Corliss

My doc says that it is easy enough to eat most anything you can get in a mexican restaurant except flour tortillas. I have found that this is true. Eat 4 nachos, 3/4 of a taco, a small tamale, some mexican stew, 3/4 of an enchilada, yum, full of good Protein, with Beans you get fibre and with tomatoes, avacado and tomatillos you get antioxidants, high fat true enough but you will be eating very small amounts. chips are sliders, as long as you chew them well they go down easy. If you are okayed for solid foods at 9 wks, I would think that a half or 3/4 of a taco would be a good choice, but chew chew chew!

Corliss

Let me start by saying this surgery works! However, I am defective. I'm very down on myself right now.

My highest weight was 365 around 2006. I lost down to 305 and got pregnant in late December 2007. Had my precious baby in Oct 2008. I was around 310 after delivery...didn't gain much weight at all. I felt healthy throughout my pregnancy except for the end...she wouldn't come out! I was 42 weeks when I was induced and then had a c-section. So, the beginning was tough. I was still 300+ pounds with a colicky infant who refused to sleep. I didn't know what to do. I finally decided that enough to was enough. I had my sleeve in May 2009 and lost weight immediately. I had no ill symptoms following the surgery, not even reflux, for 3 weeks. I felt pretty good, albeit tired. Then the reflux hit BAD at 3 weeks. I started taking a PPI and it was controlled.

But I was exhausted. Soon I realized I couldn't use food anymore (duh, wasn't that the purpose?). I started drinking too much coffee. Bad reflux continued. Then I started eating more. I would eat half a sandwich (or even less), wait until I wasn't full anymore, and eat more until it was gone. So, yes, for people out there wondering if you can overcome this, you can. I was still losing weight. But felt miserable.

I did this to myself. I regret having my surgery. At surgery, I was 322. I am now 260. Not good. I should be under 200 by now. I did this to myself. I wasn't ready to lose the weight (psychologically). I still can't give up the foods that cause me to overeat. If I eat healthy proteins/fats and some veggies, I feel great. Yet, for some reason, I want to stuff myself with bread. My reflux is out of control, but my doc took me off the PPI because I am vit B12, folate, and Iron deficient (pernicious anemia). I am on zantac 150 mg up to four times a day to try to prevent esophagitis. Yet I keep killing myself with food. Why I thought this would be my answer, I don't know.

I am a graduate student studying to become a physician assistant. I love health, medicine, and wellness. Yet I can't fix myself. If I would stop eating the crap that I eat and stop drinking the coffee, it's likely the reflux would be tolerable. I am really down on myself. I see a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, but I don't know what to do. I also have Hashimoto's thyroid disease (autoimmune) and my doc told me to stop eating gluten, but I still eat it all the time. Like I'm addicted to it. The simple suggestion to "just stop" doesn't work with me. I am a smart, educated, kind person. Yet I can't do these simple things for myself.

As of now I regret my decision to have surgery. The reflux is awful. I'm finally now not so tired. For awhile, all I did was cry because I was so tired after the surgery. So I don't know what to do. "Just stop eating the crap" hasn't seemed to work for me. It's like I can't embrace what I've done to myself. I still haven't.

Well, that's all. At least I got this off my chest.

Congrats to all who've done well. I think I'm defective. I've been big my whole life and it's like I'm scared to be small.

As a warning to those undergoing the procedure, don't think this surgery will change your core being. You need to be ready for it or quickly learn to embrace it. I thought I was ready. Obviously I wasn't.

Shannon

Shannon, honey STOP being so mean to yourself. You are over thinking this and I will bet every time you kick yourself in the arse, you want to eat the stuff that hurts you that much more. I would suggest in addition to being kind to yourself that you allow yourself to have the coffee in the morning and invest in some good gluten free bread. The good news is that it is generally crumbly and will go down easy. You will get lots of satisfaction from the bread. My Mother in law is gluten sensitive and she gets some really good breads at whole foods. Now if you go and splurge on some sweets or some wheat product, just move on, and maybe make a deal with yourself that next time you want something like that you can have it but only after you have eaten Protein and produce. I think we get in a whirlwind sometimes because we want it to be all or nothing. We think we have to be perfect or we might as well throw it overboard, and unlike a diet we can't throw this out, once it is done it is done, and we punish ourselves by doing the things that actually hurt physically like trying to eat stuff that doesn't go down easy or stuff that causes pain through reflux.

