DeLarla

Hi Frank. Did Sanchez give you and your wife Inamed bands? I know two people that had surgey with Dr. Sanchez, who implanted non-FDA approved bands that are larger than the Inamed's. I just talked to both of them this week, and one of them has problems with the tube and doesn't know where to get parts for the band Sanchez gave her. Just curious if he changed to Inamed.

Yesterday I posted a thread joking about giving myself a fill. I really didn't fill my band, all I did was eat really salty salsa in order to get bloated so that I could get some restriction. I deleted that thread though, because it was a bad, bad idea. I'm sorry if I spread a new bad habit of eating salt to get restriction, that wasn't my intention. Meanwhile, last night I had a hard time sleeping. My bod was really feeling the effects of the salt. I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Last year I had one hand surgically corrected, but all that Water retention had me up all night with dead hands and arms. Water retention makes my carpal tunnel and other aches and pains much worse. Please don't eat salt for restriction, it was bad advice on my part.

I'm impressed with all the homework you've already done. Good job! Meanwhile, there's a recent thread here that discusses the different prices you'll pay in Mexico. I asked my surgeon why the rates vary so much, and he told me the price is largely based on which facility you chose. There are many different surgical centers and hospitals to choose from. But the most important thing for a guy like you that has a high BMI, is to make sure the facility you choose has an ICU. The difference in LabBand prices will vary by thousands of dollars - the same surgeon will charge one patient thousands less (or more) depending where they do the surgery. I learned that anyone with a high BMI shoud make sure the facility they chose has an ICU unit. The higher the BMI, the bigger possiblity of complications. I just found out that two of the very popular Mexican surgeons, who both work in very nice and new facilities, do not have Intensive Care Units in their surgical centers. Good luck to you. Make good choices and you'll be very happy with your Band.

Hang in there girl. Make sure to get that name changed soon.

You may be eating too fast. You describe exactly what happens to me if I take a too big of a bite or eat too fast. I can eat anything, including small amounts of bread, but I have to eat certain things like chicken and breads super, super slow, and small tiny bites. And I can't eat dry chicken, I have to use dipping sauce like barbeque or salsa. It is very, very painful, that's for sure. Listen to your band, it knows best.

I just got this and thought it appropriate for this thread: If you've wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed: (A) Almost Boobs. (:cool: Barely there. © Can't Complain! (D) Dang! (DD) Double dang! (E) Enormous! (F) Fake. (G) Get a Reduction! (H) Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up!

Ethel, first, please change your name to one that flatters you, okay? Second, I think you are one lucky girl. Slippage can be repaired. Erosion can't. I've already been through 3 band surgeries, and I still have a problem wound that won't heal. I'm rejecting my port (again) and one day I'll need my band removed. Slippage isn't bad news, it's just another bump in the road. You'll be fixed in no time. Good luck to you.

You just reminded me of last year's Pity Party, with Darcy knocking on doors asking everyone on her block to turn the lights on so she could pretend she's on the Vegas Strip! Too funny. Greg, stop the pity. Nobody planned this for a holiday weekend, it's a democracy with two choices to vote on. So far the votes are even, so quitcherbitchen till the all the fat ladies sing. So far there aren't too many responses especially since I posted that the Kuri bash is coming up, so don't get your Speedo in a bunch yet, okay?

Gee, thanks, Paula. Now I won't be able to sleep till I have them. And I WILL have them. All I saw was the title of the thread and I got all giddy.

"I don't trust another person to be me as well as I do it." I love this line. This is my favorite quote right now. Trish, learn from it. You have to treat yourself like Number 1. Tell your husband that you love yourself more than you love him and refuse to listen to his insults. It's so easy to judge others. I look at my husband's smoking in disgust but then I hurt deeply for him because he hates it. He's been smoking since he was in his mom's womb. She smoked during pregnancy and nursing, so his addiction runs so deep that he feels tortured that he can't quit. He's tried quitting as many times as I've tried dieting. He's gone a couple months without smoking only to smoke more and more. Our addiction to compulsive, unhealthy overeating has us all in the same boat. Some people get Bands and do incredibly well, while others, like me, lose only half the weight and still struggle with the mental urge to continue eating past necessity. If you want the Band as bad as you say you do, then you'll get the Band. I wanted it so bad that I took a loan out against my house. I'm 42 years old and only have $12.00 in my checking account because we were not in a financial position for me to be banded (we just bought a beautiful new home, remodeled the kitchen and pool, bought cars, etc.) But I wanted the Band, so I did whatever I could to get it. It would be nice to feel financially secure, but having my band is much nicer. I wanted to die last year because I was so fat and out of control. Nothing could stop me from eating. We all understand your pain. I think every Bandster is required to understand this pain just to get through the approval process. This surgery isn't for someone that wants to lose 30 pounds - it's for those of us that wear your shoes every single day. And please re-read what Alex wrote about the numbers. I never had a "numbers" goal. My only goal was to be happy and healthy. I met that goal. I just recently posted my goal weight of 213 pounds because I hoped that by seeing how close I was, I might be able to re-up my motivation to quit my nighttime eating. And any normal person would see the 213 pounds as a "before" weight. So be realistic about this; if you want it, you'll have it.

Listen up people... I found out that Dr. Kuri is throwing his annual Las Vegas bash pretty soon. I don't know the exact date, but I met with the Vegas girls, who told me last year it was a blast. He puts on a huge ordeal, and there's an enormous clothing exchange, and last year there were 100 bandsters. So, does everyone want to re-coordinate our little bash to coincide with Kuri's? I really loved having all you guys at my house. I'm not sure what days/times Kuri's bash is. Can anyone find out more?

