Corliss

TY BJ. I am so glad to read so many thinking peoples statements on these issues. I just get so tired of man's inhumanity to man, judgementalism and condemnation of one another all in the name of Christ. That is not the Christ whose life I attempt to learn from at least on my better days. Corliss

Yes, as in telling the truth. Specifically, "thou shalt not bear false witness." The blanket statements you make about liberals are false witness. You are not the only one, there are loads of folks who go about ranting this drivel. As far as fear goes, you are obviously afraid to examine evidence which is contrary to your precious belief system. You don't have to make choices you can just go right along and do as you are taught. You don't have to test your faith, because you never seriously consider any alternatives. There is lots of security there. What about feeding the hungry and comforting the sick? Visiting the prisoner? Clothing the poor? How high on your list of priorities are those things. Many religious conservatives feel that these very actions are sinful and result in "taking care of those who won't take care of themselves." I said earlier I don't generally bother to discuss this with people who claim Biblical authority, and I probably should not go any further here.

Nope, no babies should be killed or starved to death. Embryos are not babies, I am not sure at what point a fetus becomes a baby, I think around 5 months. An embryo does not have the development neccesary to scream or be aware of pain. In theory I don't believe that capital punishment is right, however there are some situations that I have a hard time disapproving. Your statements are so blind. If you were to even say "some liberals" they would be a lot closer to truth, but basically they are just very presumptive and sound ignorant. If that is thinking, PLEASE, just let my brain rot. Corliss

Thank you so much! Corliss:thumbup:

So right! It amazes me that people can be so self rightous. Those who take the bible so literally conveniently leave out the parts that hold themselves accountable for their failures or reproach them for their acts especially of condemantion. If they want to celebrate their psuedo-piety, if they want to have their lives ruled by fear, that is okay for them, but I don't need it and don't try to force it on me or my kids or grandkids. Corliss

I generally do not argue with people who feel like they have biblical authority because it is all based on what makes them feel good to believe. It makes most people feel safer if they maintain a fundamental view and expression of their religious beliefs. I am Christian but definately do not hold fundamentalist views. I believe the Bible is not to be interpreted or applied literally. If we did interpret it literally accross the board this would be one savage society. That is what the Taliban is doing with Islam. Lord help us all if the ultra right wingers get anymore power. Have you folks seen a movie or read the book called "The Handmaiden's Tale? This "tale" shows us what it would belike if we were indeed a theocracy. Lets hope we remain a secular democracy. Corliss

Same here, I just got out of the hospital from gall bladder surgery and small hernia repair. I only have 4 small incisions and I will be off 5 wks minimum. I was going to be off 6 but had to wait a week for surgery due to infection on my finger. I would feel better being off 6 wks but I will schedule myself to work the last of the eek and will avoid lifting for those first nights. We do that for one another for a week or so, but its not good form to expect someoe else to do all your lifting 4-6 wks. My psych teaching starts back this coming Wed. and I will be there for it as it is lite duty but my floor nursing, no way would I think of going back in less than a month. We don't have lite duty there either. We have all got to take care of ourselves. Corliss

My gosh, what a mean hypocritical short sited idiot! You take what you need and leave the rest. Block those nasty posters or better yet, report them. That is all out flaming. Good luck on your efforts. Don't let them discourage you. The beauty is with your band, yes you have to work, but once it is lost, you won't be gaining it back, and the statistics point to the great probability that those who use diet alone even WW will gain their wt back. Take care!:thumbup: Corliss

That is a different test. It can easily stay alive with the help of any caring person. It is not physically grown to the mothers body after it is born. That is the difference there. It doesn't depend on a direct access to mothers bodily function. It is dependent on someone chosing to care for it. A tumor or appendix cannot continue to stay alive if it is not getting nutrients directly from a host source. Neither can an early trimester fetus. Corliss

That is sad and tragic. It is most unfortunate that these women didn't have effective contraception available. So much saddness could have been averted. I cannot speak from standpoint of having abortion but I chose not to have an abortion when my physician reccommended it due to my health. I just knew I would be okay and live through the difficult pregnancy(pre-eclampsia, and toxemia). Who knows, was that the adolescent feelings of immortality or was it some actual God given knowledge? At any rate, I did not make a concious choice to become pregnant and was devistated when I did. It is ironic that in that day and age, 1970, that I was offered a theraputic abortion but birth control pills were not available to unmarried females at least in my area. At 18 I felt forced to rely on the next best thing which turned out to be highly ineffective. I know that I made the right choice NOT to abort, however it was my CHOICE and should remain so in early pregnancy. Corliss

