princess_n_thep

The wish center is a total joke. I wouldn't send my dog to them. They are terrible at returning calls, they employees that talk to patients have NO idea what they are talking about. I swear they just called some agency and got a temp and said, "here, talk to our patients".

Happy Mothers Day And Happy "i Love My Wife" Day (as My Hubby Calls It)

also, anyone else notice that there have been 750 views of this thread and my fat pictures but only 43 have voted??? sad. get off your duff people and vote!! this thread and these gosh-awful pics of me will be deleted at the end of 4 more days.

I think some have missed my point in the entire reason for posting. Of course us "low bmi'ers" think that "high bmi'ers" should have the band. I am just saying that everytime I turn around someone is posting "oh i wish I could have that body" or "i wish I weighed that much" or "bmi of 32 is nothing". My point was to prove that yes it is in the eye of the beholder and yes we deal with weight issues too at any BMI. BUT.... some people on here make us (low bmi'ers) feel that we are not worthy of the band or shouldn't be allowed to get the band or that we dont deserve the band. I can tell you that if you looked like those pics up there (horrid little pics, evil pics, god I hate those pics) you would still have the same issues of being fat that you have now. Maybe people wouldn't stare QUITE as much when you go to a buffet but they DO still stare if you take notice. Maybe someone would feel totally comfortable with that weight and not care what others think but we (low bmi'ers) do and feel like total cows! The point of my thread is to show that what is said on this board hurts our feelings. It brings us down. It crushes our ideas. It dampens any dreams we have. It PISSES US OFF!! If I hadn't had this surgery, I wouldn't have made it more than a year later. It just wasn't worth it to me. I did what I needed to do. And although I am a firm believer that it was for cosmetic reasons, I would NEVER EVER EVER say to someone that because of a stupid body mass indicator that was made by skinny people for fat people that they can't have the surgery. I am not saying that you can't have your opinion. If you think that looks great, well then ((sigh)) so be it. But it is fat. Fat on me. Would be fat on anyone. That is how I see it and believe me, others see it that way too. This thread was to show that low bmi'ers have feelings and wanted people to recognize when they were spouting out opinions about others that there are definite feelings and tears at stake. I am SICK AND TIRED of people making comments or Pm'ing low bmi people discouraging them. There are a TON of low BMI's out there and I was just FED UP with the negativity they recieve sometimes. It is a little known fact that sometimes severely obese people have to cut down on someone else to make them feel that much better about themselves (intentionally and not intentionally). I feel like a lot of that has happened here in LBT. If you felt beautiful at 350, then great. But everyone else looked at you like a fat pig. Just the reality of it. Hurts? HELL YES IT DOES. But even at the weight I am now I am a BIG FAT PIG. Just not as big as maybe a different pig standing next to me. But a pig is still a pig. I am one, you are one, they are one, we all are piggies! Just different colors, shapes, sizes. Some of you grasped my point right away and for that I thank you. Some of you just needed it said in more blunt terms. It isn't that we are this fat and have no comorbidities it is that we can't STAY this fat. We yo yo diet just like everyone else. We just chose to take care of it sooner. If I didn't do something, we would be in the same boat as some other people with the HIGH bmi's and the morbidities. I choose to get rid of it now and be able to KEEP it off. Without all the sagging skin, infections, etc. I don't have trouble LOSING it, I have trouble keeping it off! The band will allow me to get rid of it through diet and exercise and finally be able to STAY that way. We are all here for one reason. Weight loss. Doesn't matter what you "started" at or what you "bullshit BMI" was. What matters is that we are all standing/were standing/running from the same pig pen. Babs, I am not really directing this at you but for those that feel the need to be so chicken shit as to PM me your nasty words rather than post here and be heard. As for me, I AM A FAT WOMAN.... NOW HEAR ME ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

I tried to hide it at first from my work. I found myself lying a lot and I definitely didn't like that at all. More than anything I think I was embarrassed that I had to go to extremes to lose it and keep it off. So in the end, I told them all. That way the truth is out in the open. They have all been VERY supportive. I thought because of my line of work (police) things were going to be sarcastic and critical but nope! They are the best!!!

BUMP BUMP BUMP!!! chat is OPEN!!! Come in and chat now!!! I will wait about 10 minutes for ya'll!! HURRY!! I am lonely! Remember: You must be a registered user, not a guest to view the chat room!

Oh man... I need to take stock in Duracell and Energizer I think.

Some do, some don't. Mine will pay for any complications such as erosion, but then again, my original doctor does it for free. But then I would have to go back to Mexico. I would be torn with the idea and would have to seriously weigh the pros and cons. (and I would take Lisa with me if I went to Mexico because I know she would never let anything bad happen to me) I have heard that some insurances will pay for gastric bypass conversion if something happens with the band. While they are in there, they convert you. This is probably what I would do I think if I had to lose the band. Some insurances have an exclusion clause and won't pay for fills, some do pay for them after. I haven't even checked on mine for that one. I think it depends on what insurance carrier and what state you live in. Post your insurance carrier and state and see what kind of responses you get.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=6117&highlight=scar+stages This thread has pictures of our scars at various lengths of post op.

