S05.E11: James K's Story

[OSM Mom]

The only "new" thing in that article was the fact that he's still alive. He hasn't died yet with a half a cheesecake in his mouth. 

[operalover]

1 minute ago, OSM Mom said:

The only "new" thing in that article was the fact that he's still alive. He hasn't died yet with a half a cheesecake in his mouth. 

He could be dead since the author of that article had no contact with James or anyone else that had any contact with James. Just because that article is para-phrasing a week old article full of hearsay, it doesn't prove James is still alive. 

[OSM Mom]

Just now, operalover said:

He could be dead since the author of that article had no contact with James or anyone else that had any contact with James. Just because that article is para-phrasing a week old article full of hearsay, it doesn't prove James is still alive. 

True. But a few people here have researched and haven't found any evidence of his death yet. But I'm still shocked that he managed to live as long as he has. 

[Aw my lahgs]

27 minutes ago, OSM Mom said:

True. But a few people here have researched and haven't found any evidence of his death yet. But I'm still shocked that he managed to live as long as he has. 

He's defying nature.

[MillieSparklepants]

1 hour ago, DC Gal in VA said:

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly despise this guy more........

I read the article but among so many things it failed to mention was exactly what James felt bad about?

One of my huge pet peeves are those who do specific nasty, hateful things to other human beings and then give some generic "I feel bad" comment. Feel bad? What exactly do you feel bad about James?

Do you feel bad about verbally and emotionally abusing Lisa, about pulling your daughter out of school to help wash you and constantly fetch you food, about thoroughly pissing away the money your 71 year old dad gave you to get to Dr. Now and placing him in deep debt? Do you even bother to feel bad about wasting the time, energy, and general good will of the people who showed up to help pack up your funky, grimey, grease-stained crap so you could move to Houston?

How about all of those EMTs, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff who worked so hard to help save your miserable life, including the woman who accurately reported that you had gained 158 pounds and ballooned up to 843 pounds after being told to go home and lose weight? You had the nerve to question her professionalism, stating that she must have read the scale wrong, knowing all the while that, day after day for four months, you shoved God knows how many thousands of calories in your face. Do you feel bad about that?

And let's not forget Dr. Now whose skills, time and effort you squandered when he could have been helping someone else who actually gives a damn. What about him!?

Who gives a shit about how you allegedly feel? Frankly, I don't think you've ever had an honest, heartfelt concern about ANYONE except yourself! How about a simple, specific "I'm sorry" to each and every one of the people you have used, abused, and taken advantage of?

I swear, if I had the money to get to Houston and was certain I wouldn't be arrested by the pohleeece, I would come down there and punch you hard in your hateful and ungrateful face you nasty, nasty lying bastard.

This is a work of art. Well said, DC Gal!

[hoosiermom]

1 hour ago, DC Gal in VA said:

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly despise this guy more........

I read the article but among so many things it failed to mention was exactly what James felt bad about?

One of my huge pet peeves are those who do specific nasty, hateful things to other human beings and then give some generic "I feel bad" comment. Feel bad? What exactly do you feel bad about James?

Do you feel bad about verbally and emotionally abusing Lisa, about pulling your daughter out of school to help wash you and constantly fetch you food, about thoroughly pissing away the money your 71 year old dad gave you to get to Dr. Now and placing him in deep debt? Do you even bother to feel bad about wasting the time, energy, and general good will of the people who showed up to help pack up your funky, grimey, grease-stained crap so you could move to Houston?

How about all of those EMTs, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff who worked so hard to help save your miserable life, including the woman who accurately reported that you had gained 158 pounds and ballooned up to 843 pounds after being told to go home and lose weight? You had the nerve to question her professionalism, stating that she must have read the scale wrong, knowing all the while that, day after day for four months, you shoved God knows how many thousands of calories in your face. Do you feel bad about that?

And let's not forget Dr. Now whose skills, time and effort you squandered when he could have been helping someone else who actually gives a damn. What about him!?

Who gives a shit about how you allegedly feel? Frankly, I don't think you've ever had an honest, heartfelt concern about ANYONE except yourself! How about a simple, specific "I'm sorry" to each and every one of the people you have used, abused, and taken advantage of?

I swear, if I had the money to get to Houston and was certain I wouldn't be arrested by the pohleeece, I would come down there and punch you hard in your hateful and ungrateful face you nasty, nasty lying bastard.

You have a way with words and I couldn't have said it better. That article effected me the same way and glad you could put my feelings and many others into words.

[aliya]

1 hour ago, DC Gal in VA said:

How about all of those EMTs, firefighters, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff who worked so hard to help save your miserable life, including the woman who accurately reported that you had gained 158 pounds and ballooned up to 843 pounds after being told to go home and lose weight? You had the nerve to question her professionalism, stating that she must have read the scale wrong, knowing all the while that, day after day for four months, you shoved God knows how many thousands of calories in your face. Do you feel bad about that?

 

I thought the same thing. You just know that for one second, the poor woman thought maybe she had read it wrong, and here she was on TV, etc.  Great post!

btw, I read the Reddit posts. Almost had to get myself some Chucks, they were so funny. 

[bethster2000]

54 minutes ago, gardendiva said:

In reference to all the things James should feel bad about, last but not least are the hours he caused all of us to fritter away here on PTV bitching about his sorry, worthless ass.

Oh, hell.  I had a lot of fun!  ;-)

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, Otter said:

Thank you for the welcome!  Hello to you!  Sigh, did that and have the red.  But "go to first new post" isn't appearing,   I don't mind scrolling.  I loaded my home page again and followed your directions.  Not getting what you described!  I can go to the "last" post easily but have to scroll up to see if I missed anything.  May I should change the order?  Thanks for your help!  <3

Are you sure you've read everything in the thread?  Have you clicked on "Mark Forum as Read" on the top of the main page of the board?  That will "unbold" all the thread titles on the board, and anything new should "re-bold" a particular thread.  Then when you click on the thread title, it should take you to the first unread post.

Hope you get it working correctly - it makes things a lot easier!

[meow-mah-leg]

I also had to register because of James K. And because my husband also refuses to watch. How is my username? It was this or "gasoline-soaked-drawers". 

I am SO mad at this guy!! What a useless, loathsome infantile piece of ****. He turned Lisa into a total Zombie. She could easily be an extra on The Walking Dead. No make-up or special effects needed. I can't believe he even couldn't unwrap a piece of paper from his burger and had her do it. What a lazy son of a b. 

Bayley, that poor daughter, to have her stop school to wipe his butt is just plain criminal. I hopes she moves in with her brother or granddad, picks up her life and makes something of it. 

And that father, James gave him a stroke (I also thought that he was throwing up from the stench in the house) and had him refinance his house and STILL didn't feel ANY type of guilt nor responsibility. What is wrong with this guy??? He is the worst I have ever seen on the show! 

That aquarium...are we sure there were fish in there? I don't think so (and not because he might have eaten them). Fish cannot survive if an aquarium is not kept clean. It looked more like a reptile house or so? with those heat lamps on top? 

I love Dr.Now. How y'all doin? When he was driving in his van with that white coat and his gold stethoscope...it looked like he could barely look over the steering wheel. I have never seen him get so mad at a patient. Good for him! James doesn't deserve Dr. Now's time. 

Now that I am registered, I am going to take the opportunity to ask some questions. I am happy someone already clarified what the deal is with those legs. I am not happy that I googled images of the disease "elephantiasis nostras verrucosa". I won't be able to eat for a week. 

I still don't understand James's troll toenails. They looked unclipped for a thousand years. And yellow. And gross. Why???

I would also like to know how so many people on this show pay their bills. I understand from reading the comments that he must be on disability. Ok, I get that. And that Lisa gets some type of caregiver allowance. And Bayley too when they pulled her from school. But how can that amount possibly cover all their living expenses AND all that food???? I eat 1500 calories a day (which I track online). My husband about 2000. Our grocery bills are pretty high because food happens to be expensive. James eats at least 10x more calories than me and Lisa looked like she also eats far too much. Plus all that take-out food...doesn't that cost a HUGE amount of money to pay for all that food??? How can they afford that on just the money they get from the State? Am I missing something? I live in the Boston area. Is food super cheap in Kentucky?

