TheGh0st

Anyone still watching GL and Caitlin's weight loss progress? She isn't getting a huge amount of air-time and the band storyline is still bugging me a bit. Its not that what they are showing doesn't happen to some of us but its like are making her come across as some mental case that isn't happy she got the band when that isn't the case from what I can tell. For those not watching in the little air time she is getting she has decided to break up with her boyfriend and has had a major row with her "thin" best friend and has been shown to get upset when at events that have food available that she can't eat. Individually I think each of these stories are valid and worth telling. The problem comes in with the lack of air time making it look like all she has are problems and not focusing on the positive changes that are happening as well. Like making it clear that the fact that the argument with her friend as well as the problems with her now ex-boyfriend may in part stem from positive changes that may be happening in her making her realize she no longer needs to allow her friends to treat her as the "fat-friend" that you can take for granted, treat like dirt, walk all over and still expect them to smile and tell you what you want to hear. And did any of you see the video of her at the recent Soap opera awards that was posted on CBS.com's GL page? She was wearing strapless black dress that looked great on her. Absolutely AMAZING! I am so happy for her. Caitlin if you are reading this "I LOVE YOU!!, and you are my HERO for having the courage to air this life changing and personal journey your are making." any comments I'm making are out of my love for what you are doing and my desire for more non-banded people to better understand what we are going through. Darn those writers, why can't they give you more air time??

Small clarification: Allergan is the current parent company of Inamed. Allergan bought them up a year or two ago. As mentioned they have several varieties of band on the market right now. As far as market share this is what I found from Allergan's first quarter 2008 earnings report: "The worldwide bariatric surgery market for band and balloon segments only is roughly 320 million, growing at a rate of roughly 50 to 55%, and Allergan has approximately 80 to 85% market share. And here is a link to the original source: Allergan, Inc. Q1 2008 Earnings Call Transcript - Seeking Alpha It did mention that the US market had shown a slight decrease in growth due in part to the introduction of the Realize band as well as a percieved impact of the current economic times possibly causing some self-pay patients to be a bit more reluctant to spend so much cash out of pocket in the US. However the overall market share was unchanged from 2007 (this wasn't stated in the report but I found the 2007 report and the market share numbers were identical.) As far as which is better. I am no doc or medical professional so I'd rather not give an opinion. Both companies have been making bands for well over a decade (even if not in the US) and have proven track records. I will say that some of the literature being put out by Realize that implies it is "safer" than the Lapband is misleading as it is based on comparing FDA test results between the two. The problem with such a comparison in my opinion is that the docs doing the procedures back when the lapband was being approved were using older procedures at the time and less experienced than the doctors that were part of the more recent Realize FDA trials. Legally, both companies can only refer to the FDA stats on thier literature within the US but those results do not reflect in my opinion the most accurate and uptodate picture of today's procedures.

Deciding for or against the band or any other procedure is a very personal decision. I would never presume to tell you which procedure is the best for you. That said, I also have never heard of any valid studies showing "Failure" rates that high. I would strongly reccomend doing a google search for the names Dr. John Dixon or Paul O'Brien. Both of these Doctors have published (sometimes jointly) mutiple long term case studies on the Lapband. Some of these studies have been on groups of over 900 patients and lasted longer than a decade. If you are interested in reading some of the studies I have collected over the last 3 years I'd be glad to forward you the PDF's. Just send me a Private Message.

Karey thanks for offering to start the July thread. Its time for me as well. Thanks for stepping up on this one.

YUP, leaving at 4am tomorrow morning. No DH either I am so looking forward to it! It all boils down to the motive. I don't think it matters if part of you wants to do it to lash out just to hurt her but if you expect it to make you feel "better" whatever that means, it won't and therefore the disappointment when you don't feel better may make it not worth the added drama. However, if there is a part of you that feels somehow like your not telling him is helping her get away with it, then by all means tell him. Why in the world should you risk any feelings of guilt by association for the tramp?

YES YES YES!!!! I don't care how tight your finances are or aren't. Charge it to plastic or whatever you must but this is a GREAT idea. You really need some time for yourself either with or without the boys but NO HUSBAND ALLOWED. Wether things work out with the husband or not, you can leave it to him to figure out how its going to be paid off. Shoot I wish I'd thought of it earlier I would have begged you to jump on a plane tomorrow and join me and a few friends on a trip to Vegas we're taking this weekend. Let him spend a weekend worrying about what you were up to for a change. Ha! (Well on second thought, that joke would only be funny, if it weren't so sad, sorry.)

I wish I could reach through and give you a hug and or b!##-slap that "man". Why can't they see how badly this is going to effect their wives and children when they do stupid sh## like this? Leave, Stay, whatever you decide just hang in there Tina, and know that we are all here for you.

