Short and Chunky

Atlambros83 - so sorry I haven't answered before now. I hope you are doing well and are on solid foods. My new surgeon did not give me any instructions either - band gone - bye - see ya later...I stayed on liquids for a couple of days, then mushies then food. I had no issues and things have seemed to heal just fine. I have a couple of small problems, but some of that might be Vitamin related. I have gained 10 pounds in the past month and I am working very hard to keep anymore from coming on. I have seen the doctor 3 times since surgery and he is not concerned. He explained that is normal and it will come back off. Just hang in there. I also have an appointment with his Nut to learn how to eat w/o the band. You have done so well maintaining, I am sure you will continue to do great. Hope all is well with you. Melinda in Florida

BatnTab - well, things aren't going so well. I am exercising and walking 3 miles everyday. I am trying to eat like I still have my band, but darn it, I am hungry. I have managed to gain 9 pounds so now I am angry with myself. I am drinking lots of Water, gave up all diet soda and faithfully attend my surgeon's support group..I wish I had my will-power back. The doctor is not concerned - yet- and says this is normal and just to wait it out. It will stop and my body will start responding. He said it is the just my body adjusting. I hope it adjusts soon, I can't gain anymore weight! I have noticed that my portions are larger even though I still use my small plates - they are just fuller. This whole thing makes me angry, I just wish it made me angry enough to stop stuffing my face. Hope you are doing well. I keep re-reading your post for support and encouragement. Wow, I never thought about "not having my band". I guess the joke is on me. No additional surgery talked about yet (it has been 6 weeks) but I will be talking with him soon if the scale doesn't stop going up. I would be happy with just staying the same weight for right now. Melinda in Florida

I never "thought" my band had slipped. For about a month I had terrible reflux..The doctor removed some of the Fluid and the reflux improved. He began to add fluid back and the reflux returned. He took it out again. I had about 5cc in a 10 cc band at that point (I had my band 2 1/2 yrs). Then that last week. I was terribly hungry. Not enough food to make me happy, my left shoulder hurt real bad (almost like a pinched nerve type pain) and I had some discomfort in my upper abdomen. Still, I did not think about slippage. I am 63 yrs old - It could have been anything, the band was the last thing I thought it was. Then on 4/24 I started feeling stick to my stomach, could not eat or drink anything (not even ice chips) and by afternoon, I was vomiting. That night vomit turned into blood and that continued until rescue took me to the ER. I had nothing to eat or drink for 48 hrs and was vomiting - to say I was too weak to walk was an understatement. As I said before, I got real sick real fast. The new surgeon told me that my band could have slipped some time ago..I just didn't know it and the flouroscopes did not show it. I really can't explain it. Just, if you have crazy pain in crazy places and begin to vomit..see your doctor. I am sad to report that the plication may be helping but not enough as I have now gained almost 9 pounds in the 6 weeks since my surgery. As hard as I try, it keeps coming on. I am still walking, working out and logging my food but the fat wants to win. The doctor says to give it some more time and things should calm down and the weight will come back off. It is still so upsetting and we all know what happens when people get upset - they EAT...what a merry-go-round this is... Melinda in Florida

Well, I have been "bandless" for three weeks now and I am learning to adjust to the gastric plication. I have had some strange things happen - like dumping - like nausea/sweats/weakness/confusion ! WTH. I don't know what is going on. I don't have my little tummy buddy telling me to STOP EATING. I eat small amounts - feel bloated and miserable and move on. I have not lost an ounce but haven't gained either. I am having to get B12 shots and take large amount of B1 to rebuild my body as my numbers are off. I feel like I am out on a limb and someone is sawing the limb off at the tree. I feel so darn lost. I have a new doctor and that doesn't help. I am trying to build a new relationship with him and his office staff but this is just not fair. I am in hopes things will begin to improve soon. I see the new doctor on the 27th so I will keep you guys posted. This is a rollercoaster that just doesn't stop!!! Melinda in Florida

Feeling better. Saw the doctor on the 27th and the pain was just "healing pain", Still working on not over eating and I meet with the dietician next week to get a new plan in place. Take care and thanks for asking. Melinda in Florida

