La_madam

John you are my inspiration, losing over 100 lbs with NO band. You rock! If you can do it ..then there is hope for me to maintain my weight loss with NO band! Can't wait to read the article, make sure you post it when it is out

I was the one who quoted you from your post then seconds later your post was gone *poof*

I spoke to Craig Authur today on the phone personally in regards to my erosion, he personally called me if you can believe that...I asked him how he could explain why so many of us eroded at the same time from MX ..he specifically told me that the US docs use the same technique as the MX docs, and that many MX docs train the US docs. He asked to have my permission to contact Dr. Ortiz in regards to my erosion and to get he serial number of my band from Ortiz. I told him yes...he is also fully aware of Lisa, Penni and I all eroding at the same time and all having our bands placed at the same time with 2 very experienced MX docs . I told him about Francesca as well & he wants her to call him...he told me he was going to look into it and see if my band was defective, do not know if there is any truth to any of this but it is what he told me..

Lisa, no need to apologize.. Heck..I'm an Ortiz fan I did not even take offense to your post..We all have our own opinions and have the right to voice them, if someone does not like it then too damn bad. You better never ever leave LBT..you are my I need you...we need eachother. You keep this board funny and in good spirits! Right on!

Mary, it takes alot of courage and strength to do what you are doing..I commend you for it. Your kids will thank you for it in the long run trust me...I wish you the best and will besending you possitvie vibes (((hugs)))

Penni, you know I have got much for you. I know it is a struggle being without the band..All we can do is take it one day at a time. Yes I have put it behind me and Iam putting all of my energy now into maintaining this weight loss. I will not lie there are times when Iam sad or upset I lost my band but it does not consume me..my appetite is consuming me right now :bananajump: and quite frankly that is enough! LOL, thank god for my hoodia, it is helping. Just know Iam here for you, you can call me anytime. We can do this ! You can do this! You have lots of love and support here...

http://www.purehoodia.com/ This is the web site I ordered it from

Hoodia is working great for me..Iam very happy with it, it definately is controlling my hunger..and I seem to have such a better mood..all of this with no jitters. Amazing! I love it I taske 2 capsules in the morning at around 6 am and 2 more at 12 noon..

As an eroded bandster ...after reading this thread over and over again, this one comment I quoted above really offends me. I can not be responsible for freaking anyone out...you are in control of your own feelings and if you freak out by what we have to say then that is your issue not mine . I'm here and I'm staying band or no band! ANd Iam sure I can speak for the other eroded bandsters here too..I know them all on a personal level, met them all in person..they are not going anywhere either! Thank you Kathy !!

Us eroded bandsters stay on this board because we still need support, we still are fighting the same demons, Just becuase I eroded doesnt not mean I am not a bandster. I still am trying to follow the bandster rules and take what I learned fro my band and continue to live this way. Have I said anything to freak anyone out? I just spoke about my experience which I feel many here are greatful to hear about. You are 100% correct,,this is why us NON bandsters stay, we are sharing our opinions and experiences also. I hope I have never said anything to any bandsters to freak them out

I am one of those eroded bandsters who is not sulikng either..I have moved on. No point crying over spilled milk..I am optimistic and I have found the possitive of all of this. I lost over 100 firggin lbs with my band before it eroded. Iam damn proud of that accomplishment! My band worked and I worked with my band....it eroded & for me to put all of my energy into why it eroded or sulk about would not do me one bit of good. My energy is now into how can I keep this weight off. How can I maintain and how can I continue to lose. We can all sit here and play the blame game and attack one another but for what reason? The fact remains we are all here for the same reason SUPPORT, we al lfight the same demon.. it is just some of us eroded and some of us havent. I too feel horrible to those who have eroded. I know how they are feeling but I have a choice to accept it or to not accept it..I have accepted it! I have just spoken the truth as it relates to my experience.

Thanks Lisa :target: This is a touchy post for me. Iam a fan of Ortiz..he is a wonderful Dr. and I thank him for coming here I am an Ortiz patient and I eroded. I do not hold him responsible. I have recieved impecable aftercare from him and his staff they were always there for me when I needed them, not only did he give the tool of the band to lose over 100 lbs and have a happier healthier life, he also saved my life by fixing my bowel obstruction surgery when NO U.S. doctor would touch me. I will never know the real reason I eroded, Dr. Ortiz thinks it is from a stitch, maybe it could of been from my bowel obstruction, who knows for sure. I just can not dwell on it any longer. Sure Iam sad I eroded, but in the same breath I am very very lucky to have had such great success with my band.and sure it is very strange that 4 of us here on LBT all had our bands placed within a month of eachother with Lopez and Ortiz and we al leroded together..that is something I think about often. But It is now up to me to contnuie to stay successful without my band and put the erosion behind me. It could be worse, I could of not been so fortunate to been able to ever have the band and be even heavier now then I was when I got my band. As bandsters I think all of us have the same fear of erosion, it is something we worry about all the time, I was a perfect bandster, so I do not think it had anything to do with me not following the rules because I followed the rules. I have no regrets..as far as another band in my future, right now I would say NO...it has been 2 months since my erosion and I have managed to maintain my weight loss, obviously I learned something from it all..it is struggle, I will not lie, but Iam not gaining and to me if I never lose another pound then the band did it's job! We all have our own opinions here, thats freedom of speech in it's best form! No onme should be made to feel wrong for voicing theirs good or bad

