Penni60

Francesca I feel your pain and anger. I too went through all that and everytime I see that scale go up instead of down I go through the same emotions all over again. I am doing the Nutrisystem meals and they do work. You have to be diligent and count those pesky calories. In fact you have to count the calories in the meals and what you supplement the meal with. That gets OLD believe me. That is why I gained back 5 lbs because I rebelled and didn't count those calories and ate junk for 4 days. SIGH!! I guess I should be happy I only gained 5 lbs. Now I have to work twice as hard to get those 5 off on top of losing more. SIGH!! I am pissed at Lopez too. I have thought several times about sending him a letter or calling or something but then I think what good would it do other than make me feel better. Lopez and Ortiz are NOT going to do anything about what happened to us. They have their own agenda. Well I can't speak about Ortiz actually because I have not dealt with him. I can speak about Lopez cause I have first hand knowledge about how he treats his patients with complications. It is just NOT right or ethical the way he treated us. Lopez might be a good surgeon and highly respected but his ethics leave alot to be desired. SIGH!! Anyway, sorry Francesca for venting on your venting thread but had to or I would have exploded. Sending you lots of HUGS and I know exactly what you are going through sister.

You can do a search for Erosion and lots of threads will pop up and give you all kinds of info. Erosion=the band erodes into the stomach. Now the band does not erode the stomach wall is the thing that erodes. My band was about 50% eroded into my stomach. Symptoms = I never had a one. I just knew somethng wasn't right. Some bandsters lose restriction others like me didn't lose restriction at all.

As far as I know Lopez does use a stitch technique, he was the surgeon that placed my band. But then again I thought all surgeons used the stitch technique to prevent slippage. I think it depends on where the stitch is placed whether it MIGHT cause erosion later.

Mom and Baby are fat and sassy. He is a little pig with is mealtime. Takes after his grandma. LOL!!!! Daughter is sore and ready to get home. She had her tubes tied the same night he was born.

I had a port revision and also band removal due to erosion and my insurance covered both procedures. It is all about how the doctor codes for the surgeries.

Rozirose: I sent you a Pager message about Dr. Helmuth Billy. (Hey Michelle his first name is Helmuth and last name is Billy.) LOL!!! I went to Cedar's for my initial consult when I was doing research and was NOT impressed. The doctor that I talked with did not know alot of info related to the band and did not know what some of my medications were for. That scared me. Cedar's might be a really great hospital but the doc turned me off to having it done there. I am sorry but I can't remember his name now.

Believe me it is torture. But I am heading there on the 12th so I will have baby in arms on the 13th. Pics to post that night for sure.

Funny John doesn't look like a bag of Wasabi Peanuts. Damnit now I want some of those peanuts. Sunday is Farmer's Market day. Gotta resist. Gotta resist. Gotta resist.

OK I had my Nutrisystem meal and have drank 32 oz of water. Both something I was NOT doing over the past 3 to 4 days. NO WONDER I GAINED! I was off the plan the last few days and that is where the gain came from. I am back on plan now and should see better results at next weigh in.

Well I am so disgusted with myself over the last few days. I went off the Nutrisystem diet to film the DVD footage to send in and man does it show. I have gained all that I lost. Just look at my signature. SIGH!!! I am starting back beginning today. Man you just can slide at all can you? Not even for one cookie. Because actually I can't stop at one cookie. I have to eat the whole freakin bag. SIGH!! Just so disgusted with myself right now. I haven't been drinking my water either and that is huge factor in my gain. WATER is a must for weight loss. OK enough wallowing in my own self pity. Picking myself up and dusting myself off and staring "ALL OVER AGAIN". LOL!! Thanks for all your support. It makes my plight lighter to carry.

Just look at my signature. That says it all. :faint:

Dr. Billy in Ventura, CA is my doctor and he is awesome. He removed my band when it eroded. He is such a caring and supportive doc. I can give you his number if you want. Just PM me.

Try David's Bridal shops. They have lots of really nice dresses. IN ALL SIZES!!! Here is a link to their special occasion dresses. I am sure you will find something there. David's Bridal - Special Occasions, Social Dresses: Return

Nope no information was given. I just know the deadline is the 31st to submit. SIGH!! ANTICIPATION!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paula, they didn't take their digital camera to the hospital. IDIOTS!! Um, guess they were a little preoccupied. LOL!! Anyway, they had them taken at the hospital and will send me a pic. But by the time they get them I will most likely be there and have my camera myself. I won't get to see him till the 13th of Feb. SIGH!! Believe me as soon as I get a pic to post I will do that.

This whole LOPEZ issue just sickens me. Teresa PLEASE get an endo done. PLEASE!!!!! The number of erosions from LOPEZ alone is staggering. He is a piece of work.

...cause I sent in my application and DVD for the Biggest Loser today, Jan 24th. The deadline is the 31st so won't know anything for awhile. The minute I hear anything you guys will know it.

Awww you guys are the best. I just talked to my daughter and she is so hungry, but can't eat anything because she is going in for surgery tonight to have her tubes tied. So she can't eat a thing. She told me if they didn't move the flowers by her bed she was gonna start gnawing on them. LOL!!!! They will go home tomorrow. I can't wait to see that baby and kiss both my grandsons and hug my daughter. LOL!!

