DELETE THIS ACCOUNT!

Don't assume everything is band related. Make an appointment with your doctor to have it checked.

Define twisted? Do you mean rotated around your stomach or actually a twist in the band? I'm guessing it's not an actual twist in the band or he wouldn't be planning a fill, fluoro or not.

Are the risks involved with getting the band increased by not following the guidelines post-op? Is the erosion, slippage, etc something that can happen either by fault of the device or user? Yes, in fact not following the post op guidelines puts you at huge risk for a slip or other complications. Patient compliance is crucial with the Lap Band, without it, you're setting yourself up for failure. That includes cheating on the healing post op diet- it's a huge mistake that sadly we see a lot of people make. As far as slips/erosion, they are possible. It's important to realize that only 5% of serious band complications arise by no fault of the patient. So, in other words, if you're following the rules and doing what you should be doing then you have a 95% chance of never having a serious complication. Here's the study to back up those numbers: http://www.futurity....p-band-surgery/ Is it possible when you have met your weight-loss goal and feel confident that would be able to manage your weight and are able to carryover the new habits and lifestyle that you can have it removed permanently? The band is meant to be forever, and the reason being is if you have it removed your appetite will come back with a vengeance. The band is meant to allow you to be satisfied on much less food for much longer periods of time. Without the band, you'd be starving and feeling the need to eat a lot more often and much greater food portions. I've never seen someone successfully maintain their weight loss after band removal unless they revised to another weight loss surgery. For those of you who have the band, what scared you the most or made you hesitant about getting the band? Honestly? Nothing made me hesitate. The odds were great that obesity related diseases would eventually kill me. The band would give me a tool to help me live. For me, it was a no brainer. The band wasn't an option in my mind- it was a necessity.

The Biotin gel caps I take are about the size of a pea. I have no problems whatsoever swallowing them. Perhaps ask your doctor if it's safe for you take?

There is no way for you to tell. The only way you can know is to have your stomach and band checked by a bariatric surgeon.

I totally agree with hazelsbliss. It is totally irrelevant if you were in the Green Zone, the point is now for whatever reason you're not. To make it worse, you're showing signs of a slip. This simply can not be left as is or you're risking your health. You need to get into your surgeon ASAP. It can't wait.

To restart your meds, I'd ask your bariatric doctor. To know if your pills are safe to crush or cut, I'd ask your pharmacist rather than either doctor.

Ask your doctor because everyone's needs are different. Also, don't cut or crush any pills without checking with your pharmacist first. Some are time release and if you cut or crush them it can result in an accidental overdose. Best wishes.

I totally agree with lellow. He's a great article you should read called "Tighter Isn't Always Better" http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/tighter-isnt-always-better-r118

Did your doctor's office explain why what you did was so foolish and not to do it again? It has nothing to do with weight loss and everything to do with healing. Your stomach has been sutured, manipulated, and squeezed with a silicone band. Not following your doctor's post op plan puts you at very high risk not only for a slip but ripping those new stitches holding your band to your stomach. I understand you didn't feel well because of a lack of nutrients, but we've all been through it and we all survived. I don't mean to sound so harsh but the truth is, you just have to suck it up and deal with it. It's temporary and it's also necessary to allow your body to heal. If you're smart, you'll go back on your doctor's post op diet and stick to it.

Nice attempt at a scare tactic. If you actually wanted inform people rather than spread unfounded fear, you'd have titled this thread more appropriately. For instance "Especially for Newbies- Don't Be Stupid" I feel horrible that this woman died but it was 100% preventable and due to her own ignorance. Like so many others we see, she seemed to think excessive vomiting was either normal or worse she thought losing weight was worth the vomiting. This has nothing to do with WLS and everything patient ignorance. ...btw, don't you ever get tired of spreading your BS fear mongering all over these forums? Exactly why do you hate the Lap Band so much?

While there's no guarantee anything will prevent or help hair loss, sometimes the right nutrition and supplements can help. Not only will weight loss cause hair loss but so can surgery. In the past, I'd always had thinning hair after being under anesthetic. This is actually very common. I started taking Biotin a year ago. I had two surgeries in less than a month this spring and have had zero hair loss. I firmly believe the fact I was already on Biotin before the surgeries, and eat a healthy diet, is the reason I didn't lose any hair.

I know it's frustrating, but be glad he rescheduled. I've heard of others who cheated on their pre-op diet and didn't shrink their liver enough. As a result, they were wheeled into surgery and came back out with all the scars but no Lap Band because their livers were too fatty to safely complete the surgery. So really, it's better to reschedule than to go through surgery and come out without a band.

