rachele

Dr. Schweitzer is MY doctor, and he SOO rocks. You have got the best. He did my Lap Band in 2002, I had scar tissue that blocked the tubing and rendered the band useless. Throughout a pregnancy and a short period of time afterward, I regained much of the original 110 (give or take) that I had lost. He gave me the choice of scraping out the scar tissue and starting again. (I feel for you here, because it is devastating beyond devastating to lose it and then regain it) I requested a DS (Duodenal Switch). He was ok with that since my bmi was back up to 40something. Honestly, I think if I hadn't had the problem with the scar tissue that I still wouldn't have been, long term, successful with my band. I am totally an addict, I have never been successful with a diet, and for real, I had to diet with the band, especially after I lost that large portion of weight in the beginning. (Some people may disagree with me, but this was MY experience, and mine alone) The bottom line is for me, I NEED the malabsorption. The DS also removes part of the stomach where the "hunger hormone" Ghrelin (sp?) is produced. This has done alot for me. A restrictive proceedure, which is what the band and the sleeve are, just did not suit my needs. I couldn't eat hardly anything, especially anything that could be considered healthy such as chicken, vegtables and fruit unless it was slathered in sauce (lube!). I was miserable. This is how it went. I gained weight because I ate soft foods because I had a fill we couldn't get out. The soft foods caused more weight gain, which caused the band to be tighter, which caused more soft foods.....you see what I mean? I had UHC, and they approved it without any problems at all. The removal and revision, I mean. Who is your insurance company? I know my primary care doctor had to write a letter recommending the removal, maybe that is what your insurance company means? I had my primary care doctor fax a copy of the letter to Debbie, who was handling all of Dr. Schweitzers stuff, and she faxed them all in together.

Syn Trax has one out called Nectar. It comes in Fruit flavors (Two that come to mind are Apple Ecstacy and Fuzzy Navel) They are great if you stick them in the Magic Bullet with 2 ice cubes. Almost like a frozen mixed drink. Best I've found so far is Profect ( www.profect.com ) I am in no way affiliated, just a customer. This stuff has 25 protein in only 3 oz!! 0 Carbs. And pretty tasty too.

Citracal has 4 types of chewables. Chocolate, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Creme and Caramel. They are like little chocolates, coated outside, soft inside. The Viactives are more like caramels (chewy, ya know?). These have 500 . Calcium Citrate plus D.

It means Non Scale Victory. Something you have accomplished that is not a scale goal. Know what I mean?

Just adding after 3 years of "I can't eat this, I can't eat that" (and not because I wanted junk food-that would ALWAYS go down, I wanted chicken, or a sandwich!) I am absolutely delighted with my DS. Do it again in a heartbeat. I am 1 pound away from my lowest band weight, and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I love it!

Just wanted to add when this was going on with me, cold was 100% better than heat. My orthopedic doctor agrees, but whatever works for you is what's important. That shoulder pain is about unbearable. I was pregnant at the time and went without sleep (except for sitting up with the ice pack) for almost 3 days. Nothing for pain except tylenol or Ibuprofen, I can't remember which you can take while pregnant. I guess they determined mine was from the band getting pushed upward as the baby grew, stimulating some stupid nerve. Ugghhh. I feel for you.

I was the same way, and it got out because someone told someone who told someone.... In the long run it was ok, because I didn't have to hide anything or come up with storys. It is what it is. You will get + and - reactions, just be cool. This is YOUR ride. You're doing what you think is best for you. Overlook your mom. She just worries about you, all moms do it, it's in our blood. Be at peace, sweetie! Your surgery is coming, relax, take it easy and take a load off those shoulders, you have enough to worry about without thinking about what everyone else thinks. YOU live in YOUR body, not them.

Good luck! My 18 year old son loves WoW. Crazy about it. He starts Texas A & M in late August, so he is going to have to back off some. I swear I don't know how he stayed up half the night playing it and still had perfect grades. He could set down and do a paper in an hour. Perfect. Amazing. Anyhow, Good luck and have fun!

Tamiko, If you have Diabetes, I urge you strongly to look into the Duodenal Switch. Here are some links. www.duodenalswitch.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/ http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/about.html http://www.dssurgery.com/generalinformation/comparison.php http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/postdetail/100997.html?vc=0 I had it after 3 years with the band. I love it. Good luck in your journey, no matter where it leads.

I just wanted to say I think you are a true inspiration, not a failure at all, because you didn't quit. You are absolutely not a failure. You've done great, and you WILL do great, because you are experienced, and intelligent. Maybe next time this person will think before they PM. We already have enough to deal with in everyday life, much less a member of our own community calling us a failure.

I wish you the best. Hopefully your recovery will be quick and easy.

