Cleo's Mom

You're acting like a 16 year old
The crap you're spewing
You sound ignorant
You are sadder with every post
You screwed up
WTF is wrong with you. Get over yourself
You are an elitist of epic proportions
You have zero class whatsoever
The above are your insults to me personally but I didn't report you. I guess I hurt your feeling and you reported me.:sad: Boo hoo.
Well have fun arguing with yourself.

Even the hypocritical republicans haven't tried to take credit for this. If the tax cuts to the wealthy helped create jobs then since the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 we would have seen that. Instead during bush's regime we went from 4.1% to 8% unemployement before bush's disastrous economic policies combined with wall street greed took us to a 9.8% unemployment.
Now that Obama's economic policies and payroll tax cuts to the working people, among other things, has had a chance to take effect, it's working.
Great job, Obama, keep up the good work.
And BTW, the republican's economic policy relying heavily on spending cuts would destroy this fragile recovery and cause the loss of 700,000 jobs. They had absolutely nothing to do with this recovery and everything to do with the crisis.

You're acting like a 16 year old
The crap you're spewing
You sound ignorant
You are sadder with every post
You screwed up
WTF is wrong with you. Get over yourself
You are an elitist of epic proportions
You have zero class whatsoever
The above are your insults to me personally but I didn't report you. I guess I hurt your feeling and you reported me.:sad: Boo hoo.
Well have fun arguing with yourself.

Even the hypocritical republicans haven't tried to take credit for this. If the tax cuts to the wealthy helped create jobs then since the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 we would have seen that. Instead during bush's regime we went from 4.1% to 8% unemployement before bush's disastrous economic policies combined with wall street greed took us to a 9.8% unemployment.
Now that Obama's economic policies and payroll tax cuts to the working people, among other things, has had a chance to take effect, it's working.
Great job, Obama, keep up the good work.
And BTW, the republican's economic policy relying heavily on spending cuts would destroy this fragile recovery and cause the loss of 700,000 jobs. They had absolutely nothing to do with this recovery and everything to do with the crisis.

Those who have come on R&R know that I am a political poster. I am an unapologetic, liberal leaning, progressive democrat.
I have posted about many political topics but I would like to summarize my views.
I support the middle class and working class. The union movement and the government programs that resulted from it helped create the middle class. And these people are largely democrats. The republicans have never done one thing for the middle class and everything that you enjoy in your standard of living and workplace is a result of democrats.
I have said that there are 4 R's of republicanism: rich, racist, red-neck and religious right. That is not to say that everyone in the republican party is one of these. They aren't - but if you are one of these you are more likely to belong to the republican party than the democratic party.
I had an entire thread about republican hypocrisy and not one post was refuted. Sure there are examples of democratic hypocrisy but not on the large scale as in the republican party. They will talk about cutting the deficit while raising the deficit with tax cuts for their wealthy donors.
The new republican congress talks of nothing but cutting spending and the deficit when the american people are focused on the economy and jobs. That's because they have no jobs program and indeed their economic plan and spending cuts will cause a loss of 700,000 jobs and destroy this fragile economic recovery.
While they are giving your tax money to oil companies and the rich, they are saying - hey look over here, it's really Social Security, funding for family planning or subsidies for home heating that is the problem. And people who are either in denial or just don't fact check will believe this.
SS has NOT contributed one dime to the deficit. It has a 2.6 trillion dollar surplus and can pay out for the next 27 years. But you wouldn't know that listening to them. Medicare has been more of a problem because it is tied into the general rise in health care costs and rising premiums.
People on the right advocate for smaller government, less spending, fewer regulations and less government in our lives - unless it's in a woman's body and those who can marry then they want a large federal footprint. De-regulation worked out really well with the economic crash of 2008, didn't it? And people (and states with republican governors) are okay with cuts in spending as long as it doesn't affect them (just the other guy).
Those who think that they are self made and earned everything they have and need no help from the federal government can't get out of the house to work without all levels of government affecting the quality of their lives - from their clean air and Water, the inspected food they ate, the safety laws for their cars and the highways they drive on - and many many more.
The middle class has been sinking for 30 years while the rich get richer. You are all working harder and actually making less (buying power). These are facts the right doesn't want to talk about.
But the current line of thinking is to blame government, blame unions, blame public workers, blame teachers, the single mom,etc..These are not the problems. The problem is corporate america who owns you and their enormous influence on our government and our lives. They are the real enemy, not the government. They are laughing all the way to the bank because they have gotten working class people to take to the streets protesting a rise in estate taxes and hope you don't notice the power and money you have lost.
So, I am wasting my valuable time on here. I have a lot of work to do as I am involved in local politics. We are starting on our 2012 campaign to re-elect Pres. Obama and I will direct my time and talents in that direction.
.

