Julie_Dizz

Hello all, I come to you with a heavy heart. I am, by all definitions, a successful bandster. I am 5 1/2 years out from surgery and had an initial weight loss of 165 lbs. I am still maintaining a 115 lb weight loss. However... I have what has been identified as "lap band intolerance." My lap band continues to get tighter and tighter, the longer I have it. I had a revision 3 years ago to switch from a 4cc band to a 10cc Vangaurd. That gave me plenty of room... for a while. But this band is now getting too tight. I have been admitted, more than once, for I.V. hydration after an accute obstruction. I also have a chronic issue with inflammation that no one can explain. When I get puffy, my band gets too tight. I wasn't aware of having this inflammation problem before my band... but of course, I was 330lbs. Who would have known if I was "puffy??" We have stopped my period (Mirena) to try to address the monthly tightness... but, I get tight anytime I have inflammation. It is not lupus nor is it lymphoma... all of that has been checked. Maybe it is the band... I don't know. ANYWHOOOO... me, an avid supporter of the lap band, is a person who is faced with 1) a revision to a bypass or 2) a trip back into the land of morbid obesity. I would love your feedback. I understand that there have been others with band intolernace. I really want to hear from you. I want to know about your experience... and if you were able to resolve it. It is NOT an option to simply take my band out with no tool to replace it. I have even spoken to the developers of the lap band to see if they might have an answer for me. They are are concerned about the inflammation... but think that my best option is to go to an AP band. Yet a third band does not feel like a good solution. Thank you, in advance! Jules Upstate NY:confused:

Thank you so much for your kind replies. I did think about a different type of band... Either any AP band or the other brand of band. However, I dont think that would address my issues with inflammation. I still swell up pretty regularly (for no apparent reason). As for the sleeve... If I'm going to have surgery again, I am not going to go with a restictive procedure alone. I believe that my metabolism is such that I will need something more to shake my obesity again! I would also have to travel out of my region for the procedure. It is not offered around here. Thanks again... Keep the feedback coming. My RNY will not be scheduled until the insurance clears. The concern is that I do not weigh enough to qualify for a RNY. My BMI is 32. Be well, Jules

Oh my gosh! I am so excited to see this discussion... yet sad for what I am reading! I have been banded for 5 1/2 years. My band keeps getting tighter and tighter (on its on). I have already had one revision, going from a standard band to a VanGaurd band. I currently have 2mls in my VG band. We have had to take Fluid out repeatedly, after I reached my sweet spot about two years ago. It is the same thing that happened to the first band... I lost "room" for an adjustment. So, instead of living a life of acute obstructions, fills and unfills, and the inevitable demise of this band, I am on the road to a RNY revision. I did NOT want a bypass... that is why I got the band. However, I want to be morbidly obese even less. I have maintained over a 100 weight loss. But, the weight is piling back on (due to having to leave my band at an ineffective adjustment level to avoid problems). I am so relieved to see that I'm not the only one. Jules upstate NY:crying: P.S This signature is a few years old!! Sorry.... the numbers are not correct. My current weight is about 210lbs and my BMI is about 32.

Hi Kellie! Again, the decision to take fill our or not is individual. I will take fill out for ANY abdominal surgery I have from here on out. The results were too catrophic for having not done it this past time. My bariatic surgeons were extremely careful with the plastic surgery work that had been done on my abdomen. In fact, they consulted with my PS in order to determine the best placement for the instrumentation. They worked hard to put new scars near or on top of existing scars. So, they did not damage my abdominal reconstructive work at all. Additionally, if they were required to convert my lap procedure to an open procedure, the plastic surgeon was willing to come in and close me up so that he would put me back together the way he wanted me back together. I have excellent physician watching out after me. I could not be more please with the healthcare I receive!! Hugs,

