DeLarla

I'll repeat it - my new penpal banded out of Florida has horror stories of an infected port that landed her hospitilized for EIGHT days. When she was finally discharged she was sent home with weeks of in-home IVs 3 times a day. Her US surgeon worse than my Mexican surgeon. And Donali & Karen were perfect model bandsters like Michelle. Both banded by Lopez in TJ. When my band eroded, my doctor demanded 100% honesty when he asked me two questions: 1. Did you smoke? 2. Did you take NSAIDs (anti inflammatory meds) I was able to answer no to both, and I confessed to drinking alcohol. He assured me alcohol isn't a factor, nor is eating the wrong foods. Like Forest Gump says, Erosion Happens. These generalizations have me fired up, too, but I'm speaking from my own personal experience after having three surgeries in three separate Tijuana facilities. Two of them were clean but still re-used disposable items. I had to ask every single time what IV they were hooking up because nobody ever checked my name, and one time they had the wrong IV (it belonged to the asthmatic down the hall.) I had to ask them to put on gloves. The 2nd center looked worse than my local DMV, and nobody ever asked for ID. The third center was a converted office building - clean, but certainly not suitable for surgery in my opinion.

Forget about your sore throat and worry about your band! After a bad PB, you need to take it easy a couple days. Stick to soft foods and liquids only to let things settle. Girl, take care of yourself!

My new penpal banded out of Florida has horror stories of an infected port that landed her hospitilized for EIGHT days. When she was finally discharged she was sent home with weeks of in-home IVs 3 times a day. Her US surgeon worse than my Mexican surgeon.

I've stayed out of this thread way too long and can't hold back any more because there are both good and bad points on both sides. First, "I know nothing about the hospitals there, but unless the Water is filtered, isn't a little scary that your surgeons are scrubbing in with water that is supposedly full of parasites?" Having been banded in Mexico & infected for over a year before eventually eroding - G R O S S. Had I read this statement prior to going to Tijuana, I'd never have gone. Great point. Then: "LOL The hospitals obviously use water that is not full of parasites. It might be another country with different plumbing systems, but they aren't in the dark ages. The medical community there understand the concept of being sterile." Well this is hugely innacurate! I had three surgeries there, and there's not much sterile going on. Nurses don't wear gloves to change IVs, IV needles are seen laying around, they wash instead of disposing certain disposable items (like the used leg stockings I wore.) They spelled my name wrong every single time and consider a handshake as good as a driver's license for identification purposes. I remember faces from my band surgery, and looking back I should have seen SURGICAL MASKS like I do in the US. During my 2nd surgery the doors were propped open with people walking in and out getting supplies. When I speak of Mexico, I'm referring to facilites used by the 3 most popular Tijuana surgeons. I have heard nothing but glowing reports from Dr. Rumbault in Monterey Mexico, which includes his facility. I had nothing but negative, unsterile, infected luck going to Tijuana... or am I wrong? All that hell has me down 78 pounds. And as far as pros and cons of band vs. bypass, once I eroded my band removal surgery was, well, reversible without having to sew my giblets back together. I made the right choice, and anyone saying they'd never go to another country for surgery never hit rock bottom. Once you decide life isn't worth living and start planning suicide, any country will do. Mexico screwed me, but I also got my life back in the end, thanks to my amazing US surgeon and his sterile facility and staff.

"I put my faith in Inamed's recommendation, but now I see who else they have recommended." Yeah, I put my faith in Inamed too, who claimed Dr. Lopez was their number one guy. Dr. Lopez and Dr. Ortiz used to be partners. It's not just the fact that these two guys have eroded patients, it's that about 10 of us are all from the same time frame. Try to explain why Michelle, Franceca, Penni, Me, Karen, Donali and others, who are ALL Ortiz and Lopez patient and all banded in the same time frame, ended up eroded. As far as I'm concerned, Ortiz and Lopez are doing something other doctors aren't doing, which is why so many of their patients are eroding at about 18 months out. Meanwhile, Lopez and Ortiz both boomed so fast that they've banded hundreds in the past couple years. How many of those banded patients are walking around eroded right now? The only way to detect erosion is to get an endoscopy, and neither Lopez or Ortiz require regular endoscopies unless a patient is experiencing a problem or if they don't like what they see during a an x-ray fluoroscopy. Some of us had great x-ray results but were smart enough to get endoscopies even though Lopez and Ortiz don't require it. Sure enough we were eroded. When other people post negative things about a surgeon, that's a good thing. It gives potential bandsters the chance to check that surgeon out. Maybe they'll like the guy anyway, but maybe they'll chose someone else and have a healthy band. It's all about choices. You don't have to like what you read.

