addie1978

I can't take ANY of the prescription meds with the exception of a scopolamine patch because of serious drug interactions with another medication I take. Before the pharmacist caught the interaction, I had taken Zofran but it didn't touch it. I have tried Ginger, Peppermint, Bonine, Dramamine - nothing will work. I have already been in the ER once for dehydration. I honestly would rather be experiencing pain and be on pain meds the feel like this everyday. I am kind of hopefully something shows off in my blood work. Waiting this out has been miserable. I would like a concrete answer other than "it will go away eventually."

I am 4 weeks out and have been suffering from chronic nausea since my surgery. My doctor seems to think it will go away by week 6 but at this rate I just don't know. I went in for a cat scan and blood work on Friday but my doctor seems to think it is a side effect of the surgery. It is miserable so I feel for you. It's hard to feel sick all day every day.

I am in the exact same situation. All the Protein powders make me gag and I am getting very little protein in. My doctor told me if I don't get more protein in fast, he will put a feeding tube in. So I purchased the unflavored unjury (I can still taste it) but he told me to mix it with fruit as a smoothie so that is what I am doing. I didn't think every Protein Drink would cause me to gag!

I have both. I like the display better on my phone for the fitbit. I like the way the jawbone24up looks though - I have the pink one and it's like a bracelet. They are both really similar and allow you to track food, etc. Jawbone lets you track your mood and other variables that the fitbit does not have. Overall they are pretty equal for me. I have the brand new jawbone24up though. I am using the jawbone at the moment.

My surgeon says he has to make the pouch a little bigger for my revision surgery to prevent stricture because the band will have left more scar tissue (leading to stricture). So I am wondering if the slightly larger pouch might account for slower weight loss for revision patients.

I have anthem and was approved for removal of the band and revision to RNY. My surgery is in a week. I had to go for a year for fills/unfills documenting that my esophagus was having severe spasms all the time and I developed severe acid reflux and achalasia (I had to have an endoscopy and motility study). You have to prove the band failed (in other words, it didn't work because something was either wrong with the band or it cause complications of some sort). After my year of documentation and my studies, all of the paperwork plus a letter of medical necessity was sent to anthem and I was approved almost right away. I think anthem is pretty good as long as you have enough proof that the band actually failed or caused something serious, and the surgery is medically necessary (everything has to be medically necessary). Oh, and I had to have another psych exam - I was just honest and luckily I was cleared.

My band failed due to severe acid reflux and I am being revised in a week. My doctor wouldn't do the vertical sleeve because he said I will have the same reflux problems. Anyway, best of luck to you.

I am scheduled for conversion surgery on May 20th. I have given this a lot of thought and I think it is something that has to be done but i had so many issues with the band that I am really nervous about complications. I have two little boys. But my blood pressure, while normal, has started to be higher than normal and I cannot get the weight off and think this is what I need to do. I found out I was approved yesterday and I thought I would be elated - while I am happy - I am also really scared. Only a month and 5 days away!

I have had the band since 2005. I am unfortunately a lap band failure according to my doctor. I have severe esophogeal spasms and he cannot get the band at the right setting. It causes horrible reflux. The reason I jumped in is I suffer from depression and anxiety and have had to take SSRIs - I can't get off of them. I followed the lb diet almost perfectly and had a terrible time losing wait. I honestly think certain anti-depressants interfere with weight loss. The only way I have been able to lose some weight was focusing on exercise. Anyway, I saw your post and I wanted to let you know you are not alone - depression and/or anxiety is tough to fight. Being overweight is depressing in and of itself so I think it intensifies certain feelings. Just know you are not alone....

I have had the band for five years. I had a fill about two weeks ago and everything was fine. On sunday morning, I tried to drink water and it would not stay down. Since then nothing will stay down unless I take super small sips of water. I keep throwing everything up, including my medication (I take cymbalta - not keeping it down is causing major problems - I think I am going through withdrawal). The band feels like it is way too tight, something is sitting on my chest, I am light headed and feel terrible. Given I was fine with my fill two weeks ago, do you think there is a chance the band has slipped? I have never had this experience before. I have had the band too tight but never a slip. This doesn't look good. I see the doctor at 3:30 today and I am terrified.

I don't really count calories either, but I do think there are exceptions to your eat less lose more rule of thumb - I have polycstic ovarian syndrome - it makes losing weight extremely difficult, (hence why it is a co-morbidity) - I think you have to acknolwedge that there are circumstances (medical) that can make weight loss a challenge. I have found that if I do not exercise, I do not lose, no matter what I eat. I am not an overeater - I didn't gain weight from eating too much. I gained weight due to a metabolic problem causing a slugglish metabolism and choosing not to ''eat clean.'' I think everyone's body is different and the bottom line is you cannot group all obsese individuals into the same category.

I was banded with the realize band (remember all those realize band commercials?) back in 2005 with the belief that it was the same as the lap band, just a few differences in how it is placed, etc. I was banded in Indiana. I have since moved to connecticut and my doctor here does not use the realize band anymore. He said it is a lot harder to get fills to get you to proper restriction, etc. I can't see the Physician's Assistant - he does all my fills with the fluroscope. Anyone else run into this? On top of this the realize band has suddenly moved to the bottom of my esophagus and I have a 50:50 chance of dilation. I am bummed out.

I am actually not 100% sure how many cc's my realize band has. He filled it too tight last month so he took most of the fluid out (I dropped 5lbs in two days). I have kept the 5lbs off but am not losing anything. I get refilled on the 17th. I will have to ask how many cc's the band holds. Thanks for all the comments!

I believe that is correct

I don't know Stephanie....that's a good question. I don't know if it is from my doctor's personal experience or some research....off to look at medical journals.

