princess_n_thep

Geez, all purple it looks like your stomach was suffocating!! So sorry for all you had to go through but thanks for sharing your story!!! Do you have a great band placement now?

OMG, the needle is SOOOOOOOO HUGE! Just remember to breathe through the pain like it is giving birth. Quick breaths so the pain isn't so bad.

I AM KIDDING!!!!!!!!! Kinda feels like a sweat bee sting. Not bad at all, and I am a HUGE baby.... it won't be so bad at all, I swear!

I lost about 15 post op. Some gain, some lose. I think it is all individual. Mostly Water weight is lost I think. I didn't notice a change in clothing size until after the fill.

Francesca,

I am soooooooooooo very sorry to hear about this! But I really admire your positive attitude! You look mahhhhhhhhhhrvelous dahhhrling! Even if you never lost another pound you look PERFECT!!!

Okay.... I am wondering if I need to start doing some narcotic detection work in this forum soon.

I am overwhelmed at the response here. Thank you so much for your posts and your pm's.

It has been almost a week now. It hurts a little less with every day and the lump in my throat gets smaller as the days go by. Sometimes I feel like I am being silly for hurting so bad (big bad cop reduced to crying puffy eyed mess). I miss him so much. And the mere thought of knowing that while I would be crying he would normally be right at my side trying to cheer me up. Matter of fact, I think he is in a way.

Our other greyhound hasn't eaten in almost 3 days now. I am extremly worried about him. He lies on Jeter's old bed and cries and whines very softly at night. It is just heart wrenching! So for now, I have been busy with consoling the other hound.

My son has taken this remarkably well. He cried a lot the first day. I hear him talking to his friends on the phone about him. They are helping him. He doesn't really talk to me much about it. Probably because he knows I would start crying again. He hides it from me a bit. Maybe being protective of me, I don't know.

My husband (the Mr. Clean bald head goatee guy) was reduced with me to a blubbering mess the entire day. I was shocked and at the same time, strangely relieved at his show of emotion. Such a strong looking man and such emotion within. Poor guy, I flipped out on him when he went to use Jeter's bowl to feed another dog. I realize it was wrong of me to flip like that, but I didn't want anyone using it.

Yes, Christina, thank you for noticing the human like face. EXACTLY! It was eerie at times with his qualities.

I know in my heart that I did the right thing and I know he is happier now. I still hope that he will visit me again someday, whether in my dreams or another dog. I will definitely know him if he did.

I took the advice of Cindy and we made an 8X10 picture with a beautiful frame and engraving of "Jeter, Forever in Our Hearts" on it. I hung his collar on the corner of it. It sits on the TV. I also put his picture on my desktop of the computer. I love being able to see his eyes.

Thank you everyone again for all the love and support. It truly does mean very much to me.

For those of you that were around 5 months ago, you might remember my problems with Jeter. The time came. Jeter died at 3:10pm today. It was a peaceful silent death and I held him as we helped him die at the vet's office. This is breaking my heart as I feel as if I have lost a piece of me. I know he lives on forever in my heart but I miss him terribly. The friendship, the love, the trust and the strength of him amazes me. I have often wonder why people are incapable of giving the same type of love that a dog gives us.

Thank you for all of the love and support you all gave me when he first became ill.

My friend will be missed. Our family will mourn. And a part of him will be with me forever.

Mine was more of a golf ball. My husband was threatening to tee off!! It went away around the 2-3 month.

Is it next year yet????

NO NO NO... Don't ruin my Chipotle too!!!

Funny stuff.

But seriously, addresses and names are listed for free on the internet with information at http://www.zabasearch.com/ I use it to check information on renters when they do an application. You can check by a social security number or a name and state. They only give the address but if you pay $25 they give you way more. Plus, each state and county has a public records site that you can see stuff like bankruptcies and home loans and stuff.

I copied this posting from Soonergirl (hope she doesn't mind) I found it by using the search engine located on the top blue bar.

