Headhunter

I’ve been watching this thread, and I have to admit that the exact same thing crossed my mind as well. Only Beth was braver than I, and chose to voice her feeling. I didn’t really see the racism in this incident either. What I saw was inconsideration and rudeness. It is true that I am not Black, and I do not know what Racism toward a Black person “feels” like. You don’t get much “whiter” than me (blond hair/blue eyes). I know what the occasional Racism from Hispanic to White and Black to White feels like. I have certainly experienced that here in Southern California. I have experienced weight bias. I have experienced a LOT of things that would be considered discrimination on SOME level. Maybe there is some intangible element I am missing here that only a Black person could understand. But from the DESCRIPTION offered….I’m thinking not. I am not suggesting that Debbie does not know what she is talking about. After all, SHE was the one that had this experience. However, based upon her description of what happened, I’m just not seeing the “Racism”. And, I don’t think her experience proves by any stretch that “Racism is Alive and Well”. Yes, there IS some racism left. We haven’t progressed THAT far yet. But there doesn’t seem to be any evidence (at least any that was presented here) that would suggest that there was anything racially motivated going on in this situation. Stupidity is Alive and well. Rudeness is Alive and well. Inconsideration is alive and well. I’m sorry that Debbie had to experience this, whatever it was. I’m just not seeing it as racism. HH

Yes. Listen to My Monkey! :bored: Different Drs do different things, based upon their experience. As it has been mentioned, this is still kind of a new surgery in many respects, and they are still developing standards. HH

Yeah, people have died as a result of their "relationship" with the band. And the other WLS's as well. I came close to it. Statistics are difficult to obtain, reliable ones anyway. I hear stats all the time that put the death rate for RNY at anywhere from .03 to 1.5. There have been more deaths from RNY than the other WLS's, BUT that is in large part because until recently RNY was being performed 3 times as much as any of the other WLS's. It's also been done for nearly 50 years, so there, of course, WOULD be more deaths associated with RNY. There is an increasing complication rate with the Lap Band that will make it's "loss" stats rise as well. Part of the problem is that the statistics are gathered and processed by the Doctors and facilities that DO the WLS's, and i'm not sure that I would trust them to release legit numbers. Another factor is that a person may die as a result of a complication from a WLS, but the ACTUAL cause of death is LISTED as something else, and that "something else" would not have happened if the WLS had not take place. In the Medical/Pharmaceutical industry it is referred to as "Adverse Event Reporting", and it's tough to get people to report their stats. BUT....even though an industry-wide stat might offer a particular number, you also need to be concerned about YOUR particular surgeon's numbers. You need to ASK them about their "losses". You need to research them totally. HH

I've lost 180 pounds.....but almost no thanks to the Lap band. Lost about 9 pounds TOTAL from the Lap Band, and several years of health in the process I lost about 70 pounds thanks to adherence to the PH Balancing method of weight loss, and the remaining 100 pounds as a result of a Gastric Bypass....At better-than-goal right now!:tongue_smilie: HH

Welcome back, sweetie! Glad you're doin' ok.... Welcome to the world of the Malabsorbed! Keep a low profile, and don't push yourself too hard....and prepare for a rapid weight loss!:tongue_smilie: and.....TAKE YOUR VITAMINS!!!!!! I look forward to hearing about your adventure!! HH

I'm in the same boat as you. If Megan Fox walked in naked, I would also insist that she leave. I would very sternly inform her that she has 24 hours to get OUT! HH

Oh yes! That's a GREAT idea! People really need to know HOW to pick a WLS Surgeon. I see SO many posts from people about their surgeons like "oh he was so sweet, so caring....I just loved his manners" and that kind of stuff. People really need to know that there is so much more that they need to learn about a surgeon than what color his big, dreamy eyes are..... HH

