Penni60

So sorry for the delay Theresa Marie. IT will happen though that is the thing to look forward to. And imagine you are already down 13 lbs prior to the surgery. WHOO HOO!!

Margretr: what are you talking about? Me thinks Margretr's hubby has invaded our midst. The tone of her postings have changed. What do you guys think? No more Love Margret at the end of her posts anymore.

Funny I was wondering when you would get around to accusing me of something you can be proven to be doing yourself. But oh well. The more you delete it the more I will undelete it. Too funny.

It might be of some interest to all of you that Margret went back and deleted the quote from Larry Fulton at the beginning of her post. Unfortunately for her I have it printed off. So any changes she makes are moot at this point. Very interesting. Isn't this development??? And the poor thing keeps deleting this post.

Somehow this keeps getting deleted. I wonder why??? The more Margretr tries to delete this post the more I am going to undelete it. I sent her a PM stating this fact but yet she keeps deleting it. Such wasted energy on her part. There is way too much info in this post to let it be deleted. Don't you all agree?

OK for those of you that thought this thread was deleted I restored it cause there is just too much good info here. If it gets deleted again I will restore it again. In the meantime I will print off the info from this site in case we need it later.

Dr. Billy my follow up surgeon charges $300 and that includes the consultation and two fills. He does not charge for an unfill if you are too tight. I know everyone is different and some are more expensive. I don't know where you are located. Dr. Billy is in Ventura, CA. He takes everyone whether you were banded in Mexico or not.

Leatha: Don told me that they do teach the aftercare issues but they can't regulate what a doctor does once they are qualified to insert the band. So a surgeon can say yes I have something in place for aftercare. Inamed has nothing in place to check and see if in fact the surgeon is telling the truth about having anything in place or if they do in fact follow through and maintain the aftercare on a consistent basis. So Inamed will tell us they teach it or advise the doctors have it in place but Inamed does nothing to inforce the issue. They don't feel it is their business to tell a doctor how to run their offices. Crazy isn't it?? By the way here is Don Mills info email: don.mills@inamed.com Phone: (800) 624-4261 x4546

Did I see you say 8 TIMES A DAY? That right there would turn me off. This liquid Vitamin I take is once a day. Works great for me. I would be concerned that the spray would discolor your teeth if you use it that often. Below is a list of what the Liquid Vitamins have in it. Notice the Vitamin B-12. I can't say enough about this product. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=525 border=0><TBODY><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD colSpan=2>Supplement Facts</TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=left>Serving Size</TD><TD align=right colSpan=3>2 TABLESPOON</TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=left>Servings Per Container</TD><TD align=right colSpan=2>30 Liquid </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> </TD><TD align=right>Amount Per Serving</TD><TD align=right>% Daily Value</TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Calories </TD><TD align=right>20 </TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Total Carbohydrate </TD><TD align=right>5 Gm</TD><TD align=right>2% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Sugars </TD><TD align=right>4 Gm</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin A </TD><TD align=right>10000 IU</TD><TD align=right>200% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin C </TD><TD align=right>500 Mg</TD><TD align=right>833% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin D </TD><TD align=right>400 IU</TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin E </TD><TD align=right>200 IU</TD><TD align=right>667% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Thiamin </TD><TD align=right>25 Mg</TD><TD align=right>1,667% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Riboflavin </TD><TD align=right>25 Mg</TD><TD align=right>1,471% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Niacin </TD><TD align=right>40 Mg</TD><TD align=right>200% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B-6 </TD><TD align=right>25 Mg</TD><TD align=right>1,250% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Folate </TD><TD align=right>400 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Vitamin B-12 </TD><TD align=right>200 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>3,333% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Biotin </TD><TD align=right>100 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>33% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Pantothenic Acid </TD><TD align=right>60 Mg</TD><TD align=right>600% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Calcium </TD><TD align=right>50 Mg</TD><TD align=right>5% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Iron </TD><TD align=right>4.5 Mg</TD><TD align=right>25% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Iodine </TD><TD align=right>150 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>100% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Magnesium </TD><TD align=right>25 Mg</TD><TD align=right>6% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Zinc </TD><TD align=right>7.5 Mg</TD><TD align=right>50% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Selenium </TD><TD align=right>25 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>36% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> COPPER </TD><TD align=right>1.5 Mg</TD><TD align=right>75% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Manganese </TD><TD align=right>4 Mg</TD><TD align=right>200% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Chromium </TD><TD align=right>20 Mcg</TD><TD align=right>17% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Potassium </TD><TD align=right>50 Mg</TD><TD align=right>1% </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> SOURCE-70 </TD><TD align=right>500 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> BEE POLLEN </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> CITRUS BIOFLAVONOIDS </TD><TD align=right>100 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> GINSENG ROOT </TD><TD align=right>50 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Inositol </TD><TD align=right>30 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Paba </TD><TD align=right>15 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> Choline </TD><TD align=right>13 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD> CHLOROPHYLL </TD><TD align=right>4 Mg</TD><TD align=right>N/A* </TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR><TR borderColor=white borderColorLight=white bgColor=white borderColorDark=white><TD align=middle colSpan=3 height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>* Daily value not established <!-- Switch --><!-- Supplement Facts Table --><!-- Directions and other info -->Directions: shake well. As a dietary supplement, two tablespoons or one capful (29.57 ml) once daily. Delicious new, tasty flavor can be enjoyed straight from the bottle or mixed with your favorite beverage. Other Ingredients: Purified Water, crystalline fructose, natural flavors, citric acid, xanthan gum, malic acid, potassium benzoate and potassium sorbate (to preserve freshness), flax seed, astragalus root, ligustrum berry, schisandra fruit, young barley leaf, echinacea angustifolia root, irish moss (chondrus crispus), thyme leaf and rice bran. Does Not Contain: Free from artificial colors and sweeteners. Free from the common allergies yeast, wheat, corn, soy and milk. Warnings: Do not take with sulfonamide since Paba interferes with the activity of the drug. Keep tightly closed. Refrigerate after opening. Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accident overdose, call a physician or poison control immediately.

