1973Angel

Thanks all!! My band has been adjusted now...it has not slipped and I'm back on track!

Angel - You asked what I missed most about my band. After having it for 2 1/2 yrs it became part of "me". The new me. I was used to getting "soft stop" message - Stopping putting food in the pie hole ! I would get a little hiccup or burp or twinge that was my signal that I was full/satisfied and not to eat anymore. I am having to learn how to eat all over again. Sure, I still eat off my little salad plate and use the small utensils. I also don't drink before, during or after I eat, but I miss my signal...I think I am eating more. I am having cravings again (that is all in my head I am sure) and I have given into them because the band is not there to tell me NO. I am so scared of going back to the FAT ME. 124 pounds are gone - that is an entire person - I don't want to find that person again. The problem, is my self-control button doesn't work all that good - that is why I got the band in the first place. I really wish I could have kept it, had it re-positioned, replaced - something, but he said I had too much scar tissue around the top of my stomach. I feel like a part of me is gone - almost an empty feeling. You work so hard to adjust to the "new you" when you get the band and then in a flash it is gone. My recovery is moving along and so far, I still weigh the same - not up, not down. So I guess, that is all a good thing. I am about 20 pounds away from my personal goal weight. I only hope I can find the "excited me" that once would have never smelled a cookie much less eaten one.

I hope your appointment went well and you are feeling better. It is so scary to know you have the "alien" around your stomach but it sure does help with the weight loss. Would I have one again??? YEP, in a heart beat. Take care..

Melinda in Florida

Omg!!! Thank you for sharing!!! That would be hard to get used to again but I'm proud of you for maintaining!!!! You can do this!!! I believe in you!!!

@@2muchfun I've had at least 6 bariatric surgeons tell me that a band cannot move up. If it's high, it was placed there...just want to let people know that a slip is the STOMACH slipping up through the band.

Wow!! That is good to know! Thanks for that little tid bit of information!

So yeah...my coverage now will not cover any type of "new" bariatric surgery but it will cover the fills and anything else that "could" be an issue with the new band so that was good to know! But...after my appointment, things are fine, no slippage, and I need to continue on my journey

Thank you all for the well wishes!! Here is my story of the day: I decided to take my Mom with me because after reading so many posts about flipped ports and slipped bands and the pain of the docs trying to find ports...I seriously freaked the heck out!!

I had not expected to even see my surgeon because they said he was out of town. After waiting for my appointment for about an hour, I finally was seen and of course...he we actually there. When he first saw me he looked at me much like Seinfeld did whenever he saw Newman...ha! Then when my Mom poked in, the air and attitude changed. He was very nice and smiling and asked where I had been. I told him that I had called a couple of months ago and got no call back. I told him that I was otherwise fine but tremendously embarrassed because I hadn't done better but still proud in what I lost. I discussed feeling helplessly depressed for over a year until I was treated by the "shock" therapy and how that has saved my life!! He was happy about that.

Cut to the chase...my band HAS NOT slipped, and he took out 2cc's as that was all he could get. I initially had 3 cc's. I didn't even do a swallow first...he just put me on the table, numbed me up and unfilled. THEN I did a swallow and he said everything was fine, was passing fine and to continue with soft foods, chewing everything to mush and small swallows and that was it. He patted me on my back and I was on my way. Less than a 5 min ordeal. Most of it was spent with me crying after I saw the HUGE needle again but I'm sure my Mom has now regained feeling in her hand

"You saw day one when the other person made a foul" ???? I wasn't offended by the responses.

"But unless I know a full story...I won't assume or judge"

Angel...I am new here so you also know nothing about me and I was NOT trying to offend you but offer no apology. I guess it was my version of tough love for someone who should know better than what you said you were doing. I didn't see it as making a foul, I see it as pointing out that your post, your own words made it look like you were not even trying to abide by the band rules! And then you complained that something was wrong.

I have had my band since 2008 and am now scheduled to have it removed because of problems it has caused. And yes, I DID follow rules, religiously. I lost a total of 80 pounds before the worst happened with me, a 12 hour vomiting session. I went to the ER but even with xray, they couldn't find the port to remove liquid. So, I had to wait till the next morning to see the surgeon on call at the bariatric clinic.

