BJean

GREEN!!!!!! Stop being in denial. You have a bug!!! The weight loss is great and at first that seems cool enough to put up with the inconvenience of the cramping and diarrea. But believe me it can get much worse! When we lived in Arizona, we met friends of ours in Juarez and spent the weekend. I was careful about everything I ate or drank... until we went to the dog races. I decided to have one margarita on the rocks, then two and as the races got more exciting and I got more buzzed, I wound up forgetting all the admonitions to not eat the ice or drink the water. I did both. Back home about a month later, I had those symptoms you talked about. I only weighed about 110 lbs. then and I began losing weight. It got gradually worse and I was a realtor trying to sit open houses and squire families around town to look at houses. I knew every open house with a bathroom. It finally got so bad and so painful that I couldn't take a sip of water without the terrible abdominal cramping. In fact, I couldn't even THINK about eating or drinking without triggering the by then, horrible cramps. My doc gave me the little "kit" and directions for harvesting a sample to determine exactly what kind of bug had invaded my body and was using me as a host. In all, I spent about 3 months going through all the extremely powerful medicines prescribed before I got the thing in check. By then I had lost so much weight I hardly looked like myself. This is not a laughing matter and it isn't something you need to fool around with. Your husbands leftover meds aren't going to do the trick. For gosh sakes, get the specimen and get it to the lab. They won't have the results overnight as it is. You need to kill off the little bugger(s) and get your life back! Your health is much more important than anything else you have! Please let us know that you've done your "dooty" and you're on the road to getting this thing whipped! Did I ever tell you about the fella that got a tape worm when he was in a foreign country? Well he went to the doc and the doctor said, son we can do this one of two ways... the short 3-day way, or the longer 3-week way. The man said I'll choose the short 3-day way! The doctor said, it is very unpleasant... you'll have to keep your resolve all the way until it's totally completed. But the man said, I can do it whatever it is. Just tell me what I have to do and I'll do it. The doctor said, okay now do exactly as I tell you. Go out and buy a quart of vanilla ice cream and a lemon cookie and come back to my office right away. So the fella did as he was told. When he returned to the doctor's office the doc said, okay now drop your pants and bend over. The guy did as he was told. The doctor took the quart of ice cream and put it right you-know-where. Then he jammed the lemon cookie right onto the ice cream. The doc said, now pull up your pants - don't bathe or do anything else. Come back tomorrow at this same time and bring another quart of ice cream and a lemon cookie. The guy couldn't believe it. But hey this was a reputable doc and the he was desparate. The next day he showed up at the doctor's office with the ice cream and lemon cookie. The doc instructed him to drop his pants and bend over. He shoved the ice cream where the sun don't shine and poked in the lemon cookie. He told the guy to not shower and come back tomorrow for his 3rd and final treatment. The next day the worried patient showed up, as before with the quart of ice cream and lemon cookie. The doctor directed him, as before, to drop his pants and bend over. Then the doctor went at him with the quart of ice cream. Then he waited... he waited... he waited... and the next thing you know, the tape worm stuck his head out and said, where's my lemon cookie? The doctor smashed him and the fella was cured! Well, my daddy always said there was humor in everything. He also said the first time he heard that story he kicked the slats out of his cradle.

Bubble, why do you ask others what they're doing about the situation? What are YOU doing, besides ranting and raving and blaming the illegal aliens for all the problems in your part of the world? Do you really think that pointing out the horrors of the situation is going to fix it? Do you think that telling us how bad it is where you live is going to make us look at all Mexicans the way you seem to? Why aren't you more angry at the government of your own country for not enforcing the laws and in fact encouraging illegal aliens from Mexico to come here and work and get other benefits? Why aren't you screaming from the rooftops about who is really to blame? It reminds me of a place where I lived in Florida. They did not enforce the speed limit law or the law against running a red light. They didn't want to discourage tourism, which was a billion dollar a year industry. There were tons of accidents every week because everyone knew these laws weren't enforced and so they chose to drive above the speed limit and run red lights because they were always late for something. Yeah, the lawbreakers were wrong and were in fact, breaking the law, but who could blame them? They were essentially encouraged since everyone did it and they knew the laws weren't to be taken seriously because even the cops broke those laws and never enforced them. It wouldn't have done one bit of good for me to rant and rave about the lousy drivers and the accidents they caused and rant and rave about the fact that they were breaking the law - nothing was going to change until the laws were enforced. I started waging a campaign in the letters to the editor sections of the newspapers. Other people chimed in. Then more people started talking about the fact that there would be fewer accidents if these laws were enforced. One thing led to another and in a few years, the local government decided that they had to start enforcing the motor vehicle laws. Once people realized that they could be ticketed for breaking one of those laws, they stopped breaking them so often. Traffic accidents didn't cease to exist, but there were fewer accidents related to speeding and running red lights. But it didn't happen because I went online (or anywhere else) and bitched about the bad drivers.

