Headhunter

I think it's great that the owner of this board has given the LDS bandsters their own thread. But i see that we are SEPARATE from the CHRISTIAN Bandsters......the only reason that bugs me is because, well, you know, so many Christians think that Mormons AREN'T. And to put us in a separate category kind of reinforces that..... BUT, I like being over here by ourselves...... Just sayin'........:thumbup:

Does anyone here have any first-hand knowledge of Medi-Cal (California) and if they pay for the Band, and if so, what is the criteria? I had a friend of a friend ask me this question, and I'm looking for someone here that might have experience with Medi-Cal in this regard. Thanks! HH

There is another point of view you need to consider. If you think that once you have the Lap band in you that you won't have to diet any more, you are quite mistaken. You might think of the Band as a "Forced Diet", with the consequences for cheating often very painful. "controlled eating" is something that the band HELPS you with...it really doesn't eliminate the dieting. The point is that you NEED to get USED to eating in a controlled manner. If you cannot stick to a Dr or Insurance-precribed diet for a few months, then your chances of success with the Lap band are greatly diminished. The Lap Band assists you in controlling your eating, but there are many, many ways to "cheat" with the Band. You still have to have self control, and personal resolve. Don't look at this diet as bad thing; look at it as preparation for what is to come. HH

Frustrated: I have been through some horrendous experiences with Doctors and Medical Cnters myself, I understand what you are going through. There has been some good advice given here. What I have found over the 8 years I've spent dealing with corrupt doctors and medical centers is that they HATE bad publicity. You need to make it very clear to them that you will call them out VERY PUBLICLY on their dirty dealings. You can do this in a number of ways. PM me if you want more info. Also, please tell us the Doctor you are dealing with; One of the real values of a forum like this is that we are able to warn other potential patients about Doctors that have "done us wrong". It IS important that you gather ALL of your documentation. You ARE entitled to ALL of your medical records, and that includes ALL correspondence with you that they have on record. Make sure you request ALL of it. Often times, they will begin to change their "tune" when you ask for your records, because they know a lawsuit is coming. It's even better if you have a friend who is an Attorney who can request your records on his/her letterhead. THAT makes them stand up and take notice. Also, you need to sit down and write everything out while it is fresh in your mind. Dates, times, who you spoke with.....EVERYTHING. You may forget some of the details as times goes on, and you want to have a record of EVERYTHING that has happened. Again; there are LOTS of ways to make them do the right thing. It will require some wotk on your part, but it IS do-able. Keep us posted on your progress with this; This kind of behavior by Drs affects ALL of us! HH

Hell, No. I would be heading right for Gastric Bypass. It was what I needed. HH

You might try these: BB Vitamins | Bariatric Vitamin supplements and Gastric Bypass Vitamins I have been taking them for a year and a half, and My Labs are always PERFECT. These Vitamins taste GREAT, too. I love them.....the best chewables I have ever tried. HH