Hey JFuller. Hope your appointment went well with your doctor and you got some answers to your problem. Sounds like it has been a bit rough lately. I had my band 2 1/2 years and we got along just fine until this April. I had a major slip and the blood supply was cut off from most of my stomach. I vomited blood for over 24 hours when rescue came and picked me up at work. I had surgery that night and my band was removed. I still have Gastric Sleeve Plication and my doctor said that the scar tissue from my band will act like my band for awhile. Well, in the past month, I have gained a few pounds (11 I thin) but this is OK with me and the doctor. I had got a bit malnurouished and now I have B12 and B1 injections every week to rebuild. I am also starting a new relationship with food. With this sleeve, I can eat differently, but I have to eat wisely and I am just not there yet. I have return to exercising and I feel so much better. I really didn't know my band was making me sick until is made me very sick. Take care and keep us posted on your progress. I really understand..this journey is tough too... Melinda in Florida

It has now been just over two weeks since my revision surgery. I still miss my band but I am adjusting. I am finding that I still get full with the same amount of food that I ate with my band - give or take a cup full. I have discovered I can't eat salad right now - which is very sad - it is summer in Florida and I lived on salads - but that is OK, I can find something else. I have, so far, resisted temptation to eat the evil stuff like bread, pasta, pizza, cookies, cake, pies, ice cream...you guys know..the good stuff! I am not back to my full exercise program yet, that could take 4 more weeks, but I am walking twice a day about 20-30 minutes each time and I am pleased with that. I am looking forward to getting back in the pool as soon as my incision heals. Life after the band, is different. I never really thought about "not having my band". I was 59 years old when I got it..I thought I would be taking it with me when I left this world. Well, I guess that joke is on me now. I am trying hard to be very cautious as to not upset the plication..All I can think about is the seem on a pair of pants that are too small and watching the stitching come out..That would be the plication ! I cannot let that happen no matter what. I still do not know if I will be allowed to have another form of WLS or if the plication will be OK. So many questions....I see the surgeon on the 27th of May for another follow up and I guess I will be able to get some answers then. I begin the B12 shots on Thursday and I hoping that will give me some of my energy back. I hope this blog finds you all well and "listening to your band". I saw a posting just a bit ago from a person who "thinks she may have a slip" and her symptoms sure sound like it. I will be watching, praying and hoping that she is wrong and that her band will be OK..This is not a happy thing when it happens. Take care my banded buddies and have a great week. Melinda in Florida

Hey Sharpie - cute name !!! I had lapband w/plication and when my doctor did it, I was in his controlled experiment group. In fact, I understand it is still not covered by insurance to have "both" done. You don't have to have both..you can have one or the other. The plication is now called Lapriscopic Gastric Sleeve Plication (fancy name - for folding the stomach in on itself and making a few stitches). So far so good. I have put on a few pounds and I am still learning how to handle this. I have a new doctor (mine moved to south Florida) and therefore a new dietician whom I will meet with sometime next week. I hope to get a handle on all of this soon (before I become chunky again) and get back on a controlled plan with a goal in mind. Take care and good luck with your "journey" Melinda in Jacksonville

Hi, Jax Group. I too am in Jacksonville. My surgery was done 7/7/ll by Dr, Cywes and I had revision surgery on 4/25/14 with Dr. Uchal. I no longer have my band but I do have Gastric Sleeve Plication. Still trying to adjust to the new device and trying to decided what and how to eat. This has really been a "journey" alright and parts of it I would just as soon forget. But, anyway, it is sure to nice to find others in Jacksonville on this site. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Melinda in Jax, Florida

Angel - Woo Hoo...so glad your band has not slipped. I am very glad you are feeling better too. Nothing is worse that band pain/band issues..it is such an unknown thing. Have a great weekend. Melinda in Florida

so far so good. The plication appears to be doing well and it might get me through the rough spots. I haven't gained any weight and I am back out walking 2 miles plus a day. I am feeling much better. I do miss my band and I am very sad that it is gone. I had done a lot of research and I was sold on the band. I guess it was just not in the cards for me to keep it. The doctor said I had had a "significant slip" and that almost 1/3 my stomach had come up through the band. With all the Vomiting the stomach became swollen and well, there was no way it was going to go back down and behave. The blood I was throwing up was the lining of my stomach and the part that was through the band was going to die if he did not remove the band. Scary stuff !!! So, I move on - bandless - but still with plication (thank heavens). I am still getting weekly shots of B12 and B1 as I was very run down. But, I have to look on the bright side - 124 fat, ugly, unhealthy pounds are gone. I need to maintain and loose a few more but keep up the good, healthy habits I got over the past 2 1/2 yrs. My knees thank me every day..I can do this..I hope.. Melinda in Florida

