the best me

Awww Trish, what an awesome picture!!!! Yes, your hubby is VERY cute! I have had my days of "how stupid could I have been to do this, what was I thinking!!" but mostly now, I'm starting to like MY band...it's becoming mine. So even in my case, it's getting better. You will do fine. yaaaaaaaaay Trish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I'll trade places with you!!! I could barely keep a sip of broth from refluxing, I've been so tight and swollen. I want PIZZZA!!!! You can do this, and you will! You are not a failure!

From my experience, the sensation of restiction is a little uncomfortable, or tight, but heartburn HURTS, I guess it's the reflux, the liquid going up into the esophogus since it can't go down fast enough. BE CAREFUL and sloooow down. And when you slow down, slow down some more. I have taken up the habit of taking a sip, and swallowing it in 2-4 swallows, so not all of my sip makes it down at once. That seems to help me. I have seen on an Upper GI screen a live picture X-ray of my stomach ABOVE the band squeezing the liquid up into my esophogus. Take it easy and cut out anything acidic (coffee, tomato juice, V-8, whatever you might be drinking) and that should help with any irritation from refux, if that's what you have. My Dr also said take Prilosec, crushed in juice. But check with you doc for instructions. Good Luck!

Please stick with your doctor's menu...noone here would recommend otherwise. I am not to have milk/yogurt/dairy until day 10, which today would be day 10 but my V-8 did not settle well with me, so count yourself fortunate. I wonder if it is too soon to blend the chunks out of chicken vegetable Soup, strain it and drink that? That was on day 4 of my menu, but, again follow your Dr's menu. It's only for a short time. Hey khoelscher, post an introduction in the Introduction forum, so we can all say hello to you!

here's bad news Kathy reporting...I suspect coffee MIGHT have contributed to my recent trouble with stoma swelling post-surgery. I really blame it on the V-8 juice, which was on my menu, but I think adding just my regular cup of coffee in the mornings probably didn't help due to acidity. I used to have an Iron stomach, so I was certain it would be no problem but I have not had coffee since Wed morning (5 days now) due to my swelling problems. So for me, I'm not risking it right now. Maybe down the road to healing, a few more weeks, I'll add it back, because I LOVE my morning coffee, but for now the acid is too much and it's not worth it. It's worth a try, and should be fine, but at the first sign of any diffuculty with swallowing your liquids, that would be one of the first things to go, in my opinion. And I wouldn't wish this past week on my worst enemy. Try hot chocolate made with extra Water instead, early on. It's a good substitute, warm yummy, and in a coffee cup like your regular routine. You'll be fine. I really hope coffee goes well for you, it's such a good thing and I'm really missing it right now!

Wow, Penni, that looks coool! Well done! The band is VERY tilted, and at that angle I suppose it should be. It runs diagonally (L to R) below the pooling stuff and looks wide and rectangular. It was neat to see my port and tubing while I was getting that done (the Upper GI) and the radiologist doc found baruim in my colon from last Saturday!! Yuk, it's still there? I also had some bile (?) in my colon so I know I had at some point eaten something that would create a bowel movement! It was below the barium though and apparently wasn't enough to "wash" it through. Here are my NSV's for recovery today: *drank about 4oz of watered down guava nectar mixed with protien powder *mixed a crushed Prilosec with same and got it down fine. *was able to sip my Centrum liquid Vitamins and chase with Water, went down fine *sips are able to get just the tiniest bit bigger without the reflux *was able to very carefully and with his help, get fussy little man into his crib for his nap without discomfort or pain, so my belly really is healing *actually drank enough liquid this morning to produce the bowel movement my GI pics showed was waiting to be "prompted" to do so. *I actually feel okay today, physically, and not undernourished and underhydrated (although to be able to chug some Iced Tea would be just the best thing!) Wow, so believe me, I'm not doing anything to mess this up! I hope it improves, even if it does so slowly.

It's really happening!!! Good for you, you may be a May Bandster!!!! wooohooo!

Good for you!!! I'm so jealous. You said... "i couldnt handle being one of those who cant swallow their own saliva." I have been one of those and too loose is MOST DEFINATELY better!!!! I'm so happy it's going well for you. Dont' worry, I promise I would rather have lost 1 pound than to have been through a rough recovery, so don't be discouraged by your numbers. You will get there! Thanks for keeping us posted! Congratulations!!!

