ms883

Thank you all for the posts on this page. I am starving and only banded on 10/24. I also didn't know to restrict my Water and would drink as much as I wanted, at any time. My doc said it would be ok for me to advance to "anything that can pass through a straw" but nothing with any lumps or solids (such as pieces of fruit). So I started on liquid soups and had a smoothie earlier today. Learning I can be hungry until a fill was a god-send. I can't thank you all enough. Some people do snipe a bit because you're hungry - well, I'm hungry and I thought I had just flushed $8,500 down a rats nest when I was hungry for 3 days straight. Thought it was all my problem. If I had the will power to stay away from everything that made me fat, I would not be overweight and now have a band. I'm doing my best, but I am not perfect. I haven't lost an ounce in the week since I was banded and I've been on water and gadoraid until today. Go figure. I wish you all well and thanks for your posts. Lynn a/k/a ms883

I was banded 10/24. Up and walking as soon as I was awake. Came home yesterday, 10/25, and even went to work today, only the port area is a bit sore. I am envious of all of you who say you are not hungry. I feel like I'm starving and it is an effort not to eat. I was a bit depressed about how hungry I am until I received a message from a woman who said he depression will go away once I can stat on some soups. Well, still hungry, but not giving up - no not giving up after 2 days. Ms883 Had to lose 17lbs pre op - so it feels like the "good old days" when I was always on a diet. :-(

Ok - enough of this liquid diet and no band stuff. I want to get this show on the road. 5 days to go. 5 days and counting... Luckily, only 1 more day at work. Yeah right - It's all going with me to the hospital. :faint: I'm also hungry. Doc said to lose 17 lbs before surgery. Goodie. Here I am still trying to lose that damn 17 lbs. Same 17 lbs I've lost and gained who-knows-how-many-times-before. Pain in my rear. Not only am I hungry, I had a client absolutely get creamed in court today. I watched his excellent case to change custody end up with him getting supervised visitation because the EX lied. I know she lied, my client knows she lied, her attorney knows she lied, but she lied to CPS and they are involved. 24 hours ago, the CPS recommendation was for my client to have custody. Then they interviewed the Ex. I work so hard only to be twarted by a liar. I tell you, she'll get hers eventually. This judge hates liars. Small victories, won by lies are not worth what this judge will do to her in 45 days when we get back to court. In the meantime, I have to deal with this loon at CPS who does not understand lawyers and how we protect our clients. Wanted to disparage me because I had my client's step son secure his own attorney - and the step-son's attorney will not let the step son talk to CPS. My CPS worker really needs a legal education, seems to think she's above the law. And, I'm doing all of this really, really, hungry after 2-1/2 weeks of a nutty, almost no food diet. Kept my cool in court. I hope that's the Lexapro working. Keep your fingers crossed for me, or I may blow it in front of this judge. That would not be a good thing. Ms883

Ok - enough of this liquid diet and no band stuff. I want to get this show on the road. 5 days to go. 5 days and counting... Luckily, only 1 more day at work. Yeah right - It's all going with me to the hospital. :faint: I'm also hungry. Doc said to lose 17 lbs before surgery. Goodie. Here I am still trying to lose that damn 17 lbs. Same 17 lbs I've lost and gained who-knows-how-many-times-before. Pain in my rear. Not only am I hungry, I had a client absolutely get creamed in court today. I watched his excellent case to change custody end up with him getting supervised visitation because the EX lied. I know she lied, my client knows she lied, her attorney knows she lied, but she lied to CPS and they are involved. 24 hours ago, the CPS recommendation was for my client to have custody. Then they interviewed the Ex. I work so hard only to be twarted by a liar. I tell you, she'll get hers eventually. This judge hates liars. Small victories, won by lies are not worth what this judge will do to her in 45 days when we get back to court. In the meantime, I have to deal with this loon at CPS who does not understand lawyers and how we protect our clients. Wanted to disparage me because I had my client's step son secure his own attorney - and the step-son's attorney will not let the step son talk to CPS. My CPS worker really needs a legal education, seems to think she's above the law. And, I'm doing all of this really, really, hungry after 2-1/2 weeks of a nutty, almost no food diet. Kept my cool in court. I hope that's the Lexapro working. Keep your fingers crossed for me, or I may blow it in front of this judge. That would not be a good thing. Ms883

