Dody

Isn't it strange how we find "food" to escape the things we have to or need to give up. In my case it was smoking. As a smoker I was thin......but I had open heart surgery, had my cigarettes taken away overnight, and thought I was doing great, but I turned to food without even realizing until I started gaining that I was on my own path to destruction. Then is the time I needed some form of intervention, but I'm not sure I was ready to accept it. I thoroughly enjoyed smoking and I was angry at the people that had taken it away from me. I'm sure giving up drinking is equally as hard and you found a substitute in food. Why couldn't we have taken up going to the gym or something Best of luck, you will do wonderfully. It is normal to be a little fearful. I know that I am. Let us know how you are doing.

Because of the heart bypass I had to wait 2 years for gallbladder surgery. I never really had a bad attack. I had very small stones fortunately. I can eat anything and everything I ever ate before with no problems. No problems with diarrhea or anything else. I guess I've been very lucky. I sure don't miss that yucky gallbladder. If you have gallbladder disease it isn't going to disappear. There is no way those stones are going to dissolve themselves. They are a potential danger just waiting to happen again.

My doctor has assured me if the band slips or erodes within a three-year-period he will perform any surgery needed to make it right at no additional cost. That is probably why I opted for the surgeon I did. The fills are also part of the whole program.

My dr. has put on my list of "have to gets" a kitchen timer. He wants me to set it at 20 min. and regardless of anything stop eating at that time (plus never eat after 7:00 p.m.). I'm not sure about a timer that tells you when to take a bite, only one that tells you when to stop eating. He also reminded me that chewing very, very well is the key to success.

I was told by my dr. that should my band ever erode or slip to the point it had to be removed that under no circumstances could I keep it. It must be returned for testing and to see if the experts can figure out what happened. I doubt the same is true in Mexico, as I've heard of people keeping their bands, but I've never heard of anyone who was banded in the US getting to keep the band once it was removed. If I'm wrong, please chime in and let me know.

This lady was 61 years old getting her gall bladder out and reveled at how easy it went and what a fast recovery it was. I must be one crusty old broad for sure. Now, if I come back whining about the lap band surgery remind me of this post

I have a negative upper GI and sure hope I don't get reflux again ever. Tell me where you buy the Aloe Vera juice please. I think you gave that girl some good advice. I to was thinking she is irritating her stomach and that band after only 3 weeks out.

My appt. to see the surgeon and dietician is Apr 10. I only have to be on a supervised diet for 2 weeks, so I still have a good chance by the end of April. I so want to be able to go to the Kentucky Derby, and I just know it's going to be right around my surgery date. I will, however, get to go to Bristol and see Tony Stewart and NASCAR before my surgery, which is excellent news. I own a part of a horse (I think the most important part...the nose) that is running in the derby and I so wanted to be there. My two passions are horse racing and NASCAR. I couldn't choose one over the other.

You have had no luck with the doc you have, so why not give a newcomer a try. It seems to me nothing could go worse than it has. I'm so sorry for the trouble you have. Have you ever been checked for slippage or erosion to see if that may be the cause of you not losing weight. Maybe it is time to change doctors if he hasen't suggested any of this to you.

You are much more liable to lose more slowly with the band and keep it off permanently then you are with GB. I've seen people three years out that have stretched the pouch and are gaining their weight back. I wouldn't even consider it an option for myself. You can always get a fill in the lapband, but there is nothing can be done about stretching out the GB pouch.

I'll now be more knowledgeable and look at "bandits" as an alternatate language. :confused: I've been involved with the real banditos....

That's what I love about Tennessee is Bristol. My daughter isn't far from there, but we sure don't pay that much for tickets...sounds like scalping. I waited on QVC forever to talk to Tony and then I clammed up....couldn't find words and stumbled all over myself. Fortunately he just laughed. He's going to have to cut out those Big Macs. They aren't any good for his heart and I don't want him not being able to climb in and out the window and climb those fences :confused: I am going to be absolutely tongue tied if I ever get to see him....I know I will turn all shades of red (or maybe they are just hot flashes) and probably not be able to say anything. Tony doesn't have a girlfriend. Sure makes me wish I was younger......way younger, but I love him just the same. I think we paid $75.00 for our Bristol tickets. My nephew is back-up on the gas can for Tony (just in case he backs over the first guy), but he is working his way up there. We are going to sit behind the pit area...not directly...but fairly close so I can see him pull in and out and probably have a stroke about every time. I think he is the very best driver there is, and a clean one at that, if you don't tick him off too bad :eek: Payback is hell isn't it? Do you have the brand new T-shirt with his picture on it and his car and Champion 2005...it's awesome and available on QVC (the shopping channel). Every week they have a NASCAR day on there and have someone different. I can't wait to get to Tennessee where they know what NASCAR is. You are right about people in Idaho, they don't have a clue about NASCAR. We have no tracks here and the closest I believe is Fontana in California. I've never been there, because I love to go with family and the family is all in Tennessee. We are all SMOKE fans. Hey, there is plenty of him to share.... BTW the only reason our tickets are that much is because we are down behind the pit. I know people who pay $25.00 for tickets in the nosebleed section.

