Dody

Don't most doctors require you spend a night in the hospital? Mine had mentioned it, so I'm curious why she would be walking around the car still with anesthesia in her system.

I never said you could get endocarditis from being banded. I said you can get it from foreign objects inserted into the body, i.e. the port is a place for bacteria to gather, especially if it is not healed. It has nothing to do with the band itself. As a nurse I know that diabetics are at a high risk of developing endocarditis and they don't have to have any heart condition at all in order to get it. It is an inflammation of the heart yes, but it is caused by many things. The main thing is your surgeon who did the band is not a dentist; nor is your dentist able to place a band. The best person to ask dental advice of is your dentist. Mention to them you have a port from banding and take their advice as far as antibiotics. Don't just go there and assume you shouldn't tell them anything that is new in your body. There is absolutely no point in taking chances with your own health if 4 500 mg tablets will save you the trouble of going through problems. Rely on your surgeon for all info about your banding and rely on your dentist to know what you need in the form of medication especially when getting teeth cleaned or pulled. Fillings are not nearly as drastic. I hope in some way this clears up everything. Just tell your dentist you are banded and have a port and go from there. It's just a precautionary measure.

Yes, you can take out the equity in your home. You never turn over the deed or lose control of your house and you can live in it till the day you die. You and your spouse if you have one. The loan is repaid when the house is sold, and if you leave most of the loan in a line of credit and just use what you need for your surgery you are only paying on that minimal amount. Absolutely no payments for you to add to your already stretched income. It's a great way for older people who have dental and eye glass bills that are not even covered by Medicare. For me it was a wonderful answer and I would suggest it to anyone. I talked it over with the kids and they were absolutely all for it. They want me to be as well as I can be while I am here, and although they all live all around the country and have their own lives, I will now have the resources to visit them and heck once I'm banded maybe visit other places I've only dreamed of going. Since getting this loan the world looks like a much different place to me. My home will keep gaining equity so there will still be money left in it for the kids, but right now I have to do what is best for me and this is it. There are solutions out there for all problems. If you need to find another shrink then go for it. Depression should be an excellent reason for having the banding. People feel better immediately because they now have a tool to help them and they are not on their own. No wonder they call it "their best friend". Don't give up your dreams on one denial. Heck so many here have been fighting for the rights for the band forever. You just don't take no for an answer until you have tried everything. Some psychiatrists merely give written exams where you answer questions for about 2 hours (that is what mine did). Good luck to you and don't give up.

I am on Celexa (and thing I have tried each and every other one). The Prozac was the worse. I wanted to kill something...anything. It was horrible and a mind bending experience. The Celexa is wonderful. As someone said the sky is bluer, everything is clearer, and I make much better decisions for myself. There is absolutely no magic pill to make depression better if you truly have had grief in your life, but it does help you to cope with it much better. For me this was the answer, and it took about 10 years of trying lots of other drugs before it ever came to me. Now, I can't imagine being on anything else.

Merry Christmas to all the wonderful forum members on here (both banded and unbanded). I wish you nothing but happiness in the coming year. I hope for those that are banded you have learned a whole new way of life and continue to lose those unwanted pounds. For those of you that lost your bands due to erosion or some other problem I keep you in my prayers that you will be able to be banded again if that is what you want, and for those unbanded let's keep up the good fight and have the patience to see this through to the end. I know the weight is long, but the reward will be wonderful once we are banded. I truly thank each and every one of you for making me feel so welcome. Enjoy this holiday season, and always remember the true meaning of Christmas.

<p>I'm willing to bet I'm probably one of the older people on here getting banded at 60+ and I'm certainly depressed, but I have had my psych eval and was told that depression is a very good reason to have the surgery. It usually turns people's lives around.</p> <p> </p> <p>If you have equity in your home and don't ever want payments think about a reverse mortgage. There are no payments and you never ever have to move. There are a lot of legal and legit ways to obtain money and this is one of them. Talk with people at Wells Fargo or contact them on line. They also will do financing.</p> <p> </p> <p>I'm retired also and certainly not in good health, but I'm hoping this surgery will turn my depression and arthritis around. I would ask to see another shrink. This one doesn't even sound half legit. I was upfront and honest about being depressed and they said that if I wasn't they would have been far more concerned about me. The truth is most heavy people are not happy with themselves or their self-image.</p> I'm spending Christmas with my dogs and cat. How is that for lonliness. I've lost my mom, dad, husband in an accident, almost lost my daughter, have serious health issues, and hey I'm going to get through this holiday season with the help of this board and a very good friend. There is nothing can stop me from pursuing the band even though right now I'm at a standstill clearing up an ulcer. It WILL come to pass. Don't ever give up on your dreams. Feel free to PM me anytime if you want to talk. I think we have a lot in common.

A leaky heart valve is certainly a good source with which to contract endocarditis but it is NOT the only way. A diabetic is at a very increased rate of developing it also. Men are more likely to develop it then men. Vets and people who work around animals have a higher instance of endocarditis. This is not just limited to people with Mitral Valve Prolapse, Tricuspic valve leaks or anyother underlying heart murmurs. You only have to google this to find out there are many people that are vulnerable to endocarditis. As a retired nurse I know from experience that diabetics are very prone to getting endocarditis when getting their teeth cleaned especially. Lets get the word out there and get it out there right. A lot of people are definitely at risk, so why take chances????

I have been told that within the last few mo. they have found that putting the band higher up on the stomach prevents a lot of problems. This comes from a dr. stateside. I have no idea what technique Mexico's dr's. use at all, but it could make the difference. I'm sooooooo sorry about your band.

Diflucan is a good medicine for yeast infections and the only oral one I might say. However, there are many good ones over the counter with no side-effects that you could use. It is important that you get rid of bacteria that causes ulcers. Fortunately or unfortunately I already have a peptic ulcer and an esophageal erosion (think that one is gone) and I've spent the last few weeks on Nexium. I couldn't imagine getting an ulcer when I was banded. I think it would be the start of a whole new set of problems. Why not switch to OTC medications for the yeast infection. They are just as good and work much faster than Diflucan. You would be covering everything then. At first I was upset that sooooooooo many tests are required state side but now I'm extremely glad. I found out that I have sleep apnea and am now on C-pap...not that it is good to have sleep apnea by any means, but I could have stopped breathing during surgery. The endoscopy was not bad and not the first one I've had, and it certainly showed me I wasn't ready for the banding yet. Be good to yourself and take the antibiotic and stock up on Monistat or a generic form (Walmart carries Equate which is just as good believe it or not). I don't know what insurance you have but Diflucan is very expensive for one pill and OFTEN does not get the job done in one dose. Good luck to you.

I made the remark some weeks ago that my surgeon had told me I would have to take antibiotics for dental work, and I got ganged up on...so I gave up the subject gracefully. People were all saying it isn't true...I get dental work all the time and my dr. didn't say anything.......WELL my surgeon specifically informed me that once I am banded I will be taking antibiotics everytime I visit the dentist. If I recall I got ganged up on by several on here, one of whom I remember specifically (because we agree on very little...from the band and port are a foreign object to taking antibiotics before dental work) I certainly hope your post will set them straight. You can get endocarditis from having dental work done without antibiotics because of the port mostly. Thank you for being kind enough to clear this one up, and YES I have most definitely been told about it.

I don't get banded till Spring so maybe I will get nervous then, but scared I don't think. I've waited too long and done too much research to be scared. For those with cold feet warm booties help a lot :eek: There is nothing to fear except fear itself. Once it's over I bet you will wonder what you were ever worried about.

I've been using Nioxin for years. I've never had any trouble with hair loss even with a lousy thyroid, but I'm not banded yet. I think I even saw Nioxin in the beauty shop at Walmart not too long ago. It's an excellent product.

For me taking Synthroid in various amounts has done absolutely nothing to prevent me from gaining weight; being tired; everything. It isn't a magic pill. In fact I've yet to find it useful in any way. If you are looking for great results it isn't Synthroid. It's like taking a little sugar pill for me that does absolutely nothing. I have never felt one bit different in the 20 years I have taken it. I get my thyroid checked every 3 mo. and the doses have varied, but I've never felt any effect from them. If anything I find they make me more tired.

Oak Ridge isn't far from Knoxville. Do you know where that is?

I'm having visuals after reading this that is never going to allow me to go to sleep tonight.

OK, forget the little Jonathans and Megans. You definitely have your hands full. How about here's hoping your blended family works out just great for you What are you doing on line? Don't you have OTHER things to do?

What a lovely couple you make. You have a beautiful bride. I wish you many, many happy years together and many little Jonathans and Megans to fill up the house The seat belt thing is awesome. Other people don't realize what a huge accomplishment this is for someone. Horray for you.

Your post made me tear up, and I hate doing that. I try hard to keep the negative in the back of my mind. I was told once the Lord doesn't give you more than you can carry, but I feel sometimes he is truly testing me. My daughter is off on her own now and raising her own family and doing a wonderful job. She got well despite mo. in Intensive Care. Memories are the hard things to cope with, and little atta boys like you just gave make me realize that I'm giving it my best every day and that's all I can do. The medicine does help tremendously and is a good drug for depression. It literally saved me from being overwhelmed by what was happening to my life and I was able to hold on to sanity in the worse times. If you have your parents still always remember even when you get a little angry with them, they won't be here forever, and always find room to forgive and let them know you love them. I loved mine emmensely and was an only child so it hit me extremely hard. Hold your kids a little tighter because life doesn't always prevent them from getting hurt, but let them know you're always there to catch them. Thanks for being such a sweetheart

My dr. must have misinformed me, but I'm not interested in either DS or GB surgery. I'm going to give the lapband a go and if it doesn't work it doesn't work. I have too many medical problems to ever get OK'ed for any other type of surgery, but I'm extremely glad you are doing so well.

I'm going to resolve to find something nice about everyone I know or am going to meet, even if right now I don't like anything about them. The quest begins to find something good in everyone and to let them know it.

Your post rings a bell with me. Have you had a sleep study done. You might have sleep apnea. It's amazing what C-pap can do for you. You wake up feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed. I had no clue I had sleep apnea, but was always tired and felt miserable.

I have spent most of my adult life depressed and have run the gamut of antidepressants. I can't think of one I haven't been tried on. Celexa has saved my life literally. I've been on it for 2 years now, and it is definitely helping me not only cope, but be happier in my life. This is a brand new experience for me. I've lost my mom, dad, husband, almost lost my daughter in an auto accident, and it seemed everytime I turned around something horrible was happening. Celexa was a new drug a couple years ago, and it has turned my life around. It attacks different parts of the brain then some common antidepressants. You might give it a shot and ask your dr. about it. I've had absolutely no side-effects from it.

My dr. tells me that you have to be cut completely open for this surgery. It can't be done laparoscopically. It is Major Surgery, whereas the lap band is not. Like they said there is someone on here that had it done and probably could give you more info. It's definitely not even a consideration for me.

Because I always suffer from nausea and have since having my gallbladder removed I wear Scopolomine patches behind my ear to keep me from getting nauseated. My dr. tells me I can wear them right into surgery.

Does this mean you are expecting mail from Randall? I'm not real happy for him, but then I wasn't rooting for him to win either. I wanted the woman to win, and I think he should have said yes to Trump hiring her too.....ahhhhhhh but it is "The Apprentice" not "The Apprenti"...I didn't even know there was a pleural except "The Apprentices". That's what education at all those big named schools will do for you I thought he acted like a butt in that particular situation. He doesn't look like the type to last in the fast paced Atlantic City. I was surprised that was his choice. Maybe still waters run deep, but Gosh it was nauseating hearing him brag on himself over Rebecca. She was a smart cookie, and kudos to her for going all those weeks with a broken foot. That took guts. Now what got me on this topie...oh yeh the dream. Trump owed Rebecca big time. What a lousy gift to send a woman to play hockey. It's a wonder all she broke was her foot. What woman wants to get out on the ice and catch a puck between her teeth? Lousy prize by the Donald without any thought going into it that the women might win that and wouldn't want it.