“I have a question for you HH.” Great. I’m always open to questions and comments from reasonable people. “This is a "LAP-BAND®" website as indicated by the site name "Lap Band Talk".” Yup. This IS a Lap band site. And…..I have HAD a Lap Band. That qualifies me to be here. “you love the GB and have nothing good to say about the LB…” Ok. Where did I say ANYTHING bad about the Lap Band? POINT ME to it. I pointed out some FACTS about it, that there ARE some problems associated with it. But those are FACTS. And if you are going to have a Lap Band installed without being aware of those FACTS, then you are NOT a fully informed patient. And who said I “love” the GB? It has WORKED very well for me….but that doesn’t mean I “love” it. My preference would have been to NEVER have gone through ANY of this. “- why don't you spew your thoroughly investigated knowledge on a GB site???” I don’t “spew”. I excrete, I secrete, and on occasion I squirt, but I never “spew”. Oh, and I DO talk about this stuff on a LOT of different sites. And yes…it IS “thoroughly investigated knowledge”…..but most importantly, it has been EXPERIENCED…..by ME. “I investigated GB and LB. I chose LB - that is why I chose this site. I am sure the subscribers on a GB site would appreciate your rhetoric more than bandsters” And congratulations on having made a decision. I hope you have indeed made the RIGHT one for YOU. Many people do NOT. They make their WLS decisions based upon Advertising, Marketing materials, and their “comfort zone”. They come here having already made their decision, and are looking for support in that decision….whether or not it’s the RIGHT one. Years ago, I did something similar. And it almost cost me my life. I’m NOT here to convince people to choose the Gastric Bypass or ANY OTHER surgery. I’m here to remind them that there are OTHER options, ALL of which should be considered. In case you have jumped to any conclusions about me based upon this exchange, please be aware that I am NOT opposed to the Lap Band. Not at ALL. I am very supportive of people having the Lap Band …IF….that is really what is needed, in their UNIQUE, SPECIFIC case. Do a search here on LBT…use “agnes” as the search term. You’ll see that I am very supportive of People being banded. My problem is that people don’t often do ALL of the research they really need to do to make the RIGHT decision about which WLS to have. That was the situation with me, and it resulted in years of poor health, many, many thousands of dollars in medical bills, years of lost employment, etc….it was an absolute mess. There are different Weight Loss Surgeries. They are meant for different types of people, with different types of eating disorders. The Lap band has been sold/marketed as a single-stop solution for EVERYONE’S weight issue. The fact is, though, that it does NOT work for everyone. The reasons it does not work are varied. Some people don’t follow the rules. Some people have a surgeon that doesn’t know what they are doing. And for SOME people, it was the WRONG SURGERY. There is a misconception that the entire Weight Loss Surgery issue is that of a big WLS “Smorgasbord”, and that all you have to do is simply pick the one that tickles your fancy. That is incorrect. They are ALL different, and they are meant for different types of people and bodies. They ALL work (to varying degrees)…..but their long-term (and short-term) efficacy is dependant on some very individual elements. You really need to take the time and the effort to ascertain which WLS is right for you. Some people need restriction, which is what the Band and the Sleeve offer. Some people need Malabsorbtion, which is the primary mechanism present in the Gastric Bypass. Some need a combination. If you are one of those who crave sweets, who puts on 3 pounds by breathing in the air in a bakery, then you will most likely need the Malabsorbtion element that Gastric Bypass offers. This is also true if you really don’t feel like you eat THAT much, but you continue to put on weight. If you simply eat too much and self discipline is the problem, then the Sleeve or the Lap Band might be the ticket. But, you really have to study the various methods in DETAIL, and be HONEST with yourself about what kind of eating disorder you have. So, I’m not here to try and convince ANYONE to do ANYTHING….except research. That’s all. I can tell you bad things about ALL the surgeries. I can also tell you stories of wonderful successes with ALL the surgeries as well. It works both ways. The secret is in finding which surgery is correct for you, finding the RIGHT Surgeon, and then sticking to the rules once you’ve had the procedure. I do wish you luck with your Procedure. I look forward to reading YOUR success story. HH

I am perfectly happy and content up here on my "high horse", thank you. I happen to have “earned” my “high horse” over a period of 8 eight years of Multiple Surgeries and Procedures, INCLUDING a failed Lap band and a successful Gastric Bypass. I happen to KNOW of which I am speaking, and if YOU don’t think that over-absorbtion (known also as superabsorbtion and a few other terms) does NOT play a role in SOME cases of obesity, then you’ve been getting your WLS info from the back of a cracker box like some of the other wingnuts here. There are MANY reasons why Bypass works….that is ONE of them. And you’re damn right…I DON’T give a rat’s ass about ANYONE’S opinion but my own…UNLESS they happen to be an experienced Surgeon, Doctor, or someone who has had an enormous amount of experience with the issue of Weight Loss Surgery. And I CERTAINLY wouldn’t listen to the “opinion” of some nitwit on an Internet Forum who has had their lap-Band not even for a WEEK. There are few things more noxious than someone who is newly-banded. They love to run around telling everyone how wonderful it is, when in fact they are simply trying to convince THEMSELVES that they have made the right choice. Jeez. And Jachut’s little diatribe? I don’t listen to ANYTHING she has to say. She’s a nut case. Bypass is meant for people because it “suits them psychologically”??? What a load of CRAP. Note to Jachut: You had me on “Ignore” for several months, and I would prefer that you keep me there. I really don’t need you injecting your useless drivel into any of my conversations. HH

So.... Lemme see if i get this right: You (or your insurance) pays some big bucks for you to get a Lap Band, and you decide (all by yourself) that you are going to SKIP a fundamental part of the Post-op protocol? Huh? I swear...why do some people even BOTHER to have weight loss surgery. There is a VERY GOOD reason that the "mushies" are part of the routine. Seriously....make your Doctor aware of what you've done, and don't make any more "decisions" on your own. People NOT following the prescribed protocol is a BIG reason why so many people fail at Weight Loss Surgery.:cursing: HH

I honest to God don't know why I bother with you clowns. Having had BOTH a Lap Band AND Bypass, I am quite qualified to be fully aware of the mechanism by which each one works....or DOESN'T work. Jeez.

