Alexandra

Jack, is your neighborhood particularly crime-ridden?

I don't think anyone here has advocated eliminating private gun ownership completely, Jack. Much as I may agree with Green and wish our society were more gun-averse, I understand the frontier mentality will never leave us completely. And certainly there are situations where it makes sense for responsible homeowners to be protected, such as in Sunta's story where there are known risks. But it should be MUCH harder for people to obtain guns, and there should be rigid national standards.

Carlene, it's good news indeed that you don't have a slip! I hope your treatment works beautifully and you your esophagus goes completely back to normal. Good luck and good vibes comin' atcha, babe!!

I have gone to many and try to go every month to the first one. (I'm one of the moderators.) I plan to go to both each month for a while, as I definitely need it!

You may or may not have anything to worry about, but you should get it checked out and treated. Over time reflux itself can damage your esophagus. It may be band-related or it may not. But you owe it to your health to find out what the problem is and act to make it better. Good luck!!

No. Schools aren't battle zones and we shouldn't proceed as if they were. Kids prone to violent behavior seem to be identifiable, and better action should be taken to prevent these tragedies. We can't protect everyone against everything, sadly enough. But unbalanced people shouldn't be allowed to purchase firearms.

Laurend: JINX!!!

The picture this draws in my head is really frightening, thought I've heard a lot of people say the same thing. But imagine if the police responded to a shooting and found not one, but several people with firearms drawn! What a nightmare that would have been for the innocents. Would fewer people have died? I doubt that--I think rather many more people would have been shooting and there would have been several accidental deaths. Besides, who wants to go to school knowing some of their classmates are armed? Nuh-uh. The only rational approach is making sure there are FEWER guns available, not more.

There are also LOTS of "drive-by" members who just post a couple of times and never come back. I'm sure many of them are reading voraciously, but would they pay? I somehow doubt it.

I know stricter gun laws won't prevent gun crimes, far from it. But the proposal for a national database of criminals and people who for whatever reason shouldn't be able to buy guns makes a LOT of sense. Anyone who has been reported for the sorts of things this guy was reported for should show up on a CAUTION list available to gun dealers. He had no criminal history, but clearly people were very concerned about his potential for doing harm. But under VA laws, nothing showed up. Second-guessing is our favorite pastime, I know. But I can't see why any law-abiding citizen would object to this sort of database being put into place.

I posted this in your other thread on the same subject. (Do I have your permission to combine the threads?) In case you don't see it there: Listywood, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles! Even though you were banded in Mexico, you are entitled to medical care in the States if you are having serious trouble. Your insurer may say that band-related issues are not covered, but emergency procedures or anything that is medically necessary to restore your health should be (or they are leaving themselves open to a lawsuit). It sure sounds to me like you have serious esophageal issues and your band should come out. Maybe you had them before banding and therefore weren't a good candidate, or maybe they're being caused by the band, but either way the current situation is unhealthy for you. I am positive there are qualified band doctors in Idaho, if not precisely in Boise. You need an experienced band doctor to take over your care and get your band removed. Check with your state's department of insurance to see what your carrier's responsibilities are with respect to emergency procedures. Your doctor can present the case that removing the band is medically necessary and get the surgery covered. Think of it this way: If you had cosmetic breast implants and one of them ruptured, that would be an emergency and treatment would be covered. I know there is a vibrant community of Idaho bandsters. Connect with them and you should be able to get some support and assistance. Post a message here in the Idaho section for a start, and also check out band2gether.net. Good luck!!! __________________

I think that depends on the severity of the slip. At some point, if the conditions that led to the slip are not changed (whether it's being too tight, overeating, excessive PBing, whatever) I think the slip could become so severe as to close off the stoma completely. At that point, treatment would be urgent to prevent a very serious situation.

Can you use the New Posts feature? If you can, and a list of threads pops up, there is a little blue down-arrow button next to each thread. What happens if you click on one of those arrows?

Patience, patience, please. I too find that the only way I can get to any thread is to click on the little arrow to the left of it. The thread titles and forum links are broken completely for me. But I have faith in Alex and his tech team and know they are working on it. Everything will be back and in place as soon as they can get it done. Thanks!!

