Dody

I think it would be great if Chris with his awesome voice was packaged in Ace's body.....a girl can dream....even an old one. I think Kevin is packing up and going home after that rendition of "Starry, Starry Night". Can you even imagine Simon telling Kellie Pickler "he liked her better than last year's winner...Carrie Underwood". That means Simon has made up his mind already, because he was touting Carrie would win before the first show aired. Frankly, I think Chris has it over all of them....boys and girls. Mandisi is excellent...and seems to keep Simon from making the overweight jokes he seems to thrive on. She's got a set of pipes.

You had me worried there for awhile. That is the only spelling comes even close to what I know..but then there is a lot I know. Do you perhaps know the correct spelling. Sounds kind of like a major tummy tuck removing all the excess fat, but will you be ready in that length of time. What about after you start losing the weight? Aren't you going to need this done once again? I am very relieved you are happy with where your private parts are and no one is going to mess with them. :mad: I've been thinking about this all morning and thinking "Bless His Little Heart". :omg: :think :speechles

Are you referring to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? Most people will have no clue what you are talking about. Abbreviations don't go a long way in explaining things to people. Good luck with your surgery.

I hope you don't mean a penectomy, which is the complete and total removal of the penis. You have to mean something else...don't you???? I've only heard of this done in cancer patients, but I guess anything is possible. Sure hope you come back and explain this one.....OUCH. I would think if this is what you were talking about you would be much more concerned. Tell me you said this wrong....PLEASE!!

Sometimes snoring can cause what feels like aspiration and choking. Did you have a sleep study done before your surgery. It could be a matter of sleep apnea that is resulting in the feeling of gastoesophageal reflux. It is worth discussing with your doctor. So sorry you can't sleep. I can't either, but that's my life. I've always kept weird hours and now that I'm retired I find I doze during the day. I'm getting a wee bit spoiled with this retirement.

So sorry, my heart goes out to you.

I'm not a water drinker, so I have to change my whole way of thinking. I would rather drink cranberry juice or a diet cola (wow is my life going to change), but I'm sure willing to give it a try. It actually may help all the bladder infections I get because I don't drink enough water.

I have a wonderful young and I might add beautiful female dr. as my primary physician. She, herself, had been researching the surgery and suggested it to me. She said she would not in any way give the OK for RNY but she thought this might be something for me to look into. The only problem we both knew was getting my cardiologist to agree....Wow, the guy had also done his homework and was all for it. It turns out he was in the building with one of the doctors that does the lapbanding and they were friends. I got the go ahead. The road got harder from there as the dr. here did'nt take Medicare. Not to be deterred, I mentioned it to my daughter who called around her hometown and lo and behold there was a dr. that had done over 1000 lap bands....and so I see him on Apr. 13 and hopefully after seeing the dietitician and perhaps 2 weeks later will have the surgery. I had the complete support of both of my doctors, so it's nice to know the medical world is keeping up. They are probably both tired of my glum and depressed face over the weight gain since I stopped smoking. My mom had two sayings "Where there is a will there is a way" and "God helps those who help themselves". I've found both to be true. Sometimes we have to fight for what we want and find an alternative route. I'm staying with my daughter for mo. throughout my fills and untill I feel ready to come home, and looking forward to it.

OK, I understand you got sick and vomited, but this doesn't necessarily mean your band has slipped. What indications do you have that it has? Have you seen a dr? Bands are pretty resilliant and lots of people have PB'd and the band hasen't slipped. Maybe (and I hope so) you just think it has. Keep us posted.

The easiest time in the world to quit smoking was in the hospital after my bypass surgery. You cough up so much yucky stuff that has been in your lungs for years. You are so busy healing up from the surgery and busy with physical therapy and everything else you don't have time to think about cigarettes, so it is the ideal time to go off them. Sounds like you have had a rough road of it, but I hope it is clear sailing from here on out. Remember when you go in the hospital to take your furosomide (don't want to foget that for your CHF). It's a tiny, tiny pill and should go down easily. I'm assuming that you are on it with CHF. God Bless you, you sound like a real fighter. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. I have had no stents placed. I had the open heart surgery and have had no problems since...knock on wood. I'll say a prayer for you for a speedy recovery.

I've been nauseated all the time since having my gallbladder removed. I wear a scopolomine patch behind my ear at all times. This is about like Compazine and controls the vomiting wonderfully. The suppositories are good too, but they don't last as long. The patch will last for 3 days before you have to change it.

