DeLarla

Whip, I know it's your choice, but I gotta shove my nose in your business. Before my surgery, I read a lot of posts, and most people went through this procedure with no complications. I particularly followed one woman, a dentist who came to my house to tell me all about her experience. Listening to her story made the surgery sound no worse than a root canal. She was up and about with no complications. Even though I'm extrememly disgusted with my surgeon's lack of aftercare, I'm still glad I chose him based on his years of experience. Having placed so many bands, he's come across more than his fair share of Operating Room emergencies, unforeseen problems, aftercare issues, etc. A doctor that's only performed 40 bands hasn't faced many complications. It's not just the surgery you have to be concerned with, it's problems during and after the surgery. Maybe he's done 40 bands, but how many emergencies has he had to face and deal with? I know you're looking forward to your surgery, but I have to agree with Sue. Let's say you're trying to park that 18 wheeler and everything's going good, then another 18 wheeler speeds in front of your path and fights you for the spot - then what? Now I'll shut up. Be good to yourself.

Darcy, I'm totally annoyed at myself for not taking the time to address each of you indivdually! But I'm at work so I gotta read thru the posts and zip responses as fast as I can. Betty.... my heart just took a leap and I lost my breath for you... only 12 days left. I'm so thrilled that I'm not dying any more, so anyone getting closer to their surgery makes me all giddy. I hope it goes smooth for you. Teresa, sucks, totally sucks about the chemistry. My 2 cents about your fill is to hold off. You've got to allow plateaus - it's just part of life. I was totally depressed when I didn't lose anything for a solid month, but then a couple pounds came off all at once. Let your body adjust, chill out, then re-think the fill. Cause I said so : ) Beca, the whole "DH" think you use took me awhile, but I'm thinking you mean Dear Husband, which is totally darling. Penni, blah blah blah, I already talk your ear off! Michelle - well, she just rocks cuz she sent me more clothes. Now I almost called in sick because I couldn't decide what to wear - too many choices. I've never, ever had so many clothes in my entire life. I HATE shopping, so I'm digging it! Thank you! As far as "my" weekly challenge, this week I challenged myself to call someone each night. I missed Wednesday because I got home too late and didn't want to wake everyone up, but I made up for it by calling 2 people last night (Michelle, calling you counts even if it was an accident.) So I didn't pig out, althought I did have a few bites of late night snacks out of hunger... bad mistake. No matter how hungry I am, I can't eat an hour before bed or I feel like I'm choking and I don't sleep well. Boss is coming gotta go!

Darcy, I'm totally annoyed at myself for not taking the time to address each of you indivdually! But I'm at work so I gotta read thru the posts and zip responses as fast as I can. Betty.... my heart just took a leap and I lost my breath for you... only 12 days left. I'm so thrilled that I'm not dying any more, so anyone getting closer to their surgery makes me all giddy. I hope it goes smooth for you. Teresa, sucks, totally sucks about the chemistry. My 2 cents about your fill is to hold off. You've got to allow plateaus - it's just part of life. I was totally depressed when I didn't lose anything for a solid month, but then a couple pounds came off all at once. Let your body adjust, chill out, then re-think the fill. Cause I said so : ) Beca, the whole "DH" think you use took me awhile, but I'm thinking you mean Dear Husband, which is totally darling. Penni, blah blah blah, I already talk your ear off! Michelle - well, she just rocks cuz she sent me more clothes. Now I almost called in sick because I couldn't decide what to wear - too many choices. I've never, ever had so many clothes in my entire life. I HATE shopping, so I'm digging it! Thank you! Boss is coming gotta go!

Y si, el es muy guapo!

Sue, can you say that again like you're talking to a 6 year old? Am I hearing you correctly, that I can fly into San Antonio then take a long drive to Montery? My best friends live in San Antonio, and we owe them a visit. How long of a drive are you talking about? I doubt I'll ever go there because I'm not sure if I'll ever get a new port. If I can hold on to my "occasional" restriction, then the thought of another surgery can sit way in the back of my mind. My incision is a bitch. It's not too bad, but it bothers me every day. There's a hard cyst under the skin, and today the wound was actually hardened over for about an hour, then it started leaking again. I've showed it to enough doctors that weren't concerned, so I'm just sticking with my instincts and believing it will eventually go away. But I sure like everything I hear about Rumbauh and would like to know all my options. Thanks!

I wish I could meet this Dr. Rumbauh. All I hear is good things. Where is Monterey, anyway (in comparison to TJ?) Do you fly into Mexico, or into San Diego?

Leatha, thanks... like I said, lapse of memory. But my doc said 55-60 grams.

