leatha_g

I'm in the same boat. We just gotta keep rowing. 3 years out, my esophagus seems to have given out on me and I no longer get the 'stop' signs, so fills really do very little besides put me at risk of being over-filled and distending the pouch. Disappointing as it may be, it is what it is. It's all about exercise and what we put in our mouths, just like before the band. Fortunately, the band is there as a reminder, it just doesn't stop me like it once did.

Amen sistah!

I did quit, on my own 8 months before my band surgery. I sort of had a plan of regaining my health and I knew I needed to tackle one problem at a time. I quit cold turkey, Sept 2002 and was banded May, 2003. It's been over 3 years now, best thing I ever did for my health. Not easy, but well worth the trouble. Good luck to you!

Nighttime reflux is NOT something to be ignored or toyed with. Aspiration pneumonia is very much a possibility and very hard to get over. ANY amount of nighttime reflux/vomiting is too much. Often, this can be avoided with an unfill, elevating the head of the bed, not eating at least 3 hours before bed, flushing the pouch with water before bed, but often it is a sign of slippage and very definitely needs to be ruled out by flouroscopy, upper GI, etc. There are slips that do not cause any other symptoms, there are slips that only present as nighttime reflux, then there are very painful slips which cause consistent vomiting which actually began as a 'silent' slip and wasn't detected early on. Get thee to a DR if you are having recurrent nighttime reflux, please!!

I would NOT wait 4-6 months for any fill, especially if my doc had a global fee for fills in the first year after surgery. 4-6 weeks?? maybe... My insurance did have to pay for the second surgery, yes.

What you are describing sounds like thrombophlebitis which is an inflammation of the superficial veins. It's pretty common after IV drugs and can become very red, swollen and painful. Warm, moist heating pad is generally the treatment, but as the others say, please consult your doc. I have had this in a vein all the way up my arm. It hurts and makes you generally feel bad all over. I also have a history of phlebitis and DVT in the legs and Pulmonary Embolism. These are not necessarily connected. See these previous posts - http://www.lapbandtalk.com/search.php?searchid=437546

It's very possible you simply haven't reached a point of restriction for your personal anatomy and band. No need to panic. Many do not get what they feel is adequate restriction immediately, depending on band size, anatomy etc, it could take a few fills. Rule of thumb is if you don't notice any restriction after 2 weeks, get another fill. Good luck to you, you'll get there, I promise!

Had mine replaced due to slippage, only lost 20 additional pounds. Seems as if I have esophageal issues now and none of my 'stop' signs are even remotely familiar to my initial band. :confused: Fortunately, I've maintained, but nothing is the same as my initial band.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern!! Yes. I brought mom home yesterday. She is doing pretty well, actually. I guess I'm the mother hen, I am afraid to leave her too soon by herself. I haven't seen my own home since June 4, so I HAVE to go soon, but I just hated to bring her home from the hospital and just leave. She lives right in my brother's backyard, however, both my brothers are away and my sister-in-law and neices and nephews work all day and are only in and out. I don't think they are as concerned about her being alone as I am. I realize I have to leave her, but so soon home, I am just very concerned about if she might fall and have no one around. :eek: Anyway, I am very sorry I won't be in NC, but I am honestly exhausted and need to be making my way back to my own house to check on things. Whew! It's a big job being the only responsible daughter in times like these, but I'm grateful God has allowed me to be here. Thanks again everyone for your prayers and well wishes! Hugs to all...

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Happy Bandiversary Babs!! You've done a great job!! Hard to believe it's been 3 years. We've come a long way!! </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Christina, I am SO SO sorry to hear of this. I truly hope that you are on the road to recovery and that recovery is complete and total. I totally understand the issue of clotting problems and I am very sorry you are having to go through that. Fortunately, those can be managed with drugs, as much as we hate to have to take them. Stroke is a very tragic event:( . I just brought my mother home from the hospital yesterday. She had a stroke on the 11th and now, 5 CT Scans later, she has been released with only speech, mostly expressive, but some receptive problems. We're not sure how long it will take to recover, but the docs feel she will make a complete recovery. We all just have to pray that the meds work to help prevent any further complications, as with you. God bless you and I am praying for your complete recovery. I am so thankful you are home and with time, all will be well. Good luck to you!

