Penni60

Yup as a medical professional "personal gifts" from patients were and still are a NO NO. If you give the "whole" staff something as a group then that is acceptible since you are not singling out one particular person. I know when I worked as an RN I LOVED getting fruit trays, sweets, bagels and cream cheese, anything that the whole group could share. Every Christmas I send Godiva chocolates to the day shift nurses and some to the night shift nurses where I used to work. That is acceptible. Crafty stuff is cute and nice and appreciated, but unless you can eat it forget about it. LOL!! That was our mantra. FEED US!! LOL!!

Actually the surgery involves removing half the stomach and leaving a long tubular shaped stomach. I consulted with my bariatric surgeon on this surgery vs the bypass and he said one is restrictive (sleeve) and one is both restrictive and malabsorptive (bypass). He did comment and say the Sleeve is like doing half a bypass. I was opting for the Sleeve but he said with me and my circumstances he felt I would benefit more from the Bypass. He didn't have anything bad to say about the Sleeve though other than to say the long term results are not there to determine just how effective it will be in the future. The bypass has long term data to review.

Ya know I slept really well last night for the first time in ages. LUNESTA rocks!! LOL!! I went to bed with a clear head and just left it in a higher powers hands to give me some sign. The only thing is I usually (like most of us) need a billboard to smack us in the face before we recognize the sign. LOL!!! I have an appt in 6 weeks to go back to see Dr Billy. I don't have to make a decision at that point. I don't have to make one for awhile actually. I am gonna make some phone calls to my current insurance co and see what they will or won't cover. In the meantime, I am going to make a conscious effort to rededicate myself to eating healthier and getting some exercise. I already conquered the battle of the water. I realized that if I don't get in 64 oz of water a day my ankles and hands swell up bigtime to twice the size. So the water is for keeping the swelling down instead of helping with weight loss. I got rid of all the junk in the house the other day. John and I have talked (I have cried on his shoulders) about my options and what I need to do. He has made a committment to me to help my journey. He will no longer bring in any "contraband". He knows my weaknesses and will not buy them anymore. Even if I threaten him he won't succumb. :clap2: We are both re-committing to losing 20lbs by Christmas. That is ONE lb a week. Being a Man he will lose more of course. Bastard!! LOLOL!!!! But we are doing it. It is hard to continue this excitement when you realize it is a life long journey. You have to keep the "honeymoon phase" going somehow. My slap in the face came when I watched a couple of TLC programs the other night. The "750 lb man" and "half Ton man" programs were both eye openers. I watched knowing how bad it could get. It shocked me into just how lucky I am to weigh ONLY 270 lbs right now. And I am moderately healthy as well. So I took my situation and put a positive spin on it instead of seeing it as negative. I told myself the following things: 1. I am beautiful on the inside 2. I have my health 3. I can walk without aid 4. I have beautiful children, grandchildren, family 5. I can do anything I set my mind to 6. I am intelligent 7. I love my facial features 8. I have a man that loves me 9. I am financially secure 10. I have a business that is flourishing Once I found 10 positive things to write down I kept repeating them to myself. The more I said them the more the dark cloud of depression lifted. I have printed off these positive mantras and will tell them to myself every day. Notice NONE of them are food related. Thank you guys for listening to my rants. LOVE YOU ALL :kiss2:

All of you are so sweet and supportive. When I got home yesterday I contemplated resigning as Moderator and leaving LBT since it no longer applies to what I might be facing. I was all set to look for a RNY or DS or Sleeve talk board. Then I come back here and see all the love and support here and I can't leave you guys. LOL!! What was I thinking? LOL!!! Sue you just crack me up. Thanks bunches NewSho I love all your comments and if I decide on the RnY then you are damn right I will come back here and post my weight loss. DUH!!! LOL!! Darcy, love ya girl. Poodles thanks for the info. Vera what can I say you are my heart. Love ya 3loves you are so sweet Jack, I have been lurking around. It is nice to be missed. LOL!! ARGH!! Marimaru all support and hugs are appreciated. Jammin & losin I am so proud of your 100 lb loss. WOW!! So where are the updated pics? To anyone else I missed know that I love you all and you mean the world to me and I do value everyone's opinion.

paula You are a dear sweet lady. I love ya bunches.

I had ZERO symptoms. Some lose restriction I never did. I had HIGH restriction to the point I thought I had slipped so they removed all the fill from my band then they found the Erosion when they did the Endoscopy.

I loved "The secret life of bees" She is a great writer. It captured my attention and I read it in two night. LOVED IT>

"Twelve Sharp" by Janet Evanovich So far it is making me wanna read all her other books. Funny yet full os suspense. LOVE IT!! Just finished reading "The Beach House" the author escapes me right now. Probably because the book SUCKED. No real flow and the twists and turns needed a notebook to keep up. It however did surprise me in the end. So I guess that gives it ONE STAR.