Stop the presses! It's NOT slippage. Dr Kuri called and was able to look and see that the band is placed perfectly (okay, it's his job, but I believe him) and so I am not facing a repair surgery. He asked if I was taking my Prilosec and I explained that it's slow-release and says not to crush and he said "Crush it" so I did and it went down fine. Sipping is going well today. I think it's just a slow recovery for me. I don't feel alarmed enough about my intake so far today to run to my local doc. I'll give the Prilosec a chance to work and trudge forward with my sipping. I swear the 3 bags of fluid I had over the weekend have helped me start to get over this hump. Is this Jonathan's "light at the end of the tunnel"? I'm afraid to hope, but will keep sipping through the doubt. I'm not willing yet to say I'm on the mend, let's give it a day.

Okay, here's the latest and we can close this leg of the saga... I sent Dr Kuri the pics of my Upper GI (the ones I posted on the "Is this slippage?" thread under Support. He read the e-mails and saw the pics and called me this morning and said "you band loooks pear-fect! No sleepeege" (tanslate, your band looks perfect, no slippage) Whew! So I am not facing a repair surgery, thank God! So I said, "So what's wrong? Why am I having so much trouble?" He said "Have you been taking the Prilosec?" So I explain that it's 24hr slow release and it says not to crush. And he said "Crush it, twice a day" So there. No more nasty liquid Zantac, I crushed a tablet and mixed it into some guava nectar with protein powder I have been sipping on this morning and it went down fine. And as I sit here, my lower tummy is growling...a good sign that I have been drinking well today, however slowly. But what I wouldn't give for a bucket of water that wouldn't take me a week to drink!!! Ya'll drink that water and appreciate the ease with which it goes down, now! I guess it's like Mary said, time itself will heal it. And Prilosec. And NO V-8. And even no coffee or tomato soup. Anything the least bit acidic if off my list for now. And that's that. The good news is, I may be back at square one with the menu, but my belly is really healing nicely. The incisions now look like scrapes, no swelling, no infection, and I'm getting around lots better. I am not as sore, although the port area is still tender and I really protect it from little knees and elbows and head butting from little man. It's gonna be a long haul, and I read others banded around my time starting in on very smushy mashed potatoes and pureed soups and yogurt smoothies...aahhhh. It's hard not to resent just a little their uneventful recoveries. But I remain supportive, just as you all have so faithfully supported and encouraged me. I can't thank you enough.

Someday it will be the future and you will be able to look back at this as a distant memory, one that made you stronger and better. It's times like these that teach us to pray hard...maybe that's part of the lesson...keep praying! It makes it harder to use swear words. I can always tell when I'm stressed, small, well-placed swearings tend to get through...get centered, focused, and pray.

You are doing SO awesomely well! And you are (IMHO) EXACTLY right about your calories. All that crazy diet stuff actually works when you are satisfied with your food intake! Wow. I think you are SOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOL!

Penni, you are computer picture extraordinaire! Thanks for making them easy so see. Dishdiva...it would be SO cool to compare. I know we're not all band doctors or certainly not qualified to read these pics to a diagnosis...but if there is something about my stroy and pics that is familiar...well, it helps. Plus it's good for future researchers? I hope anyway. So, it's Monday morning and Dr Kuri has not called back yet, so I guess he didn't go to his office Sunday (bummer) and I'm assuming he had surgeries scheduled for this morning, plus it's 3 hours earlier there...waiting patiently. So I have not left for Winston to the local doc yet. I'm thinking, if Kuri can look at these and say, "yep, slippage" then he will have saved me hundreds of dollars and a wasted day of travel to Winston (just an hour away, no worse than going clear across town in Charlotte). If Kuri cannot tell by the pics, or if he says "no slippage" then I'm headed to Winston. I am not eating typically for being 10 days out from surgery. SOMEthing isn't right. I'm preparing for slippage...kinda hope it is even if it means getting it fixed and over with. At least it's an answer with a solution. I'd love for Leatha to see these pics, maybe I'll PM her and ask her to look here. I'll keep you all posted...

Good Gawd!!!!!! This is after TWO surgeries, yes? Don't you feel like someone just beat the crapola outta ya? You got double the wounds...kinda...but you will heal up nicely. Thanks for the fresh pic!! Hey DeLarla, love the make-up, very up-town, girl! Penni, you don't have scars, I bet you were never banded. lol! I love this group!

Doesn't it feel just Great to be able to just make things happen for those we love? Especially our moms. Im so proud of you, and I know she is too.

