DeLarla

It bothers me now, after the fact. Back when I was banded, I was lost and desperate. What's that thing they say about hindsite?

"As for marking threads as read, you can do that from any screen where you see Quick Links. If you mark forums as read, everything will be considered "old" and only threads with new posts from that point forward will appear for you." Huh? Do I gotta go to school for this? Can you explain more? Are you saying I can click something and never see a message again? Very cool if I can figure that one out.

To me if I cant afford it in Australia then I cant afford it...it does require a lot of aftercare, forever. I'd only do it if I had local aftercare arranged." BRAVO As far as US doctors being timid with fills, while Mexican doctors go aggressive and fill you tight, there have been too many complications with aggressive fills. I've read here at LBT that aggressive, tight fills might lead to erosion since the sudden trauma of a tight fill puts such instant strain on the stomach. Again, this isn't a medical viewpoint, but it makes sense if you think about it. One thing for sure is that tight fills often leave people too restricted, to the point they can't swallow and have to run back for an unfill. After a bad "too tight" episode, they usually unfill the band completely until you're body has a chance to heal. So a tight fill might not be such a great idea. Main thing is that going to Mexico is like, well, it's like going to another country! While many people can afford to take time off work, some can't. There's so much more than the doctor's appointment. Will your work allow you to run off to see your surgeon any time you need to? Do you have a reputable babysitter, crittersitter, housesitter? Do you have an unlimited amount of time and money to pay for the extra traveling expenses? If you get an aggressive Mexican fill, will you be able to run right back to Mexico in a couple days to have it reversed, then do it again in a couple weeks to get refilled? Lots to consider. I'm changing my initial answer: Would you ever go to Mexico? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

You're even cuter than I thought you'd be! Your smile lights up the whole board. Now give me that darling sweat suit!

Alex, for us very popular big mouths, how about more PM space? Mine gets filled up too fast, woe is me Actually, I don't want more space, but I see no reason to why "sent" or "deleted" stuff needs to be stored. Also that whole, "do you want a confirmation" doesn't seem necessary, does it? I mean, we aren't the Kennedy family, we're just LBT. Do we really need to secure stuff we've sent, or confirmation that people read our PMs? Just a thought.

Dancing in pajamas at midnight sounds perfect! Thank you!

I'll call my surgeon at 11:00 since the guy really needs to sleep. I know I have an infection, I just don't know if all the IV antibiotics covered it. Billy is the best surgeon I know, and he knows I had the sinus & bronchial crap going on. They gave me my last antibiotic shot straight into my IV tube right before I left the hospital, so maybe it's working and I just have to ride this out.

I don't know anyone that's had their band removed long term, so unfortunately I don't know any long term potential problems. All I know is that my stomach has been through a lot of trauma, so I better start taking better care of it. That's my 2006 motivation kick starter right there for sure. They sew the holes with dissolving stitches. So I have dissolving stitches on the inside. As far as my outside scars, I have five wounds with about 15 stiches total. Dr. Billy really cleaned up my ugly wound. He cut all around it and sewed it straight across. It doesn't look like an eyeball with lashes any more. Praise Billy.

Jack, don't leave me! I'm going to clear my PMs right now!

Gag at the thought of a protein shake not blended! Yes, put that powder in the blender with ice. I've had some nasty protein shakes, so experiment till you find one she likes. Blend, blend, blend! You can even sneak in a cap of Vanilla or any extract - make her think it's an exotic no-no and she'll probably love them - kids, right? Make sure to read all the labels on protein shakes & powders. Some are high in protein but also high in sugar. Some taste great but don't have much protein. They are all different. I've gone through dozens of protein shakes, and Atkins canned shakes are my favorite premade ones, though somewhat expensive. I asked a friend to "pick me up some chocolate protein powder next time you go to Sam's Club." You should see the truckload-size container that takes up my whole kitchen! Thank God it's good! I can send you some if you want to try it - I've got a truckload!

