DeLarla

Lauri, maybe you're like me and need to eliminate snacking, period. Some of us can eat little amounts all day, then there's those of us that constantly have to put something in our mouths. That's why my current goal is to eat only 3 meals with zero snacks. The constant need to chew and swallow - even if it's only on celery - is my biggest problem. Just a thought????

Inamed employees are excellent at remaining politically correct. They are very careful about not saying too much, while remaining informative. They won't tarnish a doctor's name (in my opinion) but they may say things to sway you to a good doc - it's a potluck, ya never know what you're gonna get. As far as someone having no restriction, that's all too common for a variety of reasons. Number one is erosion, meaning if someone suddenly has no restriction, there's a chance their band has eroded. But less drastic could be that many doctors "sneak up" on restriction. They only give small fills, which is something Inamed recommends. A small fill might not feel like anything. So the doc keeps giving these small fills till restriction is achieved. Another reason is maybe they punctured her tube with the fill needle. Fill Fluid can leak out. She should have an Upper GI and/or an Endoscope, or better yet, seek a 2nd opinion. I've learned to get as many opinions as possible - the winning doctor is the one who agrees with what someone else already told me!

Vick, good question, and I have part of the answer. NO, doctors do not always report problems. I know this firsthand since many months ago I reported some things to Inamed that they weren't aware of. They did tell me that Dr. Kuri is excellent at reporting all problems - not just erosions - but port infections, ports flipping, port revisions, erosions, rejections, etc. The only way Inamed can track problems is if they get the information. I posted a long time ago, and Penni, Michelle and others have repeated posts that it's our responsiblity to contact Inamed with every single problem instead of relying on the doctors. Inamed was unaware of my problems till I contacted them, but now I'm probably a household word to them! I know that Penni reported her own problem, too. Spread the word - ANYONE HAVING THE SLIGHTEST PROBLEM, PLEASE CONTACT INAMED. This is the only way advances can be made, research can be completed, data can be compiled, etc. Good question, you get a gold star! Larry was trying to explain how Inamed can't always take responsibity or know everything a surgeon is doing. He compared the band to a tool we might by at Home Depo. Something like if we buy a Black and Decker tool at Home Depo, we won't go to Black and Decker if we have a problem, but instead we'd go to Home Depot where we purchased it. It wasn't the best analogy, but unfortunately, I doubt Black and Decker would give a damn if my electric saw stopped working - they'd tell me to bring it back to Home Depot. However, if my Black and Decker power saw broke in pieces and injured me, you better believe I'd have Black and Decker on the phone begging me to repair my injuries (which is what I kinda told Larry.)

Laurie, maybe you need to change your goals. For the first six months I didn't have any number goals. My goals were to be happier and to want to live. Maybe you should change your goal to "from now on I will eat like a normal person." Normal people have days when they eat more than they should have, but they don't hate themselves for it. They just move on. You are completely normal. If we don't screw up from time to time then we can't call ourselves human, now can we. Good for you for realizing you ate too much pizza and for sharing it with us because we all love you, pizza and all. I did the same exact thing over the weekend. We went to California, and my husband HAD to have his very favorite (since there's no Numero Uno in Vegas.) But the next morning, I ate 2 pieces of pizza while everyone was asleep. The dogs weren't even awake yet, so I can't even say I shared bits with them! And I'm someone that's never, ever been able to eat in the mornings because of too much restriction, but the pizza slid right down. Be good to you.

"How can that be? Thats strange since Ortiz just told me he does 4 to every 1 of Lopez's" Michelle, in response to your post, I don't know how it can be! It's hard to trust anybody these days. Inamed says Lopez is the best and does the most surgeries. It sure would be nice to get to the bottom of it. I wonder if Inamed is quoting recent activity. I'm sure Lopez was way ahead of Ortiz in the beginning when Ortiz went solo, but maybe Ortiz is now in the lead and Inamed hasn't collected current numbers???? How can we know for sure who's telling the truth?

Karen, you forgot to tell me how you are feeling physically. Are you sore, sick? Do you have any ghost restriction? I'm here for you (duh, but you gotta call me.) xoxo Love you bunches.

CARMEN STOLE MY GOAL WEIGHT! GIVE IT BACK. Rock on, girl! I'm only up 3 pounds now (better than the 6 pounds I was up.) And where is Gross Darcy? It's not like her to be gone so long.