Yes, but the barium is really feathered for some reason, so it's really hard to compare, the barium didn't pool like this other stuff does, because I wasn't as tight and it flowed on through... Dr Kuri has called and is going to his office to read my e-mail and will call me back...today I have a big crush. He called me on a Sunday from his cell-phone...the adoration goes just a bit deeper...will keep you posted

Thanks for posting the pics Penni (I assume you are the responsible party ) It's hard to see the actual band in the first pic, you really just see the effects of it, with the pooling above the band and the trickling through below it. Just wondering if the shape of the pouch indicates slippage, as in too much pouch on the one side, or not enough pouch on the other. Let me check some other x-rays I have scanned and see what we can see. It's really interesting, huh? Let's see...Oh gosh, how come these pics won't post? Penni!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (sorry:) )

You bet I am, it was neat to se the pics of what I was feeling, makes perfect sense to me. Still having trouble unless it's the tiniest of sips.

The ER was much more familiar with Gastric Bypass problems (frequent) and I had to do alot of explaining about the band (sigh) but they wer SSOOOOO nice and actually listened. Noone was able to look at these pics and see if it's slippage, as opposed to a band doc, who can probably see it at a glance. I am taking these to my local band doc, which is why they gave me the pics, their conclusion was only that I am not completely blocked.

I'm PRETTY sure you have a new and bigger band, right Katie? I, too, and having trouble, so all my best to you as you recover. This damn band better be worth it, right? Exactly how I feel (I'm waiting on news of possible slippage...bummer) but you make me feel a little better, sorry, but your saga is more difficult than mine (((HUGS))) to you. You WILL recover.

I am overwhelmed by the caring of all you nice people! You can't know how much I covet your prayers, well-wishes, and white and blue lights...what comes from your hearts is your concern for me and I am SO grateful. Went to the ER, got 2 bags of fluid and an IV of something similar to Prevacid (anti-ulcer anti gas type med) and had a water soluble Upper GI...loads of info there I cannot interpret...look soon for a new thread with those pics...first step is to e-mail them to Kuri. My fear is the pics comfirm slippage...no Band doc at the hopital to say one way or the other...but they gave me copies of the films (27 pics in all!!!) to take to my band doc in Winston. If Kuri can look at a few pics I e-mail and says "Yes, slippage" I am heading back to TJ for repair. I trust Kuri, and I can't afford the US hospital prices!!!! I know Kuri will repair well if needed. Okay, it takes me forEVER to get all this computer e-mails with attachments yada yada together but as soon as I get Kuri correspondence done, I will start a new thread with my GI pics...and we'll go from there!!!!!!! Back here ASAP with more updates... (((((((((hugs for everyone back!!))))))))))))))))

Okay, I give up. I'm going to the ER now to get un-dehydrated and treated by a Band Dr from the hospital here in Charlotte. I know they have a Bariatric Surgery division so the chances of me getting someone with Band experience is better than at the Urgent Care. Wish me luck, pray for me, I know I'll be fine, I just hope it isn't slippage and another surgery to repair it... nothing stays down, even my own spit. This isn't right and it isn't helathy or good for me or my band. gonna go get healthy.

Thanks everyone, and Judy, I will be seeing Dr G on Monday, at least that is my plan. The offices are closed, of course, but my sister will be off work Monday morning around 8am when the offices open, so the plan is...she will come pick me up and before we leave I will call and let them know I'm coming. I fear slippage, and a barium swallow, since pretty much nothing stays down except water in the smallest of sips. I tried watered down chiken broth and since then have been so tight...I just go ahead and spit out my saliva rather than swallowing it until it subsides. A few points: I have trouble with anything the least bit thick I am less tight when hydrated, more tight as I get more dehydrated. I do have allergy drainage and lung sputum I am swallowing, again, thick, and filling up the pouch, possible causing irritation What else could it be but slippage? None of this is right, this is not normal banding stuff...this is a problem. It's so tempting just to catch a plane tomorrow and be in TJ with Kuri, in the hospital, hooked up to IV's, getting what I need, and having him be the one to fix this if another surgery is needed. I know that he will take care of me, all I have to do is get there. For the money I will spend seeing Dr G in Winston, tests,etc, I could have 2 plane tickets to San Diego and pay the bill when I get back...I know Kuri will take care of me without all the insurance hassels and price gouging(sp?) of US hospitals and insurance companies. I trust Kuri more for banding stuff, Dr G is fine for fills...lots to consider but if I leave tomorrow, I wll post before I go.

Hey! Am I the "not so great"? hehe You will be fine and do a great job Trish! I did a 10 day countdown thread and posted all kinds of crazy stuff, just journaled and wrote down thoughts and it was VERY helpful. So I definately encourage you to keep posting here, anytime a thought or idea hits, just post it here. Some days you will have 2-3 posts back to back (probably cuz noone will know just quite what to say!! jk) but that's okay, spill your guts and you will feel so much better!!! Yay Trish!!!!

AWWWW Happy Birthday Marie!!! Hope it's awesome!