DeLarla

The more I look at that dancing banana, the more I think he's self-pleasuring himself watching all us fatties melt into hotties. Heather, your smile brightens up this board, so don't you hold back posting the good stuff. The "big O" is very healthy - more people should get their Vitamin O! It releases endorpines and promotes a healthy immune system. What rule is gonna prevent you from posting that? WOO HOO, you hot Mamma!

This thread got lost till now. Thanks for all the great info, especially the pictures. As for the odor, I've heard and read about severe anal odor. Dr. Billy does bypass surgeries, so I've talked to some of his patients and his staff. The odor is associated with one version of the bypass, and it's so severe that Billy's staff can tell when a bypass patient walks in the door. Some are so severe that they wear carbon filters in their underwear to mask the smell. However, I think the one that causes the odor is an old procedure, which is why I'm asking about the different types of bypass. Seems there's more than just 2 kinds, right? Since losing my band, I'm obsessed with bypass surgery just in case I start to gain my weight back. I'll have to post updated before & after pics to show you how scary I used to be.

Chris called me at work today stunned that the laser center called to check on him. He's a simple guy, so that really impressed him. They asked how he's doing, and he said, "F-ING AWFUL, I'M LOSING MY MIND." So they encouraged him to go for a booster treatment. He went all on his own (that's like a kid making a dentist appointment on his own.) Tonight Chris was much better. Whether or not it's the lasers, he felt pretty special in the lobby as the guy who hadn't smoked since Saturday. That's huge for him - HUGE. As for me, I can't say if it's the laser treatment or not, but I've been able to avoid a table of goodies at work all week. My favorites - fudge, choco covered pretzles and more. I haven't snacked since de-banding. I've stuck to 1200-1400 calories, and my belly actually hurts - not from band removal but the sweet burn of too many sit ups. So far, so good. Who cares if lasers work, I'll try anything at this point!

Okay, I can finally read this thread. I used my CD tonight, and my song just has to be SHE'S A MANIAC. (pounding around doing the Flashback pouncing march.) Now where'd I put my leg warmers?

This thread still makes me laugh. I just gotta bump it. Besides, I still have our half-foil-covered pitcher of purple pickled eggs. I'm gonna have to nag Chris about them tomorrow. He'll likely say, "Shut up olt woman." Truthfully, I don't even know if he ate all the eggs. Maybe it's just a pitcher of purple pickle Water with floaties. I guess someone might find the fridge an odd place for eyedrops. If you don't keep your eyedrops in the fridge, you don't know what you're missing... feels good!

Congrads to you. Some people fly through the surgery like a dentist visit, and it sounds like you might be one of them. Take it easy, be good to your band, and keep us updated on your progress.

Craig from Inamed returned my e-mail today and said they haven't received my band, nor can they force surgeons to send it to them. He asked for permission to contact my surgeon. I told him that Inamed was more than willing to inspect it as long as they returned it to me when they're done. Let's see where the ball bounces.

Erosion sucks. I'm all for it. Though I will cry like a baby if I ever have to face another surgery. Vera, aren't you surgeried out yet? You're too tough for me!

Once I healed from the original surgery I was always able to gulp water pretty well. Liquids slide right through. I was careful not to gulp too much, but I could drink a lot.

Ha Ha, I broke away from the non-smoking old ogre! I did an awesome power walk to the park with the mutts, Kare's exercise CD pushing me harder, then home for 100 situps, a few pushups and some weights, then water & a movie! Rock n' roll, people! Oh, and I got that huge package off to Switzerland. Not a bad day's work.

No exercise here because I'm too busy contemplating running away from home. My 3-day-no-cigarette husband is driving me to insanity, honestly. He's poking at every last button of mine. He had a fit about me going to the gym and threatened to go smoke if I leave his side. I asked him to come to the gym, he said no. Now I gotta go get in another fight to walk the dogs, whichs is gonna freak him out. I understand how hard it is to quit, but I don't know if I can take much more of him. He's completely freaking out.

WOW, you look amazingly DESTRESSED! Smooch Trav for me, will ya? Thanks so much for posting pics, you know I'm a picture junkie. We'll cluck this weekend, k?