That's my bandster baby right up there. She was 150% healthy, weighing in at 9lb 4 oz. I had a normal vaginal delivery and was in labor for almost 3 days. I did have to get my fill removed due to hyperemesis, and yes, I did gain a butt load of weight because I ate like a pig. She is now 14 months old. No worrys.

Hmmm, this is interesting. Having the DS has practically cured my IBS. It's not an issue for me anymore. After years of mapping out every bathroom within a 50 mile radius, I am FREE!

Seconding both of these statements.

Hi. I also developed this post GB removal, which was a few years before my band was placed. It is certainly life changing. I struggled everyday with it and avoided eating at work because I work the assembly line for GM. And the more anxious you get the worse it gets. Forget trying to travel, unless you bring a portapotty with you. Then I pigged out when I got home and could "go" when I needed to. I think this "helped" with alot of the weight gain in the last few years before the band. I think the band helped a little bit. It could have been simply because I was eating alot less and healthier food. The band doesn't change your system at all, except the banded part so I don't think it helped me more than a little bit. What did help me was medication. I had an anxiety disorder which made the IBS much worse. I think I was on Clonazapam. I think. What has almost cured my IBS? My Duodenal switch bypass I got when I had my band removed after 3 years. I go 2 -3 times first thing in the morning depending on what I ate the day before (if I stay low fat 1 time) and don't have an issue at all for the rest of the day. I can eat at any time. I no longer have to search out the bathroom as soon as I arrive somewhere, or determine if I can go somewhere depending on if they have a bathroom or if I will have to stand in line. (which as you know sometimes is NOT an option.) Ok. That's my experience, for what it's worth. I feel for you. I know how it is.

:tape: (me) LBT has been so nice the last few days.... I wish you the very best in your journey.

I'm not Sue, but I play her on TV. Just kidding! I have the DS, revised from a band, too. We are like some restriction/lots of malabsorption. I eat more now than I ever did with the band. We just don't eat as much, but we aren't limited on any foods. Personally, I can't eat anything with white flour (pasta, bread, etc.) I go with the 100% whole wheat. Still don't eat the pasta's though. I don't want to speak for Sue, but I know she has said she has an issue with wheat and goes for the sprouted wheat. If I eat white flours, I have cramping and well, I guess gas pain. I can eat fat, since I only absorb 20% of whatever fat I eat. I do go low fat during the week since I work at GM, and the assembly line is not the time to be dealing with the blooming onion you ate last night. I no longer have to worry about fat free this and lite that, which sometimes is worse for you than just regular old stuff. Malabsorption with this surgery sticks around alot longer than it does with the RNY. Thats why supplementation is so important. Let me say I can eat almost a whole Lean Pocket Ultra, where with the band, I could have ate the inside. Before any surgery I coulda ate both Lean pockets and some chips or maybe a bowl of Cereal. Yep. The difference is with the DS, I feel full, and satisfied. Something I didn't feel very often with the band. I always felt full up to my throat, but my stomach would still feel empty and growling. I guess I will stop now because I gave way more info than you ask for and it wasn't even me you ask! Oh, and about the foreign object thing, Patients from whichever surgery will always come up with something to say. They say what they want to hear to help them justify their choice. I say your choice doesn't have to be justified, because it is YOUR choice. Good info you have there!

Thanks! Alot. LOL! I just put Thanks! and it said my message was too short! OK! Most of the time I say too much!

Elisabeth, Thank you for the well spoken, educated post. So often people forget that, yes it is the safest, but surgery is surgery. I've had the band and the DS, both lap, and recovery was fast and easy (edited to add FOR BOTH). I'm lucky!

You all are doing a damn fine job. I'm far from perfect, and have been slapped on the wrist a few times, but only when I deserved it. :guess I wouldn't want that position, even if it was paid. Thanks...you are appreciated.

I musta missed the first link...you ladies like to share? I wanna spend money, too!

Kim, sorry I missed you in the other post! Here's wishing you well in your journey also. I hope your surgery is textbook! Now both of you, get some rest!

3loves! Congrats on your surgery. Please let us know as soon as you can how you are doing. Just to let you know, you stick in my head all the time now! That statement "Addiction is Managed not Cured" is very profound for me. (I missed that Dr. Phil) Thank You! You are an inspiration, and one of the finest examples of doing your research and going into this thing with your eyes wide open! Good for you, girl!

Yet another reason that Sue is my hero.... And "I was delighted to get rid of something that was making my life miserable" rings true here, too. It's a whole new world.

If you don't even know what a RNY or a DS is, I don't think it is a good idea to go for a bypass. They ARE Bypasses. Do your research or you are setting yourself up to fail. You need someone (a doc, or nutrionalist) to clue you in on the band. Obviously somewhere there was a major breakdown of communication, unless this is a drive-by posting.... edited to add this was directed to BBD or BPD, whichever it was...