DeLarla

"What is the strip of dark brown with a couple of green splashes?" From my understanding, that's the eroded band eaten into the stomach, right? No, I haven't had the band removed but I need to. I'm working on details but would rather just go lay down and sleep off the anesthesia. Thanks for everyone's nice words, but honestly, I think I'm okay with this. I've always "had a feeling" I'd erode, and I was right. I want to start a whole new thread about Mexican erosions and port complications, but I'm completely exhausted. I'm convinced that 100% of patients who were banded in Mexico and had ANY type of port complication, issue, infection, flip, etc., will erode. Just my opinion, but I have a good network system and I share this opinion with some pretty impressive folks including a band surgeon. I want the thing out immediately but will have to see where the road takes me. I did consult with an excellent band surgeon (not in Nevada) who said erosion is a very slow process, so any holes seal themselves closed as the erosion progresses. However, he said an endoscopy could potentially cause a problem, and the first 24 hours are critical that I don't get severe abdominal cramps or fever. I'm to eat mushies and liquids for a couple days to make sure the endo didn't poke a hole, and a bad "stuck food" episode could land me in the ER. This doc said the last place I want to end up is having my band removed in a Vegas ER with clueless docs who "think" they can handle eroded band removal. They can't, so I'm hoping for a safe 24 hours.

Anybody please feel free to adjust the size of the picture. I have a headache and don't feel like dealing with it, but at least I'm still laughing.

Sounds like a perfect gift for you to wrap and re-gift back to her for Mother's Day.

I was banded in Mexico and suggest getting it locally if it's a matter of a few thousand bucks. Many places in the US won't even treat patients banded in Mexico. Make sure to have local aftercare lined up BEFORE chosing a Mexican surgeon in case you have complications. Getting the band surgery is the easy part, but then there's an entire lifetime of Band maintenance to take care of, which can include a variety of complications. Are you able to run back and forth to Mexico every time you need something?

Here we go again, DeLarla goes out on a limb trying to incite action at the risk of getting a locked thread. But honestly, can some guy tell me what the big deal is about boobs? They are blobs of fat with nipples. And I'd like to know why women have to hide our nipples in public. I'm sick of hearing that overweight women shouldn't dress in tight clothes or show skin that we need to dress appropriately for our full sizes figures. How many times have I seen an old man driving down the street or doing yard work with no shirt on, nipples completely exposed to the world. I think I just found my new mission on Earth. Either men cover up, or I'm taking my shirt off. If the world doesn't want to see fat chicks in belly baring midriffs, then I don't want to see grey haired nipples. PERIOD. All kidding aside, I think it's time I put an end to this disgusting discrimination, so who has the correct address to the White House? Where do I get one of those forms to write a new bill, or what's that School House Rock song that teaches me how a bill becomes a law so I can learn it myself?

I would have admitted to it, but I was a real good bandster for the first year or so. Then I got bad. Very, very bad!

I personally don't understand why as a woman I'm NOT allowed to drive topless. How come guys can show their nips in public? Men's nipples look just like women's. I'm all for topless but I'm still embarrassed for people like Laura, Phil and Tom.

What Nikki said. And then what Anwyn said! I've heard the twit, and she "thinks" she knows things but she's clueless. You can't speak on behalf of obesity without ever having walked in fat shoes. It's so easy for Laura (and the other Dork, Dr. Phil) to explain to the world how to lose weight when they've never been faced with an obsession as severe as us. Us morbidly obese people live life committing slow suicide because we're plagued with a disease that has yet to be cured. Many of us have had weight loss surgery in hopes of finding bits of the answer, so when anyone publicly speaks about obesity, they better darn well have worn polyester stretch pants for a good part of their lifes or just keep their holes shut.