Nope difinately different for me..it is like i never had the band. I may have had phantom restriction twice in the very beginning when I ate bread but now it is like I never had the band , it has been 2 months

last night I got inspiration from my 14yr old son..he saw my before pic taped ot the fridge, he came to me and said " mom I want to give you a hug" I asked why? He said Iam so proud of you.."I just saw your picture on the fridge and it scared me, I forgot how fat you used to be, you look so great and Iam so proud of you and so happy for you" "...it made me very happy that he took the time to tell me and acknowledged it, and then my DH saw the pic and thought it was a fake picture cuz he doesnt remember me ever being that heavy..Ive made it through 3 nights of no nightime eating..One night at a time is all I can do..my days are easy, its the night that kill me..thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement..it means alot to me

I was not hungry at all for the first 5 weeks or so..

Your surgoen is dead wrong on this one I'm sorry to say it.. Ask any one from this board who knows me personally and they will tell you that I was the model bandster..I followed the rules and reccomendations, never drank carbonation, never took NSAIDS, never drank with meals, never stuffed my pouch , had great aftercare, saw my doctor on a regular basis, had barium swallows on a regular basis..I followed all the rules..which is why I was successful in losing over 100 lbs in 19 months..however I still eroded. It was nothing I did or did not do..it was something that just happened..it can happen to the best or the worst bandsters..if your body is going to reject it, it does not matter whether you follow the rules and reccomendations. Others here who have eroded will tel you the same thing..I am not the only bandster who followed the rules who eroded. Even my own doctor told me I was a model bandster.. I gave compliance one hell of a try..I complied 100% the entire time I had my band.

Journal your food..write down every single bite you put in your mouth..also write down how you are feeling when you eat..sad, happy mad etc..also write down the degree of hunger and what you were doing when you ate..this is what helped me alot..it works, there is something to be said about seeing it on paper, you may not think you are eating alot or those little bites we take all day long throughout the day matter but they do..once you see it on paper you seem to want to make better food choices and once you see it on paper you may see a pattern for example you eat more when you are mad or sad etc...this worked wonders for me..One other thing I did was do the 3 a day dairy..calcium servings of milk yogurt and cheese check out the site http://www.3aday.org/3aday/About3ADay/learnMoreAbout3ADay

I'm happy for you that you feel you found the answer..my personal experience with antidepressants was the opposite..I too lost a child and my mother within 10 days of eachother and had another child diagnosed with cancer at the same time I was put on an anti depressant. I have always been overweight my whole life but the anti depressant was my demise..I gained over 65 lbs in 1.5 yrs with the Paxil... I 'm sorry to hear about your daughter..I know first hand how difficult the loss of a child can be..I wish you the best..and wish you continued success

Alexra...I have th exact same problem..I still see myself as the 265 lb woman I had known for years looking back at me in the mirror...the only reason I know it to be untrue is the size 10 I now wear compared to the size 22 I wore 100 lbs ago. If not for the friends, family and people who comment on my weight loss everyday..I'd never know it by the image I see in my mirror..I'm learning to see a different image of myself ...just this afternoon I taped my before picture on to my mirrored wardrobe doors so I see it everytime I look in the mirror, I'm hopeful it will inspire me to see the new and improved me..it takes time, we are so programed to see ourselves as we have for so many years. You are not alone my friend

So did I..my band worked amazingly well for me..however I ERODED and am now bandless. I lost over 100 lbs with my band in 19 months and Iam damed and determined to not gain this weight back so Iam willing to "go there" again to prevent it from happening and so far so good, today was my frist day with the hoodia and it has worked amazingly well for me..I have had controlled hunger and no jitters all day long, it was the best eating day I have had in weeks..I'm happy. Everyone is different and things work differently for each individual..had I still have my band I would not need the hoodia, but bandless there is a huge difference in my hunger and cravings..it is incredible how well the band works.. the obsessi9on for food for me was literally gone when I had my band I was just unfortunate to have mine erode but I'm happy with the results I achieved with it..no doubt..reality is though it's gone and hunger is back...

I used to be that way..I was always shopping for things for everyone but me...but not anymore..I love myself and the new me..I now get my nails and toes done every 2 weeks like clockwork as well as my hair done every 4 weeks like clockwork..when I shop I now only buy for me well sometime my kids and hubby too ..I spoil myself now..and I love it!

Congratulations Jonathan on a job well done, you have definately had your share of things this past year and through it all you lost 40 lbs..Good for you my friend! kepp up the good work

I had better restrcition the last month I had my band then ever before I lost 11 lbs in October, found out I was eroded in November..go figure. However I have heard other eroded bandsters say they lost theirrestriction. Guess everyone is different!

That is good news Vines! Lets hope this does not happen, I just started birth control pills 2.5 weeks ago for some hormonal problems I have been having ever since my band was removed..it sucks...all I want to do is eat. I'm feeling the affectsfrom them horribly by my body thinking I'm pregnant and wanting to eat. Without my band it is difficult. I wish you the best and hope you get more answers soon..hang in there Hope the new meds do the trick for you!

I took it years ago..it did not work for me..all it did was make a mess in my toilet with layers of greasy fat & oil making an orange ring around my toilet bowl..not to mention it made me feel like I had the runs al lthe time..I had runny orange, oily bowel movements from the fat that was blocked coming out in my BM's..not a pretty sight..especially in a public restroom