This is sounding so silly. I honestly don't think that Bubble and Tommy are communicating well. Lots of assumptions and guesses and finger pointing about what each other were originally trying to say. Now it's gotten out of hand and the right wing neo-cons are gleefully jumping into the fray. If you're having fun, far be it for me to highjack anything. But I hate for everyone to be having fun without me. What can I think of to say that might inflame everyone? LIMBURGER!!! By the way Bubble, why are you neverendingly so accusatory about what exactly Tommy does to help unfortunate illegal aliens? He doesn't have to help people in order to have an opinion. Or to feel compassionate. I feel compassion for some of the illegal aliens and I don't do a thang for them. Well, that may not be entirely true, I've been involved in presenting some scholarships to a few of their children. Of course that's only encouraging them and that's not what you're all about, right?

Carlene: With your reflux, was it at night after you laid down in bed? Did you actually have normal reflux, with burning, etc.? I didn't have any idea that I was experiencing reflux until the nutritionist asked me if I ever cough up white stuff. I said I do sometimes and she said that it is acid reflux. I had a hiatal hernia for years before the LB surgery and the doc repaired it at the same time he placed the LB. Am I just overeating and that's what's causing the problem? I know before when I was losing at a good pace, I didn't seem to have this problem. Sorry if I'm grossing everyone out, but I am afraid I have a problem and I'd like to figure it out because I am so busy with a new business that I'm having a hard time getting away from it all and getting into the doc's office.

Morsaille: You are not only aces at computer picture posting, you give good bandster words of wisdom. I beat anexoria ass well. Before ever getting the band when I would work hard at losing some lbs, as soon as I realized a decent loss I would binge until I undid all my good work. I stopped getting on the scale because of it. You know the accepted wisdom is that we sabbotage ourselves because it is "all in our heads" but I am not so sure about that. I think there is a whole lot of psysiological/biochemical stuff that we have no clue about. I honestly think that all this is very complicated. We just try to think that it is simple - calories in, calories out but I just don't think it's that simple.

Thanks you all. I'm rather discouraged with myself. I'm floundering and have been for several months now. Before, when I was losing consistently I couldn't understand why people would sabbotage their band. It just didn't make sense to me. Well, it still doesn't but now I have found that I am doing just that. Carlene: what happened that you had to get an unfill? I've begun to wonder if I don't have something else going on. I keep blaming it on my head, but I know it isn't entirely that. The way I feel now is different when I eat than it was for the first 7 months. I'm definitely having more problems than just the hunger.

Michelle, I can't begin to imagine what it would be like if my husband died. I went through a lot when my sister and mom died, but losing DH would be like part of me dying. I am so glad to hear that you are finally beginning to see the beauty of life again and to care enough that you want to be healthy and happy again. You seem to have such a beautiful soul and you are so supportive and helpful to others. I am very glad you're a part of the group at LBT. Hugs to you too! Green: Your report from your recent doctor visit gave me a horrible jolt. You and I were, at one time, at about the same weight with practically the same weight loss since our surgeries in Sept. Now I'm still where I was and you've moved on and I realize that I could also have been at 155 now if I had not lost it somewhere along the line. So don't just be happy about where you are, rejoice with all your might!! You've accomplished a whole lot and it's great!! My hat is off to you!

I went to a great new theatre in the area. They serve rather gourmet food and the chairs and tables are quite comfortabe and nice. The best way to enjoy this dining/movie atmosphere is to get seated around 20 to 30 minutes prior to the dimming of the lights. Today we weren't able to do that and did not get our meals ordered until just before the trailers began. Once our food arrived, I was engrossed in an exciting movie to be coming soon, took a bite of my turkey/gouda sandwich. It went down just fine, but just to be careful I took another very small bite, chewed like crazy and felt great. Then my wandering fingers grasped a lovely well-seasoned french fry. Yum my tummy thought. I nibbled on it while watching the coming attractions. OMG!!! Within a very few moments, the old pain rose in my chest and I knew I was in trouble! I wound up having to excuse myself after the movie started, not once, but twice! It was probably the worst PB experience that I've ever had. Needless to say it ruined my afternoon. I could hardly sip water even later in the day. Tonight, I was so depressed I ate ice cream for dinner. Yee gads, what the heck is up with me??? :cry

oooooh, snap! I hope you weren't talking to me.

