Bright

Greetings from Ireland again - Well, I guess I'm about due for band issues - I will be three years banded in October - I have a 11cc Inamed band, with a 9cc fill capability - it was filled with 3cc during surgery, and I had one (my first!) fill last year - february 2005 - I had my surgery in Paris, France - and now see a surgeon in England for my post-op care, adjustments etc as the language difference was getting to be a problem.... Anyway, I got my first fill - up to 6cc in Feb 2005 - and everything was going sort of ok - I have lost 92lbs, and then started to put weight back on a little - I have gone up ten pounds as I have been suffering from depression - I got over that crappy 8 months, and decided to go for another fill to re-motivate me and get me back losing - I had purposly left my restriction low for this reason. I went for a fill yesterday to my surgeon in the UK - he also does gastric bypass, and thinks this is a vastly superior surgery for weight loss - his first question to me was "Do you really think the band works? BE HONEST!" . He does the fills blind, so I lay on the couch thingy and he tried to aspirate my band to see how much of the 6cc he can get out - well, he got out NOTHING - I was thinking - "oh no, I have a leak" - then he had the idea of putting in 1cc and then trying to remove that - he put it in, but again could get nothing out... So basically he thinks, I coud have a leak ( a big one ) or my tubing is kinked, where saline can go in, but not be removed - we couldn't stay any longer with him as we had flights booked to go home - I am to go get a barium swallow/fluoroscopy deal done and email him the images - how this will show us what the problem with the tubes beats me but that's what he wants. I asked what does he really feel is the issue? He answered (he's Belgian, so add an accent!) "deep in my heart I feel the band is trouble - get it out" :faint: Anyone have any ideas? I'd be so grateful :success1:

(((((((((((((((((Donali!!)))))))))))))))))))))) miss you loads! So great to hear from you! nothing new really with my band - turns out the revision surgery will cost £2000 (about $3300) so I am kinda putting it off for now...gaining weight by the day so must do something soon! Can't wait til you get to Ireland - email me when you get the chance! Bright xxxxxxxx:Banane20::Banane20:

hi folks...me again....many years later! I had my five year band-a-versary last week and despite some problems, I'm still really happy with my decision! just wanted to update this post on my port/tubing issue...at long last there is now someone offering fills/band care in Dublin and I met with her yesterday to see what she could tell me about my port.... I haven't done anything about it since my last port - life is pretty busy and I tried to "get over it"! Still down 70+ lbs - but have gained and lost 20lbs over the past two years....I am still pretty unhappy with how much I weigh but am still delighted with my loss overall... ANYWAY...the lovely band nurse tried to give me a fill and basically is sure that my port/tubing are disconnected. She has suggested i fly to the UK for a quick revision surgery to repair the port - after having an x-ray to confirm her suspicions - should only be there 24 hours all going well... next available surgery date is 2 december, and I am torn between getting it over with, and scared/worried about the op...typical me! I am a final year psych student and have a lot of work to have finished by february and exams in Jan..(excuses, excuses!) but I guess i should just bite the bullet! for anyone researching...the surgery will apparently cost around £1200 (sterling)= $1900 = €1450 - I am self pay so I guess general anaesthetic will be my christmas present! I have the 11cc band, with a fill capacity of 9cc - and according to the fill nurse, i probably have no Fluid in my band - I still have subtle restriction and am actually feeling quite nervous about having tight restriction for the first time -five years after banding.....is that a record??? oh and love and hugs to any of the "oldies" here who may remember me - this "place" sure has changed...it's massive! any comments/advice welcome Bright xxxx

