Penni60

Sunni: I love Journey as well. I just wish Steve Perry was still singing with them. How is the new singer? Does he do justice to the songs? Are they doing any new stuff? Tell tell. Congrats on the 85 lbs weight loss. That is awesome. I was banded on April 6, 2004 and have lost 40 lbs as of today. WHOO HOO!!! Partaaaa!!! I live in Van Nuys, CA (San Fernando Valley area).

Donali: It sounds like the same thing I have happen to me all the time when they poke around like that. IT also sounds like the nurse should have gotten someone else to do the sticking after she could not get it the first or even the second time. I give them two chances and if they don't get it then go find someone else. The thrashing around your friend describes sounds like you had a vagus nerve reaction and it was actually a seizure. I have had that happen to me as well. It does not mean you have epilepsy or any other disorder like that it just means the vagus nerve was irritated and when you were coming out of it the nerve was overly agitated. Nothing to get concerned over. It is scary for the person watching it though. I scared the beejezes out of my daughter one time doing that. LOL!!! Anyway, I am sooooooooooooooooooooo glad that you are on the mend. Did the doc say why there was bacteria in the stomach? There shouldn't be is what I am getting at. Unless it was from the rejection of the band. Hmmm!!! Are they sending you home on some antibiotics? Keep you in my prayers.

Nanny: GOOD LUCK and best wishes. Keep us posted when you are able to come back to us. We will miss you while you are gone. I will keep you in my prayers. We'll keep the light on for you.

Yana: It sounds like you live in a very diverse city. That is awesome. I was looking at the site you sent and it looks like a great place to visit actually. Might have to keep it in my travel plans sometime.

Carolyn: I have the same fears about getting a fill. I vasilate between getting one and not getting one. I get hungry between meals, I still feel restriction but not consistently, and I am losing weight but maybe a .5 lb a week. Slow loss. I go see my follow up doc this friday so I guess I will discuss all this with him then. I would like to know from others what their criteria was for getting a fill the first time. So spill the Beans so to speak.

GREAT SUGGESTION and I am guilty of letting the thread drift or of drifting it. LOL!! Will be more diligent on this matter.

Here here Alex. I agree.

Yana: I visited the site for Dubai but did not see where the city is located. Is it in Saudia Arabia?

posted by Geezer Sue I agree with this statement. I had my surgery with Lopez but not at Oasis Hospital. I went to Sanoviv Medical Institure www.sanoviv.com which was founded and started by an American Doctor called Dr. Myron Wentz who has a degree also in Microbiology. It is located in Rosarito, Mexico. The facility has their own filtered Water supply which they are more than happy to give you a tour of. The place reminds me of a hospital that is fashioned after a 5 star hotel. The place is fabulous. IT has Thalasso pools. A beautiful salt water Lap pool. A beautiful round salt water pool that empties into the lap pool. The place is so serene and soothing. The surgical suite is state of the art. But if there is a problem during surgery that the docs can't handle then I am not sure what they would do. I had all manor of labwork done on me the day before surgery. I had an ultrasound of my abdomen done and an internist from TJ came and read the ultrasound and also talked to me regarding my health history the day of surgery. I asked for a copy of all my medical records and was gladly given them. I would highly recommed this place for the LAP Band surgery. I felt safe and well taken care of. Plus it is a nice facility and you don't even feel like you have been in a hospital type setting. You feel like you have been on vacation actually. I had pain of course but it was managed really well. They were attentive and made sure I was taken care of. GREAT PLACE!!

Missing you donali. Sending healing vibes to you. Wishing you a speedy and hopefully less painful recovery. You are my hero.

That is because with all the swelling from the redness it was in hiding. Then when the swelling went down it reared it's ugly head again. It is a tempermental protrusion thingy. UP DOWN UP DOWN UP DOWN. If not for being in my abdomen it might be sexual with all this UP DOWN stuff.

Lisa: I just bought it second hand from a close friend of mine and she used it minimally. I have not even set it up yet. I have all the attachments she gave me. I am not sure how old it is. She demonstrated it when I was buying it and it worked like a charm. The seat looks like it is brand new. IT is just dusty and needs a good cleaning. IT was setting in her garage cause that is where she did her exercise routine. It has a video and a booklet with it that describes the exercises. I can bring it with me in October or whatever. WHOO HOO!! This is so cool!!!

Vera: When I lie down it goes flat as well. But just as soon as I set up there it is popped up just like you see. It is pretty bothersome and I don't think it should be that way but that is my opinion. What did your doc say was the cause of this protrusion?

Good for you deco; We can't let them bully us around anymore. Some people would just roll over and admit defeat. NOT ME.. I will always and forever fight with the powers that be. WHOO HOO!!!! :D :D

Michelle: I have an appt with Dr. Billy on the 9th of this month. I am going to get a second opinion and to set up me as his patient. As soon as that is done I will probably not go back to Lopez if I have a good rapport with Billy. I will certainly keep everyone posted. I don't know if it is normal but it certainly doesn't feel normal. First the redness now the protrusion. LOL!! CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!!!!!!! I think my protrusion and delarla's protrusion got together and conversed. They picked her and I to torture.

I have a total gym I would be willing to trade you.

NO problem just wanted to remind everyone.

