Dody

Can you give me more info on Dr. Green? His first name? Perhaps his telephone # so I can make some inquiries. The hospital name. Thanks a bunch.

I've heard several times on this forum that Mexican doctors taught American doctors to band. This isn't really a true statement, as this procedure has been done in Europe for over 10 years now, and most all doctors learned from Italian doctors, who have had a great success rate. I still feel that cleanliness is a real issue in Mexico (don't shoot the messenger) but things can look spotless and be crawling with bacteria. I firmly believe the bacteria could be introduced at the time of surgery that eventually causes erosion, but I have absolutely no factual info on this. I personally feel safer having the procedure done in the states, although I'm sure there are some problems here too. I do understand the big cost difference and why people choose to go to Mexico. I am lucky mine will be covered by insurance.

Should I excuse the incorrect spelling because this guy is from Mexico? Should I read again the fact that he didn't use medical terminology as a dr. would. I will, therefore, assume there is someone pretending to be Dr. Ortiz on this board, though God only knows why they would want to pretend they are him. This person is playing with your head.

First thing to do is buy Depends (adult size of course) and yes everyone will know you are wearing them, and also see you buying them. Such is life if you make a decision to go on Xenical. Secondly, never be more than 15 ft. from a bathroom. You have been warned. Thirdly, if they handed out Xenical free I would never take it again. I'm not into the oily orange. It just isn't my color :bananajump: Good luck if you take this route.

Erin, thanks for letting me know you were diabetic. My dr. is going to conferences studying the reasons that bands erode, and they have found it is happening more and more to people less resistant to infection such as diabetics. This could be the case with you. Staph is particularly bad. I'm so sorry for the terrible journey you have had with this band. My prayers go out to you.

I think she meant the band was in "pristine" or excellent condition when removed, with no signs of erosion whatsoever. It was the port infection that caused all the problems. I wish she had told us if she was a diabetic. I have my own little list here to see if my dr. is right on some of his hunches on port infections and diabetics getting them more commonly, although there is absolutely no proof of this. I realize there are many that are diabetic that have sailed through this journey. I'm simply curious in this woman's condition with two port infections and finally band removal. Hope she chimes in once again.

The dr. that was going to do my surgery in Oakridge, Tn moved his office to Memphis to be near a big hospital his son is being treated at. He is an expert with lapband surgery and his prices are far more reasonable than you quoted here. His name is Dr. McAlexander (or it may be MacAlexander) never can keep it straight. You would adore him. I imagine he has an office set up by now or will shortly. Hope this helps you.

Lane-Bryant sizes start at 14. I would be thrilled to get into a 14 again. They have some nice clothes, but I find them expensive. I prefer Blair, and their clothing comes in all sizes too.

Sounds like just another gimmick diet pill that perhaps you can lose on for awhile, but will gain it all back. Just my opinion, which isn't worth a whole lot, except I've tried most everything on the market.

Just curious if you are excited about the new insulin inhaler. They say you only have to take a shot once a day. That's kind of a major breakthrough don't you think? I was just wondering how you felt about it.

I'm not banded yet, but I can answer this one. It means productive burp, which I construe to mean getting to enjoy your food twice I'm looking forward to that one and to the gas pains too. Hope you do well.

Has anyone ever seen TV's Vanessa Manillo (a beautiful, thin woman) dress up in her "fat suit" and go out in public. She showed everyone how differently she was treated as a heavy person compared to when she looked as she normally does. She would ask directions on the st. and people would not even stop (although many people stopped to turn and look at her and laugh); she got no respect; people were unkind and it was about a preconceived notion that she was fat and they found her disgusting and unattractive. The next day she went back to the same spots looking like herself and men in particular broke their necks trying to give her directions and come onto her. People were still glancing her way but they were no ogleing her. There is a definite bias in society to "fat" people, and some of the people making fun of her were very fat themselves. It was an interesting show and made me realize that life is very different for the average person than the heavy person.

I must have lost and gained 500 lbs. in my lifetime. I'm 62 and have run the gamut of diet crazes from pills (that were ever so dangerous) to every living diet known to man. One involved drinking vinegar and Water. That surely had to be the worse. I've done Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, you name it. Yes, I lost a lot of weight. I went from an 18 to a 10 ONE time, and guess what within a yr. of reaching that goal weight and splurging on a new wardrobe because I was determined I would never gain it back, I had to buy a new and even larger wardrobe by the end of the following year. You just can't maintain the weight, nor can you keep affording the food for another thing, plus don't let anyone fool you...it doesn't taste great. I went to a size 22, up from the 18 I started at. These crazes may work for awhile while you are losing and have an instuctor you are paying bookoo bucks for, but poof the pounds come back in no time. I need something all the time to help me keep them off, and I've come to the solution I'm going to work with this band and make it work for me. I just have to get the band which I'm working on. Dody

There is such a thing as narcolepsy, where you fall asleep often and fast and wake up erratic. There is also sleep apnea which can cause weird things to happen to your body. It may be nothing serious, or it may be one of many things, but I would definitely print out exactly how you explained it here and give it to your dr. in layman's terms. You expressed what was happening to your body loud and clear and that's what he needs to hear too. Try and take it easy till you see him. Although depression causes lots of things, including sometimes wanting to sleep all the time, this doesn't sound like it. Take good care of yourself and be extra good to you.:help:

It is Australian and the worse possible thing in the world....God awful tasting. In Australia they spread it on toast and bisquits just as we do jelly or jam. The comparison stops there. I have never, ever tasted anything worse in my entire life. Humans shouldn't eat that stuff. I hope someone didn't tell you to get this stuff!! Horrid.......:heh:

I have arthritis too, and unfortunately you can't take Celebrex or ibuprofen (so my dr. tells me), so please check if you are on either one of these meds for the arthritis.

I don't know if this would do anything to convince you one way or the other, but my dr. has told me that a lot of people find the balloon extremely uncomfortable and want it removed, whereas the lapband doesn't cause this discomfort. I can't explain what he means when he says the balloon is extremely "uncomfortable" as I never really considered it, as it is kind of like taking diet pills for 6 mo., then going off them, and as we all know gaining back the weight we have lost or more. Maybe you could do some further research on both in order to make up your mind. I hope this helps you.

I have suffered from nausea a lot since getting my gall bladder removed. I wear a Scopomine patch behind my ear all the time. It lasts 3 days before you have to change it. I have no idea why you are experiencing nausea, but this might be a solution.

This is getting to be a trend with people who were banded in Mexico. Correct me if I'm wrong, as I often am, but could this have anything to do with bacteria introduced at the time of banding. Just because a facility looks clean doesn't mean it has passed American specifications.

Not another one. I am seeing the dr. in April (have to wait that long to clear up some other problems). Am looking at a late Apr. or May date for the band, and just about to change my mind. This is getting rediculous. Tell me please if you have diabetes. My dr. seems to think there is a link. If you don't, I'm really curious what could be causing this. Can it possibly be what people are eating, like spicy foods or something. Please someone...have you been told anymore about erosion possibilities and port infections then I have. I'm about to change my mind. Better yet, how many of these erosions are coming from bands placed by Mexican doctors?:guess

So happy to read a positive post about the band. There have been so many recent negative things happening...slippage, erosion, port infections and leaks, that I was beginning to not check in so often. I'm sooooo happy you are happy and hope you continue happily on your journey. You have given me new found confidence about being banded.

I'm having my surgery in Tennessee and will be there for a couple fills, then I'm going to be in Salt Lake City indefinitely. Does anyone know a fill dr. there that will do fills when you had your surgery somewhere else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Just curious, as I'm not banded yet. What did you have for the first 4 days that didn't give you these symptoms. I want to know what to avoid. I'm sorry you are so uncomfortable, but maybe trying to walk it off will help. I would also try Gas-X.

Mine was about an hour of answering question on a computer...pretty basic, and then a conversation with the psychologist who let me see my scores and told me I was ready for the surgery. Good thing to get out of the way, but nothing to worry about.

I love my New Balance walking shoes....they are so comfortable. For just everyday walking around it's all about Crocs. They are like walking on a pillow, but are not exercise shoes.