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Marie: Yeah, I'm not too happy about that. I may have over-reacted in calling them, but it does seem that someone from the office should be available for such situations - especially since it is not exactly the middle of the night. It's still working hours for most of the world. As far as gum being a problem, I remember that someone posted something about swallowing gum (it may have been on another board) and the advice seemed to be, "Call your doctor immediately!" Others said they had been warned that one thing you should never do is swallow gum. Naturally, nobody from Dr. Spivak's office cautioned me about that, but that's because I got no instructions from them whatsoever other than to stay on liquids for two weeks and mush for two weeks. I never even got the Inamed booklet. But if you swallowed the gum yesterday, it obviously has not caused a problem for you. I think the concern is that it can get stuck and cause a blockage at the band site. I was supposed to go for a fill yesterday, but a situation came up at work and I couldn't go. Now I'm glad I didn't because that would only make the gum situation worse. Donali: OK, I'll try the Peanut Butter when I get home. Thanks for the suggestion. Nancy

Thank you and thanks for checking with Jessie. I am drinking some warm tea now. I can swallow, but the gum feels like it is stuck in my throat. But Jessie's response is reassuring. I just thought I had heard of disasterous results with swallowing gum and I was picturing it creating a sticky web right at the band site. LOL Jessie and I think alike. I did actually think of going to the cafeteria (I'm at work) and eating some mayo.

Thanks for sharing your story. You've done a great job in losing weight and in changing your relationship with food. Way to go! Nancy

My brother and sister both mentioned to me that they thought I should consider wls and I was very offended. I still wanted to believe that I could do it on my own even though the last ten years experience provided plenty of evidence that I couldn't. When they suggested weight loss surgery I felt it meant that they didn't believe in me. It sounds kind of crazy to me now, but that's how I felt at the time. Your friend certainly knows he can come to you if he wants more information about the lap band. My advice is to leave it at that. Nancy

Alex, congratulations on the trainer. I had one a couple of years ago. It helped me for as long as I was able to afford it. It kept me coming to the gym whether I wanted to or not. And I think it probably will help your mood. I know I always feel better when I exercise regularly. Also, working towards a goal helps my mood and the trainer will help you with that. I just hope your trainer is a happier person than mine was. Mine would complain to me the entire time about how much she hated her job. It was a real motivator, let me tell you! Had to laugh when you mentioned the car. I've been in the dumps recently, too, and I, too, was fantasizing about buying a new car. I'm not sure what I thought it would accomplish, but alas. . . I don't need a car payment. Nancy

What Leatha said. I did have my band slip. I was getting a lot of things stuck and was vomiting a lot. Two weeks of being unfilled fixed the problem. Nancy

Maureen, I am so sorry this is happening to you. Nothing is quite so frustrating and scary as doctors who do not agree. I am wondering how much experience your band surgeon has. His comment that the band sometimes takes years to form is bizarre, frankly. I've never heard anything like that. The part of the stomach we call the pouch is formed the moment the band is filled (or prior to that if there is adequate restriction). Also, the comment about not having a patient who doesn't follow orders would be a little off-putting for me. I am not saying this to add to your anxiety at all. but it almost sounds as if you need a third opinion. Good luck. Hopefully you will have answers with the esophagram. Nancy

I wish I were brave enough to try toast. I miss bread a lot. but the fear that it would get stuck is enough to keep me away from it. Nancy

You might want to ask him where he will put the port. My understanding is that research has shown there are fewer port problems when the port is placed just under the sternum (breastbone).

Congratulations!

Hi, Birdee. I'm glad you posted because hopefully you will see that you are not as much of a slow loser as you think you are. I remember that when I was about six months out, someone posted asking everyone how long they had been banded and how much weight they had lost. I had lost about 35 pounds at the time, which I thought was a dismal failure. But I was surprised to see that many others had lost about the same amount at six months. Now I'm 11 months out and I've "only" lost 56 pounds, but I had more to lose than you did. As I've said many times, I eat the wrong things and I'm trying to change that. But I definitely don't feel like a failure! I feel great! I'm not merely 55 pounds slimmer than I would have been without the band. It's probably more like 65 pounds, because I surely would have continued to gain weight without the band. I know I'll get closer to my goal as time goes by. In the meantime, I'm happy with my progress. I hope you can perhaps re-evaluate your progress and know that you are a success, not a failure. Nancy

