Cleo's Mom

Although your symptoms could be band related it sounds like something else is going on here too. You should see your PCP and/or a gastroenterologist. You might need to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy to see what is going on. These symptoms sound serious enough not to be dismissed. Your weight gain is probably unrelated to these symptoms. You need to find a doctor who will investigate this and obviously your surgeon is not the one to do it. Good luck.

First of all, it's filibuster. Secondly, when healthcare was passed the democrats only had 57 democrats and 2 independents. Not a filibuster proof majority. You're forgetting Mr. Nude Centerfold -a/k/a/ Senator 41, a/k/a Scott Brown.

You're welcome and thanks for sharing your opinion, too.

Great post. Thanks for your honesty.

hope - I think most surgeons have age requirements for the band from 18 to about 60. There are exceptions, of course. Especially if it is a life saving WLS. So many surgeons might consider her too young. But if she's serious she should look into it and do a lot of research about the surgeon, how many surgeries he's done, etc..what kind of team works with him - is there a nutritionist, a nurse? Who does the fills? What tests are required pre and post op? There are many questions that need to be answered in choosing the right surgery and surgeon and a good surgeon should be able to explain the pros and cons and any possible complications. That aside, you sound like a good friend who will be supportive when the time comes because if she does have WLS she will need a lot of support.

Obamacare 1, Foes 0 That's how the scorecard reads after a federal judge ruled late last week that the most constitutionally controversial part of the new health care reform law health -- the one requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty -- passes muster. The suit was filed in March, immediately after the health care law was signed by President Obama, by a conservative activist group called the Thomas More Law Center. Judge George Steeh wrote that Congress, via the Commerce Clause, has the constitutional authority to require such a mandate: "There is a rational basis to conclude that, in the aggregate, decisions to forego insurance coverage in preference to attempting to pay for health care out of pocket drive up the cost of insurance," an issue that would come under Congressional purview. This is the first of what will be many rulings on the constitutionality of the law, an issue that may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. So before you judge those who complain or bitch remember that you might stop losing well before your goal or gain weight back or have a serious problem with the band like slippage or erosion or develop an infection or even have to have it removed. You might never reach your sweet spot or choose to live with liquid breakfasts, reflux and/or heartburn in order to lose (who wants to live like that? That's not normal) - so before all you holier than thou types pontificate about how great you're doing - remember the tables could turn very quickly - and you could be on the other side.

Thank you.

Here's my 2 cents about this issue: We have the right to expect the following: -That our surgeons be competent and experienced and knowledgable about the LAP-BAND®, how it works, the complexities of obesity and realistic weight loss goals. -That the band perform as it was promoted to us: by creating a small pouch at the top of our stomach it would create a satisfying sensation and keep us from being hungry for several hours with only small amounts of healthy foods. -That we be told how to properly eat, what foods might cause problems, not to drink with meals and to exercise. -That BEFORE a fill your capacity for food and YES, HUNGER, will be similar to before surgery. This is not head hunger. You are eating a lot less than before, so naturally you will feel hunger. BANDSTER HELL is a recognized condition by those experienced in LAP-BAND® surgery. -That the band is promoted as helping you to lose about 50% of your EXCESS weight. If you have 100 lbs to lose, the band will help with about 50 lbs. It you doctor expects you to lose the other 50lbs, you need to be told that you will have to work very hard to do this. -That heartburn, reflux, pain, vomiting are not acceptable as the price to pay for losing weight. You are probably too tight. -That you might get pain in the left shoulder that might not resolve itself. Your responsibilities as a patient are: -Eat healthy foods. Avoid those that cause problems. -Don't drink with meals -Exercise daily -Get enough Protein daily If you do these things, you have the right to expect the band to work as it has been promoted. If it doesn't - IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Also, it is my strong opinion that when the band doesn't work, many surgeons blame the patient. Many surgeons have invented the term head hunger to dismiss real hunger by patients for whom the band is not working properly. THAT IS THE JOB OF THE SURGEON - TO GET THE BAND TO WORK PROPERLY. I don't have a problem with people complaining on these boards if they are following the guidelines. But there are just too many mediocre surgeons who are all over the place about follow up care and what to do - just read the many posts about this - that I am not going to judge too quickly. So, there, that's my 2 cents. A couple of other points I left out: -You should be able to eat solid foods at each meal. If you can only drink your Breakfast the band is not working as it should or as it is promoted and most important of all: -Surgeons need to be honest that not every patient can achieve the sweet spot and the lapband does not work for everyone.

