to be able to see your progress as you loose weight! Just get a couple of outfits from Goodwill or a local consignment shop... So you have something that fits where you are now.... Good luck :confused:

Oh Jessica, do not beat yourself up... You are only human... It sounds like you have been very good and one bad night is not going to destroy all that you have worked for. Yesterday was yesterday, today is a new day! I have found it best to not have the yummy things around anymore.... I also tend to feed "feeling sorry for myself" moods. I hope today has been a better day for you!

Lock up the toilet paper for you and the kids to use and put newspaper in the bathroom for HIM to use! I have kept kinda quiet in here but have been following what is going on with you... I will keep you in my prayers!

Hahaha... Sure, that counts! Whereabouts are you from up here? I was Born in Dubuque and grew up in Bettendorf and LeClaire.

I get them all of the time! It seems like when I drink cold liquids too fast or towards the end of eating a meal I get them. It is a pain when I get them towards the end of eating because I cannot drink anything for an hour to get rid of them... SO I have to let them run their course in that instance...

Hahahha... I know how you feel... I am on day 16 of full liquids and EVERYTHING SOUNDS GOOD!! My husband made his "special" Supper SUpper last night, which I have always considered disgusting yuk... and it looked GOOD!!! Did they band my tastebuds too?? I was mad at the cat the other day and told him that he might taste good grilled with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy...... Hmmm... he has been avoiding me ever since..... Lord HELP ME!!! 5 more days until REAL FOOD!!!! I will NEVER drink broth or SlimFast again!

YES!!!! Mine are driving me CRAZY!!!!! My doctor used glue and that is just starting to come off.... So I have started putting lotion on my tummy to see if it helps.... It seems to do nothing, but at least I feel like I am trying to do something about it! The main area of itching is around my port incision.... Some mornings I want to take my loofa and rub the heck out of it.... But I refrain.... that would be bad.. lol

NO MORE FRICTION BURNS!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! You mean there is supposed to be SPACE between our thighs??? :faint:

Things I am looking forward to.... My panties NOT falling under my belly all day! No more "granny" bras! Pantyhose... Not being my husband's entertainment when I attempt to put these horrid things on! Having a WAIST!!!! OK, this sounds weird... but... I cannot wait to paint my own stinkin' toenails! Booths at restaurants... 'nuf said... Being able to order out of the "Corporatewear" catalog here at work and NOT worry whether it will be big enough! There are many more things, but this is just a quick list.... Only two weeks before I become a bandster!!:clap2:

Has anyone ever used Dr. Vitello in Downer's Grove, IL for fills?? He only charges $150.00 for the fill and the hospital charges your insurance $125.00. Just looking for feedback on him. :grouphug:

Hello! I was wondering if anyone had a good experience at a doctor who will take a Mexican patient for fills in Northern Illinois/ Eastern Iowa. Just want to get my duckies in a row before surgery! :clap2:

Hi everyone!! I am schedule to be banded on October 24 by Dr. Ortiz!! The biggest pre-op thing that I have done so far is to pay for my non-refundable plane tickets to San Diego!! :clap2:

Hi!! I am SOOOOOO excited... I actually have a date to be banded... October 24 with Dr. Ortiz. I am still majorly scared about going to Mexico to have this done, but I have not heard one bad thing about Dr. Ortiz... ANYWHERE! That makes me feel a bit better! I was not scared until I had actually scheduled the surgery and reserved plane seats! Does anyone have any advice about the actual trip and the things that happen AROUND the surgery?? The hotel, where will my DH stay the night I am at the hospital, advice for the flight home (one leg is 4 hours!) - anything you would have done differently???

Hello! I have been a horrible lurker for about a month now... maybe I should finally introduce myself??? I am a 40 year old mother of 3, ages 23, 19, and 17. I work in the I.T. department at a credit union in Eastern Iowa. This website is amazing!! I have found a huge amount of information about lap-band from all of your experiences with it. After a ton of research, I have decided to be banded by Dr. Ortiz in Tiajuana <sp?>. Geez... I hope I remember some of the Spanish I learned in college! heheheh My insurance has a rider that says it will not pay for bariatric surgery no matter what... bummer.. So I am putting myself in debt with the hope that losing all of this weight will help prevent some of the serious health issues that my parents are dealing with now. I think the long range benefits outweigh a tighter budget for a while! Anyway, nothing much more to say right now, just wanted to say hello! :faint:

Is Chicago close for you?? Dr. Ortiz' office said that I would be referred to a Dr. Santiago in Chicago for fills, etc. after my surgery... I am in the Quad-Cities.

Yeah!!! I want to know about the Doctors in Peoria also.

Has anyone ever had any experience with or heard anything about the Lap-Band Center of Illinois in Peoria, IL?? It is only an hour away from where I live and it would be wonderful to be able to do this so close to home! Lynn Unbanded, for now BMI 46

Hello! I am considering lap-band surgery, but am having a hard time finding a doctor in my area... Does anyone know of any doctors in Illinois or Iowa? Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the welcome! I heard there was a doctor in Peoria that does the surgery... Has anyone ever heard anything about him?