Wow, CHF and Diabetes....you really got it socked to you didn't you? The weight loss will help immensely. You are much too young to have CHF. I wish you luck on the journey. I'm going to be having my surgery (hope) sometime around the end of Apr. or the first part of May. I don't have diabetes or CHF, but I did have open heart surgery for clogged arteries 5 years ago. Since then I've done amazingly...gave up cigarettes and diet drugs, but unfortunately turned to food. The heart is doing well and my dr. has given me the go ahead for the surgery. I've got quite a few years on you though. Luck to you. Keep in touch.

You know the answer. There is really no need for any of us to tell you what he is in this for is there? Now it's time to put some value on yourself and get rid of the zero and get yourself a hero. Get out!!

I was concerned my lap banding dr. would look at this letter negatively, but perhaps it isn't going to hurt me that much. The fact is I've spent 3 mo. clearing up an ulcer so I could have the surgery, so his statement is hurtful and not at all true. Another upper GI on Friday to prove all is well. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about it. Maybe dr's. don't write you off because of this diagnosis. Thanks.

I needed permission from my cardiologist and my general practitioner for surgery. My cardiologist's letter states that I suffer from severe gastesophageal reflux disease...not so. It is gone. I have spent the last 3 mo. clearing an ulcer up and a small ulcer in the esophagus. My upper GI shows it is gone. Now, because of his letter I have to have another upper GI on Friday, or I'm afraid the band dr. will turn me down. Do people get turned down if they have esophageal reflux? Does it matter? Even if I don't have it anymore, it's a question I'd like answered, because I guess I could always suffer a reoccurrence. Is a dr. alright with the surgery if you do have this disease or have had it in the past. I'm so mad I have to go through these tests once again all because of my cardiologist who knows nothing about my GI system...........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I'm totally unfamiliar with New Jersey, but I will do my best to contact the right people. You will need to tell me all about yourself, an address etc. where you can be contacted, anything pertinent to a news station and to your Senator and Governor. If anyone can get the ball rolling it will be the Social Worker who is assigned to the Senator's Office. I will do my best to help you. You are on some very strong drugs. I take Xanax for panic disorders and have for years. Have you talked with your dr. recently about a change in your meds to something that won't make you as tired? Give me all the info you can and I'll do my best. I leave myself on Apr. 10 for my surgery consult, but I will get to work in the meantime. I can't help you if you don't give me every bit of info about yourself.

If you e.mail me and tell me the name of your governor, senator, TV stations, etc. I will make some phone calls on your behalf and ask them for their support. I will need to know who and where you are and a lot of things about you, but I'm willing to step out on a limb and try and make your story heard in your community. If you want help please let me know. Please use this e.mail. Mom42@cableone.net. I check it on a regular basis.

Although sceptical I thought of one more thing. My community has a news station that you can call if you feel you have had unfair treatment or are in need. I was just thinking that perhaps you could contact the news team at your local TV station (or stations) and tell someone your story. They would probably want to do an interview with you to make sure all is authentic, and then perhaps they would air it on the news. Sometimes I've seen them mention accounts have been set up at a local bank for donations, etc. Sometimes other people come forward with ideas to help. Maybe even a dr. would come forward. We have an eye dr. here in my community who does two surgeries a mo. for people that are unable to afford it. He is a well-known dr. and this is excellent for his business. This is a possibility for you and would most certainly be good advertising for the dr. Please give this a thought. If you are truly in need there is a way to get help. Please think about this and make a few phone calls. Let the people in your community know of your need. Hope this helps. I don't think anyone means to be unkind. It is just the world unfortunately that we live in today. I'm old enough to remember when it wasn't like this, but that isn't the case anymore, and especially since the internet. Best wishes to you. Call those TV news stations and try and get some help. It's worth a try. I don't blame anyone for trying or having to protect their families. It is the most valuable thing in this world to us. As a retired nurse from the ER I have seen every kind of behavior there is in this world, and kind of feel like this person just may be sincere, but needs to go about this the right way. Call TV stations...call your Senator...be heard!! It sounds like you are eligible for disability, and although it's an ugly fight there are people out there to help you. You have to reach out to them. The people of this forum are the kindest in the world, but most have trouble having their own surgeries. Some have large loans, mortgaged homes....because you have this surgery is because of a real want to, not necessarily because the money is right there. There are lots of real struggles just on this forum alone. You have to be a fighter and not give up on this.