I am a huge NASCAR fan and am right now wearing my newest Tony Stewart champion 2005 T-shirt. (SMOKE rules) I have 2 of the new ones...got them on race day on QVC when Tony was on and I got to talk to him on the air. Be still my heart!! It was one of the highlights of my life. I have a nephew that works in the pit for Tony Stewart and I am leaving for Tennessee in Apr. It will be the first time I've attended a NASCAR race in person, although I'm glued to the TV set for qualifying and for the race...no one bothers me...phone goes off the hook and life is on hold for that 3 hours (if all goes well). I love Tony Stewart's "I don't give a darn attitute" that got him the bad boy of NASCAR name, but he has turned into a genuinely likeable person, and not too tough on the eyes. He does seem to be putting on a little pudge (but he can still climb fences alright). I see the #20 in your logo, and hoped it was for Tony. I absolutely adore the guy, and you can never be too old to admire Tony. He has it going on!! I hate sharing him with anyone, but I'll share him with you. Here in Idaho no one has a clue what NASCAR is. I got hooked in Tennessee which is where I spend most of my winters, and where I'm having my surgery done. There are race tracks all over and we have reservations well in advance. My nephew in the pit crew is going to try and get me an introduction if possible, but I know how busy Tony is. I would probably melt into a big puddle at his feet. Actually, I truly believe he is the best NASCAR driver on the circuit bar no one. (I can't stand Girly Gordon), but do like Jimmy Johnson, Dale Jarrett and a few others, but NOT like I adore Tony Stewart. So glad you started this thread. People stop me in Walmart here and say "Hey is that guy a singer"...I politely say NO that is Rod Stewart...what a bunch of dummies. Can't wait to hit the south again where they all know what NASCAR is and know all the drivers and cars by name and number (which I do too).:confused:

Did your dr. require an upper GI before the surgery. It sounds like esophageal reflux to me. I wouldn't be so hasty as to say it is, but it sure as heck sounds like it, and it doesn't sound really normal. I have heard that chicken seems to be a major culprit though. I haven't been banded yet, but had my upper GI (three of them so far) to show my esophagus has healed from an erosion and no ulcers. Test went fine and everything is healed. Last test I think before bandland, except for blood work. Hope you let your dr. know if you change your diet and nothing improves. Sorry you aren't feeling well.

In my neck of the woods which is probably 3/4 Mexican population bandits usually carry guns and start gang wars. Sorry, just being cautious. Please don't think I mean all Mexicans fit into this category. I simply live in an area where "banditos" slip over from the Mexican border and a lot are gang members, a lot speak no English, don't go to school, and work in potato fields to get by. We have a lot (I mean a lot of gang activity) here and anyone from this side of the country could vouch for that. OK, Susan, time to chime in....you know the story here!!

There are lots of doctors who won't do conversions from lap top to gastric bypass, but even more that refuse to do lap banding after bypass has failed, and fail it will. Not immediately, but three years down the road. That is when all the stops are pulled out and we become desperate for something else. A lot of docs say no, and then agrain there are those just concerned with the "money" issue. If you have the money you can get anything done.

I'm not in the same situation as a lot of you girls are, but it would be a cold day in hell before a man told me what to do with my body. I lost my husband 10 years ago in an auto accident, but he never told me what to do, and I never interferred in his plans to go hunting and camping with the boys (which I hated). To this day I miss him each and every day, but I do know I would simply have told him I wanted this done and he would have been beside me I'm positive. Maybe when you get older marriages change...not sure, but I don't ever remember asking for a thing in my marriage with him. We both made equal decisions, so you girls who are under hubby's thumb need to step it up a notch and say "This is for me, and I'm doing it". If the door hits him in the rear on the way out the door....he will be back. Men know when they have it good. :confused:

You looking for bandsters or bandits?

I just might sail right through the band :confused: My gallbladder surgery was a piece of cake, but perhaps people who have had their chest cracked open for surgery think anything less is a great surgery. In all seriousness, my gallbladder, for whatever reason was the easiest surgery I've ever had. I was up and around and testing the waters after sleeping for about 8 hours. My cat disappeared that day and I remember going out to look around for him that evening in the car...which was really a no no. Now I'll probably get the band and be the biggest crybaby you ever say.

Lap-Band For Life is written by Ariel Ortiz Lagardere and is available at Amazon.com for $12.97. Just type in the name of the book.

10 years is stretching it. I don't think we've been doing the band close to that long in the U.S. You might hear from some Mexican bandsters, as I think they have been doing it lots longer.

I sure hope I feel like posting the same night. Wow, am amazed at you. I hope to join you soon in bandland and would give anything for an uneventful journey like yours. I'm one of those old ladies getting a band, so just about anything can and probably will go wrong

Simon said from the first last year that Carrie Underwood was going to win...now he makes another brash statement saying he likes Kellie Pickler better than he did Carrie. This is going to carry her a long way with the fans I think. Regardless of what is said, Simon knows talent. I see the final 4 as: Mandisa, Kellie, Chris and Ace.

Not sure if there are samples out there, but I would google weight loss products and see what I came up with. I don't mean diet pills, but diet supplements.

Could just be the system a woman's body goes through...she could have a little water weight, be PMS'ing (maybe that is why she is freaking out I sure wouldn't worry about it. It sounds perfectly normal to me.