LJS69

I've been banded 2 1/2 years ago. The first year was great, lost a lot of weight but then I got Influenza and then Pnuemonia. Had to get the band completely unfilled, ever since then I can't tolerate hardly any fill. I start vomiting, heartburn, etc. In January I was pretty bummed and stopped go to the doctor - unforunately gained almost all the weight back. :thumbup: Last month I decided to try it yet again. The doctor was a major jerk to me and required my husband come with me and then started saying all this junk about how I breached the "doctor/patient relationship" and he wasn't sure he could continue treating me. :drool: We did a barium swallow and no slippage and so we are trying it again (I currently have 3 cc's and seems to be fine so far.) I did call a couple of doctors at another hospital and they don't want to see me because they are friends with my doctor. Should I just give up and be obese the rest of my life and have it removed to avoid future problems or should I try it an 8th time? Just getting so damn disgusted with the whole thing plus my hubby is pissed that we spent so much money on the band, I hate to suggest to him to have it taken out (which is more expense!). Any helpful suggestions????:crying:

Does anyone have the band and goes to Weight Watchers or anyother diet type program?

I got Influenza B in March and ended up with Pneumonia - during this I started throwing up etc and ended up having my band unfilled. Ever since then it has been a constant back and forth between getting fills, getting sick, having my band unfilled, etc. My doctor claims that I have forgotten how to eat and food is getting stuck. I first 3 times I thought that might be the case but the last 2 times I was on mushie foods and it still happened. I find it hard to believe that mushie foods got stuck!! Before March I had 7 cc in my band now I can't tolerate anything over 2 cc. I've done the barium swallow and scope and the band is in perfect position, etc. I'm gaining back weight because there is no restriction. Has anyone else ever had this problem? If so, is it still going on or how did you get over it?? Laura S

My doctor gave me a prescription for anti-nausea medication. It works wonders!!!

I was banded 1 year ago (2/15) and there have been ups and downs but overall it was a great decision and I have never regretted getting banded!

History of the LAP-BAND In the 1980s, Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak invented the first gastric band with an adjustable balloon along the inner circumference. The Bioenterics Company improved upon this original design and Dr. Mitiku Belachew (Belgium) placed the first LAP-BAND in 1993. The Inamed Company purchased Bioenterics and continued to perfect and refine the design. Surgeons have performed more than 120,000 LAP-BAND procedures, making it the number one bariatric surgical procedure worldwide. The gastric bypass is still the most common bariatric procedure done in the U.S., but the FDA approved the LAP-BAND for use in the U.S. in 2001 and the number of patients having LAP-BAND surgery has increased rapidly as more patients learn about the procedure and health insurance coverage for it improves. In the early 1980s Lubomyr Kuzmak was driven by a sense of purpose and passion to develop a better and safer gastric restriction procedure for the surgical treatment of severe obesity. He became a visionary pioneer who applied his inventive talent to design and patent an adjustable gastric band and a method to place the band by laparoscopic technique. He did initial investigational studies of his device and method. While the food and Drug Administration demanded expanded studies in the U.S., Dr. Kuzmak taught bariatric surgeons at International Workshops at the University of Padua, under the sponsorship of Professor Mario Lise, Franco Favretti, Gianni Segato, and later Guy-Bernard Cadiere, and at the University of Liege, under the sponsorship of Mitiku Belachew and Claude DeSaive, soon advanced the implantation of the adjustable silicone gastric band by minimally invasive techniques. Professor Paul O’Brien of Monash University was an early participant in these workshops. He became a leader in the laparoscopic placement and teaching of this procedure in Australia

I think Jen and Ryan were stupid for telling their partners about their dating for 9 months. I think Ryan's partner is going to tell everyone. I feel sorry for Adam - he is really ugly but it is childish and hurtful how Sheila keeps going on about it!!

Actually our insurance company covered 90% of the cost. The rest we put on the old credit card and paid it off with my husbands next bonus.

I was banded in Feb 07 and have lost 70+ lbs then I started waking up in the night throwing up. The dr. unfilled my band and Monday I had an endoscope of my stomach and ultrasound of my gallbladder and they saw gallstones. My dr. doesn't want to remove the gallbladder because I'm not have symptoms right now but my opinion is that the stones will not go away so why wait to have it removed?? Does anyone have suggestions/ideas about this and what are the symptoms of an attack??

If you really think about it, having your gallbladder out and then gaining weight doesn't make sense. Everything pretty much works the same it's just you don't have the storage compartment anymore. Plus if you eat fatty foods, you get dirrahea (I assume because the fat isn't digested efficiently and runs right through). A lot of the information that I have researched says you can eat like you did before the surgery. So how would that contribute to weight gain?? Good questions for the doctor!!

Keljodreamer - I would definitely have the gallbladder checked out since you are having almost the exact same symptoms that I had. New Question: Now I'm hearing how after the gallbladder is removed, people put on a lot of weight. Why would this be and has this happened to anyone?

I don't care much for the show. I think it is unrealistic to devote as much time to exercise as they do. Plus it isn't good for your body to lose more than 1 - 2 pounds per week. When these people get off the show, will they really commit to 5+ hours a day of exercise - what do these people do for jobs and money? It's ranks about the same as the "Fad Diets" that end up hurting people with yo-yoing their weight more than it helps them.

One thing to keep in mind is not to get dehydrated. If you can't drink enough fluids, you may be heading for trouble and would contact your doctor to see what he says.

Good News!! The doctor caved and agreed to remove the gallbladder on Nov 2nd. The report from the sonographer said that there were excessive stones and some of them we 2-3 mm big. My lapband doctor is doing the surgery but started on his whole story of "if they aren't causing you any problems right now we should wait to see if you have another attack." My husband and I started debating with him about symptoms, and they already caused problems why wait to see if they cause problems again, etc and he finally agreed to it!! Thank God!!

Laura, I wouldn't worry about the first fill. Mine was not a wonderful experience - not as bad as yours but I think he hit a couple of organs!! My Dr said that especially after surgery there is a lot of scar tissue that makes it more difficult to find the port. I've had numerous fills since then and they haven't been a problem. My dr. does numb me up before.

If you need to purchase candy - I always buy something I absolutely hate (like with coconut or something in it.) It will be just a matter of time before your mouth doesn't water just looking at the candy!! My biggest problem was pop. A couple of months ago, my daughter was drinking a Dt Pepsi (which I was totally addicted to before the band) and so I just took a sip - it was nasty and acidic tasting! Never would have imagined I could think that way about Dt Pepsi but I think I am officially cured of it.

Well, I don't have a bug but can relate to the Auto Eating. Thing about it is you will know when you do something wrong. After 8 months I get a stomache just from looking at a sub sandwich with all the bread!! Just like anything else - there is always a learning curve!!

It was the best $20K I've ever spent!! I tried Medical Dr. programs, Weight Watchers and everything and couldn't keep off the weight. I've lost over 70 pounds since 2/15/07 and am loving the new me. I would do it all over again! Laura in SD

There was about 1 1/2 months where I wasn't losing anything. It can be very frustrating but just keep doing what you are doing and the weight will come off. My Dr. says it's the starvation response - your body thinks it is starving and is hanging on to everything. Don't lose hope!! Laura Banded on 2/15/07 Lost 70+ pounds

I was banded on 2/15/07 with Dr. Bradly Thaemert in Sioux Falls. Things are going great - lost over 70 pounds but looking at some gallbladder problems, possibly having it removed this year yet.

Thanks for the info - I'm rather set on having it out this year since we have already reached the max out of pocket from the lapband surgery in Feb. I just can't figure out why my Dr. wants to wait until I have a problem!! Some of my co-workers talk about how miserable it is when you have an attack - so why wait!!

I was banded about 6 months ago and have had 8 cc's filled. I was worried about maxing out the fills also but the dr. gave me a 1cc fill and I couldn't even swallow my own silva!! So I've had the 1cc taken back out and letting my stomach irritation go down. When you get to the end, even a little fill could give a lot of results!!

I was banded about 6 months ago. I also ran the gauntlet of emotions but everything worked out with no complications. It's very normal to have pre-surgery jitters. I've lost 60 pounds and would do the surgery again in a heartbeat!!

I recently had my 6 month check up and the dietician was concern I wasn't eating enough protein (should be eating 60 grams per day). She told me that was one of the side effects of a protein deficiency. They sent me to the lab to have my blood levels checked and it turned out I was fine - all the levels are okay. Another problem may be an underactive thyroid.

I have had 3 adjustments totalling about 6 cc's in a 10 cc band. Has anyone ever been adjusted to the full 10 cc's?? Laura