I don't understand why your doc would take you off PPIs. The treatment for pernicious anemia is B-12 injections along with folate and Iron. If you can't tolerate the iron orally then discuss the possibility of iron transfusions. I have all these issues and my doc has me on nexium. I drink coffee and have absolutely no problem with GERD as long as I drink coffee only up to 4 hrs before I go to bed. I also don't go to bed within 3 or 4 hours of eating. I drink diet green tea throughout the day and night with no problems.

Like yourself, I am an overachiever in that I have very high expectations for myself, and I have been dealing with WLS since 2005 when I had my first of two lapbands. I had my last band removed due to major complications this past May and was given a sleeve. I am learning to love my sleeve and due to my Vitamin deficiencies along with hypoproteinemia I have been cautioned by my surgeon to not even try to loose wt, to try to get my numbers up. I have lost 30 lbs since having my sleeve and I have 38 lbs to go to get to goal.

Hope this helps,

Corliss

Hey all, I am toying with the idea of setting up a website about my local area, Chattanooga and Southeast TN. I would like to write about things like the local historical and tourist sites. I would also go heavy on the thing I know best, local eating establishments of course!

I need to decide whether it should be general with some space devoted to the interests of weight loss surgery patients, like in restaurants which serve WLS friendly foods, the accessibility of the various tourist and historical spots, and information on local WLS providers. Or should my website be WLS specific with the same information, which hopefully would prove interesting to the general public? I also plan to include recipes and a link for readers to make comments. I hope to add a couple of reviews per week of either a place of interest or a restaurant or both.

I am just in the early stages of planning on this and would welcome everyones input, maybe some ideas that I haven't thought of yet. A lot of this has come about because I need something meaningful to do while I await this disability process and if it can pick up speed then who knows?

Corliss

1st band, Nov. 2005, 356 lbs

band removal, Sept. 2008, 155 lbs +/-

2nd band, June 16, 2009, 214 lbs

band removal, May 22, 2010, 238 lbs

current wt, 208 lbs:smile2:

Hey all, I am a formerly banded person who now has a sleeve. I do not regret my first LAP-BAND®® as it helped me to get to a normal wt. I had to give it up and gained a lot of my wt back. I had a subsequent band with little success in loosing wt but had major complications which resulted in an emergency removal and revision to a gastric sleeve.:thumbup: I am very familiar with all types of WLS including RNY as my daughter has had that surgery. I just wanted to introduce myself if someone reads this who is not acquainted with me. I hang out in LAP-BAND®® chat and vertical sleeve chat a lot.:sleep: I am making this post because I need your input.

I am toying with the idea of setting up a website about my local area, Chattanooga and Southeast TN. I would like to write about things like the local historical and tourist sites. I would also go heavy on the thing I know best, local eating establishments of course!

I need to decide whether it should be general with some space devoted to the interests of weight loss surgery patients, like in restaurants which serve WLS friendly foods, the accessibility of the various tourist and historical spots, and information on local WLS providers. Or should my website be WLS specific with the same information, which hopefully would prove interesting to the general public? I also plan to include recipes and a link for readers to make comments. I hope to add a couple of reviews per week of either a place of interest or a restaurant or both.

I am just in the early stages of planning on this and would welcome everyones input, maybe some ideas that I haven't thought of yet. A lot of this has come about because I need something meaningful to do while I await this disability process and if it can pick up speed then who knows?

Thanks,

Corliss

Band 1, Nov. 5, 2005-353 lbs

Removed Sept. 19, 2008-+/-155 lbs

Band 2, June. 16, 2009-214 lbs

Removed and sleeved, May 22, 2010-238 lbs

Current wt. 208 lbs

Thanks for the encouragement. I keep telling myself it'll get better but it's just so frustrating right now. I've heard Muscle Milk is good so I might give that a try; it's just the most miserable feeling to think I'm going to throw up at any second.

I think I'm staying hydrated enough, but I haven't really been keeping track. I just keep my Water bottle attached to me and drink from it all day. Is it normal to be able to drink all day and not feel full? Because I do.

