legallyblonde2

I would consider myself a "soup nut." I can't get enough of the stuff. Favorite is Trader Joes Corn Chowder.

Sorry, I'm staying away from the middle east for now! I couldn't have afforded surgery in the states either and went to Mexico. Turns out it was a HUGE mistake. But thats not my point here. What I do want to say is that after talking to Dr Billy in Ventura California, he told me of how the surgery is quickly becomming more affordable here in the good old U.S of A. The BMI requirement is being revised and the overall surgery is much more affordable. I guess Drs here realize that they need to compete with Mexico etc. The big cost is Inamed charging an arm and leg for the stupid band. You know as well as I do that it probably costs them $3.50 in parts and labor. Glad things are working out for you. Christine

What a BEAUTIFUL girl you are! Not everyone has the face for the clippers. I love that look!

Jacqui, Oh I miss the word bollocks! I lived in England for 10 years and it became my favorite thing to say. Thanks for making me smile. I agree with you. The Protein theory is a load of bollocks! Thanks again. Christine:)

This topic has been discussed into the ground. Are you sure you searched for it? I have personally vented about it numerous times. I lost half my hair. What will forever make me furious about this topic is you will never get a straight answer from a doctor. Try it. I have. Personally, I have access through work to the best surgeons/GP's in Southern California. Not one has an answer for me. To quote my new doctor (whom I adore and respect wholeheartedly-but doesn"t have the answer either) "you have a bunch of experts about nothing on that chat room." So take all "advice" with a grain of salt. You can eat all the frog root extract and slather all the spotted camel dung you can gather on your poor head....if its gonna fall out....its gonna fall out. Mine did. I was devastated. Now, I have beautiful long thick hair again. But, I still have no answer! Christine:faint:

I have no insurance. Dr. Billy wants me to get private insurance and I am looking into it. $300.00 a month is tough to swallow. No pun intended. He took out half my fill. I have 1cc left. I didn't have anymore reflux the minute he took half my fill out. I also ate without dificulty yesterday for the first time since Nov 2004. VERY SCARY!!! I don't want to eat w/o dificulty!!! Yes I have to have revision surgery but only after I get insurance. It is not an emergency. I will do anything in my power to keep my band. Dr. Billy is just the best. I am so glad to have him here in my hometown. From what I understand....Lopez uses a bad technique when he stiches the band in place. Or in his case NOT IN PLACE. P.S My hair all came back. Im just saying, I lost half my volume and was scared to death. Got no solid answers and was so so frusterated. I wish someone would have warned me. Thats all. Thanks for all your support ladies. I love this place! Christine P.S.S WHat should I say to Lopez? Anyone have any good suggestions? Not that it matters really but what the heck huh.

Well, I went to see Dr Billy today and it is official. My band slipped. I was banded Nov 2004 by Dr Lopez Corvala in T.J. For something that is supposed to last a potential lifetime......less than 2 years is not a great outcome. So here I am, no insurance, no money for an additional surgery, and no way to require Lopez to be culpable for his errors. Now what? Damn him. I am so angry I could scream. Dr. Billy said point blank that this slip has nothing NOTHING to do with me and everything to do with the doctor who did my surgery. My feelings have changed over time and where I once said I would go back to Mexico for another surgery......I would beg anyone not to go there. Here is what I do understand and I know this probably won't make sense....I couldn't have the intial surgery here in the states. My BMI was too low. So, I am glad I had it done. I am just mad that Lopez is an incompetent surgeon. Also, it would never occur to me to ask him for a revision or my money back. I have understood from day one that I was taking a huge risk. DAMN IT!!!! God bless Dr. Billy. I am in the best hands and oddly, I am not the least bit scared. Just super duper annoyed!!!! P.S There was a lady in the office thinking about lap band surgery. She was talking to Dr Billy's nurse about hair loss. She seemed singularly focused on just the hair loss. The nurse told her, "just make sure you get enough Protein and you won't loose any hair." It was everything in my power not to yell, "Bullshit!!!! You can eat all the protein you can find and your hair may or may not fall out!!" Jesus Christ people! When will there finally be a solid answer to the hair loss question!? How sad for this poor uninformed woman. Wait till she comes to his office with a handful of her pretty blonde hair and says, "this is only todays." Christine the angry.:faint: :huggie:

Hi Penni! Everyone was great. My band may have slipped but the funny thing is that now that I have Dr Billy on my side, I am not scared. I can't live without my band and he totally "gets" that. I will see if I can get out of work to meet you. I enjoyed your company also. I find out Friday if I slipped. Cross your fingers. Christine

I saw Dr. Billy for the first time. What a great doctor! He answered so many questioned and gave me so many good tips. I was going to go down to TJ to see Dr Lopez but when I found out an upper GI costs as much down there as it does here. (I am without insurance of any kind) I would be a fool to ever go back to TJ. Also, TJ for a single blonde girl is never the safest palce. I am soooo happy to be a Dr Billy patient. I will never go to TJ again!!!! Dr Billy (805)648-2227 Christine:clap2:

So often people just speak about snoring as being annoying or bothersome. I hear it talked about in such a light hearted fashion. My father was not overweight and exercised like a pro. He wore a c pap and then a bi pap. He had 4 surgeries to try and correct it. My message is simply ment to remind everyone to take it seriously. My life will never be the same without the person I loved most in this world. All because of stupid stupid snoring! Good luck to you in your band journey. Take care of yourself.

I have written about this before but I lost my father to sleep apnea. Please don't take it lightly. It upsets me too much to think about it but it is soooo much more dangerous than people think.

I had horrible reflux after about 3 months. Went for a slight unfill and was fine. Now, 1 year and 8 months after REFLUX is back! I can control it with meds but wish I didn't have to. I was 36 years old. I never had reflux. I like long walks on the beach. I am a taurus.:clap2:

I will happily share MY experience with Dr Lopez. I need to go down for a check up. I have been having unbearable reflux again. I have also been drinking too much beer. Please message me if you need info.

You mean these a -holes are still in business? I thought they changed names? RUN PEOPLE!!! Christine

I wish I could warn everyone about these people! Hindsight is 20/20. It has always taken me a while to get mad at people/situations. I paid belighter and NEVER heard from them again! The weird part is I don't think they made much off me. I think Dr Lopez charged about $9,000.00 either way. I guess he gave them a cut? Who cares. It is over. The girl Kristie who worked for them was sweet on the phone but lied about the whole thing. I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN! Great aftercare! The best advice is simply contact the doctor yourself. Karma is a bitch. Christine :clap2:

Im 38 and live in Ventura also. I can answer any questions you might have.

Paula looks like a cute little person I would want to be friends with. Sweet face. This hair issue still chaps my hide. My hair is all back now and just as good as before. But what angers me is why doctors dont have proper answers and why they dont warn you about this very real and scary problem. If I would have known there was a chance all my hair would come out (in the span of 2 weeks) I could have prepared myself. If I hear Biotin, more Protein, topical hair potions and lotions, or multi Vitamins again....I will scream! Thats not my question! I want to know WHY? Not speculations as to what MIGHT help. Why some people and not others? Why at diferent times? Why diferent amounts? Why do doctors act like it is no big deal? When will a doctor (any doctor) step up to the plate and give a good sound solid medical answer to this very serious problem. Im sorry to vent but listening to non qualified individuals specualte will never answer my questions. When my hairdresser, MY HAIRDRESSER, started giving me medical advice......I walked out mid shampoo. My anger is ONLY pointed to the mutitude of doctors I have spoken with and not in any way towards anyone here. I respect this forum as a place to share, vent, exchange ideas, give love and support, etc. I am in venting mode. Thank you, I am done for the night. :faint: Christine Banded November 2004 Starting weight 220lbs Todays weight 164lbs 56lbs gone and 20ish more to go. My size 10s are baggy!!!!! 5'8"

Left lower rib cage. Sticks out far. Hurts when I surf. People ask about it when they see my stomach. I tell them I was stabbed. Dates get grossed out and never touch that area again. I let my niece and nephew touch it for the EEEWWW factor.

