DeLarla

Thanks, everyone. I drugged myself with Xanax pretty heavily yesterday because I kept thinking of all the things I should have done, like giving him a 2nd can of tuna before going (instead of his 2nd favorites, liverworst & chicken salad.) I'd give anything to hold him one more time, but the truth is, I'm very proud of myself. I hurt, but I feel good because I raised an amazing little boy. He was "abnormal" when it comes to cats. He loved strangers, fetched, was best friends with my bird, jumped out of the car during camping trips then jumped back in after going potty - like a dog. He was trained like a dog, even though I never trained him, I just held him close to my chest the day he was born and whispered in his ear, and I did that every day, got his shots and good medical care, fed him the best (according to vets) and made sure he was inside every night. Waking up without his tricks and habits makes me ill. He'd sit on the bathroom counter and let me put blush on him. We got ready for work together - he used to jump in my sun roof and try to come with me. Or he'd hide under tables and whack my husband's leg trying to spill his coffee, often suceeding, which was a really fun game. Alex, the pain sucks, but all that love, all those years, I was never alone. Even when I was sick, he'd walk circles around me crying and never leave my side. In the end. Sachi, Kitty Milo, Voodoo & I would just lay in bed snuggling & watching over Kitty. Losing a pet any other way would be unbearable. I'd never forgive myself if he just wandered off one day, or was hit by a car. But I held him in my arms the whole time, and gave him back all that love he gave me. Sure, I'll be stoned on Xanax for a week, but I feel really good about myself for raising him, from the first minute to the last. I have an incredible story about him. 15 years ago, a Momma cat was pregnant so my mom put a box on the porch. She also used to put food out for a different wild cat. The day our Mamma went into labor (my Mom's b-day) we saw the wild cat in the box! She was birthing our cat's kittens. So I grabbed the video and watched nature do it's thing. The wild cat birthed three kittens, then suddenly started convulsing. We thought it was dying, but she was apparently in labor herself. Our cat, exhausted, turned around and birthed the wild cat's 3 kittens. After 2 were born, Ryan (my then boyfriend) started saying, "Milo is coming out next." So Milo was named before he was born, and he was the very last baby, born of a wild cat - 3 each. Was kind of weird since the movie Milo and Otis was already out, and my Milo, like the famous one, was the only orange tabby out of the bunch. Alex, go get her a pet. It's an unconditional love that only their snuggling can define. The pain will eventually subside, but the loving memories will be with me till I meet him on the other side. But having to face work today sucks - badly.

I'm too exhausted to help right here, but go to my screen name under, "See all posts by this member" and read everything having to do with port removal/revision. I don't have a port - even though I've had two in the past. Sorry to be so brief, but I'm in mourning. Good luck.

So what if I'm a stress wreck? The question is, "Would I do it again?" The answer is, "Probably." LBT has always been the one board where the God's honest truth comes out. If anyone is looking for sugar-coating, go to another board. Had I known SO MANY personal friends before getting banded that had erosion, I would never have gotten the band. So if all these erosions help even one person decide not to take the gamble, then they might be saving their own lives. Read what you want to, people. If it's too deep or too REAL for you to handle, then politely jump to the next thread. Anyone that knows me knows I speak from my heart, and if something needs to be said, I'm going to say it. Diane Beck ALMOST DIED FROM LAPBAND REMOVAL SURGERY DUE TO EROSION. If anyone thinks I've caused a stampede or have lost control of my senses, read that line again. The band is "potentially" deadly and comes with a variety of risks, erosion is just one of them. I'm sorry if anyone was hyped about getting the band but this thread scared them. But all I've done is open everyone's eyes. Be responsible for your band and have it checked - often! Michelle eroded in just a matter of months, so if you don't have an endoscopy scheduled, or at least regular Upper GI's, let this be a wake up call. Chances are that most of us worry warts are fine. But if a certain percentage erode, then someone in this very thread may be eroded right now, and we all need to get checked out on a regular basis.

Save yourself the money, ladies. While they are great garments, you can make your own with Control Top Support Hose. No, they don't run or roll up when you cut the legs off. I wear them in the summer with little dresses to keep my legs from rubbing, and they really slim you down for a tiny fraction of wearing all that Lycra.

Thanks, Vera. Any word on Michelle or Francesca? I talked to both of them last night and Francesca said she'd have hubby Dave post. DAVE, talk to us! Erosion Anxiety Girl, Lisa (see other thread.)