MIchelle: I suggested something similar to Don when I spoke with him and he said something to the effect of well what would I do with the information after I collected it? My whole opinion after speaking with Don at Inamed boils down to this (and this is MY opinion). They wanna sell the band to as many certified surgeons as possible. I suggested they devise a questionnaire from Inamed specifically speaking to aftercare issues and include any complications the patient has experienced post surgery. This questionnaire would have the surgery date, place, and surgeons name. Don said well how would we get the questionnaires to the patients? I said give it to all the Docs that place Inamed bands. The good docs would distribute it to their patients like Dr. Billy. Then if one person goes on a message board like this one and says Hey did you know Inamed is asking for feedback, get your questionnaire from either your doc or Inamed directly then Inamed would get the ammunition they need about complications or aftercare issues. Don said well yeah that could work. I said what would you do with that info once it started coming in? He said not sure. So even if we give them the info they don't know what to do with it. Michelle I like the idea of collecting the info and sending it in to Inamed but how about going one step further and sending it to FDA as well. Or the Bariatric Board of Surgeons, Or the American Medical Association. One other thing, Don Mills told me that Mexico Doctors are not required nor encouraged to carry Malpractice Insurance so there is no incentive for them to get it right. Another thing I asked Don was why doesn't Inamed contact the facilities where the surgeons are doing the surgeries and speak to the Director of the Hospital about the complications, Don said they do. I said have you contacted all the facilities where Lopez has worked he said well the problem there is that Lopez most likely OWNS part of the facility. So there ya go. Politics again. I asked him if there was anything we as the consumer of Inamed's product could do as a group to make Inamed more responsible in making sure aftercare and complications were addressed? He said what are you referring to. I said what if a bunch of us filed a class action law suit against Inamed would that shake you up enough to make sure the aftercare and complications were addressed. He said he couldn't comment on litigation issues. Vicky: Inamed does not send referrals. There is NO incentive for the doctors to report complications nor is there incentives to report good outcomes either. All Inamed is concerned about at this point is getting the product into the hands of the surgeons to do the procedure. They feel their responsibility ends there. That is my impression from the talks I had with Don Mills. He said it is beyond their scope to tell a Doctor how to run their offices when it comes to aftercare. He said they teach Patient Management in a workshop. This workshop teaches the fills, encourages them to set up support groups, what the projected weight loss should be, all the mechanics of the band. It does not teach (Don Mills words) how to follow up with the patients once they have been banded. They feel that is something the doctor should know. I was floored by this. The "Patient Management" workshop does nothing to address the psychological aspect of the weight loss journey. Only the physical aspect. I said to Don how can you in good conscience treat one without treating the other? How can you teach one and not address the other in your workshop?? He said Inamed did not think it was their responsibility to tell a Doctor how to relate to their patients in regards to this particular product. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