I am going to be banded 10/24/06 by Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I have complete confidence in Dr. Ortiz. Not only will he meet with you and give you a free consultation to answer any of your questions, he has trained many of the surgeon's in the United States. In fact, he trained the local doctor here in Las Vegas, Dr. Barry Fisher and he trained my hometown hospital, Hoag Hospital, in Newport Beach, California. He is also a proctoring doctor for Innamed, the manufacturer that makes the only FDA approved band in the United States. He has performed several thousand lap band surgeries. Search your physician outside of the U.S. just as you would your physician in the U.S., visit the clinic and see what is going on. Another reason why I chose Dr. Ortiz was the physicians who have provided testimonials on his web page. One doctor who was banded by Dr. Ortiz now operates his own band surgery center in the United States. When I looked at the testimonials, I dug underneath them to see if the physicians were trained medical doctors, licensed in their respective states, or if they were bogus Md's. I was very happy with the results. What you give up by going to Mexico for surgery is your right to sue a doctor for malpractice and to recover money from their malpractice insurance carrier for your pain and suffering. It is that clear. Dr. Ortiz told me that his malpractice insurance in the U.S. would cost $250,000/year. I am reasonably confident that each of us who investigates lap band surgery in the U.S. and attends a lap band "seminar" does so because the U.S. doctor is probably required to hold this seminar by their malpractice insurance company. Note that the seminars very clearly show you the risks associated with the surgery, mortality rates and other negative side effects. That's not a doctor talking, that's an insurance agency protecting itself. Also, I do not like the idea that I need a psych eval and to pass all the other hoops required in the U.S. for surgery. Again, that's the insurance company putting road blocks in your way to this surgery. I'm a mature adult. Why do I need a psychologist to confirm that this surgery is good for me. I can make that decision on my own. I am an attorney, so I am particularly incensed when an insurance company makes me do something so they can attempt to deny me benefits that I pay for. There is my response. Sorry for being so long winded. Good luck with your search. L. Conant

:deadhorse: Beatin' the ol' dead horse called fatso. He's a gonner on October 24. Wish me luck. Lynn

Yup, I’m hungry. Ok - I’m human and can’t live on excitement alone. Had a big weekend food wise - 2 scrambled eggs and dry toast on Sunday moring. It was wonderful. The eggs were so fresh they tasted sweet. Only lost 7 of the 17 I’m ordered to drop. I’ve got another week to go - maybe another 5 will fall off (does anyone believe in magic?). That gets me close to goal. I’m going to have this surgery, if it kills me. Of course, my cardiologist said it will kill me if I don’t have the surgery.

Yup, I’m hungry. Ok - I’m human and can’t live on excitement alone. Had a big weekend food wise - 2 scrambled eggs and dry toast on Sunday moring. It was wonderful. The eggs were so fresh they tasted sweet. Only lost 7 of the 17 I’m ordered to drop. I’ve got another week to go - maybe another 5 will fall off (does anyone believe in magic?). That gets me close to goal. I’m going to have this surgery, if it kills me. Of course, my cardiologist said it will kill me if I don’t have the surgery.

My evil step-mother (aka depression because bading was postphoned) got on her broom and flew away. I have a new banding date. 10/23. Even I can diet for 2 weeks. Interesting about needing to lose weight pre-band is that I don't care if I diet. Trust me, after 35 years of diets, I hate all of them, and I hate the self-loathing that accompanies diet failure (either falling off the diet, or gaining the weight back lateron). Ok, I can do this. I can do anything for 2 weeks. This is unlike any other diet I've been on before. With my goal (the lapband) just 2 weeks away, I don't feel hungry even though I'm down to about 900 calories/day. IMHO, I could just quit eating now, well, maybe, but the demond munchies and cravings would return. Thumbs up to the band!

My evil step-mother (aka depression because bading was postphoned) got on her broom and flew away. I have a new banding date. 10/23. Even I can diet for 2 weeks. Interesting about needing to lose weight pre-band is that I don't care if I diet. Trust me, after 35 years of diets, I hate all of them, and I hate the self-loathing that accompanies diet failure (either falling off the diet, or gaining the weight back lateron). Ok, I can do this. I can do anything for 2 weeks. This is unlike any other diet I've been on before. With my goal (the lapband) just 2 weeks away, I don't feel hungry even though I'm down to about 900 calories/day. IMHO, I could just quit eating now, well, maybe, but the demond munchies and cravings would return. Thumbs up to the band!

I've waited 20 years for this, I don't know if I can wait another 2 weeks or not! In 1985, I was the first woman promoted to the position of Senior Vice President with my former Wall Street employer. For 10 years, I had worked an average of 60 hours per week and no less than 6 days per week for this promotion. I moved when the company asked me to, so I moved four times in less than 6 years. I dedicated my life to my career, and it paid off. At this time I was a size 14-16 and continually fighting with my weight. Each and every day I woke up with my constant companion, self-loathing. Why couldn't I stay on a diet. Why couldn't I shake those 20 pounds. Why did weight keep creeping on. I second guessed myself all of the time. At the same time, I was buried in work, eating at my desk, skipping meals if work called and foregoing any type of exercise. To my surprise in 1986, I met a nice young man after being essentially dateless for years. We married about 1 year after meeting. Fast forward to 1987. Now, I've gained weight. My boss at the time, "suggested" that I lose weight - my weight was negatively effecting my career. Not the 60 hours and 6 days a week, but my weight. I spent a small fortune and traveled to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and spent almost 3 weeks at the Hilton Head Health Institute. I was taught portion control, how to pick wise foods, and exercised just about every waking moment. I had no complaints about the HHHI and I would enjoy returning. Six months later, I had lost 50 lbs, but I was not thin - Now I was a size 16. Slowly my weight crept back. Then I got a new boss. For the first time in my adult career, I did not get along with my boss. That's never good for a subordinate - even at the Executive level. Try as I might, this man disparaged everything I did. Nothing was ever good enough. At year end, I was only 117% of my sales goal, and that was not good enough. He isolated me from others in the company, and soon, I was excluded from meetings and projects. In April, 1988 I was "demoted." Stripped of my responsibilities as a Senior VP and made an office manager. The demotion was very public and at the time of our annual corporate meeting. My boss stated that I lost my job because I was overweight. No other reason, just because I was over weight. I was replaced by a fat man. By 1995, my marriage was over (my husband blamed me for being fat for losing my job - not that he worked, but it was still my fault my more than six-figure income shrank) and I never emotionally recovered from the very public demotion and humiliation I suffered. I stopped working, took all the money out of my 401K account, sued my former employer for sex-discrimination (won) and went to law school. I graduated from law school in 1999 and then passed the Nevada Bar Exam. Law school was very sedentary. I used phen-fen to lose weight and now suffer with a heart valve problem. My weight fluxiated as I tried assorted dietary aids, but never I was never able to keep the weight off. After law school, I married a wonderful man who loves me, even pudgie, and who would do anything for me. My weight kept creeping up. Now, I am simply fat. Although I am an attorney, my husband and I are no means rich. Recently, we started our own practice and that drained any money we had. It’s expensive to buy the books, computers, copiers and other infrastructure needed to support a law firm. Advertising is our biggest monthly expense, after employee payroll. There are times w e don’t pay ourselves to guarantee that our employees are paid. We believe in our office and my skills as a litigator. Eventually, we’ll have a cash reserve, but things now are tight. We even sold our house and moved into a mobile home so that we could use our home’s equity to pay bills and to help finance our office. I thank God that I am married to a man who will be a partner in building a law firm and I am grateful for my husband because I could not do all of this work on our own. We’ll succeed, but now, money is tight. About a year ago, I noticed that my heart was racing. I visited a local cardiologist who wanted to preform over $3,000.00 in tests. With a $1,000.00 deductible in our insurance, I did not immediately have the money for the tests. I did by the end of the year. I have a leaking heart valve, cardiac arrhythmia and an enlarged heart. After all the tests, my cardiologist agreed that my heart problems were directly related to my weight. He stated that I would be an excellent candidate for a lap band, but he does not endorse gastric bypass surgery, believing that it is too invasive. I started on a search for a surgeon to perform lap band surgery, and at the time, I did not even know what a lap band was. I attended a local seminar in Las Vegas and learned the differences in weight loss surgery. I obtained surgeon references from my CCP and cardiologist. My insurance company, of course, refused to consider weight loss surgery unless I spent 2 years under the care of a physician trying to lose weight. I am 55 years old. I don’t have 2 more years of diet failure and self-loathing in me and I opted to self-pay for lap band surgery. After reading an article about surgery and medical care provided for Americans in India, Europe and Thailand, I started an internet search for weight loss surgery outside of the U.S.. Perhaps I could save a few dollars and have a competent surgeon help me outside of the U.S.. I searched the web, researched and researched. Law school was very good at teaching me research skills. I kept researching physicians and hospitals and came upon Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I never read a bad thing about him. My husband was skeptical about going to Tijuana for surgery. So was I. Tijuana? I continued to investigate Dr. Ortiz. I called physicians who provided testimonials on his web page. I researched those doctors to make sure they were legitimate physicians, not witch-doctors. I called Innamed, who makes the FDA approved U.S. lap band, and talked to them about Dr. Ortiz. I reviewed Dr. Ortiz’ CV. I traveled to Tijuana to meet Dr. Ortiz and upon meeting Dr. Ortiz, I knew my search for a surgeon, who could competently and economically help me with lap band surgery was over. I believe that I am blessed to have met Dr. Ortiz. Never in my life, have I been allowed an open invitation to question a physician about a surgical process. Dr. Ortiz offered me as much time as I needed to discuss my concerns, the surgery, his career and skills. I also learned that Dr. Ortiz proctored the prominent Las Vegas surgeon who performs lap band surgery and he proctored the surgical staff at my home town hospital in Newport Beach, CA.. I stopped searching and scheduled my surgery the very day I met Dr. Ortiz. Originally, I was going to wait until year end, 2006, to have my surgery. After my meeting with Dr. Ortiz, I scheduled Friday, October 13th, 2006, for surgery. I don’t have to be superstitious about the date. I believe I have the premier surgeon performing my lap band surgery. Now, Friday the 13th, cannot come fast enough for me. I worry that I will not pass the pre-op physical, or something else will go wrong and I won’t be able to have the surgery, so I haven’t told too many people about my surgery. I am going to burst with excitement and cannot wait to wake up after the surgery and know that I am turning the corner on my new life. I truly am very lucky. I have a husband who adores me, a successful business and a premier surgeon. I don’t need anything else. My goal: lose 150 lbs. Realistic? I don’t know. My cardiologist believes I will lose at least 100 lbs. I keep reading about people who are my size (24/26) and now they are size 12/14. Is that really possible? Or is this a dream that I’ll wake up from. I just don’t want to live the rest of my life fat. I don’t want to take the elevator at the court because I’m packing an additional 100 lbs and can’t use the stairs. When I argue with another attorney, I don’t want the adjective "fat" used to describe me. I want to walk into a store and buy "normal" size clothes. I don’t want to wear a bikini, I don’t want to be in Playboy. I just want a life freed of fat. I don’t want to be defined by fat.