If jobs is the number one issue then all you need to know is this chart. So why would anyone vote to go back to the republican policies that put us in that red zone and against the ones that got us into the blue zone. But, hey, if people are that stupid, they deserve what they get.

All the more reason to vote: Daily Kos: Lets take this video viral

Can you try sleeping one night without the CPAP? Is that possible just to see if somehow if it might be causing the problem? If not, then you need to see your doctor because even though it doesn't feel like reflux, it is. It doesn't matter the source, it's the fact that it's not going down. So either you are too tight or there is something anatomical going on. But you should talk to your doctor about this.

I have seen it. It is powerful. That's why I will never understand someone who doesn't vote. There is NO excuse. There are absentee ballots for those who can't get to the polls. There are countries where people wait hours or even days to vote. Here we just shrug it off. If the 2000 presidential election taught us anything it is that EVERY vote counts. If you don't vote your have absolutely ZERO right to complain about anything.

Didn't you read the Rant & Rave forum that said "OFF TOPIC" before you entered? We discuss any and everything here. If you want just weight loss discussions, then it's best not to come in here.

Well, while I exercise everyday - treadmill, aerobic videos, weight lifting I will never be a runner despite my 75lb. weight loss. I just think it takes a certain mind set or brain chemicals or something to be a runner and like I said, I am impressed by those who run. Good luck to you. I know you will do well - because you have that "mind set".

Hey, Kartman, welcome back. I always enjoy your posts. Great job with your weight loss and running. One of the many criteria for dividing people into two camps would be runners and non-runner. Put me squarely in the non-running camp and in awe of those who run. Good luck with the Triathlon.