Yes, Absolutely. Bariatric Surgery is BIG business now, and it seems like everyone who has fingers to pick up a scalpel is getting into it. My mantra has become "research your Surgeon CAREFULLY,....then research them AGAIN". Now, I think that there is SOME benefit to having your surgery performed by someone who does a LOT of them, and ONLY bariatric Surgeries. But many of these "Mills" just don't seem to have the standards that would make me comforatable with having them open me up. And it's tough to advise people on a methodology to use when selecting a "provider". When I had my Lap Band installed, I chose a World-Class medical center (Cedars-Sinai), and I thought I was getting second-to-none expertise. Not the case. I got a hack surgeon, a medical staff who was ONLY concerned with signing up the next patient, and when the problems arose, I think these clowns retreated to a special bunker built under beverly blvd designed to protect idiot surgeons from irate patients who have been butchered. So, yes, the WLS Mills are a huge problem, but I think that some of these mills are disguised and operating inside otherwise reputable Medical Facilities. It's tough to sort out the good from the bad. HH

A GREAT post. Absolutely, I agree TOTALLY. Something very similar happened to me, at least in the serious potential. It almost cost me my life SEVERAL times, so I can relate to every word of your experience. People, problems with the band can KILL YOU. There have been many comments lately about all of the "negative" posts on this forum....but there is a REASON for the negative posts: People are having problems, very serious problems. On occasion, I see someone here who is experiencing some unusual pain, and they come HERE, to this forum, to ask what the problem might be, when they SHOULD be turning OFF thier computer and high-tailing it into their Surgeons office. Michelle731, I don't give a Rats A** what your surgeon is or isn't doing these days in terms of seeing patients. INSIST on seeing HIM. I had to threaten my surgeon with a lawsuit to get him to see me, but he did. He was NOT nice about it, but he changed his tune and realized that my insistence on seeing him probably saved him from a malpractice/death lawuit. So get on the phone, and tell him if he doesn't see you RIGHT AWAY, the next call you make will be to your lawyer. I've had to play this game before, and Doctors have to realize that they can't simply sew you up, walk away, and hand off the problems to some intern. Nope. Won't happen. THEY put it in you, and THEY are going to treat you when there is a problem. Kslexi, I'm glad you're ok, and thank you for sharing your experience. I'm not opposed to the Lap Band, but there is a growing community of people who are having problems (sometimes life-threatening) with the Band, and they need to be supported in their efforts to get proper treatment from the Surgeon that PUT THE THING IN! HH

It's funny, I have been at goal now for a number of months, but i still weight myself every few days to make sure T STAY there! There was a period, though, when I was a little obsessive about it, but I got over tha pretty quickly. With RNY, the weight rolls off pretty fast and reliably so i just got used to the idea that this was working, so I stopped obsessing! HH

I am not a patient of Dr Cunneen’s, so I cannot speak to any experience with him specifically, though I have met him, and he was present in the operating Room when I had my Lap band installed. However, having said that, I WILL tell you that my experience with that Medical Group, and Cedars-Sinai in general was absolutely horrific. The “surgeon” who installed my Lap Band was Theodore Khalili, who is now the Chief of the Cedars Bariatric group. Just THAT fact alone is enough to make me advise people to STAY AWAY from Cedars, and particularly Khalili. He did an AWFUL job on me, and when the problems surfaced, he ran like jackrabbit. No support whatsoever until I threatened a lawsuit, and then he acted like a three-year old whose toys had been taken away. In addition, Dr Cunneen was present during the surgery to oversee Khalili’s work….and the surgeon who REMOVED my lap band stated that the band had been installed INCORRECTLY. So, I would have to question Cunneens skill if he oversaw a procedure that was performed incorrectly. HH

Not ALL that unusual. The liver is an important component of this whole process, and they need to make sure that it's in good condition. There have been a few people i know that have actually gone into surgery, and then it was decided in the OR that the band would not be installed, because an existing "Fatty Liver" condition. Myself, I had a Liver Biopsy DURING my lap Band installation, because I had hepatitis B many years ago, and one of the specialists wanted to take the surgical opportunity to make sure it was in good condition. HH

Lauren, it is entirley possible that you absorb TOO MUCH of what you consume, and that is why you weigh so much. I know that this was the case with me. For many people, malabsorbtion IS the answer. And, I should note, that the process is considered to be a "mild malabsorbtion". Sometimes people think that Bypass means you are simply cutting off the absorbtion of ALL nutrients, and that is simply not true. People need to be aware that the different procedures are meant for different types of people and different physiological makeups. You will lose weight with most ANY weight loss surgery, but it is certainly wise to do the research and find out specifically what is going to be right for YOU. One size does NOT fit all...... HH

