diva

Thank you both! I hope I hear how some others went through this or maybe they didn't? I need to stop this.

This may be an obvious question but...have you gotten a few second opinions on the removal of the tumor??? It seems you will have to lost weight, however the tumor itself weighs 50 pounds? Perhaps they can remove it without general anesthesia which is probably the risk factor with your weight. Maybe a local??? I don't know but I would look around while losing the weight. Maybe another doc in a large metropolitan hospital would be willing to help you out. I don't know where you live but it is always worth checking out other specialists.

Please try and get banded using your insurance. You are one of the lucky ones whose insurance will pay for it. You just never now what is down the line. Use the money for new clothes or a vacation. Really-use the insurance.

I haven't been banded yet-am aiming for July. Going through the process right now meeting with docs etc. This idea probably won't be met with much enthusiasm by others but in regards to your family's attitude: My husband is 100% with me. In fact I hope to do so well that he becomes a member of the band too! MI spoke with my Mom about it and she freaked. I also live far away from my Mom and bro and family. My brother is a good guy but will def say it is the easy way out and hold it over my head. My mom thinks I will have all sorts of complications, that if it isn't necassary one should never have surgery. So... since they live so far away I am not telling them. I have'nt said anything at all to my brother or sis-in-law or any other relatives. I am telling my Mom that I am following the hospital weight loss program with optifast, behavior modification and group sessions. This is all true since the obesity program at the hospital does indeed do lapband, gastric bypass and optifast behavior modification with some medication. I am just leaving out the lapband part. They all want me to lose weight for my health. They all love me. I doubt I will die on the table. This way I can tell my Mom all about what I am attending and learning but without the band info. She wanted me to try "one more time" before having surgery. So she is relieved, it is my business and that is that. May I suggest lying to your family? Tell them you are going to try "one last time" a good solid hospital nutritionist diet with some group therapy thrown in. Then stay away from them for a about 3 months after surgery. When you see them you'll just be "sticking to your diet" while you eat small. Just a suggestion, sometimes I think too much truth is too much. A little privacy isn't such a bad thing.

P'nut, You are really an inspiration!!!! I love your posts, you're always trying to lend a hand or offer a shoulder or lay down the law! I congratulate you! I can't wait to this band wagon rolling already! I can't even imagine getting close to losing 100! Wow Wow Wow WoW!!!!!

If I needed my PCP "permission" and he didn't give it to me, I'd get myself another PCP before you can say "you're not a god, pal". The only permission you need is from yourself! Is there something I am missing here?? If your particular insurance plan insists on your PCP recommending you then call surgeons office-get a list of PCP names that they have worked with-then call your insurance co with the list-see who is under your plan-call the doc to get appt-if they give you a song & dance about waiting more than a few weeks-politely ask if you can keep calling just in case of a cancellation. You don't have to rationalize that you eat a certain way or you crave a certain food. You made a choice based on information, facts and knowing your body. It is your body.

DonnaB, Thank you so much. I knew there was some sort of anatomical answer out there. I read so much about everything else and there was this kind of band umbilical cord that I started to wonder (and needlessly worry about -like I'm not worried about the surgery enough as it is!) about. Thank you again.

Wierd question again. Where on earth do they put the connecting tube to your port??? It looks like it just floats around in there! I know there are possible problems with the band itself and the port itself but the tube thingy? Does it ever wrap around anything important? Do you ever feel it moving around? See, I told you all it was a wierd question.

Thank you DeLarla! It just looks like it is free floating. I am just surprised I haven't hear any problems that directly correspond to the tubing. Not that I want any!!!!! Nor do I want anyone to have a problem!!!! I'm sorry you've eroded. But thank you again for answering me. Anybody else want to chime in about the tube (not barium x-ray which is not my question in this particular thread).

Wow, didn't anybody else wonder about this? Its kinda strange to think about. Did anyone's dr. or group ever bring it up as a question?

HeatherGirl, Oh to be 24! Anyway, I digress. :-) Heart was one of the first women rock n roll groups with sisters Annie and Nancy Wilson hitting it big in 1975 and in the rest of the seventies. (Magic Man, Alone, Barracuda) They were and still are awesome. Annie has huge voice and Nancy plays guitar like a guy. Problem was Annie was getting as huge as her fabulous voice. A big no no in rock. Videos were just getting hot so appearance was key. They kept shoving her behind the scenery, wrapping her up in wierd costumes. Her own band and some fans turned on her-driving her crazy to lose weight. They sort of disspeared. But a lot of women rockers today definately owe them a lot for breaking down the hair band and rock boys club. Anyway, they did a comeback of sorts in 2002-ish. And Annie was the very first person I heard of who had this new fangled weight loss surgery called a lapband. She might have been paid by the manuf. She really went out there with it-with a video on her web site, interviews yadda yadda. I saw her live that year. The voice, the music the rock all still alive and rockin'. She lost around 60 lbs. Then silence. Nothing, She is still a big girl but isn't as caught up in the looks are everything show biz. It looks like she kept most of the weight off but they still stick her behind Nancy (the skinny blonde one) or just show her face. She always wears black. I saw them again in 04 and she looked about the same as 2002. I have always wondered what the heck happened?

