NeenBand

Big Dog, may I ask what your wife's complications were? I want to know as much as possible before being banded. And I am really happy that the eroded bandsters are here, they can offer people insight and support in case it happens to them, PLUS they need support as well. But to all, I know this subject can bring about some intense emotions, but can we try to get our point across to each other, especially if we disagree, without being insulting or condesending? Remember, we are all in this together.:target:

ROFL This thread is too funny. First of all, LOVE garlic, and it's so good for you too. The band makes you gassy? Cripes I'm already like a baloon deflating pre band. If I wasn't so fat I'd be hitting the walls with deflation. It's going to get worse??

I have a lower BMI and am waiting for a surgery date. I was cleared for this surgery this past fall and was at 200 (5'6) and now I'm at 230, so that just goes to show you that obesity, like alcholism, is a progressive disease. If I could do it by following a diet, I would not be in this desperate place. Because let's be honest...being 200 -230 and contemplating getting surgery to place a silicone band around your stomach and a port in your abs, you have to have hit the wall and have no where else to turn.:paranoid I have been thin twice in my life and each time was short lived. To get there and stay there I had to starve myself and take herbal or prescription appetite suppresants. Eventually hunger always won and I eventually lost the battle and regained my weight. One of those times I did the Atkins. I actually was on it for 2 years. For me personally, it was a disaster, it ruined my digestive system. I developed diveriticulitis from all the meat eaten (not to mention how guilty I felt eating all that animal meat!) and I have since gone vegetarian. Not able to sustain long term low carb eating, as soon as I began eating some carbs, my body seemed to go haywire and I ballooned faster than I have ever seen my body do before. MY body can't seem to tolerate being 200-230. My knees hurt, I ache, I'm dizzy, I feel sick, I have GERD, heart palpitations, out of breath, sleep apnea. All the symptoms of those who are much higher. So, I'm guessing every body is different in what it can handle. I wish the lower BMI people all the best and I think we should have our own thread or something. :-)

Is this posted in all seriousness? If so, I say ppppfffffffffffffffttt If it's a joke I say...

Hey all, Last night I was visiting another board and stumbled onto a WLS memorial page. YIKES! Granted, all were RNY, but this snaking chill ran up my spine and I thought, what if I don't make it out of surgery??? What if I get phnumonia, a blood clot? What if I get an uncontrollable infection?? I was thinking am I doing the right thing? That yes, I'm fat but I don't want to die! The realization that I am actually going to put myself under the knife to lose weight hit me like a ton of bricks last night. Quite frankly....I'm scared!:help:

Thank you all!! It's sooooooo goooood to know others felt the fear and did it anyway. You know what I mean? To know your not the only one and it's natural. I also go from hope to fear back to optimism and back to fear. And I need this weight off because my secret agent life demands explosive drop kicks! lol

I'll be at the next one! I missed the last one, it was rainy and it really flares my Fibromyalgia up. Is it okay to bring your partner? My boyfriend has some concerns about the surgery.

Thanks to all of you for your responses. You have NO IDEA how much they help me. This is why I post this stuff here. :-) And Vine's list of possible deaths made me laugh.

Your husband built a motorcycle??! WOW!

I feel so badly for you. And to have to go through this TWICE. You poor thing. :-( I realize doctors don't have all the answers but nothing ever "just happens", there is always a reason for something going wrong in the body. I am so sorry this is happening to you.

Vines, I once thought I had pancreatitis and reading what was on the web and in groups sent me into such a depression. I was crying and so fearful because of what i was reading. Please stay away from the Internet stuff until you know what is going on. Stress is not your friend, especially if your not feeling well to begin with. *hugs*

Hey desertmom, what are your complications?

Thanks again Alex. I think it's so cool that we have the same surgeon. Makes support that much better

On Monday I go in for my psch eval and nutritionist visit. Which is costing me around $500 out of pocket. I just had a thought come to me, I don't know if Medicare will be approving this!! I didn't even think to ask as I assumed they would. But now I am hearing about others denied!! Beyond the fact that I will be losing all that money (which is food and rent money for me) the thought tha this won't happen for me is devastating.:faint: Thoughts?

