DeLarla

Vines, thanks for starting this since they've been with me everywhere I go. I'm having my Upper GI Wednesday... Ladies, keep the beds warm considering I "have a feeling." I don't think warm vibes are religious (more like Star Trek) so Sue, if you're out there, I'm zapping you with a healing wand.

I'm on hold with my Gastroenterologist telling them I'm tired of waiting for my Upper GI appointment! He called the referral in on 11/16 and now his office is screwballs and doesn't know what the heck is going on. They must be building rockets in his office or something, because they act like I need a ride to the moon.

I'm sorry, but I'm sticking with Leatha. You should get a couple different opinions. I've had 5 band surgeons all agree on the same thing, but then I had 3 different opinions on another issue. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best - keep positive.

Michelle, I can't explain it, all I can say is my whole band/stomach feels "different" these days (for about a month now.) I still have restriction, but food seems to pass differently, more gurgling, and pardon me, but much more gas than usual. Also, I don't get those 20 second long burps that I used to get. Also, my band kind of hurts, like bruised, on occasion. It would be nice if I got my darn Upper GI date already. All this waiting is frustrating. Also, did Ortiz say that band-removal at this stage is an emergency? Or did you decide to get it taken out immediately. I believe Dr. Billy said an eroded band isn't an emergency. But if I AM eroded, I want it out yesterday. And what's this new information stating "slippage causes erosion?" Where did that come from, and is there any truth to it?

I wish I had seen this earlier. GOOD FOR YOU and that awesome attitude. Michelle, you beat the odds with losing so much. The voices in my showerhead told me you'll continue to do great without the band. Good luck, girl! Meanwhile, you finally posted a statistic I've been waiting around for. I've been trying to figure out about how long it takes to erode. You said from July to November, so it's a pretty fast process. You may have even eroded before November but they just saw it now, right? Very interesting. Any symptoms whatsoever? I certainly feel "different" down there. My belly makes different gurgling noises, and I'm pretty sure I've eroded, but nobody has called me back with my Upper GI referral. I better get on the horn - again!

I just don't know what to do with that woman! Our managing partner was out of the office and came back just as we were finishing. He apparently told Erin he'd be back in time for lunch and even said, "How come you started without me?" Erin responded, "Because WE were hungry." Then everyone started chiming in that Erin has been ready to eat dinner since 9:00 this morning and kept going in people's offices ever 15 minutes saying, "Time to eat." I refused to go in there till 11:00 though, so everyone followed my lead and made her wait till 11:00... BUT ON THE DAMN DOT cause nobody could hold her back any longer.

"I do know one thing. The lap bands used in Mexico are not FDA approved. I learned that from my own dr. who has researched it." The bands being used by the popular Tijuana doctors are Inamed bands, which are FDA approved. Inamed speaks highly of Dr. Lopez, for example. I'm 99% certain that both Ortiz and Lopez are Inamed proctors, so they are using Inamed bands.

Dr. Fisher in Vegas had at least one erosion (that I know of, anyway.) I know this because my Mexican surgeon came to Vegas to teach Fisher how to remove the eroded band. Bands have been in Mexico many more years than they've been in US, plus Mexican surgeons train American guys. Call me crazy, but I'm almost sure I'm eroded. How can a band squeeze so hard every day of my life without eventually making its way through the skin? I'm so confused. Michelle, I'm so sorry. I didn't even know you eroded till Penni told me. I hope you're handling it well. xo

Actually, I'm busting up laughing right now. Erin's got the microwave going heating up food, while Jon (one of the attorneys) is looking at his watch like she's gone mad. So yes, please come fast, and bring the straight jacket. And this time it's not for me, put the girl away!

Did you tell them you are MY boyfriend, and they still treated you this way? Jonathan, this sucks. I'm so sorry. But I keep hearing that liquids for a week might allow the slippage to correct itself, so how can they be sure that won't happen? I don't care what they say, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping the band will slip back in place after a week on turkey broth. I'm sending good vibes your way. I suck at saying the right thing, but maybe you can spend the holiday writing all the other stuff you have to be thankful for. Easier said than done, I know. I love you & wish you the best.

Those of you who have followed my Erin stories will (un)appreciate this one! Today we're having a traditional potluck (we'll talk about my to-die for cranberry walnut stuffing later.) Erin just announced to the firm that it's time to eat. It's only 10:15 in the morning and she's heating up dinner for the whole firm! I told her it's way too early, but she's telling everyone that we're getting off at noon, which is NOT true. Our firm always lets us go an hour early (I've been here 5 years, things don't change.) So she's convincing people to eat by saying we're closing soon. AARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Awe, now I feel bad for not being here. Sorry I haven't been around, but here I am. Certain surgeons will not place a band if you have a "certain kind" of "AI" (auto immune disease.) I have sarcoidosis, and my band is fine. I can't remember exactly the reason behind not allowing a band with AI, but I recall that certain people with AI had problems with breast implants, which is why surgeons wouldn't place other types of implants. However, ask carefully because it's only a certain type of AI, which maybe isn't you. Even so, from what I know, there's nothing really documented about the band and problems with AI, it's just a safety measure based on what occured with breast implants. Did I make any sense at all?

Hey Smooch, did you get my PM? The band is GREAT, but you must have a great doc and great follow-up care or it's way too hard to do alone.