I had a rather long (almost an hour and a half) conversation with Don Mills at Inamed. We discussed the dilemma of Lopez aftercare or lack thereof. We discussed the rash of erosions of Lopez patients, Let's me just summarize the whole conversation here. Inamed is aware of the lack of aftercare from Lopez. The Inamed Mexican Distributor has already spoken with Lopez. Don said he is planning on being in Mexico in two weeks and will be speaking with Lopez personally. He told me that they know of at least 6 patients that experienced erosion of Lopez patients. He said that Lopez has done approx 1200 surgeries. He assured me that Lopez is qualified to do the procedure and is very adept at the surgery. I asked him about the high percentage of Lopez erosion and he did not have a comment. He tried to reassure me of the criteria that Inamed uses to qualify a surgeon to perform the surgery. I told him the surgery is not the issue at this point but the aftercare is a HUGE issue. He said they do require all the doctors to attend a "Patient Management" workshop. I asked how they or if they do a checks and balance if the doctors are following through on the learned information. He said they do sit in on surgeries from time to time with Lopez as they do with other surgeons to make sure they are still up to speed on the procedure. Don said Lopez was still qualified and proficient. I said what checks and balances do you have for the "patient management" aspect of the training. He said there is NONE. I asked why not? He did not have an answer. Basically they can't dictate a surgeon be ethical in their treatment when it includes aftercare. I asked him doesn't this bother you and the rest of the Inamed staff knowing there is a surgeon they have qualified as proficient in the surgery that is providing sub-standard aftercare to non-existent aftercare. He had no answer. I had a theory as to why Lopez doesn't provide or has lack of aftercare. Here it is my theory I presented to Don. I said could it be that Lopez is so used to people not expecting aftercare from him since they are coming from the states or overseas that when they leave he doesn't expect to hear from them again so he writes them off? Don said that is highly likely. I said if that is the case then when he does hear from a patient of his he is shocked and decides to ignore it thinking the patient will go elsewhere for the care. Don said he can't comment on that. Basically I got no where but he did say to call anytime with any questions or concerns. Oh and also one more item. There are 9 patients he said he knows of that have stated the will NOT use Lopez as their band doctor. He did not say the reason but it seemed to be related to what we were discussing. Just thought you guys would want to know about the conversation I had with Inamed.

Has anyone noticed or is it just me that Margret never really stated what rumor she was talking about in her initial posting. Hmmm?? Makes me wonder what she really came here for initially.

I have actually talked at great length with Craig Arthur when I had my port issues in July. I have emailed Don Mills several times on other issues. Inamed needs to know and be informed about all the issues we are all facing like erosion, poor after care, port infections, port protrusions, unexplained redness at port site, etc. Some doctors (not all) but Lopez especially do not report complications to Inamed even though they are required to by the company. So that is why some doctors/surgeons have a better reputation that others. Everyone that has had problems with their Inamed bands should report the issue to the company. If the doctors/surgeons won't then we have to. Maybe if enough of us report our problems then they will start weeding out the doctors/surgeons that aren't treating the patients properly and get the more reputable ones in the forefront. Just a thought???

I just emailed Don and Larry Fulton from Inamed.

Wait gotta get Darcy here to assist with Lisa's surgery. Where the heck is she by the way????

LOL Lisa I missed that part about the clogged port statement. She is talking in circles anyway.

As we have been told when we were banded and have heard time and time again the BAND is a tool to help us learn how to lose the weight. We have to work with the band to reach our goal. Who is your band doctor? How often do you see your doctor for checkups? Do you follow the band guidelines? I PB once a month maybe if that, but only because I don't listen and stop eating before it hits. Then when I do I have to give my esophagous a rest cause it gets all irritated with the PB. I do liquids for one day after a PB episode. Learned the hard way to do that. Was never told that till I came here. If you are unfilling because you don't like the feeling then it might not be time for you to be banded. I am sorry if that upsets you but you have to want to work with it not against it. If you are trying to eat like you did before being banded then the band will not work for you and you will gain your weight back. Just my honest opinion. I had to do some head work after being banded as well. I had to give myself a good talking to and get on board to lose weight. It isn't easy and I was pretty rough on myself but if I wanna lose weight I gotta do the work.

Margret: When you or whoever sent the email to me it was signed at the bottom of the email by your husband. Not at the top. You have to PUT it there manually/deliberately whatever. Not sure what you are quoting me on in your last post????? Here is what I have learned about being banded with PB (productive burp) issues. If you eat something that won't go through the stoma you will PB If you eat too fast then you can PB If you eat something and then drink too much you can PB The gurgling sounds we all get as part of the food passing through the stoma. It does not mean you have swelling it just means your food is passing through the stoma. IF you were told that means you have esophagitis then they were mistaken or you misunderstood or you misrepresented what you were told. If you are frequently vomiting then that is different than acid reflux which you previously said was the cause of your esophagitis/erosion ??? whatever it was. If you are frequently vomiting then you are definitely filled too tight and are at risk for band erosion which can be a result of being filled too tight. If you have esophagitis then you need to give yourself a break and rest your esophagous. I hope you seek other care. You are not being treated properly it sounds to me. I hope you get to feeling better Margret. HOORAY!! for Michelle that she got the proper care.