My advice:
Go back to your surgeon and be tested to see exactly what is going on with the band
If everything is okay, then ask to see a counselor who deals with food eating issues (in the head) - a lot of patients had to go through a psych evaluation prior to surgery.
If they don't have a counselor, seek out Overeaters Anonymous - they deal with the emotional aspects of eating.
Meet with the nutritionist at the hosptial. They all have one.
Start with seeing if you can figure out a way to eat the most amount of healthy food with the fewest calories. Pick a total daily calorie consumption - like 1500 and pick those healthy foods where you get the most bang for your buck.
Choose healthy Snacks and eat every couple of hours - don't allow yourself to get too hungry.
Keep a food journal. Figure out when your difficult time periods are during the day or what events might precipitate your eating.
You are not a failure. You are human. And you asked for help. I hope I have provided you with some.
Good luck.

Don't be concerned for me. I can handle my posts and those that disagree with me. The only thing I've done is point out posts that I didn't think were helpful to the OP and belonged elsewhere. And anyone is free to disagree with me and have and many have come to the defense of the posters I have disagreed with, because they are of the same mindset.
And I might add there are many who agree with me and have started whole threads about the bashing those who have problems with the band get from the cheerleaders for and defenders of the band.
And while I am disappointed and feel cheated that the band didn't work for me - you misconstrue it as bitterness. But I would rather be thought of as bitter than smug, superior and judgemental like many of the band defenders.

ABOVE is the original post. BELOW is the post I questioned:
My top weight was 319 lbs. I weighed 292 lbs when I had my lap-band surgery on 5/19/09. This morning I weighed 166 lbs and I continue to lose...as long as I follow the rules. I don't always follow the rules, I have bad days and bad weeks. I believe that lap-band will work if YOU WORK IT. I eat right, move more, stay motivated. My goals is 150 lbs. I never thought I would be 16 lbs from goal. I wear a size 12 in some things...a 14 in others. I go roller skating with my daughter. I can eat all of the Doritios and ice-cream I want...but I CHOOSE not to. If I chose to eat the crap, I would not lose weight. Would that be the fault of the band? I don't think so. I wish there was some sort of brain surgery that would make me have a healthy relationship with food, but there isn't, so I suppose I must continue to fight the battle. I am determined to win the war. I feel better now than I have in YEARS...I wish everyone luck in their journey. I am so glad that I didn't listen to the people that were negative about lap-band before I had my surgery. If my surgery was a failure, it would have been my failure, not the bands.
I challenge anyone to tell me how this post in any way shows an understanding, let alone any concern or sympathy to the OP's experience or offers anything constructive to the OP. All the poster does is pat herself on the back.
The bottom line says it all: if the surgery was a failure it would have been my failure, not the bands.
This is saying that the OP's "failure" with the band was theirs.
I stand my criticism of this post and people can read all they want about band successes all over LBT especially in the Lapband success stories thread. It doesn't belong in this thread and these kind of replies do more harm than good.

Don't be concerned for me. I can handle my posts and those that disagree with me. The only thing I've done is point out posts that I didn't think were helpful to the OP and belonged elsewhere. And anyone is free to disagree with me and have and many have come to the defense of the posters I have disagreed with, because they are of the same mindset.
And I might add there are many who agree with me and have started whole threads about the bashing those who have problems with the band get from the cheerleaders for and defenders of the band.
And while I am disappointed and feel cheated that the band didn't work for me - you misconstrue it as bitterness. But I would rather be thought of as bitter than smug, superior and judgemental like many of the band defenders.

ABOVE is the original post. BELOW is the post I questioned:
My top weight was 319 lbs. I weighed 292 lbs when I had my lap-band surgery on 5/19/09. This morning I weighed 166 lbs and I continue to lose...as long as I follow the rules. I don't always follow the rules, I have bad days and bad weeks. I believe that lap-band will work if YOU WORK IT. I eat right, move more, stay motivated. My goals is 150 lbs. I never thought I would be 16 lbs from goal. I wear a size 12 in some things...a 14 in others. I go roller skating with my daughter. I can eat all of the Doritios and ice-cream I want...but I CHOOSE not to. If I chose to eat the crap, I would not lose weight. Would that be the fault of the band? I don't think so. I wish there was some sort of brain surgery that would make me have a healthy relationship with food, but there isn't, so I suppose I must continue to fight the battle. I am determined to win the war. I feel better now than I have in YEARS...I wish everyone luck in their journey. I am so glad that I didn't listen to the people that were negative about lap-band before I had my surgery. If my surgery was a failure, it would have been my failure, not the bands.
I challenge anyone to tell me how this post in any way shows an understanding, let alone any concern or sympathy to the OP's experience or offers anything constructive to the OP. All the poster does is pat herself on the back.
The bottom line says it all: if the surgery was a failure it would have been my failure, not the bands.
This is saying that the OP's "failure" with the band was theirs.
I stand my criticism of this post and people can read all they want about band successes all over LBT especially in the Lapband success stories thread. It doesn't belong in this thread and these kind of replies do more harm than good.