Listen up everyone, this is from my friend who just gained back 50 pounds after losing 150 from her Bypass operation. This is a real-time post since we are chatting right this second. She just joined Weight Watchers, and I've been telling her I'm considering getting the bypass. These are her words, so getting a bypass (for me) is currently out of the question. I realize I'm fickle on my decisions, but listen to what's going on at Weight Watchers RIGHT NOW: Lisa, The woman at WW told me there are a lot of women at the meetings that had surgeries like ours. Women that have busted their staples and had to be rushed into ER for overeating again. You dont want to do that to yourself and neither do I. My emotional eating comes with a lot of psychological issues too and I need to take control of that. Its not going to take control of me so you gotta do the same. You are going to start this new year on the right foot Lisa. Your business is going to take off and you are going to look good doing it, inside and out. Besides once you start changing your eating habits you wont be as tired. Ive noticed a HUGE difference. Im not nearly as sluggish as I use to be. Dont do the surgery. The surgery is a quick fix and yes you'll lose the weight but you can gain it back. Look at me. WE need to learn how to eat properly and not be emotional eaters. I wonder if they have Overeaters anonymous around here? Ok I know you gotta work but we'll help each other ok? *edited to remove context regarding "bypass causing loose skin" since any fast loss can do the same*

I apologize for the comment about slaves, it was written in a severe state of PMS, which is much, much, much more severe since the day my port-removal left me with a tube temporarily "stashed" in my abdominal cavity. I agree, that was in poor taste, but I was trying to make a strong point. Having a tube stashed in my belly is friggen miserable - capital M. Thanks for pointing that out for me to correct. As far as the girl with the colostomy bag, yes, there have been posts about her, however, according to my conversation with her, they were just rumors. She believes that use of Ibuprofen following a back injury caused her band erosion. I'm not at liberty to share her personal experience, but there were complications during the band removal procedure. She's gone through several surgeries, and still had another major one to look forward to (as of our last conversation about a month ago.) Her kids think she's cool because she can "fart through her stomach" so at least she's got a really great sense of humor about it. When I had my last port removal, they left a hole in my belly about the size of a small tangerine. They couldn't sew it shut, since an open-cavity-wound needs to close from the inside out. I had to see a nurse every single day for her to unpack, clean, and repack the wound for a few months. It was so bad that I wasn't even able to look at my own wound, and even my bad boy tough husband couldn't look. My hole, however, was nothing compared to the 7 inch open gap left in my friend. But no need to worry, it's only one colostomy bag/ near-death, and only two real deaths (one, according to what I've read, was because the woman was afraid to admit something was wrong.) So don't bother reading any of my scary posts because complications are really not that big of a deal. Johnny, I'm not sure what I did to make you so angry, but I'm sorry I scared you. Please don't read my threads, okay? I'm not here to make enemies. I already burned that t-shirt.

My little mind readers Michelle, I have you on my list of calls to make tonight. I'm going to fight the battle with you gals. I have my endo this week, so I have to liquid-fast tomorrow, then after the endo, I plan on starting WW with my bypass friend. She started last week and said the MEANEST thing to me. She said, "Lisa, you don't have to start WW with me, but don't be upset when I'm 40 pounds thinner in a few months and you're not." GEEZE, I wanted to slap her for being so damn right! I can't let that happen, now can I? I miss you, it's good to see you.

Which very famous actress admitted she lied in the past about being "fat and happy?" Was it Delta Burke? I can't remember who it was, but I remember a profound discussion from an actress who had just lost quite a bit of weight after going on and on about being a happy fat woman. But once she was thin, she cried and said she only pretended to be happy and was actually terribly miserable. I'm sorry, I once weighed 315 and could easily weigh that again, and there's no way I'll ever believe anyone can be morbidly obese and happy. I'm not saying I'd have to be "normal sized" or thin to be happy. I'm pretty happy now, but it ebbs and flows with my moods. One day I feel hot and sexually charged, then I take off my clothes and see my thighs and belly and the mood goes cold. I'm still considered morbidly obese and hope one day to be plain obese. I think I'd be happy being plain obese, because then I could at least wear a size 16/18. Jenna, if you love me, you won't let me weigh 300 again. So if that happens, please shoot me. Not even kidding. Pretty sick? I don't think so.

Tommy O, who are you, and why haven't I seen you around before? We should meet (on-line at least) considering you're my new hero. She's one of those people I have fun laughing at.

I'm supposed to join WW this weekend. I promised my bypass friend (who has gained 50 pounds back) that I'd do it with her. I cracked up and threw the scale at the wall last time I joined WW, but that was pre-band. I'm almost ready to start again, so I'll let you know if it's easier.

SHUT UP, MEGAN! You never told me you had a rooster, and now I'm very, very jealous. He's priceless! I love him very much, and I need a farm.