There ya go, Betty. I think the world would benefit if all women posted a hormonal cycle! I should put that ticker up on the inside of hubby's toolbox. Warning, PMS alert, warning!

Okay, I got rid of Orlando. I posted him out of sarcasm cuz I was feelin' a little spunky after getting beaten up at my "I hate tickers" thread. Just trying to keep the sparks flying! I almost made it last night! I only had 2 suckers and a fudgsickle after dinner. Not bad at all considering how bad I've been. Plus I got up and walked & exercised this morn. Last night I did it with phone calls. I drained the batteries out of both my cell and my cordless home phone, but it kept me from eating!

Okay, Marie, if you're gonna make wise cracks about my face, post yours so I can return the blows! I'm obviously the gray Blumaroo at the bottom. Don't you recognize my bandana?

Thank God for my precious fur babies, cuz they motivated me to get my butt moving again this morning. Got in a great walk and even did upper body and tons of laundry before work. Woof.

Donali, I put that Blumaroo up special for you! I felt like taking up a whole page today so Penni can see that I CAN figure stuff out all by myself!

Phone calls work! I got so obsessed with phone calls that I wrote numbers down all over the house. Some in a book, some on a pad... now I can't find all my numbers. I thought I updated my on-line address book, but they aren't there. I need a secretary to organize my head.

Blah blah Betty, stop being right! I want a fill, boo hooo hooooo. But you are right, I need to wait, what, like 5-6 weeks? Is that about when original banded patients can get their first fill? Shelly, remember when those new potato chips came out that were made with Olean, that fat free oil stuff (was it even called Olean?) Anyway, I ate the entire bag cuz why wouldn't I? I got really sick in the belly. Fat free and sugar free foods are loaded with other stuff that can make the belly pretty damn sick. I like Leatha's idea of sucking on hard candy. Penni sent me a barrel of cinnamon suckers. I also love freezing orange juice in the ice trays. I'm gonna try to get one single night of no crap after dinner, but if I can't make it, I'll suck on hard candy till my teeth fall out.

This weekend I finally met the Vegas Banster group. Well, only four of them showed up, but they all ordered soup. I was the only one that ate regular food. Pat, I'm so glad you have restriction and I can't wait till I get some. I did PB last night, but only because I ate way too fast. But afterwards I was able to eat a lot.

DH-could be "Darling Husband" but probably means "D-Head" - that's funny! NSV is a non-scale victory. Something cool that doesn't have to do with numbers on the scale, like walking up stairs without having a heart attack or finally seeing your toes. Patient facilitators-to trust or not to trust? Depends on what you mean. Most Mexico doctors have a US Liason on their staff that will help you coordinate your trip to Mexico. They'll pick you up from the airport and look after you. But then there are patient coordinators that act like referral services. If you go through a referral service you will pay more. Best to call Kuri's office directly and avoid the middleman. Good luck to you. My husband was afraid I would wake up in Mexico with no kidneys. He figured they'd put me to sleep and sell my kidneys on the black market. But I've been back to Tijuana for 3 surgeries and still have all my organs!

Betty, I agree to wait till my incision is healed. BUT... based on my history, what if it doesn't heal? I'm on a tight schedule. I talked to a fill person this morning, who is going to call my doctor and discuss my situation. I'll let the pros decide, but I do agree that they'll need to be really, really tender with my port. If someone can't do the fill on the first try, I'll have to walk away.

Safest for me to break the candy habit altogether. I've never been a grazer or a muncher. I'm a quatity eater, so I'd have to eat several boxes. I'm having carrots and apples tonight. Period. Woof.

When I was banded, this hot guy was hanging around my room and getting friendly with the other band patients. He was the 13 year old's dad, and he was so sweet that he melted my heart. He loved his little girl and didn't want to see her unhappy. He collected all our names and e-mails to help support her. Strange to see such a gorgeous young guy with a heavy daughter. I thought he was her older brother. He appeared much, much younger than her mom (I thought her mom was her Gramma.) But her mom had the bypass, and I've heard that bypass patients look much older after losing weight. They were both so supportive and loving. She reminded me of myself since she was tall and big boned. It's hard enough being the tallest kid, let alone being overweight. She was probably 80-100 pounds overweight (nothing morbidly obese in my opinion.)

Solid protein... solid protein... solid protein. I'm grocery shopping after work, and I'm buying solid protein, solid protein. Snacks of veggies and solid protein. Thanks, T.

I got rid of most of the junk yesterday. I have never, ever been able to live in a house with goodies, cuz they keep me awake at night screaming. Chris has his own drawer, and the crap he likes isn't even the stuff I get into. I had a bunch of kids go shopping with me and I let them go hog wild, which is why all that crap was in my house. There are safe goodies I can keep around for Chris that won't bug me (licorice, Hot Tamales.) Tonight I'm going to the grocery store after work for veggies and fruit. I love both, but somehow I stopped eating them as Snacks. If I can eat fresh veggies just one night as a snack... then maybe I can do it 2 days in a row. And I'm lucky that I love raw brocolli, carrots, even raw asparagus. I also have no problem with individual sized snacks, like lunch size bags of Doritos. Chris likes those in his lunch. If the package is small, it doesn't bother me. It's only when there's things in huge abundance that makes me want to eat eat eat. Thanks everyone. Today's a new day, new week. I even exercised over the weekend, but then last night had to finish off all the candy bars. Coo-coo. I want my fill back! Lopez said there was only 1cc in my band, while I was under the impression I had 1.8. Lopez filled me to 1.7 but I can eat too much. I need another fill. I need my restriction back.