Tuesday, May 19, 2009
It's Been A While
So I forgot what my password is...and it took me a while to reset it. So far, i am doing okay with the lapband. I cannot wait for my first fill. I have no restriction at all. I can eat anything! Ahhhhhh! But I guess I should not be surprised. I have read in the forums that you wont feel restricted until a couple of fills. I have scheduled my first fill for June 2nd...I cannot wait!
Monday, April 27, 2009
My amazing support...
So, I decided not to tell my Mom and my sisters yet. The only one who knows it in my family is my amazing husband. How can I start to even describe how much I love him? I just adore and cherish him so much!!!
From the beginning, he had supported me. He never told me not to do it. He just made sure that it was a safe procedure. He was with me when I went to Mexico for the procedure. He prepares all my meals and get my lunch box ready before I get to work. When I get home, he has everything ready for me. Whenever I am down, he always tells me that I can do this. I just love him to death!!!
From the beginning, he had supported me. He never told me not to do it. He just made sure that it was a safe procedure. He was with me when I went to Mexico for the procedure. He prepares all my meals and get my lunch box ready before I get to work. When I get home, he has everything ready for me. Whenever I am down, he always tells me that I can do this. I just love him to death!!!
Day 12 Post-Op
Just an update!
4/21- We arrived from San Diego to Miami. Flight was no problem. No pain...honestly, just tired of liquids :) and I was just beginning! I keep telling myself...I can do this!!!
4/22 - We drove back to our house in Central Florida from my Mom's house in South Florida. The 5 hour drive was not a problem.
4/23 - I started creamy soups today. I had clam chowder soup in a can. I swear it was the best soup ever! hehehe....
4/24- I was back to work. 14 hour shift! Again, no pain except for the annoying left shoulder pain.
Today, 4/27. I am off today. I am feeling okay. I had an optometrist appt but after that I just rested. I cannot wait to go on solids. Be strong...be strong...be strong!
Today, I decided where I will go do my first fill. I will do it at St. Petersburg FillCenterUSA. It will probably the first week of June. A colleague of mine recommended Dr. Jawad in Ocala, but when I called today, they told me that they do accept Mexico patients but it would be $250 for initial consultation. Then, it would be $100 if I need an adjustment +$50 office visit. So just for the first fill, I am looking at $400 and they do not even use fluoroscopy. At St. Pete, I think it is $375 and they use fluoroscopy. Plus, I heard the they have a great staff. So, there it is, I made up my mind, it would be in St. Pete for my first fill.
My weight...Actually, I feel like smashing my weighing scale. I was at 196lbs the other day...I was loosing. Then, it went up! But why? I barely eat anything...maybe I was not getting enough protein? Maybe I am retaining water? Anyways, I was reading the forums and it seems to happen to a lot of bandster. I would just try not to use my scale everyday. Wish me luck!
4/21- We arrived from San Diego to Miami. Flight was no problem. No pain...honestly, just tired of liquids :) and I was just beginning! I keep telling myself...I can do this!!!
4/22 - We drove back to our house in Central Florida from my Mom's house in South Florida. The 5 hour drive was not a problem.
4/23 - I started creamy soups today. I had clam chowder soup in a can. I swear it was the best soup ever! hehehe....
4/24- I was back to work. 14 hour shift! Again, no pain except for the annoying left shoulder pain.
Today, 4/27. I am off today. I am feeling okay. I had an optometrist appt but after that I just rested. I cannot wait to go on solids. Be strong...be strong...be strong!
Today, I decided where I will go do my first fill. I will do it at St. Petersburg FillCenterUSA. It will probably the first week of June. A colleague of mine recommended Dr. Jawad in Ocala, but when I called today, they told me that they do accept Mexico patients but it would be $250 for initial consultation. Then, it would be $100 if I need an adjustment +$50 office visit. So just for the first fill, I am looking at $400 and they do not even use fluoroscopy. At St. Pete, I think it is $375 and they use fluoroscopy. Plus, I heard the they have a great staff. So, there it is, I made up my mind, it would be in St. Pete for my first fill.
My weight...Actually, I feel like smashing my weighing scale. I was at 196lbs the other day...I was loosing. Then, it went up! But why? I barely eat anything...maybe I was not getting enough protein? Maybe I am retaining water? Anyways, I was reading the forums and it seems to happen to a lot of bandster. I would just try not to use my scale everyday. Wish me luck!
Monday, April 20, 2009
5 Days post-Op
I am actually here in San Diego airport right now. We stayed here in San Diego for a couple of days after surgery. We toured the city and I really want to move here. What a beautiful city!
How am I feeling? - In terms of pain, there is not much except for once in a while when I feel some sharp pain at the incision site. I only feel weird when I am sitting down or laying down. While standing up, I feel fine. Gas? I don't have much...only once in a while. Bowel movement? Well, I don't feel constipated. I have moved bowels but very little. I am hungry! Post-op diet is a killer! Especially, I am in a place where they have my favorite Filipino foods! We have the nicest relatives here. By the way, no one knows about my surgery except my husband, one of my friends, and my supervisor at work. Anyways, my relatives took us around the city. They were so nice to take us to Harrahs Casino in Escondido. The buffet!!! Oh my goodness! I felt bad eating just the soup (especially it's an expensive buffet) but I was proud of my self not to eat anything. I had told them that I had a temporary tooth placed before my trip and I could not eat solid. This is actually not a lie. I did go to the dentist before my trip and I had a temporary tooth put in. They will put the actual crown when I get back so it was not 100% lie. The only lie is the food part because I was allowed to eat after the temporary tooth was put in. Everyday that we were here, they cooked such great meals. Oh man, it was tough! They were truly wondering if I was okay because I was not eating.