As always, my hero. Thank you.

In DeLarla's 3 Month Challenge for Prizes things are screwballs. I can't get to page 18. When I click on page 18, it takes me to a completely different thread that has nothing to do with me. When I posted a reply, it posted it to that same thread. 10 minutes ago I was able to get to page 18, but now when I click on page 19 it takes me to a completly OTHER thread. I even tried going to "last page" from the title of the post where it says. I clicked on "last page" and it brought me to this thread: Hi New here I'm Malcolm and banded 4 years last may Who is Malcolm, and why is his thread coming up in my thread? I started that challenge and don't want to miss updating anyone's progress. Should I cry?

PLEASE READ Something is wrong with my LBT. I can't get to page 18 of this thread. When I click on page 18 it takes me to a completely different post, which is strange since I can get to page 19. Can anyone get to page 18? Also, I apologize for changing the rules to "must weigh in on Monday." I didn't think it through when I started the challenge, but like Margo mentioned, it was too hard making heads or tails of all the posts. If anyone can get to page 18, are there updates that I need to change? I'll have to report the problem to Alex.

You should cut and paste some of the complications to this board and send it to the TV station. That's blatant false advertising.

It's all about slowing down and chewing your food. Every single surgeon says the same thing, which is chew, chew, chew. Chew every single bite till it's mush before swallowing. You went through the pain and expense of surgery because you wanted to lose weight, so you HAVE to change your lifestyle or you'll hurt yourself. You can cause your band to slip - or worse. My band eroded, so it had to come out. The one thing I did learn from being banded 1.5 years is to eat slow, small bites. You must take at least 20 minutes to eat your meals. Stop using big forks. Even without my band I eat with tiny spoons and dinner plates. Eat slow, please. Chew chew chew!

"I think she ment Shrinks!!! LOL!!! " Shinks, shrinks, either way you look at it, the scale is a piece of doody!

Stupid scale! Here's a place to curse your scale. No cheerleaders or motivators please, just pure anger and PMS. Shrinks say it's healthy to vent, so vent away!

Heather, I'll dig out my childhood pic of an abused & neglected scruffy 175 pound child that will make you cry. I can't explain how you get on the right train, but you'll find it. I look better now than I did in grade school. Just eat 4-5 ounces of protein this morning, then drink tons of water. Sure, you might feel a little hungry, but a huge salad is just a few hours away. You can do it girl!

I had my first glass of wine since debanding last night. I order one glass with a tall glass of ice to dilute it. I was too buzzed 1/4 way through, then I got paranoid of gaining an ounce so I downed several tall glasses of Water with tons of limes. I drank fairly often when I still had my band. Nothing bothered my stomach, but it definitely slowed my weight loss.

Kathy who? Girl, I'm so glad you posted. Please fight for an endoscopy. They'll put you to sleep & slide a camera down your esophagus to get a good look at your belly. Penni and I both had Upper GIs that came back perfect, but our endoscopies revealed erosion. As far as the bronchial problems, I'm really concerned myself. I nearly passed out when a woman who had marinated in the most offensive cologne sat next to me. It's been hours and I can barely catch my breath. During band removal, I had the hardest time getting air in my lungs, so I followed up with my primary doc who took a chest x-ray. They called to say I have a swollen lymph node on my right lung but they don't know why. My doc is on vacation, but I have an appt as soon as he comes back. Is this gonna be the latest problem with us bandsters - bronchial problems? I'll let you know what I find out. In the meantime, it's so nice to see you, and I hope your problems are soon resolved.

Okay, Jenna, lemme walk you through this. Once again, we've been planning the 2006 bash since the 2004 one. Hello? Same party, same plan, just a new theme. Even though you weren't at 2004, you WERE at 2005. So count with me, 2004, 2005... what comes next? So, it's the same kinda party this year, only I just came up with the theme today. It's my party, I can do that. No voting on dates. It's my party. Oh, and I totally lied! It's fa-fa-fa-reeeezing out there! The wind kicked up, and I swear it's straight from the North Pole. The thermometer says 45, which is damn cold, but I'm actually sitting in my office wearing a beanie and my leather jacket typing. I just got home and I'm scared to change into my night cause it got cold from outer space! I had to peel my sweat shirt off this morning, then suddenly the world shifted or something. Weird, freaky, cold weather. Sounds like my house is gonna blow away!

