DeLarla

Also, some of the Mexican doctors have specials during the year, like if they have a seminar or a bash. If you go, you can get 1/2 price fill.

I've heard about the high divorce rate after weight loss surgery, but whoever did the study needs to go back and collect more data. How many of the 80% were happy and in love prior to the surgery? I bet it's a pretty low number. Most morbidly obese people are miserable in their own skin. How can you shower someone else with love and affection when you don't even like yourself? How many obese women stay in bad marriages in fear of being left alone, and afraid nobody will ever ask them on a date again? I know of 3 without even giving it any thought. When you lose weight, you gain confidence and courage. If you were in a bad marriage to start with, losing weight can give you the energy, confidence and ability to finally move on to greener pastures. Good riddance! Other problems stem from the jealous spouse when the losing partner starts getting more attention. But if you have a solid marriage now, this will only improve it. I was bitter before losing weight, and I can admit I took a lot out on my husband. Now that I'm energetic and positive, I'm bored to tears with my husband cuz he never wants to do anything. I get so angry I'd like to hit him! Sometimes I think I hate him, but that's just me acting like a baby cuz he won't come play with me. But that doesn't change the way we feel about each other or our marriage. He's my man, the guy I love and the person I've committed myself to till death parts us. We made vows to accept eachother "as is." Through thick and thin. I don't believe in divorce unless there's no love, or if there's abuse or cheating. I'm with Ryan, I made a vow and I'm sticking to it. If I lose 100 more pounds and fit into lowrise hiphuggers and belly-baring blouses, I'll still come home to him. I've gotten dolled up and went partying with girlfriends, and I've been flirted with and have flirted back. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that because I come home to my man - every single time. If any woman thinks their husband doesn't oogle over young hot chicks, think again. They are men, and if they are healthy, normal men, they look at naked women every chance they get. That's called flirting, even if the girl doesn't look back. Some guys intentionally look away when a hot chick enters the room, but only out of respect for the Mrs. But trust me, when wifey isn't around, they look. It's nature's way. They look, they oogle, then they go home to the woman laying on the couch in her moo moo because they love that woman. That's marriage, and that's what I had before surgery and it's what I have now. I weighed 130 pounds less when we met, and he encouraged me to eat over the years, then stood by my side at every failed diet attempt. He loves when other guys check me out (what man doesn't?) If you love your husband, and he loves you, then you have nothing to worry about (except him not keeping his hands off you.) But if you hate him now, then you'll probably get the confidence you need to leave him once you lose weight. If there's no love, there's no marriage.

Vera, this is the first "paid off band" thread I've ever seen... could that be a light I see at the end of this long, dark tunnel? Now you can concentrate on more important things, like how to let the band work for you. Have I told you I adore you lately?

Curly, you said it perfect. About 100 years ago I went to the Schick Center for weight loss (torture facility.) They told me the same thing. They said it all ends up in the dump, so why use your precious body to process it? Then during one session they made me squish M n M's in my hands till they were all melty and my hands were gross and disgusting. Then the therapist told me to wipe my hands off on my shirt. I told her she was crazy! She got pretty agressive and demanded I wipe the mess off on my clothes and asked me, "WHY IS IT OKAY TO PUT THAT CRAP INSIDE YOUR BODY BUT NOT ON THAT BLOUSE?" Okay, lady, I get the hint! I went to the bathroom crying and washed my hands, but that was a pretty harsh message.

I don't have my Water jug today so I'm gonna drink 2 large Aquafina bottles instead. I need several of those large jugs cuz they really help me. I was a good little bandie and managed to stay away from choclates for a full 24 hours! Darcy talked about getting back to basics. I don't care what anyone says about drinking with meals, but it simply didn't work for me. Getting back to basics means I have to stop drinking my water 20 minutes before eating, and 20 minutes after eating. I was doing amazing with the weight loss till I started playing head games and making up my own rules. My original band doc said chew chew chew three meals a day, no caloric liquids, wait 20 minutes between liquids, and no snacking. He gave me zero restrictions on what else to eat because this isn't a diet, it's a way of life. I'm angry that I slipped at Christmas and nibbled my first in-between-meal snack. That one bite lead to potential disaster. Now I gotta fill my jug. And yes, I have to drink a lot more water than most people because I live in the desert. In the summer, I could drink my entire 8 glasses and never even pee. It's not easy getting in all that agua.

