Spartan

"Why are you so bitchy?" Bitchy? Hardly. I merely have a great appreciation for REALITY. "So I guess you have NEVER eaten something, gotten stuck and said yeah i'm not going to eat that for a while?" Yes, I have, actually. But it was LETTUCE. It wasn't fries, or sausage, or a side of ribs. At first I could not eat lettuce. After a while it became easier. Now I LOVE it. So....you make your food choices based upon what gets stuck?? Huh? For real? Like I said…..jeez….. "Or you have never ever eaten something that wasnt the best choice?" Not for a number of years, no. I have learned how to make CHOICES that are in alignment with my commitment to being HEALTHY. "Somebody needs to get off their high horse......." Well, this "High Horse" I happen to be on would not have been able to hold me a few years ago when I weighed nearly TWO HUNDRED POUNDS more than I do now. But the horse and I get along very well now, thank you. I'll say it again…..sometimes I think that the Lap band actually cuts off the blood supply to some people's brains…… S.

I disagree. In this day and age it is possible to find something reasonable most EVERYWHERE. It might not be something you particularly want, but guess what…..eating what you WANTED got you FAT. McDonalds has Salads. Arby’s has Salad’s. Even 7-Eleven has Salads. Chick-fil-a has FOUR kinds of salads, and several wraps that are reasonably healthy….you can order them without the gooey dressing and the cheeses, and they are just fine. Years ago, I was working late and I was hungry, so I stopped into a McDonalds looking for a Salad. Well, they didn’t have any. So, I paid the guy 4 bucks and asked him to throw together some tomato slices, lettuce, and onions (I love raw onions) in a little foam container. A bit of Salt and Pepper, and I was fine for a couple of hours. It’s not that hard, folks. It all depends on your commitment to this process. And I don’t often see REAL commitment here. I see people who want to continue eating what they have always eaten, and have the Band magically melt away all the Fat. And you know what?.......it Ain’t gonna happen. S.

So THAT’S your criteria for making food choices? Whether you get embarrassed or not??? Sorry, folks, but sausage/cheese/egg wraps, Fries, and most ANYTHING from Sonic are NOT good food choices, whether you get stuck or not. I am continually amazed at what people eat after they have gone to the expense and pain of having Lap band installed. Sure, OVEReating is one of the reasons you became fat. But WHAT you eat/ate played a huge role in it as well. You are NOT going to get healthy by simply reducing the amount of garbage you consume. You need to change WHAT you are eating as well. Jeez. S.

To those of you disagree with DaveNW's version of what happened in the Chat Room: I do not know DaveNW, nor have I corresponded with him at any time. However, I have observed that he is a very helpful, supportive, and polite individual who only wants to lend support and advice to people who are struggling in this process. He has become a valued member of this community. I enjoy most of what Dave has to say, and he has been very supportive of a number of members here. Unlike YOU clowns, who have chosen NOT to contribute a damn thing to any part of this community other than amusing yourselves by discussing subjects that (amongst reasonably civilized, mature, and cultured individuals) would be considered private topics. Your responses here also make it abundantly clear why some men PREFER Military service over being at home with the wife. You don’t think you’re “attacking” Dave here? Perhaps you don’t. You probably don’t even understand the word, considering it has more than one syllable. And after reading your childish, absurd and STUPID remarks in THIS thread, I can say without a moment’s hesitation that I will confidently believe Dave’s version of the events over YOUR foolish, fictitious version any day of the week. I think that you would be doing the community-at-large a significant service if you would crawl back into your little chat-hole, close the hatch, seal it, and concentrate on keeping your Bieber-Fever under control . S.

KayleighsMommy; Are you in Nor Cal or So Cal? or somewhere else? I am curious, because you have Kaiser, and I'd like to refer you to a particular surgeon who would be just perfect for your situation. S.

The only "Tools" in all of this are the cretins who keep referring to their Lap bands as "tools". I think this whole "tool" thing got started (or was at least promoted) by those two ladies who started BandedLiving or whatever it's called. The "Spam Sisters" as I like to call them.....they would visit here every couple of weeks and tell people to visit their blog, where they are promoting their new book....and a "pay" website they seem to want to push. One of the "ladies" doesn't even refer to her Band as a Band....it's her "tool"........... She is "at one" with her tool...... I'll bet she is...... S.

That comment is both remarkably ignorant and incorrect. And, one of the more irresponsible things I have read on this forum in a while. Maybe you would like to tell that to the tens of thousands of patients over the last HALF-CENTURY for whom the Bypass has been the key to a new and healthy life. This forum is one of the places people come to try and make informed decisions about which, if any, Weight Loss Surgery they will have performed. It's fine for you to comment on the Lap band; you have one. You do NOT have a Bypass, and from what I have gathered from your posts, you know very little about it, in SPITE of your claims to the contrary. The Band, the Bypass, and the Sleeve (and several other procedures) are ALL very viable options for prospective WLS patients. The Bypass has been the gold Standard in WLS for many years, and will continue to be for the forseeable future. It is ridiculous and uninformed comments likes yours that have the potential to dissuade potential patients from even considering a sugery that could very well change their lives. S.