I would also like to know something I probably shouldn't ask but am curious about. So he has a catheter. First off, that urine looked really, really dark. More brown than yellow. Why? dehydration? Isn't the only thing he is doing the whole day eating and drinking? 
And since he is 46 or so..I assume he has ahem..urges? He doesn't seem to be able to reach anywhere near that area PLUS he has a catheter. So how is that issue resolved? Does he ask Lisa to dig around and also fix THAT for him? please tell me it ain't so....

I am surprised he isn't dead yet. It can't last very long. No casket is big enough. Or cremation oven. He will have to get buried in his backyard. Poor EMT's will have to come out and drag him in there. At least they won't have to listen to "ow mah leg" when doing it. 

Having said all this...I still hope there is some way out for them and hope they can recover but I think he is beyond any help at this point. 

[operalover]

welcome Meow Mah Leg

I think they must get about $1800 a month and their rent is $500 a month. That leaves them $300 a week to feed the 2 of them fast food. It's possible on that $40 a day for food can buy quite a bit. The house they were in I don't think would rent for 2 high, it looked like a shithole. Anytime Lisa can she complains her bills are piling up. The car need a new tire and she told the security guy it was going to be at least a couple of months before they could get it fixed. 

[Anchorabu]

Have rewatched the James episode yet again (can't help it!) and now I'm re-watching the Penny episode on Hulu. Penny and James so need to just hook up, free Lisa (and Bayley) and Edgar, and then stay the hell away from the rest of the world. Yikes what two unredeemingly useless humans! 

[chickenella]

26 minutes ago, meow-mah-leg said:

I live in the Boston area. Is food super cheap in Kentucky?

I do too! Maybe they can afford all that food is because it's crap food. Gosh, I go into Market Basket-just to get a few things- and it's almost always $40 to $50. We don't eat meat or cheese, so I try to buy healthy stuff, fresh and frozen veggies, fruit, non-dairy yogurt, almond milk, haddock, canned tuna, low sodium things (I can't have a lot of salt) and so on. I always figure I could buy a lot more food if I was buying junk like frozen dinners, pizza, mac and cheese, rice.

And the toenails....ewww. If he ever gets his feet on the floor they'll sound like tap dancing shoes.

[Kid]

38 minutes ago, meow-mah-leg said:

And since he is 46 or so..I assume he has ahem..urges? He doesn't seem to be able to reach anywhere near that area PLUS he has a catheter. So how is that issue resolved? Does he ask Lisa to dig around and also fix THAT for him? please tell me it ain't so....

You can bet on it. If he asks her to wipe his ass you can bet he's asking her to do this as well. And, my mind REALLY doesn't want to go there.

[gardendiva]

36 minutes ago, meow-mah-leg said:

And since he is 46 or so..I assume he has ahem..urges? He doesn't seem to be able to reach anywhere near that area PLUS he has a catheter. So how is that issue resolved? Does he ask Lisa to dig around and also fix THAT for him? please tell me it ain't so....

 

Son of a....my imagination is much too vivid to have people say things like this without some kind of a warning.

[ethalfrida]

But they don't eat regular groceries.. just something I thought of while searching Kentucky food prices. I think the fast food is cheaper, however. 

1 minute ago, gardendiva said:

Son of a....my imagination is much too vivid to have people say things like this without some kind of a warning.

I know. Was thinking the same thing

[Dru Blood]

40 minutes ago, meow-mah-leg said:

That aquarium...are we sure there were fish in there? I don't think so (and not because he might have eaten them). Fish cannot survive if an aquarium is not kept clean. It looked more like a reptile house or so? with those heat lamps on top? 

On the SUPERSIZED version, it said he had a bearded dragon.  Maybe that is why the aquariums don't really look clean, there isn't any water in them.

As to the other business...

43 minutes ago, meow-mah-leg said:

And since he is 46 or so..I assume he has ahem..urges? He doesn't seem to be able to reach anywhere near that area PLUS he has a catheter. So how is that issue resolved? Does he ask Lisa to dig around and also fix THAT for him? please tell me it ain't so....

I have a feeling that at his size, the hormones are so screwed up that if anything popped up (excuse my phrasing) he would probably confuse it for a snack and ask Lisa to get a knife and cut him off a hunk!