Hey girl, when you need to cry, call me and yell at me. Like in Steel Magnolias when Olympia Dukacus (sp?) told Sally Field to hit Shirley McClain. HIT 'ER, HIT WHEEZER!

Why the heck didn't they tell us we could get The Big Night Out for one person? We could have split that and still had leftovers. Boy, to think of the money I threw away. Thanks, Shel. They're opening one near my house in January (we drove to the other side of town last night.) I'd like to take my husband, but he's so spoiled that he'd ask me to cook all his food and ruin the fun.

It breaks my heart to think of you crying alone in the car. That happened to me the day I cut my hair short. I asked the guy to leave my length, but he decided I'd look cute in a bob without even asking my permission. At 313 pounds, I looked like a fat bulldog with no hair and just went to my car and cried. But guess what, as it dried, it started looking bouncy and cute. By the time it was all dry, I loved it. That's how it's going to be once you lose some weight. Suddenly the sun will shine and you'll stop crying alone in the car. Hang in there. And for the record, there's no reason for you to go to The Melting Pot, either!

Poor Baby Voo is horrified of machines and the pool. He's the sweetest, kindest, most loving baby on Earth... unless you mess with his Mamma or his food, then he'll snap your head off. But Terri, Sachi is a rare breed. Her birth certificate claims she's a purebread Pitbull, but we've seen enough to know that she's a Pig-Mule-Pointer-Mountain Goat-Crocadile-Red Snapper-Angel-Monster-Movie-Star. I've never known a more amazing fearless and beautiful girl, if I do say so myself! I'll give her kisses from you tonight. Terri, there's a man at the dog park that is always there parked in the center in a wheel chair. Voo once sat by the guy's feet and kept the guy's own dog away from him. He's a natural protector. Then again, that guy never had the motor running. Voo hates motors. Hates them! Pam, post pics please and someone can shrink them. We need pics.

Ouch, I knew this topic would eventually unfold. I'm afraid of my next dental visit. I've noticed my teeth are fading and ugly, and I have to wonder if it's from regular acid reflux marinating my teeth every night as I sleep. I better make an appointment. Sigh.

Wow. Wow. Pam, that was probably the best compliment of my life. You floored me and have me completely exposed and vulnerable, and I LIKE it! My goal has never been to frighten anyone or to prove I'm right. I believe one of my responsibilities while visiting Planet Earth is to incite thinking. I'd like to stand on the moon and scream down at Earth that people have choices and should "think" about what to believe before believing it. We aren't sheep. We can and should stray from the flock and dance to the beat of our own drums and figure life out independently instead of simply following what everyone else has done before us. Pam, you've defined DeLarlaism. Johnny, as far as numbers, I haven't collected nationwide statistics, nor do I care or need to. I have enough numbers from my very own personal Banded family. In addition, I know of at least 2 Lapband deaths that might have been avoided if the patients got medical attention instead of hoping symptoms would disappear. As far as the Bypass, I've received different stats by different surgeons, with some stating the mortality rate is as high as 10% of all bypass patients within two years of surgery. I don't make stuff up, I just ask around hoping for better, factual info. I've shared a table with about 40 banded people and have had about 30 bandsters in my home, many from this very website. Of my personal banded family, seven have eroded. One ended up in a coma after band-removal complications and was left with a 7 inch open wound and a colostomy bag. I know of 10 port revisions, 7 port infections/removals and countless other complications ranging from mild acid reflux to slippage requiring surgical intervention. My friends are significant to me, even if their numbers seem weak to you. Pam, this time it's not an evil grin. More like a snarl. Rachele, we're on the same page. Have fun but don't let anyone smack ya around! Maybe I can't get a port for Christmas, but I do have a lovely endoscopy scheduled. This is going to be rough because I have to liquid-fast and ignore the piles of homemade Christmas goodies on our community crap table. Too bad I couldn't do that really cool thing where I simply "changed my way of thinking" before having weight loss surgery. Gee, why didn't I think of that? (Pam, insert expression here.)

My kitty's favorite toys were bags and boxes. So cute

I think that's Voodoo's cousin! I didn't think anybody loved stuffed animals as much as Voo, but I guess I'm wrong. More pics, please!

I never feed my babies people food. And I lie a lot. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled.

Making nice, hoping it will get them cake!