:huggie: :woot: porn lover! you're back too! yay! I am missing you so much girlie - how's your foot? How's Indiana? email me soon with mucho newso xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Allure & Brenners - yeah I think I'm in the "before and after" picture thread - it's more of a before and during, in my case - studies show that most people will lose 50-65% of their EXCESS weight with the band, and that is exactly what I did - and what most people I have met, three years out have done... Brenners: you can get great shakes at "The Health Food Store" in the Blanchardstown Centre or Nurture in Wicklow St (in Dublin city) - I used them a lot, they are either in a big tub for about 32 euro or in sachets for about 2.50 - they are called Spiru-tein and taste yum! You should buy a few sachets to see which flavours you like. I buy bags of frozen berries (in M&S or Aldi) and make a smoothie using the protein powder, skim milk and fruit. Another great breakfast smoothie is Orange juice, a banana and a dessert spoon of peanut butter. Make sure you get lots of protein in during the first few months - I lost a LOT of hair plus it really gives you the energy to go to the gym! best of luck to you all on your band journeys - make sure to get lots of support - check in here often, even on bad days...it can be a lonely process dealing with this on your own. And despite family and friends being supportive, it's not the same as talking to someone else who has lost or needs to lose ten stone! If you want to email me directly, send me a pm and I'll be happy to offer support and "where I went wrong" tips! Again best of luck xx :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

bumping for the Irish people! You all MUST be back at the pc after the long weekend by now???!!!! Hello?

Phew! great to hear you got through the surgery safe and sound Alex, I'm delighted for you. You sound like your usual calm self - I hope you recover easily and quickly - thinking of you! I'll check in for news of your rebanding soon hopefully xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aw thanks so much Alex - I so miss my "family" here - should log on more but I'm pretending I don't need to deal with my weight/band issues. I often think of you and couldn't believe it when I read this thread....you sound positive & I'm going with that - I'll check in monday to see how you got on - best of luck, love and magic good things! love N xx

Greetings Irish People! I was banded over three years ago in paris and have had ups and downs with the band - I thought I was the only irish banded person ever! Would love to hear from all of you or answer any questions... I don't even know what AC or ACS is....I met someone here (on this board) over three years ago when I was trying to find out how an Irish person could get banded! she was living in Paris, and had just been banded. I met with her surgeon, was banded at halloween (when else!?!) 2003. I go to a surgeon in the UK for fills etc - the last time I went, he was unable to give me a fill - no fluid came out of the port or would go in...eek! He thinks its kinked tubing- I have a 9cc band and really have never had much restriction - so I lost a good bit of weight but have stopped in the last year or so. I am still down over 7 stone which has made a huge difference to my life but i'd love to lose more... I have gone back to college full time (last sept) so my life has been kinda mad recently & I haven't been thinking about the band at all.... I went from a size 32 to a 22, and haven't gone up any, even tho I have no restriction, which is good. I was terrified of regain - I'm sure my weight has gone up/down but I don't weigh anymore, too upsetting/stressful! i just go by my clothes - and happily all my "new" 22's still fit. I am waiting for the summer hols from college to begin in may to restart my band life - ie going back to the surgeon, investigating band problems etc. Anyway I'd LOVE to hear from fellow irish girls - best of luck with your journeys everyone I met on this board were amazing - they were my family for the first year or so - no better band place so enjoy xx

Hi Alexandra I haven't "been" here in months and am so sorry to hear you're having band trouble - hope it's resolved in the best way. Thinking of you, and sending you love and support xx xx xx

Hi Michelle - I haven't had a scope in the three years - when I asked my surgeon about it, he said not only is there no need for a scope but it can be detrimental to the band to have them unnecessarily - I'm not awfully keen on the ol tube down the neck procedure so never insisted - do you think it's important in your experience? I guess when I go back to the UK to further investigate why the doc was unable to give me a fill, he may do and endoscopy. Re the restriction, I don't know if it was psychosomatic or what, but I thought I felt an increase in restriction - to be honest, at this stage, my restriction feels exactly the same as it ever did - since day one of banding. I can't eat much in the morning, but could (and just did) eat two slices of toast slowly later in the day. With a mug of coffee, I can eat about anything (so you'd think I'd stop drinking the coffee wouldn't you?!) sigh - again I'm writing too much! thanks for replying to the post Michelle - hope you're well - I'd appreciate any comments you have! thanks a mil