[CatherineM]

Just watched again on YouTube. I'm going to admit something and then dose my drawers in gasoline  again. His legs look like bubble wrap. I just want to pop them. 

[okerry]

20 minutes ago, Dru Blood said:

On the SUPERSIZED version, it said he had a bearded dragon.  Maybe that is why the aquariums don't really look clean, there isn't any water in them.

As to the other business...

I have a feeling that at his size, the hormones are so screwed up that if anything popped up (excuse my phrasing) he would probably confuse it for a snack and ask Lisa to get a knife and cut him off a hunk!

I can't imagine his body is functioning anywhere near normal in any respect. His hormones would be such a mess, and his circulation so extremely poor, that I seriously doubt he's got any kind of sexual function at all. You'd think that would be another reason to lose weight, but apparently not.

[meow-mah-leg]

Oh, a bearded dragon. Yeah, things weren't weird enough in that house as it was...

Interesting point about hormonal disbalance and circulation. I hope for Lisa that's all true and nothing needs to be done for relief in that part of the body. Indeed, you would think that would be another reason to lose weight.

I am always shocked that getting housebound is not THE wake-up call. It surprised me that he was wheeled out of that house and all he could do was scream. You would think that someone who never gets a breath of fresh air would be so happy and grateful to be outside for the first time in years and would want to take a deep breath, look at the birds in the trees and take it all in instead of focusing on whatever "ow my leg" pain he was in. 

[Dru Blood]

I have been meaning to comment on his "ow mah layygs" chorus for a while now.  My Mom is 85 soon to be 86 and I take care of her full time.  She is on home dialysis.  She had a bad turn about 3 1/2 years ago and wound up in the hospital for about a little over 3 weeks.  They then insisted she go into a skilled nursing home for some rehab.  She went in the day before Christmas and came home the tail end of February.  When she got back I couldn't touch her.  She would scream in pain all the time.  I knew I wasn't hurting her.  She had developed hyper-sensitivity while there.  Someone up thread mentioned he had been hospitalized for over 30 days just before they started filming.  I am not sure if this was his problem or he is just a big drama queen who has to have the attention all on him.  Again, just a thought.

[NeitherSparky]

7 minutes ago, Dru Blood said:

I have been meaning to comment on his "ow mah layygs" chorus for a while now.  My Mom is 85 soon to be 86 and I take care of her full time.  She is on home dialysis.  She had a bad turn about 3 1/2 years ago and wound up in the hospital for about a little over 3 weeks.  They then insisted she go into a skilled nursing home for some rehab.  She went in the day before Christmas and came home the tail end of February.  When she got back I couldn't touch her.  She would scream in pain all the time.  I knew I wasn't hurting her.  She had developed hyper-sensitivity while there.  Someone up thread mentioned he had been hospitalized for over 30 days just before they started filming.  I am not sure if this was his problem or he is just a big drama queen who has to have the attention all on him.  Again, just a thought.

Yeah I've felt kinda bad about that...I make fun of him too but its because of his attitude. I do believe he really could be in THAT much pain. We wouldn't make fun of him if he didn't have such a bad attitude.

[Dru Blood]

NeitherSparky, I know how you feel and I actually think there is probably a lot of things medically wrong with this individual both in his body & his brain that we weren't told about OR he doesn't even know about.

They never said if he had diabetes, which can cause some forms of neuropathy which would lead to the OW MAH LAHYGS syndrome (should be it's medical definition, in my opinion) we saw. 

I also noticed while watching the SUPERSIZED episode that he has that leg crud on his hips too.  Hard to see with the king sized sheet gown, but I saw a couple of glimpses when he was in Houston.

[meow-mah-leg]

He probably did have a lot of pain. I would assume he also must have awful decubitus ulcers. Normally, when people are bedridden, they are moved into different positions (back to side to stomach etc) by the nursing home or hospital staff to prevent these sores. I think James is only able to lay on his back so he probably has open wounds besides the leg issues. You would think the pain, the dependency, the loss of everything normal people can do, the guilt, the shame and you name it would be the fire under his ass to get out of that bed. I mean, WHAT DOES IT TAKE? 

