BigT

I live about 2 hours from Rupert and would love to meet him..that is if he is still living in Indianapolis. T

Wonder if that poor team will ever win one immunity challenge? Poor James was sure fooled wasn't he? I love it when they quote someone so confident(like James saying that Bobby Jon would not vote against him), then in the next shot the person is being shot down (Bobby Jon saying he is voting for James). I wonder how much longer Janu will last?

Following is a short story inspired of Jack and offering an analogy of the path of the lap-band. It was sort of an emotional piece for me to write and gave me emotional and mental comfort and resolve for the band and what was happening to me in life and with this new band. It is nothing that great-speaking in a literary sense, but perhaps might offer some ideas to others somewhere along the journery into the lap-band and recognition of what drove there food compulsions and how to control them. Most of all it offers hope of controlling the dragon that rages inside of us. Capture Of The Dragon In a world far from the one that we see with eyes and hear with ears lived a dragon. A gigantic, ferocious, fire breathing dragon. It was master of its realm, with no person ever challenging this dragon successfully. The challenger, often clad with the armor of will power and the sword of determination would return singed to a crisp having their sword melted down and armor ripped to shreds. This dragon was a strange one, it was irrational, often requiring offerings of huge amounts of food and drink, at all times of the day and night. It would rally the community with constant orders of more this, more that, stuff it in, more….more….more… Often the villagers would fall down in exhaustion from the feeding frenzy the dragon would initiate. Then the dragon would finally sit back, a smile on its face and its body stuffed and full, knowing that it is not possible to stuff one tiny morsel in. The villagers dejected and repulsed by this dragon were nonetheless forced to continue on their existence in servitude to this dragon. Oh, there would be revolts and a strong hero would occasionally enter the kingdom, offering the villagers hope and promises of liberation, only to have them defeated and depressed when the hero evaporated or the dragon once again proved itself too strong for such mortal battles. This was the story for many, many years. Then one day a new hope was offered, it did not offer destruction of the dragon, but offered control of the dragon. Could this work? Or will the hope of the villagers be once again dashed as if they were thrown into a fiery furnace? The villagers were not yet ready to give up to a future of futility and control under this dragon. So armed with a sleeping bomb the dragon was put to sleep. This hero now put a chain around the dragon’s neck. This chain was not one of steel, nor gold, not even one of electrum. For such chains were too easy for the dragon to destroy. This chain was one of silicon and saline. When the dragon awoke--it was shocked, for all its strength and fury were sapped. The dragon, practiced and practiced, hoping for its fire and fury to return. And from time to time it would have but a glimpse of its former glory to the surprise of the villagers. But the villagers, no longer under constant control and fear of the dragon, would just yank on the dragon’s silicone and saline chain and cause the dragon to falter once again. This gave the villagers a much needed break and hope for a future life of endless possibilities. The villagers used this new found time for so many new things. They developed new hobbies, made new friends and found new activities to make use of their energy. So now the dragon lives in fear of the villagers and most importantly of its chain. No longer able to command the villagers with any authority, it has become subject to the villagers wishes, it now knows the previous life of the villagers. The same life of pain and compulsion, of no longer controlling its own destiny or will. The big red, fire breathing dragon has become a shadow of its own former glory. It is now a paper dragon….one with size and color but no power or fury. The capture of the dragon is complete.

I love watching too but I guess you will get a guy's perspective...lol.. I could not beleive that Angie is gone either, but that switch with the immunity and Ibrehem getting it really left that tribe just guessing for someone to vote off. I thought that James was the one that should of went. Here is my prediction----A new tribe will be introduced with the first day cast-offs (remember the english teacher?) and some of the other cast offs. T

Hopefull, What you do is go back to where you created the ticker and create a new one and repost it in your signature like you did with the first one. Tony

Carol, Hello, I am in Eastern Indiana. I did alot of searching in Indiana for a doc and finally decided to go to Detroit for money issues--I was self pay. I could not find a reasonable fee for any of the docs in Indiana and also many seemed to be new docs to banding-so that made a difference to me. I was just banded a week ago by Dr Pleatman in the Detroit area (just north) of Michigan and can whole heartedly recommend him. If your insurance is not covering the band his package price including 2 years of fills and aftercare is $12500. That is a great price and you get a good surgeon for that as well. Thanks, Tony