Actually, I don't think you know where I'm coming from. Did you not read my posts #62, #65? What don't you understand? You don't strike me as someone who can't figure things out.
The OP had the band removed and a gastric bypass revision. What possible contribution did that self-congratulatory post make? I asked that anyone show how a post like that provides anything to the OP. It doesn't. It was insulting. And when I see a struggling poster insulted, I come to the defense.
If you have followed my posts you will see that I don't insult struggling posters. I do offer support and some suggestions even though the band has never worked for me as promoted. And I don't feel the need to defend the band. But I can still offer some advice about things I have tried or things that might work.
You don't want to know my story. Well, my story has been out there so I guess you missed it. Everything in my life has been a struggle. I battled breast cancer at the same time my husband was losing his battle to cancer. I became a widow at 54. I got this band so that I wouldn't have to struggle with this battle with hunger that I've had all my adult life. But the band has failed me in that regard. Any success I have had has been mine. Not the band's. And so I continue to struggle with hunger.
And I couldnt' care less if you don't like me. I am not on here to win some popularity contest. Those who have been on here long enough to know my posts know that I am not a rude person but I will condemn a post that I think is inappropriate, harsh, insulting or blaming to a struggling poster. It's one thing if the OP asks for it (a kick in the pants). This OP did not.
And as I've said before - there are plenty of forums on here for success, rah, rah, rah, I love the band stories. They don't need to be put "in your face" with strugglers.

And the point of your post is??? That if your band worked for you it should work for everyone? We're all just turning cartwheels that yours was a textbook case of success but for you to assume that for those us for whom the band doesn't work didn't follow the rules is just not true. Have you not taken the time to read these posts?
Seriously, those of us who have problems with the band DESPITE FOLLOWING THE RULES don't need posts like this that just come across as smug. Post them on lapband success stories where they belong. They offer nothing to the dialogue here.

And the point of your post is??? That if your band worked for you it should work for everyone? We're all just turning cartwheels that yours was a textbook case of success but for you to assume that for those us for whom the band doesn't work didn't follow the rules is just not true. Have you not taken the time to read these posts?
Seriously, those of us who have problems with the band DESPITE FOLLOWING THE RULES don't need posts like this that just come across as smug. Post them on lapband success stories where they belong. They offer nothing to the dialogue here.

This just validates the point I have made often on here that I don't think a lot of surgeons know what the hell they are doing beyond the basic surgical implantation of the band. And even then there's room for improvement (left shoulder pain, etc..) They are all over the place with what they require of patients pre-band and post band with regard to eating, pre-and post op liquid diets (if they even require them). how the band works, drinking, Protein, everything.
And what he told you is in contradiction to those who post that you get a feeling of fullness (satiety) from the food in the pouch pressing on the vagus nerve and from that often posted website of the doctor who says the band isn't about restriction and indeed the food doesn't remain in the pouch very long.
Everyone who replies will tell you what their doctor told them about liquids and it will vary greatly. There just isn't a standard of care/rules, etc.. with the band and if they knew how it worked there would be.

My son in law is a police officer and my daughter works in the county jail. While I don't see what they see first hand I certainly hear about it. And I was a teacher and I saw the worst there was in parenting and children (as well as good ones, too).
What I have seen is the best man I have ever known be told he has months to live and his greatest fear of cancer mets going to his brain coming true and asking me to kill him if it happened. I have seen this once brilliant man become someone who couldn't remember his kid's birthdays. And then each day become less alive and more dead until he was. A man who only wanted to retire after his "cushy" teacher's job with all those undeserved union perks and play some golf and maybe someday play with his grandchildren -but he never lived to see them.
I am very thankful that his union negotiated for his retirement because as a widow that is what I have to live on.
I also had to deal with the financial, verbal, emotional and sometimes physical abuse my mother suffered at the hands of my bully brother. I had to take charge, get an attorney, file suit and get what I could for her care (she was disabled from a stroke) even though he had stolen her house from her. With all her assets gone, she had to rely on medicaid to pay for her nursing home care after they took all her SS and retirment (except for $30/ month). I guess she was one of those who came to expect entitlements. She was in her 80's, broke and disabled, but I guess she should have been thrown out on the street.
So, maybe you have seen things but you still have a lot to learn about life, people and what being part of a country that became great, yes, by those who worked hard and were frugal but also by not ignoring the least among us but by helping them. And not just through charity but through the good works of a government who is we the people...

