Penni60

Pam best wishes and speedy recovery. Take that pillow to hold your stomach cause laughter is the best medicine.

I am unclear as to why he wants to do the ENDO. If it is for maintenance then by all means have it done. We all should have one done after a year. That is to check out the band and the stoma to make sure nothing is going on that shouldn't be. And who is to say that what you are eating isn't OK for you. IF it were me I would have the ENDO and give myself some piece of mind. They sedate you but don't put you to sleep. They give you some nice "I don't care what you do" drugs. I had one done just before my port revision surgery in July to rule out erosion. No complications at all. Donali has had one and I am sure she will chime in to give her perspective. I am sure there are others as well. Leatha had one too.

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 TOTAL LOSS: 1212.75 lbs I re-added the total cause I think someone was added twice when their names weren't carried over. Lisa: I am crying too. THis is amazing.

Betty: SOrry I just read this post. And to answer your question yes it can happen that fast. I do agree with the Doctor to have her take someone with her just in case. I do think it was highly insensitive and unprofessional for a doctor to give a definitive time frame as to when she will die. NO ONE can predict that. We can all speculate based on what we experience. I worked for 8 years as a Cancer nurse and could sometimes come with in 24 hours of someone passing. I could never ever predict and NOT even a Cancer Doctor can predict within much more than 24 hours. I certainly would suggest for her to get a second opinion IMMEDIATELY. And yes, sometimes cancer's show no signs of pain or the person simply ignores the signs and symptoms. Some Leukemias and Lymphoma cancers can simply show initial signs of Flu like symptoms. It is so important to be IN TUNE with your body and know when something is wrong. My heart goes out to her and her family. Being told you have cancer is one thing but being told you have a week to live is another entirely. That just makes me mad. You have two extremes wiht Cancer docs and some nurses. The kind like your friend has experienced, the "doom and gloom" and the other more hurtful kind, the rosy "everything can be treated no matter what and we will do EVERYTHING to keep you alive" kind. FInd out what kind of cancer she has and encourage her to get a second opinion IMMEDIATELY. She should still go on that cruise but only after the second opinion. HOpe this helps.

OH Lisa,... is this the woman that was asking "Can we stop the challenge after Penni gets her fill?" Kiss my grits!! Girl you look MAHVELOUS!!!!!!! Love the sunburned pool comment. That was too cute. OK I am getting you the dress I wore in my birthday pic. You would look WHOO HOO in that thing. Love ya girl and I never laughed so much as I did last night chatting with you on the phone. Note to everyone that talks to Lisa on the phone. Expect Chris to interrupt, and make sure you haven't just had the lap band surgery cause you will rip your stitches laughing so hard. LOL!! Love ya Lisa

Dr. Billy and I discussed this at my last visit in August. His feeling on fills is as such: He likes to see his patients every 6 weeks. He really likes to see them every 4 weeks but 6 weeks is the upper end. If they have not lost at least 4 lbs or are more hungry in between visits then he suggests a fill. Notice he said SUGGESTS! He never tries to talk me into one. He asks me if I think I need one. We discuss it and then we BOTH decide if I need one. Don't you just love him? I am an RN. I have worked with all kinds of different doctors in my career. The ones I respect more are the ones that TALK and confer with the patient on their health related issues. Sometimes the doc gets the idea that they are boss and the patient has to follow what is said. If you guys get nothing out my ramblings but this point then I will be happy. OK Here is the point: "You are the boss!" Doctors and nurses are your advocates for a better health. They give you ways and information to go down that road toward a better health. We as patients have to be better informed and have all the information necessary to make decisions about OUR plan of care. After all we are the ones getting poked and prodded not the docs and nurses. LOL!! OK I am off my soap box now.

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 - 67lbs Michelle 4/6/04 -- 49.75 lbs Marie 5/26/04 -- 39 lbs Total Loss= 326.75 lbs There ya go Marie

First off I have a daughter called Amanda and she is 26. So I will consider you my surrogate daughter. Second, I have another daughter called Alicia and she is 24 who lives in Clarksville, TN. So I come to Nashville, TN area quite often. When I come into town I will certainly want to go to lunch or dinner or just simply meet you while I am in town. I don't know just yet when that next visit will happen but I will keep you posted. Private Message me your info and I will reply with mine.

wow Lisa we have almost lost one whole person

I want a big rose on my belly so that when I lose more weight it will look like it is wilting. LOL!!! Then when I get a tummy tuck it will come alive again but have a shorter stem.

DID that in 1987. LOL!!! So no monthly visits for me EVER. I think you are gonna win though darlin. I am on a HUGE plateau right now. Can't lose but one lb at a time but not gaining so that is good. I sweated out all the food after drinking the liquor on the Jamaica vacation. LOLOL!!! NEENER NEENER!!!!

OK the saying is still tied. And it looks like time is running out if we are to get them made. So we gotta decide NOW. We gotta find a printer NOW. Any suggestions? Or should we bag it? I still haven't heard from Alex. He has not responded to any emails I send. So using the LOGO is not an option at this point.

Just started a new thread called "Poundage Lost" that addresses the amount everyone has lost to date. I will add them up and see where we are.

OK put your name, first name only, date of banding, and how much weight you have lost to date. Copy and paste the list and add your info. Penni: 4/6/04 -- 47 lbs

SHUCKS!! My secret is out. I just love him. LOL!!!

My fill level now is 1cc and I plan on getting a fill on the 23rd. Probably just a .5 cc so Lisa will still have more than me. SO THERE!!

Hmmm sounds to me like you are feeling the heat. LOL!! I will let the group make that call.

WHOO HOO to everyone that lost or maintained. Way to go LISA for getting your permit. That will chap his a$$. LOL!!! Breakfast: Protein Bar, 16 oz Water Lunch: Tuna salad, 1/2 piece of bread, 16 oz water Supper: NOt sure yet. Probably some Soup or something light. Exercise: 2.5 miles this morning power walking. Still struggling with the water intake but getting there.

I have maintained my weight loss at 249 lbs. (47lbs lost). So I am happy. I walked 2.5 miles this morning.

GOod for you. IF he bothers you while we are on the phone tell him he doesn't get his present from me.

Babs could you resend that email. I can't seem to find the info. I might have mistakenly deleted the info. SORRY!!

Tuesday is good for me darlin. I will be here. let me know what time to expect the call and I will alert everyone so that they know not to bother me. LOL!!

Bubbles: Love the name by the way. I self paid for my surgery. I did lots of research about both the banding and bypass and decided the bypass was just too radical for me. If you are looking for a good doctor then contact Inamed directly and they can give you a list of surgeons in your area. The other option is to see if someone on this site is from your neck of the woods and get some feedback from them. I went to Mexico for my surgery. I am using a US surgeon for my follow up care. IF you go the Mexico route then please set up a surgeon for your follow up care close to home before getting the surgery. I can give you my follow up docs info if you like. He is in Ventura, California. I didn't notice where you are located before responding to this post. Good luck on your search for the surgeon.

Hey Babs did you ever decide if you were going to Vegas? I seem to remember that you are and that you sent me some info but I can't seem to find it anywhere. So if you are going then please resend me your contact info mainly your cell phone and I will give you mine in the return email. Penni60@aol.com

Sounds like a plan there Lisa.