DeLarla

Thanks for the warning. I got halfway there then chickened out.

Good luck!

Theresa lost 70 pounds with no fill. Where has she been?

Another Lopez patient here. Still currently portless & have gained 9 pounds of lard back. I feel gross even though I'm still down 65 lbs. I'm eating raw veggies for breakfast though. There's always a fresh start behind every sunset.

So many new people make it hard to keep up, but HI from Vegas!

I'm eating raw veggies for breakfast. Broc, carrots, snap peas.

King Size Heating pad. Walgreens! My savior!

Congrads! Can't wait to see the bikini pic!

Right on! It's small things that add up to big things.

CONGRADS! Not only have you lost a good chunk of weight, but you've brought so much love and caring support here to LBT. I look foward to seeing your smiling face and sweet messages. Congrads on being you

Super Daddy... you SO SO busted me! That's exactly what LBT is, just another co-dependency! But hey, that's what I'm best at, so here I am. I can't work as a paralegal today because I'm going to potty myself over my Slumber exictement. I want to get out of here and do Slumber Parties all day, every day. Get me out of here! And now I gotta add another pic and some links. Super Daddy is my new boyfriend, ladies, so stay away. Blah blah blah, so is John and Bubba and etc. etc. etc. I never denied being selfish.

Thanks Penni! I asked Chris to tape it... let's see if it comes out. If he screwed it up, I want it!

*** Throws TWO shoes. One at Kare, another at the Bean for making two chip threads to intentionally send me over to the "other side." Conspiracies and leaks to the Big I, that's what you people are. Good news, I gained another pound after giving up soda, sugar, and eating in bed! Does anyone have personal knowledge whether "They" carry straightjackets in plus sizes?

Vine, the Slumber segment I posted about was postponed till tomorrow. How did you get this video clip? I can't figure out my VCR, but I really want to see tomorrow's segment. Thanks - I'll check this one out.

There are lots of theories, but nobody can tell you for sure what causes erosion. Most docs say 1-3% of banded patients will erode, so you're taking a gamble from the beginning. Many people believe taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Motrin) can lead to erosion. NSAIDs can lead to ulcers, and ulcers can lead to erosion. Port infections can lead to erosion according to everything I've heard. These are just my opinions, but there's really no clear-cut answer yet.

Anyone remember when I whined about simple tickers? HAHAHA, LOOK AT ME NOW! A monster has been created. Touche'

New Information on Port Infections Another long post - grab some coffee. Yesterday I had a long talk with one of the world's top band experts (opined by me, Inamed, and thousands of others.) Names aren't important at this point - it's all common sense. Do not accuse me of spreading rumors or slamming doctors. My telephone reception wasn't the clearest since I was talking to another country, so don't quote my exact words. This source is famous around LBT and other boards for his stellar reputation. Do not ask for names, I'm not here to insult or slam anyone. If you don't like what this says, ignore it, but I'm compelled to share based on what I believe to be truth and fact. Those of us who have had port infections/revisions (red, swollen, infected, warm) have a good chance of eroding within two years of banding. Could be more, could be less, or you could get ultra-lucky. I'm practically counting on erosion (I feel the vibe.) I've decided against a new port, and I'll keep my band till I lose restriction. Loss of restriction is a warning sign of erosion. I'm expecting the worse. Let's hope I'm wrong. No worries, life goes on. Now's the time to focus on gaining control over my eating disorders. "Port infections typically happen during band installation; the doctors in TJ are excellent surgeons, but the 'surgical centers' they work out of are not adequately equipped and can't afford necessary medical equipment." The problem isn't with the surgeon, thank God! The problem is with these "surgical centers" that fall far below the standards of a sterile hospital, which is something we've been suspicious of all along. These laparoscopic tools called a "trochar" (thanks, Kimber) are so expensive that Mexican "surgical centers" (office buildings that have been converted to surgery suites) often re-use expensive surgical tools after sterilizing them. However, you can't get the tools hot enough to properly sterilize them without damaging the tool. If a new tool is not used EACH time, bacteria will harbor. Will harbor, not might harbor. It might take a couple years, but the bacteria will be there, and it will eventually grow. The large Mexican hospitals that are like our sterile US hospitals don't allow re-use of tools. New tools must be used with each surgery, which is why the Band surgery is more expensive in more reputable places. Cutting corners is a way for TJ to offer the Band at a lower price. Again, don't accuse me of spreading rumors because I'm simply relaying information that came from someone that's been placing bands for 15 years and hasn't had an infection in over 1.5 years. I am NOT saying TJ performs with used tools. I'm saying I was told this by an impressive source, and it makes perfect sense since I have firsthand knowledge that a BRAND NEW surgical center in TJ re-uses medical supplies! The white surgical stockings I was given during my port replacement were used. They were clean, but they had snags and worn spots. Another LBT member saw a HYPODERMIC NEEDLE laying on a nurse's station in a different TJ surgical facility. These facilities are NOT sterile. On a side note, he told me that US patients are coming to him. One person has been on antibiotics for her port infection for months (prescribed by a US doctor to kill the infection.) I almost cried for her. Her infection would go away, but every time she stopped the antibiotics it would return. Antibiotics can't kill a port infection. An infected port must be removed. AN INFECTED PORT MUST BE REMOVED. It is my opinion based on 1.5 years of research that port infections begin during band placement from use of non-sterile tools. It is my opinion a top Band surgeon is Swedish, and he uses the Swedish Band. It is my opinion a top Band surgeon is in Italy. It is my opinion a top Band surgeon is in Mexico, but not TJ. It is my opinion Dr. Billy is on his way to being a top Band surgeon (I didn't put him on top yet simply due to the lack of time the Band has been in the US.) It is my opinion that US citizens should avoid Tijuana "surgical centers" at all costs. It is my opinion that you are responsible for asking your surgeon if he uses new tools and surgical supplies. I may edit this thread as the day goes by since my mind works slower these days, but I won't change anything, I'll just add. Okay?