[Dru Blood]

On 3/22/2017 at 0:38 AM, meow-mah-leg said:

You would think the pain, the dependency, the loss of everything normal people can do, the guilt, the shame and you name it would be the fire under his ass to get out of that bed. I mean, WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

I think for this individual we could arm chair psychoanalyze him ALL NIGHT and we still wouldn't even be scratching the surface of his issues.  I lay some of it on a sick desire to be babied or taken care of (lost mother at young age) and a delight at being the center of attention (had to compete with 5 siblings, 1 full, 4 half), and that attention also pertains to food, as he stated that he didn't think there was enough food for everyone so he shoveled it in left & right.

Some of the info given in the show points to the fact that he hasn't worked for 18 years.  At 46 that means he was only really working in the real world for roughly 12 years if you were to start with 16 as the beginning of his work life.  A lot of people HATE to work and he probably didn't have it easy working while being between 300 & 400 pounds.  It is much more fun to lay about and have it all brought to you.  I could go on and on, but it won't change the frightmare that is James King.  Uhggh!

Edited March 26, 2017 by Dru Blood
misspelling

[gardendiva]

5 minutes ago, Dru Blood said:

I think for this individual we could arm chair psychoanalyze him ALL NIGHT and we still would even be scratching the surface of his issues.  I lay some of it on a sick sense of desire to be babied or taken care of (lost mother at young age)

Have any of you heard of that fetish type of behavior that some people participate in called "Adult Babies"? It usually involves an infantilized adult and a willing participant who plays the maternal role. The "infant" dresses in diapers and drinks from a bottle and wants to be treated like a baby. The sick codependent relationship between James and Lisa is just one short step from this. As if I didn't hate the two of them enough.

[Dru Blood]

4 hours ago, gardendiva said:

"Adult Babies"?

Yup.  I don't think these 2 are at that level because she couldn't diaper that fool with a fork lift, not to mention make enough diapers for him out of sewn together chux.  I conjecture they are closer to the sick-o's that walk down the feeder porn path, but it is thier own private feeder porn session, with an occasional side show for the poor daughter and family.

Edited March 22, 2017 by Dru Blood
misspelling

[Thriftykins]

19 hours ago, operalover said:

I hadn't paid much attention the first time I watched it, but on the third watch I really noticed all the Ow My Leg. Also the scene where she is going to sleep in A BED. He says If I have to go to the bathroom, you won't hear me. She says "I'll hear you". Then he says "but you know I've been having trouble with my breathing" as if he is going to drop dead. Talk about laying on the guilt. So she has to sleep on the floor! It's unreal after changing his diapers and wiping his crusty sores all day she can't sleep in her bed? It pissed me off more than anything else.

The first time when he gained 158 pounds, she says to Dr. Now- I SWEAR I won't bring him any more food. Then after 2 more months he gains another 3 pounds and she said "I SWEAR to you doctor, I won't bring him another thing". She already swore that the time before. Then she says "I swear he is really trying now". Probably only gained 3 pounds because he "tried" the week before the appointment.

I also loved how TWICE dear old Dr. Now used "mind boggling"!! ha ha ha THIS IS MIND BOGGLING!! 

Well, let's be honest.  If you go from gaining a whopping 158 pounds to gaining "only" 3 pounds when you are supposed to be losing 30 or more, that does at least indicate you are trying.  You're not trying very hard but it's still trying.

[Thriftykins]

James isn't the only patient to gain a huge amount after his first visit with Dr. Now.  There was a younger guy, though I can't remember his name.  He started out heavier than James, and was one of the heaviest patients ever.  He came in somewhere around 900 pounds.  He was too heavy for the normal scale, which caps at 850 pounds.  Dr. Now sent him away, and I think it was only about a month later that he came back in via an emergency room visit, nearly dead, tipping the scales at 1,019 pounds.  I think he was actually gaining weight faster than James did, although the total amount was less.

 

Unlike James, though, this guy took the incident as a wake up call and got with the program.  Lost weight on his own and eventually got surgery.

