aviva1979

Hi All - thanks for reading and sharing any thoughts... I was banded in July 2013, and had a great first year. I've lost just over 100lbs. Starting around July 2014 (when i'd steadily increased from 4CC to 7CC in band) i was feeling a lot of reflux and suspected i was too tight. i had 1CC removed but symptoms continued. I then went through close to 6 months of having no Fluid for a month, then trying a small fill, and ultimately going back and having the fluid removed again. my symptoms often feel like my stomach is bloated and full of saliva - and sometimes, especially late at night when it's most uncomfortable, i end up vomitting and it's just bellyful of spit that comes out. i've had 2 upper GIs and 1 endoscopy and neither showed any issue with the band (slippage, etc). i had a 2nd opinion done last month and that doc concurred that the xrays show the band looks fine, but that i might just be in the small group of ppl who can't tolerate the band. he advised me to try a 1CC fill to see if i can tolerate any fluid at all - i tried that 2 weeks ago and have since had it removed. what's making me anxious now is that my stomach still hurts - still feels like fluid isn't always draining. sometimes i have a big cup of hot tea and then i feel it release down. up until now i've been set against having the sleeve. i'm just anxious about something that permanent and the brief history of data we have on longer term effects (will i need that part of my stomach when i'm 80?)... and in part i think that finality of decision was b/c i imagined i would be able to keep my band in. i lost my 100lbs with the band in with fluid in it - the last 6 months with fluid in and out have been a total standstill. i am close enough to goal weight and feeling healthy in a way that i could be ok if i didn't lose anymore - but i'm just nervous that these last 6 months don't actually show me i can maintain and they're more of an anomaly. i'm glad i haven't gained - but can i really keep it off long-term without some surgical help...? thinking much more about having the band removed and i'm just curious if anyone else has been in this same place - and if you were considering a revision to sleeve, what questions did you find helpful in ultimately making up your mind (in either direction)? thanks so much!

so glad your band removal went smoothly! I've read many ppl who have the band removal and sleeve revision done in the same surgery - may I ask what influenced you having them done separately? Also - is insurance covering?

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this - and (sadly) so happy to see someone else posting a symptom similar to mine. I had surgery in July 2013 and had excellent results for first year and my body felt great. Then around July 2014 i started having some reflux so i went in and had some fluid removed. from there i started having all sorts of issues feeling like my stomach was bloated with saliva that wasn't draining - and often i'd end up vomitting. it was really painful. so each month i'd see my doctor and he'd remove all the fluid for a month to let me stomach rest and then refill with a smaller amount. this happened back and forth for 6 months. in that time i had 2 upper GIs and 1 endoscopy and neither showed any issues with the band (no slippage). i also recently got a 2nd opinion and that doc said i might just be in a small # of ppl who can't tolerate any fluid in the band (or the band itself). in late Jan we tried putting 1CC in, and i had that removed last week. Was already sad thinking maybe i just can't tolerate any fluid - but honestly i'm still having stomach aches. that bloated feeling and i can feel that fluid isn't draining. i'll have to have a big cup of hot tea to get the fluid to finally release and drain past the band (it's a weird sensation). my doc wants to revise to a sleeve but i'm not sure about it. i was happy to just leave the band in empty and keep going with my lifestyle changes, but i'm getting really scared that the stomach discomfort is continuing and maybe i need to have it removed... and then if i do - do i go to a sleeve? i'm not inclined to, but from what i've read it seems like doing both procedures at the same time is the more common practice. oy. -Anxious in Massachusetts

congratulations to everyone for sharing 2013 wins and hard work! so inspiring! I went to my first surgical consult in Jan 2013, was subsequently pretty sick with something totally not related to weight, and ultimately approved by my insurance in June - with my surgery on 7/11/13. I made a little photo collage of my progress these last 7 months seeing the scale go down is awesome - but the thing i'm happiest about is finally becoming a gym rat. I go anywhere from 5-7 times/week and have reached a place where my body craves it versus wanting to just hide under the covers and stay in bed. my joints don't ache (tho sometimes my muscles do and i know i've made the type of change i need to in my life... now to keep it going for the rest of my life!