I can't wait until I'm at that point where this feeling is just a dim memory. :teeth_smile:

My doc says it is not unusual for sleevers to be nauseous for first few months off and on. It is important to stay hydrated above all. I found that I couldn't handle the Protein supplements sometimes but I could drink a glass of buttermilk or just plain ice cold milk. I also made my own form of egg drop Soup using just the yolks and sieving out the solids. I thought I would never get to the point where every thought didnt make me want to upchuck but I got there. I still have some nausea but it is usually if I have over eaten or ate something too fatty. I have a little bit of a dumping syndrome. Not really bad just not fun. I also keep a rx for both phenergan and zofran on hand just in case. I am getting to the point now where I love my sleeve.

Good luck, Corliss

I keep hearing that sleevers shouldn't have caffeine. Why is that? Post surgery, I know I won't be able to drink a big cup of steaming fresh-brewed coffee, but why shouldn't I be able to have a bit of one? I'm a Northwest guy, and Starbucks is the LAW. :001_tt1:

Dave

I still drink coffee. I don't want nearly as much as I used to though.

My doc did not tell me to avoid it.

Corliss

It is great not to be ruled by food. When I am really enjoying something it makes me mad when my belly can't eat all my head wants! If I eat really slow it helps me feel better satisfied.

Corliss

Early on especially in the creamy liquid phase food was horrible. The only thing I wanted was popsicles and tea. When I got to food it was better but had a horrible time getting enough Protein in early on. I still have a hard time with it. I had rather eat bread, and tomatoes. I am just repelled by the idea of eating things i should eat at times.

But most days it is much better.

Corliss

Eating too fast has been my biggest issue. Even if I don't eat so fast that it comes up, that has only happend a couple of times, I can eat so fast that i don't realize when I have had enough and I get nauseous after eating. This is a bit different than my experience with a well functioning band. I always knew when I had too much and it would just PB if I carried it too far but with the sleeve I find myself nauseous even though the food stays down if I eat too much too fast.

Corliss

Can anyone tell me if someone can get hypothyroidism after the band? I have lost 75 but then started gaining again. Several symptoms I have point at hypothyroidism. I have a doctor appointment Friday but just wanted to see what you all know. Thanks!

Hey there, I wouldn't think hypothyroidism would come on suddenly or as the result of the band. Generally what happens is after we loose a large amount of wt (congratulations!) is that our body requires fewer and fewer calories in order to loose. The smaller we are the less fuel we require. For example when I was 356 lbs with my band I could eat 2500 cals per day and loose like crazy. I noticed my wt loss slowing down when I got to about 275. I cut out more carbohydrates and lost more without feeling deprived at all. I cut down to about 2000 initially the 1800 and so on. Now I am 38 lbs from goal and am on a plateau at 38 lbs away from goal. I will probably have to eat between 1000 and 1200 to loose the rest. Not sure that I am ready, LOL! I no long have a band, I have sleeve so no fill is indicated, I just have to do more of the work.

Good luck to you.:drool:

Corliss

Hi everyone..after lots and lots of research, I attended a seminar yesterday and I'm ready to take the plunge with the lap. However, as I was sitting there, something hit me like a ton of bricks! I am self pay and it's a big investment...I'm a teacher, divorced, with 3 kids so I don't have excess money laying around. But if for some reason, I have a complication and have to go into surgery (slip, erosion, etc) will my Humana insurance cover that? Thanks for any info!

So are you sure you insurance will not pay for your band? I am self pay and have had complications with 2 different bands. Fortunately my insurance paid for emergenc surgery both times though it would not pay for the placement. It wll now however. Good luck to you.

Corlss

Hi Jackie, I really don't know how it eroded and never even heard of a LAP-BAND® erosion. I lived in California and moved to Knoxville, Tn. I didn't realize that if a doctor did not do your procedure, he will not give you any fills. So no doctor in this area would even consider me. After a couple of years and 25lbs weight gain later I found a doctor in New Orleans which is actually from TJ that flies in every three months to give fills to their patients. I drove all the way to New Orleans all excited to get a fill and on my way of losing some weight! I have the 10cc Inamed band. He said okay you are going to feel some pressure as he is filling my band to the full 10cc and got no restriction and that is when I found out it was eroded. Went locally and had an Endoscopy to confirm it.

I would use my credit card if it was not maxed out! I had a great job. It was only a 2 year temporarily project and after the 2 years was up it was the worst time to get a job during recession. Which forced me to start my own business that is doing great but I have everything invested into it. I will be able to have the band removed in a year but I was hoping sooner than later!

I do have some good days when I say I can live with this a bit longer but on my bad days when I have a lot of pain I want it removed yesterday!

