leatha_g

I don't know the 'why' of it, but I can attest to the fact that it does happen. Very strange phenomena indeed.

Please don't find yourself in what is called 'soft food syndrome'. You're right, the band can be fickle. One day wide open, the next clamping down on anything. My doctor tells me use warm liquids before I try to 'eat' anything, especially with a new fill. This serves to loosen things up a bit. As you go along, you'll find there are foods just best not tried. eggs seems to be one that don't agree with me at all or never has when scrambled. I can eek by on fried - over medium, but NO scrambled eggs. They just settle too densely in the stoma. Not worth it!. You'll find threads here pertaining to unfriendly band foods that might be helpful as well. For me, pineapple, lobster, scallops, some 'rubbery' textured fish, flour tortillas, breads, pizza dough, even english peas or corn can be problem foods. I don't attempt broccoli, unless it's the florets, same with cauliflower. I just steer clear of them. I do well with things like Tilapia (flaky fish), chicken breasts, tuna, cottage cheese. Got myself a new fill yesterday, unfilled a bit today - so now it's back to trial and error. We'll see! Go slow, take bites no bigger than a pencil eraser and just chew, chew, chew! Good luck!

Wished someone would do my cortisol level. I haven't had it done since the 80's, but I'd be interested to know what it is. So what does one do to get it down from such a high level? Did they say?

Bless your heart! What an experience! I'm really sorry you had to endure this and still not get your band. I can't tell you one way or the other. It's a very personal decision. Just know that we all care and hope that everything works out the way you hope it to! Be well!!

Are those really large?? I usually take my meds with something like yogurt or during my evening meal. I absolutely CANNOT take any pills alone, or even with water alone.

Each Dr is different in their protocol. I'd advise you to ask your dr directly, rather than getting yourself all worked up over what someone else's Dr required. For my first band surgery, I did have catheter inserted in the OR. For my second, I did not. Different Dr's do different things. :cake:

Some docs do require you to inject Lovenox as a precautionary measure to prevent clotting. Not all. It's not fun, but I'd rather do it than have a clot. I keep a supply of this stuff in my home at all times, due to having a history of DVT/PE and taking blood thinners.

:cake: Well, my faith in Dr. Maese has been restored. Yes. He's very self-assured. Even a bit over the top, sometimes. But, I've decided I like the man and I appreciate his knowledge of the band. As was a fear, my night last night was tough. The minute I drifted off to sleep, I was awakened choking on my own spit and unable to breathe. The sudden rise from 3.0 to 3.6 was just too much! :cake: So I spent the night elevated and drifting in and out of sleep and just TRYING to swallow and breathe without effort. I went ahead and got dressed and went to work, but I called Dr Maese's office at 7am, trying to let them know I didn't want to deal with this problem all weekend long. Dr Maese had told me if I had any problems to come back in ONE day. No response from his office, so I called again around 9:30 and left another message on the 'Complete Bariatrics' phone line. No response. Finally, I went to the website, found the numbers to the Dallas office and got a person on the other end of the phone. She said Dr Maese was in the Ferris office today, but he'd be leaving in an hour for the weekend. I told her about my night and the HE had told not to wait, to get it unfilled in ONE day. So I talked directly to the nurse and she said she would do the unfill if I could come right then. I was in Plano, 40 miles away, so I grabbed my purse and tried to keep from getting a ticket on the way through Dallas. Sure enough, I got to the office and Dr Maese was still there! He was so kind and very apologetic after seeing my flouro. I was completely stopped up. He said it was 'the real thing' and that he was SO glad I came right away. Of course, I was apologizing all over the place for keeping him from leaving and he wouldn't hear of it. He said NEVER let it go and if I EVER need him to call him at 7am and have them get him on the phone and he will meet me in Dallas, whatever, but NEVER stay completely closed up and try to live with the nighttime aspiration or not being able to swallow. He removed .2 from the 3.6 and put me in front of the flouro. STILL nothing moving through:spit: . So he took me back and removed .2 more. At 3.2 things are moving again.

Today, my 'goal' is to beat this weight loss stall I've been in for awhile now. I'd like to break the 170 mark and then I can muster the courage to aim at 160. :cake:

This was my first thought as well!!:cake: However, I can say that since being banded, I HAVE run on the treadmill for a stress test (which I could NOT do in the years before the band). And I have been known to get a sudden burst of energy and take a short run with my dog while walking. THIS is a major improvement. Now.. a sustained run, that's a great goal!

I certainly don't want to seem harsh, but I'd like to also point out that at your very low BMI, you're weight loss with the band will be alot slower than someone with a higher BMI as well. I also agree that the doc made a big mistake giving you the VG band which is meant for larger BMI patients. There are many reputable Dr's in Mexico who have their patient's well-being at the forefront of their mission. Unfortunately, this can't be said about ALL doctors anywhere. :cake: I'm very sorry you're disappointed in your choice.