I agree with Christina ~ make her stick to her doctor's eating plan, and do not adjust it. I think your daughter needs psycological support right now and for a long, long (and very serious time.) I just had my band removed due to erosion. Before being discharged, my surgeon (hardass Dr. Billy, but worth every nickle) sat down with me and my husband and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise. He doesn't care about excuses, justifications, reasons, obstruction or anything else I tried to say so that he'd understand why I can't stick to a strict diet regimine. He is very matter-of-fact. "Either do what I tell you to do or CHOSE to be fat." It sounds harsh, but Dr. Billy is right. Either she changes her lifestyle or she'll lose the band and gain back those 8 pounds. If she's a heavy teen, she'll almost certainly be a morbidly obese adult. I'm really good with kids and teens, so if she needs someone to talk to, I'd be happy to call her. We can support each other. My husband is thin and eats like a hog. So my surgeon had two completely different metabolisms to discuss. He told me, "Lisa, you have fat genes. It's not your fault, but it's the crappy hand you were dealt and you'll never be able to eat like your husband. You can't make him keep his fattening foods out of the house, either, because you can't expect to change the world around you to lose weight. You have to change yourself. And as far as you complaining that you're too hungry on only 1200 calories a day, Bullship. You slept 8 hours last night and didn't wake up starving every couple hours, so I know you can make it 4 hours between each meal. I don't buy hunger, because if you eat the way I tell you, your body won't be physically hungry." Billy said I can't eat bread or Pasta any more. No more potatoes, bad carbs, Snacks, period. Sure, I can introduce some healthy carbs into my evening meal, but what obese person ever got satisfaction out of 1/3 of a baked potato? But Billy is right. I have fat genes, I have a fat metabolism, and if I want to lose weight, I'll know exactly how many calories I'm consuming. My plan is simple (thanks, LaMadam.) Breakfast is 400 calories of straight Protein, like bacon & eggs, salmon & cheese, last night's leftover pork roast & cottage cheese. lunch is a salad, lots of colorful fun veggies, accurate amount of chicken, steak, fish (protein) and moderate amount of real dressing (preferably vinegrette) and no bread, crackers or croutons. dinner is 400 calories of whatever hubby is eating. If I want a burger, I have to make sure the total meal is under 400 calories. Billy's number one rule for weight loss is NO diet foods. Get rid of all sugarfree, lowfat, nonfat (except skim milk) or lowcal foods. They trigger your metabolism and don't help. Sorry this is so harsh, but the only way to lose weight is to stop eating. Period. Sure, you can eat burgers, but then you have to run (not jog) for 12miles to burn it off. I can't even run one mile. Tell your sweet baby that lots of us are here for her. We could start a whole new thread just for her, but she has to want it for herself. I know you love her, but she'll need to become a member here and work with us if she wants to lose weight. Please take good care of her and her band. Don't let her overeat because that could cause slippage or worse. Don't let her stray from doctor's orders. Don't give any extra food or drinks, not even watery taters, because she just had major surgery that needs to heal. Take her to the mall for a walk. Reward her every day with a pair of cute socks or a lipgloss. Teach her new, healthy habits. Sorry this was so long, but it's really close to my heart since I was banded with a 16 year old. I became friends with her mom and dad, so I know how hard this is for you. Good luck. xoxo

Any way we can click on threads that we aren't interested in so they disappear forever? I still have 20 pages of new threads and there's at least one that I've see before, so I don't know why it's in the "new posts" list since nobody has added anything new?

What's so wrong with 8 years younger? My friend's husband is 10 years younger because she's too loaded with energy for a guy her own age. Now get back to that store and find him! Boy, I sure know what that's like because it happened to me a couple weeks ago. I mean, I wasn't even going to look towards the cutie because he was way, way to young and hot, but we ended up flirting for hours. Now hubby won't let me go out any more. Hmmm, I wonder if he'll let me have a new pet

Awe, THANK YOU KELLY! It's only 7:45 a.m. on this side of the world, and I'm feeling the love all the way here! I'm sitting in my hubby's torn robe, fuzzy slippers, wadded up used Kleenex everywhere, dogs at my feet, 101 temperature, and you just made my whole day. Thank you!

Thanks, Emily. I was on IV antibiotics for 3 days. I'm still going to call my surgeon in a couple hours to see if I should be on more.

HERE HERE, Thank God for Dr. Billy.

DDflinn, if you "had" redness and soreness, was it directly after surgery during the healing phase? Or did this spring up after you had completely recovered? That might be normal during the recovery period, but no doctor should ever put you on antibiotics for a port infection. They won't cure it. The ONLY cure for an infected port is to have it surgically removed. Look at Penni, for example. Her symptoms came and went, yet she eventually eroded just like the rest of the people I know who had port-site redness and irritation. I'm currently recovering from band removal surgery. I had no signs of erosion when they first detected the infection, and I still had no signs of erosion 8 months later. But I did eventually erode, and the band removal process was NO picnic. As far as having your port removed if it's infected, this isn't my opinion. When I was told my infected port needed to be removed, I refused. Instead I got on the phone and spoke with as many band surgeons that would take my call, and every single one of them agreed that an infected port had to be removed. Here's the list of very popular and experienced band surgeons who personally told me that antibiotics might temporarily relieve port-infection symptoms but the port MUST be removed: Dr. Lopez, Tijuana, MX Dr. Ortiz, Tijuana, MX Dr. Kuri, Tijuana, MX Dr. Martinez, Tijuana MX Dr. Rumbah, Monterey, MX Dr. Teng, Las Vegas, NV Dr. Fischer, Las Vegas, NV Dr. Billy, Ventura, CA As you can see, I did my homework before getting my first port removed. Please get a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion immediately. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.

