Rebeccalee

Another quote from Ryan. This one is about a dog-friend. It applies to him as well.

This is so very sad. Ryan is a special man and a wonderful friend. My heart goes out to Patty. He will be greatly missed. Thanks Greg. Becky

Sorry, I get the names mixed up. My doctor saw the dysmotility when he did a barium swallow. I had to eat barium paste to show it sticking on the xray. Then I had an endoscopy, with the tube down the throat. I did not have the manometry to measure the pressure. It was really evident with the other two.

Esophgeal dymotility is when the muscle contractions are weak and food is not pushed through effectively. It is diagnosed by esophagram. (That's the short answer. The reality is quite drawn out.)

I knew I was missing one! I was on Reglan first, like Becky L. My doctor does not want to attribute my dysmotility to the band, although I never had it before. It is one of the possible complications. If I cannot get to a fill level where I will stop gaining (I struggle to maintain) I will consider the gastic sleeve. Dr. Cirangle is my doctor and he is the leading surgeon doing it. For what it's worth, my dysmotility has improved a lot from being unfilled and is livable at this point. It was unbearable a year ago. (Hello and hugs back at ya, Leatha! You always bring a smile to my face. :confused: ) Becky (aka rebeccalee)

One of my doctors prescribed Imitrex which is used for migraines. I stopped taking it because it has some very serious side effects for some people. It helped a little, but not enough to risk the side effects. I also took Nexium for a long time to help heal my throat. My gastroenterologist (he did my esophagram) prescribed a very low dose of an antidepressant (maybe Effexor?) which is supposed to help in these cases. He also said that the dysmotility might go away. So far it has not. I have not heard of the surgery. I would not do it personally, for fear of upsetting the delicate balance in there. I think learning to cope with it is the best course of action for me. I get frustrated sometimes, but I am used to it. If you have other issues, like reflux, that would be a very different story. I don't have that and I know it can be serious if left untreated. Hope you find the best thing for you. Becky

How funny that I should look here today. I haven't been on LBT for a couple months -- and a year before that. I have esophageal dysmotility. It has been a long struggle. After the coughing and choking and getting things stuck in my throat, causing severe throat irritation, I had my band unfilled and went on liquids. I never had much of a fill, so that probably didn't do much either way. I tried a few medications but did not find total relief. I was on liquids for about 4 or 5 weeks. This allowed my throat to heal. I have to be very careful not to irritate my throat. There are tricks I've learned to keep things under control. First, I identified some foods that always stick. They are not what you would think. Peanut Butter is the worst. Anything that turns into the consistency of peanut butter -- heavy paste -- could stick. I have to use tiny sips of Water to wash down things that stick. If I eat too fast or too big a bite and irritate my throat, I have to go on liquids for the next meal or at least be very careful. I have also dealt with it mentally. The more I'm stressed, the tighter I get. This is one thing when it is the stoma that tightens, but a whole different thing when it is your esophagus and you feel like you're being strangled! I used to panic. Now I consciously try to relax my throat and my emotions. It really does help. At two years out, I started working toward tightening my band again, since I was gaining weight back. I started really small, with .5 cc. I waited 2 or 3 months and got .25 cc. When I hit 3 months I will have another .25 cc. I'll do this until the hunger is less. I will never be able to tolerate a tight fill. I still have to be careful and have my bad days. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like. Becky

Hi All! Anne -- Sorry to hear about your flipped port...and all those pokes! Ugh! It will all be set to rights soon. Donna -- I blamed everything on my band after I got it. Even after a motorcycle accident with major swelling in my shoulder/chest area, I wondered if my band was involved. I don't worry about it so much now, two years later, but it is still one of the options when something isn't quite right. It's good to keep it in mind, but that panicky feeling will probably fade over time. Patty, -- Welcome! People have successful weight loss with both surgeries. There are also people who don't lose like they want to with both surgeries. It comes down to personal choice. What do you feel most comfortable with for yourself? Best of luck with your surgery. I'm going back to using FitDay.com today. Darn it if I don't have to watch myself closely again. I'm determined that working out so hard is going to make a difference. I'm off to the gym. Today's my last day of work for the summer. Yee Haw! Maybe I'll get some hiking and bike riding in soon.

