DeLarla

Thanks, Penni. I left a message for Kuri last night, but told them it wasn't an emergency. The area is painful today but it's not warm anymore. I'm sure the pain is all that hardened scar tissue. It feels bruised, but tomorrow will only be 2 weeks, so I'm going to give it a lot more time. I'm glad you're going to check out that protrusion. I hate to rag on Lopez, but Carmen doesn't know what the heck she's talking about. I don't know if you were following my original problem, but I called Dr. Carmen, and on the one occasion she answered, I told her my incision had "herniated" and was poofing out like a juicy caterpillar, and the liquid inside was plumb red with a hard white ball rolling around in the liquid. When I slept, the ball would hide, but during the day it was trying to pop it's way out of the incision. Carmen told me to stop worrying about it and leave it alone. It was 2 weeks later that I showed my VET, who said it was a badly infected pustual. And that was a week after I sent Carmen pictures of the monster-looking thing, so I don't trust a word that she says. Truthfully, I don't think she even listens to us. So please let me know what Billy says ASAP. Also, if you think of it, find out what he'd charge for replacing my port. And also what he'll charge for normal fills down the line for Mexican patients. My little brother lives in Canoga Park, close to the 134. I'd rather drive to the Valley, spend the night w/ Lance, hang out with friends, then drive to Ventura for the day.

I talked to Francesca, who hasn't been able to post cuz her puter is in the shop. She has an appointment with her doctor because she's still PBing (or throwing up) all the time. Her doctor told her to do whatever she could to not throw up, so she's trying really hard. She misses us, thought you all should know. Donali, she sends her well wishes. Francesca was my band buddy in the hospital. Her sister stayed with her, who is a living doll. She went out and bought flowers for each one of us that was banded (5 of us.) We love Francesca and her sister!

Or you could just snort your Protein powder like cocaine people do, like in Pulp Fiction. Sorry, tired dork here.

When I woke up, I asked my band surgeon if he repaired my awful hernia. He said, "you don't have it any more." But his English suffers along with a bad lisp, so till this day, I don't understand what happened to it even tho Donali tried to explain it. She shoulda used baby talk like "he shoved that tube thingy down the floppy round part." But I think he just pushed it down then put the band on top of it to hold it down????? Just my guess. You just reminded me of how sick I was every night... I'd be up 10 times taking antacids and eating chaulk, or just eating more crap to push down the stuff that wouldn't go down. Yes, I believe my band loves me a little!

Then Leatha, I can explain to everyone what a hiatal hernia feels like. It feels like a lap band. Only it hurts. What's really strange about my funny little band is that even though I'm eating a few bites past being full, I've walked past a huge cannister of cookies for over a week. Someone brought them to work, and I haven't even smelled one. How can that be? And so far I've been able to avoid all candy. And I've only had 1/2 a french fry, which I spit out (2 cups of Ketchup with DaddyMackSize fries were a staple.) No candy in 2 months? Except the neighbor kids brought me a huge sucker from Disneyland. I've licked at it a few nights, but it's still over a foot long. And 2 Tic-Tacs. Oh, and I shared a dessert last month. Other than that, at least I have some of my long-lost willpower back... for today, anyway!

Hi Kim, first time for me to see your face & name. Hi again! I'm exactly like you - it takes an hour to feel completely full. I ate 4 hours ago and feel like I just downed a twelve-incher from Subway. I try to have a cup of warm herbal tea at night so the food goes down before bed. And I'm afraid to stretch my pouch, too, although I probably already have. I'm eating a fraction of what I used to eat. I used to eat 2 man sized plates, then top the night off with 3 hours of goodies. Now I eat for about 20 minutes. I always know I need to stop, but I feel cheated cuz I barely ate anything. I'm guilty of eating about 4-5 small bites past the point where I feel fullness.. then again, I don't know the difference between fullness and other stuff. I had a hiatal hernia before my surgery, which meant my food always felt trapped in my sternum, inbetween my breasts only lower. Being full from the band feels similar - you don't get full in your belly, but in a new higher place (am I right?)

Penni, Today is the first "dry-bandage" day... BUT (there just has to be a but, doesn't there?) 2 inches below my incision is a grapefruit-sized pink, warm patch. La Madam referred me back here to your pic so I could read the outcome of your visit with Dr. Lopez. However, he said your red mark (mine looks similar) is irritation from the port. I don't have a port. Do you think I need to go back on antibiotics? Thursday will be 2 weeks that my port was removed. Urgent Care gave me Keflex, which I took for 5 days, then Dr. Kuri told me to stop the Keflex and take the antibiotics he gave me, which I finished. I still have a few Keflex, but I don't like messing with antibiotics. So, do you think I should chill out and see if the warm redness subsides, or should I rush to Urgent Care for more antibiotics? Meanwhile, under the incision is hard as a rock... then it's soft and supple, but the hard rock stuff starts again 2 inches below the port. If this is scar tissue, will it subside over time? How is your redness? You haven't mentioned it. Thanks!

