Penni60

Neenagh, I had to wait at least 6 months before I could even think about replacing the band. It has been that length of time now and I go see my band doc on Tuesday. We will most likely discuss my options as I am still gaining. OY VEY!! Also, my insurance will NOT cover the band and I don't have the extra money to pay for another one so I doubt a band is in my future right now.

If you have an ALOE plant then take the gel from a leaf and use that on the area.

Just spoke to SARGE today. She is recuperating at home. She is facing some further health related issues that should be resolved in the coming months but she requests to continuing praying for her as she needs them more every day. She still laughs and cuts up as usual. I told her stop faking being sick and get back here. She loved that. LOL!!!

Just spoke to SARGE today. She is recuperating at home. She is facing some further health related issues that should be resolved in the coming months but she requests to continuing praying for her as she needs them more every day. She still laughs and cuts up as usual. I told her stop faking being sick and get back here. She loved that. LOL!!!

Isn't Dunn's River Falls Beautiful? I love that place. I haven't been back there since I was banded to climb the falls. I watched several people do it though. HUGE CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!

Erosion = The band can erode into your stomach and it can seal off the hole and not require immediate attention. ON the other hand WHY would you want to keep something that is plugging a hole in your stomach? I eroded after 18 months. I have heard of people eroding after 1 year. It varies. The stats are still quoted as 1 - 3 % of cases. The band should come out if Erosion is diagnosed. It isn't always an emergent situation. It could wait but why take that chance? The erosion can develop either inside the stomach due to an ulcer or infection or it can develop on the outside of the stomach due to an irritated stitch, infection, or improper placement causing rubbing to occur and thus breaking down the area. Erosion can only be diagnosed conclusively with an Endoscopy. If an Erosion is diagnosed a band surgeon that is well experienced in band removal should be considered. Not only are they removing the band but they are repairing any damage to the stomach that was caused by the erosion. Keep this in mind when having the band removed. Hope this helps.

I highly highly recommend Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura, CA. He is known for band removals and not because his patients erode. In fact to date he has YET to have one erode. He removes bands from other doctors mostly Mexico patients. I can give you his number if you like. Just PM or email me. Penni@pennimerrick.com If you call him just tell him Penni Merrick sent you. LOL!! Dr. BIlly removed my band after I eroded about 40 - 50%. That was back in Dec of 05 and I am doing great now. Actually the recovering time after band removal was faster than the initial surgery.

Dr. Lopez banded me and two months into my experience I changed doctors because the aftercare sucked big time. I had an emergent situation and could not get ahold of ANYONE for two weeks. Then when I did get ahold of him I was given amazingly horrendous advice that could have caused me more complications. I changed Doctors Immediately and haven't looked back. He should be used with caution in my humble opinion. Sorry but you asked.

Yup me too. I wanna play. You have my info already right? Do I need to resend it to you. If so then please PM me. HINT HINT: Sept 5th is my birthday.

ADVERTISEMENT IS NOT ALLOWED ON LBT. THANK YOU FOR NOT POSTING OTHER SUCH THREADS. THIS THREAD IS NOW LOCKED.

How long does either last? What are the costs for both? How painful are the treatments and the after effects? For both!

If it were me and just researching now with the knowledge that I have now. I would without a doubt use Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura, CA even if I was self pay. He is an hour from Van Nuys, CA. He is an excellent surgeon and has done many lapbands. He has thriving practice and was proctored by an Inamed approved surgeon. I have been going to him for the last year and a half and his personality and his professionalism is outstanding. I DO NOT work for him although I should. LOL!!! He took care of several of my friends that had complications from their previous LapBand surgeries (He did not put in their bands). He takes on Mexico patients without question. He is readily accessible day or night. He gives out his private number to use in cases of emergency. He has email that he gives out to his patients as well. I can't give you prices on his self pay costs but I can give you his number if you are interested in calling to find out for yourself. Just mention my name when you call.

That would be an Alexandra question.

Jenna, Lisa is inviting people into her home so she has a right to invite who she wants. My understanding is that anyone is invited unless it has changed. Everyone please just let this go. This thread is all about the upcoming Suarez and not about rehashing old and dead subjects. If I get one more PM about this thread I will move it to the Rants and Raves Section.

It it gets out of hand then this thread will be moved to the Rants and Raves section.

Ya know when you are faced with certain challenges in life and you know you either have to face them and persevere or just lie down and die then you have to make that choice. I thank GOD for my children every day, because they are what saw me through to keep on living and keep putting one foot in front of the other. I think I would have thrown in the towel years ago if it weren't for my children. I knew I had to take care of them because there was no one else to do it. They saved my life during those rough times.

Update on Christina, she wanted everyone on this thread to know she has lost 9 lbs as of this morning. WHOO HOO!! She is still battling the effects of her latest health issues but she is getting better. She is hoping to come and post soon. She is in need of continued prayers and white light and all the good vibes we can throw her way.

Yeah it was really hard to raise 4 children as young as I was and alone but man am I reaping the benefits now. I am 45 and my baby just graduated High School. NOW I can enjoy life a little. LOL!!!!

AFter graduation we all went to Denny's to eat supper. The graduation started at 6:30pm and was finished at 8pm so we were famished. Denny's was Bradley's choice since it was closest and it is one of his hangouts with his friends. His friend Ryan (the streaker) and Kyle, came over to the house later that evening to talk about the event. I was cracking up at the streaking. His sister caught the act on camera and Ryan had it to show us. Ryan's parents was in on the caper and encouraged him to follow through with it. TOO FUNNY!! The cops that had him in handcuffs was cracking up and told him he had some balls to pull it off. They let him go with NO charges filed. They had to make it look good in front of the school officials. We all booed when the cops took him off the field. Other than Bradley getting his diploma (green construction paper) that was one of the highlights of the ceremony. LOL!!!!!

My BABY graduated this past June 22nd from High School. Boy do I feel old? All my kids are out of school and three are on their own. My newly graduated son is still living at home and going to College now. I kind of like him living at home but I know there will come a time he will want to leave. :think Anyway, thought I would share some pics of that glorious day. Here is the first set of pics all from the actual day. I was so excited about him graduating that I spaced out getting pics of him at home in his cap and gown. DOH!!! :faint:

Been in the swimming pool all week long for hours on end with my family. Got red then brown and all muscles ache. LOVE IT!!

Glad you like them Iziksmom. I thought they turned out really pretty. I almost kept them for myself. LOL!!!

Sorry with all my family here and today being HIgh School graduation things have gotten really hectic. I did speak to Christina yesterday. She is home and doing better. She is still as nuts as before and has that fighting spirit. I am sure she will get online and give us a full run down of all that has been going on. She got tired when I was on the phone with her and she did have to search for a word or two but all in all she is doing pretty well considering.

Just got off the phone with Christina. Today is much better than yesterday was for her. They found more clots in her body so they started her on blood thinners. Since she is off the birth control (which I think caused the stroke and docs seem to agree) her TOM is rearing it's ugly head. LOL!! She is weak but managed to chuckle a time or two in the conversation. She wants to say thank you to all who are sending up prayers and to thank us for sending the flowers. The blue vase cheers her up each time she sees it. I will report more when I know more.

I think both sites are very well done. Easily navigated and understandable. I think your comment and response to the one particular email was very "spot on". LOL!!