Darcy -- That frog is the cutest thing! What beautiful pictures, too. That certainly cheers me up. Eileen -- Thanks for the bandiversary wishes. I guess I just skipped it this year. <sigh> I hope your DD is feeling better. I love seeing all the great pictures. Sorry I haven't been posting, but I've been a bit discouraged. I have still been working out 5 days a week. No loss. I am going for another fill later this month. I'm hoping that will kick it in a bit. Hope everyone had a good Monday.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I left town for a day and had a very nice family-centered weekend. Oh...and there was cake. Ugh! The good thing is that going to the gym has stopped the weight gain. Now I need to adjust the diet so there can actually be a loss. Darcy -- sorry about the leg pain. I hope it is getting better. And I hope your doc can tell you something about the heart palps, too. You are doing great with the exercise and I hope you can keep it up. I sure enjoy reading about all of your busy lives. It makes mine feel a little more sane. But it is time for me to hop off to work. Twelve more days of school and then the summer!

Well, I guess my habit is to check in every few days?? Anyway... Kat--glad to hear dh might only need a repair. Hang in there and hope for good news. Darcy -- Kicking it and taking names! So glad you found an E-place that you like. You are doing better than I am. Yeah! Oh, and Loverboy? You guys talking 'bout my husband again? LOL It sounds like everyone has been very busy! How you do the full-time work and family thing?! I work part-time and it stresses me out. (cough**lightweigt**cough) DH and I are still going to the gym. We aim at 6 days and make 5. I'm happy with that. I wish I was losing more, but I guess I'd have to eat less to do that. At least it's not gaining, and I am going down ounce by ounce. I canceled my weekend motorcycle trip, 'cause what I really want to do it just stay home and get my space organized...and knit...and go to the gym. I'm looking forward to it. I wish I could do all the personals, but hope you all will just take a nice big hug instead. (Man! That hug was hard to find. How many freaking dancing bananas are there anyway?! Sheesh!)

Hi all you Chickies! I got my fill, finally. Eight months unfilled and over 3 of that waiting for an appt. It went better than usual. So far so good. I have esophageal dysmotility (weak contractions in my throat next to the band) so I'll see if that acts up. If not, I will get more fill and cut this hunger back to normal. I'm hopeful. Kat -- my dad had open heart surgery last year. It went great. He recovered quickly. It's amazing how far this has come in my lifetime. There's a doc in San Francisco who does it without the bypass machine. It's a wonder! Hope your DH has as easy a time as my father's. Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

Hi Everybody! Sherry -- I agree with Darcy, I don't want to be the jury for anyone. Sorry you had to go through a tough one like that. Darcy -- Yeah! You found a place you like. I'm really glad. I hope it works out. If it helps any, we're paying $58 for the two of us. I darn well better make it worthwhile! Donna -- PB on taters. Ugh! Potato is one of the foods that gets stuck in my throat, along with Peanut Butter. It doesn't lubricate like you'd think it does. Try some ketchup next time. :second: Glad it's better. Kat -- Still thinking of you and hubby. Mary -- Hope your irritation goes away soon. Otherwise get it checked. K? Hello to all...I still can't get to everyone or even remember all the names. I'm working on it. I think I'll make me a cheat sheet. Tomorrow is my band doctor appt. I hope he is in a good mood. I have gained 20 lbs. since I saw him last, eight months ago when he removed my little bit of fill. He told me I'd gain weight, just hope he remembers. I hope to get a fill now. At least I can tell him I'm exercising now.

Again, I'm just stopping in real quick. I don't know why things are so busy for me right now. DH and i have been going to the gym this week. We like it. I haven't lost anything yet. Go figure. I listen to an audiobook while I work out and really look forward to that. Kat, I hope the Dr. apptl goes well Thurs. Hang in there! Darcy, I hope Curves works out for you. If not, go check out an exercise class. Something! It feels good just doing something. Oh, and Betty -- I sold my old coat that I really liked. I wish I hadn't. It would be good for winter layering -- especially this 20 lb layer of fat I've put on over the winter!:faint: Hello to all and I'll try to catch up later.

Just a quick hello. It has been a hectic week. I'll try to drop in tonight. I'm glad to hear your little guy is doing well, Patty. It must be a great relief. Congrats to Miss Betty for her bee-u-tiful bike! You won enough for a new coat. Yeah, baby! Our weekend was fun, the ride was great. I drank beer. Then we came home and joined a gym. Gotta go trot on the exercise machine. Ugh! At least DH was finally ready. Catch ya later.

Donna -- Congratulations! Fifty pounds is great! Enjoy it. Cindy -- Sorry you are having headaches. Hope you feel better soon. I know how it is to still have hormones running around in there and not know because the other parts are missing. It takes me forever to figure out that I'm having major PMS (which I think may be happening this week.) My grandson is in Paola, south of Kansas City. Hope everyone has a good weekend. DH is dragging me out on the motorcycle to a beer festival. It should be fun, anyway. I'm taking my knitting just in case. :eek: Later! Becky

Kat, that is such a cute picture. All this talk of children makes me miss my grandson, who lives in Kansas -- so far away from California. I so enjoyed my children when they were little. Kat's picture reminds me of when my son plucked all the buds off my aunt's marigolds. He was quite a little collector. It was worse when he collected slugs. Ew! Enjoy those precious little ones! I have lots to do, so I must get busy. Have a great day!