Where is Sunnykim? I noticed she has her avatar posted in her signature line. If she can get a pic in her sig line, we should be able to get chips in our sig lines. I'm trying to find her...Kimmy, where are you?

Betty gets a chip! FAR OUT! chip 30.bmp

This one is for SUPER DADDY! GO BOY GO! chip 30.bmp

Here's my 30 day chip for no soda (not a drop.) But I've gained weight over stress-eating. Time to gain more control. Today is Day 1 of no sugared goodies and no eating in bed at night or ever. chip 30.bmp

I'm very confused. Can't we move this to the orginal thread? That's where everyone started counting days, and now I can't keep up. Bean, the slightest confusion could catapult me into Never=Neverland. Why, oh why? Now GIMME MY CHIP :mad: But in the other thread, please. Penni, Sunnykim has her avatar posted in her signature line. How did she do that? Now moderate already and get me a chip! Please? Thank you.

We've all been victims of the Illuminate, the New World Order. It's a big hoax. They designed the Band to pull in billions from weak, morbidly obese desperados. The scientists trained by the Illuminate implant internal computer chips to digitally connect to Wall Street's DAI (Daily Average Index.) When the index is high, the chips flip a micro generator that starts the erosion process, causing us to run back to the Illuminate-driven band surgeons for an Illuminate-priced endoscopy followed by another expensive Illuminate-inspired removal surgery; since the DAI is up, they collect enormous sums in interest bearing band accounts. They're all in on it - fill centers launder the money back to the underground caverns, where the meetings are held by Oompa Loompas. We're feeding billions into their system, which temporarily shifts the World off it's axis from the sudden shift since everyone losing weight is displacing mass mass. The shift in the Earth's placement makes Venus an easier target, so during every third Tide we're closer to the cocaine. Inamed is the Illuminate. Think about it, you never see any of them all in a room at the same time. All us bandsters that lost weight actually shifted the Earth off its axis so we are the ones that caused all the recent hurricanes. It's a plot. We've been duped.

Princess, yes yes yes. Detect all the narcotics and send them to my mailbox for proper elimination. I swear I won't take any (fingers crossed behind back.)

Wait a second, how are people getting 30 day chips when I didn't even start the clock till October 6? I'm watching you people! I quit a few days before the thread, so tomorrow I get my 30 day chip for no soda. Today is Day 1 of no eating in bed (yep, that's an issue.) Congrads Jon! You better hope you had a head start :mad: