DeLarla

If anyone's ever had a Nothing Bundt Cake, you know why Sachi's drooling over it.

Oh boy oh boy, I just had my first Melting Pot experience last night. I can't believe the amount of cheese fondue they bring for two people! I'm sure most of you have been there, but what a fun experience! If you haven't been, it's quite an experience but don't order, "The Big Night Out!" You cook your own food, so if you want to bring leftovers home you have to cook it all up. After the cheese dip and salad, I was too full for the meat n' veggies. So I spent my evening slaving over a hot stove (haha) cooking up all that food to bring home so I can have an awesome lunch today. But I woke up and found and empty container on the counter! Chris took the whole thing then called and laughed at me for not hiding it! Trust me, I'll get even. Last night I took Mekha out for an early Sweet 16 surprise date, and we had an amazing night. I bought tickets to Mystere' by Cirque du Soleil, and she literally sat on the edge of her chair the entire show. She's a dancer and wants to pursue a career as a dancer. Then we went to the Melting Pot and spent a few hours laughing and eating fondue style. Very cool. Her parents called & said she's gushing with excitement, so I just HAD to share our pic. Here's my best friend, Mekha.

This makes me sing the Beach Boys' song in my head... Aruba, Jamaica, ooooh I wanna take ya to Bermuda, Bahamas, come on pretty mamma.... Thanks for the cool greeting, now how about some pictures of Aruba?

It's all about taking care of ourselves. Don't ignore symtoms and hope they'll go away. We have this foreign device in our belly that needs special care

Best not to get worried too early in the game. One thing most of us have is WWS (Worry Wart Syndrome.) So far all my docs and many of my friends' have been prescribed over the counter Prilosec. I'm on it now because my stomach and esophagus are irritated. My doc told me not to miss doses.

Again, I only wrote this whole saga because I get so many PMs and e-mails asking for my story, which I've told 100 times before but never in one thread. Cheri, I'm gonna get hardcore on you, but PLEASE ask your doc to take a look since none of us are band experts. All I can say from my end is that mine looked way worse. My entire area was hot, red and inflamed in addition to leaking clearish Fluid. However, I learned a lot about leaking wounds, and they are quite common and happen in other surgeries (my pal had a boob reduction that leaked for 8 weeks.) Yours looks much better than mine, but please ask the pros. I'm not thrilled that you've been on antibiotics though, because the experienced band docs I've talked to said there's no such treatment for an infected port. Antibiotics may temporarily relieve the symptoms, but they won't cure a port infection. The problem with port infections is that they can lead to erosion, but erosion takes time to progress. So even if your port was infected, I personally don't see any reason to get an endo so early in the game. Just make sure to get your annual endo and take good care of your baby band In a perfect world, I'd get another band if my American insurance would pay for me to have a Swedish band! Actually, I don't know anything about the Swedish band, I was trying to be funny. Nobody can say if they'll get another band right away. I suspect we'd have to wait a year or two for the docs to look inside our belly to see if we healed okay from the first removal. There's going to be scar tissue involved, so God only knows what shape my belly will be in down the road. If my insurance covers it a few years down the road, HELL YES, I'd get another! THE BAND IS AWESOME... if you get lucky with a good surgeon and insurance!

Thank you Back atcha.

I'm really sorry everyone, but I used to post some really nasty things here when I got mad. I don't think it's fair for me to "slam" doctors the way I used to, which is why I'm avoiding listing the surgeons. Just do searches using the "SEARCH" button at the top. Look for erosion or complications from individual members here since most people post their surgeon. Sorry, but I'm working at being a nicer person

