Dody

I'm totally unfamiliar with New Jersey, but I will do my best to contact the right people. You will need to tell me all about yourself, an address etc. where you can be contacted, anything pertinent to a news station and to your Senator and Governor. If anyone can get the ball rolling it will be the Social Worker who is assigned to the Senator's Office. I will do my best to help you. You are on some very strong drugs. I take Xanax for panic disorders and have for years. Have you talked with your dr. recently about a change in your meds to something that won't make you as tired? Give me all the info you can and I'll do my best. I leave myself on Apr. 10 for my surgery consult, but I will get to work in the meantime. I can't help you if you don't give me every bit of info about yourself.

If you e.mail me and tell me the name of your governor, senator, TV stations, etc. I will make some phone calls on your behalf and ask them for their support. I will need to know who and where you are and a lot of things about you, but I'm willing to step out on a limb and try and make your story heard in your community. If you want help please let me know. Please use this e.mail. Mom42@cableone.net. I check it on a regular basis.

Although sceptical I thought of one more thing. My community has a news station that you can call if you feel you have had unfair treatment or are in need. I was just thinking that perhaps you could contact the news team at your local TV station (or stations) and tell someone your story. They would probably want to do an interview with you to make sure all is authentic, and then perhaps they would air it on the news. Sometimes I've seen them mention accounts have been set up at a local bank for donations, etc. Sometimes other people come forward with ideas to help. Maybe even a dr. would come forward. We have an eye dr. here in my community who does two surgeries a mo. for people that are unable to afford it. He is a well-known dr. and this is excellent for his business. This is a possibility for you and would most certainly be good advertising for the dr. Please give this a thought. If you are truly in need there is a way to get help. Please think about this and make a few phone calls. Let the people in your community know of your need. Hope this helps. I don't think anyone means to be unkind. It is just the world unfortunately that we live in today. I'm old enough to remember when it wasn't like this, but that isn't the case anymore, and especially since the internet. Best wishes to you. Call those TV news stations and try and get some help. It's worth a try. I don't blame anyone for trying or having to protect their families. It is the most valuable thing in this world to us. As a retired nurse from the ER I have seen every kind of behavior there is in this world, and kind of feel like this person just may be sincere, but needs to go about this the right way. Call TV stations...call your Senator...be heard!! It sounds like you are eligible for disability, and although it's an ugly fight there are people out there to help you. You have to reach out to them. The people of this forum are the kindest in the world, but most have trouble having their own surgeries. Some have large loans, mortgaged homes....because you have this surgery is because of a real want to, not necessarily because the money is right there. There are lots of real struggles just on this forum alone. You have to be a fighter and not give up on this.

The person said they could post a picture, but they didn't. That seemed a little strange to me. A picture is sometimes worth a thousand words towards believability. We had a child in our community with a disease and the parents had no resources to take her to a big hospital for the treatment she needed. She has San Phillipi Syndrome....anyway the community came together (friends of the parents started things off) and they had dinners and silent auctions and raised the money to send this little girl for her treatment. I just think there are better ways to raise money than to jump right into a forum with a story (a story which many of you personally can relate to but are asking for nothing) and not post a picture or anything else. I guess you know after the things that have happened on the internet you have to be cautious. Just posting a letter asking for donations is not really the way to go when you are appearing on a forum for the first time. Come on now, you have to be a little leary. Of course we want to believe what we hear, but in reality we know what is going on in the world and the horrible things being pulled on the elderly and others. It is hard to trust the word of someone who just appears on the forum with a heartfelt story. I have one of my own if you would like to hear it....but it's not my style. I'm here to learn and support, and yes there are times that posts anger me. This one did not anger me but made me extremely leary, especially with no picture. So be it....it is up to each person to follow their heart.

I misunderstood. I thought when you said "pain killers" you were referring to prescription medication. My mistake. I think you merely have irritated the esophagus, but you definitely need a medical opinion on it. I was assuming, and wrongfully so, that you were taking Darvocet, Vicodin, etc. You are merely taking Tylenol so no problem there.

I wish it was years ago, before scams became so popular, but people are leary of donating to what may possibly be a 65-year-old man hiding behind a story like this and wanting donations. We have to be really open and face the reality. There are people on the internet up to no good. I don't know if this story is real or not, but like I suggested I would be sending this letter to every bariatric clinic around in hopes some dr. would take on this case. It's just that people are leary of believing anything they read. Although people are friendly we don't really know who they are on the internet. I would love to still believe in people, but have been taken advantage of too many times. You hear about young girls talking to what they think are teenage boys on here who turn out to be 45-year-old predators, and you have to be cautious whether you want to believe in a story or not. My heart goes out to her if this is a true story, but I feel she would get further appealing to doctors then the many people that don't even know about lap banding. Just my thoughts. It's not judging...it's being cautious. How many of you are going to send money that think this is on the up and up? Huh?

