imalene

I have a feeling that some of these great U.S. docs - learned their techniques from foreign surgeons. Remember it's only been going on in the U.S. for a few years - in other countries it's been around for over 10. Just looking for a doctor to do fills for a person that has had surgery out of the country - it's easy to see that they have a very bad attitude towards foreign doctors, especially Mexican ones. There are good and bad doctors everywhere. Who among us have not heard horror stories about what a doctor did or didn't do for one of our loved ones. Do the research, listen to what is being said on the board by these women that have had problems - I wouldn't go where they have gone for their procedures. Unfortunately they have had to pay the price for the rest of us. We should all be grateful to hear their stories. And appreciate their willingness share specific information. I believe that in the US most doctor's do not treat/see obesity for what it really is - an early death sentence. When a person has symptoms of heart problems or early on in a diabetics diagnosis - doctors recognize what the outcome would be if they did nothing, so they do what they can to prevent further damage. With heavy people that is not the case. They can see (or refuse to see) the writing on the wall - and (most) do not help. They continue to prescribe diet and exercise as if we have never heard of it before. They need to think outside the box and suggest alternatives. I know that the specialists (Bariatrics) now do state that without some sort of surgery or alternative treatment the failure rate of traditional prescribed wgt loss measures - is almost 100%. So there is progress - but you won't find it with your regular family physician. Patti

I love to have a nice COLD (ultra-lite) bottle of beer after hot summer yard work. Flat beer sounds really bad. Is it going to be too-bad-so-sad for me. And just get over it! Patti

I booked my surgery with Dr. Kuri (Mexico) last week and today I made the flight arrangements. I hope I don't regret this. The postings on erosion and infection have me scared to death. The postings that say "It was a breeze" and people posting good steady wgt loss - with decreased appetite - makeing it possible for them to eat like a "normal" person - those are the postings that I find myself clinging to. I pray that I'm one of them. Otherwise I'm about to screw-up a perfectly healthy (albiet fat) body.

I'm looking at your stats and wonder if you possibly have a lower bmi? (Some say if this is the case you will loose slower). But mostly I would listen to the people in-the-know (not me right now - as I have not yet had the procedure) and they know that restriction comes after the proper fill level has been achieved. Good luck!

Hi KathyDuck- I'm all set for surgery Jan.12 - (I'm going to Mex.-no insurance) - but I've been crying for a week now. I'm also scared. Scared of everything! Have I made ther right choice, will it work on me, am I wasting money that so very much was planned for retirement, is it dangerous, am I jeaopardizing my body (albiet fat - it's fairly healthy)?????? Please let us know how you are doing. I'm from River Falls - originally from MN! Patti

I think the after care problems start with the U.S. Doctors - not the Mexican surgeons. U.S. doctors are unwilling to do the aftercare for people banded in Mexico. So if we are looking to place blame - let's put it where it belongs. U.S. doctors that don't want to do fills or aftercare for patients other than there own. If you bought a car from one dealership and NO other dealership would EVER service it - seems to me that car of yours could cause you some problem. There's lots of money to be made by U.S. doctor's doing fills for people who have been banded in Mexico - why don't they hop on it. The do with everything else. Don't forget it is a business. I think they use the liability thing as an excuse.

It seems to me that getting banded in Mexico is not the real issue. The real issue is that U.S. doctors don't want to do aftercare or work with peopl that have been banded by someone else. I LOVE the good ol' USA - but this problem is being caused by U.S. doctors, and the blame is being put on the Mexican doctors. Even Dr. Pleatman - who watches this board said that the U.S. doctor's will charge up to $1,000. for a fill - to "punish" people who had their surgery done in Mexico. Fat people are still treated like crap by a lot of doctor's in the u.s.

I've been researching the lap band for some time now. I'm a lower BMI but with ALL the troubles that a life time of being fat, constant dieting, or trying to keep off weight that was lost - can befall a person! That's a mouthful - but 'nough said - right?! I'm considering Dr. Kuri - Tijuanna, Dr. DelaGarza - Monterrey, Dr. Ariel Ortiz - Tijuanna, or Dr. Roberto Rumbaut (can't think where his facility is - at the moment Any help would be soooooo appreciated! Patti