HOORAY!! I was so thinking about you this morning on my way to taking my son to school. I said a little prayer for you. I am so glad that your band is doing fine. I was sorta suspicious it might be something that simple but wasn't sure. Dr. Ortiz sounds like a gem.

Margret: If you use your husband's email then why would you sign it with his name? That seems slightly deceptive to me. Wouldn't you sign it with YOUR name? No one said your experiences weren't as relevant as anyone elses. We have all said we would love to hear of your experiences regarding the band. I even said that in one of my posts here. Also, if you were banded by Lopez you are at risk for erosion. Everyone that was banded by Lopez is at risk for erosion. Lately you hear of more of his patients with erosion than any other doctor. So there is your answer about being at risk. However, he might have changed his technique to put you less at risk. Margret, did someone tell you that you have esophageal erosion? How did they diagnose that? Just curious, so that this is something we can all look out for. Did they tell you what could have caused the erosion to take place other than the acid reflux? How long did you have acid reflux before the diagnosis of esophageal erosion?

Hello Judy: First: Milkshakes are high calorie high fat content. It can easily make you gain weight even being banded. So those types of items should be taken in moderation. Any liquid will pass through easily so we need to monitor the amount we take in. Second: Water is a great weight loss aid. This seems funny but it is true. It also has the benefit of hydrating the skin and keeping wrinkles at bay. LOL!! Water in and of itself is a great benefit regardless of the weight loss aid. It keeps the kidneys working properly, helps flush out toxins in the body, hydrates us, etc etc. I try to drink at least 64 oz a day. That would be 8 - 8oz glasses per day. One thing to remember being banded is to NOT NOT NOT drink during a meal. Only drink before and up to an hour after a meal. If you drink during a meal you will just be aiding the food you have eaten to flush through the upper pouch into the lower stomach and you will eat more thus running the risk of gaining weight through eating more calories. Just remember PROTEIN FIRST, then veggies, then anything else if you have room. Third, Milk is that high fat content again. Just remember to drink in moderation. This includes any dairy product like ice cream, cheese, etc. Take into consideration of all the dairy you are taking in and adjust your calorie intake accordingly. If you are not sure then you can track it at www.fitday.com for an accurate accounting. Fourth, Mashed Bananas and Cottage Cheese is great for mushy foods when you are in that stage. Keep in mind cottage cheese another dairy food but it also has protein as well. Bananas are a great sounce of potassium among other things and can cause some gassy type issues. Being freshly banded you might want to rethink adding that factor into your already gassy bowel. You can do the cottage cheese and a fruit like a canned pear just make sure it is not full of calories and not canned in heavy syrup. The pears are easier to tolerate freshly banded. They can be mashed to mush easier than any other fruit. If you like tomatoes with your cottage cheese then please take off skin prior to eating. I learned that the hard way. Protein drinks are good but some have high calorie content so be mindful of that when purchasing. Fifth, Vitamins was my achilles heel for the longest time. I had to crush mine all the time and they tasted awful. I finally found a liquid vitamin I can take and it isn't bad tasting at all. I don't do well with taking them more than once a day too. This you take one capful, about 30 cc, a day. It can be found at www.vitaminshoppe.com. It is called Source of Life Liquid Vitamin. There is a thread on here about it. Just do a search for Liquid Vitamin and you should find it. Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any question you want. Penni

ok tonna gry his. took avice. mixed floody mary's. why is mary mixed? oh sorry sot gidetracked. LOLOL!! only thing is the damn ccler celey clery,...you know that green stick kept gettin in my eye. So had to leaveit out. Just drank the dink, dkn, rink, drink. Darnit. HEHEHEHE!!! Want one??

Still 242 lbs for me. No loss but no gain either which is even better over Thanksgiving. Not much exercise for me this week and did not drink alot of water as I should have. So that explains the no loss. Will do better this week.

Well I have maintained my weight from last week. BUMMER! for no loss. And HOORAY!! for no gain. Didn't really do a lot of exercise last week either so that has something to do with no loss. Will try to step it up this week. Tried to get out and do some walking this AM but the wind was like a knife it was so cold out there. So I did about a 10 to 15 min walk and then went to Starbucks for some Mocha coffee. LOL!!!

Rita: Nora is still with Lopez as far as I know. Carmen left along time ago was replaced by Dr. Gabby who has since left too. So not sure who Lopez' assistant is now. I am sure if Margret comes back she can fill you in on that issue. If I were you though I would not even bother with Lopez anymore. He is an uncaring surgeon as far as old patients are concerned. At least that is my experience. I am so sorry you are having the erosion problem. I too was banded by him in April of 2004 and so far no erosion. I had an Endoscopy done in July to rule it out when I started having problems with my port. THank god it was ok.