I hope so too. Thank you for the support and well wishing. I'm 42. I think perhaps going over all my health issues before submitting would be the best thing. WHo do I do that with? The surgeon or the insurance co ordinator?

Hi all, I have been reading a lot about port infections and the hard time some go through when this happens. It also seems that it makes erosion more likely. I was wondering if there is anything we can do prior to and after surgery to minimize the chance of infections? Vitamin C? Any suggestions would be great. I want to do all I can to avoid this possibility.

What a relief! Alex...I hope you feel this hug through the computer screen! :-) Even though my BMI is on the lower side, so I hope Medicare finds it necessary. I know I do. Do you happen to know what they might deem necessary? I have asthma, high cholestral, GERD,Fibromyalgia and Imay have sleep apnea.

Nursemichelle, I am thinking along the same lines as you are and asked the same question. It would set my mind more at ease to hear from people that far out. To be honest, the only people I have seen on boards that are farther out (3 years) have eroded it seems. I hope someone can correct me if I'm wrong about that observation.

Many of you stated that you prayed to God that if this was something you should do and recieved an answer. It would be interesting to me what your "answer" was? How did it come? :-)

I sure hope that when I get out of surgery, it isn't this clear stuff they had me drink once when I had gallbladder trouble and they were going to do a CAT scan. It made me so sick they had to emit me into the ER. The vomiting was so violent, my blood pressure dipped down. I'll have to mention that to the doctor. Barium, the chalky stuff I don't have a problem with. They other stuff...no way. I have never been so sick in my life, I though I was going to die. :help:

Personally, I prayed and prayed to God to help me find the way, and then a week later, someone told me about Lap Band. Then while I was on the fence about getting it, I prayed to God that if getting this done was the right decision, then I needed a sign. A few days later, my weight started making me sick (sicker than usual) GERD, asthma, just feeling horrible. To me that was an answer. God created our brains, and they are super computers, and our souls are capable of incredible works through God. I believe God has given we as humans, the gifts of the mind to invent and come up with the medical miracles. So I believe God wants us to use them. If God did not intend for us to use medical interventions, plants as medicine, etc. God would not have created us and filled us with what it is that allows us to do all of it, or plants that have properties to make us well. God uses us, works through us to help us.

Erin, I am so sorry to hear that, I've read your posts. What is it that they did for you to prevent? Your so right Emily. I totally agree with you. My gastro doctor didn't know anything about aloe vera juice as well. One thing I am doing is taking vit c and also milk thistle for the liver. If lymph system is the software of the immune system, the liver is the CPU, and milk thistle is really good for the liver. Garlic is a really good immune system builder, and I take garlic oil for my chronic fatigue, but it's also a blood thinner, so if your going into surgery, its not a good idea. I'll resume afterwards though. Susan, you can get on your soapbox in my thread anytime, because I totally agree and am a huge advocate of combining traditional (allopathic) with holistic health regimes ,nutrition and supplents to keep you healthy. Not all doctors (and I would venture most) are up on this stuff. I will also kick up my protien, as you suggested. I'm a vegetarian, so I might not be getting as much as I should.

Man do I need this. I have PCOS and I practically have a beard ( I shave every day) and thinning hair. I just don't know who or where to go to that is good. I worked in a spa and the facialist told me that , like Vinesqueen said, use anti-bacterial products on it (tea tree oil, Oxy-5, etc). That is what the whiteheads are, little infections at the pores. She also told me to moisturize so that the little cuts are protected from bacteria getting in.

I don't know if you know any nurses, but I have found the best doctor recommendations come fromnurses and other hospital workers. They get the low-down on everyone.

I agree, boosting the immune system can't hurt. But I feel there are things out there that can be done that many allopathic doctors are not aware of, so you can't take what they say, or don't say as gospel. For example, my doctor never heard of taking charcoal for indigestion. It's one of my best finds ever, given to me by a holistic D.O.