Did I sound rough to you? Yes! Did I "take it easy", NO. This is a serious issue and having a silicone tube with ballons wrapped surgically around your stomach is no joke. In carefully re-reading your post, I still feel the same and still read it the same way.

However...if you knew me, you would see that I am in my late 50's, very intelligent as I assume you are, and rarely(!!!) do I EVER make a negative post about anyone's issues! When I do, it is to make a point and try to get someone to see what is happening. I am not trying to expand the argument here, but you made the statement about what supposedly happened to me on the first day post, I feel I had the right to respond.

I truly do hope that going forward, you have better luck with your band But you have to follow the rules! Good Luck!

I will respond to you by saying this: I don't need your apology and if you still read and comprehend things the same, so be it. Now here is how I feel about you: You come off as prickly - say you are "new" - tell me that I should be able to read all of your (5) posts and know you are trying to not be negative. Well here's a newsflash...I still don't know you. Not ONCE, have I blamed anyone other than MYSELF so I could give you a piece of an applause if you could tell me where I said that. Not only do I still think your initial response was "foul" - but now your second is just not even needed. You come off as if me or anyone has fallen off the wagon then - they best not talk with you - the perfectionist who did EVERYTHING right. I can tell you from visiting other threads, that I am not the only one who has fallen off. This is not a competition on who has it worse. Heck, I will even give myself kudos for even telling the TRUTH as to how I got "here"!

The only way I would need "tough love" is if it were because I was an "askhole" and always did the same thing not taking heed of others advice. Do not come to me saying that I am "complaining" as, I came here to ask if others have done the same, and what the outcome was with the band. I don't need you to tell me about the stomach being a serious issue. I already know this. You can be rough all you want but I simply didn't ask ANYONE "WHY" this is happening. That's just silly to me, to have someone put words or questions into my mouth. You act as if I have blamed the universe and if you knew me - which YOU DONT - and since you evidently haven't read anything else - not one time, did I place blame on anyone but me. I merely put my story into words about my difficulties. How you interpret it, is all on you.

You started off saying that if you were my surgeon, which you ARE NOT, but if you were, you would "RUN FAR AWAY FROM ME!!!!!" So I have to question why you felt the need to do the opposite, and run in here again for no other reason BUT to expand the argument. I couldn't care any less of how old you are, what I care about is others' journey that hasn't been perfect like my own again - TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. Let me be clear about that!!

I'm also not "complaining" about my situation, I came here to vent, and to learn. My band has given me all the "tough love" that I need. If you read my posts - you would know that I did in fact, see my doctor who has been up on all of this. You also jumped to conclusions instead of simply "asking" for clarification and that is the bottom line here as I see it. You made a crappy statement and cut out, then days later...come back to explain that you won't apologize for coming off as you did. So bit it.

You end by saying that I have to follow the rules and to that I can only say "Well no kiddin?" To me that is an issue where one thinks I would turn around and keep doing the same thing over and over again, then coming here to ask why it's happening. I'm just not that stupid. Thanks for the well wishes as I have now officially spent too much time responding to this because I know it will not make an ounce of difference in how you perceive things. I'm just done with pointing out the difference in being someone who is supportive and willing to help as opposed to someone who initially came off posting as if my situation - is a lost cause and that I am not one to be dealt with.

Now I hope you heal because believe it or not, I am KEENLY aware of the issues that even poking around in your gut can cause. Trust me. That's part of why I came here in the first place - as my initial post lead to. Lets just not start pointing fingers about "knowing better" because we should ALL KNOW BETTER - but that's why some of us are here...cuz we overate knowing full well that cupcakes and fried foods is not the way to lose weight. It's just that simple to me. Nobody needs to have anyone here act as if we don't know what the issues are. I just don't work that way.

My apology to Angel and any others that I may have offended with my recent post. My slippage and surgery has really sent me into orbit. I was extremely ill and it happened in a matter of hours - not days or weeks - hours. I had my band 2 1/2 years and I miss it terribly. I only wish I had known what was happening to me sooner so I could have kept my band. This is also very fresh on my mind as this just happened to me on 4/25/14. I am still recovering from the revision surgery. Angel, I hope you are doing better and that your doctor is able to give you some relief/help and that you are able to keep you band. Again, I am sorry if my comments were insensitive.

Melinda in Florida

Awe thanks Melinda! I accept your apology and also apologize for getting a bit crappy myself. Again, the first time I felt offended - I was over it. LoL! Being online, you don't know what people are really trying to achieve sometimes! I'm sorry to hear about you losing your band. I hope you continue to recover from it! If you don't mind my asking, what is it that you miss about it? Again, my hope is that others will simply learn from all of this as I truly have!!!

Thank you TMF!!! Yes...perhaps that is all that needs to be done and I CAN hop back on the wagon!! That would be the easiest thing so I need to speak that into the universe!! I shall keep ya posted!!

I too commend you for being BRAVE enough to post this!! If nothing more than to get it off your chest and to help others!! I'm glad no one condemned you because that is the last thing that you need!! (I know this and could pop anyone in the nose for looking down on others for using words to hurt when you know good and dang well what you own lesson is!!)

Your story started the same as me. I was told that if I ate solids too soon...if I drank pop and went off track, then I would throw up and would never do it again. I took a small bite of something solid and it went down. Had a weaker moment and tried pop and that went down smooth as butter! I certainly wasn't about to call my doctor and say "Hey! You know how you told me to NOT eat solids or fizzy drinks?? Well lookie here...I did it! WOO HOO!!" Yeah...it's not a "fun" feeling to fall off the wagon but at least you have learned your lesson!! I am at my learning point right now. Happy with what I lost....but not happy that I didn't achieve my goal. I know I must get right.

Lastly, thank GOD that you are HERE!!! I am happy that you survived to tell your story because I know others (like me) appreciate you being candid and up front. Some may act self-righteous and all knowing but the truth of the matter is...not everyone has the SAME story!! We need to learn from EVERYBODY and keep on SUPPORTING people...especially if that is what you've come here for!! Peace my dear...and keep on keeping on!! <3

I will indeed start asking tomorrow!! Thank you!! After I lost my job I was like "oh well...guess that's that!" But I'm at a stronger place "mentally & emotionally" to deal with what I have to do!

You all are a WEALTH of information!! I thank God for this forum!! Having said that...now I'm wondering what will happen with my coverage?? Since I was laid off days after my surgery...how would this be covered or WILL it be covered - should my band need to be removed?? My insurance is still through Blue Cross Blue Shield but...with my new employer. Oy vey. Thanks for the information!

Peace Always!!

Mel

Oh dang! I'm sorry for your pain!!! That said...I get a swallow test done tomorrow and this afternoon, I did try to feel for my port and wah lah...me no findy. YIKES! I know it's there so...! I hope that when you go the next time the port screams out "HERE I AM!!!"

It's so interesting to read others' journey! I only had one fill about 2 months after surgery. Given my situation...I should have had more but hindsight is 20/20!

I was terrified for my first fill because I hate needles...not sure I've met anyone who LOVES needles...ha! But my fill went fine. I felt fine afterwards and continued with mushies. I will refrain from giving the rest of "my journey" because everyone is different.

I'm sure your doc will give you instructions on what to do a expect when eating and all of that. And what I've learned after this weekend...there are a TON of valuable and friendly people here that are GREAT to talk with as well!!

Good luck!!

Good evening all! So tomorrow I will have a "swallow test" done! I'm excited to get it done so my issue can be resolved!! I will also be speaking with my counselor who assisted me prior to getting approved for everything so that will be refreshing. I didn't know she had moved up to be the main bariatric support nurse as the one I knew - left the hospital soon after I did. I had no issues today though...everything went down fine. Just kept with soft foods, small bites, and small swallows.

Since I did have one fill done, I know what to expect with that. However, I'm curious to see if my band just progressively slipped. My instinct tells me that it has although I could be wrong. I can only take this step by step so...just not sure what will happen beyond the test. Either way, I'm glad to be going to get it looked at!!

Sending best wishes and prayers to both you and your sister!! That is awesome that you will both be able to support each other!!

She's gone through some tough times lately with losing her band and I think she just had a knee jerk reaction to your initial comment. I've blackened my own eyes several times reading this forum and made some(can I say) "dumb" responses . So, it happens and she'll probably be the first to say "my bad"!