Kathy - "stomach spasms" is one of those words I tried to get out but coudn't find the term for, but yes, I had some weird stomach spasms. Nothing painful, just weird. I said it on another thread, so I'll add it here. Only a professional piano player can hear when his instrument is out of tune. The rest of us just hear music, but he knows something is off even though his piano isn't broken. That's the same way my band/belly area felt. "Off." Weird pitter patters, spasms, gloops, blips, schmurgles. Definitely not the tight feeling that I used to have every single morning. I could NEVER take a pill in the morning, but when I was able to swallow a large pill with no Water, I knew something was wrong. I'm so glad all of you are here with me, but I'd like everyone to change tones from sympathy to my own personal cheerleading squad! I need to know I can do this bandless. I need kicking and screaming and to be convinced that band removal will only kick me into seriousness. It's going to be hard, because now I realize how complety amazing the band really is when it comes to restriction our food. We really are NOT hungry when we have good restricton. Suddenly I'm actually hungry again, and often. So I have to fight hunger AND obsession again. Uht oh. So I'm going to follow Michelle's steps. She eats only Protein every morning. Michelle says if she eats any carbs at all at Breakfast then she's hungry all day. So I gotta force protein down my throat every morning, then stick to low carb salads at lunch. I gotta do this.. I just gotta. I'm personally convinced that there's a problem with technique, like a stitch that irritates the band or something. Then again, tie string around a an animals tail, and eventually the tail falls off. A band squeezing around our belly? Sounds amazing that something can press and rub against an organ all day and not cause problems. I've heard of Kuri erosions. And if my insurance ever covers the band in the future, I'll take it! However, there's no way of knowing if I'll ever be able to have another stomach surgery till we see how my removal goes. Plus, who the heck knows about us removal patients and long term scar tissue n' junk like that. Which is why I went out on the Harley last night drinking and gambling like it was my last day on Earth! Party on, Garth! Well, I rode on back and watered down wine, so I wasn't drunk but I was ripping through hundred dollar bills because you can't take it with you!

I had a port infection for 8 months and never, ever had a fever. My port area was very fevered, red, hot, inflammed, leaking. But my body temperature never changed.

Good morning Alex! I haven't asked that, but I certainly will. I'm taking a list of questions and will post everything I get my hands on.

Did I really make 5000 posts? Wow, that's either really cool, or more insane than I thought I was!

Please study all my threads - please. Infected ports can and do lead to erosion. An infected port won't give you a fever (well, it might but I never had one.) I had 2 port removals due to infection, and I was diagnosed with erosion this week. I started a thread the other day about the importance of an endoscopy. Is your port inflamed, hot, red? If so, it's most likely infected and needs to be removed. But please don't get all worried because maybe the port just shifted after losing weight. If there's no infection and it bothers you a lot, they can do a port revision. But if it's infected, that means you should keep an extra special watch on your band. You're very smart to have paid attention to loss of restriction, which could be a sign of erosion, but again it just might be a sign of "time for a fill." PM me if you want to talk and I'll give you my number. Don't let all this worry you. I've been accused of trying to scare people with my infection and erosion stories but that's not what I want. I just want everyone to have the greatest band experience possible. Good luck and PLEASE keep in touch with me, k?

5000 posts? Who, me talk alot? Did I get a prize? If not, I should! Unfortunately, no, there's nothing that can be done to stop erosion at its early stages. Once eroded, the band needs to come out. Note - the doc who did the endoscopy and first saw my erosion simply told me to make a follow up appointment with my primary in FOUR weeks. I looked at him like he was crazy cause I was thinkin' more like four MINUTES. This guy came highly recommended, so apparently erosion really isn't an extreme emergency. However, as soon as I got my belongings back I phoned a real band surgeon, who said, "Four weeks, no way!" My band surgeon agreed that it's not an "emergency" but it IS something that should come out as soon as possible without running to the emergency room. I had to sign a standard release before the endoscopy with the understanding that it could cause preferations (even on non-banded.) So the big concern once you have erosion is to take things really easy till the band comes out - chew chew chew, soft mushies and very important not to have a PB/stuck food episode during the vulnerable time after the endo. I'm glad at least a few of your read this thread and at least ONE of you is marking your calendar for an endo. Kel, Trac, Crystal, NJ.... hello, have you marked your calendars? OH, and Tracy, back to the orginal question... I'm not sure if I'll miss this awesome gas or not, but talk about burping and farting! I wasn't able to burp before my band, but now I can let go of a real long one, which feels great and gets me lots of kudos from my friends. The farting, however, all I can say is Thank God for Watkins Lemon Room Freshener!