Okay, till next time again. Our flight is going to start boarding soon!
How am I feeling? - In terms of pain, there is not much except for once in a while when I feel some sharp pain at the incision site. I only feel weird when I am sitting down or laying down. While standing up, I feel fine. Gas? I don't have much...only once in a while. Bowel movement? Well, I don't feel constipated. I have moved bowels but very little. I am hungry! Post-op diet is a killer! Especially, I am in a place where they have my favorite Filipino foods! We have the nicest relatives here. By the way, no one knows about my surgery except my husband, one of my friends, and my supervisor at work. Anyways, my relatives took us around the city. They were so nice to take us to Harrahs Casino in Escondido. The buffet!!! Oh my goodness! I felt bad eating just the soup (especially it's an expensive buffet) but I was proud of my self not to eat anything. I had told them that I had a temporary tooth placed before my trip and I could not eat solid. This is actually not a lie. I did go to the dentist before my trip and I had a temporary tooth put in. They will put the actual crown when I get back so it was not 100% lie. The only lie is the food part because I was allowed to eat after the temporary tooth was put in. Everyday that we were here, they cooked such great meals. Oh man, it was tough! They were truly wondering if I was okay because I was not eating.
Okay, till next time again. Our flight is going to start boarding soon!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Suggestions of things to pack...
I knew I had questions on what things to bring with me to TJ. Here are some things in my carry-on suit case.
- OCC paperworks
- Passport (right now I don't think it is mandatory but starting June, I beleive it would be) and Driver's License
- cash - mostly singles and fives
- Pajamas
- Undies - the comfortable ones
- comfortable clothes - you really just need 2 sets of clothes because in the OCC, you will be wearing the clinic gown with the infamous paper undies
- comfortable shoes - I suggest just wearing sandals or flipflops because bending over after surgery is a task...plus when you are staying overnight at the OCC, it is just more convenient to just slip on your sandals
- toothbrush/toothpaste
- The hotels have toiletries but I still brought some but it's not necessary - Lucerna has Neutrogena toiletries (facial soap, boady soap, shampoo,conditioner, and lotion). They even provide toothpaste if you forget yours. If you do bring liquids in your carry-on remember the 3-1-1 (3 oz containers in 1 oz ziplocks, 1 per passenger) rule in the aiport.
- I brought my laptop - but OCC and the hotels have laptops for you to use. I just brought mine because I will be in San Diego for a couple of days after surgery.
- My cellphone - note: OCC has phones where you can use to call US for FREE
- chicken broth cubes
- packets of crystal light
- Gas-ex strips
Pack lightly. I just brough a carry-on and everything fit even though I will stay in San Diego for 3 days after TJ. Remember, when you cross the border to get back to the US, you have to lug your stuff around. And to tell you the truth, after surgery, you don't want to be carrying heavy items. If I remember something else, I will just edit this list later on.
Crossing the border...
It was truly a painless experience. I thought it would be a hassle to cross the Mexican-US border to get back to Cali but it was really fast. It took us about 10 minutes or maybe less. The van which Francisco, the driver, drives was inspected and me and my husband was escorted to go inside a building where they check our passport and ID's. We also had to take everything we had with us so they scan the contents of stuff. After getting out of the building, we just had to meet Francisco on the other side then off we go to the airport (actually, Francisco was nice enough to take us to the Enterprise rent-a-car place where we needed to be because we are staying in San Diego for a couple of days before heading home).
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Day 3 of Surgery
Today will be the last day here in Tijuana. In fact, our shuttle will be picking us up at 8am in the lobby of the hotel. Yesterday, I arrived at the hotel at around 9am. I just showered then we headed to Revolution Avenue. Revolution Ave was really nothing spectacular. In fact, I did not even buy anything there. Well, let me correct that...I bought 3 keychains (3 for $1), 1 t-shirt for my hubby, and 1 bracelet. We also took a pic with BIMBO, the donkey. I will post the picture here as soon as we get back home and get to scan it. We also went to a restaurant. They serve buffet. Of course, only my husband ate. Before we headed back, we went to the KFC so we can get a togo meal for my husband for his dinner.
When we get back to the hotel, I just basically slept most of the day. I got a call from the OCC around 6pm that the shuttle will pick us up today at 8am at the lobby. The whole night,we just relaxed in the room and got a good night sleep.
This morning, when I woke up, I saw some blotches of blood on my shirt. I don't think my stiches are bleeding. It is just probably left over blood from the surgery (I hope). Anyways, until next time. Gotta get packing...
PS. Right now, I am not feeling any pain. Once in a while, it will come and go but I recommend for everyone to have plenty of rest so your body can recover. This is why I just stayed in bed most of the day yesterday :)
When we get back to the hotel, I just basically slept most of the day. I got a call from the OCC around 6pm that the shuttle will pick us up today at 8am at the lobby. The whole night,we just relaxed in the room and got a good night sleep.
This morning, when I woke up, I saw some blotches of blood on my shirt. I don't think my stiches are bleeding. It is just probably left over blood from the surgery (I hope). Anyways, until next time. Gotta get packing...
PS. Right now, I am not feeling any pain. Once in a while, it will come and go but I recommend for everyone to have plenty of rest so your body can recover. This is why I just stayed in bed most of the day yesterday :)
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