My daughter called this morning at 6 to let me know that Samuel James Foster just arrived fat and sassy. He weighed 7 lbs and 15 ounces. She was tired and ready for rest. As soon as I can I will get a picture and post it. I won't get there till the 13th of Feb. I am dying over here. LOL!!! WHOO HOO!! New grandbaby!!!!

ok I fell off my wagon and rolled down the hill and then jumped on the next wagon and fell off that one too. LOL!! But I did it all for making the video for Biggest Loser. I thought why not show them what I eat in a typical day. NOT THE Nutrisystem meals but what I could eat in a typical day. LOL!! So, pizza, chips, beer, cheeseburgers, and Desserts also. SIGH!! Now I feel like crap. I don't mean mentally I mean physically. I knew that some foods can trigger physical symptoms and now I know what foods can trigger mine. Just about all dairy and processed foods are bad for me. I was feeling light as a feather (ok maybe not that light but less heavy ok) when I was eating all veggies, fruits, and getting in my Water every day. I went off the diet for two full days now and man can I feel it. My bones hurt, my sinuses are a mess, my head is all stuffy, my nose is running and NO I am not getting the flu or the cold. I feel fine otherwise. OK the video is done. So starting tomorrow back to Nutrisystem. I venture to guess that I gained some poundage back at next weigh in. YIKES!!!

Jan 22, 06 -- OK I fell off my wagon and rolled down the hill and then jumped on the next wagon and fell off that one too. LOL!! But I did it all for making the video for Biggest Loser. I thought why not show them what I eat in a typical day. NOT THE Nutrisystem meals but what I could eat in a typical day. LOL!! So, pizza, chips, beer, cheeseburgers, and desserts also. SIGH!! Now I feel like crap. I don't mean mentally I mean physically. I knew that some foods can trigger physical symptoms and now I know what foods can trigger mine. Just about all dairy and processed foods are bad for me. I was feeling light as a feather (ok maybe not that light but less heavy ok) when I was eating all veggies, fruits, and getting in my water every day. I went off the diet for two full days now and man can I feel it. My bones hurt, my sinuses are a mess, my head is all stuffy, my nose is running and NO I am not getting the flu or the cold. I feel fine otherwise. OK the video is done. So starting tomorrow back to Nutrisystem. I venture to guess that I gained some poundage back at next weigh in. YIKES!!!

Jan 22, 06 -- OK I fell off my wagon and rolled down the hill and then jumped on the next wagon and fell off that one too. LOL!! But I did it all for making the video for Biggest Loser. I thought why not show them what I eat in a typical day. NOT THE Nutrisystem meals but what I could eat in a typical day. LOL!! So, pizza, chips, beer, cheeseburgers, and desserts also. SIGH!! Now I feel like crap. I don't mean mentally I mean physically. I knew that some foods can trigger physical symptoms and now I know what foods can trigger mine. Just about all dairy and processed foods are bad for me. I was feeling light as a feather (ok maybe not that light but less heavy ok) when I was eating all veggies, fruits, and getting in my water every day. I went off the diet for two full days now and man can I feel it. My bones hurt, my sinuses are a mess, my head is all stuffy, my nose is running and NO I am not getting the flu or the cold. I feel fine otherwise. OK the video is done. So starting tomorrow back to Nutrisystem. I venture to guess that I gained some poundage back at next weigh in. YIKES!!!

ok I fell off my wagon and rolled down the hill and then jumped on the next wagon and fell off that one too. LOL!! But I did it all for making the video for Biggest Loser. I thought why not show them what I eat in a typical day. NOT THE Nutrisystem meals but what I could eat in a typical day. LOL!! So, pizza, chips, beer, cheeseburgers, and desserts also. SIGH!! Now I feel like crap. I don't mean mentally I mean physically. I knew that some foods can trigger physical symptoms and now I know what foods can trigger mine. Just about all dairy and processed foods are bad for me. I was feeling light as a feather (ok maybe not that light but less heavy ok) when I was eating all veggies, fruits, and getting in my water every day. I went off the diet for two full days now and man can I feel it. My bones hurt, my sinuses are a mess, my head is all stuffy, my nose is running and NO I am not getting the flu or the cold. I feel fine otherwise. OK the video is done. So starting tomorrow back to Nutrisystem. I venture to guess that I gained some poundage back at next weigh in. YIKES!!!

Sandy GO GET AN ENDOSCOPY PRONTO!!!! Not saying there is anything wrong but better safe than sorry. I did not have any symptoms or signs of erosion. But one of the things that can happen is a loss of restriction. SO go get an endo done. Do not let the doctor convince you to have an upper GI cause this will NOT show erosion. Only an Endo will be conclusive enough. Keep us posted.

Jan 21, 06 -- Saw Dr. Billy on Thursday and he gave me the all clear. He and I discussed what I was doing now opposed to what I was NOT doing with the band. I am doing the Nutrisystem meals and counting my calories like mad. I am ever so gradually getting back into my exercise routine. He also wants me to start two lists. SIGH!! One list is of the "thing" that are keeping me from losing weight. Something like eating after 8p, or eating too many calories, etc. Then state how I can correct that issue. Make a plan on how to correct the behavior. The second list is of all the foods I love to eat. Once I have exhausted my pea brain of the items, he wants me to begin with the first item and learn everything I can about that food. He wants me to take a picture of the food per the serving. If chicken is my first item then get a pic of a serving (4 oz) both cooked and uncooked. Learn what the calorie and protein values are of that serving. Take the pic and the info and put it into a folder or notebook so I can refer to it. Do that with all the foods I list. Pic one food a week to learn all I can about it. This will be an exercise in diligence. And consistency as well. SIGH!! OH If I had just done this while I was banded. All in all he was very pleased with my progress while on Nutrisystem. He wants to see me in about 8 weeks. We did not even discuss my options post band removal. I guess it really is too soon to discuss that. In the meantime, I have just completed my Video for the Biggest Loser. YIPPEE!!! I will get that mailed off in the next couple of days. I wanna tweak it some.