Friends - I'm seeing nothing but RED today! I asked my Flex Plan administrator if this surgery (performed in MEX) would qualify for (Pre-Tax) flex dollars. It Took herforever to get back to me - and when she did she said yes - but here is the most horrible thing - she actually copied it to our HR director! And if there were EVER anyone on this earth that I did not want to know about it - it would be him. He is truly a weasel. He weighs about 3 lbs. and is so proud of it that the last time I had to tour the plant with him (looking for safety problems) he actually got on our shipping scale and announced (so proudly) his weight. AND I know for a fact that he makes snide comments about fat people ("why don't they just stop eating") you know the type. To continue - about this stupid woman at the insurance company - I fired back an email to her and asked her what she didn't understand about the bold red type at the bottom of my email that said "this is highly confidential information". I also asked her if she had ever heard of HIPPA or HIPAA - (can't remember now the correct letter sequence) but you know it's the law that states that employees have the right to keep all of their health info private. I'm going to check out the statute tomorrow and I'll be calling her supervisor. I'm so angry (and I don't know why) but so terribly embarrassed. I may even call an attorney. I can't explain just how this makes me feel I have not heard from her yet - but I will and I'll keep you informed.

You know that I'm mad when I resort to name calling - it's NOT my style. That said... The Blabbermouth's response this a.m.: "this was an oversight on my part as I followed our normal protocol of copying the employer on all correspondence. I am the employer contact and it is rare for employees to contact me directly. In the future contact customer service or work directly with your employer". My employer TOLD me to contact her. She did not give me her supervisor's name as I had requested - so I requested that again and also I told her that even though she acknowledged her "oversight" - she was not even compelled to apologize. I'm not letting it go until I hear from her supervisor. My company is self-insured - but Preferred One administers our plan - so I don't think everything needs to be known by my employer, does it????? Imalene

I'm curios as to if your "normal" tendencies when dieting (pre-band) tend to hold true when you are loosing with the band. I.e. - Traditionally my wgt loss has been slow when on any "diet". Have those of you that have the lap band found that this proves to be the case with the band also? I'm still going to get the band - because even as a slow looser - the thought of loosing a pound and keeping it off - is what's driving me to do this! BUT... I'd be lying if I told you that I wouldn't be extremely happy if some of you reported that things were different with the band! Thanks to all that answer! Patti

If you are out there and have had surgery in Mexico (I'm having mine in Jan. by Dr. Kuri) and you have/had fills in MN/metro area - or even Wisconsin - please let me know. I'm able to locate doctor's or bariatric offices that do fills - but most only do them for their own patients. Also (at least on the phone) they are down on people that have had their surgey in Mexico. Any Happy-to-serve-you-and-take-your-money fill doctors in MN/WI? Along with another "to-be-banded" I am going to try and set up an appointment with a fill doctor - just to discuss the situation. I think it would be worth it in order to feel confident if something comes up after we are back in the good ol' U S of A. Imanotlean but Iwannabe!

I have not had my surgery yet (set for 1/12) but I do plan on returning to Dr. Kuri to have them done. I have desparately looking for a fill doctor in MN/WI that I could go to in case of an "emergency" (you know - un-fill, etc). Help if anyone knows of a WILLING one.

I was wondering (after the healing period of liquids and soft food) if hotdishes like that old MN favorite TaterTot Hotdish would go down well. Or is there no knowing until you try it? How about ground beef in sauce? Just trying to figure for when I get to that point. Making a plan, Man!

What does chichi mean by checking the threads - oh my, never mind - I just got it! She means check the threads on the boards. HA HA HA - I thought she meant check the threads on the port and I was thinking - are you kidding, there are threads hanging out!!!! It's been a long day!

Does lap band surgery outside of the U.S. qualify for an IRS tax deduction. Is a person able to use FLEX dollars to pay for lap band surgery outside of the U.S.? Preferred One manages my company's Flex Program. Thanks!

So, Delarla - you have the band. But it's adrift without a port in sight. Sorry - it had to be said. And having said that I will follow it with another comment/question. I think i would be like you too - and just want it OUT since it's not connected in order to be adjusted - which is what it was all about in the first place. (I will have to go back and ready your posts during those times to learn more about infected port areas). You've probably been through all of this - but won't your original doctor take out the band since the port incident makes it ineffectual. Or does it? When they say - loose 1/2 of their excess wgt, this means if I have 60 lbs to loose - I would be lucky to loose 30 in my first year on the band. Right? Thanks and I don't like sugar coating either (unless it's on my donuts!) Patti