I'm getting lots of little questions, PMs, e-mails, etc... anyone that wants to talk is MORE than welcome to call me. I'm leaving work now, and I told them I won't be here next week. I'm not sure of any solid plans yet, but I certainly can't focus here. Send me a PM if you want my number. As always, thank you all so much for your loving arms. I'm on some really weird emotional roller coaster that I hope is just from not sleeping off yesterday's anesthesia. I didn't even tell you guys the nightmare endo! Yesterday my appt was 11:45, but they called and asked if I could come sooner due to cancellations. HECK YEAH, I wanted it over with! So I rushed down there just to sit all afternoon an hour beyond my normal appt. I was pissed and stated so, I told them they shouldn't treat people that way, blah blah. Then my ride showed up an hour late, as I sat groggy and freezing wanting to go home and lay in bed with my furry people. But she said I looked bad and needed Soup. She drove me around the corner, where we ate soup. Then finally she went to take me home but her car wouldn't start. We had to walk several blocks to my vehicle (I drove and parked it) to try jumping her car to no avail. Then a cute guy hits on her, tries to help, tool boxes, cables... all I wanted was bed. Finally she gave in and I had to drive her home, naturally on the other side of town. So my 10:00 endo got me home at 5:00 p.m., and I couldn't sleep. Today I feel WEIRD. I mean weird, like on drugs or like I need drugs. I can't wait for it to be over with. I AVOIDED the goody table today with the exception of two crackers with dip. Not one morsel of candy, thanks to my coaching by the lovely LaMadame last night. I have no problems making long distance calls to people who are serious about their eating plans. I need to surround myself with healthy eaters. I want to be thin... I'll have to liquid fast during and after the band removal process, and there's actually a chance that I'll be BELOW my lowest banded weight if I can stick to it. Right now I'm 249, which is 6 pounds higher than my lowest. I'm rambling cause I'm leaving work for a week now... it's been a weird day filled with gifts and a surprise call directly to me from my favorite celebrity, right out of the blue (Chloe's uncle called for those of you who know the story, and my head's been spinning since.) Love to all, and more thanks than I can ever ever express. You are my family.

Elisa, I was banded May 2004 but my port site never healed due to infection. They removed my first port a month after banding, then replaced it 8 months later. However, Dr. Lopez should never have replaced it throught the same "dirty wound" according to another surgeon because the 2nd port became infected and was surgically removed (along with too much very painful inflammatory tissue) on January 29, 2005. Yesterday I was diagnosed with erosion. I'm probably driving you crazy by being so vague with names and details because I don't want to start a war! I can only speak from personal experience, and two Mexican surgeons did me wrong. One of them screwed me up twice. Both in Tijuana. Feel free to read my old posts where there's novels more, or PM me and we can talk privately.

I personally have heard this problem many times. Port revisions are somewhat common. However, I can only suggest getting a 2nd opinion and/or an edoscopy if you havn't had one this year. I'm learning that port infections almost always lead to band erosion. I'm not saying you're infected, I just think that any port issue should be taken really seriously. On a lighter note, I've seen quite a few people get port revisions due to discomfort and come out fine.