You definitely have a lot to deal with. Some of it is out of your control, some is not, so start with the things that are in your control to change. -Stop grabbing junk food to eat. Get it all out of your house if you need to, but it's just as easy to grab an apple or a piece of cheese as it is junk. -Get on an eating schedule. I don't have ADD, but my son is ADHD and I see how the meds effect him. Like you, he has zero appetite during the day but at night he is ready to eat like a horse. You have to realize your appetite is low from the meds and compensate accordingly, even if that means a small healthy snack when you're not hungry. For instance, my son is never hungry enough for lunch so I will cut up an apple and put Peanut Butter on it for him. Or I'll take a piece of lean deli ham and roll some cream cheese into it and offer him that. Neither are meals but they're good Protein Snacks his body needs- even if he has no appetite. You could do the same. -Stop smoking. If you can afford to smoke then you can afford to go to a real bariatric doctor. Say you're smoking a pack a day- that's approximately $200 a month. Why in the world would you risk your health and waste your money on cigarettes when you need other things, like healthy food and a bariatric surgeon? By the way, I'm an ex-smoker. I quit over 2 years ago for health reasons as well as financial reasons so I know it can be done. -Stop risking your health and band by letting some random nurse fill your band. Do you have any idea the huge risk you're taking? No one except a trained bariatric professional should ever touch your band or attempt to fill it. You're seriously begging for an infection, a slip, or worse. You're in nursing school. Most (if not all) of what I said here you should already know. So, take control and start getting life back in the areas you can. Best wishes.

Make an appointment with your nutritionist. They can help you establish food guidelines specific to your individual needs and point you in the right direction.

Very bad idea. They are nothing more than Fiber that is supposed to expand in your stomach to make you feel full. With the band, this would be begging for a slip. Here's a warning that was issued about Lipozene: A health advisory was released by Health Canada stating the following: "natural health products containing the ingredient glucomannan in tablet, capsule or powder form, which are currently on the Canadian market, have a potential for harm if taken without at least 8 ounces of Water or other Fluid. The risk to Canadians includes choking and/or blockage of the throat, esophagus or intestine, according to international adverse reaction case reports. It is also important to note that these products should not be taken immediately before going to bed." This is just my opinion, but why waste your money on gimmicks when you have a Lap Band?

I hate to tell you this, but the band's job isn't to physically stop you from eating anything. You say you can "eat whatever you want" and that's not likely to change. If you want to over eat, you will, band or no band. The band is there to control your hunger. Once you have adequate Fluid in it it'll allow you to go much longer periods of time without hunger after eating much less food. It's not there to make food choices for you- that will always be your job. Have a look at this link: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

I'm addicted to Reese's Peanut Butter cups. I mean...hardcore. If there's a 1lb bag of miniatures in the house I'll graze on and eat the whole thing. No joke. For me, the only way to control the addiction is to keep it out of the house. If it's not here, then I have to make the conscious decision to go out and buy one. 90% of the time, that is enough to keep from going out to buy some. The other 10% of the time I do indulge but in a single serving and I count the calories. Keep ice cream completely out of your house- it'll help a lot. Hang in there!

It doesn't sound like a stuck episode. If you'd gotten stuck you'd have felt it immediately not hours later. Plus, being stuck has nothing to do with causing diarrhea. Honestly, it sounds like either you have a bug or something else going on.

I think the main question is- are you ready to change your eating habits for a lifetime? That isn't age specific, by the way. That is the case whether you're 16 or 60. It's so important to go into this surgery realizing that the band is a tool, not a magic fix for fat, and that the work will be yours to do. Do you have good support from your family? At your age especially, that will make a huge difference. If you're truly ready for the commitment this surgery entails, and your BMI is high enough to meet the requirements to qualify for it, then I would do it. I know what it's like to go through college and young adulthood obese and it sucks. If you can save yourself from that- more power to you.

How young are you?

My last attempt to Carb Cycle got side tracked by a trip to the ICU lol. But, I have found Carb Cycling works great to break my plateaus. I'm currently losing fine on my own but believe me, if I hit another plateau, I'll definitely be carb cycling again.

Night cough and reflux are classic warning signals your band is either too tight or has slipped. Get in to see your doctor ASAP.

If you can't even keep Water down, you can't wait until Monday. You will get dangerously dehydrated. Call your doctor's after hours number if he has one otherwise go to the ER

On your side is typically the hardest way to sleep post op because it pulls on your stomach. Have you tried a body pillow? I propped myself up on one to sleep on my side and it was great.