Robin: Thanks for posting. If anyone can provide insight on this topic, you can. It seems that you have some understanding on both sides of the issue. I wish the answer was a simple one - it isn't - but opening up the lines of communication can certainly help.

Yup, we're freaks, high five Denise!

Hey ya'll, lets band together. There's strength in numbers and as baby boomers (a lot of us are, anyway) we should soon be wielding more clout in every facet of society. We spent our youth getting the war stopped, burning our bras and getting our voices heard as women, and we got ourselves treated better in the work place. So now looks like maybe we need to rally the cry for better treatment of older people and people who don't have Jane Fonda's body. I'm not sure where we need to stage our first march, but now that I think of it, I'm not sure just how far I could march down Pennsylvania Avenue, especially carrying a placard. Maybe we could figure out something via the internet? :drum:

Cool Jasimine, sounds like you have it figured out and under control. Running is so hard on knees and feet. But I used to be a runner too and there's nothing quite like it for a feeling of well being! I've never been much of a free weight person, but I'm told that it can be lots of fun and rewarding and you can do it without re-injuring things. I'm planning to get into it as soon as I graduate from water therapy. It's great that you're learning all this before you get to be my age!

calorienesiac... perfect term for what I am!!! Glad you've coined a word for my malady. Denise: I agree. I love the boxed foods that come with the nutritional guide. It's a quick jolt to the memory bank. I've bought several calorie content books over the years and I even seem to have amnesia when it comes to picking them up and checking for the calories in whatever I'm about to eat. When it's conveniently on the box or wrapper, it is right there, hard to ignore.

I knew it. I just knew I was different! I can eat a large wedge of Brie with a few water crackers and I gain 10 lbs. and the food weighs much less than 10 lbs. Ha! This is proof positive that my metabolism is MUCH lower than anyone elses. I'm a freak. How much does a cat turd cake weigh anyway?

Carlene that was my lame stab at humor. Jasmine: As a person who has serious knee problems, I certainly do sympathize. You know you can do this thing, you've just had a momentary setback. I have no idea how old you are and I hope you do not have any permanent damage. Just a word of serious advice. Whatever you do, don't stop exercising completely. Keep your self doing something because it's the inactivity that can cause your knee to completely screw up on you. I don't know for sure if it is arthritis that sets in or exactly what, but since I've had my problem I have learned from so many people that after some kind of sports injury where they babied their knee(s) by being inactive, was when the serious knee problems arose. You don't have to do much, and you can treat it with heat, but you also need to get in a warm swimming pool or some kind of regular therapy with warmth that increases the blood flow that will allow your knees to extend and straighten without causing any further damage. Many of us are facing knee replacements and if I can keep anyone from having to go through that, my job is done! Hang in there!

Carlene... is your fast food post anything at all like DISCUSSING CHEESE??????????

oooooh me too! What's your fav? I'm especially fond of a nice slightly warmed brie with water crackers. But I wouldn't turn my back on a wedge of Gouda or Edam. If you want to hear a really horrendous confession, do you? huh?..... really? promise you won't tell, okay? well, just between you and me... I make chicken enchiladas with, you'll never guess... it's really dispicable... you guess it VELVEETA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :faint: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh:

gosh Funny, if only it were true! I always vote. It isn't about the "government" per se. With this administration, it's all about capitalism and big business. I have always thought capitalism is the best thing for our country, but I'm beginning to wonder if the pendulum has swung too far one way and big business has come to own us all. I feel hamstrung by the insurance industry. It affects most of the important aspects of my life. They have much better lobbyists than I. So I keep paying the premiums and being disgusted with how they control me. Defeatist? Me? Well, I am not a defeatist I don't think. I believe I am a realist. I've worked in the government - been a legislative aide, worked for an Attorney General, DH working for the government, etc., I think I have a good grasp of how things really get done in government. Although I admit that when our electronic voting machines are haywire and we have dangling chads and disenfranchised voters in many states, it's hard not to feel a little defeated. I'll still vote and I'll still keep some faith that we can make a difference, but realistically I believe that big business controls most everything in the government these days. But thanks for the encouraging words!

Anniejo: I haven't been counting calories for the past 4 or 5 weeks and that's when I stopped losing. I even got a very restrictive fill and didn't lose. I just ate chocolate and ice cream. So what I've learned is that counting calories does work for me. It helps keep me conscious of WHAT I put in my mouth. The band helps with HOW MUCH, but I have to make the decision about what I eat. I was hoping that the band would be such an appetite suppressant that I wouldn't be able to eat much of anything. At first that was the case but it didn't continue. I reached the point where I was just hungry, really hungry. And when I had the really restrictive fill, I could hardly eat, which was good at meals, but I was hungry all the time. That's when I began to forget about calories and carbs and eat what I could easily ingest. Chocolate and ice cream. (by the way, I'm not a chocolaholic - it was just easy to eat and satisfying) To make a short story even longer, I am begining to count calories again and I'm doing way better. Good luck. I still have 40 (at least) pounds to lose. I'm 8 months out from my surgery. It may actually take the 2 years that they told me about! But that's way better than the alternative life that I was leading! Fat and getting Fatter!! :tired

Yeah and you and I both probably have ocean front property in New Mexico we would like to sell too. (about as likely as making the government do our bidding) But you are right!

:heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: :heh: Yup, I've seen "Up in Smoke" and other Cheech and Chong flicks. And yup I agree that the story lines were probably based on real life. By the way, for 6.5 yrs. I lived very close (30 miles) from the Mexican border. Believe me, we were exposed to all sides of the issue. I'm just way mad at our government and the businesses in this country that have allowed our borders to function like a sieve and then structured it so that we're not only handing them towels as they come across, we continue handing them all kinds of stuff free, so that they can stay and be relatively comfortable. I absolutely do not begrudge people trying to benefit from the abundance in this fabulous country of ours, but there's no excuse for us turning our heads and allowing it to happen at the expense of the American taxpayer. And it didn't happen overnight - it's been going on since Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong were very young entrepreneurs.

The majority of illegal aliens coming into this country from Mexico are Mexican - I think. I haven't queried a border patrolman, but it's pretty obvious. And that don't make me prejudiced. Early on in this thread I brought out the point about how the terrorists of 9-11 entered this country. That don't make me prejudiced against Moslems either. Frankly some of the Spanish-only Mexicans who worked on my house and in building this neighborhood were far better workers than some of the English speaking ones. But I don't think you can categorize either English speaking or Spanish speaking workers that way until there have been some serious scientific studies on the subject. That can't happen very easily since many of the Spanish speaking workers may possibly be illegally in this country and not real quick to participate in any scientific studies. Besides they're busy working. Don't get me wrong - I don't like having millions of illegal aliens living and soaking up government subsidized benefits in this country. But I sure don't blame them for taking advantage of the situation WE created.

I'm a huge Bette Midler fan. Except when she does serious, pithy songs. Yuk. Give me Bette singing "Oklahoma" in a mermaid costume, riding in a wheelchair with her stage boys fanning her with palm fronds! Now by damn, that's a performance!! Melinda was robbed!

It seems to me that the crux of the problem is that our anger and bad attitude toward illegals (from Mexico, mostly) is directed at the illegals themselves. Our country has, by its' actions or lack of action, made our country a very attractive place for illegal aliens from Mexico to come for a better life. It isn't surprising that Americans are angry. We should be angry. We should be angry that in order for us to get the medical care we need, we must pay through the nose for insurance and then the insurers exert control over our medical care. The insurance companies control our medical care even to the point of denying us medical care and medicines when they choose to, because our government lets them get away with it. However illegal aliens have the right to go to most hospitals and some health centers to receive medical care in spite of the fact that they have no insurance. So of course we are paying for ourselves, and indirectly for them, since they aren't compelled to have insurance to get medical care. That isn't fair and it isn't right. We pay a very significant portion of our salaries in taxes to provide for the education of American children. However, their children can attend school without their parents paying property taxes. How is that fair? Their children are often eligible for scholarships too, so our kids are competing with them for the available scholarships. In some cases that makes us mad because many of the Mexican students are working so hard for a better life and a better education, they're tough competitors. The list goes on, but you get the picture. The thing is that we shouldn't be all up in arms and pissed off at Mexican illegal aliens. We need to be furious with the government that has caused and even encouraged this situation. If we would all ban together and raise hell with Congress and the President and insist that the policies and laws either change or be enforced, we could make it happen. But honestly getting mad at people for coming here, even illegally, when we have encouraged it and made it a climate conducive to their better lifestyles, just doesn't make any sense. As for the language situation, there again our government and big business has provided a way and means for Mexicans to live in this country without needing to learn the language. Think about it: press 1 for Spanish, Spanish television and radio programming, Spanish billboards and signage, etc. English is difficult, it takes time to learn and as someone earlier pointed out, there is fear of discrimination (and rightfully so!) if they move around outside their comfort zone, so they are discouraged to get fully integrated into our society. We shouldn't be complaining about the illegal aliens who are fleeing a corrupt government and poverty. We should be doing something about insisting that the people who have encouraged the influx of illegals in this country to stop making it such a comfortable refuge for them. P.S. Insinuating that most of the illegal aliens who come over are drug dealers just doesn't make any sense, although I am sure we have also made that a lucrative business for some of them.