 

On another topic.... Dr. Now often says that surgery is the only hope for these patients.  Are there any cases of super-obese people like this getting back to a healthy weight through diet and exercise alone?  I feel like it would be very difficult, because the hunger pains from having so much empty space in their huge stomachs would become unbearable.

[Thriftykins]

14 hours ago, Otter said:

I'm still debating in my head who is worse -- Penny or James.  At least James doesn't make wontons and meatloaf in her toilet bed.

James, definitely.  Penny is stubborn and deluded and disrespectful, but she loves her son Liam.  I find it to be very sincere and a strong redeeming quality.

[Thriftykins]

9 hours ago, meow-mah-leg said:

I would also like to know how so many people on this show pay their bills. I understand from reading the comments that he must be on disability. Ok, I get that. And that Lisa gets some type of caregiver allowance. And Bayley too when they pulled her from school. But how can that amount possibly cover all their living expenses AND all that food???? I eat 1500 calories a day (which I track online). My husband about 2000. Our grocery bills are pretty high because food happens to be expensive. James eats at least 10x more calories than me and Lisa looked like she also eats far too much. Plus all that take-out food...doesn't that cost a HUGE amount of money to pay for all that food??? How can they afford that on just the money they get from the State? Am I missing something? I live in the Boston area. Is food super cheap in Kentucky?

I think a lot of things are cheaper down in that region than the place you're from.  Food can be pretty cheap, especially when it's junky food.  I ate pretty poorly when my budget was at its tightest.

 

Quote

And since he is 46 or so..I assume he has ahem..urges? He doesn't seem to be able to reach anywhere near that area PLUS he has a catheter. So how is that issue resolved? Does he ask Lisa to dig around and also fix THAT for him? please tell me it ain't so....

Maybe he does get urges, but maybe not.  Being that heavy can really screw up your endocrine system.  Women at that size don't get periods.  Even so, it doesn't matter because despite was pretty much everyone seems to believe, you don't need sex to live.

[Hana Chan]

5 minutes ago, Michael Stabosz said:

Are there any cases of super-obese people like this getting back to a healthy weight through diet and exercise alone?  I feel like it would be very difficult, because the hunger pains from having so much empty space in their huge stomachs would become unbearable.

It's possible, but it's very, very difficult. It's very difficult for someone like me, who doesn't have nearly the amount of weight to lose as the smallest patients that Dr. Now sees. The problem is that losing weight, and keeping it off, requires long term dietary changes that are extremely difficult to maintain. Most people can follow a plan for a few weeks or months. To do it over the years that it would take for someone of James's weight to just lose the weight is a monumental prospect. And that's possible only when you have someone with iron-willed determination. We've seen repeatedly how easily many of Dr. Now's patients get discouraged at any plateaus or setbacks and James fell apart like an old card table at the least provocation. And the instant that they lapse, they start gaining again.

The odds are already against them even with the prospect of surgery as a tool to help them, but those odds become pretty infinitesimal. There are some documented cases of super-obese people losing a significant amount of weight, but nearly all of them gained the weight back and they end up dying of obesity-related medical conditions.

[Thriftykins]

Everyone involved in that idiotic "Health At Every Size" movement needs to watch this episode.  Or heck, any episode of this show.

[Trees]

I wonder about all the hours of filming that we didn't see.  I'd love to listen to the editors describe the astonishing events and talk about how they decide which to feature.  I'm betting that, as horrifying as some of these scenes were, that there were plenty that were too nasty for TV. 

I hope those folks, and the camera crews, are paid well AND get therapy for themselves. They can't un-see (or un-smell!) the revolting dramas they've experienced up close and personal.

[operalover]

I was thinking about how much they were laughing when they decided to show "look at my arm, it's hard as a rock" from lifting the 3 pound weights.

[MillieSparklepants]

Welcome meow-mah-leg! Love the user name. This is a fun forum and we've all accepted our fate of gasoline soaked drawers.

Someone on the Reddit thread pointed out that not only was James yelling and screaming when being moved, he was also grabbing onto door frames, thereby making the EMT's job 100x harder. It's possible (likely) he thought he was falling and was in so much pain that it was instinct, but with this guy, I won't entirely rule out that he just wanted to be an asshole.