I am SO SORRY for your friend. I don't have any personal experience with Dr. N so you need to take what I say as being worth what your paying for it. However I have heard some other negative things both here on LBT and on Yahoo's KCBandster site. Everything from surgery induced infections to a couple years ago he was reported to be asking his patients to keep their fill needle so he could re-use it on their next visit. (Though that was stopped.) Another area doc I've heard bad things about is Dr. Opie out of Olathe. I have a friend who was banded out of state but was going to him for fills who just had to have a port revision because he punctured the tubing repeatedly while trying to giver her a fill. The two docs in town that I know well enough to reccommend are Dr. Malley and Dr. Hoehn. Dr. M is a proctor for Inamed/Allergan and has done over 1000 surgeries, he works out of New Hope Bariatrics. Dr. H has done well over 500 last I heard and the hospital he works out of (SMMC) was the first in the area to receive the Center of Excellence Rating. I was banded by H but now get my fills by M. I would trust both with my life as far as surgical skills go but if I were to start over I would have gone with M all the way instead, strictly based on staffing and program issues. Well that and the fact that I really like he has done the most in town and is the companies teacher for new docs in the region.

My symptoms and the bloodwork led my doctor to suspect the tumor but it was an MRI that confirmed it.

Amazing, Absolutely Amazing!!!

Congrats to your fiance joining the "band" and goodluck on the wedding plans. July 1st sounds good to me as well. I'd also like to drop around 20 then call it goal.

the stalk effect tumors aren't actually producing hormones instead they press on the "stalk" between the pituitary and the hypothalamus (sp?) which blocks the signals between the two telling the pituitary when to shut off production of things like prolactin. One reason they think this isn't a true prolactinoma is that my prolactin is only at 40 which is barely elevated compared to normal prolactinomas which can cause prolactin levels to be up in 100's and higher.

Ive been prescribed cabergoline (Dostinex) it is in the same family as Bromcriptine (so I've been told) but has a bit lower risk of side effects such as nasea and headaches. Still, there appears to be a 25% chance of both of those side effects from what I've read online. Has your husband had any problems with any side effects? And was his tumor a prolactinoma or a non-functioning stalk effect tumor? Everything I'm reading online seems to suggest the medication is for those with prolactinoma's but my docs all agree that I have the non-functioning stalk effect tumor so I'm not too clear on why they are trying the drungs. Don't get me wrong if it means I can safely postpone the surgery I'm all for it but I am doubting the chances of it working on my particular tumor. Thank you so much for sharing.

Follow Up: The endocronologist wants me to try a drug therapy for 4 months that might shrink the tumor without surgery. He only gives it a 50/50 chance of working but it should give me enough time to try to get a breast reduction before I have to worry about possible brain surgery. I know I know it sounds so vain, but really the back pains and clothing issues are annoying me so much more than a few missed periods and a little breast milk. If the meds do work I'll have to take them twice a week for a minimum of 2 years before I can get off them and it seems many patients complain of nasea with them. Its also in the same family of drugs as phen phen was but there is no proof of it helping aid in weight loss or increasing heart problems but there are no guarantees either.

Tina, I've been praying about you lately. Personally I would love to tell you to kick his sorry behind to the curb after catching him in another lie. But it is your marriage not mine and only you can make the right choice for your life. Just know whatever you decide we are all here behind you 100% - Diane

Grrr.... I just spent nearly 30 minutes typing a post here just to have Internet Explorer crash on me. Grrr.... I don't have time to rethink and retype the whole thing as elegantly as before but I still want to get out the gist of what I wanted to say especially to the likes of Watcher and BJean. You two are amongst my favorite LBT-posters and I always respect what you have to say though I'm often on the other side of the political fence. But I did want to say I was a bit hurt by BJean's comment below the other day: I do understand where you are coming from and COMPLETELY agree with the last paragraph. What hurt was the implication that this is a flaw strictly of the Republicans and that it was indemic in ALL republicans. I didn't want to come across as a mudslinger myself so I didn't spend anytime trying to find proof of any democrats attacking republicans with lies and deception but I'm sure we would all agree it happens. But I did want to point out that NOT ALL repbulican behave this way. For example just this morning I received an e-mail which came in two parts. The larger part was in support of McCain that upon research proved true but the second part was a deceptively false quote touted to be from Obama. In the end I spent well over an hour researching and debunking the portion of the e-mail that was against Obama. I wrote out a detailed rebuttal with links to sites such as Snopes.com to back me up and sent it back to the original poster along with every person I saw that he had forwarded it to. Pleading with them to stop spreading the lies. This is something I do everytime I see it. Wether it helps or hurts my candidate. BJean, Watcher, I love you guys, but please try not to fall in the trap of lumping whole groups of people together and accusing them all of the negative tactics of a few. It makes you start to look as guilty as the ignorant people who believe all muslims are either terrorists or terrorist sympathisers. And I for one know that neither of you have any right to be accused of being ignorant. (oddly enough the e-mail came from my democratic step father who loves to joke about locking my republican mother in the closet on election days, but yet plans to vote for McCain, but that is a long story for another day and not necessarily one that helps McCain's position)

I've been thinking and praying about you Tina. I hope the time away with him helps but I understand about the hotel issue.