An appendix is alive as is a tumor, however neither of them are capable of existing independently from the host, neither is the fetus less than 3 months post conception. We don't really know when the soul evolves or enters the body of the fetus. Some religions believe life begins with the first breath. I personally don't know. I do believe that there should be limits on late trimester abortions, because the fetus is viable outside the womb. The second trimester is foggy to me, I am not sure that there is or is not a conciousness at that time. With modern technology some babies who have delivered in the 6th and even 5th month can survive. This is a very very complicated issue. I envy those who are so clear in their beliefs of right and wrong on this subject, but I am not so clear. As a thinking person, I see too many sides for this to be a really clear cut issue. Bith control or contraception doesn't kill a baby. That is abortion whether it is chemically induced or surgical. If we don't pay for birth control and sex education, we pay for the rearing of children with inadequate support systems and we pay through the prison systems. It is all a part of a circle of defeatism. Corliss

That is why though I am pro-choice, I don't take abortion lightly. Birth control would have been a much better option for the 15 year old who didn't have access to contraceptives or had too much shame and fear to use them. It would be great if everone chose abstinence until marraige but unfortunately even many of the kids wearing the promise rings don't wait. Corliss

The unfortunate thing is that every year, people are executed who did not commit the crime they were convicted of. If our justice system were fool proof capital punishment might be more just, but since it is not, at least with life imprisonment when a person is discovered to not be guilty, he can be freed, with capital punishment, there is no reversal. Corliss

Weren't the two men who died on either side of Jesus theives? Were they murderers? As far as whether or not God calls for capital punishment I think it should be left up to Him. I am not saying that I oppose it on an emotional level because I don't however if you go by Christ's admonition in the story of the woman who was being stoned, then none of us are fit to cast the first stone, or push the button, or drop the trap door, or initiate execution by whatever means. The Bible is full of contradictions. The crime rate is far lower in countries where capital punishment has been abolished. Fear based ethics are not higher ethics. This type of ethics results in the ones with the power ruling, whether it is physical strength or political power. Power does not equate goodness or separation from animals, in fact the reverse is true. Corliss

Hi, I am an RN and work on a total care unit. We only have one tech (nursing assistant) so it is essential that we pull and push patients. I would never have considered going back in less than 6 wks. You will have a port attched to your stomach muscles, it is easy to pull it out of place if you do anything to strenuous. I have surgery scheduled for this thursday (gall bladder/hernia repair) and have arranged to take off 6 weeks and have my two weeks of accumulated leave paid to me at 24 hrs per pay period. That will give me a small amount of income over the six week time period. I get unpaid leave under FMLA. It is well worth the down time to get your band and get the weight off. You wil probably loose a lot less time off due to illness and injury not to mention being a more productive, happier Tech! You guys are vital. You can make or break a nurses night and a patients safety. I love good techs!:smile2: Corliss

That would be so amazing. Another interesting tidbit is that according to polls (I can't quote them so take with a grain of salt) Most people who are anti-choice are in favor of capital punishment. If a life is a life, who should be killed? Most anti-choice folks are also against public funded sex education and contraception. That stance does not even make any sense. For the record, I am not generally in favor of abortion and strongly oppose it after the 1st trimester except in extreme cases. I can't decide exactly my criteria for extreme cases, so I don't believe that even late term abortion should be criminalized. I believe that abortion is a very serious choice that a woman has to make. Only she can live with the consequences of her choice. It is not our responsibility as a nation to make her choices or eliminate them. In the name of health care, compassion, common sense and economics, sex education and contraception should be made available to all of child bearing age. Corliss

