1973Angel

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

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!!!

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

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.

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!!