Angel - You asked what I missed most about my band. After having it for 2 1/2 yrs it became part of "me". The new me. I was used to getting "soft stop" message - Stopping putting food in the pie hole ! I would get a little hiccup or burp or twinge that was my signal that I was full/satisfied and not to eat anymore. I am having to learn how to eat all over again. Sure, I still eat off my little salad plate and use the small utensils. I also don't drink before, during or after I eat, but I miss my signal...I think I am eating more. I am having cravings again (that is all in my head I am sure) and I have given into them because the band is not there to tell me NO. I am so scared of going back to the FAT ME. 124 pounds are gone - that is an entire person - I don't want to find that person again. The problem, is my self-control button doesn't work all that good - that is why I got the band in the first place. I really wish I could have kept it, had it re-positioned, replaced - something, but he said I had too much scar tissue around the top of my stomach. I feel like a part of me is gone - almost an empty feeling. You work so hard to adjust to the "new you" when you get the band and then in a flash it is gone. My recovery is moving along and so far, I still weigh the same - not up, not down. So I guess, that is all a good thing. I am about 20 pounds away from my personal goal weight. I only hope I can find the "excited me" that once would have never smelled a cookie much less eaten one. I hope your appointment went well and you are feeling better. It is so scary to know you have the "alien" around your stomach but it sure does help with the weight loss. Would I have one again??? YEP, in a heart beat. Take care.. Melinda in Florida

BooBoo, I am so sorry to hear about your band issues. That vomiting for 12 hours..wow, that was rough. I started vomiting on Thursday afternoon and didn't stop until Friday afternoon when they knocked me out on medication to force me to stop - by then, I was an inpatient and awaiting surgery. I am sorry your band went bad on you. I too had my band awhile - 2 1/2 yrs - lost over 120 pounds and was very happy with it.. followed the rules (most of them anyway), saw my doctor every month and I was a happy camper until 4/24/14 when "it happened". My revision went well and I was home within 24 hours of surgery. It has been painful - far more than getting the band - and I am struggling with cravings and this "empty feeling" that my band is gone and "now what". I am sending best wishes your way and I hope that your removal goes well and that your followup care does too. Take care. Melinda in Florida

My apology to Angel and any others that I may have offended with my recent post. My slippage and surgery has really sent me into orbit. I was extremely ill and it happened in a matter of hours - not days or weeks - hours. I had my band 2 1/2 years and I miss it terribly. I only wish I had known what was happening to me sooner so I could have kept my band. This is also very fresh on my mind as this just happened to me on 4/25/14. I am still recovering from the revision surgery. Angel, I hope you are doing better and that your doctor is able to give you some relief/help and that you are able to keep you band. Again, I am sorry if my comments were insensitive. Melinda in Florida

It is with sadness I join this group of "bandless" posters. My band was removed via Emergency surgery on 4/25/14..almost 3 years after I received my "tool". Slippage. My tool was slowly killing me. I was vomiting blood and the lining of my stomach. It had to come out. Now, I feel empty - not in a hungry way - in an emotional way. With my band, I lost 124 ugly, disgusting pounds of flubber and now I am so afraid I will find every last pound. I went from a 22 to a size 8. I got rid of all my fat clothes..now what? I am so scared and I feel like I am out there on a limb and someone is sawing it off from the tree. I know you all understand. I am glad the pain and problems are over and gone, but now what? I see my surgeon again next week. I only hope he has some help for me. At my current weight, WLS is out - no one operates WLS on a skinny person. But my pants feel tight already and I feel like a boated slob. I know some of this is post op bloat and some of this is a pitty party on my part...I just need to get a grip, eat like a should, keep walking and don't look back..So much easier said than done. Thanks for letting me vent. I am not having the best of days today. Feeling very desperate and alone with this fat demon that continues to live inside of me. You would think at my age, I could just get a grip, ha, not happening. Take care my fellow bandless friends. We will need to hold each other up. Melinda in Florida