okay okay okay... i am breaking down. Here is my before picture before surgery and the picture of what I looked like 5 years ago. This is NOT my before surgery/after pictures but are my before/whattolooklikeagain pictures. The picture is AFTER I had a child and I know that with the help of the band I can look like this again.(about 150lbs, BMI of about 25). The other pictures were taken 2 days before I had surgery. Although I have lost 17lbs, not much has really changed in appearance. I am doing this mostly for Paula M. who is struggling with her decision to band or not. Also for those that feel that lower BMI's should not band. I want all of you to know that I bounced 50-70 lbs 3 times in the last 5 years. Diet, gain back, diet gain back. I know that a lot of you don't see the fat but I do. The rolls, the cottage cheesey dimples, the sagginess, the horrid horrid look of it. Maybe some of you WOULD be happy to be my weight or have my body but to me I look at this and cringe with the site of it. Just because you didn't SEE the same things we did as we were GETTING fatter and fatter, that is not our fault. I will delete this thread in one week so take your looks now. I just wanted some of you that are so down on the lower bmi's to really LOOK at the difference. I want to make a change now so I don't have future problems. I am SOOOOOOOO sick of hearing the "low bmi vs. high bmi" saga and the close mindedness of some people on the board. So if you are one of these people, you may get defensive and that is okay. If you are a low BMI person I hope you like that I did this. Believe me, I don't exactly like having this picture out there! Just taking these pictures had me in tears ALL day and was one of the most HUMILIATING experiences for me. But, for the good of getting some of you off lower BMI's back I am sharing them with the world. I hope that now you see that just because you are a lower BMI (I was a 32.7) that does NOT mean you don't deserve the band nor should you not be allowed to get it. And furthermore, if you post saying you don't see it, you are completely blind. As I sit here with tears welling in my eyes, I hope some of you now can see that even less fat than you have can affect someones self image and how they feel. Please remember this next time you post your "opinion" on someone with a lower BMI or private message them. Please answer the poll honestly. Your vote will be PRIVATE and you will not see the results of others with their names. The poll is to truly show the amount of people and what their BMI's are so pleaseeeeee be honest. I am thinking that some of you will be surprised just how many lower BMI's are successful and are getting the band as their chosen tool. No one will know you voted. P.S. Penni or someone, please do the side/side thing for me.

Mexico will band almost anyone who wants it I think. I know people who got the band with a BMI of 28 and 29. I think that the band isn't so much weight loss surgery more than it is a TOOL just like Jenny Craig, TrimSpa, Weight Watchers, etc. I think your comment about the band being "your watchdog" is dead on! Its a great way to think about it. I think the band causes weight loss options for those that are severely morbidly obese but I also think it is a good option for those that need to lose less and keep it off. I think the BMI requirements in the US are a complete joke. I personally think it is more about insurance carriers than what works. Our society thrives off of fat people and since our country is FULL of overweight people they (insurance carriers) had to put limits because of over excessive filing and costs. I don't think it really had anything to do with the BMI. It was an excuse to make a cut off for claims. So if I may come right out and say it.... yes, I think that if you want to lose the weight and keep it off and you have the money to spend on it, YES I think you should get it. But it is a very personal choice. But I know that I was in a similar situation and i got it. You can keep spending your money on nutritionists, trainers, loss programs but more than likely it will come back. Go for the permanant tool. Yes, it is like a used car and will be paid for within 2 years with minimal payments. Good luck in your decision!

http://www.low-fat-recipes.com/index.htm and http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/lowfat.html

Well, I haven't had sex yet and I am 6 weeks post op but it has more to do with self esteem issues than surgery issues. I suppose I was probably "able" to about 2 weeks after.

your ticker says you have lost 45 lbs in just over a week????? WOW!

Ummmm, I had one of those fantasies one time, it is okay. Oh... were u talking about eating food? ((blushes))

Cluck cluck cluckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.... you look mahhhhhhvalissssss!!!!!

The American Heart Association and other medical experts say the body likely will send one or more of these warning signals of a heart attack: Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes. Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders. Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath. Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin. Paleness or pallor. Increased or irregular heart rate. Feeling of impending doom. Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Sometimes they go away and return. If some occur, get help fast. IF YOU NOTICE ONE OR MORE OF THESE SIGNS IN YOURSELF OR OTHERS, DON'T WAIT. CALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (9-1-1) RIGHT AWAY! In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest (no breathing or pulse), call 9-1-1 and begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately. The actual diagnosis of a heart attack must be made by a doctor who has studied the results of several tests. The doctor may: Review the patient's complete medical history. Give a physical examination. Use an electrocardiogram (or EKG) to discover any abnormalities caused by damage to the heart. Use a blood test to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream. http://www.heartinfo.org/hrtatkang.html

Only you can answer your own question Paula. I agree with Jack... knowledge is power baby!

okay, when was this picture taken, what age? NO WAY you are 39 in this picture!! I would guess about 32!! And you definitely don't carry the weight in your face. My face is all round and puffy from the weight! YOU GO GIRL!

I have not noticed a farting or burping change. But when I do have to fart, it is very painful to hold it in. It usually isn't a smelly fart so when I am at work I just make "distractions" like a noise or a clank of something and let'er rip! The guys at work tease me that it is "stretching" because I have been known to get out of the patrol car because I tell them I need to "steeeetch". hee hee hee.... hence my new nickname at work. Stretch.

Yep, no brainer. I would LOVE to not have a mortgage. Make that 2 mortgages. Kids are resilient. They will do fine. I would just focus on the positives like making new friends, having new adventures, if you moving to another state maybe the seasons, etc etc. Tell them it is time for a whole new start!!!

Yep. Since Fruit2O came out, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon!!! yeahhhh!

I heard that Chicago Wish center just filed for bankruptcy. They will still be doing bands but they are broke?

I don't think the point is that you CAN eat it, but SHOULD you be eating it? This time is sooooooo very crucial to proper healing. I hope you are following your doctors orders.

I am a die hard stomach sleeper. If I sleep on my back, I snore. I was able to sleep on my stomach about 8 days post op with the help of a body pillow. Get one from any department store or Walmart.