Dody

I can't wait to join you either. I'm thinking and hoping May. It looks like everything is going well for the surgery then. You must be flying high as a kite with the liquid hydrocodone. Enjoy it while it lasts and I wish you a happy, healthy and speedy recovery. Just to be on the puter so fast is awesome. Rest and get well.

Not an expert on this, but from what I've read and heard on here you should be on clear liquids and not yogurt. I think that is the second stage about 2 weeks down the road. I would stick with protein drinks, popsicles, hot broth, water, koolaid (unsugared) and not go to yogurt yet. If I'm wrong please someone who is banded jump right in. I just think she is trying yogurt much too soon.

I have had 5 kids, all big, and not one single stretch mark ever. I came home from the hospital wearing my own clothes (and I had been huge with my kids). I'm up in years now and am hoping after surgery I'm just as lucky and never have a stretch mark. My daughter has them, and I gasped when I saw them. I had never seen one before. I consider myself extremely lucky. Must be good genes somewhere. I was not even the slightest bit heavy until 4 years ago when I quit smoking, and sooooooooo the story begins...............consoled myself with food..........not good!!

I was a smoker for 35 years and had several serious operations, one that took 9 hours on the table. Never did anyone say that anesthesia and smoking were a problem. Smoking is simply a problem period. Smoking can cause heart disease and ulcers if you are banded. That are the reasons I know of that they don't like to do smokers. It has nothing to do with anesthesia that I know of. Please feel free to correct me, but having been a nurse for almost 40 years I think I would have heard this one. We operated on people every day that were smokers and found no more incidences of death or any other problems with smokers than non-smokers...only that they are possibly cutting their life span in half. I've been smoke free for 4 years now Thank God and can't stand to be around it. Reformed smokers are possibly the worse critics of all.

I didn't know what to expect from the C-pap, but waking up and feeling so rested for the first time in years is just great. I thought with me maybe it was just an age related thing or possibly my dr. thought chronic fatigue syndrome, but it turned out to be sleep apnea. Somehow having it diagnosed was better than wondering what the heck was wrong with me that I was so exhausted all the time. Waking up feeling good and having some energy is worth having to use the mask. If that's the worse that ever happens to me I will be forever greatful. Finding out I had it before surgery is a real bonus because mine is really bad and there could be complications with the surgery had I not known. Hey, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it sure does it's job. I wonder if I would feel differently if I was married and sleeping with someone, but my husband is deceased. I kind of think he would prefer my wearing this mask to my snoring all the time, as he was always waking me up or heading for another bedroom so he could get some rest.

I have sleep apnea and was only diagnosed in December. They came to my home with several types of masks, and didn't recommend the full one that covers the mouth as they said you would get used to it and surgery is impossible wearing one of them as they can't put a tube down your throat. I took to my nose mask (without any leaks whatsoever) like a fish to Water and feel 100% better when I wake up. I had to get the straps adjusted so they were comfortable, but the nose piece has soft gel all around it and is very comfortable, or as comfortable as you can be wearing a contraption of any type. I've gotten so used to it I don't even nap without it. My dogs were terrified of it at first (they sleep with me), as I think they thought it was a muzzle :puke: and refused to sleep with me for 2 nights. When they realized it was for me and not them they were content. It was tough for me to nose breathe only as I have a deviated septum, but I've become used to it with the use of some Nasonex drops to open up the nose. I have to say I love my machine and was always waking up tired before I was on C-pap. Anyone else out there have a positive experience with it? I will be happy when I'm no longer on it, but I think I've had sleep apnea for years, and I haven't always been heavy. I think it's possible to have this problem without being heavy, but I can't verify that. Anyone else out there love their C-pap as much as I do?

I am now 64 and will have the band this Spring. Complications from an ulcer have slowed down my process of getting the band. I'm excited, although optimisticly cautious as to the results. I'm no spring chicken, but I would love to see my grandchildren grow up and get married. My father lived to be 100, so I'm hoping I inherited his genes, and I don't want to be the typical grandma. I want to be more secure in my well-being and a risk taker if nothing else. I'm not worried about the surgery, although somewhat concerned if I will be able to take my medications afterwards. All in all my surgeon doesn't think I'm too old, and I certainly don't feel too old, but I better not say much as I may be back here the first few days after complaining and moaning about everything :puke: Age is just a number!!

Just retired not to long ago as an ER nurse for 38 years. I think I've seen it all and am richer for the experience.

I'm waiting to have my band put in, and you are talking about having it removed for no good reason!! OK, I've heard everything there is to hear in bandland now.

Because I have a very tiny abdominal aortic aneurysm that was discovered 3 years ago and has never grown (I'm so lucky it was found when it was), my GP ordered an abdominal scan (even though I only need one once a yr.) and it showed I have a smaller than normal liver, thus my surgeon says I need no pre-op diet to shrink the liver. I'm not yet to that stage where the surgery date has been set, but at least I know I don't have to shrink my liver and that is a blessing. It also doesn't give me grounds to be a piggy either. I am trying to follow bandster rules before the banding, so I will stick to Soups and mushies for the week before so I get into some good habits. You are all so supportive here. I read all the posts all the time and have become so informed that I have surprised my surgeon with my questions about erosion, port infections and band slippage. I just tell him I have a personal pipeline to some experts :puke:. As of yesterday I am now 64. Do any of you think I'm nuts having this procedure done at this age. I'm hoping to improve foot pain which limits my activity and some other medical issues that most everyone heavy has. Is 64 too old?