Polly - my heart goes out to you. I recently had my band removed due to a slip. I had horrible pain, vomiting blood - just awful. Like you, I was discharged and sent home without a real plan. The comment - "well, you know how to eat now, so this should not be a problem". HAHA..BS..I knew how to eat when I got my band, I just chose to eat too much and the wrong stuff. My band stopped me from doing those bad things and now it is gone. I feel empty (and not from food). I am trying very hard not to put weight on, but it is impossible. I am walking, writing down what I eat, not drinking with my food...the whole deal, but I am up about 5 or 6 pounds and I don't see an end in sight. It has been less than a month since I lost my band and I feel lost ! I don't know if I will be able to get any revision since I am not exactly fat anymore. I do still have the plication that I got when I got my band and that is supposed to help me..so far. My stomach feels bloated and I am not being a good girl in the food department. I see my doctor again next week and I am really hoping he can give me some type of guide to get me through this dark tunnel I feel I have entered. I had my band almost 3 years and it did work..now, I am not sure what lies ahead. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. You aren't alone in this one. Melinda in Florida

Way to go Mike and congratulations on your surgery. We were all a bit nervous when the time finally rolled around, that is only natural. As for your Grandson..my motivation was my 2 grandchildren (a boy and a girl). I can get down on the floor and play with them now. We can go to the park and run and play. Before, I was just too FAT and did not care. You won't be skinny overnight and you didn't get fat overnight either..but you are going to be on your way to a new you and a new Grandpa that's for sure. Good luck in a couple of days and may your journey be filled with love and laughter and lots of time with that very special grandson. "You" are the best gift you could ever give to him. Melinda in Florida

You are playing with Fire...I had issues, vomiting, pain etc and didn't listen to my own body as I should. I ended up vomiting blood and the lining of my stomach. My band had to be removed due to a slip. I liked my doctor, but he moved to another city (4 hrs away) and I had to get a new one. When you are in the ER is not a good time to get another doctor. You said you worked in a hospital - why are you acting so dumb about your own body and care? You need to get in to see your surgeon on get to an ER that has a bariatric department and fast. If you want to keep your band, you better listen to it before it is too late. Good luck. Melinda in Florida

Chasinadream - thanks for your kind note..I am doing OK although still quite sore around the naval and waist area. The plication is doing it's thing, but I do miss my band. Since I always had BOTH I am not sure who was doing all the work. At this point, I am 2 pounds down (in 3 weeks) since revision surgery. I am hungry every 3-4 hours no matter what I eat. I will see my doctor in a couple of weeks and I have a visit with the NUT too so I will know more then. He did tell me that my band had formed scar tissue around the top of my stomach so I would "feel like" I still had my band for awhile...Take care and thanks for asking. Melinda in Florida

Rovobay - Firstly, congratulations on the new baby and the 3 yr old. Now, congratulations to you - yes you, the 320 elephant in the room (yours words not mine) on finally deciding to take the bull by the horn and do something about your weight. PCP - Primary Care Physician - this is your plain old doctor, the one you would go to for a cold etc. He can recommend one or two WLS surgeons in your area that are covered by your insurance. DON't Get Discouraged..this is a very long process. It took me 3-4 months to do all the pre-op stuff and to get insurance approval. Just roll with it..this is for your own good. What type of WLS do you want to have? Well, that is a personal decision and one that should be between you, your wife and your surgeon. We are all different and our medical needs are too. After you have researched the different types, make up your mind and then move forward. I am 62 yrs old. I had my surgery almost 3 years ago (lapband w/plication). My band had to be removed 3 weeks ago due to an emergency and slippage. But I am 124 pounds lighter than the day I got banded and all my medical issues are GONE. I would do this again in a heart beat. Hang in there Rovo - we have all been in your shoes. Ask questions and weigh each option. In the end, you want to loose the weight and you want to be there for your family. They need you - a healthy you and they weight you are now - is not a healthy you. Good luck and best wishes for success...keep us posted. We will be here that's for sure. Melinda in Florida

It does sound like you band may have slipped. INSIST on an x-ray or Floro-scope. Mine slipped and he removed Fluid, and removed fluid but did not tell me about the slip. Then 3 weeks ago, I began vomiting blood, terrible stomach and left shoulder pains..long story short ..Rescue..ER..Surgery..no more band. This can be a very successful and wonderful WLS tool, but when things decide to go south, it can be a very dangerous tool. My stomach was starting to die. PLEASE listen to your body and if you have to, make your doctor do the right tests and ASK QUESTIONS. I am now 2 weeks post op...finally feeling some better. I miss my band but I do still have my plication. Good luck and keep us posted. I hope your situation improves and you get to continue on with your band. Melinda in Florida