Thanks for explaining! You saw day one when the other person made a foul. It just gets me. If I didn't care...I would have never thought to ask for advice. My band to me...is still new. I've had it 2 years of my 41 of living! LoL!!! I have always had tummy troubles so a lot doest phase me in that area. Since my doctor is aware of this, I have actually kept up on the issue and took her and others advice. I have not always had this trouble. I adore that you are also willing to admit to saying some stuff that may tick someone off. I know I can also be fairly up front. But unless I know a full story...I won't assume or judge.

You should read the rest of her story before calling her names. She's just PBing and not vomiting. She also has an appointment tomorrow. Not everyone who works in a hospital is a nurse or medical practitioner.

Thank you again my friend. I get so irritated when someone accuses me or others of something without knowing the full story and instead of asking...will assume someone lacks intelligence.

You are playing with Fire...I had issues, vomiting, pain etc and didn't listen to my own body as I should. I ended up vomiting blood and the lining of my stomach. My band had to be removed due to a slip. I liked my doctor, but he moved to another city (4 hrs away) and I had to get a new one. When you are in the ER is not a good time to get another doctor. You said you worked in a hospital - why are you acting so dumb about your own body and care? You need to get in to see your surgeon on get to an ER that has a bariatric department and fast. If you want to keep your band, you better listen to it before it is too late. Good luck.

Melinda in Florida

First off...don't ever insult me again Melinda. Secondly I am following up tomorrow, as I've stated above. I get really irritated when people throw insults around because I've never done that to anyone. I'd rather you not say anything to me than have you question my intelligence.

It can slip out of place. I imagine you can still get hiccups...

So I read a different thread where throwing up was addressed. I believe now that I am not "vomiting" but instead, regurgitating bites that do not pass. I'm not one to "vomit" much in life at all...so it was good to hear the difference! I am NOT having explosive vomiting where EVERYTHING comes up. If I just take a bite that I swallow too soon or is too big, it will not pass but then I can lean over and "heave" and bring up the last bite I took - not EVERYTHING I consumed.

Dang...I wish I would have hopped on her LONG ago!! My bad...tsk tsk tsk!

Believe me, you don't want to throw up. I threw up twice and ended up with a slip... but I do think I was the exception rather than the norm.

Now, you have to know there are two quite different things that some people consider "throwing up". One is to regurgitate, which is not good for you, but it isn't as dangerous as vomiting. Regurgitation is simply "urping" up something that has not passed through the band yet. Vomiting is a forceful expulsion from your stomach below the band... that is what you really need to avoid.

If you follow the band rules, you shouldn't have any problem. Sometimes if I overeat or eat too fast, I will get a horrible wave of nausea, and really have to concentrate on NOT throwing up. Knowing that there are consequences, helps me stick to the band rules.

I'm so glad I read this thread! I believe now that I am not "vomiting" but instead, regurgitating bites that do not pass. I'm not one to "vomit" much in life at all...so it was good to hear the difference!

Way to go Chad!! Keep it up!!!

Hello all!! I have been a member of this site since April of 2012, when I got banded. I just popped in here this weekend for support but felt the need to really introduce myself Some of this is a repeat so please bare with me as I'm now on a computer and not a phone (I was on the road for 3 days) Prior to being banded, I spent about 2 years debating on the procedure with one year doing counseling and dieting while getting prepared - I lost 20 pounds in the time prior to the actual surgery. My surgery went good, and only few people knew I got it done. My Mom & Sister were my big supporters and my Dad still has no idea what I did. (He believes that God gave us our body and we should NOT tinker with things like this or you are considered "weak")

I am stubborn by nature, a bit hard headed too But I got the surgery done and followed my plan for about 2 months. I lost 40 pounds and since then, have gained a lot of self confidence - but still have more work to do. I will admit, that I botched my surgery even after building up so much "power" to BELIEVE I would not fall off my plan. Well, I was laid off of work right after my surgery, like a day later. I'm a single parent and have also battled sever depression all of my life...only having it get worse after my surgery.

I have maintained my weight loss, continue to exercise and watch what I eat. I come here to be more of a lesson to others. FOLLOW THE PLAN!!! For the most part, I have beat myself up endlessly. I blame no one but myself for NOT sticking to my plan - NOBODY. I will also admit that I have been embarrassed about it but, I am working through that. I did not go to support classes because I was so focused on finding WORK, plus I didn't want to go back to the hospital that just laid me off . So basically, I got my band....and proceeded to move on in life as best I could. I was facing foreclosure on my house...trying to keep my son stress free...and keep myself on an even level while being without a job.