There are several symptoms that mono might fit into. Doc will run some blood tests to confirm. If you are that tired then you should of been in bed at the time you posted that post.....naughty naughty.....lol. Sometimes when loosing weight some toxins stored in the fat become dislodged as the fat is processed and used, and become free floating within the body causing sickly and tired feelings that pass with a few days or week. Getting proper sleep (8 hours a night) is very important during your weight loss stage.This is when the body does its repairs and needs the time to first off repair the body tissues used during the day and secondly fight off diseases and thirdly remove bodily wastes that have built up during the day on the cellular level.. Lastly taking a daily Vitamin (food derived is best) and making sure you take in enough Protein will help during your weight loss to minize these negative effects as well as prevent and help cure something like mono. T

Got some today at Walmart! Did not see it either and a helper showed it to me! Red box next to the tylenol pills,top shelf. T

Hello over, I don't know about the doctor you are asking about but if you look down on the main page, there is a sub-section on doctors/hospitals. If you search and post your question there, you might get a better responce to this particular question. May your search go well..... T

Here is his website: http://www.laparoscopy.com/pleatman/index.htm If you wind up going tell him that Tony sent ya! That is guaranteed to get you ten more pounds off during your first week after surgery......lol. I felt he is an extremely knowledgable surgeon, tells you like it is, and answers all your questions no matter how difficult you might think it is. T

If you are talking to me, No mine did not. I did self pay in MI with Dr. Pleatman. T

I would stop all herbs at least 2-3 days,preferably 1 week, before any blood tests or surguries. Some can thin blood or can affect clotting or elevate white cell counts. If you feeling up to a walk I would do it. Gentle exercise (slow walking) when sick can increase the metabolism, helping recovery. But keep it shorter than normal, and do not push at all. T

Dave, That is a hard thing to do. Often when you purchase individual insurance you are excluded for prexisting conditions. I know when I tried to get different insurance,being self employeed, that no one would take me because of my weight. So I basically have had my same insurance for the last 10 years. If what you are saying is possible often the super high premiums make it unaffordable, otherwise everyone would be doing what you want to do-get coverage for a pre-existing condition covered on a new policy. In 3 years of active looking for insurance-I never got accepted for new insurance due to my weight-- and by the way in the 10 years of health insurance coverage I used my coverage NEVER, ZILTCH, NADA. So I should of been an excellent candidate for a new company--but such is life in the world we know. T

If you are familiar with Shaklee, they have a pretty good shake Protein. It is Soy based but readily digestable. What I am doing now is mixing the Shaklee and the Edge advantage powder mix in a shake and that way I have the whey and the soy protein and end up with about 30-35 grams protein. The shake is great and fills me for a quite a little bit. The Shaklee one I have used sporadically over the years and gives me a real boost to a slow day. By the way I use the magic bullet for the shakes and they get blended real smooth. T

Well as long as we are sharing here, I will put my vote in for Survivor! I really love the show and the whole premise. As a youngster I loved the whole stranded on the island and build things type books. I am also a Macgyver type and love inventing/designing things. As my weight went up thru the years though I new I could never fit into the "profiles" they would use on the show. So as I loose weight I keep my focus and dream goal to get thin, get fit, and apply for the show. If I get choosen, then that would be the cherry on top of this pie of a weightloss success story. Of course if I get accepted, I can't tell all of you guys due to the confidentiality clauses, but if I announce that I will be gone from LBT for a month or two---- that is your guy's cue and remember this post.........lol.....lol... Its good to dream, right? T

Another option in Michigan is the doctor I used. His fees are $12,500 for the band surgery,including hospital stay if needed, and 2 years of fills and aftercare including a dietician's services. This is for self-pay with no insurance. T

Christina, If the choice were mine, I would do the following. I would wait and see if the insurance approves the band. If not then during the appeals process I would take a chance and go for the show. But this is something that you need to know--IF after the show(assuming you got on), you loose alot of weight- you WILL NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE BAND. Thats right, you will weigh to low and insurance will definately disqualify you. Your only choices would be to pay for the band yourself and try to justify it (complications of surgery & risk) making it even harder to do so, since you do weigh less, or be forced to slowly gain the weight back till it was a necessity again. Of course the last option would be that you can change your eating habits and remain in a losing position. But that would be a one in a thousand shot due to having your support system of chefs, exercise equipment and trainers stripped of you at shows end. After this thought process, I would decide to have the band, get to know the producers some and find out how well he knows the producers of a show like amazing race or survivor or some other personal favorite. Because after you loose the weight with the band, you will look great, have more energy and that is when you will want to show off in front of the whole world!!! Remember this is just my thought process and yours may differ. T

Babs, I saw them. You guys looked like you had too much fun... By the way, you need to update your avatar pic, it just does not do you justice compared to the pics from Vegas. You have re-invented yourself again! T