Shirley; You will MOST CERTAINLY need to see a Doctor that you have been referred to by an experienced malpratice Attorney. The reason for this is that MOST Doctors/Surgeons will usually not testify against the work of another Doctor. There is definitley a "brotherhood" between Doctors and they resist doing damage to one another. The exception to this are the Doctors used by Attorneys. And every malpractice Attorney has a big Rolodex full of them. Depending upon the state you live in, though, you might encounter a problem. In many states, the Window of opportunity for a Malpractice Lawsuit is a firm 2 years. There are exceptions to this, though, which are dictated by the circumstances. However, you may also have the option of going the Personal Injury route in some states. I don't have enough info on your particular situation to comment more, I have not read all of your posts. S.

The reality is that many (if not most) surgeons are "technicians"....they do what they do, often very, very well, but it is somewhat limited in scope. Unfortunately, the Band is a "dynamic" device..... the way your body interacts with it changes, and it works differently for different people. It's not like Gall Bladder Surgery or some other kind of surgery where you cut/suture/go have lunch. Placement is SO important, and people's bodies are all different. Therefore, there is a new "breed" of bariatric surgeon that has been emerging, surgeons who become much more involved in the entire process than they would be for other surgeries. They learn about nutrition, they learn more about obesity and its causes, they insert themselves deeper into everything. But....Most surgeons are not like that. And as you put it, Elfie, many of these guys do NOT keep up with things that they really SHOULD know more about. DO get a second opinion....see a Neurologist, because THAT is the world they live in.....Nerves and the "electrical" functions of the Body. Whatever you decide, you have certainly done well with the band....and I think you should look a little further before you have it removed or revise. S.

I agree with CM......There are ways around many situations like this, and often it requires second and third opinions, from other kinds of doctors. I wouldn't give up just yet. S.

Elfie; Sorry to hear of your situation. The band seemed to be working for you. Have you consulted with a neurologist? There might be a little more insight from that discipline than you would find from a Surgeon or a GP. S.

"do any bandsters get in tanning beds"? Yes, some of the dumber ones do indeed venture inside a tanning booth or bed. I think it will be great for you to get, along with your new, slim body, some wonderful prematurely aged Skin and wrinkles, along with a nice dose of Skin Cancer. Isn't life wonderful, where we get to make all of these really lousy decisions for ourselves? S.

Outside, I'm sorry you are having this difficulty. It really depends on the surgeon and facility, as to the cost of removal. The cost does approach that of installation, though. I would seek some additional opinions before you have it removed. There might be something else going on. Also, if you do decide to have it removed, you might be a perfect candidate for a Sleeve. Your situation is something the Sleeve is really perfect for. And, you might find a surgeon that will perform a Sleeve and remove the Band at the same time, at little or no extra cost. I would seriously look into that if i were you. Best of Luck! S.

So...your band has become non-functional, and you're doing WHAT? Eating whatever you want? Ummm. I'm thinking that the Lap band is probably not gonna jump out of your stomach and snatch that burger out of your hand before you shove it into your mouth. It doesn't usually work that way. Yes, you DO need to see your Doctor and find out what the problem is. Perhaps it was someone new that gave you a fill, and accidentally removed some Fluid. It could be one of several things. But the more important issue here is..... What are YOU going to do until this is sorted out? You need to eat as though the Band is working at full capacity. The rules do NOT change just because your band is not functioning as it should. If you have had your band for around a year, then you should know how to eat by now, and you shouldn't have to "test" the band in any way. "I swear I feel like I have no band at all. Has anyone ever had this? I left a message for my Doc today after a big il breakfast." You really didn't HAVE to have that "Big il breakfast". You could have had a small, band-sized breakfast, the kind you SHOULD be having every day. "I was not hungry today while I ate but I tested the band all day and the food won every time." I wouldn't see it so much as the food winning, but as YOU LOSING. And why did you feel the need to "test" the band? You know, you really need to learn how to live WITHOUT the Lap Band. There is a very good possibility that your Lap band might be removed from you at some point. SOME surgeons are beginning to see the Lap Band as a temporary set of "training" wheels over a period of 3-5 years, during which the Patient should do everything they can to develop new eating habits, and a new relationship with food. This is because of increasing incidence of erosion, slippage, and other problems associated with the Band. And if it happens to you, you need to be ready. SEE your Doctor, and find out what the problem is, and get it fixed. But in the meantime, STICK TO THE RULES. S.