There was a vote on a bill that would address the issue of companies shipping jobs overseas. The republicans and some of those so-called democrats (to which I referred earlier) voted against it. Does anyone still have any doubts that the republicans stand with big corporate america and against middle class, working america? XML U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate Vote Summary Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 3816 ) Vote Number: 242Vote Date: September 28, 2010, 11:31 AMRequired For Majority: 3/5Vote Result: Cloture Motion RejectedMeasure Number: S. 3816 (Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act )Measure Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create American jobs and to prevent the offshoring of such jobs overseas.Vote Counts:YEAs53NAYs45Not Voting2Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State Alphabetical by Senator Name Akaka (D-HI), Yea Alexander (R-TN), Nay Barrasso (R-WY), Nay Baucus (D-MT), Nay Bayh (D-IN), Yea Begich (D-AK), Yea Bennet (D-CO), Yea Bennett (R-UT), Nay Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Bond (R-MO), Nay Boxer (D-CA), Yea Brown (D-OH), Yea Brown (R-MA), Nay Brownback (R-KS), Nay Bunning (R-KY), Nay Burr (R-NC), Nay Burris (D-IL), Yea Cantwell (D-WA), Yea Cardin (D-MD), Yea Carper (D-DE), Yea Casey (D-PA), Yea Chambliss (R-GA), Nay Coburn (R-OK), Nay Cochran (R-MS), Nay Collins (R-ME), Nay Conrad (D-ND), Yea Corker (R-TN), Nay Cornyn (R-TX), Nay Crapo (R-ID), Nay DeMint (R-SC), Nay Dodd (D-CT), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Yea Durbin (D-IL), Yea Ensign (R-NV), Nay Enzi (R-WY), Nay Feingold (D-WI), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Yea Franken (D-MN), Yea Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea Goodwin (D-WV), Yea Graham (R-SC), Nay Grassley (R-IA), Nay Gregg (R-NH), Nay Hagan (D-NC), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Yea Hatch (R-UT), Nay Hutchison (R-TX), Nay Inhofe (R-OK), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Nay Johanns (R-NE), Nay Johnson (D-SD), Yea Kaufman (D-DE), Yea Kerry (D-MA), Yea Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea Kohl (D-WI), Yea Kyl (R-AZ), Nay Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea Leahy (D-VT), Yea LeMieux (R-FL), Nay Levin (D-MI), Yea Lieberman (ID-CT), Nay Lincoln (D-AR), Not Voting Lugar (R-IN), Nay McCain (R-AZ), Nay McCaskill (D-MO), Yea McConnell (R-KY), Nay Menendez (D-NJ), Yea Merkley (D-OR), Yea Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Murkowski (R-AK), Not Voting Murray (D-WA), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Nay Pryor (D-AR), Yea Reed (D-RI), Yea Reid (D-NV), Yea Risch (R-ID), Nay Roberts (R-KS), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea Sanders (I-VT), Yea Schumer (D-NY), Yea Sessions (R-AL), Nay Shaheen (D-NH), Yea Shelby (R-AL), Nay Snowe (R-ME), Nay Specter (D-PA), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Yea Tester (D-MT), Nay Thune (R-SD), Nay Udall (D-CO), Yea Udall (D-NM), Yea Vitter (R-LA), Nay Voinovich (R-OH), Nay Warner (D-VA), Nay Webb (D-VA), Yea Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea Wicker (R-MS), Nay Wyden (D-OR), Yea Remember when McCain said that if elected "we would know them by their names" (those who voted for earmarks) - well here we will know those by name who protect big corporations and tell americans who lost their job that was shipped overseas to just go on unemployment. Oh, wait, they voted against that too.

Big hearty congratulations on your new grandbaby!!! Blond hair. How cute! They look especially sweet when they have hair. I'm very happy for your latest addition to the family. Thanks, BJean. I now have a 4 month old grandson and a 5 day old grandson. I hope they grow up to be good friends as well as cousins. I got out my husband's baby picture and my newest grandson has his hair. Now each grandson has something from my husband (the 4 month old has his dimples and he sneezes when he looks at the sun just like my husband did).

Why you should vote republican: YouTube - Lets Crush the Republican Tea Party - Vote on November 2, 2010

To not vote is to let someone else, and in this election that would be the extremist voters, decide for you. I would never, ever, not vote and give that power to someone else and you shouldn't either BJean. Those elected officials who call themselves democrats do not share one brain like the Republicans do. They are a diverse lot and frankly I don't like the ones who don't support the democratic agenda. Like Nelson, Landrieu, Bayh, Lieberman, and so many others. We never had 60 real democrats in the senate and the senate is where all the problems have been. Under the great leadership of Nancy Pelosi, the house has passed everything on the democratic agenda. And then it goes to the senate where the real problems would begin. There were 58 democrats and 2 independents who caucus with the democrats. But several of those democrats don't vote like democrats and when the republicans filibuster time and time again - breaking records for these sessions of the senate - and it takes 60 votes to break a filibuster the numbers don't add up to get things done. To get things done we need like 70 democrats so that 60 of them would be real democrats and not DINOs. So blame it on the republicans and those blue dog democrats. I don't think Harry Reid has been as effective leader as I would have liked. He has the power to keep them in line and he hasn't used it. The republican leadership sure does. Do you remember that poor republican congressman from the south - he's Asian - I forget his name - and he voted for the healthcare bill and the republican leadership was ready to crucify him. But he said his constituents needed it. The republicans don't let republicans stray from their message/agenda. I think Pres. Obama has been very effective recently in his fired up speeches but I think he should have been doing this all year. I think he should have been pushing the benefits of the healthcare bill and debunking all the myths out there. But the coward democrats are running away from the healthcare message because polls show it's unpopular. Of course it's unpopular with those who have insurance because they are selfish and don't want anyone else to have what they have because they think they deserve it and no one else does. And they are ready to believe all the lies. I am in campaign mode now and have been doing phone banking for local and state candidates. I have several letters to the editor written, too. I will never give up the fight for middle class America who is being pushed further and further down the economic ladder by the rich who are getting richer. That's who the republicans stand with and for. On a personal note: My second grandson was born last week. He is a doll baby and has a head full of blonde hair - the first baby in my family that had hair before age 2. LOL.