HERE IS SOONERGIRL'S POSTING:

I paid cash in Dallas - 15k with fills for a year.

I highly considered Mexico, but after much math and condieration, we decided to spend the money to have it here. When we started running the math, there wasn't as much $$ difference as you would think.

So, most of the places in Mexico that I would consider were about 10k + flight (about $300) and about at least another 50-75$ in misc. expenses for the trip. If my husband would have gone, add another 400$ or so.

Then, when you take into consideration the fills - with mine in TX, they are included for one year.

If I would have had to go back - $250-300/flight at about 4-5x = another 1-1.5k

If I would have had to pay for fills here - they were about $150 at the least with no floroscopy - mine here includes it.

I have had two fills already and I still am feeling little to no restriction ( I know that most people say that Mexican Dr.s are more aggressive with their fills, but I have 2.8ccs in a band that holds 4ccs, that is not at all conservative), so I would have been recking up fill expenses already.

My biggest concern was aftercare if something were to happen. i am only in my 30s and I am going to have this thing for a long time - long after the Dr.s in Mexico, or here are still practicing. I know that because of liablilty issues and malpractice, it is only going to get harder to find Dr.s that will take a serious complication for a patient that is theirs, much less for a surgery performed out of the country.

SO - as i mentioned, I don't doubt the competency of most of the Dr.s in Mexico - this was just my personal line of reasoning when making my decision.

Good luck!!

__________________

__________________________________

Banded 6/30/05

Dr. Powell

Richardson Surgery Center

196/186.5 day of surgery/174.5/125

Great, all of you are to blame. Passed by Taco Bell on the way to Target. Did well, kept driving, tried not to look. On the way home........ I failed.

Wow. Unbelievable. Devastating. Destructive. Sad. Heart breaking. So many thoughts about everyone that is dealing with this incident. I am sorry for your loss but I tremendously respect your desire, will, attitude and perseverence.

Sex? There is more than just Lisa's toys? Where? How do I get that?

Are we on the same men. cycle Lisa??? ((sigh)) And Travis is NOT helping. I have bitched for 5 years that I wanted one of those cookie cakes for my birthday. Did I ever get it? Hell no. But out of the blue he brings me one last night for "happy halloween". I could have shoved it up his ass!!

yikes. Ok, maybe I wouldn't have done GB if I didn't get the band. I know I have always said that, but looking at the cut and paste is scary! So is the stomach a floating organ???

Oh no she didn't! Tell me she didn't!! Not the Taco Bell! Someone tell me she is kidding! I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the Nacho Bell Grande.

Damn! And she even furnished the link! Why'd she have to go and do all that? Having a link in a post is like putting a snickers bar on our pillow at night. Like we aren't going to sample (ie devour) it!!

((sigh)) Thought of tacocide are among me girls! Someone stop me! ((sigh))

A clothing designer once told me that the wider leg at the bottom creates a smaller look towards the top!! So a tapered leg or straight leg for a heavy girl is a big no no in the fashion world for what its worth.... ha ha. Needless to say, almost all of my jeans have a slightly wider bottom portion of the leg.

Also, a shoe with a chunk heel makes you look longer and slimmer.

But for all to see..... I am a "free" hound so here are my ideas: (don't all of you call me a cheapie all at once please, ha ha)

1.Dancing Waters

Bellagio Hotel/Casino

Mon-Fri: 3p-8p Every 1/2 hour, 8p-12a Every 15 minutes

Sat-Sun: 12p-8p Every 1/2 hour, 8p-12a Every 15 minutes

2.Fountain Festival

The Forum Shops within Caesar's Palace

3.Fremont Street Experience Light Show

Fremont Street, Downtown Las Vegas

Daily: Every Hour starting at Dusk

4.Masquerade Show in the Sky

Rio Hotel/Casino

Mon-Sun: 3p, 4p, 5p, 6:30p, 7:30p, 8:30p, 9:30p

5.Sirens of TI

Treasure Island Hotel/Casino

Nightly: 5:30p, 7p, 8:30p and 10p

6.The Volcano

Mirage Hotel/Casino

Every 15 minutes from Dusk to Midnight

Visit the Dolphin habitat at The Mirage

7.The White Tigers

Mirage Hotel/Casino

Daily: 24-hours

8. Gondola watching at The Venetian. Be entertained by strolling mimes and street performers: Canal Shoppes, Venetian

9. Caesars Palace. Stroll to the Forum Shops, and watch a seven-minute show of special effects as Roman statues come to life.