Here is a picture of the protrusion thingy

Yana: I have had this protrusion thingy since about three weeks post op. I have had my surgeon look at it and he says it is the port from where I have lost almost 40 lbs. It will disappear when I lose more weight in the abdominal area over time. But I am afraid that it will eventually poke it's head through one of these days and rear it's ugly head. It is so close to the surface. It sometimes hurts as well in that area. I have to be careful and not move a certain way or it hurts more. If I set up straight and suck in my gut then it doesn't hurt as bad. When I lie down at night it goes away. Sorta like it burrows down and covers up it's head. LOL!! Anyway, I was told it was the port but I think it is the tubing that is connected to the port and I think it has herniated or maybe wasn't positioned good to begin with or has come lose and is poking up. It hasn't broken through yet so it is still under the skin but I fear one morning when I get out of bed it will pop through and look up to say HI HERE I AM!! LOL!!

GOOD LUCK and speedy recovery thoughts being sent you way.

Teresa: Pam has been sick the last couple of days and we have not been walking. I have been using my treadmill this past week. I will mention the weekend trip to her the next time I see her or email her. We could drive together actually. Good Idea!! She and I discussed the "fill" question. I am still losing and still feel restriction so I don't think I am gonna get a fill anytime soon, of course that can change though. She is contemplating a fill the last time we talked. I go see Dr. Billy next Friday the 9th and I will talk to him about that while I am there. If he thinks I need one then maybe I will come away with a fill. I don't wanna get one unless I need it. VEGAS here we come

sorry for my long response.

Welcome Yana, rest rest rest, sip sip sip!!! I had no xray nor a swallow test. Unless you mean eating ice chips and drinking water after surgery. LOL!! On July 6th I will be 3 months post op and I am still have twinges and pops and squeeks from my port. It lets me know every now and then that a certain movement it doesn't like. LOL!! I am trying to baby it but darn it I wanna move sometimes. I am going to see a Dr. Billy in Ventura next Friday to get checked out and a second opinion on my protrusion thingy.

What happened to all the story tellers out there? Send me some stuff.

chantal: My heart goes out to you. I don't like to give sage advice, but I will suffice it to give you my experience and then you can take what rings true for you in your situation. I was married at 17 and as I walk down the aisle I am 3 months pregnant. I loved my husband. We moved away from my family and my hometown shortly after we got married. He was in the military and was stationed in Patrick Air Force Base, FLorida. I am a Kentucky girl born and bred. So, not only was I a new bride but a new mother and alone thousands of miles away from my family and friends. I survived. Fred, my husband, and I had several arguments but they never got violent. We were young and parents. NOT a good combination. We were getting on our feet and I got pregnant again. I was 19. So, at the age of 19 I have two children under the age of 3. YIKES!!! Still living in Florida. Fast forward to when I was 23 and a third child. We moved back to Kentucky after her got out of the military. He admits that he is cheating on me with my best friend in our own bed. Well I should have kicked him to the curb but I had the kids and I still thought I loved him so I forgave him. 27 yrs old and a fourth child (a son he always wanted). The previous children were girls. My insides were so messed up from the fourth child that I had to have a complete hysterectomy 8 months after delivery. He was too preoccupied with his other girlfriend to be bothered with helping with his beloved son because I could not bathe him or anything physically straining afte surgery. I moved in with my mother temporarily so she could help me with my son and the rest of the kids. He went to Nashville, TN for a job and I stayed in Kentucky to recuperate. NO phone calls, NO letters, No cards from him. We move to Nashville. I knew the marriage was over, but I did not know how to end it. I came from a divorced family and did not want that for my kids. Fighting over custody, support payments, Christmas visits, etc. But I knew I did not want to be made a fool of anymore either. I also did not like the embarrassment of not having our bills paid. I knew I could do better. About 8 months after moving to Nashville, he says he is going to Kentucky to find another job. He leaves for a weekend (now who is interviewing on a weekend, I wasn't born yesterday). When he comes back on Monday I ignore him and go about my business as usual. The phone bill comes. I look at the numbers. I don't recognize one. I call it. I ask for Fred. SHE says he isn't here right now but he is expected back this weekend can I take a message. I said no thanks I have all the info I need. I confront him and he tells me he is leaving me. I said oh no you aren't I am kicking your a$$ out. So, I am faced with raising 4 children all under the age of 11. I move back to Kentucky to be closer to family. I decide to go back to school and get my RN degree. I will tell you it was hard and not always glamorous. But let me tell you I have never regretted getting divorced from that man. We have remained friends now because of the children. Sometimes you just can't live with someone even if you love them. I realized late that I don't think I ever loved him but was in love with the idea of being in love. All this LONG story to tell you that you are as strong as you need to be to make the decision you need to for you and most importantly for your children. After all they are the most important thing right now. They need to be protected and if your son is afraid of his father that is NOT good. My son was afraid of his father until he got old enough to understand him. Now he pities him. If you want to talk more I would be happy to send you my phone number via email. Penni60@aol.com We are all here for you if nothing else just to listen. It does get better. YOU DESERVE BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!! LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!!! Two mantras I have learned to repeat on my bad days. I now have a loving relationship with a man that I adore and he adores me.