Darcy, I hope you don't have a messy huband or kids to undo your work. Coming home to a clean house rules! Can't wait to see you home! xo

I'm not sure what a frisson is, but it sounds like a good thing. You people use big words. I like that. Dr. Carmen said not to drink Water with meals because: 1. There's not enough room in the pouch for food and liquid; 2. You'll stretch your pouch/stoma; 2. Liquid pushes the food through the stoma faster, so you're hungrier sooner. Then again, Dr. Carmen promised emergency 24 hour phone service and said my infected port was normal.

I just asked Chris if he'd have a problem with a houseful of large drunk woman, and he just laughed and said, "ut uh" (meaning nope.) As far as him stripping, that's a funny question. Whoever said "white men can't dance" must know Chris. Even in his drinking days it took a crane to get him on the dance floor. He acts shy at first so when my girlfriends are over I watch my words and don't instigate - if he hears a drunk woman mention panties, everything turns X-rated. There are 5 Fridays in October, and any one of them are good. October 15 is a Friday and the First of Ramadan. I don't know what that means, but sounds like a good enough reason to party for me. The following day is National Boss Day, which falls on a Saturday, which could be an even better reason to party since it falls on a non-work day so we don't have to pretend to have the best boss in the world. OUCH, lightening just hit me!

We apologize for Louie, who can be a total ass. As far as shutting up about the "ugly post" at least we got the last word by Jessie posting that we were right!

"And if I'm out to dinner at a nice restaurant and eating something very yummy, I may drink with my meal so I can eat more." Donali, I copied and pasted this to SmartBandsters to prove it's all your fault. KIDDING!!! How do you do the fancy bolded quoted thingys you peeps do?

Don, I do lettuce & raw spinach all the time. My prob was that I shouldn't have eaten lunch yet. I was full from my Protein shake (8am) and Water. But we always eat at noon here, so I started eating my salad when I wasn't hungry (***slaps hand***.) And I made a small & runny shake this morn, more like chocolate milk. One day I can eat lots, the next little. What if I actually find a way to work with this restriction and actually don't eat unless I'm hungry... something to ponder.... letting the band do its job... hmmm. Maybe I'll fake a gallbladder attack and get me one of dem insurance-covered scopey-scopes to relive my paranoia. Yeah, like that would remove my paranoia?

Yep, Jeannie, I'd rather see Donali lose five grand playing video poker or dollar Keno! Much more fun! xo

Can anyone sing to the electric guitar intro of Smoke on The Water played really loud and out of tune? There's also a cute park with a walking path by my house. Nice 45 minute round-trip, so bring tennies so we can be good little bad bandsters! Spiked heals, that's hysterical. Where can I find fishnets in a 3X-Tall? What size is everyone wearing? Are we doing a mini-clothing exchange? I have 24-28s ready for Good Will. Should I hold onto them? I could use some large 22-24s. Or, if everyone leaves me their fat clothes, I'll be happy to bring them to Plus Size Resale the following weekend. That's where I bring my stuff. They don't pay much, but it's fun getting $20 checks from time to time. Then they donate what they don't sell if you don't pick them up on time. It's got to be decent stuff (Layne Bryant, The Avenue, Penny's, etc.)

I think I'm dying again. Either that or Mr. Restriction kicked in. After all the hardcore diet rules from the other board, my guilt made me have a raw spinach & veggie salad for lunch instead of tuna sal on crackers (which works well for me.) It was truly beautiful and delicous, but I couldn't eat it. Me? Not able to eat a salad? Tossing it after all the chopping and cleaning? All I had today was 2/3 Protein shake and Water and probably (don't choke) ONE-HALF CUP salad - how flippin' funny is that? Now as far as this "feeling" that we're supposed to feel the liquid going to the bottom, I haven't experience that. When Dr. Kuri removed my port, he first filled me, then sat me up to drink. He must have asked 10 times if the water went down - apparently we're supposed to feel something? He was almost getting impatient because I couldn't answer him, so he slapped me back down & filled me somemore! Well, he's nice & doesn't slap, but you get the pic. All I feel is pressure everywhere, so I'm not sure if it's fullness, menstrual cramps, gas, bruises, or once again, if I'm dying. If I'm so full, how come I don't PB? I think it's in order to make me feel normal & less paranoid. Kel, thanks for taking the knives from Don cuz most are prolly my fault.