((((((((((((((((megan)))))))))))))))))) so great to hear from you - you sound really happy and motivated! Re my band - I went to the hospital and did a barium thingy but haven't sent the films to my surgeon in the UK yet - I know, I'm a disaster! I just don't seem to have two seconds to get anything done these days - I am a professional procrastinator! Re College - I started this week! EEEk it's hard! I am doing a BA in Arts, hopefully majoring in Psychology in year two and three - this year I am taking Psychology, (5 scary modules!) Sociology (4 vague modules) and Anthropology (3 fascinating modules!). Three of my lecturers are American too! There is competition at the end of first year for second year psychology - only 30 of 180 can go through - highest results! And the psychology is very math, biology and research based in first year - the professor told us to bring in calculators and anyone expecting tissues and the foetal position should leave now!!! I nearly left! It's full time too which is hard on my little family but I'm determined to do it - I was (actually) going insane at home all day, eating then freaking out - now I'm bustling all over the campus trying to find the right lecture hall - forgetting to eat my lunch! I am scared to find out I will need surgery to repair what ever is going on with my band so I am kinda pretending nothing is happening - but I guess I have to face up to it - I'll definately post and let you know what transpires! In the meantime - lots of hugs Megan (and anyone else!) - thanks so much for thinking of me - And bloody well done on losing 85lbs - you look fab in your avatar - you TOTALLY are a sucess - or as my 16 year old would put it - you're a ledge! (meaning short for "legend" - meaning v damn cool!)

I agree Sue - that's what I'm saying. I don't need my surgeons emotional support or approval - just their skills as knife men! A positive attitude will go a long way to making you one of the lucky ones who lose 100% of your EW - all the great achievers (in any walk of life) didn't aim for "average" - but it is really important to know what the statistics are - while the weight loss stats for the band are lower than any other WLS, there are many advantages to the band too - I weighed it all up - and with straight talking european surgeons who aren't afraid of giving their opinion, I made the band decision.

PS I avoid weighing myself too often - I try to go by my clothes - if I go up a few pounds I find it really upsetting and it usually sets off a "it doesn't matter anymore...." binge - anyway weighed this morning and I weigh 252 - oh my god - that's 22lbs from my lowest ever....I'm going back to bed.....

Hi Leatha, yes, you're right, they haven't injected anything into my port/tubing yet. My surgeon in the UK wanted me to get the barium swallow first (I don't know why) to check all was well with the band - positioning I guess - so after he gets the films of that, he will let me know the next step - I PRESUME he means to inject the tubing with something contrasting? Would this be a fluoroscopy procedure too?

hi Vera - doc didn't say anything about the plunger springing back -though it makes sense - if there is a kink in the tubing it would "suck" the saline past the kink but act like a valve and not allow it back down. I had my gp check around the port site (just with her hands, wasn't opened up or anything) and she thinks there is a lot of scar tissue around the port - I'm wondering if the port has come away from the tubing completely, but being held in place by the scar tissue? Would this by why when he couldn't aspirate the Fluid in my band, he then added 1cc to see if he could aspirate that - he couldn't! It's either a pretty big leak or the tubing's come away....? thanks for all your helpxx hey Babs - the surgeon is definitely biased towards RNY/GB/DS - I almost thought about converting to one of them for a couple of days after the fill incident but I keep finding the same reasons I decided not to have these surgeries in the first place. The gastric bypass in now performed in Ireland, paid for by the national health executives if you qualify etc but I STILL wouldn't have these surgeries. I made my choice at the time and I still feel the band has many advantages. I have spent a long time being very depressed at home - at my worst I gained 10-20 lbs- I am now feeling much better, am about to start full time college :help:, I have rejoined a gym and am feeling much more positive about life in general, not just future weight loss - my eating problems will probably always be around - it's my head I need to deal with - the band helps - sometimes a lot, sometimes a little. I completely agree with you - no weight loss surgery is perfect thanks for you advice - I'll see what Allergan have to say - it does some manufacturing in Ireland would you believe! Shell - thanks for your comments but I'm happy with my doc - I don't need him to support me 100% - just to sort my band issues out! Gonnabethin - I thought that the barium would go straight through my band - but I expected the flow to narrow at/after my band site - it didn't - the liquid flowed through showing I have little or no restriction. Sometimes people get a very tight fill and the fluoroscopy will show the barium pooling in the pouch, pausing a sec, then flowing slowly out to the stomach - this would be way to tight I feel! hope this helps.