Last year, I received TMI therapy...basically got my brain "shocked" to help cure my depression and by the Grace of God...it has helped me tremendously!! I no longer consider myself a depressed person (yay!!!) so now I am really back to focusing on my physical health.

In the past 2 years, I went from starting out strong to falling off the wagon quickly. I ate and drank the same things I always had, thinking "If I puke like they say I will, then I'll never do it again!!" Well...everything went down fine, with no issues. I have visited my surgeon one time since the surgery to get one fill done. My surgeon is not too fond of me because I was not able to pay my bill and it went into collections. Being wildly embarrassed by that alone, I just didn't even think too much about the band because it's hard to face someone who isn't fond of you, who you couldn't pay (although I have made monthly payments consistently since I did find work 6 months after my surgery.)

I have continued to go to my regular doctor who has been a great help. My blood levels are great, and I am no longer diabetic! WOO HOO!! I also no longer have high blood pressure. But about 9 months or so ago, I began to have problems. I would eat and then the bites I would take, felt like they were getting "stuck" but at the time, I attributed it to heart burn and told myself to chill out on the crap food. A few months went by and I was fine - kind of off and on again. I went to my regular doctor to monitor me and she thought perhaps it injured my esophagus (she knows I got banded). I then found a HUGE lump in my stomach and got a scan of that and was told it was just a fatty "mass" but not life threatening. Then this past 2 months or so, things got worse. Now, if I do not chew my food and swallow too soon...it feels like I'm swallowing a golf ball! The pain stops me in my tracks and I just pray that it goes down and I could literally feel it pass through when it did. However, over the weekend (and this began last week) I actually started to vomit. Over the weekend, I realized that instead of sitting at the table wishing food would go down (with a look of "oh crap" on my face and people wondering what is wrong...), I have learned that I can just go to the bathroom, lean over and heave and poof, up comes the bite that was not going down. Yeah...that's not good.

I decided a couple of weeks ago that perhaps the band is now working as it should...? And I know it sounds so stupid but, I figured the band is now ticked off and showing me a lesson. So back to soft foods I went OR chewing the bejesus out of food until it's MUSH and taking teeny bites, and it will go down. I won't lie, a part of me also felt that if anything, I would lose more weight this way. But now, since I am vomiting at times, I came here for support because again, I have not been in contact with my surgeon - or ANYONE who has been banded!! I wanted to get others' idea on things and everyone has been GREAT (except for one person) but the advice I got was enough to get my behind on the phone and stop being embarrassed and ask for help! I will go in this Wednesday the 21st to do a swallow test to see what is going on, and they will refer me to a new surgeon.

Many may ask why I waited so long to address this, well again, I know I am the one to blame for this, and it is quite embarrassing and I'm not one to want to get beat up over it because I can do that all by myself!! I got a new job and didn't want to take time off for doctor visits (and NO, I'm not making excuses...it just is what it is...) I was embarrassed that I fell off the wagon...embarrassed that I am not now "skinny" as I thought I would be (but still quite proud of what I've lost and kept off!) Through this ordeal, a best friend of mine committed suicide, another very close friend passed away from breast cancer, and I myself, am having to worry about a breast concern too (so is my Mom and we are both getting scans again in a couple of weeks), plus my Mom has been very very very ill but is now getting better. All of that in addition to other things not listed, really just took my mind off my band...until now when it has reached a level of being scared.

Thank you all for accepting me into this community!! If I can say ONE thing to those who are getting banded or have just gotten banded...please please PLEASE, stay on the plan that your surgeon gives you!! It really is not worth feeling like I feel (when I'm eating)!!! My family is a group of eaters. We Celebrate EVERYTHING with food. But you have to have a STRONG support system, and this is something I have now learned. So get the support, and be well all!!! *Smoochies*!!

I am new here and just hope that everything is going okay for you!! The best advice I have to give is....take it easy and be gentle with yourself! I got banded 2 years ago (wow...time has gone by) and this weekend is the first time I've posted because I really went into a hole mentally. That said, I'm glad I came here because there are so many people who are so helpful!!! This is an awesome site and I only wish I started to actually come here sooner!!