I had several conversations with Larry from Inamed yesterday and this morning. He is standing firm that erosions happen 1% worldwide, and Lopez rates are much lower. He told me a long time ago Dr. Kuri's patients were all complaining - almost like there's always one doctor on the hot seat. He said Karen and Chrissy, who were both banded on the same day and both eroded, were coincidental. He still says Lopez is the best of the best. And on a completely different note, I'm trying a new protein shake right now and GAG. Advant Edge - YUCK. Damn, I bought a whole case. I'd rather drink barium.

I was never able to eat even a bite in the morning, so I made protein shakes. But I got tired of dealing with the blender so I went to Costco and bought a few cases of pre-mixed protein shakes. They go down really easy, and they're super convenient. I hope to get a new port, too! Even if I can only have it for a few months because I really need a fill.

I spoke with Larry at Inamed. He said that Lopez does a lot more bands than other doctors, and his erosion rate is low at only 1%. I don't know how accurate the numbers are since not everyone reports erosions, but that's what Larry just told me.

Makes sense. Thanks.

Nope, not healing. Leaking. Gross. Next time I see Penni I'm gonna get good and drunk and let her put a new port in me.

Margret, why should I call Inamed when YOU are the one that posted the letter? Why can't you just tell us the date the letter was written and stop playing games?

Margret, please answer one last question. What is the date of the letter you attached from Inamed? Don't forget the year. Thanks.

Margret, please answer one last question. What is the date of the letter you attached from Inamed? Don't forget the year. Thanks.

Michelle, can you explain why Ortiz can tell you have no erosion based on a barium swallow? I'm confused - I thought only an endoscopy can show erosion. I had good Upper GI results recently so my doctor didn't schedule me for an endoscopy. How can Ortiz be sure there's no erosion without an edoscopy? Why do some people need the scope while you & I just had the barium swallow? Maybe you can Ortiz or Martinez next time you talk to them? So far I can't seem to get a straight answer. Thanks.

Margret, here's your quote, "I know where you work and I know the same people as you, so you better watch out." Where did I post my job location? Who are these people that we both know? I've asked you this several times, but you always answer in bits and pieces. Now I'm reading that you have food clogged in your port. Must be nice to have a port. Never knew food could get clogged in there. Sounds mighty unhealthy. I thought the port only held saline. Can anyone explain? How does food get outside the stomach to get clogged in the port?

I'm glad everything worked out. You're lucky to have such great care so close to home. He's a very impressive man.

Every doctor has different pre-op rules. I was banded with 6 other people, and some ate a huge meal the night before surgery. I was told to fast for 24 hours on clear liquids. One of the women didn't get any instructions, so she ate peanuts on the plane, which caused problems for her since she needed to get her labwork done before surgery - the peanuts did something to her blood sugar level, so she got tied up in the lab an extra hour. Good luck to you!

I'm having problems with my band, but they are not the same as yours. They had to remove my port, so now I can't get fills. I need a new port, but I don't have the money. Maybe one day I'll know what it's like to be overfilled, but for now, good luck to you.

I just sent Penni an IM that said I'm trying to sneak back into bandland gracefully, as if I never fell off. I want to avoid any extra pressure (like a challenge) so maybe I'll get back to eating small portions. Thanks, Zoe!

I'm here with ya, Babs. I keep putting the same 6 pounds on. My official weigh in date is right around the corner, and I may actually have a gain for the first time. Hell's bells, why does it have to be so difficult!

I sent Greg a PM cause I'm backing out of this challenge before it's too late. I'm sinking into the old "diet mentality" that got me fat to start with. My band challenges me every day, and I'm not in a good place (mentally) right now to take on a challenge. I'm afraid it will do me more bad than good, so see ya on another post. Good luck to everyone.

I just lost my "6 pounds of Mexico Vacation weight" last week. But I gained them back over my Thanksgiving vacation. Last night I was disgusted over the gain, so I binged. I only have a little restriction, but I fight it. I'm not sure what to do about a port right now. I've got too much on my mind. Good luck to everyone, today's a new day!

I asked Inamed about Water last week. I was concerned that if I drank too much of it, or if I drank too fast, that it would stretch my band. They said drink, drink, drink. No problem with water stretching the pouch. I'm able to guzzle pretty good, which is a nasty habit, but I'm still learning to slow down. I had no problem drinking thick milkshakes, except they are really fattening. Cottage cheese and mashed bananas sound great to me. I was so gassy already that nothing I ate or didn't eat would make it any worse. Sounds good.