Nodding in agreement with you Penni - well said! My granny used to say "if you haven't anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" I try to live by this (except obviously when people wear vile clothes and I have to be Undercover Fashion Police and make an arrest...) and just ignore anyone obnoxious - like Alexandra pointed out, the poster of the offending comments is the one who looks bad - no point in stooping to their level. by the way - what's this all about? What did I miss????!!!!!!!! only kidding. ish.

Hi Michelle just saw your reply - thanks hon xx yeah, if you read my epic novel above you'll see I don't think I have a slip or erosion as I have a consistant level of restriction - the only time I get some real restriction is at that time of the month.... I don't know about another doc giving a fill - my gp is DYING to have a go but I keep telling her "no!" - would they have to get permission from Inamed or what? does anyone know? It would save me a lot of money!!! Hope you're still in honeymoon bliss stage Michelle xx

Thanks so much for replying to this so quickly guys - so great to get the info - I wish I posted last night, and went to the hospital with more questions - the Irish docs were so helpful but it was all new to them. Alex - thanks for your usual warm wishes :clap2: - you're right (as usual) - I'm healthy! I had all my blood work done recently and was thrilled to have a cholesterol (sp?) level of 4.6, normal liver, normal blood sugar etc which gave me a great boost after being morbidly obese for ten years, it's great to have a clean bill of health after the few weeks of being concerned about my band. Vera - I did read all your "kinky" posts when you were having tubing issues - and when I was with the surgeon getting the fill, I remembered even then your problem - my doc had only seen one kinked tube before and admitted it may be the problem. When he tried to aspirate the fluid in the band he got absolutly nothing back - he tried a few times to no avail. He then inserted 1cc and wasn't able to get that back out either (immediately) - he didn't mention if the plunger sprung back and there was no yellow/other fluid. :scalesno: :) He will tell me more I guess when he gets the films from the flouroscopy today and go on to the next step which I guess is injecting the tubing with a colour dye (thanks for the reference to it, I'll mention it to him!) thanks for all your comments - knowledge is power and I am finding I mostly go around here explaining TO the doctors rather than the other way around - thanks so much Vera - hugs back xx xx Babs - so great to hear from you ! I'm glad you're over the PS - hope it wasn't too dreadful a time - and I'm sorry to hear you are having the pouch dilation issues - now I'M worried I have that (could I be more self-absorbed...?) - I hope it's resolved soon and you don't need any surgery. I had this fill problem a few weeks ago now, and I know my restriction is the same as it has been for the past 18 months or so. I rarely have a problem with eating something - sometimes I get hiccups or if I have eaten too much I feel discomfort an hour or so later - so I guess this means the band alone is providing the bare necessity of restriction. Re the surgeon and the "banding emergency" - he is belgian and I know you lived in the Netherlands for a while - the europeans do NOT bullsh*t you! And I'm ok with that - he says the band guarantees you lose 50% of your excess weight only (that's exactly what it has done for me) - the duodenal switch guarantees you will lose 80% of your EW - he says he sees so many of his banded patients struggle with the band - when I first went in asking for a fill, he was SORRY for me - "you bandsters, it's so hard being unable to eat when you have a tight fill" and he's right - it is hard. I feel I lost a lot of my weight through being motivated rather than physically unable to eat - I know you lost a LOT of weight - and are at goal - lots of people are and then again lots of people aren't. He asked me "has the band worked for you?" - honestly? I thought i would have lost way more weight - maybe that was unrealistic given my lack of committment to exercise ? Like I said before *I* am committed to the band - I don't need his approval just his skills in doing what I need him to do - just as I don't need my car mechanic to like my choice of car - I just need him to fix the damn thing! I just laugh at the surgeon and tell him I made my choice thanks! :heh: by the way, surgeons get really mad when you compare them to car mechanics. Just a tip.

