Scratches19

Comments as watched: I joined tonight's episode already in progress. We see an infected cavity between stomach folds. Dr. Now recoils when it is exposed. We see Janine swallow a balloon. Will people be trying this at home? We see Janine eat a salad. Not a serving of salad, but an entire serving bowl of salad. Predictably, the next weigh in goes poorly. As a TLC bonus, we get another look at the previously infected area. It resembles a very large taint. If you don't know what that is, Google it. Janine goes to therapy. Or, therapy goes to her. Because even a scooter isn't enough convenience. I'm glad she went. In watching many episodes, the psychological / outlook aspect seems so crucial to success. We see a flashback to, what is a first for me, a scooter drive thru visit to buy twenty piece nugget purchase. McDonald's should use this footage for a touching commercial about their power of their nuggets. "Even homebound morbidly obese people come for them." But then a happy turning point, 478, and 82 lbs lost. The taint removal surgery is approved. Dr. Now delivers this wisdom: "The scooters are addicting. And sometimes taking the scooter away, is harder than taking the carbs again." Anyone remember the space cruise ship from WALL-E? "It's all because you're working hard now, so keep it up." I love Dr. Now. Random thought on the possible want ad: Used scooter for sale. Only taken to the drive thru on Sundays. Surgery day. The lymphodema must go! (And so must that scooter). The visuals are juicy. A literal tub of lard and skin is hauled away. A thought flashes about possible donations for Kardashian butt and lip implants. Weeks later, Janine just isn't ready to walk yet. Too much pain. "It's challenging" she says in her perky voice. And it is. She feels the pain and crumbles. "Oh my leg. Oh my leg." Thought flashes in my mind. Maybe wheel her down to the chemo/radiation ward for some perspective on what pain is and how people can do with it. Then the screaming. She's reverting. The balloon comes out. One MONTH in bed at home. The legs don't work. Or is it Janine. Time will tell. But she still lost weight. 347. Surgery day again. We find a hiatal hernia as a bonus repair. Not a fun thing to have. The stomach comes out and looks pretty small. I guess reduced food intake DOES shrink it. Will she finally walk? During the next 12 minutes of show (plus 18 minutes of ads) we may find out. Come on Janine. Dig deep. Dump that Lark once and for ALL!

I only know of the Assanti saga from occasional snippets and comparisons to other horrible ones. Tonight is part 4. Now I see. Holy sh&t. Holy sh!t. Observations made so far in order of the show: Steven seemed high when Dad visited. I'm suspicious of him getting meds on the sly. So is Dr. Now. Justin's Dad drove 30 hours and 1800 miles to find out he gained 4 lbs. Steven is yet another guest at the "red brick exterior, white empty fireplace" apartments. They must have a corporate rate for M600LbL. Steven gives off a scary, unstable, vibe. Justin's hotel stay. He was there for a full month? That's not cheap. Steven's visit to Dr Paradise... He keeps talking about pain and pain medication. Like he misses it. Like it's his precious. He denies the seriousness of his horrible treatment of his brother. In fact he seems to enjoy reliving how easy it was to make his brother miserable, and even blaming him a little.. "He's a delicate flower." Dr P points this out. Steven really doesn't own it. He wants to make peace, but only if it means his brother takes the blame for being weak. Justin makes the weight for surgery approval. There's some strength and determination there. Justin locks himself in his room. When his friend Toni arrives, Dad tries to use her as a pawn to get into Justin's room, and realizes he's not going in with Toni, she casually says to Dad "He doesn't like you." Great moment. Steven steels the pills. Wow. Yep. Or was it Dad. The sanest thing said, by Justin. "I don't talk to Junkies". That entire sequence where he's calling out Dad for enabling Junkie Jr. Steven is clear headed in knowing he needs to stay the eff away from toxic brother. Dad keeps trying to force them together. The other bully = maybe the original bully = is Steven Sr. Forced dual appointments? Yelling yelling yelling. Making fists? No wonder these kids are a mess. Jesus the number of commercials. The next time I see a Nissan Kicks, I'm going have to resist the temptation to kick it, hard. Dr. Now telling Steven Sr. "No no no". I feel like Dad really orchestrated this train wreck. Oh the pathology. Steven gains 34 lbs. I'm thinking 25 of it was oxycodone. That poor dog. That poor dog. Another pawn for Dad to play. Except it's not chess. It's not even checkers. Oh and classic Dad briefly considers picking up poop, but then "no one saw it". Yeah. He's the tree of this family's dysfunctional life. Way to go pops. Final thought. Dad saying, emphatically, that he has NO IDEA what happened between his two sons. I got chills. That sounded like major denial. Maybe he knows a lot more. What did happen? Justin is the Rosetta stone here if he can ever get clear of this shit show. We might find out. To be continued.

I saw an episode from Season 3 the other day and I realized how much Dr Now has aged in that time. I hope he can continue for a few more years.

"Well hopefully the apartment just wows us." -Amanda

Translation: "I create all this drama around me so I can blame others for my behavior and eat with impunity".

578 lbs of Pride. Her next tattoo?

The dogs probably don't get a single table scrap.

Yes! One the all time greatest responses!

"23 HOURS AGO, CALPURNIA99 SAID: With her low gravelly voice and her Ohio accent, she sounds exactly like someone I know but I cannot figure out who. " It finally hit me! Throw Momma From The Train. She's Momma. "Owen!!! Bring me my food!" https://images.app.goo.gl/KNadDeAnJbz2QwgY6

I watched on Sling on my phone from my hotel on a business trip while texting my s/o periodically. The best moment ever was the drug test results reveal. Oh my god. I was vindicated! I knew it would be positive, but then she tried that "i have no idea why I'm being called in this early" crap in the car, only to gain 5 lbs. I think my cheering woke up neighbors (sorry hotel neighbors). Then she tries to divert him with a last minute confession of smoking marijuana, and be just dismisses that and says "you know what the results are". The test shows multiple narcotics. Lol lol lol. And if it couldn't get any more crazy, she then, on the way to the car, out of his presence, makes up all this bullsh$t about the test being wrong, but she was proud of herself for not being angry and arguing with him. Oh my 600 lb God! She didn't! But, She did.

Exactly! When he explains that it takes 6,000 to 7,000 calories just to maintain enough energy to keep up with a 700 lb body, they seem to not get this. Stress and or trauma may set up behaviour and thought patterns. But the biggest enemy is denial. Incredible amounts of it this episode.

There were too many quotable moments. I just love how Dr. Now saw right through her games. I often feel a bit of compassion for how dungeon be gets to be this horrible, but this was a tough one to find much compassion. She was such a gaslighting manipulator. Unreal !!!!