GeezerSue

As much as I'm sure that Hillary could do a fine job, I'm convinced that the rabid Hillary-haters would do A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G to keep that from happening. AND, Barak is still relatively inexperienced. My mom lives in a senior development that has thousands of older people living there. They smile. They go to church on Sunday. And most of them would NEVER vote for a woman or a black man for president. They still engage in OLD-THINK...and they still vote. Even their condo boards are dominated by male presidents and female secretaries. These people, added to the rabid anti-Hillary folks, I'm thinking it's a loss for a while longer. My mom's neighbors were mostly born in the first quarter of the last century...they know what they know and they aren't going around looking for more stuff to know. What's John Edwards doing?

I had a revision to the Duodenal Switch (DS) and the band was removed at that time. I've lost about 76% of my excess weight from my all-time high and 72% from the date of surgery. There are many band surgeons who have limited experience placing the band and even less experience removing one. In my case, my closest "Center of Expertise" band surgeon was just about to do his FIRST band removal (uh...no, thanks, I'll go elsewhere) and my DS surgeon had done enough that he had a drawer with a bunch of removed bands sitting there. My surgery--band out and DS--was done open and took less than two hours.

And, assuming you are correct, why do you suppose it's true? Because we old folks were never young? Because we forgot that we were much smarter when we were younger? Or because, with a few years under our belts, we realize that maybe we weren't so smart back when we thought we knew everything. This is not to say that young people know nothing; they know a lot! But most young adults are really do have little or no life experience, many are still tax deductions for their parents, most have never been responsible for paying for their own dentist office visits let alone for the life of another human being...in other words, they are pretty much "apprentice grown ups." That doesn't mean that young folks shouldn't have opinions...just that they should realize that those opinions were formed based on very limited experience...and, as such, those opinions should be subject to change upon receipt of more life experience.

Oh, my! Are my comments veiled at all? They weren't supposed to be! Mousecrazy...doesn't "My parents went from conservative to liberal. I went from holding lighters up and yelling "Dude" at Rolling Stones concerts to holding American flags up and cheering for President Bush," pretty much demonstrate my point that what one believes at 20 is often NOT what one believes with a little more maturity? Again, I have no trouble with people cheering for their president...as long as they know who he is and what he has done. But I hope today's election results will show that more and more people have gotten past the flag-waving stage and moved on to asking intelligent questions and demanding honest answers. I am a veteran who is more than a little upset that people are cheering for the guy who sent troops into harm's way on false pretenses and then wants to renege on VA benefits. There are 104,000 VERY damaged veterans home already...and Bush wants to court people's votes by promising lower taxes. You cannot lower taxes AND take care of these very damaged young bodies and minds...and step in where they can no longer go, to care for themselves and their families. ANYONE who would take away from these people is a shit-suckin' weasel...on a good day....I don't care what his title is or who voted for him.

Also, dumping syndrome isn't just about being on the toilet, and it's not for days at a time. From Wikipedia: Symptoms of early dumping include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness and fatigue. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include weakness, sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types. My RnY friends get the shakes and the sweats, think they're going to collapse and all that and then, in about 20 minutes or so, they are better. DS'ers don't dump. DO find out if the sugar-free food you're eating contains stuff that ends in "-ol" THAT would be your likely culprit.

Yeah, but, (playing devil's advocate)...someone who was just able to register (because of age or length of time as a resident) on Monday the 6th, but was going to be in surgery or out of town today on the 7th, would not be eligible for an absentee ballot...even though he or she was alive and eligible on election day. Statistically, it's probably a wash. But since I'm married to a guy whose birthday is November 5th, it hits a little close to home... We absentee voters have to deal with those things.