Deanna; First, best of luck in this process....I hope you are wildly successful! While advice on this forum is given with the best of intentions, I would strongly suggest that you clear ANY change in your eating regimen with your Surgeon's office before proceeding. Different Surgeons have developed different Post-Surgical protocols, and they often have a very good reason for giving specific instructions. You are only 2 weeks out from your sugery, you are still in the "healing phase", and it is really far too early for you to be making changes without your Surgeon's direct instructions and permission. Very often, if you call the Surgeon's office, they will allow you to alter the instructions somewhat, but you NEED to clear any change with them, not only to get their approval, but so that they can RECORD it. Not all Doctors care what happens to the Patient post surgery, but many do, and they try and keep records and logs as to the progress made by their patients. This helps them in knowing what protocols work for patients, and which ones do not. The only way they will know HOW to instruct their patients in the future is by referring to how patients respond to past instructions. So, that aspect is VERY important. Finally, some Surgeons have begun limiting the amount of food that passes through the Stoma in the first month (even longer, in some cases) because it is believed that the longer the healing is allowed to proceed, and the longer the body has to become accustomed to the new "visitor" in the body, the better the chances are for avoiding slippage, erosion, and some of the other problems associated with the Lap Band. Only theoretical, and not all surgeons subscribe to this theory, but some Surgeons ARE testing this. Further on down the road, after a few months have passed, you can begin experimenting with different methodologies for dealing with your Band. That is where advice on this forum (and others) will prove useful. But until that time, PLEASE check with your Surgeon's office before you make ANY changes to his/her original instructions. Best of luck to you! S.

Bad luck Indeed! So sorry you have had to go through this. It's enough of a struggle, sometimes, to get to the point where you have your band installed, but to have to experience what YOU have.....that's pretty bad. It's just a temporary setback. Take your time healing, get past this, and then simply pick up where you left off. Sounds easier than it is, but you can do it. Best of luck to you, and I hope you are feeling better soon. S.

I would not be all that concerned. Keep in mind that you just had SURGERY....a major organ (the Skin) was punctured several times....a low grade fever can be part of the healing process for a while. Most people heal quite fast. For some, it takes a little while longer. If it does not clear by the middle of next week, I would see your PCP..... Don't worry, it is most likely a small reaction to the surgery..... S.

Your continued assertion that I am someone else, because i have a similar writing/posting style, would be quite incorrect. S.

Congratulations,,,,,I wish you success! Remember that most everything you learned with the Lap Band still applies. You need to begin to "retrain" yourself into new eating habits....and begin that right away. The weight will come off pretty quickly and effortlessly, but to maintain the loss, you WILL need to restrict your intake. Best of luck! S.

As usual, you haven't a clue what your talking about. S.

You're Kidding, right? Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of people for whom the Bypass has changed their lives dramatically, for the better. If you have decided to have WLS, be open to ALL the procedures. ONE of them will be better for you. But don't rule out anything. If you limit yourself like that, it's unlikely you be successful with any WLS. It requires an open mind. S.

I agree with the above posts....See ANOTHER Doctor....one who Specializes in the Lap Band. And do it quickly. S.

Happy; I would certainly echo what everyone else here has said. Losing the weight you have lost is excellent, and we all lose at very different Rates. But, it would seem that you should have lost a bit more in that time frame. DO journal Everything you eat....even the little things that you might think are inconsequential. You might be very surprised. Calorie Counting is not always the answer to weight loss.....but you need to establish how much it is that you actually eat. You may, in fact, have to reduce your consumption. Also, consider increasing your exercise. You said that you do some "fun" cardio, but pehaps it's a little TOO fun?....make sure that you are working out at your correct heart rate.....that makes a big difference. Good Luck! S.

I was being quite facetious. Here's a link so you can look up the word. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/facetious I don't usually come back to threads I comment on. I simply write what I have to say, and then move on. But, in THIS case....I really had to come back and see if this was for real. Someone who actually did not KNOW what kind of surgery they had....and then scarfed a Big Mac shortly after whatever-surgery-it-was-that-they-had. Sounds too much like a joke. Apparently not. First, let me correct you on something. You said: "There was NO reason for the 'Geez' and 'You said it, you ARE a moron" I did NOT say "you said it, you ARE a moron". I simply said "Uh.....Ok. YOU said it." YOU added the rest. Try re-reading what I actually wrote. There is some serious truth in there, whether you choose to believe or not. And yes, you did say "you don't have to tell me I messed up." But I did anyway. Because you DID "mess up", and simply telling people that you already knew that does not make that fact go away. And, it's little different than eating a bite of cake or something. You mouthed a complete BIG MAC. "Fast", as you put it. That's not something you just "do". You have to go and BUY it. It takes a little time to consume. You did have some time to THINK about this. But...it's your body, your life. You said: "The last time I checked these were 'support' forums not 'big bitch' forums!" People say that a lot here when someone says something they don't like to hear.. This is NOT "Lap Band Support.com", It's not "LapBandHandholding.com", it's not LapBandWhinerPacification.com"....it's not a LOT of things. It IS LapBandTalk. It is a place to exchange INFORMATION. Support might be considered a part of that, but "support" means different things to different people. If YOU think that "support" means simply giving you a pat on your little head and telling you everything is ok, then you are wrong. Real support means telling you how it IS, rather than telling you what you WANT TO HEAR. In your case, though, it would appear that listening might be an issue. Like listening to your doctor when he explains what kind of surgery you are going to have. You said: "Honey, you were pretty much the opposite of UNrude... you were RUDE." Cupcake, I'm not all that sure that "Unrude" is an actual word. You might be a Moron (YOUR words), but at least you are creative. Rude? Hardly. Blunt, yes. Correct in what I am saying to you? Absolutely. S.

You're Very Welcome. S.