10. Gaze upon the Eiffel Tower. Paris Las Vegas opened in September 1999 complete with faux Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. The Eiffel Tower has legs rooted in the hotel’s giant casino and stretches 50 stories into the Nevada sky. Stroll the streets of Paris. Feel the surrealism as you open the door to Paris Las Vegas, walk through a noisy casino, and find yourself ambling down the cobblestone pathways of The City of Light.

11. The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Las Vegas. This resort is host to a collection of more than 300 birds, including a flock of pink Chilean flamingos. African penguins, swans, ducks, and turtles also cavort amid lush tropical foliage imported from all over the world.

12. Stroll around Mandalay Bay (at the south end of the Strip). Enjoy the trained birds and the aquarium near the registration desk, marvel at the huge wave pool and the beach that fronts it, and spring for a visit to "Shark Reef," A large walk-through salt Water aquarium.

13. Classic car collection: Imperial Palace

14.View an exquisite collection of fine art: Bellagio

15. Watch the dragon battle against the magician: Excalibur's moat

A family-oriented show with a medieval theme. This show has musicians, puppetry, magicians, and juggling. Excalibur's Court Jester Stage

16.See the world's largest atrium: Luxor

17. Ride the trams!

18. A computer generated thunderstorm hits the hallways of the Desert Passage shopping mall. Aladdin Hotel

19. Circus acts all over. Circus Circus

20. Watch and rate new television shows. MGM Grand, CBS Television City

21. Most casinos offer free lessons for most of the table games in the casino.

22. As long as the cocktail waitress thinks you are gambling, you can get free drinks.

23. Air Play show,Not only does the Tropicana have a beautiful Tiffany glass ceiling, six times a day they give you another reason to look up with “Air Play”, a FREE show featuring acrobats, aerialists, jugglers and singers suspended high above the floor. Tropicana

24. located seven miles from the Strip offers free admission to the factory for a behind-the-scenes look at the candy-making (and tasting) process. Ethel M’s chocolate Factory

25. Hoover Dam (self explanatory)

26. A fantastic and breathtaking drive up to Mt. Springs and a drink at Mt. Springs Saloon. (my personal favorite!!!) Head on over to Old Nevada too to feed the evil geese, see the rescue animals and let your husband pee in their bathtub!!

Yes, I would agree that it is more like a "diet" facilitator that gives you the extra edge. It is MUCH better to think about it like that than to think it is a cure for things. Many times people get the band and think the pounds should melt off and don't understand it takes a lot of work and exercise.

I think your taking a great thought approach towards the band.

Good luck with your researching!!

How awful for you. I am so sorry you had this experience. Have you thought about conversion to another surgery or are you going to try and do it yourself now? Good luck to you either way!!

I have never heard of either of those doctors either. (which concerns me a bit because we talk about Mexico a lot here at LBT)

I was banded in Mexico too. I would say that you can expect full costs of about $10,000 after all is said and done and you are back home recovering.

I was teaching 8th grade when I had the surgery. I had the surgery on Wed and was back to work on Monday. However, I was able to do a lot of "book work" and "come to my desk for assistance" work for that week. And I put them in groups a lot working on a big project. And I had 8th graders who were more independent. But, I know how much the lower grades are active EVERY day.

Since you are 1st grade, I suggest you do it over Christmas break to give you the most time. That would be PERFECT for recovery!!! If not, I suggest at LEAST Spring break. My suggestion would be to plan to have a full week of recovery at least, if not two.

sent you a PM