Donali, I've been so stressed over money that I'm even worried about everyone else's, and I think you should still "possibly consider" letting your insurance cover the removal. Just toss it around in your head once more. I realize you want it done by an experience lap band doc, but don't you think (hope, anyway) that our American bariatric surgeons would be more than qualified after talking directly to your Mexico doctor? I say this because when I had my port problem and went to Urgent Care, the Urgent Care doctor didn't know how to help me. Later, Dr. Ortiz was nice enough to take my call and help me. Dr. Ortiz said he'd be more than willing to talk to my doctors, local surgeons, Urgent Care staff, etc., to guide them. Bariatric surgeons have to do tons of operations, so I don't think removal of a lapband would be much different than removal of a tumor, correction of a bypass-gone-wrong, etc., fixing people from car wrecks or other massive injuries (since Gross Darcy is busy.) Just a thought to save you some gambling money.

OH my gosh, can we schedule a Bingo session and piss off all the blue haired ladies by talking while the numbers are being called?

Donali, I consulted my crystal ball and rubbed my Genie lamp: After they remove your band, there will be severe hardened scar tissue under where the band was, which is sort of like a cement band, so you'll only be able to accommodate small portions of food for life. I'm sorry, but you'll experience continued weight loss after band removal. Wouldn't that be dreamy?

Oh, and I'm 2 exits away from the airport, so rides to and from are no problem.

My husband likes his women with a little meat and says "making love to a skinny woman is like having sex with a gunny sack full of antlers." When my skinny friends comes over, he always tells me to fix them a sandwich. He's been sober 5 years but I highly doubt he'll have a problem with a houseful of pajama-clad drinking women (cuz I think we should do pajamas even if everyone's staying in separate hotels.) He puts up with my parties and house guests all the time - even helped with my recent Pamered Chef party. Besides, who wears the pants around here? I DO. Just don't tell him I said that! But ask Chris "who is boss around here?" And he'll point to me. Warning, he'll want to play the beginning of "Smoke on The Water" for you all with the amp turned up very high - over and over and over. I have a box of earplugs. He also might want to show you welding techniques. Just go with it. My house is at the Windmill exit from the 215. You can see the entire strip from my corner. I'm 3 miles south plus 3 miles east of Mandalay Bay. But all the casinos are close.

Hubby hates a houseful of eating & drinking women.... NOT. He recently showed up at the tail end of a neighbor's party. There were 4 drunk women - and him. I heard him bragging to his buddy in the garage the next day. I don't know of any bed & breakfasts, but I've heard the prices at The Excalibur are pretty cheap and they have those rooms with attached doors.

Why is the removal procedure more complicated? Can't Gross Darcy just do it for you? I'm thinking some manicure scissors and tweezers would do the trick, kinda like the game Operation. "Remove Eroded Band." Is it complicated because of something special they have to do with your stomach after removing the band? Like massage it open? Answer this: when they place the band, are their stitches in the band/port? I'm asking because my missing port is really sore. I only had it a month, during which time it acted like a Water Weenie and was all over the place, but from just that short time I have major, major scar tissue in a very large area. Is that part of the difficulty - unattaching the port? Babydoll, I wish I could be there holding your hanny. Love you. xo

Trust me, if I didn't get that bad infection, I'd have continued working out at the gym, and I'd probably have lost some more weight. I never intended to tell anyone not to exercise, I just wanted to share my personal experience as a a little warning. I even gave up walking during my infection since I was miserable and wanted to lay flat since tubing was sticking out of my infected wound. After having the port removed, I've been ultra-careful to avoid infection, so I haven't exercised AT ALL in a month. Now that I'm trying to get back to normal, I have to start from square one. Square one in my book is to convince my brain to put on the walking shoes. So far, brain not convinced.

Thanks Penni. I called Inamed, reported my entire incident, and received the list of docs. I called Billy's number but it just rang with no recording. If you happen to talk to them, I'm curious what they'd charge to replace my port. I'd prefer to go to Kuri, but Ventura is much more convenient. Thanks. I have new pains today. Very mild ones, but I'm probably telepathically eroding my band with all my insane thinking these days. I don't know why my port hurts today for the first time considering I don't even have one! And I have some serious restriction because my 5:00 dinner is still in my pooch at 10:30. Going to bed... night night. xoxox