My gosh, I've been through such hell of my own the past month, then brand new heartache over one of my furbabies that this just hit me like a ton of bricks. Ladies, please know you're in my heart, it's just that my heart is broken right now and numb. Michelle, are you & 'Cesca having removal together? I'm so sorry for being absent, but trust me when I say it's with good reason. All my love to you girls who have been my friends and strength throughout my own band journey.

I wonder if that's what they were looking for when I had to bring a tuna salad sandwich to the lab. I'm not even kidding! My pre-op was to bring a "salad type sandwich. It was the first time in my life where they told me to eat as fast as possible, then I had to lay still under x-ray machines to see how food moved. Odd.

I'll come out of the closet first and say, "I'm envious of Sue." I'm thinking strongly of converting, but that's not even a financial option. Sue, good good extra good luck. Karen, Francesca & Michelle are both having their bands removed due to erosion.

My 4 friends (Karen, Donali, Fracesa, LaMadam) were all banded in Mexico with Inamed bands. Two were Lopez patients, two are Ortiz patients. I know several others, but considering these are all personal friends of mine, the numbers are way higher than 1-3%.

1. DeLarla is a nickname given to me by a delicious, young bartender many years ago. He said, "Lisa is too common for such a gem, you're parents should have named you DeLarla." He was Heavenly. 2. Currently reading The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan... BUT, I just finished the Red Tent, which every woman should read - excellent. 3. Lisa is a paralegal by day, DeLarla sells lingerie and adult items at night. 4. I'm grateful for the love, baby. From my fur babies and friends who accept my chemical imbalance and put up with my $@% but still love me anyway. 5. People might be surprised that I'm always right. (Laughing here.) People think it's weird that I know every song lyric on the radio. I never stop singing. 6. One word to describe me? Complex. I want to be simple, but it's all twisty up there. 7. One word others use to describe you? Funny. 8. Would you rather play a game with someone better or worse at it than you? I'd rather lose a game and win a word battle - it fuels me. 9. Favorite movie? Lorenzo's Oil. Favorite show: American Idol, but hear me out: Forget about the judges; I'm a dreamer so watching these young kids achieve dreams that are beyond comprehension fills my heart & soul. I live vicariously though them because dreams really do come true. 10. Something unusual about yourself? I'm obsessed with the Amish.

Vines, thanks for starting this since they've been with me everywhere I go. I'm having my Upper GI Wednesday... Ladies, keep the beds warm considering I "have a feeling." I don't think warm vibes are religious (more like Star Trek) so Sue, if you're out there, I'm zapping you with a healing wand.

Those of you who have followed my Erin stories will (un)appreciate this one! Today we're having a traditional potluck (we'll talk about my to-die for cranberry walnut stuffing later.) Erin just announced to the firm that it's time to eat. It's only 10:15 in the morning and she's heating up dinner for the whole firm! I told her it's way too early, but she's telling everyone that we're getting off at noon, which is NOT true. Our firm always lets us go an hour early (I've been here 5 years, things don't change.) So she's convincing people to eat by saying we're closing soon. AARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm on hold with my Gastroenterologist telling them I'm tired of waiting for my Upper GI appointment! He called the referral in on 11/16 and now his office is screwballs and doesn't know what the heck is going on. They must be building rockets in his office or something, because they act like I need a ride to the moon.

I'm sorry, but I'm sticking with Leatha. You should get a couple different opinions. I've had 5 band surgeons all agree on the same thing, but then I had 3 different opinions on another issue. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best - keep positive.

Michelle, I can't explain it, all I can say is my whole band/stomach feels "different" these days (for about a month now.) I still have restriction, but food seems to pass differently, more gurgling, and pardon me, but much more gas than usual. Also, I don't get those 20 second long burps that I used to get. Also, my band kind of hurts, like bruised, on occasion. It would be nice if I got my darn Upper GI date already. All this waiting is frustrating. Also, did Ortiz say that band-removal at this stage is an emergency? Or did you decide to get it taken out immediately. I believe Dr. Billy said an eroded band isn't an emergency. But if I AM eroded, I want it out yesterday. And what's this new information stating "slippage causes erosion?" Where did that come from, and is there any truth to it?

I wish I had seen this earlier. GOOD FOR YOU and that awesome attitude. Michelle, you beat the odds with losing so much. The voices in my showerhead told me you'll continue to do great without the band. Good luck, girl! Meanwhile, you finally posted a statistic I've been waiting around for. I've been trying to figure out about how long it takes to erode. You said from July to November, so it's a pretty fast process. You may have even eroded before November but they just saw it now, right? Very interesting. Any symptoms whatsoever? I certainly feel "different" down there. My belly makes different gurgling noises, and I'm pretty sure I've eroded, but nobody has called me back with my Upper GI referral. I better get on the horn - again!