My mother sent this email to me and I sent it out to lots of my friends and also to Christina (Illsucceed). So now I am sending it out to all of my LBT family. Chocolate Sings > > One day I had a date for lunch with friends. Mae, a little old "blue hair" about 80 year old, came along with them --- All in all, a pleasant bunch. When the menus were presented, we ordered salads, sandwiches, and soups, except for Mae who said, "Ice Cream, please. Two scoops, and make it chocolate." > > I wasn't sure my ears heard right, and the others were aghast. "Along with heated apple pie," Mae added, completely unabashed. We tried to act quite nonchalant, as if people did this all the time. > > > But when our orders were brought, I didn't enjoy mine. I couldn't take my eyes off Mae as her pie a-la-mode went down. The other ladies showed dismay. They ate their lunches silently and frowned. > > The next time I went out to eat, I called ! and invited Mae. I lunched on white meat tuna. She ordered a par fait. I smiled. She asked if she amused me. I answered, "Yes, you do, but also you confuse me. > > How come you order rich desserts, while I feel I must be sensible?" > > She laughed and said, with wanton mirth, "I'm tasting all that's possible. I try to eat the food I need, and do the things I should. But life's so short, my friend, I hate missing out on something good. This year I realized how old I was....(She grinned) I haven't been this old before. So, before I die, I've got to try those things that for years I had ignored. I haven't smelled all the flowers yet. There are too many books I haven't read. There's more fudge sundaes to wolf down and kites to be flown overhead. ! There are many malls I haven't shopped. I've not laughed at all the jokes. I've missed a lot of Broadway hits and potato chips and cokes. I want to wade again in water and feel ocean spray on my face. I want to sit in a country church once more and thank God for His grace. I want peanut butter every day spread on my morning toast. I want UN-timed long distance calls to the folks I love the most. I haven't cried at all the movies yet, or walked in the morning rain. I need to feel wind in my hair. I want to fall in love again. So, if I choose to have dessert, instead of having dinner, then should I die before night fall, I'd say I died a winner, because I missed out on nothing. I filled my heart's desire. I had that final chocolate mousse before my life expired." > > With that, I called the waitress over . "I've changed my mind, " I said. "I want what she is having, only add some more whipped cream!" > > This is my gift to you - We need an annual Friends Day! If you get this twice or more, then you have many more than just one friend. > > Live well, love much & laugh often - Be Happy ! > > Be mindful that happiness isn't based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people we love and respect. > > Remember that while money talks, CHOCOLATE SINGS!

Just received this email from Christina. I just sent her a cute little email called CHOCOLATE SINGS. I will post it on a separate thread. She is referring to her Coumadin levels. They have her on that blood thinner due to finding blood clots in her arm after an IV infiltrated. PLEASE keep her in your prayers. I LOVE YOU! I am having a poor day but this made me feel like there is so much more to do & say - That I am blessed to have the opportunity to do so! My blood work came back again yesterday(not good) actually worse they say b/c I doubled up on meds wed nite but my blood still shows 1.6. So they are giving more today (sat) & sun & tues & thurs. It really makes me feel not "right" its so hard to describe but I pray this helps me. I also pray & hope all of LBT will pray that my blood comes back Friday(next ) at something, anything over 2. I am terrified of internal bleeding & thought I may have had some this morning while at mom's. I hope it was maybe remnants of red pepper;0) Which it could have been but looked suspicious. I am truly going to be an official bleeder this week so extra precaution is needed they say. You would at least think I could lose a couple pounds during all of this but I am up 3.5 since being released. I am walking a min of 45 mins now per day ( no MATTER what) that's everyday(please tell the troupes) its so much more crucial than they ever ever ever ever thought it was. Most importantly NOT TO SMOKE. They say that is the one great thing I had in my favor & if I had been a smoker the outlook could have been much different. Please what ever you do, I love you Penni & need my friends prayer as much as I need them to be healthly. Take really good care of yourself, now more than ever. I also learned several things since this has all happened. Here is just one of many: Just promise yourself one form of cardio a day. Who cares about actually working out. Great if you can do it but what really matters is ALWAYS doing it EVERYDAY. So a brisk 45 min or 30min walk is easiest I think. Something I can & will try to do from here on out. Just so my heart rate gets up & stays up for 25 mins or longer. A major thing my brother told me in the hospital was " Its not what you are doing right now or even have done in the past year. It's what you have done the past 5 & 6 years that counts" Sufice it to say that "Yes" its crucial to do good now but even more crucial to CONTINUE to our bodies good! Remember he too is a Doc. Starting to feel a bit weak & my neck is hurting now. Plus this is the longest I have every been on the computer since I got home. So talk with you soon. I LOVE you! Christina Let's all keep Christina in our prayers more than ever these coming weeks. HUGS TO ALL!!