I don't hate them, but just thinking of trying to stuff them through my band makes me feel STUFFED up. :speechles

Unfortunately, Gas-X is really only for intestinal gas. It doesn't help alot with the residual effect of the C02 used to inflate your abdomen during surgery. Walking is really the biggest help for that.. and possibly a heating pad. This too shall pass!!

Awesome! You sound SO much better then before! Congrats on making it through the spinning class. I've heard they're tough! Just think.. each time is easier, right???

Mary, So sorry to hear of your troubles with the band. I know how discouraging this can be. Understand this doesn't have to be through any fault of your own. Slippages can occur without 'reason'. The band just slips upward or downward on the anatomy, or some other sudden jolt could cause it, ie excessive Pbing, coughing, sneezing, lifting. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees. It is simply a known complication of the band. I can't imagine what must be going through your mind, trying to decide whether to do it again or not. Big hugs to you and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Amen! You'll be in my prayers as well. Please let us know how everything goes!

Another possibility. I've had a right, lower quadrant sort of 'stitch' type pain since my second banding. From what I can gather, the doc seems to think it is adhesions.

Victoriana, you make me smile. Thank you! I love a beautiful sunset. I love seeing my family all together and laughing. My brother's face when he looks in the face of an infant. Singing with my sister. Listening to my children talk when they don't know I'm listening. :biggrin1:

Glad you're doing okay! I had a bad experience with morphine as well. Terrible itching, agitation. Scared my daughter also. Amazing how instant the relief was when they stopped it and replaced it with Demerol. Rest up, drink, drink, drink, walk, walk, walk..you'll be good as new in no time!

Interesting.. are you drinking the Water very very cold? Are you sipping, as opposed to gulping? I tended to use a straw (some folks were asked NOT to, due to swallowing air), that way I could continuously sip and NOT gulp. Most importantly, you need to try to get in the 64oz. Please don't become dehydrated. You may try room temperature water, instead of very cold, etc. Not sure this will help you discover the problem, but perhaps something to consider. Glad you're doing well otherwise. Welcome to bandland!

It only works if you're actually ON them currently. Alexandra, your appeal letter was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this question. I still think your appeal letter is the best document I have ever seen regarding the WHY of choosing the band over other surgeries.

You'll get there!! The band truly does surprise you on occasion by tightening some time after the fill. Remember this is a long term project.

:clap2: :clap2: We LOVE collarbones!! One of the first big changes a bandster realizes!! Keep up the good work girly!!

So glad to see you back and I hope both mom and baby are doing well!! Congrats on your new baby boy!

Well. I did it! I went to see Dr Maese this morning and my experience was much better than I had thought it might be. Of course it's still too early to tell how it will all turn out. But, I went to the office this morning because I know my banding experience has not been what it should be since my rebanding 2 years ago. My current Dr does not use flouro and he's pretty much given me the story that this far out I'm on my own , which is pretty frustrating. I've been filled, unfilled, filled again and unfilled again. I have had severe esophagitis, etc. So I'm hesitant and I am SO afraid of nighttime reflux and esophagitis, but I am even more afraid of regaining the weight I've worked hard to lose. So, it's been since March since I last attempted a fill. I've maintained the weight loss, but it's getting harder and harder and of course, my head takes over and I find myself making bad choices, etc. Like so many others on here, I can attest to the idea that the band really works with good restriction and while your anatomy is agreeing with it (the band). Once things start changing (ie, your esophagus fails to send signals, etc) things become far more difficult to manage and far too easy to become un-done. So, with trepidation (I almost backed out this morning), I decided to venture away from the Dr who has been discouraging me and once again, seek Dr Maese's advice as he has been doing fills longer than anyone else in this country and despite my first experience with him (I also found him to be a bit arrogant and too rushed, however he spotted my slippage and never waivered on what to do), I still feel that he has much knowledge regarding what he sees on film and he's at least not wishy-washy with a bunch of redundant stories about skinny tennis players and how they remain skinny(which is what my 'band' doctor does). Honestly, I can say I went expecting to be disappointed. I was SO afraid that my pouch was distended and that he'd scold me and parade me in front of everyone else as an example of what NOT to do with the band. But, guess what?? He was so nice to me. He actually read my file BEFORE he saw me. He remembered, even after TWO YEARS about my slippage. They had me step in front of the flouro BEFORE attempting to do a fill in order to check my band out and look at my pouch and the tech told me immediately that it looks very good. :biggrin1: :clap2: :clap2: . I was so hesitant to believe her. I kept looking myself, trying to find something wrong with the position of the band or see that the pouch was indeed stretched out, but she kept reassuring me, it looks really good. :clap2: :teeth: So he comes back in, tells me he sees immediately what we need to do, (which is to add a fill), but he really encouraged me that all looked good. He understood that since being rebanded my sensations are different. He let me discuss that with him. He did go ahead and bump me up from 3.0 to 3.6, so I'm holding my breath, praying to God that I can handle this fill and that I don't run into anymore discouraging complications. But, I am really so glad that I decided to see someone else for a different outlook on things.