Lots of water and a long brisk walk always does the trick for me... ya gotta get movin' to get movin. Thanks for the name of that horrifying cyst. Most painful thing I ever had. It started small, and I thought it was a mosquito bite so I kept scratching and scratching till it got bigger. Gross.

Yeah, that was me. I started feeling okay at day 3, but I slammed into reverse on day 5 and felt lousy. Why is that?

I have a big-butt desk job. The gas and gurgling were just awful so sitting in chair was miserable. Make sure to wear loose clothes! Anything binding was awful.

Donali, while in Baja, Mexico, I went collecting in the tidepools. The octopus was too wiggly to keep, but I found a couple real gulf balls (snort snort) that you would envy. Apparently, the guys like to see how far they can whack balls when the tide is out. Pretty far! Hi darling, wonderful to see you!

Gotta hand it to the Toolman! And that poor mechanic! Fun stuff here.

One more step closer!

I took five days off work, but I was pretty miserable when I got back, so I went home for a couple more days. I got a bronchial infection, which didn't help much, but even without the bronchial infection I felt pretty lousy (bandwise) for almost 2 weeks.

I was having a not-so-good day... but what a nice post this is. Thanks for kicking me into upbeat mode. Beautiful!

My BMI wasn't 50, but they instructed me to go low cal for one week prior. But I blew it really bad. I was afraid they wouldn't do the surgery, but they were really nice about it. It all depends on the patient, doctor and the doctor's level of experience, I suppose. As far as the Molding Clinic, couldn't they have at least given it a better name? I've never heard of the clinic or the doctor, but if you have concerns, why not go to another doctor in TJ for about 8 grand instead of the 16 grand you'd pay at home? Many people rave about at least two very popular doctors in Mexico. Maybe it would be worth the extra 2 grand for peace of mind, while still saving half the cost of getting it at home?

Do a search for a thread called "Fill Prices." I started the thread this week to get a general idea of what everyone pays, so there's already a list started here.

A man and woman are driving along a mountain road, when the woman screams out, "PIG!" Then man looks at her and yells back, "COW!!!!" Then he swerves to avoid the pig in the middle of the road and crashes into the mountain. Why don't men listen?

OUCH! I had something horribly painful and gross when I was just a teen... some kind of paianoial (nurses, please help me with that word) cyst on what I like to call my lower back, but it was really at the top of my butt crack! I actually screamed at the top of my lungs when they lanced it. Now you don't gotta feel so alone. Us people can be really gross!

(dribbling drool on myself) Bec, I'm still not following. Was the procedure $8500? And your insurance paid 75% of that? This is getting very complicated. I guess it's not even important, but I'm a lil bored.

Avoid what from happening? I did a search for the doctor and the clinic but didn't find any related threads.

So I drank my water, ate my slow and decent-sized band lunch.. then shoved 10 pieces of chocolate into my pie hole. I told my attorney that his homework last night was to finish off all the dark chocolate in the office by today. He didn't listen. I can pass on the milk chocolate, but the dark chocolate has me in a trance.

Michelle, don't be afraid to remind them that they owe you a fill. Becca, I have no idea what you said... did you pay $8500, or did your insurance pay for your band? And $1000 for fills - insanity.

Darcy, thanks for that message and suggestion of getting back to band basics. I never, ever, ever would have considered drinking soda, or drinking with meals. The one negative thing I have to say about LBT is that I actually learned how to "eat around the band" from reading posts here. I was afraid to drink with meals, but for the holidays I started sipping with meals. Then I drank a whole can of Pepsi! I've gone over 1/2 year without doing these things, so why did I start now? So thank you, cause I'm off to lunch where I will not drink, and I will chew chew chew. Love ya!

I've never even heard of that clinic or doctor. Looks like we have more options for Tijuana, and that is an incredible price! You could get 4 bands in Mexico for the price of one in Vegas. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

No problem, Paula. There is always tomorrow! I haven't started my 2nd bottle. I'll try to finish it after lunch. Mmmmm, LUNCH TIME! FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD FOOD.

I think it stinks that they charge insurance so much. It's no wonder most insurance companies refuse to cover the band. It's all sickening. While we are here, I'm gonna post that I paid $7,500 for my surgery in TJ. I just called the local band doctor and nearly gagged at what I would have paid in Vegas. The hospital alone is $13,000, then add in the surgeon's fees and the anesthesia. Almost THIRTY GRAND FOR SELF-PAY. Is that insane! And people ask me why I went to Mexico?