When they removed the band did they remove the port and all the tubing? From what I understand, the tubing can be too close to the diaphram resulting in referred pain in the shoulder, and I would imagine the chest and back, too. It could be that even if they removed the port and tubing the area has been so irritated that it will take awhile to recover. Make sure you get copies of all these test results, including the CT scans, and the operative report for both the placement and removal of the band. You might be very surprised at what you find out. If necessary, take the test results to another doctor for a second opinion. Living with pain at your level is not acceptable and you need to find answers. Good luck.

Some Dieters Are Set Up to Regain Weight Appetite Hormone Levels May Predict Dieters' Success By Denise Mann WebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Sept. 9, 2010 -- Weight regain is the bane of many a dieter's existence. Often dieters who regain weight after losing it are viewed as failures and judged for their lack of willpower, but new research may put an end to this blame game. Weight regain may not be solely a willpower issue. Some people may actually be programmed to gain weight back based on their levels of two key appetite hormones, leptin and ghrelin. The new study appears in an online version of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. "This knowledge could be used as a tool to personalize weight-loss programs that could guarantee success in keeping off the weight," says study author Ana Crujeiras, PhD, of Compejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago in Spain, in a news release. Slideshow: Simple Secrets to Portion Control and Healthy Eating Setting Dieters Up to Win, Not Fail In the new study, 104 obese or overweight men and women ate a low-calorie diet for eight weeks and were followed up with six months later. Their body weight, ghrelin, leptin, and insulin levels were measured before, during, and after the diet. Ghrelin is the "go" hormone that tells you when to eat, and leptin is the "stop" hormone that tells you when to stop eating. On average, study participants dropped about 5% of their body weight while adhering to the low-calorie diet. Six months later, 55 people maintained their weight loss, while 49 regained 10% or more of the weight they had lost. Those individuals with higher leptin and lower ghrelin levels before dieting were more prone to regain weight, the study showed. While this may seem counter-intuitive based on the actions of these hormones, the researchers suggest that it may be a matter of some people being resistant to the effects of these hormones. Their brains may not be getting the fullness or satiety messages that these hormones are delivering. You may have a lot of leptin, but your brain is resistant to its effects; much like people with type 2 diabetes become resistant to the effects of the hormone insulin. Going forward, "these hormone levels could be proposed as biomarkers for predicting obesity-treatment outcomes," the researchers conclude. "Our findings may provide endocrinology and nutrition professionals a tool to identify individuals in need of specialized weight-loss programs that first target appetite hormone levels before beginning conventional dietary treatment." Fullness Resistance Syndrome Louis Aronne, MD, founder and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, agrees. "There is something physical going on in people who regain weight," he says. "Resistance to these hormones is a risk factor for weight regain," he says. Aronne dubs this condition "fullness resistance" and says that your brain is resistant to signals that come from your stomach and intestines telling you that you are full and to stop eating. Fullness Resistance Syndrome continued... "With leptin resistance, you don’t feel full and the more you eat, the hungrier you may get," he says. "We need to stop blaming people and start recognizing the physical basis of weight regain and manage it so people do better," he says. The new research likely applies to significant numbers of people who are finding the battle of the bulge to be an uphill one. "We are getting down to some of the final choke points of our weight regulating system, and these should apply to large numbers of people," he says. Drugs aimed at leptin resistance -- and there are some in the pipeline -- may help, he says. 'Ample Evidence' "There's no question that most people who easily gain weight, and/or quickly regain weight after losing it are different from other folks," says Scott Kahan, MD, co-director of the George Washington University Weight Management Program in Washington, D.C., in an email. "The general public tends to think of 'fat' people as lazy and as having no willpower [but] it couldn't be further from the truth." "Ample evidence, now including this study, suggests that there are physiologic reasons for weight gain, difficulty at losing weight, and rapid weight regain after a diet," he says. "There is no question that certain people are preconditioned to gain weight more easily and more quickly regain weight after dieting, just as some people are predisposed to having their blood pressure spike after eating salt whereas others can eat all the salt they want without having problems with hypertension," Kahan says. "This study is another small step toward ultimately ... [devising] new strategies for weight management and disease prevention that work with our bodies' physiologic makeup, rather than against it." When I brought up the issue of grehlin and leptin with my former surgeon he just rolled his eyes - which is one of the many reasons he is my former surgeon. I believe that I have a problem with these hormones because it has always taken a lot of food to get me to the point of satiety and that whole "wait 20 minutes" after eating to get full never worked for me. Sometimes if I ever do achieve satiety AFTER eating it can take 90 minutes or more. That's IF. To achieve a satisfied feeling while eating would take way too much food.

