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I have posted on the general forum about my experience. I was banded on 9/16/2008. On 1/31/09 I had emergency surgery to remove the band and repair my stomach - I had a hole along the bandline and I was leaking air into my body cavity. Luckily I had gone to just yogurt with probios because I though I had gaz so somehow there was no food to infect me even worse. This was followed by a second surgery on 2/2/09 to help stop a massive infection. I spent three weeks in the hospital - left on 2/20/09. My symptoms appeared about a week/11 days earlier. I woke up bloated on my left side. No pain. I disregarded for another 6 days where I went to my generalist. She felt a mass. Called the bariatric surgeon and they thought perhaps a hernia. A cat scan was arranged another 3 days later. Two days later, Sat 1/31/09 I got an urgent message to get to ER because the Cat scan revealed air in my abdmoninal cavity. A lot of it. I called the bariatric surgeon and got her partner. I was told by this surgeon: " You dont sound like you have air in your abdomen (this is a critical situation), the Cat scan must have been wrong. You should have them redo it. It cant be the band, they dont erode at 5 months" Luckily, I still went to ER and from there was taken in an ambulance to another branch of the hospital which did bariatric surgery. I was wheeled into the operating room and soon after operated. I would have likely died had I not gotten to ER and been operated. Out of the whole 3 weeks, I only remember about 12 days. I was delirious the first half of my hospital stay. I was confined to a bed with a nasal gastric tube, and 24/7 Ivs pupping me full of antibiotics and hydration. It appears more like a leaking staple or a staple that pulled? then erosion from what I have understood. I am unclear how that would happen. Anyone Its taken me 3 more weeks to be able to take a shower without feeling faint. Two weeks before I could even drive/walk to my mailbox. I was exausted. My voice has been altered by the nasal tube and its gotten squeaky. I HATE it. I am almost back to normal except I must eat very little to protect my stomach. In 2 days I will graduate to 5-6 oz 3x a day. I was on 2oz of food 3x a day the last 2 weeks. Basically I must pretend I have a band though the scaring is so bad, I will never be a candidate for bariatric surgery again. The original surgeon has not called to ask how I am doing. However they have been asking and trying to get my hospital records. That's been very dissapointing. Finally, I think my insurance is picking the tab after I have paid my deductible but I am not 100% sure. If not, I am really concerned what 3 weeks, 2 surgeries, several cat scans and other tests with cost. From what I understand I am now at a higher risk of intestinal occlusions. My stomach was attached to my abdomen and I feel it. I am no longer a candidate for bariatric surgery, and therefore at a very high risk of regaining the 62 lb I have lost. I forgot, a very important thing. My surgeon told me that sometimes in obese people there is not always a fever to reflect an increase of white cell and an infection. That was my case. Zero fever until after the operation. So, if your stomach gets very bloated, call your doctor. Oh, and I missed a 2 weeks 1/2 trip to New Zealand. Grrrr.

Thank you for all the support and the recommendations. I do have the serial number for the band. I agree with everything the previous poster said and I will miss my band.

Thank you. I am going to find out and write down what model it was. I know my bariatric surgeon who is extremely experienced had mentioned it was a newer model. I am no longer a candidate for bariatric surgery due to the scarring and I will miss the band. I had lost 44 lb in five months easily and without stress and was very happy with the pace of loss. I have lost another 16lb for a total 60lb between the hospital and home. The irony is I am on the post lapband diet and eating basically a yogurt for Breakfast, a sugar free pudding a lunch and an apple sauce for diner because of how traumatized my stomach was. As I get more details I will post them here.

I wanted to share my experience. I was banded on 9/16/08. On 1/21/09 I woke up feeling bloated. I though I had gas. The following Monday, 1/26 I went to see my regular physician, palpation revealed a hard mass at the port and she contacted my bariatric surgeon. The word that came up was hernia. My doctor ordered a CAT SCAN. I had the CAT SCAN on thursday 1/29. On saturday morning 1/31 I received a call from my doctor indicating that there was air in my abdomen cavity and to go to the nearest ER as soon as possible. Called a friend and went to Kaiser in San Rafael. The CAT SCAN made the rounds and the situation became very severe. I had surgery that same day 1/31to remove the band who had eroded and created a hole in my stomach. My stomach and liver had begun fusing and it showed a have a lot of scarring. Two days later on 2/2 I had surgery again to fight wide spread infection. I then spent 3 weeks in the hospital fighting for my life. I do not remember the first 10 days. 1/31- 2/20. My lapband is in the pathology dept and I am seeing my doctor tomorrow to remove one last drain. I am extremely weak and recovery is expecting to take weeks. I understand this is very rare but I wanted to give everyone a heads up that you must go to the doctor if you are feeling gassy or bloated for more then a day. I was not very uncomfortable and the only reason I called my doc was because of a friend who insisted. Had I not, I would have died as the surgery was just in time. The band was supposed to be the new and improved one.

I was banded on 9/16 and as of this morning I have lost 31lb. I had lost 33 but gained back two. I am going for my third fill sometimes this month since I am not feeling any restriction right now.

I was banded on 9/16/08 with a 10cc band which contained 3.5cc. On 10/7/08 I got my first fill, increase to 4.5cc. On 11/6 I got my second fill to 5.5 cc. I have lost 29 lb total. I can eat what I want. I have had one unpleasant moment with roasted turkey that lasted just a couple of minutes but was painful. In the last 7 weeks I have made a real effort to eat Protein first, greens and vegetables second, and then carbs. I have eaten tilapia and salmon several times a week because I want to make this work. I have had a sliver of cake maybe 3 times -and I mean a sliver - because of social situations. Mostly, I try hard to eat a lot of variety: cauliflower, mushrooms, broccoli, spinash, things I dont love but are good for me. I buy organic food, and if I have a turkey sandwich, its hold the mayo and only one slice of cheese. And, I have a dog who is getting a lot of workout. We walk at least 3 miles a day. I am starting pilates 3x a week next week - had to take a break to heal) and in another 30lb, I am going to start riding 3, 4x a week again. I also have an agreement with a friend with whom I will be going to NZ next year to go and start doing little hikes weekly. I totally agree with Jachut and others that exercice is going to make a difference. In the meantime, I can eat everything but I am working on my head hunger not to, and instead focus on what is good for my body.

I could say of you to be so brain washed and obtuse and be able to vote. But now its a moot point because Barak Obama is now President Obama. And by a huge margin too. God Bless Barak Obama and our Beautiful, awake, smart America.

Well then dont cry when you dont get what you want. What is the saying again, the future belongs to those who get up early? As to the video, I am sorry for this lady if she is confusing Obama with Santa. I have been watching reactions from the rest of the world on TV5 and everyone is very clear that Obama is a capitalist, concerned first and foremost with the welfare of America and Americans and they are not expecting him to be much more different then say Bill Clinton. I think those who are expecting Obama to turn into a socialist, marxist, communist are going to be very dissapointed.

Oh, and about socialist countries being losers, or whatever you called them here are some interesting statistics related to your perception about socialism and capitalism relative to corporations andmbusinesses. Cause business is what defines capitalism. The Ease of Doing Business (created by the World Bank) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.....ness_Index The top 20 countries in the world for ease of doing business include many that are considered to be "socialist" countries by conservatives like you. Index of Economic Freedom (compiled by Wall Street Journal and Heritage Foundation) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.....ic_Freedom Quote:The index scores nations on 10 broad factors of economic freedom using statistics from organizations like the World Bank, the IMF and the Economist Intelligence Unit: * Business Freedom * Trade Freedom * Monetary Freedom * Freedom from Government * Fiscal Freedom * Property Rights * Investment Freedom * Financial Freedom * Freedom from Corruption * Labor Freedom The 10 factors are averaged equally into a total score. Each one of the 10 freedoms is graded using a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 represents the maximum freedom. A score of 100 signifies an economic environment or set of policies that is most conducive to economic freedom. Again there a number of "socialist" countries including Belgium and a host of Scandinavian countries in the top 20. How do you explain that?

Rashid Khalili? First he is a scholar, not a terrorist. Second, McCain is the one who gave him a 1/2 million dollar, not Obama: "John McCain served as Chairman of the International Republican Institute (IRI), which gave out grants to different organizations including the Palestinian Research Center, which was headed by Rashid Khalidi. In 1998, a tax filing from IRI shows $448,873 that went to Khalaidi’s group. The relationship existed for at least 5 years as in 1993 IRI funded several of Khalidi’s studies on “sociopolitical attitudes.” See grant number 5180, "West Bank: CPRS" on page 14 of this PDF: http://big.assets.huffingtonpo.....901998.pdf" More info on the relationship between Obama and Khalili: Allies of Palestinians see a friend in Barack Obama - Los Angeles Times And, have you been to Israel? Because I have and while I am pro-israel, the manner in which Palestinians live is not ok, in great part due to their own dirigants. If Obama can help resolve some of the issues great. I dont think he will be anymore successful then the other Presidents who have tried. And, do you know that the Economist endorsed Obama? Hardly a liberal rag. This is what they have to say about Obama and Raila's relationship. Mr Obama saves Kenya | Saving the world in his spare time | The Economist Not at all how you portray it. I dont know where you get your information, I think you might want to investigate more closely whatever is sent to you because as you can see when you look at just the facts, your stuff just does noy stand up to scrutiny.

You got it wrong. Turns out Al-Quaeda endorses McCain not Obama. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/opinion/26kristof.html?em Because McCain's plan to keep occupying Iraq, attack Iran and god knows what other country will keep turning average muslims into jihadists, not Obama's diplomatic efforts.

And as far as your post about socialism and communism being "this" close, you really need to do some research because that is simply not the case. Further, eventhough Hitler's regime was called a social-democracy, it had nothing to do with modern socialism, think of it as a fascist regime. And, Obama wont bring a social democracy around, Sarah Palin and McCain might, Bush's attacks on the constitution have been the closest to that shift. ANd, Obama is not considered a socialist anywhere in the world but here in the USA. To socialists everywhere he is really a centrist republican. I dont think you realize how tiny the differences are between republicans and democrats compared to lets say the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the the centrist party Union for French Democracy (UDF) and the the Socialist Party's (PS). Most european countries show much more marked differences in the core values of their parties. People in europe are rolling on the floor laughing when Obama is described as a communist, a socialist or a Marxist. It exposes some Americans for the ignoramuses that they are.

A. Class envy? I dont think so. I am educated, european born, was an upper level executive in a global firm, made loads of money and dont have to work. So, thank you, I am quite happy with my "class". Oh, and my income has not come from putting Americans in arms way. Its not built on American blood. B. To maintain that Bush is a liberal is to reveal your lack of critical thinking and great ability to spew propaganda. Just Google Bush and neo-conservative and you will be quickly desilutioned of your Bush is a liberal fantasy. This would be one: The Neocons in Power - The New York Review of books this another Bush is a neoconservative Of course no one disputes that Bush was so inept he has made his neoconservative buddies very unhappy. C. Joe The Plumber. If the not a plumber, not an entrepreneur, con man Joe the Plumber is all you have to throw at Barack Obama then I pity you. He is a huge joke, but if he is you idol, hey you can have him.

Context being everything, here is the speech your video was excerpted from. It was delivered on the 2nd of July: During that speech he: . Note that the AmericanThinker article is not complimentary to Barack Obama but they state the TRUTH about his speech, unlike you. American Thinker: Obama's Civilian National Security Force Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Obama

Again you are doing no research. Obama was speaking of massive community organizing akin to the Peace Corp not about creating a homeland army - see below for more on that. You got it backwards. McCain and Palin may lead to a social democracy which is what the Reich was. Again check the Patriot Acts and see what McCain voted for. Ever heard of Homeland Security? This is what your administration has done: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/ Our own Homeland ready to intervene. And Kellogg Brown & Root was awarded four years ago a contract to provide DOMESTIC portable detection centers that can be deployed and set up to house detainees in short notice with an estimated holding capacity of between 1 and 5 million people. That's not Obama planning to silence the opposition, that's was your administration making sure they have the infrastructure to emprison Americans under very short notice. You say the current administration is not "your" administration. Well, in voting for McCain you are voting for 4 or 8 more years of the same failed policies that have created the crisis we are in. As far as I am concerned, there is no choice. It has to be Obama because the republicans were not able to provide a rational, intelligent candidate with a platform that addressed the current problems of America. Instead we have McCain and worse, Sarah Palin. For McCain to have chosen her shows his contempt for Americans or early onset dementia. You pick.