Sometimes taking meds with a warm liquid works better when it comes to heartburn, and sometimes meds that once agreed with you just don't anymore. Maybe your dr. could prescribe an antacid to take which would help with the burning feeling. I would hate to see you develop an ulcer. Why not ask what he thinks? I envy you that you can take Prozac. I was on it for a few weeks and truly wanted to "hurt someone". It was horrible for me, but works great for some people. It was like me on steroids. It changes my whole personality and makes me mean.....no explanation but it does. Good luck. I would also try not taking both pills at the same time. I would take each about 6 hours apart. Maybe that would help.

The pain killers themselves could be causing you major problems. I think you need to see your dr. and let him/her run some tests and find out just what is going on. You may simply need to be on an antacid for awhile until things clear up. Only a professional can make the right call here. We are certainly all here to support you in any way, but from what you describe and the sudden vomiting episode which seems like it was fairly violent, a tear in the esophagus would produce blood. I wouldn't worry at all until I've seen my dr. and gotten a medical opinion on what your next step should be. I would think that pain killers could be causing some of your problem rather than helping it. Please see your doctor for a complete check-up.

If you have been fine for a year and this suddenly began after a meal, it sounds like you may have a small tear in the esophagus from vomiting so profoundly. This is just an idea, and so please be sure and see your physician who will run the proper tests to see what the problem is. It certainly doesn't sound like you have had an ulcer all this time, because you say you have been feeling fine. A team in the esophagus can mend itself. I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better soon.

Your advice is right on. A dr. will usually always taper a patient off one anti-depressant (or most any medication) before starting them on another. Sometimes it is trial and error to get the right anti-depressant for the right person. We all react differently to different drugs and what helps one might not help another. If you tell your dr. you are not feeling any better, or you are feeling worse and even more depressed, they will most likely switch you to another drug, but like I said they should taper you off the one you are on before you begin the other one to make sure it's all out of your system.

I am in no way saying you aren't needing assistance with your lap banding surgery, but there are many on this forum and others in the very same situation. I think you would be best served by making copies of your letter (minus the donation part) and mailing them to every bariatric clinic in the U.S. and other countries in hopes that some physician (and there are some I'm sure) would take you on free. I know physician's do this for people overseas, so I'm sure there must be a few that do here. Your story is touching, but so is the story of half of the people on the lap band forums that have been battling insurance problems and their own hardship problems. I wish you good luck, but I would take a different approach.

Just when you think you've seen it all something like this comes along. It's like telemarketing on the internet. I'm curious if anyone responded?

It's very possible in gastric bypass to stretch the pouch out and gain weight again, so I would think to an extent you could stretch the pouch out from lap banding. I would think that the fills might prevent this from happening as much in lap banding. The process of losing is slower, but I'm told in 3 years it is equal and bypass patients are far more likely to gain the weight back. Perhaps you just haven't had enough fills yet to get good restrictions...patience is the key I think.

Doctors used to be big on estrogen supplements for women, but a few years ago they found out there were a lot of complications with heart disease and blood clots. Most doctors don't prescribe them anymore, but they were rampant for many years. So sorry you suffered a bloot clot with them. If you haven't had a hysterectomy you had to take Premarin and Provera....but I was taken off it 5 years ago, but not in time to prevent a heart attack, although I'm not positive if it was the Premarin or a combination of that and cigarettes. Regardless I'm on neither of them anymore. I learned a tough lesson.

I spent 5 years in Mainz, Germany and speak the German language...Haag Deutch to be exact, which is spoken in and around Bavaria. I loved Germany while I was there. My Dad was born and raised there, and I look forward to going back there within the next yr. to visit. There are a couple of different lap bands here and there is of course gastric bypass. Hope you have good luck with your band and keep in touch with us.

Premarin is a byproduct of pregnant mare urine. A lot of people don't realize that is what they are taking. Of course you don't taste it, but isn't the very thought horrifying to think you are taking this? It is a horrible abuse of animals. I love horses in particular and used to own a race horse that raced in California. Believe me he got treated like a king and did NOT spend all his time in a stall. During off season from racing he had the run of the land and is now at stud at a wonderful farm in Kentucky called Three Chimneys making good money for me and having fun doing it.

