leatha_g

Exactly! You will never feel that 'thanksgiving' full again, unless you are eating things that go around the band, like Desserts. The 'full' you feel is farther up, into the esophagus. Very good! Leatha

LOL, you guys are too much. If it's any consolation. I basically got the same treatment on DFW Bandsters today because of my current situation and my concern over the lack of care for people who relocate. Most of these boards are moderated or started by people in the banding business. Either they are nurses for doctors or they're selling banding support. Which is great, but you say one thing that might cause a prospective patient to think twice and they are all over you. Admittedly, I've created something to think about, but I've not once said I hate the band or I'm sorry I got it. I love my band. I'm deeply disturbed that I have this current issue. I'm even more disturbed that the docs are all adopting this rule not to see previously banded patients. To me, those who go before others should give them a heads up about such things, but anyway.. I digress. .. anyway, I understand what it feels like to be asked to basically 'shut up' about certain issues. I'm such a wimp. I even cried this morning when one of them basically negated everything I had been saying as if my experience had no importance whatsoever. Only those who are the 'long term' bandsters with success were valid experiences. Of course I let her know I resented her connotation and I was then asked to drop the thread because it had become 'decidedly' negative.. sigh... oh well. I left the board too, otherwise it really would have gotten decidely negative. Anyway, for those reading. I would get my band over again, even with my current complications and hardship in finding a local doctor, so don't take me wrong. I just think there are some big issues that Inamed and the docs need to address to provide continuous care to their consumer. I rest my case..

Yikes!! That's huge. LOL. So now you know me up close and personal. Sorry it's so big. Leatha

Hi ya'll! Yes. Pouch dilation and slippage are definitely two different things. Pouch dilation would concern the actual esophagus, which would be above the stomach. Slippage occurs when the stomach bulges through the band or the band moves downward. In my case, the pouch is fine, but the stomach has bulged up over the band sorta of creating a bowl type effect above the band. I have a scan of my film, if you want to see. Leatha There are 4 views, all with barium. The upper is with only one swallow but the lower is with more barium. You can see how there is more liquid sitting ABOVE the band, sort of spilling over the sides.

It sounds like he may have had Cardioversion which is basically the same as defibrillating except the person is conscious and having an episode of rapid heartbeat that does not convert itself back to normal. Usually one of these episodes can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours, even days. I've had them for up to 8 hours at a time, which takes a lot out of you physically. Cardioversion is all external with defib pads and a jolt of electrical activity that hopefully will stop the irregular activity and result in the normal rhythm taking over again. There is a mis-conception that defibrillation is a 'jump start' of somekind, while it is actually used to STOP the abnormal rhythm in hopes that the normal sinus rhythm will resume. I never had cardioversion, but I did have it threatened to me. Ultimately, I was more afraid of that than just finally having the ablation. I'm glad I did. Hope this answers your question. Leatha

Ablation is where they insert a catheter into your heart and go in with a laser to essentially burn the pathway of this electrical mis-fire that causes the rapid heartbeat. It's basically the same as an angiogram, I believe, except that while they are in the heart they actually zap the area that is causing the problem so that you no longer have this rapid onset of excessive beats. In some cases, a person has more than one accessory pathway, so they have to zap more than one area in the heart.

I just read something on another board that really has me upset. I hear yet another fill person has established the rule of not seeing anyone else's patients other than the doctor he partners with. In my move from California back to Texas, I've spent the past nearly 8 months trying to secure a local physician for follow up care only to have the door slammed in my face. That was bad enough, but now I've learned that I have had slippage for well over 3 months. Thank God it's not urgent! YET!! What will people do? This seems to be the rule of thumb all over. People move. Doctor's die or move. Will we just have this band inside us and not be able to get medical care unless it's urgent? What is Inamed's take on this? Is it legal to refuse people treatment based on where they got their band? I have to once again call a new doctor tomorrow to see if he will see me. I also will be speaking to Inamed directly and you can bet I'm going to be asking these questions. I'd be interested to hear other theories, but I'm thinking a Patient Advocate Council might be a good idea. :phanvan Leatha Plano, Texas

What is your age, Mary? I'm sure you'll be fine, but IF it is an electrical problem don't hesitate to let them do an ablation. I was scared of it for over 22 yrs. It's a very common procedure these days and it works. Like the other poster I had bouts of sometimes up to 8 hours of the rapid rhythm, over 230 beats a minute and with age, it was only getting worse. Sometimes several times a day, for long periods or waking up in the middle of the night. I took meds for years, but once I conceded to having the ablation, it was fixed immediately. I also had the sporadic heartbeat (it's called ectopic) that used to set it off, but it's never run-away like that since. Now, it's hard to believe how much it really impacted my whole lifestyle. Good luck on your doctor visit! Leatha

Yes. I get the feeling they're keeping things very close to their chest right now. It seems there is quite a rash of slippage cases going around. Not everyone is having the symptoms that normally come with slippage, either. There is an air amongst the people I read everyday of secrecy and sugar-coating the issues, especially if they're involved in lucrative ventures involving the band. I love my band. I want it to be working. I fear losing it, but I do not believe it's morally right not to tell the whole truth to prospective patients. Leatha