You so very much rock, Mr. Alex! Thank you

I wasn't necessarily having "problems." It's way too hard to describe, but the band is like a fine instrument. Only a professional piano player can hear when his instrument is off key. My belly was off key, that's the best I can say. It felt different, odd, squishy. My restriction was there, but then it would go away, the old normal digestive feelings are more rumbly, and I can feel my lower stomach a lot more now. I used to feel the squiggle of Water and hear the funny funnel noise when I drank liquids. I'd drink, then a minute later I'd hear the noise. Now I don't hear it, things go straight through, and the bottom belly rumbles oddly. I had lots of port complications, and so far everybody I know that had a Mexican port issue ended up eroded. So I demanded the endoscopy as a rule of general housekeeping. I would have been shocked if I didn't have erosion. Some people had no symptoms, but I can definitely feel and hear the difference from a year ago. Kel, seems lots of posts are getting lost in this new format. I can't find stuff any more!

I woke up feeling really weird - probably anesthesia hangover. My doc warned me to watch for severe abdominal cramping or fever for 24 hours following the endoscopy. An endo comes with a "preferation warning" even for those non-banded. I had to sign a disclaimer about it. So every time I feel the slightest gas or gurgle, I stop moving and hope it passes. So far, so good. Vera, thanks for all you're doing... honestly. I won't be doing any research because I'm holding my breath and just "getting by" till the icky thing is out. And Rose & anyone else offering even the smallest clue is appreciated. Maybe one day they'll have the procedure figured out. The Band is an amazing tool. Will I be re-banded in the future? No way, way too expensive. But if my insurance started covering it, then probably more like hell yeah.

Alex, please change it back! There are too many old posts coming up when you click "new posts." Important stuff is being lost, and non-related chit chat is hiding it. I used to get 4 pages of new posts, now I'm seeing 20+ pages of them but don't have time to read through it all. Also, could you open a new forum just for band complications? Thank you, and thanks always for LBT.

Okay, I'm normal because I woke up crying. I'm just tired, frustrated and exhausted from this entire process. I'm looking forward to a hospital bed and good drugs, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I now personally know NINE girls from the same Tijuana cluster that have eroded: Donali, Heather, Karen, Penni, Michelle, Fracesca, Lisa, Diane (plus others who I don't know personally.) Granted, Diane was banded 4 years out, but I don't know how long she was eroded before having her removal. Some people go years without an endoscopy and never know they're eroded. I'm convinced there are more, and many who think an Upper GI (barium swallow) will answer their concerns. Both Penni and I had perfect Upper GI results within the last couple weeks though. Last night the surgeon kind of chuckled that everyone's getting Upper GIs since they often don't show anything, yet some people base their conclusions on good results. I had to TRICK my primary into giving me the endoscopy, and it took me a few months to finally convince them. Insurance doesn't pay for "Having a feeling I'm eroded" or "Just feeling odd and squishy down there." I did vomit one day, so I told them, "Oh no, I'm vomiting!" Fact is I took a gamble. I had to trudge through this because now I can finally go on to my true calling - a Hollywood celebrity after kicking Penni's ass on Big Loser! Or being banned from the show for all the conspiring we will surely plan if we get on. Where do I sign? By the way, today I feel gross (physically.) I don't know if it's part of the erosion or the way I juice fasted 1.5 days then barely ate yesterday. To me, erosion feels a little like diarrhea gurgles, only up high. That's the best way I can describe the oddness I've felt. Not pain, just creepy kinda mild and rumbly baby gas? Definitely "off" but hard to pinpoint a description. Leatha, good luck on you endo results, I’ve been accused of posting simply to scare the boards. If anything, I just hope people are scared enough to get regular scopes. Bandster Bash 2006. That's a great idea. Thanks everyone for your endless love and support.

You might want to reconsider Mexico for awhile. There's a cluster of 3 doctors having repeated erosions. I'm the newest after my endoscopy yesterday. Most of us are eroding right about 18 months out, so I'm sure I'm not the last one. So far I'm not seeing this same pattern from anywhere but Tijuana. It's just MY opinion though, but you did ask for it. Good luck.

I'm eroded and need my band removed.

Betty, the key is that it's happening to so many of us from the same cluster. Pretty scary considering the volume of people that are coming out of that cluster. I'm lucky - I found out in time.