I'm sure he IS in a lot of pain. That skin condition looked like it hurt like hell. But c'mon, dude, these people are professionals and trying to help you and screaming like a baby isn't going to make them more careful. They're already being as careful as they can, but given that they're trying to maneuver your 800 lbs of dead weight through a narrow doorway, there's gonna be some bumps.

No one has been able to say for sure how old he was when his father remarried and there wasn't enough food (supposedly part of his "triggering" trauma), but I can totally imagine tubby teenage James shoving his younger siblings out of the way to reach the dinner table first and grab all he could. Not saying it happened that way, but it's not hard to fathom.

Something else I've been wondering about these bed bound patients -- what about their teeth? How do you go for years and years with no dental care? Tooth pain is some of the worst, and I'm pretty sure these people aren't doing thorough floss and brush routines after every meal, so they're bound to get cavities. Do dentists make house calls?

[gonecrackers]

5 minutes ago, MillieSparklepants said:

Something else I've been wondering about these bed bound patients -- what about their teeth? How do you go for years and years with no dental care? Tooth pain is some of the worst, and I'm pretty sure these people aren't doing thorough floss and brush routines after every meal, so they're bound to get cavities. Do dentists make house calls?

I was curious about that & eye glasses - he wore glasses at one point & they didn't look old. Tanisha had glasses - two different styles. They obviously weren't readers because they wouldn't be wearing them unless reading, so, they were current pairs requiring a prescription, I'm assuming. How'd they fit in the eye doctor exam chair?

Edited March 22, 2017 by gonecrackers

[AZChristian]

2 minutes ago, gonecrackers said:

I was curious about that & eye glasses - he wore glasses at one point & they didn't look old. Tanisha had glasses - two different styles. They obviously weren't readers because they wouldn't be wearing them unless reading, so, they were current pairs I'm assuming. How'd they fit in the eye doctor exam chair?

I knew someone who bought his glasses at Walmart, off the rack for reading glasses.  Even for regular use, some magnification is better than nothing.  Some readers are full-sized and look like regular glasses.

What I can't figure out is how in the heck these people get tattoos.  (1) How can they afford them?  (2) Do tattooists make house calls?

[Anchorabu]

32 minutes ago, operalover said:

I was thinking about how much they were laughing when they decided to show "look at my arm, it's hard as a rock" from lifting the 3 pound weights.

Haha! ? So true!!!

Right there with "I feel looser" after gaining 158 lbs in 2-4 months and thinking he lost weight. I think the saving grace for the crew was the sheer hysterical ludicrousness of nearly everything that came out the mouths of James and Lisa:  I know he's trying, he cheated some, I promise I won't bring him another thing, life's meant to be enjoyed, but it's  friiieed, don't start (to Dr. Now of all people, who is my personal hero...in fact I agree with one Reddit user who claimed Dr. Now as their Patronus).

I think otherwise the crew would have been forced to douse their eyes and noses with bleach and enter intensive psychotherapy. They are stronger than me in any case. I think one day with James and Lisa would have forced me to curl up in a fetal position after ripping my eyes from my sockets, while waiting for my brain to explode from disbelief. 

"Expecto Fatronum!" ??

Edited March 22, 2017 by Anchorabu

[meow-mah-leg]

Thanks MillieSparklepants!

I am happy that I am not part of the crew who films this show. I would be retching the whole time. I wouldn't be able to deal with the psychological aspect either. As a viewer, I find it almost impossible to watch when there are young children involved in these toxic situations. A couple of shows back, there was a young woman with drug addicted parents (was her name Nicole?) and seeing her 2 little kids amidst all the yelling and abuse was heartbreaking. Very, very tough to watch. I think, in the end, she and her boyfriend (or husband) were able to live on their own so at least things were going in the right direction. I am always hoping to see a happy ending and things like seeing a parent lose enough weight to go to the playground with their kids or see them do sports makes me the happiest. 

[Hockeymom]

22 minutes ago, Trees said:

I wonder about all the hours of filming that we didn't see.  I'd love to listen to the editors describe the astonishing events and talk about how they decide which to feature.  I'm betting that, as horrifying as some of these scenes were, that there were plenty that were too nasty for TV. 

Oh My Gosh!! How fun would that be - a tell all!!