Hello all, I am approaching my 2-year bandiversary. My highest weight was 330. Today, at 5'8", I am at my goal of 165. Woo hooo!! On December 8th of 2005, I had an abdominoplasty and a bi-lateral mastopexy with augmentation. It was an 11 hour surgery. I have healed wonderfully from the PS and I can only marvel at life without a stomach that hangs down to my thighs and boobs that hang down to my navel. I didn't find recovery to be that painful or difficult. HOWEVER, this surgery set into motion a series of health issues that I am still combating to this day (6 mos later). First, due to the Fluid that my body retained after surgery, my stomach tissue became swollen. My band got too tight, my stoma got irritated and I became completely obstructed. I ended up in the hospital on I.V. hydration and a barium swallow study showed my band had migrated and that my pouch had a dilitation. I had to go on 6 weeks of fluids. Even though the migration was resolved (Thank you, God!), we are still battling my adjustment level. 10th's of cc's make the difference between too tight and too loose. (I'm at 0.15 cc's in a 4cc inamed band) I also developed a raging sleep disorder after 11 hours under anesthesia. I can get to sleep just fine, I just can't stay asleep. Most nights, I get about 5 hours of sleep. I am a VERY high energy person. 5 hours is not enough. I crash about halfway through the afternoon. So, my PCP has worked with me trying every sleep strategy and sleep medication known to man. Nothing has helped me get more than 6 hours of sleep per night. Between the anesthesia, the migration, the grey New York winter (I'm a Georgia girl), the liquid diet and the sleep disorder, I developed major depressive disorder (single episode) and am on an SSRI. Fortunately, the medication resolved the depressive symptoms. But, for a few weeks I was sliding down a hole that I didn't know I could ever climb out of. NOW I am struggling with what may be a partial bowel obstruction, adhesions or an illius. I have a full abdominal CT scan on Wednesday to determine if any of those conditions explain why I am in pain 30 minutes after I eat in an area below my navel. The plastic surgery went fine. The dominos that keep coming down are about to drive me crazy. I'm 44 years old and feel like I have "lost" the last 6 months of my life. I've gone from doctor to doctor, and as much as I adore my team of physicians, I grow weary of being "the patient." This whole episode has had ramifications in my personal life, my spiritual life, my married life, and my work life. Being sick and tired all the time puts a strain on all of those relationships. So, I thought I would write and share my experience. I truly believe that I am on the road to recovery... it just seems that road is much longer than I ever expected it would be!

It is possible that if your surgery is done on an emergent basis that the surgery would be covered and not the band. I know that my doctors coded my surgery the way they did in order to help the insurance issue along a bit. (Diagnosis of Dysphagia). In that case, you would actually have to wait until you had an emergent situation, though. You're right... that tight thing IS crazy. I have never been pregnant (not the "mommy" type... lol), but I can't imagine why the 28 day thing would still kick in when you're preggers. Oh well.... there ain't nuthin easy about bein' a woman! We're SOOOO special.... lol (just ask my husband.... hehe) I'm sending you a big hug. And, dear, you just feel free to write me any time you need support or cheerleading. I may not be the "mommy" type.... but my friends have called me a "momma duck." You see... by staying kid-free, I have lots of energy to nurture and support others. QUACK!! Hugs

Baj, The VG band is currently Inamed's largest adjustable gastric band. It is 11cm in circumference and will hold about 10cc's in fills. When I had my band surgery 2 years ago, the standard band was all that was available. It is 10cm and will hold 4cc's. The VG is more difficult to adjust than the standard band. However, it is also knows as the "kinder, gentler" band. So, it has its plusses and minuses. Hehe.... is that WAY more than you wanted?!?! lol Hugs

HI Kashia, I was diagnosed with a slippage back on Dec. 31st of this year. They put my tummy of full rest...liquids... for about 6 weeks. The slippage corrected itself. But, when I tried to get adjusted, even the TINIEST fill (.25) was too tight. I ended up in crisis again, in the E.R. and they did emergency surgery. I now have the VG band and think that this will solve my problems. I had struggled with my standard band for 7 months prior to my slippage. And, I think my plastic surgery send a band that was already in trouble, right over the edge. I am doing well in my recovery. Once your band is truly repaired, your odds should be no higher than anyone elses... unless the slippage is behavior related and the behavior doesn't change. My insurance will cover my repair because the surgery was emergent and the diagnosis was dysphagia (inability to swallow). My band was covered originally too. Now.... I got the low profile port (because I'm at goal), they MAY balk at that. So, that could be $1,000 out of pocket. I don't think waiting hurt me. I asked the surgeon about scar tissue, etc. He said that I had no more scar tissue than they would expect to see on a normal banded stomach. My pouch was dialated. However, that will go back to normal since I'm on fluids again with the post-op regimine. Somtimes stuff happens. Bariatric surgery is not a perfected field. They are still learning. I mean, when I was banded, the VG band was not even available. Now, I have one. I may have NEVER had a problem had I started with a VG band. However, slippages have been known to happen from being too tight on a chronic basis, violent vomitting, and pouch stuffing. NO, NO, and NO!!! I would ONLY have the bypass if there was NO way that I could tolerate the band. Here's how I look at it: When bypass patients have a complication, they are typically LIFE THREATENING. When band patients have a complication, they are typically merely annoying. I had a pretty severe complication and all it required was a laporascopic procedure and I was up and around VERY quickly. I went back to work less than a week after my new band was placed. I take annoying over life threaning any day of the week. I am the queen of monthly tightness. As a matter of fact, we think this is a possible contributor to my slippage. My PCP has put me on the oral contracteptive Seasonale so that I only have a period 4 times a year. We can manage my band better if we only have to worry about pre-menstrual Fluid 4 times a year. Now, granted, I am a little old (44) for an oral contraceptive. But, the benefits outweighed the potential risks. I hope my answers help a little bit. I wish you many blessings with your preganancy and your new little one to come! Hugs,

Alice, you are so welcome. So, how are you doing at 8 days post op. If I remember correctly, I wasn't walking upright yet.... lol. By the way... I have a new band now. The domino effect finally got to me. I had another crisis & unfill two weeks ago. The surgeons decided to do emergency surgery and give me a VG band. I'm recovering nicely. Although, I MUST say, going through the post op regimine AGAIN, is a pain... lol. Hugs,

Melanie, people who are successful bandsters understand that they are in this thing for the long haul. There is nothing quick about being banded. We do not have worry about a "window of opportunity" to lose our weight like RNY-er's do. We can lose weight as long as there's weight to lose. You said you expected weight to drop off "at least 2 pounds a week." That is actually the MAXIMUM weight loss that most people experience. The more common experience is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. Many lose slower than that.... and that is okay. It can be frustrating, but it is normal and okay. The way to approach adjusting the band is "steady as she goes." This is the method that produces the best long-term outcomes. People that get too tight, too quick are migrations, slippages and/or erosions waiting to happen. There is a very good reason that most surgeons are not "aggressive" with their fill procedures. First, there is no medical reason to hurry to get it right. If a person's comorbidities are SO severe that weight loss must be fast, then they should most likely opt for the RNY. Second, overly agressive fills are MUCH more dangerous than any weight one may not lose as the result of being under filled. So, don't give up on the band at three weeks. This is a marathon, not a sprint. If you were under the impression that it was a sprint, then you got bad information and you need to adjust your expectations. Settle in the for the long haul. Accepting the marathon will bode well for your long-term outcomes. This is extremely important because short-term, short-sighted management of the band will most likely result in poor outcomes. And no one wants that. I wish you all the best,

Hi there! I had an abdominoplasty and a bilateral mastopexy with augmentation on Dec. 8th. I asked the surgeon to touch up my hips and thighs with lipo so that I would look balanced after having my tummy skin removed. He did a very little bit on my outer thighs and it made a great deal of difference for me. I lost the "saddle bag" look and ended up being more balanced. Now, don't get my wrong. My thighs are a MESS! They look like twin char peis! I have tons of loose skin on my thighs, and don't know if I will ever do the thigh lift. That is a SCARY operation to me because of where the incision is. But, the lipo took the bulk off the outside of my thighs so that when I wear pants, you don't see saddlebags. There is always a trade off with lipo. It does NOT fix loose skin. As a matter of fact, it makes loose skin worse. If you already have puckers and you have lipo, you will have more puckers. A lift is truly the only way to deal with loose skin. The other thing you should know is that the lipo was the MOST painful part of my healing. My abdominoplasty incision went around about 70% of my body. The surgeon did extensive recontruction on my abdominal muscles. But, NOTHING hurt like my outter thighs from the lipo. Since I am a side sleeper, the healing from the lipo was what kept me from sleeping in a bed for about two weeks (I slept in a recliner). In spite of the pain, I love my results. Hugs,

Hi Babs, I am so grateful for those of you who have put a different experience than mine, as it relates to the fill. I think it is helpful to people who are thinking about PS to know that there are options. I guess the key is that we each have to know our own body, and we each have to advocate for what's best for us. Now that I know how my band reacts to abdominal surgery, I will ALWAYS have an unfill before surgery. I'm sorry that you've had trouble getting back to your sweet spot. It has been a struggle for me as well. I'm not sure why we can't just go back to my pre-surgery fill level. But, that doesn't seem to be what I need. I have a teensie little fill now and sometimes that is too tight. I think that even though my migration resolved, the band is not exactly in the same place it was before. Hugs,

Thank you Diane! Yeh, I love that picture too. It was at a tea party that some ladies at my church had. The hat was part of the garden atmosphere. A dilitation is just a fancy word for swelling. A healthy pouch/band/stomach picture should look like a very small hour glass without much expansion above the band. My picture looked like a dumbell. The pouch was enlarged and rounded, the band looked like a belt that was put on too tight, and the stomach below the band was swollen too. My band was oriented improperly. It should actually be at a slant, at about 2:00 and 8:00 on a watch face. My band was at 3:00 and 9:00 - flat. Flat is not good. As it turns out, the swelling had displaced the band without damaging the sutchers. So, when the swelling went down, the band rebounded back into it's proper orientation. I was VERY, VERY fortunate that I didn't require a surgical intervention. If you have monthly tightness, please be sure to have this discussion with both your bariatric surgeon AND your plastic surgeon. Hugs,

Hi ya! I think the major thing is that I would encourage ANY bandster to have a discussion with their bariatric surgeon about having the Fluid removed from their band before ANY abdominal surgery. This would especially apply to those of us ladies who have "monthly" tightness. You see, I KNEW that pre menstrual weight gain made me tight. I just didn't transfer the knowledge to fluid retention after major abdominal surgery. (I coulda had a V-8! :faint:) My program (in Cooperstown, NY) has had a lot to learn from me! I am one of their very earliest band patients, and the first band patient to reach a normal BMI. I am also the first band patient at a normal weight to undergo reconstructive surgery. We learned, alright! lol I have a friend who is going to have a hysterectomy this week. She is one who has struggled with monthly tightness with her band. So, based on my experience, she went to our bariatric surgeon and asked him to remove the fluid in her band in an attempt to avoid excessive swelling and tightness after her surgery. I think she is very wise woman. Okay... I've rattled on enough now! Thank you all, again, for your marvelous support. I just LOVE bandsters!!!

Hey, thanks for the affirmation on the avatar! I am a public speaker and I also write articles for a professional magazine. So, I needed a good head shot to in conference brochures and next to my articles. It was tough picking out the "right" one. I wanted the picture to invoke, "Hey, I'd really like to go to that lady's workshop." Or, "She's not SO stuffy... let me see what her article says." lol But... I digress. Thank you!

Thank you all for your kind responses. This whole scenario was a wake up call for me. I went into the PS being well aware of the "typical" complications that I could expect. However, I had no idea that my band would impacted along with all the other things that followed. Frankly, I can't answer the question "Would you do it all over again?" right now. Hind sight is 20/20. We could have taken the Fluid out of my band BEFORE my surgery had we known I was going to get so tight. Maybe I would have done one procedure at a time to be under anesthesia for a shorter period of time. But, now I know... I know the things that MY body is sensitive to. MANY, MANY people go through these kinds of things without one iota of a problem. I was SURE I would be one of those people. Fortunately, I have not lost my natural optimism. I know that things are going to be okay. It's just that my issues are not like a broken leg when they can tell me that my cast will come off on "x" date. There is a nebulous ending, and I'm always better with a PLAN! hehe. Thanks for all your support and encouragement. The band has been a miracle in my life. With the band there is NO question whether I'd do it again. IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!!

Hello All! I am coming up on my 2nd year Bandiversary on May 19th. My highest weight was 330. Today I weigh 165. Yes, You read it correctly, I have lost HALF of myself! Can I just say that I love being half the woman I used to be?? Hugs, Julie Banded 5-19-04 Dr. Weiss & Dr. Heneghan (Cooperstown, New York) Highest Weight: 330 Weight at WLS Orientation: 296 Weight Today: 165 Largest Clothes: 30/32 Clothes today: 10/12

Hello, you New York bandsters! I haven't seen a lot of activity on the New York list lately, so I thought would at least say hello and see if everyone is still out there! I went to our "Lap-band Lifestyle reinforcement" class yesterday (we have it once a month for post-ops). It was VERY interesting. The nutritionist came in and reinforced the "basics" with us, and then we talked about real-life eating. We even talked about eating out in a healthy way. Living in New York, I'm sure that some of you will related to eating at ITALIAN restaurants. Sometimes that's a real chore. I asked the nutritionist of the following sauces, which was the best: Scampi, Wine, Marinara, and Cream sauces. She said to definitely go with mariniara (if you MUST have sauce). I kinda thought that was what she'd say. But it was nice to have the affirmation. We also talked about varying the sources of our Protein. She encouraged us to get protein from chicken, turkey, fish, pork, whey, soy, legumes, egg whites, and low-fat dairy products. She said that getting protein from multiple sources makes the protein "bio-available" to our bodies in different ways. I found that fascinating. Okay... Ill hush now. I hope to hear from y'all! Hugs,

Lorie... very cool. Do you know about the group of bandsters that meets informally in Albany (about once per month) at the food court of the mall. We're meeting again in July at Crossgates, if you're interested in joing us! Forgive me if I've already told you about this! I am on three different band groups, and I forget what I say where! hehe Hugs,

Where are you going to have surgery? Every program does things a little differently. Like, for me, it was 4 months between my orientation and my surgery. For others it can be up to 8 months. Hugs,

The band has surpassed my every expectation. I made it to goal within one year of surgery. It was a wild, fun, and scary ride. I'm having to learn to "be" a thin person. That is SO out of my comfort zone.... but, I'm definitely having fun doing it. Was the year without problems? No. I had a lot to learn... and, in many ways, am still learning. Sometimes I forget things, and then have to RE-learn them (such as taking small bites, chewing well, eating slow, etc.) I had one minor complication. About two weeks after my third fill, my stoma became irritated and swollen to the point that I couldn't eat or drink. The doctor had to take half of the saline solution out of my band in order to give my stomach a rest. That helped a lot. I hope this is what you were asking! Hugs,

Exactly how close are you? That may change the answers that you get.

Thanks Colleen! I feel extremely blessed! I have never been at goal in my life. So, this is a thrill. Hugs,

Hi Colleen, The band will tolerate SOME vomitting. However, should a bandster get the stomach bug, it is best to call the doc and get something that will alleviate the nausea. I don't know how to spell it, but the most common anti-nausea drug sounds like "FEN-er-gan." My doc tells us all that if we're throwing up due to a bug, to call him immediately. He does not want us throwing up any more than we have to. In my program, we have only had one person have a complication from throwing up. So, I think the team has a pretty good approach. Some bandsters develop maladaptive behaviors that cause them to throw up on a regular basis. This includes eating too much and overfilling the pouch to the point that it has to come back up. I even know people that, without the band, someone would think they are bulemic. This is soooo bad for their body and puts them at very high risk for slippage or migration. I have had the good fortune to go nearly 14 months since surgery without throwing up even once.

Anyone can "outsmart" the band. Grazing all day is the best way to do it. However, if one eats three good meals a day with very limited snacking, the band will do its job. It is impossible to binge eat if the band is properly adjusted. It just hurts too darn much to put too much food it that itty-bitty pouch. I will have to have a tummy tuck and a breast lift. I know several band patients who have gone ahead and had their extra skin removed. There are a lot of factors related to extra skin. Age is a major factor. People in their 20's have significantly less issues than people in their 40's (like me). The truth of the matter is that the stretching has damaged the connecting tissues within the skin. If those tissues have been damaged for a long time, the damage is permanent and no matter how slowly the weight is lost, it will still be damaged. No amount of creams, lotions, or potions will correct that deep tissue damage. I have no personal experience with this... I have a hubby and a poodle.... that's enough for me... lol. I will tell you that in my bariatric program in New York, the doctors ask patients to agree not to get pregnant for at least two years after surgery. They are serious enough about it to discuss what birth control methods patients intend to use to make sure preganancy doesn't happen. Personally, I think if one wants to have weight loss surgery and eventually become pregnant, the band is the best way to go. The band allows the medical team to adjust the intake of the mom-to-be. Therefore, if a mom needed more nutrition to support the preganacy, the band can be unfilled. This could never happen the the other surgeries. What you get it what you get with them!