I guess i gave tmi but that is my story and it feels good to let it all out!

I'm glad to see you are doing good with your LAP-BAND® and I wish you lots of luck and will power to make it to your goal weight!

Hi, I am so sorry about your erosion. You do not need to go on with this. It could lead to peritenitis (sp). If you are in Knoxville, you are within easy driving distance of Chattanooga, TN. I would strongly suggest you contact Dr. Robert Sass, in Chattanooga. He removed my slipped band in 2008 and then in Feb. of this year he did emergency surgery when I had major complications with this second band. He is an amazing compassionate man and will work on charges with you. My insurance paid for both emergency proceedures though it did not pay to have either band placed. Dr. Sass phone number is 423-305-6999. You can set up an apt. with him and get in to see him reasonably fast. My other reccomendation would be to go to Mexico to Dr. Zapata in Monterrey. He will intervene when other doctors patients are having major problems and his prices are very reasonable. His web site is www.Ready4AChange.com. If you need more information on either of these guys let me know. Good luck to you! Corliss

I will be doing my pre-op stuff soon, and I was uncertain if I should share that I am a lesbian. I come from conservative west Texas, so if I were having the surgery here, I probably wouldn't tell the doc. But I'm having it in Colorado with Dr. Kirshenbaum, so I thought I'd see what y'all thought. :thumbup:

Hi Cara, I had my surgery in Monterrey Mexico. Since I had it out of country and I am not completely fluent in Spanish I introdued my partner as my friend. I believe everyone new as I have been on the boards a lot and never kept it a secret. We were both treated extremely well and she was shown every consideration that an opposite sex spouse would be. Monterrey is a very large city and very cosmopolitan. I always feel a little sheepish about not being totally open. No worries, we do what we feel is best at the time! The US coordinator knew for sure that I was Lesbian and she shared with me that her favorite sister was also and her sisters partner was her favorite sister in law.

Corliss

My wife and me both had over fills then got sick with gastroparesis about six months later we both now have to have a a sleeve. Does any one no if this is caused by the lap-band®?

I wish my doc had been trained in the sleeve. I sure do want one. Hope he learns to do it and can undo this tacked stomach and fix me a sleeve someday in the future. I am afraid my band won't do any good I have just had such bad luck with it, though my initial wt. loss was wonderful. Again, good luck to you guys.

Corliss

Me and my wife got gastroparesis 2 years after the surgery. Do you no if the lap-band® causes this?

I had two bariatric specialist tell me that they don't believe the band causes the gastroparesis. I had gall bladder surgery 2 wks before the first episode and the surgeon who did it doesn't believe the gallbladder surgery or anesthesia from it could have caused it though all areas are suspect in my opinion. One bariatric specialist said that the gallbladder might not have even been causing me pain that it could have been the gastroparesis all along. I was discharged without exploratory surgery the first time and readmitted the next day. My bariatric surgeon did an exploratory lap and found that indeed my stomach was swollen up and hung over my lap band tubing. He did not think it had been there long because it lifted off so easily. He then tacked my fundus of my stomach to my inner abdominal wall and put in a temporary gastrostomy tube. The tube is out now, but the stomach tacking is no fun. I can feel it when I cough. YUK!

Hope all goes well for the two of you. My doc put me on reglan for the gastroparesis. Itcauses lots of stinky stools and cramping.

Corliss

Since God created the Heavens and the Earth, I believe He alone is quite capable of handling it without my energy input or Al Gores. God's Earth doesn't need to be "saved" from anything! It's the people who need to be saved.

So God isn't capable of doing that himself, just the stuff that allows us to be greedy and irresponsible with his creation? The fundy folk who are more than a little bit environmentally aware make a lot more sense to me, they are a whole lot more congruent than those who abstain from responsibility to sustain what God gave us and just use, use, use, only giving to themselves and those whom they deem worthy.

Corliss

So what. Al Gore said this: "In 50 years there will be no North Pole in the summertime."

Talk about stupid!

Do you need to believe everything someone says? If you want to know if it's true, read God's word for yourself.

Or, ask yourself: Do I know anyone who had an abortion and then had a second child? Was the child disabled? If it wasn't, then he's wrong about what he said about God punishing women who had an abortion.

Although, I do believe that God allows natural consequences for our wrong doings to occur so that we could learn and benefit from them.