Green, so good to hear from you. I've been sending good vibes/prayers your direction as well. I know you have so much more on your plate but I think I'd want to put a swift boot up the backside of whoever noted that you had a BMI that low and were slightly overweight at the same time GRRrrrr!

No political incorrectness intended here but the Water I was drinking nearly came out my nose when I first started to read your post. I didn't realize you were referring to the therapist as opposed to her significant other at first. :confused: Thanks, I needed a laugh today.

I'm a McCain supporter myself. Not because of skin color (or lack of ovaries) but because of his political views though I will say I'd much happier with the idea that if McCain loses it will be to Obama rather than Clinton. I just couldn't stomach her. That said. I thought the whole "Muslim thing..." had been put to rest. He says that he is respectfull of all religions but is adamant that he is not nor ever was Muslim. Infact he was baptised approx. 20 years ago in his mid 20's before he ever ran for a political office. There has never been any kind of "proof" given to show that Obama is lying about this at all. I'm not trying to pick on you. but I really wish that this particular rumor would disappear. Like I said I'm really not trying to pick on you. I have no idea if you concerns are a reflection of today's issues or some sort of religious bias. I prefer to assume the former rather than the latter as I myself have had simillar issues back when Lieberman was running for VP with Kerry. I didn't think that the world was ready for a jewish VP. My husband thought I was an anti-semite for my views, but it just felt too much like throwing jet fuel on a fire considering the current issues in the Middle East and other Muslim areas. I thought it would be an invitation to every extremist wether it be skinhead, neo-nazi, muslim, or whatever to hit the US with any and every terrorist plot they could think of. Obama on the other hand even though I don't support him seems more likely to be taken in a positive way by the majority of the rest of the world.

That shrink sounds like one of the "Good Ol Boys" Jerk! I'd be looking for someone else, maybe even a girl. You so don't need to be hearing how this is somehow common behaviour right now like that somehow means you're the oddball for not accepting his behaviour. Grrr!!!!!

Sadly, yes. She already suspected it was one of her friends and there were several lengthy calls originating from both parties. However, phone calls don't really prove infidelity especially with it being a mutual friend. I just hopes she destroys the "evidence" as she promised before he stumbles on it. Turns out she also asked one of the men here that she is friends with and he was nosing around looking for the phone records. I got him to fess up to why he was looking without telling them what I knew first, so if I hadn't given them to her someone else would have.

I respect Luluc's response and thing in her case the better outcome was reached (of her friends telling their spouses themselves instead of her and/or her husband telling the spouses) But I just was thrown into the middle of something similar today and took a different route that I am now praying doesn't bite me in the proverbial butt. We have an outside salesman here that works on commission but has a company phone. His wife who is a casual friend of mine called yesterday to say she is afraid he is having an affair and using our company phone to hide his calls from her. She begged me to give her a copy of his most recent phone bill promising she would destroy it as soon as she saw it and that she wouldn't tell him she ever saw it. Knowing if it were me I'd want someone to be willing to give me the same info on my husband I went ahead and gave her the info. Now I'm just a bit panicked that it could go horribly wrong. I doubt I'd lose my job over it, and even if I did I still feel that I'd rather risk my job than help a cheater hide his infidelity but I am definitely not looking forward to any possible drama if it gets out that I helped her.

I remember loving cheese Soups. brocolli cheese, spicy cheese, beer cheese, cheesy potato, all blended ofcourse. In the pre-band days I would have considered them too high in calories but post band I thought they had a higher Protein count than most soups and I was eating small enough portions my daily calorie intake was still well under 1,000 cal/day. Good Luck.

I would also want to know if I were the other spouse. But I agree that it probably won't make you feel any better to tell him. Though I wonder at that, as if it were me I think a small part of me would feel that by being quiet I was somehow an accessory after the fact. Which wouldn't make me feel very good. With that mindset I would feel compelled to tell him even if it backfired on me like some of the others have mentioned by him or his dreadfull wife shooting back even more hurtful comments. I haven't had this happen to me yet (that I know of) but I was in a similar tell or don't tell dilema back in my early 20's while dealing with some old attempted child abuse issues. I had a hard time deciding whether to tell or not tell my cousins about what their father had tried to do to me and my sister as children. I didn't want to start a family war but on the other hand I didn't want to feel somehow party to some code of shameful silence that might allow him to make attempts on his grandchildren who were now approaching the same age as my sister and I were. It was not an easy decision, in the end I did tell them what happened to me. I didn't press charges and I didn't tell them I thought they should shun their father or keep their children away from him I only suggested that they keep a close eye on their chidren around him. Some of my cousins were more accepting of the fact that I wasn't trying to hurt them or their parents, I was only trying to help stop thier children from going through what I went through. But a couple others won't talk to me this day.