On 4/25/14, after 2 full days of pain and vomitting blood, I was rushed to the hospital via rescue. What was happening to me? I thought it was my band and it was. My band had slipped and cut off the blood supply to my stomach. Scar tissue had began forming and the stomach was starting to die. OK, this is serious..That night, my band was removed. I had my buddy band for 2 1/2 years. 120+ pounds gone and I was not having any issues..wow, when I started issues, I really started. I am now bandless and don't know if or when I can have anything else done. Due to my current weight and BMI, I don't think that will happen. Thank you all for being so honest about your problems and fears - post band - I am looking forward to following this thread and with your help, getting through this and moving on. I am still in pain and still have my stitches..I'm trying to be good but I also feel sorry for myself and letting fear take over a bit. Anyone who can shed some light on post-band it is appreciated. Melinda in Florida

Thanks guys for all the well wishes and concerned. I am finally feeling better and on the road back. To "go walking"..I went to my surgeon once a month - every 6 weeks from day one. He did not see this coming either. My band was my "buddy". I had been stuck a few times, been too tight a few times , been too loose a few times but all of that is normal when you have a band. I asked my old surgeon and the new one - What happened??? they don't know. I also commented that it happened so fast and I went from fine to extremely sick and in a dangerous position..he told me yep, that happens- although rarely = but when it does, it can happen just like this. I saw my doctor just 2 weeks (with a flouroscope) before this happened. I am still sore and the doctor said recovery from this takes twice as long as getting the band did. My weight is down about a pound, I am walking one to one and half miles twice a day. I am getting stronger each day. I do miss my "buddy" but I still have my plication so hopefully I have enough tools left to carry on and loose that last 15 pounds. If I was doing this band-thing all over again, I would ! I was a success - I lost a whole person (my grown daughter doesn't weigh but 105 pounds and I lost 124 pounds). I am run down a bit and have to get injections to build my Vitamins back up but that was expected by the doctor. My band was a life saver for me and now I have to go on without it...hang in there and loose your pounds like you should and keep all your doctor's appointments, but be sure YOU LISTEN to your inner self and your band and if something does not feel just right, please don't be foolish like me and wait until morning - get to an ER or your doctor ASAP. Have a wonderful weekend and keep moving forward ! Melinda in Florida

July,2011 changed my life. I got my lapband w/plication and began the journey to a thinner/healthier me. I have lost over 120 pounds, take no medication and feel pretty good. Unfortunately, my band saw things differently and on 4/25 I was rushed to the hospital with a slipped band, vomiting blood and in terrible pain. That night my "buddy band" was removed and cannot be put back due to scar tissue that had developed around my stoma. I still have the plication but no band. I am nervous. I don't know where this is going. Sure, it is easy to say I know how to eat now, I am in exercise mode now,,yadda yadda yadda..I am 62 years old and a weight watchers veteran - I've "known how to eat" for years"..I needed the band to be my reminder of when to stop eating. I am still in some pain and just don't know what to expect now. I go back and see my surgeon today to have the stitches taken out of my poor, sore naval. I have made a list of questions for him. I have had a brief "pitty party" where I ate some no no foods but I did stop. I have been walking - about a mile per day (17-20 min) to get the gas to move on. I don't want to find the "short and chunky" me again. I don't want to be a 22 again - I like being a 8-10 but I am scared. I also don't know about this plication thing..what happens when it goes bad on me - will it go bad on me- so many questions...Has this happened to anyone else and what was your outcome? I am having trouble finding someone who is in my shoes...take care bandsters and please listen to your body.. Melinda in Florida

Well, it has been 10 days since my band has been removed. I feel OK but not great. My stomach hurts, bloated and my naval is a mess. I follow-up with the surgeon tomorrow. I am ready to start feeling better and ready to go back to work. When I had my band installed - I went back to work 4 days later and never had a problem..wow, this is sure different. This is like "real surgery"..I have been trying to get better, but this really kicked my butt. I have numbness in my feet and toes too. I'll have to talk to the doc about that tomorrow too. I have begun walking again - about a mile per day and that seems to help but the pain in my mid-section is something else. Good thing I kept a pair or two of shorts that were too big and stretched out of shape - those I can wear. Nothing can touch my naval/mid-section. No nausea and I am eating (some of the junk I must admit) but I am trying to get in more protein..even if it is in shake form. I will post again tomorrow and let you know what the doctor said. Remember Bandsters - please listen to your band and your bodies. If something doesn't feel right or sound right - PLEASE do something - if it the doctor tells you it is nothing to worry about - it is worth checking it out. I wish I had listened sooner. Melinda in Florida