I think it is important to be honest and admit my mistakes. I was the biggest Diet Pepsi addict I know. I have even damaged my bladder with the ammount I drank. I always tried to off set it by drinking tons of water. (How often do you think I uttered the phrase, "I gotta pee!") For 6 months after surgery, I didn't do any carbonation. Then, like an alcoholic, I justified....maybe just a little. Now I drink one every morning and have no trouble. Is it good for my band? NO. I will get a handle on it soon I hope. Christine

I missed the part about Lopez. Sorry, I just read Lopez was there also and I was wondering which Lopez and what part he had in your nightmare. I am always so sad to hear about peoples problems with the band and I thank God everyday for mine. I will say a prayer for you and all those you struggle. Penni, I think about you everytime I log on and wish you strength. Christine

read the previous threads about hair loss. Scary stuff. You can do all that stuff people recomend or just wait it out. I was the perfect Protein getter girl and took Vitamins etc. Still fell out by the handfulls. It stops at some point and then grows back slowly. I am back to my normal self. I feel your pain. Hair is important. Christine

I thought I would kill myself if I had to live another day with acid reflux. The lack of sleep was messing with my mind. I went for a small unfill and I have had no further trouble. Waking up with hot lava in your mouth is not something I ever want to repeat!!! No ammount of medication would have fixed my reflux. I just needed a small unfill.

I just want to take a minute to share my happiness. This has been a very interesting year and a half with my band but I have finally hit my stride. I seem to have figured it out. I am down to 160lbs from 220lbs. My size 10s are too big, and someone told me I looked skinny today. I weigh less than my drivers license says and I just feel so happy. I can't tell you what it feels like not to wake up everyday and have my weight be the first thing I think of. Dressing up is a pleasure now. I go shopping for the first time in my life. I can't believe what I see in the mirror. I just pray that I don't suffer any complications like so many others have before me. Those of you who have lost your bands are constantly in my thoughts. I still dont think I would recomend the band for a loved one, but I am so happy I did it for me. Christine

I adore fart talk. I come from one of those farty families and I married a man who had never heard a woman fart. He was shocked at the volume and the times per day. Divorced now and dealing with the single womans nightmare of gas! Let me break it down bringing into play the joys of my band.... 1. I have had many occassions were I am with a man and we are sitting down drinking a glass of wine...nice quiet, romantic setting, you get the picture....he leans in for the kiss and my stomach-throat makes that weird gurgle/burp/growl noise. Very loud! I think he thinks I am going to barf in his mouth. Honestly I dont know if I am going to either. Thats the thing with being banded. I am no longer in control of those body noises. 2. I dread sleeping in a bed with anyone since I just know that I will fart as soon as I fall asleep. 3. Un band related but let me just get this off my chest. I was having sex with a very gorgeous man last weekend and we were very VERY very acrobatic about our positions etc. Legs up over one ear, from behind, arms wrapped around necks, other legs pointing in every which direction. It was strange to say the least. So he is pumping away like he is going for the gold and then deciedes to change positions, he pulls out, drops my legs and this is when it happen! The loudest burst of air expelled from my vagina you have ever heard!!!!:confused: What the heck was that???:faint: I wanted to die. He didn't say anything and neither did I. I am sure my face said it all. Please, someone say this has happened to you and guys dont care about that sort of thing. I am mortified. Christine. P.S See what kind of trouble the band can get you in! If I was still fat, I would never be having sex with a hot guy and having vaginal farts all over him. A double edged sword if ever.

But what if you ARE getting enough Protein? My frustration has always been that people get fixated on one train of thought. Example....your hair is falling out=you must not be getting enough protein. So whats the answer when a person has always been extra cautious about protein intake and continues to watch it closely? I can not get a straight answer from my doctor and would love to know what other doctors have said. No offense here but I don't feel getting medical advice from my hairdresser is perhaps my wisest avenue. Not the sharpest tool in the shed if you know what I mean. The man I date (plastic surgeon) laughed in my face when I ran the "anesthesia theory" by him. There is no medical validity to that one. I am passionate about this issue for two reasons... 1. My hair fell out!!!! Enough said! 2. I hate not getting answers! Whoa, I feel better. Christine:faint: