mrsto

Amen, Sistah!!

The only comment I can take credit for, is the one written in blue. I hit "quote" to Labwalker's comment, but it put the text together.......as if I wrote the whole thing. Nope, I'm just the one in "blue".

Stevehud - the comment you are referring to was not made by me; I believe it was Labwalker. There is something wrong with this site, that when I "quote" under someones comment, it takes away the separation between who said what. When I noticed that happen, I changed my text to blue. I'm willing to take a beating for something I say that may have upset someone, but I cannot take credit for the comment that you're referring to. Alex - is there a way to fix this issue on the site? I've had it happen before.

My comment was directed at the comments you alleged that your doctor made. I was asking for something more tangible than his "opinion," but I guess he didn't bother to substantiate his assertions with verifiable information. There are a lot of studies that that showed poor results for the band, but that is dated information and based on 4 cc bands that are no longer used in the US, and for early surgical techniques that have been refined over the past few decades. For a doctor to say the band offers less efficacy compared to other procedures raises a red flag. It is true that on average, the weight loss for gastric banding is usually about 10 to 20 percent less than for the sleeve. But, that doesn't mean that the band is not the best procedure for particular patient. Doctors do not like the band for one reason: it requires follow up care, which means lost revenue and the need for a much larger staff to handle the future needs of band patients. Medicare does not pay for fills or follow up visits, because it is considered a follow up visit for surgery. Did your doctor explain that to you? The practice I visit has four APRNs on staff who are there for follow up support the band patients. My doctor would not do a sleeve on me, and that is what I had wanted, because it was not the safest surgery based on my age and related conditions. I'm glad he put my health above his own needs. A surgeon does the sleeve, and he is done with that patient... clean and simple. I know folks who have had all of the popular surgeries. They have all had some good amount of success. Have you ever asked your doctor why some folks have revisions to place a band over sleeves, or a band over plication? Or, why a person with a sleeve would ever need a revision to RNY???? I 've asked the APRNs in my doctor's office about some of those avant guarde procedures, but I would NEVER repeat their responses since it would hearsay, and not proper for me to repeat, their comments on a public forum. I think that most people revise because they've learned to eat around whatever procedure they had. The reality is, that none of the surgeries cure our compulsion to eat. If we ate only because we were hungry, we wouldn't need WLS!! I'm 20 months post op, and after the first 14 months, have learned to eat around the band. There are some days that my NEED to eat, outweighs my strength to fight. My neighbor had the RNY years ago, and started to gain weight. She wanted the band over the RNY to get back the sense of satiety. Again, short term is not a measurement of efficacy with any surgery. We are still addicts. For me, so far, with the band/plication, I have a fighting chance. Even when my compliance is sloppy at best, I stay in and around the same weight. Long term, I cannot say. But for today, it is good.

Amen to that, Alex

My surgeon used to do the DS, but not anymore.

Exactly!

The reason for not drinking with the band, is because the liquid diminishes the effectiveness of the band. if you drink with meals, you will get hungry a lot sooner than waiting ½ hour to an hour to drink. I don't think it will stretch your stomach. The Fluid will go right through, and take whatever you're eating with it. If possible, it's best to wait. If dry mouth is an issues, maybe try eating things with some sort of sauce. If you eat eggs, put a little bit of sautéed mushrooms & onions on them. That adds a lot of moisture, which should help with the dry mouth issue.

If I lived in CO, I would love to! I've been through Colorado once, and it was breathtaking.

Yeeeah......don't know how well you'd do with skydiving

@@My Bariatric Life I did jump tandem, and it was THRILLING! But if you're one who gets motion sickness, you may not be happy once the shoot opens. I was fine in free fall, but the last minutes of floating to the ground made me sicker than a dog. For that reason, I wouldn't do it again One thing checked off the bucket list!

Great stuff - congrats! The last time I lost close to 100 pounds (the time before surgery), I went skydiving. It was liberating!

Yeah, the prep is not pleasant. I had one a week ago, and was miserable the whole day. But it is great to clean out, and (even if momentary), see the number on that scale drop to an all time low

Good luck with the surgery. Hopefully the sutures will help keep that puppy in place. I had gastric plication with my band, which (I'm told) dramatically helps avoid slippage. Even still, ya just never know what the future holds with any of these surgeries. Even so, I have zero regrets, and would do it again 100 times over. I hope you're feeling better sooner than later :-)

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. How long have you had your band? How many times did it slip? What will you revise to? Sorry for all the questions, but I'm genuinely interested. We never know when going into this, what may happen down the road.

Great Post!!

I've heard a lot in these forums about doctors discontinuing bands. On the flip side, I've also heard that many doctors are now offering the band to lower BMI patients; 30-40 pounds to lose. It sounded like they're gearing up to use it on those who struggle with smaller amounts of extra weight. They won't do the more invasive surgeries on these people. Time will tell.

Ashley - you are so right. My doctor also felt the bypass was a good option, but he was fine with decision to go with the band/plication. It's ALL about a lifestyle change, no matter which surgery you have. The difference between the bypass and the band, is in the first 12-18 months. The weight tends to melt off bypass patients from malabsorption. After the honeymoon period is over, we ALL have to work at it. I've known two people with the bypass, who ultimately had serious issues with iron deficiency. Both had to go for daily IV infusions of the mineral, and it went on for weeks until the problem corrected itself. I'm not saying that happens with everyone, but overall, the way the surgery functions didn't sit well with me. Just stay firm in what your gut is telling you, and it will all work out.

I was originally scheduled for a bypass, but cancelled two weeks prior to surgery. The permanence of that procedure didn't sit well with me. I ended up getting the lap band with plication. I have zero regrets - I'm thrilled with the outcome, and would make the same choice 100 times over. I would say, go with your gut. Make sure you do extensive research on all of the procedures, and make a decision based on what's best for you; what YOU can live with. I wish you the best with whatever route you choose to go.

Regarding working out, you don't have to do a whole big "work out" to get things going. Simple walking on a daily basis is great. If you can do a good 30 minute walk most days a week, I think you may start to see things moving. When the time comes that you're comfortable going to the gym; whatever you choose, then go. Exercise is half the battle. If you don't move regularly, you won't be happy (as you aren't now) with the progress. Regarding not being able to eat, you should talk with your doctor. If you feel weak because you can hardly eat, then you may be too tight. Being too tight will also slow your weight loss. Maybe it's time to check back in with the team at your bariatric facility. I wish you the best.... Hang in there....you will find your way.

My doctor felt that I would do well with the RNY. I actually had it scheduled, but cancelled two weeks prior to surgery. The permanence of that procedure didn't sit well with me. Nor did the sleeve, and that small possibility of leakage from the staples, which could mean several weeks in the hospital. Being self employed, that alone would have destroyed my business. With the band/plication, I knew that my work would start the minute I opened my eyes from surgery. And I was really ready and perfectly fine with that. I did very well, and at the 12 month mark, my surgeon said that I could not have done any better with the other surgeries. He said that I was in the lower percentile; band patients don't seem to lose quite as much as the other surgeries. But many DO lose their weight, and I'm grateful that I'm one of them. So, yes, as stated by some posters above, do listen to your doctor. But don't rule out your own comfort level with possible issues inherent with each surgery. Scour the internet, talk to every and anyone you know who has been through it; leave no stone unturned. Then make the decision that YOU feel is best for you. Many doctors these days like the more aggressive procedures. But that doesn't mean that they are the right procedure for you. I wish you all the best!

I really depends on what you're taking. Many drugs have to be taken whole; not crushed or broken. Usually, extended release meds. As for Vitamins & supplements, most come in chewable or liquid form. Some of the bariatric vitamins are really good, so you might want to check out those. Bariatric Advantage has Iron in chewable form as well. I've never had any issues swallowing pills since surgery. I can take Mucinex, which is huge. But I know many people do have a problems getting them down. You will figure it out

Wow, I feel terrible for you. That is a LOT to go through, with the insurance company giving you a bunch of B.S. Most all of us who decided on WLS, have major issues around food. We're emotional eaters, depressed, addicted to food, etc. As you said, if you weren't, then you would not be here! I feel angry just reading your post; totally unfair. There is absolutely no guarantee that any of us, bipolar or not, will maintain our weight loss. This is a life long issue, and the surgery doesn't end the battle. Surgery is a tool, not a cure. It certainly sounds like you no longer have the wherewithal to continue the fight. And I understand that. But fast forward a year or two from now; where will you be? Heavier? Have you considered having surgery outside of the country? Have you discussed a cash pay scenario with the bariatric facility of your choice? I really hate to see you throw in the towel. Given who we are, and the curse we live with, I'm rooting for you to find a way around the system. Ugh.....I feel so bad for you. Your insurance company needs some enlightening!

As mentioned above, you should follow your doctor's advice and protocol. I had my first fill 4 weeks post-op. I had been doing very well, but once all the swelling went down, I was ravenous. Then I had a couple more fills over the following 8 weeks. I was good for awhile, then had another fill; which was a mistake. After a couple of weeks living with that fill, I was way too tight & had horrible reflux issues. So then I had some un-fills, but ended up having all Fluid removed until my body calmed down. Then I slowly refilled, and I'm in a very good place right now. My suggestion is, hold off until you find that you're no longer satisfied on smaller amounts of food, for longer periods of time. If the band is working, ride it out. You can always have a fill. I have read some who say they were miserable after one fill, but I really think it has to do with how aggressive the fill is, how compliant the patient is, etc. It's better to go slow to reach the sweet spot, rather than go past it and have to back up. But don't be afraid based on some of what you read here. There are many veterans who have done very well without fills. Listen to YOUR body, and move forward accordingly. Congrats on your loss so far! Sounds like you're doing just fine

Bandora - great screen name!