Thanks for the sympathy! What I thought was weird was that my original prescription was for morphine ( a type at least) and no pharmacy carried it and I checked at least 6 pharmacies. I called back the hospital and the attending doc then phoned in the vicadin to the pharmacy I was at. I was really surprised such strong drugs were prescribed for the pain. But for me the less meds the better, the meds seem to make me sick and I would rather stick with the pain I know verses the "pain" the meds leave me with. Today is just a rest and realax day for me--something I am not quite used to. Thanks, T

Boy oh boy was last night a dooseeee. I started feeling bad. The pain in my neck got worse. So I took some of the liquid vicodin they prescribed for me. A little bit latter, my nausea got even worse. I felt like I was going to throw up imminently. But I did not have a thermometer to measure my temp. So on the way into town, I had a burp and felt a touch better. Bought a thermometer and checked my temp. In the mean time I got a hold of my doctor and talked with him. My temp was below normal so no fever-just sweating from the nausea. Doctor said the pains in my neck could be from the gases of surgery. That I should just take it easy and let the nausea pass with time. So I asked about the anti-gas medicine and he said I could take it. So I also bought some of that. By the time I got home I started feeling worse. Quickly took the gas medicine with some Water. Then it happened. I threw up--total of 3 times but since I was on liquids, nothing came up. Then the anti-gas medicine must of opened up (it was a soft gel) because I could feel the pain in my neck and the pressure subside. I was exhausted and still had a headache but laid down and went to bed. Woke up about 4 hours later with a terrible headache and mild nausea. The headache felt like a sinus one so I took my sinus medicine and another anti-gas medicine. Waited for about 30 minutes to be sure they dissolved and started feeling the effects, then went back to bed. This morning got a headache again, but trying to tough it out hoping that its just all the medicines working out of my body. Boy I have not been sick for awhile and forgot how terrible it feels. So any well wishes you guys might have --I will take them all. Thanks, T

Here are some ebay links for them with the pitcher and juicer for less then the $99. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3202&item=4363132249&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20680&item=4363676134&rd=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4363989772&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RSCC_Pr4_PcN__Stores This last one is $69.99 for the kit including the optional pitcher and juicer. I have found ebay to be a great place to buy stuff cheaper--just be sure you buy from someone with a 99% or better rating. T

It is around $60. Walmart and ebay are some places that have it for a good price. Be sure you get the full set with a juicer and 4 mugs for that price. T

Kristi, sometime it helps to put weight loss in perspective. When you gained weight it was not all at once (most likely), and when you loose it it will most likely not be all at once either. At the rate of weight loss you are at you will loose 225.3 pounds in a year--probably more weight then you have to loose to be healthy. So just take solice in the fact that weight loss takes time and the old adage - a watched kettle never boils- is so true in weight loss as well. Also be prepared because your weight loss will also slow some in the future and this is normal. Changes to our bodies take time, and often the changes that take the longest are the best ones we enjoy. Those are just some points I learned thru my own weightloss research--and things I have to tell myself as well. T

Thanks again for every ones support. My headache did slowly go away in the evening. Keeping that wet towel around the back of my neck really helped. I had good long night of rest and today I am headache free. I truly think that I must have a bad reaction to the vicadin (which is a codeine and tylenol). A friend stopped by yesterday and told me that he is deathly allegic to the vicadin- last time he took it he was hospitalized with a shutdown liver--3 days later he recovered and his liver healed. I didn't realive that vicadin could have such strong reactions-then I read the prescription info with it. Thats enough to make you scared. But anyways- I am taking it slow today--I have been keeping liquids down fine and have been starting on my Protein shakes-a welcome change from the juices of the last few days. If I feel more energetic after my Protein shake I might even take a few minutes on the treadmill. I feel I should help my weight loss and not be a couch potatoe ALL day long. Thanks, T

My mom bought me one too. It is a great appliance. I am using it to make my shakes and slushes right now and it works great. It mixes them fantastic and seems to make the shakes more enjoyable-less grity.The cleanup is a breeze. Truly a machine that works like it is advertised. It also makes great frozen fruit slushes--that is a great healthy treat anytime. For those, you just buy frozen fruit of your favorite variety-Sam's club has a few different kinds- and throw them in the bullet mug with complementary fruit juice and 15 seconds later you are enjoying a blissful frozen fruit shake. I am averaging using it everyday to every two days. On a scale of 1 to 10 this is a 9.8 . It would be a 10 if it cleaned itself up...lol. T