from webmd.com: FYI The Downside of Weight Loss Weight Loss May Release Pollutants Into Bloodstream, Researchers Say By Jennifer Warner WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Sept. 7, 2010 -- There may actually be an unhealthy downside to losing weight. A new study finds that blood levels of substances known as persistent organic pollutants were higher in people who had lost weight compared to people who maintained or gained weight. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are compounds created by humans in industrial processes and have been linked to a wide range of illnesses, including type 2 diabetes, cancer, dementia, and heart disease. The study appears in the International Journal of Obesity. Persistent organic pollutants are stored in fat tissues in the body. But when the amount of fat is decreased -- as through weight loss -- they may be released into the bloodstream, where they may enter vital organs, such as the heart and brain. Want to Lose Weight? Get the 9 Best Diet Tips Ever The Study In the study, researchers compared levels of seven common persistent organic pollutants in 1,099 adults who participated in a national health study in 1999-2002. They found levels of POPs were significantly higher in adults who had experienced more weight loss. This effect was slightly higher in people who had maintained their weight loss for 10 years or more, compared with people who had sustained it for only one year. Researchers say the findings may help explain why some studies have suggested, though not proven, that the risk of heart disease, dementia, or death may sometimes increase after weight loss. However, it's still unclear whether this release of the persistent organic pollutants associated with weight loss or pre-existing obesity-related illnesses are responsible for this increase in risk. Further study will be needed to determine whether this release of persistent organic pollutants is responsible for any negative health effects following weight loss.

Thanks, Devana. I always enjoy your posts. They are intelligent and well written. You should come on more often. We need more voices of reason.

I have a 4cc band and have been totally unfilled (now) to filled to 3cc (lots of problems - had to have a slight unfill) and the band has NEVER, EVER, EVER reduced my appetite. Not for one minute, not for one second. Even at 3cc filled I never reached anything near to satiety. Just pain, pressure and the inability to eat to satisfaction. So, if that is the real purpose of the band then mine is a total failure. I have followed all the lapband rules, and I exercise daily and all the food I eat is healthy. I count calories and keep a food journal. I have gone as far as I can go with the healthy food and exercising part of this process. I have lost about 75 lbs but it has been due to dieting - including on my own, the 6 month pre-op diet, the liquid diets before and after surgery. I cannot emphasize enough that my band has never affected my appetite (no it's not head hunger) and that was the ONLY reason I got the band because it was promoted as doing so. Big disappointment on my part.