Hi Dwayne, Carrie and Punkster, It is hard to keep the amount down, we always want just that one bite more. When I had a well adjusted band prior to complications I just measured my food if it was mushie, and when it was solid I didn't have to worry about it because I was quiet full on 2-3 oz meat and a couple of bites of veggies, but if I ate stew or cooked soft vegies or casseroles then I could eat loads more before the band said stop. I did have some "soft stop signals" which were sneezing and coughing. If I wanted to I could ignore them and eat past them on softs but it always made me miserable. I had no problems till my 14th month. I lost about 100 lbs during that period and I lost another 103 after I started having problems. It was almost 3 years before I had my band removed. With this new band, I have had no wt loss at all, I have actually gained. I am on steroids for hand problems, and had a duodenal ulcer, both of which set you up for wt gain, and to top it off, I have gall bladder issues and can't have my band tightened due to frequent bouts of dry heaves. I have had two fills before the gall bladder made itself known, but i can still eat anything. I am afraid of a slip again so I am just trying to hold on till I can get the gallbladder yanked. I am finished with the steroids now, and the hand problem is still there, but I really don't want surgery and don't want any more steroids. I think I will try accupuncture for the hand issues which have largely improved. Right now I am tentively set for gallbladder surgey and hernia repair Jan. 7th. I am actually excited. I feel like I did when I was awaitng the band, because I am fairly certain with an adjustment I can get this extra wt. off again. I have finished the treatment for the ulcers and I am so over steroids, so keep your fingers crossed for me. As soon as I am past the adjustment to no gall bladder I am setting up a fill apt. Complications will definately slow you down and in my case lead to wt gain. Someone asked me "why don't you just starve to keep it off?" Well if I could do that I would never have had a wt problem. :tongue: I sometimes wish I had taken Dr. Zapata's advice and had the sleeve instead of a band replacement. I know I would be at goal now, but I didn't, I made this choice, and now I have to protect my band so that I can use it later. I hope this makes sense to ya'll. I am rambling but have a lot on my mind. Good luck to all. Corliss:thumbup:

Unfortunately that sounds like reflux and is generally a sign that you are a bit too tight. I would try a couple of things, 1. don't eat for 4 hours before laying down. 2. Drink a little hot tea about an hour before going to bed, herbal is best. 3. Eat very small portions and chew extremly well. If the "Liquid on the stomach" doesn't disappear with any or all of these measures talk to your doc. He may want to give you some nexium or reglan or worst case scenario, take just a tad of saline out. Good luck! Corliss

"I have a fill appt. today at 1. Hope this is the one what will allow me to really control how much I eat. I think this is the 7th or 8th one. Surely I will get there soon. I am happy with my progress so far, but the last 3-4 months have been slow" Good luck to you! I hope all goes well. Corliss

Yeah I think those of us who low carb just get tired of the yaya :cursing:and dont' check in here that often. BTW, I have noticed some of the most vocal anti low carb folks on here like to rant on other boards too. I just don't waste my energy, but would love to get this board active with pro low carbers. I know it is fantastic way to go. I myself am not consistant but I should be. Thanks for your post. Corliss:thumbup:

When considering plastic surgery ladies, don't forget Monterrey Mexico! I am very happy with the work I had done there, (face lift and arms), and will be glad to provide contact information. I had great care and great results for about 1/3 of the cost in US even considering travel and hotel expenses. I think Costa Rica with the experience they have there would also be a viable choice, but prices seemed a good bit more expensive, plus I had my lap bands done in Monterrey and was familiar with the agents that refer to Monterrey. I love the city also, though I missed the former driver a lot. I had a lovely sitter for the first few days when I was healing. She took great care of me and I hired her to be my travel guide more or less the last few days I was there. :drool: If anyone wants more info just let me know and my pics are posted in my profile. I may go back for a touch up next summer, I am not sure at this point. Corliss

I honestly don't know of any verifiable stats. I think the most you can do is find out your docs rates. I have heard of docs who say that they only have had one or two of their patients slip. I don't know how I got so lucky to wind this lottery! I would much rather win money instead of a slipped band. It was so good for so long though that I chose to have another instead of having a sleeve. So far this one is doing great, but no wt loss as of yet. I am thinking I have to get one more fill and then maybe I will start working it, lol! Don't worry, just enjoy the ride. :scared2:(Ride it till the wheels fall off!) Corliss

I talk to her every now and then when she comes on chat, and she loves her sleeve! Take care, Corliss

I think I will go ahead and call for an apt for next week. I definately don't have much restriction at all. I have pb'd on fresh pineapple so I know I have some. I am low carbing now to try to take a little off, but i am not optimistic about staying with it long enough to seriously help. Dr. Sass had mentioned taking a bit out if I needed it without fluoro but I am to scared of a puncture since I am self pay to let anyone near me with a huber without fluoro. So I will just have to get another dose of radiation I guess.:thumbup: Mine are all self pay so I hope this is the last one I need for a long time. I have been under a load of stress lately and thought I might tighten up, but if I have it is not significant. Corliss