I forgot about my 3 endoscopies, 4 Upper GIs, whopping anesthesia fees, etc.

If my port removal cost $40,000, I'm sure my band removal will be way more. Keep the smelling salts handy for when the bill comes.

I'm envious of anyone who can afford full body tucks! GIMME!

I got the Switzerland box all packed and ready to ship! I WILL get it to the post office today. I WILL exercise tonight. Please make me exercise tonight?

My mean old doctor (he's actually young) wants me on 1200 calories, which is way too few to keep me full. Last night I ate about 1400 to keep from losing my mind. It's way, way too easy to overeat unless you count calories or have pre-measured foods. I easily went beyond 1200 during my liquid phases. Right now I'm obsessed with calories. I'm eating fewer in the day because I can't survive physically or mentally on a 400 calorie dinner. I'm rambling because I want to be under 200 pounds, and I want all the prizes from my 3 month weight loss challenge!

Hey stranger, nice to see you! I described my sensation of erosion elsewhere but I don't think anyone got it. However, you are the guitarman, so maybe it will make sense to you. Only a professional mucisian can really tell if his instrument is out of tune. Sure, it might sound and work okay, but something is just off. That's how I felt. I still had restriction, but it felt different. PBs came from a different place, my burping and digestion was weird and off track, and the old familar gurgling sounds were different. I felt a lot of action in my lower belly that I never felt there before, so I knew something was off. Just listen to your body and get annual endoscopies. My band came out 12/27. I don't miss that foreign object at all, but I certainly miss not being hungry.

Hi Bright. Thanks for the kind words. I'm almost healed from band removal but still have swollen hard scar tissue around the port site, but I think it's giving me some phantom restriction so I can't complain. Sorry about your depression. I've got my own breed of chemical imbalance so I know what it's like not to be able to control your moods. Nice to see you again.

When I was super tight and restricted, I was able to eat bread in tiny bits, but only when I chewed it well. When I was still learning my band, I wasn't able to eat a lot of foods. However, once I trained myself to take nibbles instead of bites and to chew everything to the consistency of mush, I could eat anything I wanted. Now that my band is removed, I'm trying to continue to chew and eat slow, which is something I never did pre-band.

I don't even know what I've spent, or what I owe, but here's a tasty list of what a band can cost: $7,500.00 - original surgery in Mexico $400.00 - travel for original surgery $100 - copayments to primary for infected port and Urgent Care $800.00 - 1st port removal $400.00 - travel for 1st port removal $150 - more co-payments for 2nd port infection, minor surgeries, meds $2000 - port replacement $200 - third trip to Mexico for port replacement $40,000 - 2nd port removal $200 - travel to California for 2nd port removal $250 - medical supplies, packing gauze for 3 months wound care $50,000 - band removal 12/27/05 (approx since bills still pending) $900 - travel, hotel for 2nd band removal since hubby came $100 - long distance calls to Mexico and California $103,000.00 or $1,355.26 per pound lost. What a deal.

DD, you still have 1 1/2 hours to join our 3 month weight loss challenge. Trust me, if I can stick to 1200 calories, anyone can. This is a new chance for you to find that thin healthy young thang inside you! Use the band while you have it... we'll all help you! xoxo

I'm just sick to my stomach over yet ANOTHER Lopez patient with an infection that Lopez ignored. The nerve of that #$%@#$ for prescribing antibiotics when he told me numerous times that, "antibiotics can't cure a port infection." Let's just ignore the American patient and hope she goes away. Sorry, ddflinn, but let's all say it together, THANK GOD FOR DR. BILLY.

I've stuck to 1200 calories. Now I can't keep my wedding ring on straight because the diamond keeps sliding around to my palm side. I've been wearing this ring for over 7 years, and it's never slid around before.

That picture makes the mess seem much smaller. I have another bucket that size under my desk. I didn't finish it, but I worked on it for an hour, though it doesn't look any different. I did bring about 10 items to work that I'll take care of now. It's a start. Today I will empty my in-tray at work and actually work for how well they pay me