Infaith

Jack...was yours HMO or PPO? Does it make a difference?

Congratulations Michelle!!! I knew you could do it. You are AWESOME!

That is SO AWESOME Bobalooey! I wanna ride!

Happy Happy Birthday my dear friend! When are we going to meet up with Teresa in Coburg again?

You're welcome Dee Dee. Glad to have helped. Joelle-you will get your confidence back. I know I hide behind my fat. As much as I'm lonely and sometimes long for someone special in my life, it also scares the crud out of me and I eat to hide behind my fat again. Best wishes!

Dee Dee....I know the feeling and that was something I really considered before I even got my band (wistful rememberance)-that guys that would never consider me before would only after I had lost weight. Here's what I came up with: Some guys, I KNEW I would give the cold shoulder because unless it benefited them...they were rude to me. Some were always nice, but that was it. We have to also consider the fact that with weight loss, we become more confident, feel sexier so we look more attractive and that in turn is more attractive to those around us.

My home CD player has "Songs from Allie McBeal" by Vonda Shepard (love her voice). My pickup CD player has a CD a very dear young friend has made (he wrote all the songs and sang them "coffeehouse style") and hopes to be discovered someday-"Window Shopping" by Steve Fargher.

I'm with you Kathy! My list: Richard Gere (now...think he's so much sexier with that silver hair) Johnny Depp (fell in love with him during his 21 Jump Street Days) Richard Greico (another 21 Jump Street guy then onto Booker) Bill Pullman (oh yeah....While You Were Sleeping) Tom Selleck (then AND now!) ....and here are some I haven't seen yet, but I love their humor and think they are very sexy. Robin Williams Jim Carrey

Ahhh...Kare...I understand that about the guys that are our age seem SOOOO OLD! The couple of guys that I have dated (in almost 6 years-sad story) were only a couple years old than me, but looked and acted so much older. My sister even commented about it, questioning how old one of them was because he looked so much older than I do. Good luck with your search! I don't even look anymore...too depressing for me. Hey Lisa...how's that dating service going? LOL

Happy Birthday girlfriend! Hope it's AWESOME!

I don't know Lisa....this sounds kinda scary, but very intrieging. What the heck. Name: Darcey Age: 45 Interests/Hobbies: Reading, gardening, dancing, music, theatre, swimming, church, home improvement, roller coasters....... Location: Eugene, Oregon A bit shy at first, but love to laugh and be silly. Strong Christian, honest, loyal, down-earth type. I try to support those around me as much as possible. Independant to a fault. Very touchy-feely. Was married 18 years. Been divorced almost 6 years. Have 2 of the greatest sons in the world ages 20 & 22. Not sure what kind of relationship I'm looking for at this point (or if I am even looking for one). Plus I've never done very well chosing. Guess if I'm looking he would have to be Christian, young acting (not childish), upbeat and positive, and they have to make me laugh. NO NEGATIVE FUDDY-DUDS. How did I do Lisa?

I can't wait to get rebanded and I am so gonna be there for next years Las Vegas Bash 2006!!!

Anybody here been rebanded after having to have their lapband removed? Did you have your original surgeon do the rebanding? If I am rebanded, I plan to return to Dr. Ortiz as I trust him completely. If you went back to your original doctor, what did it cost? Any differences from the first time? Anything else you can think of that might be of any interest? Thank you in advance!

Thanks everyone! Michelle-yes, I have emailed Dr. Ortiz and he has forwarded my email to Rene. If I don't hear from Rene in another week, I'll email him myself regarding specifics. Dr. Ortiz said I can be rebanded anywhere from 4-6 months after my band removal. I so miss my band! I felt so much more control with my band. I have gained weight and it scares me to death! My emotions are bouncing up and down like crazy. My mom even commented that I seemed to be so much happier when I had my band. Band-power!!!

Sigh....I loved looking at the party pics and so wish I could have gone. Guess I'll just have to get rebanded and somehow make it there next year. You all are absolutely beautiful! Glad you had fun even if I wasn't there.

Cindy-please, please, please get your band checked for slippage. You may just be way too tight. I wish I had gotten mine checked. I don't know if that is why I lost my band or because of the stomach virus I had (that kept me throwing up violently...others without a band had it so I know it was not just my band) did it or a combination of the two. Not being able to eat is not normal. Take care.