Why would you be "dead-set" against ANY procedure if in fact it MIGHT be what you NEED?? If what you "needed" was having your appendix removed, would you have your Gall Bladder removed simply because THAT fits within your comfort zone? Understand that Lap Band and Bypass are two ENTIRELY DIFFERENT forms of surgery that are meant for different kinds of disorders. Many people don't seem to "get" that fact. Huge numbers of people are SOLD on the Band, and then have little or NO success with it, primarily because it was the WRONG procedure for their particular situation. There is a very big difference between a restrictive procedure and a Malabsorbtive procedure. There are SOME people who would benefit from either, but MOST people need one or the other to be successful. Don't rule out ANYTHING.....make sure you get the RIGHT procedure done the FIRST time. The Band MAY....or may NOT be the right one for you. HH

Ok, Pooly, but if you are (as you say), a Friend of the friendless, then the friendless is not actually friendless, because you are their friend. Am I right? Eh? HH FAAS

me likes miss Bethy. She nice to headhuntah. yumm. HH

Congratulations. It's a wonderful feeling to see that goal approaching on the scale. It's even nicer to FEEL the goal approaching, in the way your clothing feels, and the increasing need to replace your wardrobe. You've done well. :thumbdown: HH

“Once again Colorado you are correct.” I’m not all that sure that Colorado is ever right about ANYTHING. She seems almost as dense as you. Not QUITE, but nearly. “Don't know why I bothered to point out his hypocrisy he so obviously lacks the rational ability to see his wrongdoing.” But….you DIDN’T point out any “hypocrisy” on my part….because there WAS no “hypocrisy” on my part. You merely pointed out your own innate stupidity. And it’s clear that you didn’t actually READ my response. Perhaps I should have written it in colored chalk on the sidewalk. THEN you might have “gotten” it. “I was hoping he had just enough character in him to admit he was wrong and apologize” Apologize? You’ve got to be kidding, Cupcake. YOU make a stupid remark and try and change the nature of something that YOU wrote, and you want ME to apologize? The depths of your ignorance continue to astonish me. Every time I think that you just can’t get any dumber….well,…you somehow manage. I have a dog. A wonderful Rhodesian Ridgeback. A big wonderful Mutt. A while back, I started taking her out in the back yard and squirting Water on her with the hose. She seems to like that on really hot days. I got one of these nozzles that has the adjustable settings….Mist, Stream, Jet, etc. She prefers the “Jet” stream. It’s a solid, HARD stream of water, and she likes to have it shot right into her mouth. Now, that HAS to hurt. But she LIKES it. In fact, she gets a little upset when I change the stream to something more “gentle”. She bites the nozzle until I change it back to “jet”. You remind me of her. Except she is more attractive. You just keep coming back for more. No matter how Stupid you look, you continue to dance around, looking like a complete idiot, BEGGING to have that stream jammed down your throat. And as long as you continue to do that ignorant little happy-dance, I will continue to do as I have always done: Jam it RIGHT DOWN that big, gaping, cavern-like receptacle. Something you’re quite used to, I’ll presume. HH