Just when I thought I was going to meet the lapband of my dreams, my evil step-mother came in and ruined everything. I called my MD today and discussed the pre-op diet. I even called 2 days ahead of schedule. I was told that I need to lose 17 lbs before surgery. Ok, but I don't think that is going to happen in the next 9 days. Good by, Friday, October, 13. Hello, sometime later this month. Bummer. I am not happy. Things could be worse.

Just when I thought I was going to meet the lapband of my dreams, my evil step-mother came in and ruined everything. I called my MD today and discussed the pre-op diet. I even called 2 days ahead of schedule. I was told that I need to lose 17 lbs before surgery. Ok, but I don't think that is going to happen in the next 9 days. Good by, Friday, October, 13. Hello, sometime later this month. Bummer. I am not happy. Things could be worse.

Ok. I give. I could figure out the LGR (little girl's room), I think I know what the SLIMIE'S are, but, since I'm new to this, what does PB stand for? I figured out what it is. Also, can someone tell me what NVS is? New at this - but being banded soon. Lynn

I've waited 20 years for this, I don't know if I can wait another 2 weeks or not! In 1985, I was the first woman promoted to the position of Senior Vice President with my former Wall Street employer. For 10 years, I had worked an average of 60 hours per week and no less than 6 days per week for this promotion. I moved when the company asked me to, so I moved four times in less than 6 years. I dedicated my life to my career, and it paid off. At this time I was a size 14-16 and continually fighting with my weight. Each and every day I woke up with my constant companion, self-loathing. Why couldn't I stay on a diet. Why couldn't I shake those 20 pounds. Why did weight keep creeping on. I second guessed myself all of the time. At the same time, I was buried in work, eating at my desk, skipping meals if work called and foregoing any type of exercise. To my surprise in 1986, I met a nice young man after being essentially dateless for years. We married about 1 year after meeting. Fast forward to 1987. Now, I've gained weight. My boss at the time, "suggested" that I lose weight - my weight was negatively effecting my career. Not the 60 hours and 6 days a week, but my weight. I spent a small fortune and traveled to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and spent almost 3 weeks at the Hilton Head Health Institute. I was taught portion control, how to pick wise foods, and exercised just about every waking moment. I had no complaints about the HHHI and I would enjoy returning. Six months later, I had lost 50 lbs, but I was not thin - Now I was a size 16. Slowly my weight crept back. Then I got a new boss. For the first time in my adult career, I did not get along with my boss. That's never good for a subordinate - even at the Executive level. Try as I might, this man disparaged everything I did. Nothing was ever good enough. At year end, I was only 117% of my sales goal, and that was not good enough. He isolated me from others in the company, and soon, I was excluded from meetings and projects. In April, 1988 I was "demoted." Stripped of my responsibilities as a Senior VP and made an office manager. The demotion was very public and at the time of our annual corporate meeting. My boss stated that I lost my job because I was overweight. No other reason, just because I was over weight. I was replaced by a fat man. By 1995, my marriage was over (my husband blamed me for being fat for losing my job - not that he worked, but it was still my fault my more than six-figure income shrank) and I never emotionally recovered from the very public demotion and humiliation I suffered. I stopped working, took all the money out of my 401K account, sued my former employer for sex-discrimination (won) and went to law school. I graduated from law school in 1999 and then passed the Nevada Bar Exam. Law school was very sedentary. I used phen-fen to lose weight and now suffer with a heart valve problem. My weight fluxiated as I tried assorted dietary aids, but never I was never able to keep the weight off. After law school, I married a wonderful man who loves me, even pudgie, and who would do anything for me. My weight kept creeping up. Now, I am simply fat. Although I am an attorney, my husband and I are no means rich. Recently, we started our own practice and that drained any money we had. It’s expensive to buy the books, computers, copiers and other infrastructure needed to support a law firm. Advertising is our biggest monthly expense, after employee payroll. There are times w e don’t pay ourselves to guarantee that our employees