exactly150

I totally agree with you. I can't stand Oprah. It seems, we need to believe what she believes, read what she reads, go where she goes, etc....get my drift? Can no one think for themselves anymore? You have these housewives that stand and cheer for her as if she is God, and feel every word out of her mouth truly inspired??? And NO, I am not a racist.

What I despise most about teachers is how they whine. Yeah, whine. I live on Long Island, where their salaries are ridiculous, well over $100,000 per year, coming out of OUR property taxes. And , they have the nerve to whine that they still don't get paid enough, what ashame to have to work 180 days a year, (a tenured position). Give me a break. I am sick and tired of it. I am an RN, and get three weeks off a year, mandatory overtime. By the time I get home, I am dead, after working 14 hours. I barely make $62,000. My teacher friend told me I don't know what true stress is. After all, " do you know how stressful it is to have to go proctor a friday night dance after working all day" ???????? GIVE ME A BREAK!!

They were just talking about this very thing on Larry King the other night! It seems it happens far more frequently than any of us know. I have had 15 surgeries, and happend to me once years ago. Very frightening.

I was only banded 6 days ago. I brought my pills into the hospital to show the surgeon. He checked them, and said most of them would go down well. The ones that don't (my hormone replacement therapy), I had the GYN order an HRT patch for the meantime. I still take my high blood pressure pills, now I take liquid antidiabetic, and I cut my pain meds in thirds, and it all goes down well.

The only problem I had with my doctor is his office staff. They NEVER return phone calls. I had all that nonsense to do pre-op, upper endoscopy, psych, nutritionist, etc....But it took them FOUR months before they finally came back with a surgery date for me. then, I was told I needed another upper endoscopy because the one I had was "old". (Read: only 4 months old, because of THEM!!) Ridiculous!!!! I fought that one, I'll tell you. But, the staff treats you as if you have two heads, they can't believe you just won't go for another upper endoscopy just because they told you to.

I was just banded last monday, dec. 10. My name is Deb, and I'll be posting frequently from now on. I was only informed of lapbandtalk.com the day I came home, and have been reading and reading since then. My concern is, I was never told about any kind of liquid pre-op diet. My doctor never said a word, and it was not in his literature. I ate up until the day before. I hope I didn't ruin my chances of success now! Yes, I do have a fatty liver, I am diabetic, and quite overweight (285lb). The surgery was done laparascopically, but it lasted 4 hours because of problems he found. It was harder than I thought. Today is day 6 post-op, and am feeling much better, finally. I have lost quite a bit of weight already, and am staying on liquids now. What do you all think? Is the pre-op diet really that important?? Deb

Faithmd, Thanks for your honest reply. When I had the gastroplasty, my surgeon made me believe it was a true panacea for weight loss. Afterwards, I found out that the percentage rate for this procedure failing in the long run is 100%!!!! It is only natural that the staples pull out after awhile. No, I did not eat an enormous amount of food at all. But, year after year, I could feel the pouch getting bigger, being able to hold more than I would like. Yes, I am very new to these boards, but it seems like whatever post I read, most of them have had revision surgery, slippage, erosion, etc......even the one post you had me read, the successful person 10 years out...she too needed a revision. I don't consider vomiting a problem. In fact, I vomited for two years with the gastroplasty, and I could have cared less. I only took in about 500 calories per day, and loved the feeling of control I had. the monster inside had truly died. But now, it has reared it's ugly head once again. I can't have RNY because I have had 8 abdominal surgeries, so it's not a possibility. the Lap band is the only thing I can do. I guess I don't have a choice. Since regaining the weight, I now have sleep apnea, diabetes, very high cholesterol, and fatty liver disease. So - onward I imagine!!!!!! Deb

My name is Deb, I am a 51 year old housewife. 10 years ago, I had a vertical banded gastroplasty, and lost over 100lbs. I was very pleased with the results. But over the years, the staples pulled apart, and I have now regained all that I lost, plus a lot more. In fact, I have never been so fat in all my life, and it feels really uncomfortable. I am jumping through the hoops the surgeon makes you go through before you have surgery. I was told by him that gastric bypass was not an option, because I have had other abdominal surgeries. After reading many, many posts from this site, I am not so sure now that the banding is for me. It seems a high percentage of people have nothing but problems. I am willing to have the surgery if I were sure that the failure rate was low, but that is not how it seems to be. How many of you are truly sorry you ever did it? And, is it as effective as it's made out to be? Deb