It sucks staying away from here. Can somebody please summarize everything I've missed here so I can catch up? Here's me: Mom was released from the psyche ward but refuses to take meds. The last forced injection should last another week before she's back to her old self, so my brother & I (who made amends after many years) are taking our first baby steps towards what we believe to be the best plan. Her injections last 2-3 weeks, so she actually got some paint and put one coat over the walls she wrote on. Brother says you can still see all the writing, and there's paint dripped and slopped everywhere, but she's never covered over any writing in her life. It's a shame she won't take meds cause that's a sign that she saw life through normal eyes for a moment. Right before she was released, her social worker explained that normal people don't write on walls, which really confused my mother because that's one of her normal means of communicating with family. I finally saw the Gastroenterologist yesterday, who called in a referral for an Upper GI. I had to explain the band and show him a picture. However, he made me feel okay in case my band needs to be removed because he said we've got surgeons who are really familiar with other gadgets that erode around the stomach (I'm under the impression certain implants are placed around the stomach for hernias or other surgeries.) So it's not like they'd be completely lost if I had erosion, plus he wrote down the names of a local surgeon and my surgeon in Ventura in case of emergency or to consult. I have no idea what my dual coverage insurance will or will not cover, but at least the paperwork and referral process has begun. I've gained 10 pounds because I'm back to being a full time sugar junky. I talked to the Gastro about needing support & was choking back tears, so he gave me a referral to the Weight Management plan available through my insurance, plus he asked permission to refer me for stress management. I said, "Does it show" and his eyes said, "OH YEAH." Slumber is still too much fun, but holidays slow down parties. But I've been strongly warned to either hold on or run for cover since Valentine's Day goes wild. Bring it on! How is everyone?

I think she's obnoxious. I nest in piles of work in bed with the TV in the background and I've heard Tyra on some model show where the contestants compete to be a super model. She thinks she's got something going on because she can "snap a pose" and she insults girls who can't gimp with a limp (walk a cat walk) like her. I'm snaping a pose at Tyra right now that involves one of my fingers pointed north for insulting the morbidly obese. This one really irks me. If she wants to impress me, she'll do like others have done and actually gain the weight to see what it's like. Heck, actors do it for rolls all the time. Let's see Tyra Banks put on a couple hundy then take it off through diet and exercise. Then we can tell her she'll have to take a few off if she wants to be a super model. Anyone got her number?

Thanks, Nykee! I hear obese people using the "Starvation Mode" so often as an excuse for staying heavy. If our bodies went into starvation mode, people could be stranded with no food for a month, right?

Alex, the band surgeons I've seen (countless) agree that port infection can lead to erosion. I've never asked how they base their theory, but that's what they're saying.

You people slay me! I said BBQ'd babybacks but I never mentioned sauce because I'd be dipping them in butter for the coronary that would get me off the damn island. Same with the chicken, Jack. Didn't you ever watch Gilligan's Island where the professor fashioned a rotisserie and Gilligan had to ride the bike made out of bamboo and rubber plants to spin the rotisserie? Pah-leeezzze! Smooch, you'll starve to death out there if you bring mustard since there's no nutritional value. You lose one food.

Five varieties of cheese? Jack, that counts as five foods. Next guy who doesn't play by the rules gets one food taken away.

It's no fun cause duh, we're stranded on an island. And there aren't any coconut trees or grubs to roast.

You can't have tacos or pizza or prepared foods because I said so since it's my game. Uh, play by the rules, Smooch. Potatos with butter and sour cream count as three foods or add cheddar cheese is four foods. Bagles & cream cheese are two more. I'll let you slide with the French Toast, but syrup is separate. Rules are rules. If I let you have sour cream on a potato, someone else will try to call turkey with stuffing one food. Nope, my game.

LOL cuz I'm so there with ya, sister! Mmmm, bacon, Homer for President!

You're stranded on an island and can only have 10 foods. There's no means of fishing over the cliffs. You can't have tacos or pizza or prepared foods because I said so since it's my game. What are your 10 foods? 1 ~ Bacon 2 ~ Potatos 3 ~ cheese 4 ~ Bread 5 ~ BBQ Babybacks 6 ~ Rotisserie chicken 7 ~ Brocolli 8 ~ Mangos 9 ~ Ice cream 10 ~ Butter (yep, I love the stuff so much I'd sacrifice a food)

Life got a little serious on me, so I'm here for a dose of therapy. Let's talk about pork. Why does it have to be so good? Bacon should be a free food, like celery. Anyone else feel this way?

I've had two ports removed due to port infection. Mom needs hers removed immediately since port infections are believed to lead to erosion. You can follow tons of threads and posts with my name for a novel on the subject of port infection. In summary, the doc who put your mom on antibiotics wasted her time, money and hope. No antibiotic can kill a port infection; the antibiotics will appear to make her feel better for a period of time, but the infection will come back once she stop taking them. Some docs keep patients on antibiotics for months (very sadly) for no reason or recovery. I have a list of surgeons as long as my arm that will confirm this. Before allowing my first port to be removed, I called 5 band surgeons. She needs to wait AT LEAST six months before getting a new port. PM me if you want to swap phone numbers, or just click on my screen name and read the rest of the book. I currently don't have a port - long story but it's all in the "book" here at LBT. Best wishes to mom. You're a good kid for caring