The person said they could post a picture, but they didn't. That seemed a little strange to me. A picture is sometimes worth a thousand words towards believability. We had a child in our community with a disease and the parents had no resources to take her to a big hospital for the treatment she needed. She has San Phillipi Syndrome....anyway the community came together (friends of the parents started things off) and they had dinners and silent auctions and raised the money to send this little girl for her treatment. I just think there are better ways to raise money than to jump right into a forum with a story (a story which many of you personally can relate to but are asking for nothing) and not post a picture or anything else. I guess you know after the things that have happened on the internet you have to be cautious. Just posting a letter asking for donations is not really the way to go when you are appearing on a forum for the first time. Come on now, you have to be a little leary. Of course we want to believe what we hear, but in reality we know what is going on in the world and the horrible things being pulled on the elderly and others. It is hard to trust the word of someone who just appears on the forum with a heartfelt story. I have one of my own if you would like to hear it....but it's not my style. I'm here to learn and support, and yes there are times that posts anger me. This one did not anger me but made me extremely leary, especially with no picture. So be it....it is up to each person to follow their heart.

I misunderstood. I thought when you said "pain killers" you were referring to prescription medication. My mistake. I think you merely have irritated the esophagus, but you definitely need a medical opinion on it. I was assuming, and wrongfully so, that you were taking Darvocet, Vicodin, etc. You are merely taking Tylenol so no problem there.

I wish it was years ago, before scams became so popular, but people are leary of donating to what may possibly be a 65-year-old man hiding behind a story like this and wanting donations. We have to be really open and face the reality. There are people on the internet up to no good. I don't know if this story is real or not, but like I suggested I would be sending this letter to every bariatric clinic around in hopes some dr. would take on this case. It's just that people are leary of believing anything they read. Although people are friendly we don't really know who they are on the internet. I would love to still believe in people, but have been taken advantage of too many times. You hear about young girls talking to what they think are teenage boys on here who turn out to be 45-year-old predators, and you have to be cautious whether you want to believe in a story or not. My heart goes out to her if this is a true story, but I feel she would get further appealing to doctors then the many people that don't even know about lap banding. Just my thoughts. It's not judging...it's being cautious. How many of you are going to send money that think this is on the up and up? Huh?

Sometimes taking meds with a warm liquid works better when it comes to heartburn, and sometimes meds that once agreed with you just don't anymore. Maybe your dr. could prescribe an antacid to take which would help with the burning feeling. I would hate to see you develop an ulcer. Why not ask what he thinks? I envy you that you can take Prozac. I was on it for a few weeks and truly wanted to "hurt someone". It was horrible for me, but works great for some people. It was like me on steroids. It changes my whole personality and makes me mean.....no explanation but it does. Good luck. I would also try not taking both pills at the same time. I would take each about 6 hours apart. Maybe that would help.

The pain killers themselves could be causing you major problems. I think you need to see your dr. and let him/her run some tests and find out just what is going on. You may simply need to be on an antacid for awhile until things clear up. Only a professional can make the right call here. We are certainly all here to support you in any way, but from what you describe and the sudden vomiting episode which seems like it was fairly violent, a tear in the esophagus would produce blood. I wouldn't worry at all until I've seen my dr. and gotten a medical opinion on what your next step should be. I would think that pain killers could be causing some of your problem rather than helping it. Please see your doctor for a complete check-up.

If you have been fine for a year and this suddenly began after a meal, it sounds like you may have a small tear in the esophagus from vomiting so profoundly. This is just an idea, and so please be sure and see your physician who will run the proper tests to see what the problem is. It certainly doesn't sound like you have had an ulcer all this time, because you say you have been feeling fine. A team in the esophagus can mend itself. I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better soon.

Your advice is right on. A dr. will usually always taper a patient off one anti-depressant (or most any medication) before starting them on another. Sometimes it is trial and error to get the right anti-depressant for the right person. We all react differently to different drugs and what helps one might not help another. If you tell your dr. you are not feeling any better, or you are feeling worse and even more depressed, they will most likely switch you to another drug, but like I said they should taper you off the one you are on before you begin the other one to make sure it's all out of your system.