Carolyn, I fixed this so it has the grand total... hope you don't mind. Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs Lisa: 5/5/04 -- 51 lbs Becky 6/03/04 - 53 lbs Denice: 8/12/04 -- 20 lbs Leatha 05/29/03 - 67 lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Marie 5/26/04 -- 39 lbs Donali 1/23/03 -- 102 lbs Kathy 5/21/04 -- 41 lbs Cindy 7/22/04 -- 40 lbs Teresa 5/8/04 -- 63 lbs Kelly 8/20/03 -- 65 lbs Kyleigh 9/23/03 -- 60 lbs Bright 10/28/03 -- 70 lbs Michelle 6/14/04 - 20 lbs Babs 6/23/03 -- 136 lbs Nancy 8/27/03 -- 55 lbs michelle - shellyj 8-18-03 - 130 pounds Vera 8/14/03 -- 64 lbs Jacky 4/5/04 - 40 lbs Chris S. 9/02/03 - 54 lbs Debra 7/19/04 -- 17 lbs. Janie 5/6/04 -- 41 lbs Denise 5/28/04--33 lbs. Kim 8/23/04 -- 28 lbs. Andrea 9/8/04-- 12lbs. Carol 12/2/9/03 -- 102 lbs. Maureen 3/17/04--49 lbs. Carolyn 2/27/04 -- 61 lbs Total = 1609.75

I brought one large bottled Water and one bottle Gatoraid. I liquid fasted the day before my surgery, so by the time I got to recovery at 4pm, I hadn't eaten in 2 days. All they give you is water to sip after the surgery, but they let me sip my Gatorade instead, and it was heavenly. I didn't need the water since they had bottled water right outside my room. It took me all night to finish the Gatorade, then in the morning the brought me tea with honey and apple juice. Leave a little extra room in that duffle bag for things you're gonna buy in TJ. If you have old shorts and a crappy t-shirt to wear there, you can just toss them in the trash when they give you a gown to lighten your load along with your old undies. I left my old granny undies & bra in the trash (they were pretty big so they lightened the load!) Every bit of room helped. This isn't a beauty contest so who cares what you look like when you get there, right? I traveled alone, so I had to carry my bag. I even wish I'd left my book behind, because I never had time to read it. You'll most likely be having surgery with a bunch of other band patients, so you'll all become a little family. I spent my 3 days visiting my band buddies, and they spent their time sitting in my room with me. So I never even picked up my magazine or book - just the TV and visiting newly banded friends. Bring a camera - you may bond with someone and want a before pic together!

My doctor recommended 55-60, but check with your nutritionalist because I have memory problems! So if you're able to get that much in without Protein shakes, then you don't need the shakes. I think I'm giving up shakes because La Madam told me about some milk-type product (already forgot the name) that's loaded with protein. So I can just pour a glass of it instead of getting the blender out... now if I can only remember what she called it, something like Hood???? It's in the mild section of the grocery store and is loaded with protein. I gotta find it! I gave up the Protein Shakes and have just been having a glass of skim milk before I leave in the morn. Much easier.

Zoe, my girlfriend in Vegas flew to Utah to have her tubes untied because of the whopping price difference. No, the local doctors don't even give you tickets to a Vegas show. It's a meat market! There were only 3 band doctors here. Fisher & Adkinson were a team - then the third is Teng. But I just saw a commercial that there's a 3rd guy with Fisher & Adkinson now. So looks like we have 4 weightloss docs in Vegas. Fisher's practice requires a mandatory seminar before they'll even talk to you about surgery. I attended the 3 hr seminar, where they compared Lapband to Bypass and gave all the pros and cons. It's a meat market - there were a couple hundred desperate people at that seminar (and it's held regularly so thousands want surgery and the numbers are growing.)

I'm gonna do like Andy Dufrane in Shawshank Redemption and write a letter a week because we all deserve professional makeovers on national TV! I'm pretty sure Oprah can afford it.

Good for you that you decided to do the diet... we'll all be here to support you if you feel the need to eat. But go easy on yourself. Remember, my doc told me to lose weight before the surgery. But I didn't - I gained. He wasn't concerned though, so it probably is just something that makes the surgery easier, but quite doable to an experienced surgeon since mine had no problem. My BMI was around 47 (or was it 43? I can't remember) but I weighed 313.

TELEPHONE - get it in order. I have Verizon and my cell doesn't work at all in Mexico. There's a phone in the room, but I wasn't able to make long distance calls on it. You can stop at any drug store in TJ and buy a phone card, that way you can use the phone in your room if your cell doesn't work. Back up and bring the bra. I wore my crummiest bra there, then threw it in the trash before surgery. It is still hot and clammy in Mexico, so my boobs were sweating underneath so I had to put paper towels under them cuz it was really uncomfy. The tanks with shelf bras are okay, too, but nothing tight. I only brought one tote bag, and I'm glad I did. Everyone else was lugging and wheeling tons of useless stuff. I wore an outfit and brought one xtra baggy shirt and shorts. And I brought one pair of booty-socks, which I lived in to keep my feet clean for walking around (instead of always slipping on my sandals.) Do not buy any gold in TJ - it's not real. They even do the acid test to prove it's 14k - I was a little tipsy and bought 4 charms that are now green. And don't pay full price for anything! Talk them down. I got about $500 worth of stuff for $99.00. If the price is $20.00, offer $3. They'll ask for $15, give them $8. Wave the cash in front of their faces - cash speaks volumes there. Also, you seem to be staying a long time after your surgery. I was only there 3 days, while the 5 other girls having surgery were there 4. They were all jealous that I got to go home, because they were all ready to go home but had airline tickets. One girl was glad she drove cuz she split a day early. So since you'll have extra time, maybe it's a good idea to bring a couple extra things. But I bought so much crap in TJ that I didn't need to bring anything!