are paid. We believe in our office and my skills as a litigator. Eventually, we’ll have a cash reserve, but things now are tight. We even sold our house and moved into a mobile home so that we could use our home’s equity to pay bills and to help finance our office. I thank God that I am married to a man who will be a partner in building a law firm and I am grateful for my husband because I could not do all of this work on our own. We’ll succeed, but now, money is tight. About a year ago, I noticed that my heart was racing. I visited a local cardiologist who wanted to preform over $3,000.00 in tests. With a $1,000.00 deductible in our insurance, I did not immediately have the money for the tests. I did by the end of the year. I have a leaking heart valve, cardiac arrhythmia and an enlarged heart. After all the tests, my cardiologist agreed that my heart problems were directly related to my weight. He stated that I would be an excellent candidate for a lap band, but he does not endorse gastric bypass surgery, believing that it is too invasive. I started on a search for a surgeon to perform lap band surgery, and at the time, I did not even know what a lap band was. I attended a local seminar in Las Vegas and learned the differences in weight loss surgery. I obtained surgeon references from my CCP and cardiologist. My insurance company, of course, refused to consider weight loss surgery unless I spent 2 years under the care of a physician trying to lose weight. I am 55 years old. I don’t have 2 more years of diet failure and self-loathing in me and I opted to self-pay for lap band surgery. After reading an article about surgery and medical care provided for Americans in India, Europe and Thailand, I started an internet search for weight loss surgery outside of the U.S.. Perhaps I could save a few dollars and have a competent surgeon help me outside of the U.S.. I searched the web, researched and researched. Law school was very good at teaching me research skills. I kept researching physicians and hospitals and came upon Dr. Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico. I never read a bad thing about him. My husband was skeptical about going to Tijuana for surgery. So was I. Tijuana? I continued to investigate Dr. Ortiz. I called physicians who provided testimonials on his web page. I researched those doctors to make sure they were legitimate physicians, not witch-doctors. I called Innamed, who makes the FDA approved U.S. lap band, and talked to them about Dr. Ortiz. I reviewed Dr. Ortiz’ CV. I traveled to Tijuana to meet Dr. Ortiz and upon meeting Dr. Ortiz, I knew my search for a surgeon, who could competently and economically help me with lap band surgery was over. I believe that I am blessed to have met Dr. Ortiz. Never in my life, have I been allowed an open invitation to question a physician about a surgical process. Dr. Ortiz offered me as much time as I needed to discuss my concerns, the surgery, his career and skills. I also learned that Dr. Ortiz proctored the prominent Las Vegas surgeon who performs lap band surgery and he proctored the surgical staff at my home town hospital in Newport Beach, CA.. I stopped searching and scheduled my surgery the very day I met Dr. Ortiz. Originally, I was going to wait until year end, 2006, to have my surgery. After my meeting with Dr. Ortiz, I scheduled Friday, October 13th, 2006, for surgery. I don’t have to be superstitious about the date. I believe I have the premier surgeon performing my lap band surgery. Now, Friday the 13th, cannot come fast enough for me. I worry that I will not pass the pre-op physical, or something else will go wrong and I won’t be able to have the surgery, so I haven’t told too many people about my surgery. I am going to burst with excitement and cannot wait to wake up after the surgery and know that I am turning the corner on my new life. I truly am very lucky. I have a husband who adores me, a successful business and a premier surgeon. I don’t need anything else. My goal: lose 150 lbs. Realistic? I don’t know. My cardiologist believes I will lose at least 100 lbs. I keep reading about people who are my size (24/26) and now they are size 12/14. Is that really possible? Or is this a dream that I’ll wake up from. I just don’t want to live the rest of my life fat. I don’t want to take the elevator at the court because I’m packing an additional 100 lbs and can’t use the stairs. When I argue with another attorney, I don’t want the adjective "fat" used to describe me. I want to walk into a store and buy "normal" size clothes. I don’t want to wear a bikini, I don’t want to be in Playboy. I just want a life freed of fat. I don’t want to be defined by fat.