Lisa, re: the wig: I have short curly black hair. I'm trying to picture how we can combine this with your long blonde tresses and come up with something that I could wear to work Nancy

Hi, Jennye! Good to hear from you again. How's your mom? Nancy

Leatha, I just love that Anais Nin quote by the way. Nancy

Shelly, you look great! And you have a beautiful smile! Congratulations! Nancy

I'd be careful with the popcorn. I love it, too, but unfortunately I found I could eat as much as I wanted even with the band - and I wanted a lot. So I've found it's best not to tempt myself. Nancy

Hi, Anne. I'm so sorry about your problem. I, too, had a leaking band. Now my fills are done with a solution that is a little thicker than saline and my band has held that fine. I don't know if this would work for you, but it might be worth a try. I don't remember what the name of the solution is either, but if you are interested, I can call my doctor's office to find out. Nancy

Correction: I think they said I had a slipped band rather than a stretched pouch. But honestly, I can't remember. Sorry for the confusion. Nancy

I wish I knew what to tell you, but I'm in the same boat - but I've been banded a lot longer and it's only in the last few months that I've really noticed the hair loss. It's getting to be an obsession with me. I know that I never really get enough Protein so I think in my case that may be the problem. I just hate eating protein so much that it's hard for me. What I can't figure out, is why now? I was a complete vegetarian before getting banded. I'm sure I get more protein now that I've started eating meat again (yuk). I have definitely upped the Vitamins since this started. Well, if this continues, maybe we can put our heads together and come up with one head of hair. Good luck! Nancy

Thanks, Alex, for a necessary post. Sometimes this board is like my diary: If you read it, you will think that my life has been one problem after another because I only write when I have a problem. My two cents: I have been banded for almost 11 months. I lost 50 pounds (almost 1/2 my excess weight) in the first 6 months. Unfortunately, since then, I've really had trouble with "eating around the band" - eating all the wrong things, in other words. I had an episode of what my doctor thought might be a stretched pouch about 6 weeks ago. I had to have a total unfill and since then have had a partial re-fill (they didn't want to do it all at once). Tests show my band is in perfect position, no problems. Once I get my restriction back, I am hoping that I will be able to get back on track. I am in therapy to work on my "head hunger" issues. Despite having had to struggle a lot with my old bad habits, I am thrilled with the band. I look SO much better, all my health problems have resolved, and I feel so much happier and more confident. Best of all, despite my bad behavior, I have not re-gained one ounce of lost weight. I think that is because you can eat around the band, but only to a certain point. I can't binge like I used to. Nancy

I am a champion burper since getting banded. Right now I don't have much restriction, but I still burp a lot. Only for me, it is usually right after I eat. Any eight-year-old boy would pay a lot for my burping skills! Nancy

Normal! I'm disappointed in myself. Of course if only I could remember more about my troubled youth, I might have scored higher! Nancy

Way to go, Alex! I'm proud of you for exercising, too. That's an NSV all by itself! (said Nancy, who has fallen off the exercise wagon) Nancy

Well, it's true that with proper restriction you should feel full pretty easily when eating solid Protein such as meat. And only you know what you are feeling, but I'd be willing to wager that the food is getting stuck in your band and not your esophagus. This feeling is felt in the chest/throat area usually. Which is good. It means you do have some restriction, but maybe not quite enough. Are you losing weight? I do agree that figuring out the band is complicated. I've decided that my relationship with my band is like any healthy relationship: We both have to learn how to talk to and listen to each other. Nancy

Kelly, even though he is your doctor, too, something is very wrong with how he dealt with your sister. Obviously, your sister got the band because she had difficulty losing weight before hand. Now the doctor has returned her to that pre-band state and has told her to lose 10 pounds before he will allow her to use the band again! It's outrageous. And, as has already been mentioned, her weight loss was great! The doctor is being disrespectful and punitive and if it were me, I would give him exactly one opportunity (free of charge) to explain himself and apologize. Otherwise, I'd be looking for a new fill doctor. Nancy