Listywood, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles! Even though you were banded in Mexico, you are entitled to medical care in the States if you are having serious trouble. Your insurer may say that band-related issues are not covered, but emergency procedures or anything that is medically necessary to restore your health should be (or they are leaving themselves open to a lawsuit). It sure sounds to me like you have serious esophageal issues and your band should come out. Maybe you had them before banding and therefore weren't a good candidate, or maybe they're being caused by the band, but either way the current situation is unhealthy for you. I am positive there are qualified band doctors in Idaho, if not precisely in Boise. You need an experienced band doctor to take over your care and get your band removed. Check with your state's department of insurance to see what your carrier's responsibilities are with respect to emergency procedures. Your doctor can present the case that removing the band is medically necessary and get the surgery covered. Think of it this way: If you had cosmetic breast implants and one of them ruptured, that would be an emergency and treatment would be covered. I know there is a vibrant community of Idaho bandsters. Connect with them and you should be able to get some support and assistance. Post a message here in the Idaho section for a start, and also check out band2gether.net. Good luck!!!

Beverly, you have my every sympathy and you have terrific persistence! It took me almost a year to get my insurer to cover my banding back in 2003, and I'm here to tell you it was well worth it. Good luck and keep at it!!

Not everyone here is observing LBT's terms of service, so please let me remind you of our rules: ATTACK THE IDEA, NOT THE PERSON. Personal attacks are unacceptable. This is a warning to all, and the thread will be locked if it doesn't immediately stop.

This is so incredibly heartbreaking and confusing. What I don't understand is why maniacs with a death wish don't blow their own heads off BEFORE committing horrific massacres. I know that's simplistic and my anger talking, but it's just so sickening.

Jojo, the thing about weight-loss surgery is that MOST people will lose in the neighborhood of 50% of their excess weight. Many lose more, some lose less, but a loss of 50% is considered a success. Now, if you lose 75% of your excess weight, you're looking at a loss of 30 lbs. Are you willing to pay all that money and go through all the challenges and changes for a loss of 30 lbs? There are very good reasons the AMA doesn't recommend bariatric surgery for people with relatively little to lose. The cost-benefit analysis generally comes out against it. Good luck with your decision!

Congratulations, Katerzz, and what a beautiful girl!! Welcome to the world, little Hailey. Kiss your mom for us!! :hug:

Donna, you are not alone with these feelings. I know EXACTLY how you feel. It has taken a real force of will for me to train myself not to think negative thoughts when people compliment me. It's really important that you (and I) understand that people think they are saying something that will make you feel good, and that is their intention. Just try to see it as that and then put it behind you. I would tell myself over and over that "you're not doing this for compliments, you're doing it for yourself, don't worry about others' reactions." Finally I got to a place where I can smile and say thank you, and then just immediately move along to something else.

That's what I thought, too, but my surgeon tells me my carrier does cover replacement banding for patients with slippage, regardless of their weight. That's what has me thinking that if I'm ever going to replace the band I have to do it now before a) my surgeon leaves my carrier's network this summer, or I gain so much weight that I medically qualify again. I'm really in maintenance mode now (after a lifetime with a BMI of 45+, 30 looks pretty good to me) and if I lose much more weight I'd be looking at plastic surgery--which I can't afford, either. It feels to me like diet, exercise, and perhaps a slightly larger piece of silicone inside me would be the best way to go.

That's good to hear, Randy. Anyone else? VG bands can't be ... dare I say it ... complication-free, can they?

You should indeed ask him what kind he used, if for no other reason than you should be informed about your health. I've heard my doctor say that the difference is slight, but clearly there are people for whom the VG band makes more sense.

Hi Dr C! I have thought about it, but not very seriously because at this point--with a BMI of 30--my common sense tells me that I should be able to manage this on my own. Emotionally and realistically I want a band back inside me as insurance against future gain, but I really don't have any designs on losing more weight. Presumably a sleeve gastrectomy would cause more weight loss, right? Also, I can't do anything my insurer won't pay for. So my options are limited. But I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts about SG for patients who are no longer in active weight-loss mode. Do you think it makes sense as a choice for post-bandsters who are satisfied with their weight loss?