Kat, that is exactly what happened to a friend of mine. How strange is that! And rather disconcertiing to have to change your image of yourself. I'm glad you are still here to tell the tale, though. Even with my half-hair loss, my hair is very wavy because it is so much thinner. When is was very straight, I wished for curls, now I sit here with clips in it to get it to lay flat. Go figure! As part of my weight-loss efforts, I started crocheting again and then moved on to knitting. When an online friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I started a group that knits hats for chemo patients. It helps me deal with the pain others are experiencing, allows me to give a little, and keeps my hands busy. I really enjoy it.

Happy Tuesday Ladies! I can't keep up with the personals, but I will do what I can. :confused: I still don't even know all of your names. Thanks for the warm welcome. Patty, Sorry to hear about the food poisoning. Yuck! I hope you are feeling fine now. And who was that who got clothes? Doc? Cindy, maybe? Anyway...I love your shopping technique! NJ Chick, I had the balding, er, hair loss, too. Not only did I lose gobs of hair at about 4 months out from the surgery, then I lost weight so fast I lost more hair a few months after that! Yikes! It was very discouraging. My new growth is still only about 5 inches long and sticks out all over. I'm a regular fuzzhead. My hair used to be down to my butt -- now I wear it just below my shoulders. I think I'm growing it out now, though. Biotin seems to help. That fancy shampoo (Nioxin?) did not work at all. The upside is -- my hair really does not look as bad as I think it does. It's just not as good as it used to be. My hair-cutter has assured me that there are people much worse off than me out there. AND -- I did not go bald! Hang in there. It will grow back. More big hugz to Darcy and Betty for giving me a little encouragement to join in here. I really need to keep working with my band. Later Chickies!

So...NJ Chick..you'll be back later...after you go outside to ???? LOL Pat, our family is blessed with chipmunk cheeks, too. So cute! That's a great picture. Darcy, Sorry about Ava's trouble. I hope it gets better. My dog had a short episode of that. The neighbor kid hurt him and scared him, so he would lunge at him and his sister. So we had them feed him treats every time they came near. There was never another episode of agression. I hope yours works out so well. Thanks for the very pretty picture. I wish I could smell them. We are having chilly but sunny days here. It's a big relief from our months of rain. I should go for a walk. Maybe I will.

Hello All! I've been meaning to stop in and chat. And Darcy has been telling me this is a great thread. I just haven't been doing well...and ya'll know how that is. I won't even comment on the binge eating topic, it's too real. Anyway, I hope to join in the conversation. My name is Becky, for those who don't know me, and I used to hang out on this board a lot. I have been unfilled since August and it has been rough. I have struggled to keep from gaining, yo-yo city! Right now my yo is on the downswing after a major upswing. I am joining a gym finally. Can't afford it, but can't afford not to. I'm waiting for the special price in a week. I also have an appointment for a fill in two weeks. Hope is alive! Betty -- I finally, finally got on my beastie motorcycle! I've gone on 2 tiny rides so far. It took me a year and a half to get back on. I even had someone come look at it to buy it. I'm glad he didn't. I'm looking forward to getting comfortable on it again. :eekB: I'm also looking forward to chatting with all of you. Have a great day!

I lost about half my hair four months after surgery due to the anesthesia. Then a few months later it fell out in handfuls again due to the rapid weight loss. Fortunately, I had thick hair -- now I have thin hair. It is growing in very, very slowly and making my hair stick out funny. :phanvan The only thing that really worked some is Biotin. Scientific studies showed it works to some degree. More Protein did not work -- I was eating plenty while losing and started drinking protein for my hair. Nioxin (the shampoo and treatment) did not help and I used it for several months. So...time and a Multivitamin that has Biotin. And more time. Of course, my age is slowing the process, too, I'm sure. Hope your hair starts growing back soon. It will grow back.

Jen, what was the diagnosis or did the doc say? Do you have a fill? I ask because I have problems with my esophagus, but they are better under some conditions. I've been banded for over a year and a half.

I had mine placed by LapSF, too. Dr. Cirangle is my doc. I'm gonna see him in a couple weeks to get my butt chewed...um...to get a fill.

I sleep better when my husband wears his CPAP, which is rare because he hates it. It whirs but it is much better than having to wake him up because he stops breathing. Heck, sometimes I wake him up because I don't hear him snoring, and he is just quietly breathing. Oops! Hope you find something that helps. Nothing else has worked for us -- even throat spray. Gag!