kathlnc

Well, I'm not off work for surgery, since I had surgery last July. But I did come to a serious realization that I had isolated myself socially, except for work. I guess that happened when I was "in the food," and focusing on what I could eat next. Now that I have figured out how much I can eat and still lose weight, and now that I have figured out how to work my band, I realize there is a void, a void that used to be filled up with food, the acquisition of food, the enjoyment of food, etc., etc. I filled part of that void with more exercise, since I needed to increase that anyway. I also set some goals for myself, including the goal of having a friend or another couple over for dinner just once per month. (very reasonable, and anybody can do that) I set a goal of making plans to do something with a friend every week. And I created a book list for myself, since reading fiction is one of my pleasures. It's early yet, and I don't know how the plan is going to shake out, but at least I feel like I'm doing something to move toward my goals. K

Well, I can't add much to what the other very wise people have written on this thread. But I do have an answer about your interactions with your husband and your anger. A counselor told me one time that we're all in a dance of life. Sometimes it's a dance of fear, sometimes a dance of anger, sometimes a dance of joy....always a dance. And the thing to remember is that when one person stops dancing, the dance is OVER. You can't change your husband's perception of you, his vision of you, or his feelings for you. But you can stop dancing the dance you are doing with him. Maybe you don't have energy. Maybe you have mood swings. Maybe you have low self-esteem. Sometimes you just have to act AS IF things were different. You are about to embark on the most wonderful (and maybe the most difficult) journey of your life. Getting the lapband will change so many aspects of who you are and how you think about yourself. Go with that....let it evolve as it must....be your authentic self....trust the process. I wish you the best. I know you have inner strength, even though you're feeling battered right now. Even if you want to end your marriage, you don't have to do it right this minute. See where the journey takes you....you will know if/when the time is right to choose another path. There is a great quote by Maya Angelou: "Each of us has the right and the responsibility to asses the roads which lie ahead and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the road back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that one as well." -- Maya Angelou

I take two Prozac capsules daily also. I used to take them first thing in the morning, but that seemed to cause a feeling of heartburn/reflux. Now I wait until I get to work, and take them with a warm drink, which in my case is coffee. They slide right on down, and don't cause any problems. I definitely wouldn't try taking them right before lying down. K

There is a lapband support group in Jacksonville. Go to the Obesity Help (obesityhelp.com) site, and look for the lapband forum. I think the woman who runs the group is named Wanda. K

Dr. Crooms in Tallahassee charges $250 for first consult (includes fill). Then I think it's $125 per fill after that. No fluouroscopy, but he's very good and never sticks more than once.

You have got to be kidding me! We are having our driveway replaced. Yesterday the Driveway Man broke the Water pipe. Last night we had no water. This morning we had no water. They were supposed to come first thing this morning. I went home at lunch. You guessed it: NO WATER. And this is the Valentine's Day that we decided to grill steaks at home. Bah! I feel your pain. Happy Birthday! Kathy

I am so sorry that you have to go through this. I am saying prayers and more prayers that you will have the answer soon, and that it's something very benign and easily treated. Kathy

Date Banded: 7/5/05 Country: Mexico Surgeon: Dr. Ortiz Eroded? Yes/No?: No, not eroded. No problems. Have local follow-up care.

First of all, let me assure you that I am NOT flaming you, and I hope this doesn't come across as disrespectful. From your intro and your signature, it sounds like you have a lot of stress in your life, and you don't need any more from me. But...... What I hear you saying is that you have weighed approximately the same with the band for two years, basically eating whatever you want/can tolerate. You aren't interested or feel you don't have the time to work your band, and you want to find some other people who have also given up and accept that about themselves. I think the answer is pretty easy. You just need to figure out if you are willing to put forth effort, or if you are going to just do what's the easiest. If you are not gaining weight, then your band is working at some level, since you are eating what you want. Not having enough time and energy is NOT an excuse for not eating properly. Making wise food choices is a pain in the @ss most of the time, but I still choose to do it, because I like the results. Going to the gym at 5:00 a.m. every day is also an unpopular choice, but I know that I would never go to the gym if I didn't go first thing in the morning, and my body requires exercise to drop weight. You are in charge of your destiny. You are so fortunate that you haven't had any complications. You still have just as much potential to reach your goal weight as you did on the day you were banded, IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH. What I hear you saying is that you don't really want it bad enough to work for it. Think about it. K

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Ya know, I'd go right back on the Prozac. I also have taken Prozac for years for depression. I've done a few trials of tapering the dose (under supervision), and my symptoms come right back and continue. Life is too short to spend it depressed when you have other options. As for the Prozac interfering with weight loss....well, I have lost 40 pounds in 16 weeks, so I'm comfortable with that. Good luck! K