Port infections lead to erosion, and "maybe" vice versa. My port was infected the same week of my original surgery. They removed the port and did and endoscopy, which revealed no erosion. Eight months later I had another endoscopy that came back clean, so they gave me a 2nd port. The 2nd port immediately became infected and had to be removed. At that time, I had an endoscopy, a stomach biopsy and a laproscopy. All test results were negative for erosion. As far losing restriction being one of the symptoms of erosion, so far I don't know anybody that's eroded who will agree. I have 8 friends who have had their bands removed due to erosion (in the last year.) We all had decent restriction. I had a couple PBs last week because my restriction was still working like a charm. I even tried to enjoy a "Last Supper" of pizza before having my band removed, but I couldn't even finish one piece - and they were small slices.

What Penni said! Billy did the same to me. He removed the band then sewed up the holes. He also said he'd heard of tube sticking to the colon but those holes are very easy to fix as well.

Please read all my posts on port infections. Antibiotics will NOT cure a port infection. If your port was actually infected, you need to have it removed immediately. Maybe you just bruised the area, but if it was truly infected, that can lead to erosion but no doctor will be able to detect that so soon. Stay off the antibiotics and see if the redness comes back. If it does, then get your port removed ASAP.

It took me awhile to respond because I've been fine tuning my resolutions. I refuse to make the same ones every year that I've never been able to stick to before. So: (This first one is a direct order from my surgeon.) No more low-fat, non-fat, Diet, sugarfree foods/drinks whatsoever. They're crap that do nothing but cause crash and burn symtoms that make us eat, and they don't help you lose weight. Instead of giving up booze, I'm giving up beer & cocktails. I'm allowed 2 glasses of wine with a large glass of ice. This way it will last longer and hydrate me at the same time. I'm giving up (sniff) White Zinfendel (candy pants wine) for something grown up with less sugar & taking suggestions. Red wine is gross, so I'll compromise somewhere in the middle. Never miss a straight-Protein Breakfast. I can have salad with protein and real dressing for lunch. dinner will be whatever hubby is having, but only one salad plate. No snacking except on raw fruits & veggies with the exception of movie popcorn 1-2 times a month only - no butter. Be nicer.

If Party is a state of mind, then how come you're not all here dancing in your pajamas in my living room? I'm too sick to go onto the roof to watch fireworks. That's the part I really miss. Maybe Chris can drive me somewhere in my jammies to watch the sky. I simply adore fireworks Corinne, thank all your friends for me! For 2006 I give up beer & coctails. My new plan allows me to order 2 glasses of wine with a tall glass of ice. That's it for the entire week. I'm taking off more weight, and that's that.

"P.S. You definately were not your usual spunky self when you called Wednesday night..I can attest to you being not much for words..could of been al lthe good drugs they gave you though" Michelle, there were NO such drugs good enough. That was some f-d up surgery. Vera, thanks for making my guts hurt from laughing! You're so silly! Hi everyone, I'm too sick (flu crap) to clean but have slept to much to lay around. All I can do is post, post, post. I'm walking upright and get in and out of bed pretty easily, which is a huge, HUGE improvement. So painwise I'm good, but I keep breaking out in shivers that start inside my guts and make my whole bod convulse. I've got my famous bronchial infection, but I'm not sure why the shivers come from my sore belly. I'll call Billy in a few hours and see if I should be on more antibiotics. So surgery-wise, I'm much better, but isn't 5 days too long for a fever? I'm okay as long as I take the liquid Vicodin/Tylenol, but like clockwork, the minute the stuff wears off, there's my 101 fever. Anyone know a good Exorcist that's open on weekends?

I was reading some famous person's interview who had just lost 35 pounds. I can't even remember who it was, but he said he'd been restricting his intake for a really, really long time with no results. Then suddenly he got on the scale one day and was down 35 pounds without realizing it. His comment made me think of you, "It was like my metabolism finally admitted defeat and said 'FINE ALREADY' and let go of the weight."

What Penni said, something like: I would NOT go to Mexico I would fight my insurance co tooth and nail to get them to cover. I would find a US doc that would place the band and let me do it in payments. I would NOT go to Mexico I would NOT go to Mexico Are you getting the picture? Add one: Not if I had to travel more than an hour for band maintenance, complications, fills, etc.