Neenagh, I had to wait at least 6 months before I could even think about replacing the band. It has been that length of time now and I go see my band doc on Tuesday. We will most likely discuss my options as I am still gaining. OY VEY!! Also, my insurance will NOT cover the band and I don't have the extra money to pay for another one so I doubt a band is in my future right now.

If you have an ALOE plant then take the gel from a leaf and use that on the area.

Just spoke to SARGE today. She is recuperating at home. She is facing some further health related issues that should be resolved in the coming months but she requests to continuing praying for her as she needs them more every day. She still laughs and cuts up as usual. I told her stop faking being sick and get back here. She loved that. LOL!!!

Just spoke to SARGE today. She is recuperating at home. She is facing some further health related issues that should be resolved in the coming months but she requests to continuing praying for her as she needs them more every day. She still laughs and cuts up as usual. I told her stop faking being sick and get back here. She loved that. LOL!!!

Isn't Dunn's River Falls Beautiful? I love that place. I haven't been back there since I was banded to climb the falls. I watched several people do it though. HUGE CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!

Erosion = The band can erode into your stomach and it can seal off the hole and not require immediate attention. ON the other hand WHY would you want to keep something that is plugging a hole in your stomach? I eroded after 18 months. I have heard of people eroding after 1 year. It varies. The stats are still quoted as 1 - 3 % of cases. The band should come out if Erosion is diagnosed. It isn't always an emergent situation. It could wait but why take that chance? The erosion can develop either inside the stomach due to an ulcer or infection or it can develop on the outside of the stomach due to an irritated stitch, infection, or improper placement causing rubbing to occur and thus breaking down the area. Erosion can only be diagnosed conclusively with an Endoscopy. If an Erosion is diagnosed a band surgeon that is well experienced in band removal should be considered. Not only are they removing the band but they are repairing any damage to the stomach that was caused by the erosion. Keep this in mind when having the band removed. Hope this helps.

I highly highly recommend Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura, CA. He is known for band removals and not because his patients erode. In fact to date he has YET to have one erode. He removes bands from other doctors mostly Mexico patients. I can give you his number if you like. Just PM or email me. Penni@pennimerrick.com If you call him just tell him Penni Merrick sent you. LOL!! Dr. BIlly removed my band after I eroded about 40 - 50%. That was back in Dec of 05 and I am doing great now. Actually the recovering time after band removal was faster than the initial surgery.

Dr. Lopez banded me and two months into my experience I changed doctors because the aftercare sucked big time. I had an emergent situation and could not get ahold of ANYONE for two weeks. Then when I did get ahold of him I was given amazingly horrendous advice that could have caused me more complications. I changed Doctors Immediately and haven't looked back. He should be used with caution in my humble opinion. Sorry but you asked.

Yup me too. I wanna play. You have my info already right? Do I need to resend it to you. If so then please PM me. HINT HINT: Sept 5th is my birthday.

ADVERTISEMENT IS NOT ALLOWED ON LBT. THANK YOU FOR NOT POSTING OTHER SUCH THREADS. THIS THREAD IS NOW LOCKED.

How long does either last? What are the costs for both? How painful are the treatments and the after effects? For both!

If it were me and just researching now with the knowledge that I have now. I would without a doubt use Dr. Helmuth Billy in Ventura, CA even if I was self pay. He is an hour from Van Nuys, CA. He is an excellent surgeon and has done many lapbands. He has thriving practice and was proctored by an Inamed approved surgeon. I have been going to him for the last year and a half and his personality and his professionalism is outstanding. I DO NOT work for him although I should. LOL!!! He took care of several of my friends that had complications from their previous LapBand surgeries (He did not put in their bands). He takes on Mexico patients without question. He is readily accessible day or night. He gives out his private number to use in cases of emergency. He has email that he gives out to his patients as well. I can't give you prices on his self pay costs but I can give you his number if you are interested in calling to find out for yourself. Just mention my name when you call.

My BABY graduated this past June 22nd from High School. Boy do I feel old? All my kids are out of school and three are on their own. My newly graduated son is still living at home and going to College now. I kind of like him living at home but I know there will come a time he will want to leave. :think Anyway, thought I would share some pics of that glorious day. Here is the first set of pics all from the actual day. I was so excited about him graduating that I spaced out getting pics of him at home in his cap and gown. DOH!!! :faint:

That would be an Alexandra question.

Jenna, Lisa is inviting people into her home so she has a right to invite who she wants. My understanding is that anyone is invited unless it has changed. Everyone please just let this go. This thread is all about the upcoming Suarez and not about rehashing old and dead subjects. If I get one more PM about this thread I will move it to the Rants and Raves Section.