Jodie, DO print this stuff out and put a copy in your baby book. It will give you many good laughs as you grow and (hopefully) change as you learn about the REAL world and (hopefully) learn how little of your life's journey is REALLY self-financed and how much you are REALLY helping others. A quick example...I am a service-connected, disabled veteran of the VietNam Era. My friend was outraged that HER tax dollar was paying me $400/month for four years AND two years of private school tuition, way back when. Grand Total, under $30,000. Then I went to work. The first year that BOTH my husband and I were working full time our FEDERAL tax bite was right around $35,000. And I worked for many years....but let's just say ten years. So I "cost" the government $30,000 and the government PROBABLY got back (the difference between what we'd have paid as a one-income family and what we paid as a two-income family) about $200,000, maybe more. Want to try the math one more time? Also, I think we might want to consider what groups or classes of people we single out as being less than stellar examples of citizens. Those who really believe that they have nothing are those who often look for some immutable characteristic/trait/behavior of the people we want to disparage and use it to try to make a point...fortunately, it's usually only others who have as little buy into it. As in, "Well, my husband may be a ___, but at least he's not a ____." My late MIL one told a relative to pick me and my kid up at the airport. When asked how to recongize us, MIL said, "Just look for the fat Mexican woman with the real pretty girl." In my MIL's mind, as long as she and her daughter were neither fat nor Mexican (I'm half), they were "better" than I was. MIL told of this exchange a few times, laughing each time. Finally, the fourth time she told it (in front of an audience) I responded, "Well, I guess you could have told them to look for the only woman in your family who is a college graduate, but that might not have worked as well..." She stopped. Probably because while her daughter was thin and white...she was a high school dropout. The world is a fascinating place, Jodie. One way we know that children are growing and learning is that they reject their parents' values and adopt their own values, for their own reasons. (They may end up being similar, but they are seldom identical.) Be prepared to change as you sally forth. Sue :::Looking in mirror, admiring self for having passed (and tutored) philosopy 101 a hundred years ago, for having voted (for change) by absentee ballot, for NOT being at all fond of Texas politics or politicians--except for the "Molly Ivins subject matter" potential they provide, and most epecially for being several DECADES beyond my teen years and being about 70% grey-haired to prove it::: :::

Many US citizens do not realize that they may have dual citizenship via birthright. My grandfather came here from Italy in 1908. He got married and had a bunch of kids and--because of the rumors that were flying around about a war in Europe--he filed for his US citizenship around 1932. He had one more child after that. All of us who were born to his sons--and those of us who were born to his daughters after 1948 (when Italian woman first had rights of citizenship on their own)--are, according to Italian law--Italian citizens. That's because our parents were born to an Italian citizen, which made THEM Italian citizens, which means WE were born to Italian citizens which makes US Italian citizens. (I'm pretty sure the Irish work that way, too.) But we were all born here, which makes us US citizens. Since the dual citizenship was automatically granted by both countries at birth (even if we didn't know about it), there is no renouncing of anything involved. But, many US citizens have become Canadian citizens and have not had to renounce anything. Some guy has had a website about it for years now. I dont know if this is the one I read years ago, but it covers the topic re Canada: http://www.cis.org/articles/cantigny/carens.html

Whenever anyone has anything negative to say about Bush, we have to hear about Clinton's blow jobs. So, I'd rather stay on target on NOT discuss Clinton's blow jobs and Kerry's joke delivery and Dubya's cocaine use and "interesting" military service and arrests and drunken episodes and all that. We can get to the drug addict and the falafel-guy later. But this is how Molly Ivins suggested we stay on target re the election: May I remind you what this election is about? Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, unprecedented presidential powers, unmatched incompetence, unparalleled corruption, unwarranted eavesdropping, Katrina, Enron, Halliburton, global warming, Cheney's secret energy task force, record oil company profits, $3 gasoline, FEMA, the Supreme Court, Diebold, Florida in 2000, Ohio in 2004, Terri Schiavo, stem cell research, golden parachutes, shrunken pensions, unavailable and expensive health care, habeas corpus, no weapons of mass destruction, sacrificed soldiers and Iraqi civilians, wasted billions, Taliban resurgence, expiration of the assault weapons ban, North Korea, Iran, intelligent design, swift boat hit squads, and on and on. This election is about that, but much more -- it's about honor, dignity and comity in this country. It's about the Constitution, which gives us this great nation. Bush ran on a pledge of "restoring honor and integrity" to the White House. Instead, he brought us Tom DeLay, Roy Blunt, Katherine Harris, John Doolittle, Jerry Lewis, Richard Pombo, Mark Foley, Dennis Hastert, David Safavian, Jack Abramoff, Ralph Reed, Karl Rove and an illegal and immoral war in Iraq. People, it's up to you.

Bush's handlers could get a puppet elected. Oh! Wait!! They did. And "make what he makes?" You mean his great business ventures, or the perqs he gets for those who court him for his power? The only thing Dubya has made lately is a lot of military widows. And the REAL problem? Many of his most vocal supporters--those from the middle class and middle America--don't even understand what a reaming they're getting. It's sad.

Chris, I'm sorry about your loss. That said, evil people not only can and do pretend to be kind...they can even actually BE kind when it suits their purposes. The fact that Hitler was very kind and loving to animals does not negate his evil nature. And the fact that Bush can (let's give him the benefit of the doubt) be sincerely concerned about the welfare of a sick child, does not make him smart or wise or good. I wonder how many other really sick children won't even get a chance at that hospital bed because of Dubya's policies and politics.

I voted for Nixon. Twice! But no matter who I vote for for Governor, I vote the opposite party for Lt. Governor. If nothing else, it keep the Governor in the state. Back in the days of Governor Jerry Brown, Lt. Governor Mike Curb appointed judges when Brown went out of state. It was kind of funny...

"Puritan Republicans or "prurient Republicans?" The words are close...

I forgot to mention...re the Clinton-got-a-blow-job thing... It strikes me as odd that MOST of the Democrats involved in sex scandals were involved in heterosexual dalliances with willing adult partners. The last Rebulican I can remember who was in THAT sad situation was Wilbur Mills with his stripper friend Fanne Foxe...

While we are often influenced by what we find around us...one way or the other...overdosing on a name or issue might not makes us do more than "dig in" to our previously held position. For example, I believe that although GadgetLady and I come to different conclusions about most things political, we are exposed to the same stuff because we live in the same county...so familiarity with a name sometimes may not mean anything other than familiarity. If it did, then I'd be conservative. This county is VERY "conservative." Well, that's the word they like to use. This county ALSO houses no less than eleven identified Hate Groups. That's the word they DON'T like to use. http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?S=CA&m=4 My husband and I WERE Republicans. But, when the party became infested by the right wingnuts in the 1980's, we left. Just this year, he traded in his American Legion membership (I never joined because I didn't go into the Army to serve "God and Country,"--the AL's motto--just country...so it never appealed to me) and jointed the ACLU instead. One can only hope that things will eventually improve in this cesspool of politely disguised hatred. Meanwhile, I don't think Bush is technically the worst president...yet. That honor currently goes to Buchanan who did nothing to stop OUR Civil War right here at home. Bush has only gotten us involved in the Iraqi Civil War that Bush says isn't happening. Pierce wasn't great...Harrison and Andrew Jackson were ineffective...but as far as just BAD...Buchanan is right up there and Dubya is closing the gap at breakneck speed. BTW, the REASON congress voted to give Dubya the power to engage in military intervention is because he said he needed that power as a negotiating tool in talks at the UN in order to keep the peace. Stupid Congress...they believed him...even though they knew he had a lot of trouble telling the truth!!! I can only guess that, under the circumstances, they wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Here's a quote on that topic: Q Mr. President, how important is it that that resolution give you an authorization of the use of force? THE PRESIDENT: That will be part of the resolution, the authorization to use force. If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force. But it's -- this will be -- this is a chance for Congress to indicate support. It's a chance for Congress to say, we support the administration's ability to keep the peace. That's what this is all about. Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020919-1.html He's ONE of the worst presidents ever, for sure. And I've already voted (absentee) to help get rid of his supporters. It's kind of a lost cause in this county, so we have also contributed to two hot campaigns...one in Colorado and one in Indiana. Is it Tuesday yet?

Will somebody wake me when the polls close on Tuesday? Until then, I'll probably need drugs. HOWEVER, Rush knows his audience. There are MANY, MANY people who believe him and agree with him because he promotes their agenda...at any cost.

Iterating... 2--The pars flaccida technique has been utilized for several years...and those patients are probably included in this group. (My band was placed in '02 using the pars flaccida technique...I still had problems.)

Okay...just because other people have complications doesn't mean YOU will, HOWEVER... 1--(reiteration) You can't collect data over several years without including stuff from several years ago. 2--The pars flaccida technique has been utilized for several years...and those patients are probably included in this group. (My band was placed in '02 using the pars flaccida technique...I still had problems.) 3--Do not discount the damage that can be done by "heartburn." It seems there may be a link between "heartburn" and "Barrett's esophagus" and esophageal cancer. (Not to mention that sleeping in a upright position can become a real pain.) 4--It does NOT say that "MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED / REDUCED WITH SURGICAL TECHNIQUES." It says "Many of these complications can be avoided and have been reduced with more careful patient selection and improvement in surgical technique." Which does't mean there are no more problems...it means that--for instance--that there will probably be a somewhat lower rate of slippage in future long-term studies, because starting several years ago the placement technique was improved. It also means--to me--that surgeons would be wise to screen their patients better and make sure that esophageal dysmotility and other esophageal AND psychological conditions (such as eating disorders) are not pre-existing. 5--It isn't "the same old data with from the FDA trial with the swedish band?" The OLD data from the FDA was for the LapBand. The NEW FDA data for Johnson & Johnson's band trials used a Swedish band. This is neither. This is data from THEIR practice--in Switzerland--where they do both bands and have for many years. I think an important message to take away from this is that some doctors who have been banding people for a long time have discovered that--several years out--people have problems that no one expected. It's nice that somebody finally figured that out...

Jessy--I thought I was pretty clear...that there were legitimate Huacuz patients here. But there are also this kind of advertising: http://lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=19088&highlight=huacuz And there was this kind of problem reported by a member: http://lapbandtalk.com/showpost.php?p=228350&postcount=13 I don't know anyone who has "badmouthed" him but that one patient.

Depends on who you ask. I looked at PubMed for answers. The Israelis replace it on the spot. The Belgians wait four to six months. The Germans just remove it. I LIKE VERBOONEN!! I didn't used to because of some stuff I had read about him, but he's the doctor who actually SAW that the barium just sat in my esophagus and he was so sweet when he tried to break the bad news about that and he kind of hemmed around until I said, "Esphogeal dysmotility?" He was so relieved! LOL He also told me not to have the DS because I would have diarrhea all the time. He was wrong there. Maybe I should go with you and tell him about that!! I sure wouldn't want to rush replacement...hell, I wouldn't even want to chance replacement. I kind of buy into the "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior" school...but maybe you're just a glass half full kind of girl!!! (Most of my friends are.) Good luck with this whole mess.

HOW CONVENIENT...AGAIN!!! Is anyone REALLY stoooopid enough to believe these Huacuz shills that show up and ask and then answer their own questions over and over again? (Note: Not EVERYONE is a shill, a FEW are REAL patients...but not many. Check the dates and number of posts. OF ALL THE BAND SURGEONS, he has the most people who come here again and again and again trying to recruit patients. What bullshit.) NO NOS FRIEGUES. The GOOD surgeons don't have to send their lackeys here to drum up business.

What Carlene said. All of it. Fluoro? Did he put 4.0 in and take it back out and it all came out? If not, there may be a leak. If it DID all come out...well, I'd have to have some evidence that the band was in place and intact.

DDee...I think that a good number of doctors would consider that a really risky option. They say things like "the best predictor of future performance is past perfomance." So if the blood flow to your stomach was cut off once...you might have difficulty finding a surgeon who would want to take that chance a second time. If you are not SMO--that is, if you don't need malabsorption--have you looked into the Gastric Sleeve procedure? It provides a smaller stomach, that's all. The one person I know who has changed from band to sleeve, was just revised recently...but she is making the progress she never did with the band. I hope you find your answer. Sue

Hey, guys! Corinne was sent over here from OH because there are no OH boards specifically for band problems. (i may have sent her.) Anyway, if you have any info to share with her, that would be cool. Corinne...my band came out as part of a revision to my DS...you knew that. So the cost was all inclusive. Maybe some others can help. BTW...do yo have insurance at all?

A square always has four sides of the same length. But a rectangle can be shaped like a football field... A square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square.