Hi everyone - here is an update on my band "issue" (!) I went for the barium swallow/fluoroscopy today - the radiographer and doctor were fascinted as they hadn't seen a band before! I brought a few pictures to show them what they were photographing and it kind of helped. They will send the films to my doctor and he will interpret/analyse them to see what he can figure out what maybe causing my problem. I watched the barium flow down to my stomach on the screen - while you could see the band (I don't know if it was in the right place or not), the barium didn't pool, and stop at the band - it just flowed straight through - is this ok? I have either 6cc in a 9cc band or it's all leaked away and I have no restriction? While eating, I still have some restriction - same as I have had for the past year and a half - I could eat a donut, but not two - chicken is very filling but Cookies go down smoothly (helpfully!).... if anyone had any comments I'd be grateful - guess I just have to wait for the surgeon to get back to me - aaarrrggghhh!!!! thanks

thanks so much Rachele - that's really interesting - I do have a few lumps & bumps around my port that definitely weren't there last year - I was wondering if scar tissue figured... ps would you mind pm'ing me about your experience re the DS? Sort of thinking about doing it.... thanks xx

Thanks New Sho - yeah I guess he is a rarity - and thanks for your tubing reassurance : )

thanks so much Leatha xx

Thanks Megan - so good to "see" you! You look gorgeous in your avatar! Wow! I feel now like I have been over-dramatic about my "band issue" but it felt pretty scary when the doc was fiddling around with the needles and stuff, and pretty alarming when he couldn't get any Fluid out - it means to me that there is something wrong with my band. Something that will need surgery to fix - to make the band "work" completely normally. This means surgery in another country for me. And it means a lot of money. Again. All because I ate too much and got really fat. I know there's all more to it than that but I guess, that's the deep-down-truth for me. I didn't realise it until yesterday. I'm a depressive neurotic anti-social freak at the end of the day! thanks guys - I'll see how it all figures out.

thanks so much for the replies... I know the surgeon's comments are controversial, and while his attitude pisses me off when I'm in a vulnerable state (- i.e. lying on my back with a 6 inch needle sticking out of my port), he doesn't bother me too much as I researched long and hard before making my decision to have a lapband - I had given up the gastric bypass route long before I even knew about the band. Also, he is very european, very candid, and will always tell me the truth, - I am 36 years old - i rely on my husband for emotional support and my brain for complex decision not my doctor! So he can just bleep off with his opinions - I really just deal in actual facts! Which are: he (doc) put the aspiration issue down to (a) a leak ( a kinked tube (of which he has only seen one before!) © tube and port are disconnected. He wants me to have a barium swallow thingy done her and send him the films for analysis....in case of erosion/slip (which as Alex pointed out, I don't have any symptoms of). I read all of Vera's old posts about her kinky port and she eventually had to have her band replaced - most tube/leak issues seem to be eventually resolved with rebanding so this is why I am worried I will lose my band - maybe not this week but eventually. I am really concerned about leaks which equals opening which equals often infection - I am pretty worried about any emergency care this may lead to as there are NO BAND DOCTORS in Ireland at all - Also the cost of all of this is an issue - I was self-pay originally - the fills cost about $185 plus plane fare/car hire etc - band surgery in the UK costs about $15,000-$18,000 so I can't afford to do it again right now! Going back to my original surgeon isn't really an option - I don't know how he can help more - he has hardly any english, and my french is'nt fantastic - I found it pretty difficult to go through surgery over there where none of the nurses understood me etc - I would hate to have to go through any procedure there again... I am really wondering if I can just pretend none of this happened, and go on as I was with a kinked tube....? How do they even find out if I have a kinked tube by the way? Does the tube need to be injected with a liquid that will show up on the x-ray? The doc didn't suggest doing that....??? Thanks again to everyone who replied Hugs to old buddies Alex, Leatha & Paula - so good to talk again! Leatha: think the depression thing is ok for now - am waiting to see a counciller person - building up the courage!!! thanks xx Sorry this is so long by the way