This is true.....the aftercare portion is a HUGE part of the whole band experience, but we are usually so anxious to get it installed that we don't spend ENOUGH time considering the aftercare.....of lack thereof....until it's too late..... HH

Actually, the fact that you are un psych care might speed your approval, as the psych can easily write a letter supporting your need for surgical intervention. But, it really depends on your Medical group. Some of them like you to go through THEIR shrinks for the eval, but if you can provide them a letter from YOUR psych, you might not have to. Having said that, consider doing whatever it is they want you to do, in terms of a separate eval. It may help them determine exactly what KIND of surgery would be appropriate for you. HH

And take it from a Guy....Beth is right. You ARE gorgeous, and don't let your husband's casual flirting make you think otherwise. And Savannah is gorgeous, too. Beautiful child. I love it when moms put up pictures of their babies. Think of what you are doing now. You are going to begin a MASSIVE improvement in your health, energy, and vitality. You will be improving your life in a tremendous way, losing the weight, and i am certain you'll be able to sort out this little hiccup with Hubby. Life's good, and it's getting better! HH

Cougar Model!! Built-in Bottle opener. OMG!!! I'm rollin' on the floor!:ihih:

My "Mantra" throughout my entire post-band/revision to RNY experience has been this: Choose your surgeon wisely. I had a jackass install my Lap Band. The aftercare was pathetic, and when problems began to surface, he hid like a criminal. It's not always easy to do. I mean, the OP was a professional in the Medical Industry, and even SHE ended up with a schmuck. Keep us posted, Millie..... HH

Oh, and by the way, Beth, you're looking particularly lovely today..... wink wink.....:cursing: HH

You'd be guessing correctly. :cursing: "You say "guys flirt," as if it's understandable what he's doing" It's understandable to guys. And it should be to women as well. They (married or otherwise) flirt in very overt (and not so overt) ways. As far as someone texting my wife as you describe it (implying that he was hitting on her), of course I wouldn't like it. However, there are just as many circumstances in which it wouldn't bother me at all. It has to do with the maturity of both of the people involved in the relationship, and the maturity of the relationship itself. And no, I am NOT justifying the husband's actions in this case, because none of us are really quite sure what those actions are. WHATEVER the actions/intents of the Husband are, if they make the wife upset or nervous, well, he needs to stop. If he is hitting on her, then he's wrong....VERY wrong. If he's being friendly and helpful, That's ok UNLESS it makes the wife uncomfortable, and then it's wrong. HH

It is good that you are asking this question! Many people simply decide that they want the Lap Band because they hear that it's "easy", "less invasive" than some of the other types of WLS etc, etc. But the truth is that it's NOT easy....most people here will tell you that. In specific answer to your question, yes, people HAVE lost 100+ pounds with the Lap Band. But you need to thoroughly research ALL the WLS procdures to make sure that you choose the one that is right for YOU. Many people think the varous forms of surgeries are all interchangeable, that they are simply "different methods", and you just need to pick one. Not True. You need to pick the one that fits your physical and emotional makeup. And that's not a decision that you are going to reach by reading a few articles and visiting some internet forums. I myself have had two Weight Loss Surgeries....Lap band (disaster for me) and Gastric Bypass (Success!). You will also find a growing community here on LBT that have had their bands removed and revised to a "sleeve" with great success. So, there are many options....but only one is the RIGHT one for you. Take your time, talk to as many Drs and patients as you can, do a LOT of research. Make the right choice the FIRST time so that you don't have to go through multiple surgeries like I (and other here) have. Good Luck! HH

and sex. Don't forget about sex being really, really, really, really, really, really, really GOOD exercise. and did I mention sex? :thumbup: HH

The very best tasting Vitamins I have EVER found are those by a company called Bariatric Building Blocks. They make several kinds, but the ones I like are the chewables, a few different flavors. I swear, they are like candy. I actually look forward to taking them. yummmm! :thumbup: HH

I am in complete agreement with you. It;'s disgusting. I would never even CONSIDER using one of those facilities. HH

Now, let me see....based upon my current measurement......It would appear that i've lost about 1400 pounds......:thumbup: HH