I just don't know what to do with that woman! Our managing partner was out of the office and came back just as we were finishing. He apparently told Erin he'd be back in time for lunch and even said, "How come you started without me?" Erin responded, "Because WE were hungry." Then everyone started chiming in that Erin has been ready to eat dinner since 9:00 this morning and kept going in people's offices ever 15 minutes saying, "Time to eat." I refused to go in there till 11:00 though, so everyone followed my lead and made her wait till 11:00... BUT ON THE DAMN DOT cause nobody could hold her back any longer.

"I do know one thing. The lap bands used in Mexico are not FDA approved. I learned that from my own dr. who has researched it." The bands being used by the popular Tijuana doctors are Inamed bands, which are FDA approved. Inamed speaks highly of Dr. Lopez, for example. I'm 99% certain that both Ortiz and Lopez are Inamed proctors, so they are using Inamed bands.

Dr. Fisher in Vegas had at least one erosion (that I know of, anyway.) I know this because my Mexican surgeon came to Vegas to teach Fisher how to remove the eroded band. Bands have been in Mexico many more years than they've been in US, plus Mexican surgeons train American guys. Call me crazy, but I'm almost sure I'm eroded. How can a band squeeze so hard every day of my life without eventually making its way through the skin? I'm so confused. Michelle, I'm so sorry. I didn't even know you eroded till Penni told me. I hope you're handling it well. xo

Actually, I'm busting up laughing right now. Erin's got the microwave going heating up food, while Jon (one of the attorneys) is looking at his watch like she's gone mad. So yes, please come fast, and bring the straight jacket. And this time it's not for me, put the girl away!

Did you tell them you are MY boyfriend, and they still treated you this way? Jonathan, this sucks. I'm so sorry. But I keep hearing that liquids for a week might allow the slippage to correct itself, so how can they be sure that won't happen? I don't care what they say, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping the band will slip back in place after a week on turkey broth. I'm sending good vibes your way. I suck at saying the right thing, but maybe you can spend the holiday writing all the other stuff you have to be thankful for. Easier said than done, I know. I love you & wish you the best.

Awe, now I feel bad for not being here. Sorry I haven't been around, but here I am. Certain surgeons will not place a band if you have a "certain kind" of "AI" (auto immune disease.) I have sarcoidosis, and my band is fine. I can't remember exactly the reason behind not allowing a band with AI, but I recall that certain people with AI had problems with breast implants, which is why surgeons wouldn't place other types of implants. However, ask carefully because it's only a certain type of AI, which maybe isn't you. Even so, from what I know, there's nothing really documented about the band and problems with AI, it's just a safety measure based on what occured with breast implants. Did I make any sense at all?

Hey Smooch, did you get my PM? The band is GREAT, but you must have a great doc and great follow-up care or it's way too hard to do alone.

Is it me, or has Alex been gone too long? How about Teresa & Bubba? Where is everyone?

It sucks staying away from here. Can somebody please summarize everything I've missed here so I can catch up? Here's me: Mom was released from the psyche ward but refuses to take meds. The last forced injection should last another week before she's back to her old self, so my brother & I (who made amends after many years) are taking our first baby steps towards what we believe to be the best plan. Her injections last 2-3 weeks, so she actually got some paint and put one coat over the walls she wrote on. Brother says you can still see all the writing, and there's paint dripped and slopped everywhere, but she's never covered over any writing in her life. It's a shame she won't take meds cause that's a sign that she saw life through normal eyes for a moment. Right before she was released, her social worker explained that normal people don't write on walls, which really confused my mother because that's one of her normal means of communicating with family. I finally saw the Gastroenterologist yesterday, who called in a referral for an Upper GI. I had to explain the band and show him a picture. However, he made me feel okay in case my band needs to be removed because he said we've got surgeons who are really familiar with other gadgets that erode around the stomach (I'm under the impression certain implants are placed around the stomach for hernias or other surgeries.) So it's not like they'd be completely lost if I had erosion, plus he wrote down the names of a local surgeon and my surgeon in Ventura in case of emergency or to consult. I have no idea what my dual coverage insurance will or will not cover, but at least the paperwork and referral process has begun. I've gained 10 pounds because I'm back to being a full time sugar junky. I talked to the Gastro about needing support & was choking back tears, so he gave me a referral to the Weight Management plan available through my insurance, plus he asked permission to refer me for stress management. I said, "Does it show" and his eyes said, "OH YEAH." Slumber is still too much fun, but holidays slow down parties. But I've been strongly warned to either hold on or run for cover since Valentine's Day goes wild. Bring it on! How is everyone?