Today I scheduled lap band surgery for 1/12/06. And I've seen more disheartening things on the boards today than I have in the many months that I've been researching it. From these posts it sounds like with the band it's more of a bother to eat than not eat. Does anyone enjoy there food anymore - what little there is of it? What if we are hot and sweaty and we want to drink a nice cold drink - can we not drink it down? Will it take 1/2 hour to "get through" it? Like it's some kind of punishment. Are we reduced to nothing but sliming, burping and barfing in front of our loved ones? I thought I had it all figured out and that this was my last chance at a regular - maybe even slim, energetic life - but now I'm wondering if I've been lead down the proverbial path to destruction. Help! Patti

I'm getting the lb surgery in Jan. and now I'm really confused and wondering about my decision. First - I thought that the band had a port at the point of the "fill" location. But you are saying you want the band out and should just get a port. So. I'm lost. Also, I swear you are the same bandsters that I've listened to and been totally encouraged by - or are you just having a bad time of it right now. Of course you are entitled (!!) But, what you are talking about doing - finding another "good diet" - that's exactly what I'm trying to get off of - the diet nightmare ride. I will be the first to say I know much less about the real experience of the band than anyone - but I thought if your wgt loss ended for a long period of time or you were gaining weight that you needed to consider getting a fill. Dear Girls - what's going on? Patti

I'm hoping to have LB by mid January. I've researched like crazy but tonight I'm feeling like a hopeless case. Here's my concern. I'm so worried that it won't work for me. There I said it. I'm afraid that someone that eats the amounts of food that I eat will (for some reason and I don't know why I think this) will fail the band - not the other way around. I know about the pb, etc. and I'm totally dedicated to taking care of the band and following the rules - but will a person like me (that can eat this much food) be able to work the band-plan??? Here's what I ate today: 1 large cup potato Soup 2 DQ cheeseburgers 1 sm fry 1 DQ blizzard 7 pcs bananna bread with butter 2 lite beers Dill chips - lots 6 hersheys christmas Cookies 1 large pc cake (probably more - but just can't remember) Tonight I'm hating myself for being nothing but a big fat pig. I'm feeling so depressed - sorry but I've just got to tell someone about my doubts. Please be gentle with me - I'm plain scared that this is my last hope at loosing and MAINTAINg a wgt loss.

Dear Friends, Recently I read on a major Twin Cities (MN) hospital's website - bariatric division that it was widely accepted in the medical field that people who are obese do not have any chance at all of loosing enough weight on their own to do them any good. It also said that if they were that one in a million to loose the weight they would not keep it off. Even people that are not considered obese or morbidly obese can not keep weight off. I was so pleased that the medical professionals finally figured that out! And said so. I think that alot of my issues with weight and dieting began when I began going to various "clubs" or "Weight Loss Groups". Tops, the Pig Pen and more... <HR style="COLOR: #d1d1e1" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->I'm fat for so many reasons - all self inflicted. In my family - food is love. Love is food. I LOVE to eat! Contributing factor - as a kid I didn't have much to do except eat. I was SUPER PAINFULLY SHY - and when I didn't have friends - I always had food. I gained 40 lbs in the summer between 5th and 6th grade (already 140 in 5th - started 6th at 180) - buying sweets (secretly after choir practice) and laying in bed reading comics and eating! Then Mom put me (and my sisters) in TOPS with her and all of that dieting really made me even more fat and I developed absolutely horrible habits from that experience. If you gained you would sit in the "Pig Pen" and sing (to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean): "I am the Pig of my tops club, I am the cheater this week, I am the pig of my tops club - I've cheated and now I must squeak, oink, oink, oink, oink, ..." and it ended with: "I won't cheat till I'm slender again". Then you would have to put a sign in your front yard that said "I am the pig of my tops club". It was given to the biggest gainer. - I LOVED those women - in those days no one knew any better and they did what they could and it really was fun - but it was the start of horrible things for me. We would starve two days before the meeting then eat a million calories when we got home from the meeting. I would take laxatives and Water pills the day before - etc. etc. Diet pills too were the norm off and on for many years. Later in my life I became bulimic - laxatives were my choice of weight control. Got over that when I married at the age of 27 and couldn't hide the mad dashes to the bathroom from my new husband - he thought I was really ill and insisted that I see a doctor - so end of that. Had a few years of success with WW - probably 10 total years of "normal" weight in my 50 years of life. Oh yea - I had 2 years of success with Phen Fen too - but we all know how that ended. Besides TOPs and WW - I did Jenny Craig, Personal Physician, Phentermine alone, Phen-Fen, Atkins, South Beach, Starvation, Water Diet, Diet Center, Nutri Systems, Slim Fast, Spa Petite, Curves 5 Week Plan, Overeaters Annonymous, and more that I can't even remember any more. The last 10 years - all bad. Up, up, up - sad, sad, sad. I'm 49 y.o. and have made a decision that I will not face age 50 in July with the same probs that I've had all my life. Life is too precious for that - a gift that should not be wasted! LB Surgery by Dr. Kuri (Mex) if all goes as planned - in January. Love to all who post here - what would we do without the encouragement and support of those who understand only too well? Patti <!-- / message -->