Holy Mother of God. Honestly. That’s about the only thing I can say to that post. Can somebody actually BE as dumb as a bag of rocks? Looks like it. Ok, this is gonna be tasty. Failure/Donna: PLEEEEZ. You are absolutely KILLING me. This is so damn funny. I cannot believe you have actually done this AGAIN. Once AGAIN,…..you transport/parachute/inject/ejaculate yourself into a thread that doesn’t have a DAMN thing to do with you or your life or your affair with rin-tin-tin and you somehow make it ABOUT YOU. My God, you are like a dog with a laser pointer. Or a box of hamsters. TOOOO much entertainment for any human to absorb. Do you rent yourself out to children’s parties? You should. So……..before I point out the obvious, (to everyone but you, it seems) I need to point out a few things that you have said, in error, of course. It’s who you ARE. “How can YOU possibly have room to talk??????” I have PLENTY of room to talk. Do you know why? Because I don’t have any of those imaginary Bypass friends that you have hanging around, getting in my way. Or horny German Shepherds. Or battery-operated male-replacements. “Do you not remember berating and belittling me??? I did not berate or belittle you. You did that to YOURSELF, merely by opening your crater-sized pie-hole. Oh, and you forgot bewitched, bothered, and bewildered. That’s a particular specialty of mine. “Calling me stupid???” I never called you stupid. That’s against the rules here. Besides, it’s not necessary. I never do things I don’t HAVE to do. And I don’t have to call you “stupid”. Because it’s SO obvious. So I didn’t. And I won’t. “Ignorant???” Again… I never said that. But you seem to THINK I did. Here’s a theory about that: Perhaps you simply read back your comments to yourself, and came to the very obvious conclusion that you are hopelessly befuddled and deeply ignorant, on a profound scale. Most people WOULD reach that conclusion, so you probably did as well. Now, there’s only one problem I would have with that theory. It’s about the “conclusion that most people would reach”. The problem is that I would be equating the intellect of MOST people with that compost heap between your ears that YOU call an “intellect”. It’s not fair to those people with REAL grey matter. So, I’ll have to re-think that one. “I think you have major issues with double standards or do your postings just depend on your mood for the day???” You will find no double standards in my posts. I am as consistent in my statements as you are in your ignorance. And my moods? My moods are very good these days, thank you. Why? Because I know that I can always come to this place and find something that YOU have said that is so delightfully ignorant, so entertainingly devoid of substance and logic that I could literally spend hours rolling in the sweet, sticky, gooey mindlessness of all of the oven-roasted crap that comes flowing out of your fingers. It does indeed warm my heart to know that not everyone in our success-oriented society finds it necessary to progress past pre-school. “You "discount/diminish/dismiss" ME simply because I gave my opinion and told of my experience???” First of all, let me state that I did NOT “discount” you. For something to be “discounted”, there has to be some Value present. Therefore, it would be impossible for me to “discount” you. “Diminish” you? That is a self-accomplishment on your part. “Dismiss” you? So easily done. Ok. Now to the specifics of your Rant toward me. “You "discount/diminish/dismiss" ME simply because I gave my opinion and told of my experience???” Ok, this seems to be the “heart” of your complaint. So let me address that. Thank You. You didn’t tell anyone of YOUR experience. Got that, Cupcake? You were blathering on about OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES. People whose existence is quite suspect, incidentally. But they were experiences that YOU did NOT HAVE. You were speaking about surgery that you did NOT experience. And now you’re trying to pass it off as YOUR experience in order to make some kind of claim against ME?? You were telling us about people you supposedly knew that had had GASTRIC BYPASS, and had problems with it. Not YOU,…. THEM. If it was YOUR experience, I would have NO PROBLEM with you relaying that here. Or anywhere. So let me be really, really clear about this. If I could do this in Crayon or Etch-a-Sketch so it would be more “accessible” for you, I would, but I cannot, so I will simply have to write it for you. I’ll avoid the big words….but you can probably claw your way through “experiences” phonetically if you try really, really hard…. So here it is: THOSE people’s experiences were not YOUR experiences. Understand that? Got That? Now, I have to add that I don’t really think that those people’s experiences were actually real, at least not to the extent that you portrayed them. But that part is not for me to judge. That would be for the Imaginary Judge in the Imaginary Court to decide….seeing as how they are your Imaginary Bypass friends. In the event that you are referring to our “discussion” on the issue of Mexican Surgery, I did not discount your experience with THAT either. I am quite certain that you did indeed have a Mexican experience of SOME kind. Maybe even a Lap Band surgery. However, I do think it was more along the lines of a “Bride and the Burro” experience. But I digress. So let me summarize here, best that I can. You just railed on me because I chastised someone for discounting someone else’s experience. You think that I’m a hypocrite because I chastised YOU for relating YOUR experience. Except that it wasn’t YOUR experience. It was someone ELSE’S experience. And you’re now trying to say that it was YOUR experience? So…..you not only have imaginary Bypass friends….you’re now CHANNELING them????? WTF? I don’t usually say WTF more than once in a post, but this nitwit deserves a SIX-pack of WTFs, a dozen Hail Marys, and a nice shot of retroactive birth control. My God. Isn’t there a Special Olympics that can keep this nimrod occupied? HH

Ouch. that even hurt ME.