Hey Crystal, I just saw your post on the Oregon thread so I thought I'd look this one up. Yes, I missed it. I'm just not online very much lately. I am struggling going solo. Yes, my weight is up about 10 pounds and it terrifies me. My son has started coaching me weight lifting, but I'm having trouble keep out of the fridge just because I can! Otherwise I'm doing fine. Thanks for you thoughts! Darcey

Oh Crystal....I swear we are related. 4 shots.....OF COURSE!

Hello all, Just an update since my cry for help on finding Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez cell numbers (thank you all). I was in such pain, I couldn't focus long enough to find them. I had been having problems with PBing since about May. Thought it was because of job changes/shifts and such so I started getting unfills. They would help for a bit, but then I was back to liquids again. Last Friday (the 15th) I started PBing and wouldn't quit. Thought it was because I had worked a bunch of OT and my body had caught a stomach flu. By Sunday night, I got a hold of my fill doctor to take all the saline out. I was still miserable. She had me go in for x-rays, but the techs here said the band looked fine (tells you what they know about it). I called Dr. Ortiz on Wednesday. He told me to go get rehydrated and he wanted to see the pictures of the x-rays. I did as he said and when he called me that late afternoon, he told me my band had slipped badly and he wanted me there by Thursday morning. I argued, but he argued back that it was that important. So I got on a plane by myself and got my butt down there. Before noon Thursday, he had started surgery. Apparently my band had slipped enough that it was strangling my stomach. He said it was violet/purple and as soon as he cut the band, my stomach started turning pink again. He said if I had waited until Friday (when somebody could have gone with me), I would have had a perforated stomach. I feel very fortunate to have a doctor that would take time from his vacation to take care of me and let me know how important I am. (Thank God for this man). He said they would still work with me on my weight loss with or without my band and if in 4-6 months (if I'm healed), we can talk about the possibility of rebanding. Anyway, that is my story. I am determined that just because my band isn't there, that the lessons I've learned while having it those short 7 months will not be forgotten or put by the wayside. Tough lessons learned, huh?

Yes, you're right Lisa....sometimes bad things do happen to good people. And we are good people! I don't blame anybody (even though I probably should blame myself more), but I refuse to waste good energy on something that I can't change at this point in time. All I can do is learn from it and press on.

Okay...hope this helps. No, I was never a "good little bandster" and following all the rules. I think I tried to get away with as much as I could and lean on the band too hard (letting it give me a hard stop instead of listening for the soft one). I was reluctant to have unfills if I thought I could get by for a little while (please be careful with this one Kathy). I also think that some of it may have come from the fact that I do have irritable bowel syndrome, I am 45, divorced and my hormones are whack anyway, and then I try to "do it all" by changing careers, job schedules (to nights), graduate a kid from college (and now move him home) and remodel a bathroom all at the same time. I can never seem to take things one at a time...all or nothing. I am doing well (thank you for your thoughts, prayers and good wishes). Think my frustration is at least here in Oregon, there are very few people to turn to. The Bariatric Center in Portland would not call one of their doctors to talk to me(even though it was an emergency) because I wasn't their patient. The hospitals here had no clue what to do with me (and even told me that my band had NOT slipped and was in place). The other doctor in Portland lost his insurance so that hasn't been an option (I had wanted to get in with him before the insurance thing...didn't happen). I thought I had my bases covered. I believe the lapband is a wonderful device. At the hospital I was rehydrated here, I met a receptionist that had an RNY and she had 2 surgeries after...one for blockage and one for perforation. At least my band could be taken out and I'm not just patched up. Anyway...I'm rambling and I'm sorry. I am NOT sorry I got the band. I has given me a big boost in the right direction and some very good lessons on how little we really need to eat and keep going and how to really enjoy the food we do eat. I'll get off my soapbox now. Thank you. God bless.

Dr. Ortiz did not say exactly what it was (since he hasn't even seen me since my original band surgery). He said it was probably just being too tight and PBing too much. I believe I tried to rely on the band too much and let it tell me to stop rather than using my own silly brain. Now I've got to use the brain more (it could use the exercise). Thanks everyone for your good wishes.

Mae, how did you know your band slipped? Did you have any indication that something was wrong? Congratulations on your great success. You look fabulous!

Oh......grooooooaaaannnnnn!:cross-eye

You are right Soonergirl. It is the company that you work for that makes the decisions on what is included. Sorry that my post was so negative regarding insurance. I was very frustrated because of high co-pays (doctor visit was $45) and after going to a couple of wls information seminars....nobody had good luck with getting ODS to pay for wls or anything else to do with weight loss. This included people at other jobs that had ODS, but different policies and other companies. Again, sorry. Thanks for setting the record straight.