Funny thing, Fiveholts, I thought of it today on my way to church! I remember feeding my little cousins (when I was a kid myself) and my aunt would let me have some - and I liked it! Today I thought (after I get banded) I might try taking it to work for lunch. Of course, I will put it in a different container! Patti

It seems to me that some people are more proactive when it comes to their "fills" and that being this way keeps weight loss progressing along. Am I right? What I'm thinking is that if you go for a period of time with no wgt loss - and you are not feeling restricted or much of a restriction - it's time to line up a "fill". Am I seeing different levels of comfort in the progression of weight loss? Or am I dead wrong, that there are some people that no matter how much they "fine-tune" their band - their wgt loss is going to be slow? I've read about people loosing 20 lbs in a year and then there are those that have lost 10 lbs. a month consistently. And I'm speaking of people who appear to be of comparable wgts/BMI's. Any thoughts on this?? Thanks! Patti

Is your cholesterol at a normal point, do you not have any joint or back pain? Maybe you just don't even report these things that almost always accompany obesity - because they are just "normal" for you. Now that I've said that - I have to tell you that I didn't even try insurance because personally I just wasn't up for the fight. Also my co-pay would have cost about as much as what I'm going to be paying in Mex. My BMI is 34 - and I am going to self pay ($8950) in Mexico with Dr. Kuri in Jan. He's said to be the best and he teaches U.S. doctors. Take care! Patti

So many reasons - all self inflicted. In my family - food is love. Love is food. I LOVE to eat! Contributing factor - as a kid I didn't have much to do except eat. I was SUPER PAINFULLY SHY - and when I didn't have friends - I always had food. I gained 40 lbs in the summer between 5th and 6th grade (already 140 in 5th - started 6th at 180) - buying sweets (secretly after choir practice) and laying in bed reading comics and eating! Then Mom put me (and my sisters) in TOPS with her and all of that dieting really made me even more fat and I developed absolutely horrible habits from that experience. If you gained you would sit in the "Pig Pen" and sing (to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean): "I am the Pig of my tops club, I am the cheater this week, I am the pig of my tops club - I've cheated and now I must squeak, oink, oink, oink, oink, ..." and it ended with: "I won't cheat till I'm slender again". Then you would have to put a sign in your front yard that said "I am the pig of my tops club". It was given to the biggest gainer. - I LOVED those women - in those days no one knew any better and they did what they could and it really was fun - but it was the start of horrible things for me. We would starve two days before the meeting then eat a million calories when we got home from the meeting. I would take laxatives and Water pills the day before - etc. etc. Diet pills too were the norm off and on for many years. Later in my life I became bulimic - laxatives were my choice of weight control. Got over that when I married at the age of 27 and couldn't hide the mad dashes to the bathroom from my new husband - he thought I was really ill and insisted that I see a doctor - so end of that. Had a few years of success with WW - probably 10 total years of "normal" weight in my 50 years of life. Oh yea - I had 2 years of success with Phen Fen too - but we all know how that ended. Besides TOPs and WW - I did Jenny Craig, Personal Physician, Phentermine alone, Phen-Fen, Atkins, South Beach, Starvation, Water Diet, Diet Center, Nutri Systems, Slim Fast, Spa Petite, Curves 5 Week Plan, Overeaters Annonymous, and more that I can't even remember any more. The last 10 years - all bad. Up, up, up - sad, sad, sad. I'm 49 y.o. and have made a decision that I will not face age 50 in July with the same probs that I've had all my life. Life is too precious for that - a gift that should not be wasted! LB Surgery by Dr. Kuri (Mex) if all goes as planned - in January. Love to all who post here - what would we do without the encouragement and support of those who understand only too well? Patti