Yep Patty I would sure rather believe Al Gore than some scornful mean spirited idiot who is such a woman hater that he would blame such a mean vicious thing on God who he has "created" in his image. Thats not my God! I think you would do well to apply your energy to saving Gods whole creation which is what Al Gore is doing.

Corliss

Well Talk about a bummer.......................I was scheduled to go for a fill which I hoped would get me to restriction where I could lose Tuesday the 2nd. Well instead I was in agony and admitted to the hospital. I feared I had developed peritonitis. I had gall bladder surgery a couple of weeks ago and was afraid it was due to that. It was probably not, I had gastroparesis. Stomach swelling! Boy was it swollen. They had give me a load of morphine and put down an ng tube the size of a waterhose. They did multiple tests and found that I have no obstructions. Two different lap band docs saw me in addition to my general surgeon and none of them think that it is due ot my band. By Sunday I was a lot better and they pulled the NG tube and I have been able to tolerate first liquids, then fulls and now softs. I went home last night. Was in the hospital almost 8 days. Dr. Sass let all the Fluid out of my band, and miracle of all miracles, none of them believe my band has slipped even given all the pressure on it with the swollen stomach. We will see. So far I have no hunger but tolerate food with my medications. Dr. Sass says I will definately be hungary in two weeks. We will see! Anyhow no fill, but I still have my band and am not in pain today.

Just thought I would let you all know what is going on.

Corliss

People who are poor don't always stay that way. Everyone starts out there usually, unless you have wealthy parents who provide for you. I certainly was poor at 19 years old, but I CHOSE to save my money and pay for a CNA class and better myself financially. It took 8 weeks of school and it gave me a $5.00 an hour increase over my minimum wage job. This increase allowed me to CHOOSE to save even more money for other education that bettered my career choices.

Now, you can make fun of that, or you can see the reality in it. Anyone CAN better themselves if they put on their thinking caps and use a little incentive, motivation and brain power instead of sitting on their duff and being comfortable with their situation. Some things in life take a little sacrifice. It doesn't just plop into your lap, although I'm sure you liberals don't think that way. You would love for the government to be your wealthy parents who support you and get you through life without any worries. I understand your need for the government security blanket. But, conservatives want to be able to care for themselves for the most part.

It is ironic that you talk wanting this and wanting that, anything but taking care of themselves, when you story and mine are not that different. I chose to keep a baby at 19 and though I married it did not last and I went from working in a factory to gaining a master's degree by the time my child was 10 years old. It was not easy, it was darn hard and my "rich parents" were elderly, retired and did everyting they could to help me but money was very short. I fortunate enough to access loans and grants and fellowships along with working as a mental health tech, cleaning toilets, baby sitting, and working the census while I was in school. I considered myself darn fortunate and I was also very very tired.

I am luckier than you are because I appreciate the fact that even with the hard work, I couldn't have done it without a hand up from the government. I know too that I was luckier than many because I had a poor but supportive family who did their best to act as a buffer when things got their worst. They would buy medicine if we needed it and if my daughter needed something I couldn't get they usually found a way. All girls in my situation don't have nearly that kind of support. I don't think my parents should have had to do without to buy our medicine, but thank God they did. The world would be such a better place if people were not so selfish that they wanted to see a program in place to give medical care to all who need it.

I am grateful that I am willing to share! That is what being a liberal is, it is NOT about wanting the government to do something for me. Being Liberal is being willing to share and do my part to pay forward!

Corliss

So i was banded 9.15.08 all was well and I did get to goal in 10 months. which is so wonderful. In Aug out of nowhere couldnt eat or drink, Went to ER and had slip where stomach came up through the band. I got complete unfill and waited a month and then started the fill process. Finally got back to where I was and out of nowhere same thing happened, reflux pain, cannot drink or eat. Went to Er, got complete unfill and they say my band is sitting too horizontal so it slipped again or never really fixed itself the first time. My options as self pay are ( from surgeon) if removal of Fluid thereafter, there are no complications can leave the band in deflated since I cant cough up the money to remove it. Or if i have major complications I will get band removed as an emergency surgery which could cost me an arm and a leg I dont have. So for now the band will remain unfilled forever, and Im hoping I can get money someday to go to Mexico and get a revision and removal for less than half of the cost here. After a year, my band is rendered useless. Thank Goodness I was at goal when all this started to happen and im so scared of gaining the weight back but I got to be strong and know I can maintain right?