Everything you posted is just the extreme right wing political and economic philosophy that the kool aid drinker lap up like a kitten with cream. And I am not going to believe some right leaning Rasmussen poll over a Gallup poll
Unlike me, you have offered no facts, no proof of what is really going on or anything close to reality. There is a concerted effort by the right wing in this country to return to the Gilded Age. The facts show the middle class, far from feeling a right to or receiving entitlements, is losing ground fast. While at the same time - those at the top are gaining. They are not creating jobs, they are not doing anything to improve this economy. They are the real takers. And just like with the very costly, unpaid for, adding to the deficit tax cut just given to them - the republicans want to give to this entitled class even more.
Now, if you have any real facts and proof that the middle class wage earner has been profiting and improving his lot over the last 30 years in terms of earning power, wages adjusted for inflation, the value of his home, investments, etc. - THEN PLEASE OFFER IT. Otherwise quit pasting this right wing drible.
The phone conversation of the duped Walker shows his true colors. He just wants to do a bait and switch with democrats to get them back and then pass the bill without them actually voting. This man is seriously dangerous.
He have delusions of grandeur. He thinks of himself as some national hero and after he busts that pesky union he will be worshipped from afar. The corporate Koch brothers have pushed their no tax, no regulations, let us do what we want to increase our profits agenda through with his help and they will certainly help with his current efforts. But
in the end, even if this governor gets what he wants, he will have overplayed his hand and his political career will be over.
And btw, the independent ethics commison in WI is looking into possible ethic violations as a result of that phone call. Admitting that you were considering planting trouble makers into the protesters is very serious and unworthy of someone elected to this high office.
And one more thing about people buying homes they couldn't afford. That is the bank's job. They are loaning out their money - so it the their job to make sure they are loaning it to people who can repay the loan. If they don't, then it is their fault. People will always want to borrow money. It's the lenders who have to make sure it's to the right people. If someone loses their job after buying the house, then that is a different matter. There should be some kind of contigency plan to help them until they get another job and back on their feet. Do we really want to be a country that throws hardworking people who happen to hit some back luck out of their homes? I don't think so. But I think those who write that crap you posted think so. Because they all have jobs, health care and homes, so it's easy to pick on those who don't.

What your doctor has told you just reinforces what I have been saying and that is that bariatric doctors are all over the place and there is no standard of care for pre-op and post op testing or the pre & post op diets, how the band works or what and how to eat (and drink) when you start on real food. I think there should be a consistent standard of care and because there isn't there is much confusion on the part of patients. The doctors should be on the same page and the fact that they're not just shows me that they really don't know how the band really works.
I have early stage breast cancer. No matter where I would have gone for care, the process would have been the same (either lumpectomy or mastectomy - my choice) - a sentinel node biopsy, radiation and possibly chemo (depending on pathology report). But with lapbands it varies greatly from doctor to doctor. Some let you eat full meals until the day before surgery - others (like mine) require a strict 2 week liquid only diet.
That all being said you have the right to know how many cc's are in your band. Nothing should be a "only the doctor needs to know" - it's your body. You should know. And the doctor should pull out what is in your band and measure it before doing a new fill.
Ultimately you will learn what works for you. But for some, like me, the band does not work as promoted.

What your doctor has told you just reinforces what I have been saying and that is that bariatric doctors are all over the place and there is no standard of care for pre-op and post op testing or the pre & post op diets, how the band works or what and how to eat (and drink) when you start on real food. I think there should be a consistent standard of care and because there isn't there is much confusion on the part of patients. The doctors should be on the same page and the fact that they're not just shows me that they really don't know how the band really works.
I have early stage breast cancer. No matter where I would have gone for care, the process would have been the same (either lumpectomy or mastectomy - my choice) - a sentinel node biopsy, radiation and possibly chemo (depending on pathology report). But with lapbands it varies greatly from doctor to doctor. Some let you eat full meals until the day before surgery - others (like mine) require a strict 2 week liquid only diet.
That all being said you have the right to know how many cc's are in your band. Nothing should be a "only the doctor needs to know" - it's your body. You should know. And the doctor should pull out what is in your band and measure it before doing a new fill.
Ultimately you will learn what works for you. But for some, like me, the band does not work as promoted.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.

You are so right. There are several kinds of posters who respond to post from struggling posters. They are:
1) The successful, know-it-all. It worked for me because I followed all the rules. And if you follow the rules it will work for you. The band is only a tool ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
2) Those who think the poster just needs some " tough love" and they're just the ones to give it. No apologies here.
3) The stupid poster who says things like - I am so sorry you are struggling. I've never really had any problems myself. I lost 50 lbls the first month without a fill and 100 lbs. in the next three and can eat most foods but in smaller quantities.
4) The resident "doctor" who tries to explain in clinical terms how the band works and why it should work for you if you only do the right things.
And then there is the poster who actually can offer some sympathy and good advice in a way that would be well received. They offer several concrete suggestions that the poster can try. We need more of these types of posters.