hey claire - i'd follow whatever your doctor/nutritionist told you. this is one of those areas that generates a broad mix of advice. my team told me an occasional carbonated drink was fine - i've had a few sodas and a few glasses of champagne since surgery - haven't had any issues. but if your doc advises against having any, i'd follow whatever she/he says.

here's my 2013 in review. Had my first mtg with surgeon in Jan, and approved for surgery in June - surgery date was 7/11/13. Started year at 315, and was 299 at surgery. ended the year over 60lbs lighter and much, MUCH healthier

Hey everyone- i'm a few months into my banded life, and all sorts of things are going great in terms of being waaaaay more active (i've become a gym rat), and while I'm not in the Green Zone yet, I'm getting closer. I started at 315, and just recently crossed the 50lbs lost marker, and am 263 - with a goal weight of 185. Here's my question: when should i get my wedding rings resized? i have an engagement ring and 2 bands. They are already pretty much falling off - so much so I don't wear my engagement ring for fear of losing it. I kinda hate to resize them now only to do it again in the future as I continue getting healthier, but I don't want them to slip off/stop wearing them. Have any of you gone through this? What did you decide? is there a middle-ground to make them more snug (imagining the way girls at my HS used to wrap thread around their boyfriend's class rings to make them fit) that looks decent? thanks!!

i so appreciate all the advice! i'm gonna look into one of these temporary suggestions. my rings are all family rings (that's what we do - you get a family ring at engagement/wedding, and then 40 years later when you can afford it, you buy your own new rings and give the family ones to the next person getting married) so i'm loathe to do anything that would hurt 'em!

these are great problems to have! i went for a bra fitting a few weeks ago thinking i must have shifted, but for better or worse, i'm still clockin in at a H cup. the band size is slowly going down tho, but for now I can be content with the tightest hook setting - and i can wear it all day long - which did not used to be true

i was sore right after surgery - but once healed, sky's the limit!

I'm considering changing employers. I had my surgery done under Cigna care and the new place has the Tufts *** coverage. Their benefits person checked and the plan does cover bariatric surgery and they will cover aftercare with an office copay. Just wondering if anyone has this coverage now and what your experience with them has been like. Thanks!

Had surgery today. This boob thing is causing som discomfort. I wedged a washcloth in there to prop it up a bit, but it isn't solving the situation. My sister is bringing me a sports bra to try. Anyone else have this happen? Did you find a solution?

Today in the shower I noticed I was able to shave certain areas with a lot more ease I didn't even realize it until I was halfway done - that I wasn't struggling to reach places. My husband will be thrilled

the thing they don't mention in the commercials is that you have to use either of those pieces of equipment for more than just a clothes rack. i prefer to go to the gym - even if the ppl on the machines next to me don't know it - i get in my own little competition with them - who can be on the highest incline, etc. it's motivating for me.

Agree with the advice above - try and bring down the quantity. It's tough. I'm now 3 fills in, but not yet feeling the dreamy Green Zone... so this is still the White Knuckle phase for me. i'd say my largest meals are about 1.5 cups - sometimes i'm hungry again in 2-3 hours, but i do stop myself from eating more in that sitting. it takes some time to hit that GZ - but i'm sure i'm gonna get there, and i'm sure you will too!

was banded in July and have flown a bunch since then (tho nothing international). haven't had any issues. good luck!

i take a Centrum chewable daily, and if i'm going to be traveling i drink an EmergenC every day. I've noticed I'm low on calcium and iron. I have been trying to take the Viactiv caramel calcium chews but i forget a lot (which i'm sure is because i don't really like them). What do folks do for Iron?

i started taking them like 5 weeks before just to get into the habit.

Awesome! Great work both of you!!

Great work to the folks who have shared here - very inspiring. Attaching my two month comparison. 17lbs lost pre-surgery, surgery done 7/11, total lost as of today: 36.5lbs. I've had one fill (4cc) and am not near the green zone yet but go in for 2nd fill to tomorrow.