I got the band 5 years ago but then was a total failure. I didn't follow the rules very well, I was pregnant, etc. I started again in January. Since January I have lost over 40lbs. My doctor told me (he does all the fills under the flourosope) in Janauary and again a month later that the band was in perfect condition and the perfect location. The problem he had was my stomach spasms continuously so it was really hard to fill it and gauge how well it was filled. I am on some medicine for the stomach spasms but it's not working that well. I went to get another fill the other day because i see him monthly and he had not filled it since the original fill because I was losing weight. My weightloss has slowed a bit and I did not have as much restriction. He told me the band is now more vertical and I have a 50% chance of esophageal dilation. I don't really understand what that is. I kind of get it but it still doesn't make a lot of sense. I asked him if he could just move the band back but he said that they used to do that but now that doesn't work or isn't that effective. So far it has not dilated - I have restriction. But if I lose restriction I am going to be so upset. I asked him about revision - he is SUPER conservative. Absolutely will not do revisions unless I meet very stringent criteria. I think he is trying to build a record that he has done everything with the band for insurance purposes (i.e. I am going to the dietician a lot). It doesn't help that I am on the low end of the weight spectrum - my BMI is 35 I believe - so aside from PCOS, my other co-morbidity (sleep apnea) has disappeared. Has this happened to anyone else? what is it exactly? how did your doctor solve it? I was told he would unfill it and I would know if it dilated because I would lose restriction. But what happens then? I just have a non-working band in me the rest of my life? Can't that cause erosion? I am just confused and distressed. I didn't really know what to ask my doctor other than was I in any kind of danger................

thank you for your reply. My doctor didn't seem that concerned and said if it does dialate then he will unfill the band....I do think it is too tight and I will call Monday to get in to have it unfilled somewhat. I am just so frustrated right now.....

Thanks - I will post what happened after my appointment today! i am nervous!

I have the realize band and have to have all my fills under fluoroscopy. Since he has been doing this, every fill shows my stomach is spasming and he has a difficult time determining how much liquid to put in. I go back tomorrow. Here is what is happening. I can sometimes eat and have no problem swallowing amounts that exceed what I should be eating. However, then there are days where I throw up from Water. I think it has something to do with the stomach spasaming. I do not want him to unfill everything and gain all this weight back. I don't know how to address this - isn't there something he can give me to stop the spasms? I should add he says I have a hiatal hernia but he is not concerned about it. I need some advice before tomorrow....thanks in advance.

I have been banded five years this October. I have the realize band - it was all the rage back in 2008. My doctor no longer uses it - he says it is a lot harder to get the fills to the right point and the port is tough to locate. I am just curious about who else has had the realize band and how it has worked for you.

I don't think you are being very fair. I have been banded almost 5 years. I STILL struggle at times. When I was first banded it was a nightmare for me. Everyone needs to be supported. I am glad the lap band has been so great for you, but for many it is very hard to get accustomed to. I am still struggling. This is supposed to be a place of support and your thread is negative in its own right. Should people who are struggling not be allowed to post?

I had a fill under x-ray today and the doctor had a terrible time with it because my stomach was spasaming so badly. So now I have to go back every two weeks and have a fill under x-ray. right now I have a dull pain right where the band is placed. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this normal? i am so sick of this band

I haven't seen them - I will have to pay closer attention! I did medifast before the band and lost 25lbs in 4 weeks. I was surprised - I wasn't hungry after the first few days. The problem was I put all the weight back on and then some after I did it for four weeks.

I am so happy you posted this! I was banded in 2008 and I have been a total failure. I accidentally became pregnant six months after being banded and have just never lost weight. A lot of it is my fault, but not all of it. I tried really hard with the band and ultimately it was determined that because of PCOS and being on anti-depressants, my weight loss was much harder. Anyway, since I have been dianosed with PCOS (and placed on metformin) my doctor told me (and he knows I have the band) to follow atkins, so I am starting tomorrow! Excited to hear I can eat jello! Oh men lose faster because they have more muscle which burns fat. It is unfair! My husband can lose like the drop of the hat when he puts a little effort into it.

Hi, I was banded in October 2008 in Indianapolis and moved to Connecticut literally one month later. I found a bariatric surgeon and he handles my fills. I think he hates me. I have PCOS and have struggled with my weight since I was 12. I got the band when it was all the rage - there were constant commercials, etc. I felt it would be a good tool. What I didn't factor in was my emotional eating - I managed to get by the psychological testing but looking back, I absolutely was not ready because I did not have my eating under control. The band is a tool but I really thought if my appetite was supressed I would lose weight. The lowest I reached was 237 lbs. I did that by attending weight watcher meetings. Then my weight loss just stopped. I absolutely cannot get it below 237. I then avoided my band doctor for two years and recently went back. He was obviously not very happy with me but I can't blame him, I didn't follow up. Anyway, I have joined weight watchers and am doing the barium swallow test on February 27th. My band doesn't seem to have ever worked very well - I never got to that happy medium. Right now I want to restart and I am giving myself one year to try to get the weight off, work with an endocronologist to get the PCOS in control (As that impedes weight loss - I also take anti-depressants and that causes weight gain, sigh), but if I am super disciplined and still don't lose, I am going to ask for a revision to gastric bypass. I am that desperate at this point. When I was in college I was 165lbs but I had to workout 3 hours a day to maintain that weight. I don't really have a point to my post, just wanted to introduce myself and see who else has fallen of the bandwagon and successfully gotten back on. My doctor is not the same doctor who performed the surgery and I think in some ways that is putting my at a disadvantage. I am just frustrated. Is there a way to jump start the band? Right now I am starving. I feel like a total failure. I am hoping this board will provide the support I really need.