Kelly; I do believe that you followed the instructions. It is entirely possible that your band was installed incorrectly, or one of several things has happened to make it function differently than was intended. That kind of stuff DOES happen with the band. My sense is that you may not get what you need from your present surgeon, in ANY way. You DO need to get some assistance with the problem in your port, and I think that this should be addressed first. Were you self-pay, or did your insurance cover the procedure? HH

Hmmmm. So lemme see. I make a snarky little remark about Barney Frank with my digital tongue planted firmly in virtual cheek, and you are somehow able to transpose that simple sentence into me being a “true wacko” filled with “hatefulness, death and destruction”. Huh? That’s quite a morph. You should take advantage of your ability to take one thing and turn it into something entirely different. You should run for Congress. Or the White House. “When are you people going to get it? You LOST.” Huh? WHO “lost”, exactly? And what did I/we “lose”? If you’re referring to the election, hell, AMERICA has lost nearly EVERY election in the last hundred years or so. “Grow up and deal with it in a constructive way, um kay?” Again, I pose…. Huh? Deal with what? Barney Frank is an ass. He’s crooked, like MOST of the clowns in Washington, on BOTH sides of the aisle. Hell, you could throw the names of virtually every member of congress, the judicial branch, AND the executive Branch in a hat, pick one out, and ANY of them would fit within the sentence “Using (INSERT POLITICO NAME HERE) and "hero" in the same sentence deserves the death penalty. AFTER torture.” Barney Frank was merely the cretin MENTIONED in the passage I observed. I’m thinking that a speedy passage of this new health “plan” might be of benefit to you, actually. If Mental Health issues are covered…… Um kay? HH

Kelly; I’m sorry you’re having problems. But, it does happen. Frequently. There a LOT of people out there with Band problems. The object at this point would be to try and determine what the source of the present discomfort is, and try and get the band back into “operational” mode, if possible. You’ve lost 70 pounds, and that’s not bad. But there are other things you haven’t told us, so it’s a little difficult to make suggestions. How much more do you need to lose to reach your goal? Here’s what I would say, based upon my own experience. If your surgeon is blaming you for the failure of the band, and you have followed the prescribed protocol for living post-surgery, then you have an IS. (Idiot Surgeon). I know, I had one. Since he put the band In you, you need to hear what he has to say about your present condition. However, if he is blaming YOU for your situation, I would HIGHLY recommend that you consult another Surgeon. You are NOT married to THAT particular Doctor, and very often it takes an external pair of “eyes” to ascertain exactly what is occurring. Instead of being anxious to have the band removed, do everything that you can to try and make it work. Very often people will give up not knowing how close they were to success. Even when there ARE problems with the bands, it is possible to correct them through various methods. But first: INSIST that they see you RIGHT AWAY for the problem with your port. That can be serious. You do NOT want that thing popping out of your stomach. That happened to me. Do NOT take no for an answer when they try and put off seeing you. Use the magic word: Lawsuit. Doctors LOVE that word. It seems to have a magical effect on them. It makes them leap into action. Once you have that issue cleared up, then concentrate on making the band work again. Find another surgeon to consult with. Don’t give up yet. 80 pounds is a great start, and you don’t want to take a step backward if you don’t have to. Keep us posted. HH

Using "Barney Frank" and "hero" in the same sentence deserves the death penalty. AFTER torture. HH

So……I’m just a little curious; This person gives an honest reply to the question, and YOU somehow feel like you have to discount/diminish/dismiss what they say? Their experience with the band was THEIR experience. Not YOURS. Bad stuff happens. Most Band experiences are good…..this person’s was NOT. And many other band experiences have ended badly as well. And I think that HONESTY was what the OP was looking for. The Title of this thread was “Any regrets after the lap band?”, not “Any regrets and I only wannna hear the good stuff”…. So that poster doesn’t have terrific math skills. Tough. That doesn’t mean that they didn’t have a bad experience, or that YOU should have anything to say about it. “Some people just like to make you think what they say is real.” Huh? WTF? Well…..maybe it IS real. And that is not for YOU or anyone else to question. Jeez. HH

ummm.... Have her stop by here. I'll have a chat with her. The band is NOT a tool. SHE'S a Tool. HH

ahem....(clears throat)..... Yo’ mama is so fat you have to grease the door frame and hold a twinkie on the other side just to get her through. Yo Mama is so fat, when she told me her weight I thought it was her phone number. Yo’ Mama is so fat, she took up pages 41, 42 and 43 in her school yearbook. Yo mama is so fat, when she steps on the scale it says: To be continued. Your mama is so fat, a bus drove by and she said, ”Stop that Twinkie!” Yo mama is so fat, the last time she saw 90210 was on the bathroom scale. Yo Mama is so fat, if she buys a fur coat, a species will be extinct. .....back to my fishing and hiking in the sierras.... HH

The Pretender series that was on a few years ago? I LOVED that show....wish it had grabbed a bigger audience.