Haha. That'd be great, but I'm in Texas. If I'm gonna go to Cali, I'd just go back to Dr. Wetter who did my surgery to begin with. This is actually an option right now, but I think I need local care. Everyone needs local care. Thanks anyway! Leatha

Yep. and that morally and ethically sucks. What are the repercussions down the road with that kind of continuity of care? If the band is for 'life' then what mechanisms are put in place to maintain it for life. I'm not the only banded person to ever move away from my doctor. Doctor's die, they change professions, they get thrown in jail for tax evasion. I can understand to a point about not wanting to take patients banded out of the country, but for someone who has been banded inside the states with an FDA approved band, there should be something in place for continuity of care. I spoke with Denise at Inamed this morning and she agrees, but has no good resolution. She is however, tracking my entire banding history and documenting the malfunction. I am to speak to her again next week. In the meantime. I have located a local doctor who does agree to see me, however, I have to start all over at the beginning. I have to have an Upper GI on Friday, then I see him on Tuesday the following week. Then they say I'll need an EGD, well geez. If we see the band is slipped, why can't we just fix it? You can look around while you're in there. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Can you tell I'm a bit frustrated? Anyway. I think this is a crucial issue and is only going to become worse as more people jump on the 'band'wagon, so to speak. No one is telling them you must see only this doctor forever and ever amen. It's all about how great everything is and selling bands. Yes. I love my band. I am terrified of losing it, but I'm even more terrified of having an urgent situation and emergency surgery due to lack of medical care. Leatha

I like to have Protein bars for Breakfast. I'm often in a hurry and don't know how the rest of my day might go so I grab a Detour or U-Turn bar which has about 30 grams of protein. I've also become great friends with my local Schwan's delivery man. They have lots of good, individual portion meats which are very tasty and easy to prepare. it's a bit more expensive, but I'm more disciplined if I walk in, turn the oven on, throw in a crab cake, or piece of baked scrod or turkey filet than if I go out to eat or go scrounging for something easy. Good luck ! Leatha

Sounds like they got a bit rough, actually. Be careful how much poking you let them do without flouro. If they don't get it by about the 3rd try I'd be asking for flouro. Better that than a leak in your tubing. Just my 2 cents. Leatha

I quit smoking in September, before my surgery in May. I'm a slow, deliberate sort of person. I sort of had all this in mind, with no deadlines or strict regimens. I contemplated it for months. I moved to California where they want your firstborn for a pack of cigarettes, not to mention how they look down their noses at smokers, so I had incentive - in addition to my horrid health at the time. I left Philadelphia one day and smoked my last cigarette on the way to the airport. Got on the plane heading for Cali and haven't smoked since. I have certainly missed it, but that, along with my lapband is probably the two best things I've done for my health in years. Good luck to you. Leatha

Well, all these introductions seem fairly recent. Interesting, since I actually joined this forum when it first started a year ago. :-) It's interesting how much we all really do have in common. As for me, my name is Leatha. I am 43 yrs old, about to be 44. I am single now, since 1998. I was married over 20 yrs and have two beautiful children. Mimi is 22 and Jeremy is 18. Mimi and her husband currently live here in Texas with me and my son is in Ca. with his father. We just returned to Texas after living in northern Cal for nearly 2 yrs. In that time, I had my band placed by Dr. Albert Wetter in San Francisco. I originally sought surgery in Texas, but due to having Systemic Lupus and a history of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the guy I wanted refused to do my surgery. I travel 100% for my job, so it didn't really matter where I lived. My daughter and son-in-law wanted to move to Cali to be closer to my ex-husband and son, so I went with them for awhile to help with expenses. I had met another lady online who also had Lupus and had a history of clotting problems who raved about her surgeon, Dr. Wetter so my mission in moving was more selfish. I had banding in mind. We moved in August, 2002 and I gained an additional 20 or so pounds. I reached my all-time high of 250 lbs. At 5ft even, my body was ready to give-in. My cholesterol reached a whopping 309 and I had to make a choice of whether I was going to fight this monster or die. I wasn't through living, so I put in motion my quest to be banded. I was banded successfully on May 29, 2003 and was the first person ever to have a vena cava filter placed at the time of my lapband surgery. Thankfully, I never developed high blood pressure or diabetes, but I knew those weren't far behind, if I made it much farther without a cardiac event or stroke. To date, I have ONLY lost 55-60lbs and am currently un-filled due to a recent diagnosis of slippage. Interestingly, my slippage has been totally silent, until I recieved an overfill from someone who called my 'slippage' 'pouch dilation'. Even with pouch dilation, he should have UNfilled, instead of overfilling. Even then, I only had nighttime reflux which I had not had at all before. As for my history with weight. I was a very vivacious teen. Very curvy but petite. I thought I was 'fat' at 124. Boy, what I wouldn't give to be that 'fat' again. Interestingly, I went from that 18 yr old at 124 to nearly 200 lbs by the time I was 20. All I can attribute that to is depression and a change of activity. I married a man who didn't dance or swim, which I had always done with gusto. We ate out instead. Not his fault really. I allowed it to happen. Again, I think depression played a large role. I, too, am the daughter of an abusive alcoholic and have done much research into co-dependency and the over-eating correlation. I find to be a very common link to many, but not all of us. So, that's quite alot about me before and up until now. Now, I am waiting for tomorrow morning, so I can call Denise, from Inamed, back. She called on Friday. I missed the call, but I'm sure it has to do with my emailing Don Mills to tell him I'd been told I had slippage. I am also on a quest to locate a surgeon in the DFW area who actually sees new patients and takes my insurance too.I really would like to get this slippage seen about before it presents with more serious complications and I really cannot afford to gain any of this weight back. I had just gotten to a place where I could see the 180's coming and now I'm just trying to keep from gaining. So, thanks for allowing me to return to the group after so long. It has been a really great, but busy year. Thank God I was allowed to live it. :-) Leatha May 29, 2003 Dr. Wetter 250/194/wherever I stop, but not here.