I'm sending this to Oprah, Maury, and Sally. Any objections?

If the surgery in Las Vegas was a few thousand more, I'd have done it locally. But it was around $23,000 here compared to $7,500 in Mexico - big difference! You also have to keep in mind that Mexican doctors have been placing bands for nearly a decade, while it's only been approved in the US for under 3 years (according to the information that's been passed around to me.) So the Mexican doctors have loads more experience.

Ben and Jerry are my lovers. Ohhhh, sexy! That's Voodoo with Chloe McSorley. She's my doll (friend's bb.) I accidentally posted the wrong pic, but they're so cute together that I left it in.

Peeing my pants here. My husband does NOT have a leather thong, and I do not want leather chaps, and I will not get a tatoo! I'm not a biker chick, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not! But that leather vest with nipple peekers sounds like fun... I gotta stop laughing and start working. Speaking of the bash, I just made our revervations at Buca di Beppo for 19 people, Friday October 8 at 5:00 p.m. at the corner of Paradise and Flamingo across the street from Terrible's Casino. The reservation is under LAPBAND BASH. The coordinater, Yvonne, is someone I've met before, and she's very intrigued with the band and may actually join us in consideration of becoming one of us (she's a big beauty, too.) She said I did not order enough food, but she thinks like an Italian mom, not a bandster. Remember, the Entrees are served on platters, not plates. So I ordered 2 large salads, 3 huge entrees, a large garlic bread (size of a large deep dish pizza), and a large dessert. If that's not even food, it's no problem for us to order more, but this gives us a good start. This is gonna be a hoot. Can't wait.

I didn't have a problem with Mexico. I was treated very kindly at the Oasis of Hope. Sure, it wasn't the pristine, white & chrome surgical rooms like we have here - with filtered air and everyone being as serious as a heart attack, but they were all masked and gloved... but they were very, very kind. I went to a second facility in TJ to have my port removed. The lobby looked more like the DMV than a hospital. If memory serves me well, there was not a door on the surgery room, which meant people were walking by. I didn't think much of it at the time, but afterwards I was warned that an open environment with people walking and kicking around dust is an invitation for bacteria. I can't confirm that, but it's what I've been told. But I think of the surgeries that were done in mud puddles on battlefields with bombs exploding in pouring tropical rain, and then having surgery at the DMV didn't seem so bad.

There are several grocery stores within a mile from my house. I'm taking off work on Friday, so I'll be hitting the store after I shove all the dirty clothes under the bed and shove a mop around. I'm still not sure of what we'll be having - big suprise to all of us (including me.) Penni, how do you know about Chris's sweaty leather thong?

Last night someone asked me if I was crazy for opening up my house to a bunch of strangers. But to say publicly, "sure girls, just give me your shopping lists" is cracking me up! Okay, now that I'm done laughing, sure, send me the marguerita ingredients and I'll pick them up. Meanwhile, I'm going ahead with the plans for Buca and the menu suggestions since I haven't gotten much feedback and time is running out. And we need Tequila, and ice, and mix, and cigars, and tampons, and sunscreen, and flip-flops, and naked men magazines, and rolls of quarters...

Okay, there goes my ego again! Thanks girls, I feel pretty fantabulous! Port - hmm, wouldn't that be wild if after all my hell, my one little fill is my actual sweet spot? Oops, did I just jinx it? Yesterday I got some restriction and ate very bandlike (aka ladylike.) The jacket's too small. It fits real snug, but I don't want to "shrink into it." I want it roomy. I tried an XL on in the store that was really, really tight, so I ordered a 2X figuring it would be much roomier. But when you're talking Harley brand leather jackets, the difference between an XL and a 2X is barely noticeable. I need just a hair more length to the arms and one more speck of "give" so I'm gonna order the 3x. I'm in total disbelief today because I squeezed my ass into Michelle's size 18 Capris. Michelle, you know those darling ones you sent me with the leather fringe/belt? F-ing CUTE. I'll take a pic tonight - they're a flipping size 18, granted their stretch jeans and I'm wearing girdle undies and barely breathing, but woo-hoo (hey, one day at a time, and for today it's woo hoo!)

So busy at work I can't read my posts! Boo hoo, but HI and HAPPY whatever-day-it is today!

Sue, my house is right on the Henderson border! And Ky, you're freaking me out because I just got rid of the Adkin's book! I swear, I just recently put "DONATION" post-its on all my diet books and dumped them into the library book return box! Vera, Penni beat up my husband and made him do a nice thing for me a couple weeks ago. So we ordered the leather jacket, and I just got the message that it's in. I'll pick it up tonight, but the beauty of the deal is that I still get a present at the end of the month! Chris is afraid of Penni (because she bought him a Harley Jamaica shirt and wouldn't give it to him unless he did something nice for me.) Penni, my jacket is here!

I saw my primary care doctor and my gastroenterologist. Neither knew what it was. I was referred to a surgeon, but I'm afraid to ask for any more time off. But it's not infected, and I put clean gauze on every day.