I'm having my surgery in Tennessee and will be there for a couple fills, then I'm going to be in Salt Lake City indefinitely. Does anyone know a fill dr. there that will do fills when you had your surgery somewhere else. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Because of the use of NSAIDS and caffeine you could be looking at a potential for an ulcer. It sounds like an upper GI could be in order. I imagine there is a very good reason they say no NSAIDS or pop, and I admit I'm going to have a very tough time following those rules too. I wish you lots of luck in finding out what the problem is. Thank God, ulcers are curable in virtually no time.

I read this thread tonight, but couldn't find any posts by this person who said they were "disgusted with us". Someone has removed them. I guess I have to ask why, and yet I guess I know why, but it makes it hard for anyone to follow what was said by this person in the forum. There are other forums out there that this person can join, and I would highly suggest it. I think it is fair to say you can "vent" or state your views and they can be different from others, but I don't think verbally attacking the whole forum is going to make you any lifetime friends. I guess I question why this person's remarks were removed and yet the answers to it were left. It makes you wonder exactly what the complaints were to begin with. Anyone care to fill me in?

I wouldn't think you would want to be far from home if you were having this surgery. I would like to know my surgeon was close by in case of anything going wrong. It must take courage to go to Mexico and then come home and not have your surgeon right there, although I guess they do get you follow-up care. I will be seeing the same dr. who is doing my surgery for awhile, but then I have to travel to Salt Lake City for a few mo. and need to find a dr. there. I've been putting the feelers out for a dr. in Salt Lake that might do my fills and people on here have been extremely helpful and I thank them.

My ex was from Pittsburgh so I'm posting with clouded judgement :clock: No, seriously I love the Seahawks and am rooting for the underdog. I simply don't like the Steelers, but Dallas is my favorite team. They need a major turnaround to ever be the team they used to be. They used to give the Steelers a great game in the Super Bowl. I say Steelers are

I quit smoking 4 years ago. I hacked up a lung for about a week or so. It's amazing the junk you accumulate in your lungs when you smoke. Yesterday I had my teeth bleached. I had no idea these beautiful white sparkly teeth were underneath the discolored ones from smoking. That in itself would be the biggest incentive in the world to stop smoking. I wish I had known what a difference it would have made before. I can't stop smiling....

Can you give me more info on Dr. Green? His first name? Perhaps his telephone # so I can make some inquiries. The hospital name. Thanks a bunch.

I've heard several times on this forum that Mexican doctors taught American doctors to band. This isn't really a true statement, as this procedure has been done in Europe for over 10 years now, and most all doctors learned from Italian doctors, who have had a great success rate. I still feel that cleanliness is a real issue in Mexico (don't shoot the messenger) but things can look spotless and be crawling with bacteria. I firmly believe the bacteria could be introduced at the time of surgery that eventually causes erosion, but I have absolutely no factual info on this. I personally feel safer having the procedure done in the states, although I'm sure there are some problems here too. I do understand the big cost difference and why people choose to go to Mexico. I am lucky mine will be covered by insurance.

Should I excuse the incorrect spelling because this guy is from Mexico? Should I read again the fact that he didn't use medical terminology as a dr. would. I will, therefore, assume there is someone pretending to be Dr. Ortiz on this board, though God only knows why they would want to pretend they are him. This person is playing with your head.

First thing to do is buy Depends (adult size of course) and yes everyone will know you are wearing them, and also see you buying them. Such is life if you make a decision to go on Xenical. Secondly, never be more than 15 ft. from a bathroom. You have been warned. Thirdly, if they handed out Xenical free I would never take it again. I'm not into the oily orange. It just isn't my color :bananajump: Good luck if you take this route.

Erin, thanks for letting me know you were diabetic. My dr. is going to conferences studying the reasons that bands erode, and they have found it is happening more and more to people less resistant to infection such as diabetics. This could be the case with you. Staph is particularly bad. I'm so sorry for the terrible journey you have had with this band. My prayers go out to you.

I think she meant the band was in "pristine" or excellent condition when removed, with no signs of erosion whatsoever. It was the port infection that caused all the problems. I wish she had told us if she was a diabetic. I have my own little list here to see if my dr. is right on some of his hunches on port infections and diabetics getting them more commonly, although there is absolutely no proof of this. I realize there are many that are diabetic that have sailed through this journey. I'm simply curious in this woman's condition with two port infections and finally band removal. Hope she chimes in once again.

The dr. that was going to do my surgery in Oakridge, Tn moved his office to Memphis to be near a big hospital his son is being treated at. He is an expert with lapband surgery and his prices are far more reasonable than you quoted here. His name is Dr. McAlexander (or it may be MacAlexander) never can keep it straight. You would adore him. I imagine he has an office set up by now or will shortly. Hope this helps you.

Lane-Bryant sizes start at 14. I would be thrilled to get into a 14 again. They have some nice clothes, but I find them expensive. I prefer Blair, and their clothing comes in all sizes too.

Sounds like just another gimmick diet pill that perhaps you can lose on for awhile, but will gain it all back. Just my opinion, which isn't worth a whole lot, except I've tried most everything on the market.