After my second banding, I did have some 'strange' pain/numbness in my right upper leg/hip area. I was also told it may have been due to the position they had me on the table. It resolved itself within a few days, but it did make it rather uncomfortable for lying on the bed for more than a few hours at a time. Walking seemed to help.

I've been able to locate mine since day one...

Sounds like slippage to me, also.. And you can find out by asking for your initial barium swallow reports that were done to verify placement immediately following your original surgery. If they were in place on the day you left the hospital, and they look different today, you've got a slipped band.. and yes, it CAN slip down on the stomach... Sorry to hear of your troubles, but really glad you are having it taken care of!! Keep us posted!

Just try to keep the eye on the prize. You knew going into this your food intake was going to be lessened. Hunger pains is definitely something most of us were not familiar with going in, however, we all have plenty of reserves to live on for quite some time. This too shall pass, my dear... with a fill, you'll begin seeing benefits of the weight loss and your body and mind will begin to adjust to the difference in the way you feel too. I guess the biggest NSV for me since being banded is the fact that I never have that 'gorged' feeling of fullness anymore, especially at bedtime at night. I can lie down without feeling stuffed and miserable. After awhile, it actually feels GOOD to be empty..

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Awesome !!!!! Woohooo!!! That's great news!

Maybe there should be a law about folks who cram their way to the front of the line at the airport, even though they're sitting in coach and scheduled to board in the last group called. ? ?? Or how about that ONE FROO FROO lady who holds up the entire plane because she brought on luggage that SHOULD have been checked (rule: if you're not big enough to hoist it into the overhead, DON"T BRING IT ON BOARD). Honking should be reserved ONLY for emergencies. It is downright rude to honk at someone because the light is GOING TO TURN Green at some point. Arghhhh... rude, rude, rude. Don't get me started...

Sounds like you've been through the wringer. I'm with those who think you may have a slippage going on. That reflux issue is very serious. Aspiration pneumonia is serious business. :eek: I'm betting if there is no slippage, you at least have some serious esophagitis going on. Please keep us posted!

I too had a 'silent' slippage that was found after having a fill. It's very possible that if you've had your fill removed, the slippage could 'right' itself on it's own. Or you could manage the pregnancy without having to endure surgery at this point. Or not. I would just encourage you to be very vigilant about any signs or symptoms of further slippage, such as any high abdominal pain or sudden inability to swallow or nighttime reflux such as you've already mentioned. The band CAN and HAS been known to prolapse further, causing much more serious symptoms. Because you are pregnant, this means you have to be ever more vigilant about this. :eek: I'm truly sorry this has happened. In my case, insurance replaced my original band and so far, so good. I really can't speak to the percentages of having 're'slippage. Best of luck to you and I'm sure we'll all be keeping our fingers crossed that you can manage the pregnancy with NO band related issues. Right now, the baby is most important to protect.

I take 5 pills each day at my evening meal, or with yogurt, jello or something to help ease them down without getting hung up.

I found a concentrated Chai Tea Latte that I mixed with Carb Countdown by Hood, or High protein milk. It was devine!

:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Woohoo!! Happy Bandiversary!!!

((((((((((HUGS))))))))) RebeccaLee, :girl_hug: :cheer2: I miss you!! Hope you're doing wonderfully! 3 Yrs for me too, May 27th, 2003:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: .. hard to believe!

:amen: AMEN!

Hamu, So glad you found out what was going on and that you're home safely! Yes, gallbladder problems do erupt due to weight loss. Many of us have had our gallbladders removed after being banded. I was rebanded July 16th, 2004 and my gallbladder was removed exactly 6 weeks later. It is definitely a reality. Good luck with your recovery and take care of yourself!