It should be anonymous, so our "behind the scenes" eyes can keep the dirt coming! I would actually pay cash money to read / watch that!

Hell, if the White House can have leaks, TLC would be a sieve! They could post on this site (Pretty Please) and give us juicy tidbits.

[crazycatlady58]

Well yes sometimes  they do. I knew a young  man  who was learning  how to tattoo ,  he was a very good artist, and sense  he did not work  in a store he would  give them to his friends .  Well not give he charged  them but not  as much  as if they had gone to a tattoo  shop. No overhead, he was very careful  about  his needles always  used new ones . If I week they type to get a tat , I would  have been  comfortable  with him doing  it.

[meow-mah-leg]

One of the things I would have loved to see is when James had that central line put in. I can't imagine the bitching and moaning that must have taken place. I feel for the staff who had to deal with him in the hospital.

I laughed out loud when that big team of people in blue hazmat type suits and masks lined up next to the bed. 

[Tabbygirl521]

11 hours ago, operalover said:

welcome Meow Mah Leg

I think they must get about $1800 a month and their rent is $500 a month. That leaves them $300 a week to feed the 2 of them fast food. It's possible on that $40 a day for food can buy quite a bit. The house they were in I don't think would rent for 2 high, it looked like a shithole. Anytime Lisa can she complains her bills are piling up. The car need a new tire and she told the security guy it was going to be at least a couple of months before they could get it fixed. 

They must feed Bayley also and (not to be mean), she is not slender. 

[AZChristian]

Just now, Tabbygirl521 said:

They must feed Bayley also and (not to be mean), she is not slender. 

And pay for utilities, gasoline, etc.  Apparently, though, they weren't paying them regularly because of Lisa's complaint that the bills were piling up.  Honestly, if we have a big expense, the first thing we do is eliminate eating out.  It's amazing how much that costs!

[Tabbygirl521]

10 hours ago, Kid said:

You can bet on it. If he asks her to wipe his ass you can bet he's asking her to do this as well. And, my mind REALLY doesn't want to go there.

Well, as the Viagara ads say, "Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex." His can't be. 

[Trees]

1 minute ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

Well, as the Viagara ads say, "Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex." His can't be. 

... about which, Lisa chants, "Thank you, God!"

[Hockeymom]

12 minutes ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

"Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex."

'Cause our boy James, ALWAYS listens to the doctor!

I don't think his heart is healthy enough for steak ("with all the fat, just the way you like it") either. But that's not stopping him. That self indulgent baby isn't about to miss out on one pleasurable thing if he can manipulate his way into getting it. I believe Lisa is definitely "hands on" in that department.

[gonecrackers]

1 hour ago, AZChristian said:

I knew someone who bought his glasses at Walmart, off the rack for reading glasses.  Even for regular use, some magnification is better than nothing.  Some readers are full-sized and look like regular glasses.

Readers can be had anywhere, but I can't possibly wear my readers to see & my eyes aren't even that bad yet for that; I've been near sighted since I was a kid though. I need my prescription glasses for distance. The readers skew everything for far. We have yearly eye doctor appointments for our family, given a few of us are near sighted, & have to update our glasses regularly. Tanisha wore her glasses all the time; James had them on & wasn't reading, so they seemed like regular glasses, not readers. Can one get glasses for seeing distance without a prescription? I mean, I wouldn't try it, but maybe people who just can't get out of the house find a way.

[meow-mah-leg]

56 minutes ago, Hockeymom said:

'Cause our boy James, ALWAYS listens to the doctor!

I don't think his heart is healthy enough for steak ("with all the fat, just the way you like it") either. But that's not stopping him. That self indulgent baby isn't about to miss out on one pleasurable thing if he can manipulate his way into getting it. I believe Lisa is definitely "hands on" in that department.

I sure hope she is not helping him out in that way. It's just too much to even think about.

I don't know how I feel about her. On the one hand I feel sad for her. She looked so defeated, Zombie-like, depressed and miserable. On the other hand I felt like punching her when she kept feeding him all that crap. Especially the cheesecake. How does that look? Well Lisa, that looks like you want to speed up the process of killing him. And I can't blame you for that.