Saw the post. Gasped. Didn't respond. Good thing, because I surely would have gotten in trouble. I think it got "confiscated" along with the stash. I don't really think there were any apologies needed. It was an inappropriate post to say the least.

Susan, where do you buy these drinks? I was thinking of a whey powder and 1% milk and a blender. Everything seems to taste better when it comes from the blender then a can of something. I've never heard of a fruit flavored one though and it sounds good. Is it on line only ordering? I've been practicing some of my own using Slim-Fast Optima and 1% mile with some chocolate yogurt. It really is good, especially cold. I must be weird because I like Slim-Fast, but I've heard contradictory things about calorie content, etc.

I didn't know where the port was placed exactly, but it seems that most people had it placed to the left of their bellybutton, which is where I hope mine will be. After heart surgery (and we are talking 5 years later) I still find bras very uncomfortable on the scar area, and there is no avoiding it. I heard of someone who had their port placed in the sternum. I certainly don't want any more huge scars there. Mine don't heal well and I get what is called keloids, which are really kind of ugly and bumpy. Don't you girls who have ports right below the bra area find bras very uncomfortable to wear? I would think it would hurt that area. I know mine do. I will have to make sure to discuss this with my dr., as I think you can opt for the site you want your port if you talk with your physician. I hear the sternum and around the ribs does make it easier for fills though, whereas, I think the tummy area would be more of a problem, but in my case I don't have lots of options. Hope you all do well with your port placement. PhotoNut you could really feel yours as a bulge. Wow, I learn something new about lap banding all the time. Did it hurt once you healed or are you just aware of it there? Have you had a fill yet?

My system got immune to Ambien and I switched to Lunesta...was great for a while and then one tablet just wasn't enough. My dr. has put me on two. Right now it's 4:30 a.m. and I'm still awake. Your system just gets used to the medications (most any medications) and poof you are right back where you started. I hope the Lunesta works well for you. Ambien and Lunesta are a lot alike, but more people complain about Lunesta giving them a metal taste in their mouth. I never had that, but the effects do wear off over time. I have a high tolerance to pain meds anyway. I hope for you the Lunesta keeps working. You can always increase the dosage. It isn't habit forming...or isn't supposed to be. Good luck and happy dreams.:eek:

My friend who had RNY came home eating a cup of food with the dr's. orders. She had no problem with it, and it sounds like you are losing weight like crazy. This friend of mine ate lobster the night before her surgery...it was much different then lap banding. She came home the day after and cried for 2 weeks over what she had done. She had a psych eval, but I don't know if anything prepares you for a permanent change like that. She loved food and had the surgery for the wrong reasons...she had it for her husband. She is doing better now, but has gained back some of what she lost. She drinks loads of sodas (something we aren't allowed). I guess all surgeries are different, but she doesn't eat right on hers. I would say if you are eating a cup of food you are doing awesome. Keep up the good work.

No clue here if you are through having kids, but if you are there is a simple method done in an OB's office now that can stop your periods permanently. They do a simple cauterization.....BUT this prevents the periods from occurring again, although it in no way involves the ovaries. It is for women who suffer from irregular bleeding and periods that are real problems. I guess if you aren't through having kids you will have to seek other alternatives, but this is a great breakthrough for women. If you are interested have your wife ask her OB/GYN about it.

I was wondering about vitamins and found myself at Walmart in the children's section looking at Flintstone vitamins and comparing the ingredients to some of the other vitamins. They seem to have just as much in them, and surely they taste good. They have been on the market for years and my kids loved them. I don't know if more than one would be required for an adult though. I will have to look into this Viactin. A couple of my pills are very small and I should have no problem. A couple are bigger and I will crush them, except for heart medication which it says "do not crush". Will have to ask the dr. about that one. Thanks for all the helpful info in vitamins.

Ativan, Xanax and Valium are just about the same. They are not anti-depressants but rather calm the nerves, so if that is your problem...nervous about the surgery, it certainly won't hurt you to be on some Ativan. It's addictive, so you don't want to take it for too long. At the hospital they will administer some Versed I'm sure to take the edge off the nervousness. I wish you luck.

My dentist likes for me to use Gum brushes found at Walmart. They are like little toothpicks with a little brush on them. I love them. I just use them and throw them away. They seem to do a much better job than floss. I just spent a fortune having all my dental work finished and my teeth bleached. That is the ultimate...those sparkling teeth. You really want to keep them looking that way. I had smoked for years and quit 5 years ago, so the dentist said they should stay this way. They made me little trays to do touchups every now and then with Zoom.