Tia, I haven't seen you around in a while. I have a second big blow. I am in the hospital right now with gastroparesis. Docs are trying to decide whether to take my band out or not and I am thinking take the byatch out. My stomach blew up and was literally close to bursting point by the time they got an ng tube down me. I don't wanta be huge again but I also dont want to die. I am thinking I will tell my doc today, get it on out of there, unless he is migty hopeful that it can be resolved. Frankly from my research on gastroparesis and my experience with loosing a band already, I should have never had this one put in. I hate to add bad news to what you are going through but misery does love company!

Love ya girl and miss you in chat. If you get this soon, check chat out, I have been in a lot since in hosp 5 days.

Corliss:cursing:

I am 15 months out from my banding and the left shoulder pain that I had right after surgery resolved after a couple of weeks but I still get left shoulder pain from time to time. It has been very painful the last couple of days. I saw my PCP about it awhile ago and had an x-ray. It didn't show anything.

I am convinced it is band related. Did any of you who had your band removed have left shoulder pain that went away after the band was removed?

Did you get your band removed? I have a hard time following these threads. I know you as a terrific smart gal from the rant on choice. I am in the hospital right now with gastroparesis and have had shoulder pain intermittently since I had my gall bladder removed Jan 14. I now have a stomach swollen up like mad and an ng tube down my throat waiting for my doc to decide what to do next. I am thinking at this point just get rid of the daayang thing! What are your thoughts on it?

Corliss

I am in the hospital due to gastroparesis. My band doc is trying to decide the best course of action. I am thinking a lap band removal would be the best course of action for me. I have lost one band and regained half my wt. I am 100 lbs overwt at this time. I am thinking that my safest course of action might be to just ask for it to be removed and then if I can't maintain or loose, go for possible sleeve. This is the pits. My Mexican surgeon who placed the last band, tried very hard to get me to be sleeved instead but since I had lost all my wt with the first band, I felt certain that this would be my best safest route! Well I made the best decision I knew to make at the time.

Being 100 lbs overwt is better than being dead. If anyone has had gastroparesis, please reply and let me know anything you can share!

Thanks, Corliss

A program to provide health care for all that doesn't have profit as their bottom line?? And this is bad???

I really have a hard time understanding this fear-based paranoia about all this. Maybe it's apples and oranges. I would have huge reservations about my (Canadian) health care system being run by big profit centred corporations. I also would have even more reservations if my neighbour (whether he was currently working or not) would not get the same care as me.

I also have a hard time understanding the self centred attitude I've read on some of the postings, things like "why should I end up paying for people who sit on their asses all day and are too lazy to work and therefore get insurance."

I get the feeling that even if a universal health care system was more affordable for current insurance payers they would still be pissed off because "It's not FAIR!!" (feet stomp petulantly).

This whole thing continues to astound me and makes me lose hope for the US. It feels a hell of a lot like devolution.

You said it all! Not all of us are so short sighted and selfish, but unfortunately too many are. I seriously considered attempting to move to Canada a few years ago when I saw that we going to have to endure a "W" regime, but bottom line I love my country and have a duty to try to change from within.

I'll believe the independent CBO report rather than some conservative, Obama-hating website analysis.

Something about this system is giving the wrong people credit for the wrong quotes. I sure hope you guys know I didn't post that one. That was definately a Patty Green.

What she pays all this and has a child and doesn't get a grant? Yes. How about child care deduction on income tax? No there is no shame in getting a government subsidized loan and no shame in getting a government grant. The shame is in accepting help that is available but begrudging it for others.

I do not begrudge others to get help that the government has already in place for them. What I oppose is all the NEW help that's being thrown out to everyone while we are in a recession and our national debt is skyrocketing past oblivion and where we can't even pay the interset on what we owe!!!!! The nerve of Obama to speak the other night about all these wonderful things he has planned for the american people to help them financially, but not explain one word as to how he expects to pay for it all!

He dares because the money saved by stopping a useless war, reducing useless expenditures in health care due to reform, reduced expenditures in the prison system, and an increased tax base by assuring that corporations and wealthy people pay their share. Most of all he dares because he like many of us is tired of the status quo of those who have the most getting the big breaks and those of us who have some getting some and those who have little or nothing getting little or nothing. The current system is not working. That is how he dares and how it will be paid for!