Exactly. Dr Benavides saw me and was quite happy to take me as a patient, however, SCOR was not contracted with my insurance. So that fixed that. Veninga has started doing bands and I've ready many testimonials by patients that seem to love him. I'm a bit leary of anyone who hasn't done lots and lots of bands but what choice do I have? I could fly back to San Francisco, but I really need to establish a doc here and he sounds like he's the guy. Wish me luck! Leatha

I had my band placed by Dr Albert Wetter, in San Francisco. I moved out there for about 15 months and came running home to Texas. I left, thinking he would be able to refer me directly to someone he knew would see me. That didn't work out exactly how he lead me to believe or how I envisioned. Now, I'm having issues and I seriously need a doctor. Looks like I'll have to see Veninga since he's on my insurance and the others aren't interested. I've only heard good things about him, though, so that's good. Leatha

Hello Seanmama, We're neighbors. I live in Plano also. There are other places to get fills in the DFW area, however, it may cause your doc not to want to follow up afterwards. I'd be cautious of that. Cribbins/Hamn especially are very adamant about NOT seeing other physicians patients. Dr. Maese in Ferris, Texas is excellent and has done more fills than anyone in the US. There is also a Dr. Dobson in Arlington whom I'd be a bit cautious of. He doesn't do surgeries, has little experience with bands and even misdiagnosed my slippage - calling it pouch dilation, when in fact, my pouch is perfectly fine. Not good, I'd say. It sounds as if you've gotten the issue worked out, possibly, but I'm with you. If WE pay these doctors, insurance or not, we should get the benefit of what we've paid for. One knows whether they can eat a whole tuna sandwich, bread and all or not, much better than the doc or nurse looking at a silly questionaire. My banding doctor tried that at first too. Saying he'd rather I try to lose myself than being too aggressive with fills. I just told him I had invested alot of time and money in this device and I felt I should have the right to say if and when I felt I needed the additional help restriction provides. That is, after all, WHY we got the band. Everyone knows, 'dieting' doesn't work. Anyway.. good luck to you. Leatha

I have systemic lupus and have been banded for one year. I don't know if that's good or bad, however, I also had a history of dvt/pe and my weight was surely not helping that situation. My weight loss has been slow and I've recently found out I have 'slippage'. I do not think my autoimmune disease had anything to do with that, but I know I'm far more healthy than I was at 250lbs. I wish you luck with your current issues. Leatha

I had what they call PSVT for years. This is a sudden onset of tachycardia which is, I believe, anything above 100 beats per minute. Mine went upwards of 230 beats per minute for over 22 yrs. I had it ablated in 2000. The sudden onset is sometimes also caused or agitated by the vagus nerve - or vagal stimulation, which I have heard mentioned in some lapband conversations. It is worth discussing with your doctor. In my case, I could simply bend to pick something up, or step off a porch in such a way that I would set my tachychardia off. Either way, it is good to have this tachycardia documented for your caregiver, for sure. Luckily, in many cases, although the experience is frightening and often takes alot out of you, physically - tachycardia is more a nuisance than life threatening. It is most often simply an electrical mis-firing inside the heart. There are great meds that can manage it, or even ablation which can take it away permanently. If that is the case. Don't put yourself through the misery for 22yrs before you have it taken care of. As always, let your doctor make a diagnosis. I'm simply sharing my experience to let you know it really is very common and most often not life-threatening. Good luck to you! Leatha Plano, Texas

Good luck to you. Many doctors will not do fills on patients they did not do surgery on to begin with, then, to do a fill on a device not yet approved in the United States could present a completely different road block. I hope you find someone! Leatha banded 5-29-03

Don't know about you, but rice does not work for me. It was one of the 'no no' foods on my doctor's list too. I've heard many bandsters say they cannot eat rice. It's one of the only things that has given me the 'hard stop' immediately. Good luck to you.. congratulations on your PB.. ? lol.. Leatha Rohnert Park, CA

YIKES!! I JUST had a cup of Wendy's Chili.