I don't have "one" thing. I have two. I love my jeans so much that I brought 2 exact pair! With flats, Converse, cha-cha heels, cowboy boots. Wearin' a pair now! By the way, it's a huge NSV cause before losing weight I'd have said "black stretch pants."

Yesterday I had to peel off a layer because the cold is already starting to break... summer will be here soon! Who is Jenny?

Right on! No more plus size for you! Good job!

send requests to delarla@juno.com

I have one more that I think is hideous... this thread just chokes me up so much. I went shopping at Nordstrom yesterday and tried on some regular size XL shirts. They are snug, but they fit. I've never, ever, ever - not even as a teen - shopped in a normal store. Ever. I didn't buy any, but I did blow a wad of dough on myself. I mean a WAD. People, if I can do this, anybody can. I've been obese since childhood and if you dare me, I might "consider" posting a childhood picture. I'm not sure if I can bring myself to do it because it's very sad. Very, very sad. So if I can lose weight after 40 years of being morbidly obese, then I swear, anyone can do it. Anyone. Just let me kick your ass into gear.

send requests to delarla@juno.com

Vines, thanks for starting this thread. I've always had "issues" losing weight. Even when I was bullemic and had a temporary bout with anorexia, I could never lose the last 30 pounds. My docs were baffled because I should have been bone thin. For years they took thyroid tests, but my slow thyroid didn't appear till the last few years. I've been on Levrothyroxine (sp?) for a couple years now, but if it weren't for this thread, I wouldn't have known that I need to be rechecked after weight loss. Funny Kathy should mention a diet pill on the same thread, because I'm asking my doc for a prescription. I have an appointment scheduled to discuss a few things, and I want a prescription of 5 pills a month. My binge cycle is so severe that my 5 PMS days keep me fat. I'll do great on an eating plan, but then I turn into an eating monster and binge enough in those 5 days that it takes all month to take off what I've gained. Then the cycle starts all over again the following month and never ends. I'm counting 1200 calories a day now, and I'm waiting for my period any day. My vegetable consumption is completely out of control. Even though I'm limited to 3 meals, and I weigh & measure the Protein & dressing, there's no reason for me to eat a mixing bowl size of veggies twice a day. Being banded was supposed to teach me portion control, and I still haven't learned that. Sure, those veggies are low in calories and healthy, but normal people don't eat a mountain, and I want to be normal. As far as suggestions for you not being able to lose, maybe I can help. Crystal, we are all different. What works for some doesn't work for others. Each body requires something different, so maybe you should try something completely opposite of what you're doing now? Just a suggestion, but you are probaly ready to try anything at this point, right? For example, I'm totally against Adkin's or any protein diet. I got sick and gained weight. But maybe your sexy bod is different. Maybe a protein diet is what the Queen's body needs to lose. Or try my current diet of huge portions of vegetables with 4 oz of protein and 2 tblspns dressing twice a day. Or try someone else's plan. What I'm suggesting is completely changing the foods you eat. Maybe you have food allergies or something, so do anything that is completely different than what you're doing now. Hey, maybe it's not the best idea, but at least it's an idea, right? I'm on your side. I love you girl and will cancel this year's Sangria Suarez (bash) if you don't come. Feeling any pressure?

My dogs were petrified of my Darth Vadar mask! Plus I had to wear hard arm braces in my sleep due to carpal tunnel. Getting old is so graceful and beautiful, isn't it? Living science experiments!

I did 2 sleep studies (when I was 315 pounds) and had bad sleep apnea. The machine was really hard and awkward, but only for the first week. Once you get used to it, you'll get addicted to the thing because you'll finally get a solid night sleep. If you are like me, you feel complely disgusting and lowsy after losing too many night's of sleep. Listless, lazy and plain out of energy. Once you catch up on sleep, everything in life becomes easier. Getting out of bed isn't a chore. You'll feel rejuvinated and normal. I still have my machine, but it chokes me since the settings are too strong after losing 70 pounds (or so.) As you lose weight, you might choke, too, so make sure to keep in touch with the facility that provided the machine so they can adjust the settings for you. And never, ever stop using the machine till your sleep apnea resolves. Many people (like me, yeah!) don't need the machine once we lose weight because we no longer have sleep apnea! Good luck with your band. I hope your CPAP machine grows dust on it one day like mine is!