Hello fellow lap banders! I originally planned to have the surgery in late December. I went to Tijuana and met Dr. Ortiz. He is impressive. I am 55 years old, an attorney, and not impressed by too many people, but Dr. Ortiz was quite a plesant surprise! I've also reviewed Dr. Ortiz' CV, and duirng our meeting he told me that he proctored Dr. Fisher (Vegas lap band MD). His CV also stated that he proctored Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA (my hometown). If he is good enough to train local docs and my hometown hospital, then he is the man I want. I've moved my surgery date up to 10/31/06. I know what I am giving up by traveling out of the country for this surgery: My right to sue a doctor and to have his malpractice insurance cover any claim that I might bring. I am willing to give up the right to litigate because I believe Dr. Ortiz is an expert in lap bands. I have also investigated surgery in Europe, India and Asia. Dr. Ortiz' clinic was immaculate and he was willing to give me as much "face" time as I needed to answer my questions. Believe me, I had questions. I have been researching lap band surgery for years. I also enjoyed discussing the practice of medicine with Dr. Ortiz because too many doctors in the U.S. must do what insurance companies tell them to do (When was an insurance company given a license to practice medicine?). I went to Dr. Fisher's seminar and was amused that if Dr. Fisher did my lap band, I would have to meet with a psychologist to ensure that I was suitable for the surgery. I am an adult, let me make up my own mind as to whether or not I want weight loss surgery. A hurdle, such as a psych eval, must be an insurance company requirement, just as all of the other hurdles (such as requiring you to attend a seminar to learn about the types of weight loss surgery and the mortality rates associated with them) insurance companies throw at us to keep us from our benefits. Sorry for rattling on like this - I have opinons about how our doctors are "allowed" to practice medicine and, in my opinion, how insurance companies keep us from getting the care we really need. :angry I'm looking forward to loosing at least 100 lbs. How much can I expect to lose in the first 3 months? Do you think I will be down 50 pounds by March? I have an annual legal conference to attend and want to be well on my way to loosing weight. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the trip home from Mexico comfortable? Thank you for all the updates and information you provide. I'm hoping to repay you all in kind. Lynn

Dear Vegaswildflower: I have said nothing negative about Dr. Fisher. I stated that I attended his seminar and I was seeking comments and opinions from others. It appears that you have confused me with another list member. I can't say anything negative about Dr. Fisher because I don't know him. Your message concerned me because if I had said something negative, that could be grounds for a defamation law suit. Needless to say, I would not want that. ms883

In September I'm going to check out Dr. Ortiz in Mexico. I have my fingers crossed that the clinic will be as good as the reviews. We are self paying. The cost will be about 1/2 in Mexico. I would love to do this over the long New Years weekend. Ms883

Dear List Mates: Please let me know your success with surgery in Mexico. What was the quality of care like? How much did it cost? I am gearing up to surgery late fall, first of the year. Thank you! Ms883

Hello - I'm downtown - I went to Dr. Fisher's seminar - a friend and my cardio recommended Dr. Fisher's partner, Dr. Atkinson. I am also looking into MD's in Mexico. Does anyone have a recommendation, success or "stay away from" report?