youknowit

This may sound crazy, or perhaps way off-base, but having read ALL of the many posts of sadness and hardship surrounding erosions (etc) of the band recently, and people having to remove it, would any of us consider doing this as a "preventative" measure? I mean, just throwing in the band towel, and moving on (or back)? I know this might sound weird, but in a weird way, this has popped into my head a few times... Just curious (and especially interested in what ya'll who've lost your bands think). angie :bananajump:

i don't want to sound like an ass, but 1% of 300 is not 30... that would be 10%, and that would indeed, be something to have at least a pause for concern.

topsy57 -- i'm sorry you're having such horrible problems... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well with your daughter. Hang in there! angie

Lisa, Your editing is driving me batty! Seriously... grammar or no grammar, keep it real sister! hehe.. angie

try letting the jello completely melt in your mouth... that might help with the "need to eat" sensation. hope you're feeling better soon!

Am I the only person who has seen this? I can't be the only person who thinks this is pretty crazy... Check out this auction on eBay for an ACTUAL BIOENTERICS LAP BAND! Holy cow... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7578343073 If you read the description, they supposidly have to list it as "used" which is even more weird in my opinion... I didn't think you could sell this kind of stuff on eBay, but I guess now if I ever decide to "lose" my band, I can get some money back?! Whoa!

oh, i forgot to espouse the virtues of JELLO... yes, it melts in your mouth, it's virtually clear, and it's got some protein in it. try that too. hope you like the Propel Water... I love it myself.

try propel, that stuff is great. clear liquid, Vitamins, and no sugar, etc (but i know in the liquid phase a little sugar won't kill ya... i drank regular gatorade too). if you want to chat through PM, let me know. happy to help. hang in there! you're doing great.

How does the band "feel"? I don't feel it at all... I don't feel it squeezing, pushing, pulling, or any pinching. I'm sorry for those who do, because that sounds horrible and painful. :couch2: Even at a fill, like Alex, I don't really feel much of anything, just a shift for a moment, and then it's all good. The only time I know I have the band is if something goes in wrong, and it lets me know... That's how it feels for me, and if there is a change, I will certainly get on top of it (like you said Lisa, you knew you had eroded). angie :clap:

So they sent a letter, but obviously, they didn't demand the product be returned to them... I think they put a bandaid the problem, but didn't stitch it up. Anyways, this isn't the last band we'll see on eBay. I've seen similar stuff on Yahoo Auctions... UGH!

Jenna, This is SO totally a violation of eBay's rules. Feel free to read up on it, and report them here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/rfe-spam-non-ebay-sale.html

Wonder what everyone is thinking of this article that came out in The New York Times today? VERY interesting... angie :couch2: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/08/health/08fat.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Right on DeLarla... I'm trying to walk in your shoes, and that's why I asked the question. I appreciate you chiming in here and giving your thoughts. I do think you have a very valid point, especially for those who are not yet banded, as when we're getting ready for the band, we're in a MUCH different place than after the band is in, and so on. Best wishes to all.

i have to be honest here... before the band (and in my mind now) i had a serious problem with food. i ate too much. i ate the wrong things often enough to have a serious effect on me, etc. i know me, i know how i think, and i knew before i got the band that i would not be able to restrict myself to a certain set of foods, or to eliminate whole categories or all my favorite sins (foods we all know are crap, but you know, they are soooo good going in). i am one of those bandsters that is going through my daily routine and eating similar foods as to what i ate before the band, just not in the same AMOUNT as before. not even close. it is a ridiculous reduction from before, so much so, that when i have gone out to dinner/lunch with friends, i feel like i'm not getting my money's worth, not even CLOSE and it pisses me off that I'm paying $15 for a lunch that i'll eat maybe $2.00 of... i didn't eat the "bad" foods everyday before the band, but if/when i did, i certainly ate too much. (and i don't say that any food is truly bad, but we all know what that means for us.) now this doesn't go without saying that there are a handful of foods that have given me trouble (stuckage, pressure, serious discomfort). however, i am working the band and it's working me in that i have had such a measured reduction in the amount of food going into my mouth/stomache, this is really working. i know i will and have had my ups and downs. we all will. i just know that i want most of my days to be ups, i don't want to obsess completely about food anymore (like i did before the band), i want to be happy, less of me, and feel good about me both physically and mentally. here's hoping we can all find our own ways to do this... work the band and help the band work us. i know i'm not perfect, and i respect that about me. i know no one else is either, and i respect that about you. whatever works for each of us, as long as it's WORKING is a-ok by me! :eek: here's to all of us doing our best, day by day, with our trusty band and ourselves. angie :grouphug:

Jenna, Hang in there! I know how you feel... I'm here if you need to vent. angie

I'm glad we are having a healthy discussion about this, because I think it's something that has (as of recently at least) crossed people's minds. I know I'm not planning to EVER have my band removed unless it's absolutely imperative, but I do understand why some might feel that way, and even go on to consider it and do it. Again, I'm not in that boat, but I do understand. Happy that we are able to discuss this question and be real, as with the many possible outcomes we might face, this is one of themThanks for listenin' and talkin'!angie

PhotoNut/Susan, Thank you for clarifying. I just want you to know I didn't mean any harm to your feelings, and I know you didn't mean what you said to hurt anyone as well. I just wanted to share my thoughts on how in OTHER threads (not this one) people ARE bashing on going to Mexico, they ARE pointing fingers, they ARE trying to hurt people.. and I KNOW YOU AREN'T! Thanks for being willing to clarify and be open to conversation. I'm still open and ready to listen as well. angie :puke:

I don't want to sound like a huge jerk, but if we do the math, this is not a WIDESPREAD problem, period. I know it "seems" that way, and it is certainly sucky for those who have gone through this sad and horrible ordeal of erosion, and it's sad for those who may face this in the future. I hate that this has happened to anyone, I'm scared s-less that it could happen to me and anyone else with the band, but I do think it was very hurtful and divisive of you (PhotoNut) to make such a statement. I hate to get off topic here, but this is the kind of harmful statement that a LOT of people have been making on LBT lately about being banded in Mexico. Selfish or not, how is it kind to say something like that? How is it helping? I'm sorry, it's not. Even IF for some insane reason it is TWO docs, and they are BOTH in Mexico that these erosions are happening to, I just think it's bad kharma to say something so hurtful. I know I'm sounding "sensitive" here, and I DID NOT take this as a personal thing, I just wanted to speakup because this comment was so disturbing in general and goes along with a seeming push to discredit/defame MX Drs. PhotoNut, I know you said this was just you being selfish, and I get that... I just wanted to share my thoughts on how ridiculous it is to wish something like that (even joking, even selfishly) on the MANY MANY people here on LBT who went to Mexico, Europe, or wherever, to get the band. I get that you know that... But I don't get (and this is NOT about you), why so many on LBT recently have felt free reign on those of us who went to MX or who might go to MX. Ugh. enough of my rambling... thanks for listening.

thanks for posting this... i really hope we can chill and get back to lovin' and huggin' and bein' here for each other. but seriously, i'm with TommyO, once again... i find that i can only handle so much of being on here at times, because i've been yelled at (and yes, directly) more than a few times, for things as simple as asking a question and someone taking it personal... i've seen people be overtly and intentionally mean to others (recent thread relating to how Mexico is dirty and how those of us who have gone, or are going are morons, threads asking simple questions and you can see the person responding is miffed at a "stupid" question -- why did you respond then?), on and on. i've ALSO seen a great outpouring of love and support for thos who are banded, unbanded, thinking of banding, etc... that's why i keep coming back... but like i said before, sometimes i need a breather, especially when things get so far off in space. ps -- someone mentioned previously about people putting IMHO, IMO, my2cents, etc, and you know, you have a point... it is safe to assume that it's the persons opinion, but i think we might be missing the point as to WHY a person feels they should include that seemingly "irrelevant" information. it's not just for clarification, IMO (LOL)

college professor.

Thanks to everyone who posted there comments. I'm glad I gave a thought provoking question... I, myself, am not considering, and WILL NOT be having my band removed... ever if I can help it. The reason I posted this question is because with all the sadness/madness with erosions, etc, lately... well, I figured someone out there is thinking "I shouldn't get the band because..." or, "I should just have it removed because..." I figure, I've been so much with my band so far, and I'm not giving up until I HAVE to (if, and assuming I never do... that would be a blessing). Anyways, glad this made people think... that was basically my point, and it helps put things in perspective a bit. angie

Pati-O, This might sound goofy, I'm not sure... but perhaps you are feeling pain/pressure in the port when/after you eat, because you are putting a lot of pressure on the band for some reason (over stuffing the pouch or something)? PLEASE don't be offended by that question... I only ask because I've felt that pressure towards the port sensation before too, and it occured to me it might be pressure of the food in the pouch, trying to push the band Fluid back out into the tubing/port? Ok, so enough of my rambling... let me know what you think. :bananajump:

thanks. i needed to see this, and will come back daily for a good reminder. :bananajump:

Butterfly, I'm sorry to hear this is happening. I hope you can/will find someone you find to be more suitable. This is a bump in the road, and I know you'll get where you're wanting to go! Hang in there. angie

i voted, and paid $6500, with airfare and one fill so far, the total is $6738.00. not bad, but keeping fingers crossed nothing goes wrong.