I once heard of a stripper called Tater Tots. I've always wondered what her specific attributes and talents were to use that particular name. ???

I will keep my fingers crossed for you!! I hope it works out. What doctor are you using and where? I'm is MA too

What a great thread! I've started my process at the hospital and am trying to be banded in July. So I am committed to being banded. But the deeper I get into the process (I am covered by insurance and this program demands a lot of appointments and behavior modification groups for 6 weeks) All I think of is -what was the matter with me? Maybe if I tried one more time? Maybe I really am lazy and couldn't handle completing a diet? And I have tried to wierd diets. I had to write them all down and how much I lost and when I gained it back for this program. It was shocking to see how I failed so many times. I'm talking everything from Weight Watchers to diet pills to Atkins to Cabbage soup to Rice to shots of HCG (some sort of enzyme taken from a pregnant woman's uring-I swear to God and it cost a fortune) all the way to not so legal black beauties (amphetemines). I keep thinking how did I get so bad that I need surgery???? I feel guilty not because of the $ since I am insured but because I have let myself and everyone who loves me down so many times. Is it true what thin people say-that if only I just stuck to a diet and had some willpower I wouldn't be getting surgery? That its an easy way out? Even though I am 51 and been overweight since college, I have never been this heavy. So the answer is-yes I feel guilty because I feel like I failed at controlling my life basically. And then sometimes I feel really happy about it-here is a tool that will work! ::confused::

Hi, Your dermatologist can give you samples to try so you're not going crazy with perscriptions and $. The 100 mg of Doryx was given to me as samples, so was the Rosac-cream and some other cream I forget the name. Because the stupid rosacea is so fickle they have lots of different samples-it was that metrogel or metrocream was it now there are more choices. Give up the gel and go to the cream-the gel is so drying. They may be able to change it over at the drugstore without another perscription since it really is a matter of choice-same product different consistancy. And the antibiotic is really the best way to go. You don't stay on it forever and it really works! As for the eye thing- I noticed my eyes would just tear up (overcompensating) and just itch and burn. The when I couldn't read the highway signs very well I got my ample hiney to the doc. They'll suggest artificial tears if it isn't that bad. For me the restasis is the a charm. I started with 2x a day now I am down to once at night. BTW your eyes don't get pimples or scaly or anything gross like that-they just get dry. It may the rosacea or not but it needs to be treated. Its a bummer alright! Good luck!

Hi, I have rosecea. I didn't get it till I was in my 40's. I am 50 now. My mom also has it. Previous to that I was a sun worshiper, I could drink socially and never had any acne or pimple problems. It is only on my cheeks not my nose. Metrocream worked for a long time and then stopped working (not the gel-the gel is drying). Usually Metrocream/gel is the first round or protocol. Yes it is a try it and see if it works kind of problem. Then you are usually put on some sort of antibiotic. You now officially have "sensitive" skin. Be wary of alcohol, steam (absolutely no saunas or steam facials), the sun, and being really hot. If you aren't happy with this dermotologist find another opinion but don't mess with the rosecea if indeed it is the right diagnosis. It is has fickle as the band. It can come, get worse, get better, dissapear and show up again. Or it can dissapear entirely. But while you have it-take care of it. You can break out in pimples, have scaly patches, turn bright red if overwork or have a drink. At the worst it can affect your eyes. I don't mean to scare you-you won't go blind but it can affect your eyesight by giving you "dry eyes". At this point when the metrocream stopped working I was put on a very low dose of antibiotic 3 x a day100mg of Doryx. Worked like a charm but did not cure. There are other creams out there now, yes you do have to try it and see. Everyone is different. Currently I am using "Rosac-cream" and am doing well. And yes it did affect my eyes, I had to change my glasses perscription and am now on Restasis an eye drop for dry eyes. I went to the top opthamologist in one of the top eye hospitals-Massachusetts Ear and Eye...the cause of my dry eye syndrome is the rosecea. I do have some broken blood vessels on my cheeks which breaks my heart since I had gorgeous skin. I will be getting the laser treatments. I am very careful when I blow dry my hair, I live with sunblock, drink very rarely and never ever get steam treatments. The worse breakout I ever had was a "rosecea special facial" at a spa and they didn't even use steam. It took 2 months to recover. My dermotologist is of the opinion of "less is more". Keep your face clean with a gentle soap, put your metrocream or whatever brand on your face after you shower or wake up then after you get dress use light makeup/base. I also use a drug store product for a face cream Eucerin Redness relief. I use the night cream for day cream. I change my eyeliner and masacara monthly. Similiar to the band-don't mess with rosecea and it won't mess with you and also similiar to the band-everyone is different. Be aware it may go away for a while. And while some things may feel good (olive oil, facials) and it looks like it went away...true rosecea needs to be treated medically. Hope you find what works for you very soon. Good luck

Question to you all- Does everyone who is banded destined to suffer from acid reflux one time or another?? Thank you ps-Manwell I am not banded yet but will all weight loss-is it possible you are at a plateau but will lose again soon?

Hi, Not certain if you can do this every day but...if you eat or suck on some sugar free candy or cookies or chocolate you will crap your brains out. (Note the warning on the packages about it-if it doesn't have a warning-it won't work) Just a little hint from one of my friends who had a hysto and needed similiar relief.

couldn't figure out how to delete so I edited to this Sorry moderators

Simply quietly ask the flight attendent for seatbelt extender when you board the plane (as someone already said) Tell her politely & firmly you'll wait there for it. This way you won't have to buzz her or interupt her later.Thats when they usually ask what seat you are in and tell you they will bring it later. Sometimes they forget-you have to ask again or they wander through the aisle asking people if they were the one who asked for extender. Even if you don't really need it it might give you an extra inch or two just for comforts sake. It is better than sucking in your tummy the plane ride. I don't know how tall you are or where you carry your weight. If it is mostly in your tummy-you will have a much more comfortable ride with the extender. Since you will be with someone you can pick up the armrest and be just fine. p.s. Airtran is not bigger-about average. If you want more room, get there early and get the exit row. Also, ask if the plane is full, if not get yourself and aisle seat and your mom the window. Middle seats are chosen last. IF the plane isn't full you might have a chance of 3 seats all to yourselves (but that is happening less and less lately) Have a great time!!!!

I absolutely agree! I went to see 2 of the 4 docs at NEMC in Boston yesterday, signed up for my 6 week behavior modification group which starts on Monday, keeping my food journal and paid my $500 fee. I hope to be banded in July. I would never ever know what to ask nor would I have felt as comfortable if it wasn't for this group!!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you BTW-one of the docs said she kept up with LBT and found it a great board How about that!

Dear Vines, I'm really really new here. But I am not new to message boards. You can always tell the really caring people right away. From what little messages I've read from you since I started this crazy band journey have made me smarter and more hopeful. Thank you I am sure you've done lots of homework about Cushings. I don't know what part of the country you live in but I live in Boston. I am truly lucky and blessed to have really great healthcare so close by. Anyway-here is a link. She is supposedly studying Cushings, If you ever decide to come out here, I will be as much help as possible. Dr. Anne Klibanski Chief, Neuro-EndocrineClinic Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA (617) 726-3872 http://pituitary.mgh.harvard.edu/

Wearing black nylon panties with a cut out rose on the hip. They make my very attractive size 24 Petite too tight pants slide on better than cotton panties. The bra is also black a 40DD. And I am 5'2" I try to use my hips for good not evil.

Thank you Amy-I kinda panicked there for a second!

I've been reading, reading and researching, researching. Things I learned: -It is a life changing surgery. Motiviation is key -The band works with hard work, some have it more easier a time than others. It is a tool not a miracle. -Certain foods are ok sometimes, not ok other times. Different people have different food experiences. -As with anything there are certain risks such as slippage or erosion that could depend on a person's following the "rules" or could happen no matter how good of a rule follower you are, stuff happens. My question: Does the band work because you simply cannot get all the food you used to eat go down. A lot of food cannot go down, you get "slime" or "pb" or worse really hurt your esophogas-which in turn is really negative reinforcement-don't eat that, don't eat fast, don't gulp, don't drink w/food or you will get the negative reinforcement which means pain. OR Does the band work because it really does what the manuf. says it does-which is make you feel fuller so you don't eat as much. Granted the above slime/pb/pain is there to make you really reinforce eating less but the bottom line is the band will make you feel full if you follow the guidelines. OR Is a combination of both? I want so desperately to believe the propaganda-I will feel full with less food. I know that if I don't do something I will keep up the cycle of gaining and losing, gaining and losing. I know my doc says I am at risk for heart attack or stroke My appetite is amazing and scary. I am motivated to follow the rules. Is the manuf right? Full or not Full??????