Okay, here's my two cents' worth, and I am not a doctor and not an attorney. But I am a legal nurse consultant, so I've had some dealings with medical malpractice. You can pretty much sue anybody for anything. You may lose the lawsuit, but you can sue, if it floats your boat. The difference between a "good" lawsuit and a "bad" lawsuit is the amount of damages. What were your damages? If the hole in your stomach heals and doesn't leave a massive scar, then you have minimal damages. If your insurance company pays all the charges associated with the injury, then you have no monetary damages. Pain and suffering are damages, but only to the extent they are excessive.....beyond what a person would normally experience in a surgical and post-op situation. We don't know the answer to any of the questions. You need to call some personal injury attorneys and ask if they takes cases on a contingency basis. If so, they will front all the expenses of the lawsuit, and you will pay them out of any money awarded. In my humble opinion, it doesn't sound like a big case to me, but I could be wrong. The only person who can decide that is you, and you are the one who needs to be doing the legwork. Good luck! Kathy

You know, I don't know anyone in this situation, but I definitely have a problem with people pretending to be a health care professional when they aren't. I have read two posts by Eric where he specifically said that he is a physician's assistant. Now I have read two posts that say he was lying, that he is not licensed in Nevada at all. It's true that the police may have bigger fish to fry than this infraction of the law, but I would report it for sure, if I had paid him money to do a fill. It's risky to let someone with no malpractice surgery do a fill on you, but it is just plain dumb to let a lay person stick a needle with saline into your port. How is he getting the needles? And how is he getting the bottles of sterile saline? Inquiring minds want to know. Kathy

Angie, I have to say that my doc didn't require a pre-surgery diet, and I didn't do one. As someone else pointed out, you can still have almost every food after getting your band. Losing weight will definitely be easier after you get the band. So why torture yourself early? What I would recommend doing, if you just want to get started, is start putting your fork down between bites, and chew everything to death. Eat your Protein first, then veggies, then starch if you have any room left over. And stop drinking liquids at the time you take the first bite, and don't drink again for an hour after you finish eating. If you start to implement those bandster rules, you will probably lose weight anyway, and you won't go into the experience feeling deprived and sorry for yourself. (been there, done that) Good luck....you are going to love your band! Kathy

Jodie, Yep, you're right. Your life sucks. Your health sucks. Matter of fact, you've had more challenges in life than anyone else on this board. You win. But I can promise you that you will never lose the weight and you will never be happy unless you change your stinkin' thinkin'. It will hold you back from living a rich, full life. You're very young, but the decision is yours. Either you decide to work for what you want and deserve, or else you kick back and accept whatever crumbs life hands to you. I know you are depressed. I have been so depressed that I couldn't think of one happy thought. So, I decided that every day I was going to write down on my calendar just ONE thing that made me happy. One day it was a rainbow. One day it was that my coffee tasted good. One day it was a little kid smiling at me over his mother's shoulder with his little bald-headed gums. I wrote those things down, and I read over them day after day after day. I held onto them, because they were good, and because I felt bad. Gradually, (with medication) my depression lifted. I see happy and good things all over the place now. But I know that if I don't do MY JOB, I could end up right back where I was before. Your choice, Jodie. Your life. We're here to support you, but you have obligations too. Invest in your own life and well-being. Don't settle. Kathy

My parents are both dead now, but they had similar problems communicating. In response, I tried to become the most perfect daughter there ever was. HA! People are flawed, we are not perfect. Anyway, try this (compliments of lots of counseling): Stop the conversation. Tell your mother what you see happening. Tell her how you feel about what is happening. Tell her what you want to happen. So, when she makes a comment about your fatness/whatever, say, "Mom, it sounds like you think I'm fat. When you say things like that, it hurts me in my heart. Please do not say that to me again." Repeat every time she makes such comments. Even if it takes your mom a while to get the picture, you will find that just being assertive and direct will make you feel much better about the situation. Saying your feelings out loud will help you stay in touch with yourself. If she persists in her behavior, then she is obviously trying to be negative and has a lack of regard for your feelings. Eliminate negative people from your life.....too much baggage to carry with you. K

Hi! Welcome! I'm sorry that I don't know anything whatsoever about Dr. Rodriquez, but I think you might have answered your own question. Do you really want to put your life in the hands of the very least expensive doctor possible? Do your research. Talk directly to people who know this doctor. Ask his staff if prior US patients will e-mail you and share their story. Make sure what kind of band he uses, because some US docs won't touch any Mexican patient, but especially one with bands besides Inamed. Find out exactly what the price includes. See if other people have incurred "hidden" charges which must be paid before they went home. Talk directly to him, and see if he speaks good English...you can't follow instructions if you can't understand them. I don't work for him, but I can happily recommend Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana. I had surgery on July 5, and it has been smooth sailing since. But it took me a while to make the decision. Good luck! Kathy

On July 4th, I will be catching a flight to Mexico. My band surgery is on July 5. I am so excited (and a little scared). I see this as a freedom trip. K