want2bmeagain

I have spent many hours pouring over posts on this thread, and have been creepered out by PGreen. There was a time where I thought as Patty does, and even gave my college speech class final on abortion, gorey pictures plastered on posterboard and all....My thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, and purposes have changed dramatically since then, for many different reasons (hopefully I can get into that on a later post). Because my former evangelical belief system had me once on the same train Patty now rides, I have found her posts disturbing. What disturbs me most is that there was a time when my attitude mirrored hers, and it is the epitome of being UN Christlike (the "goal" for any born again) ~ Patty, if you are lurking, I want to say that a prized character trait for anyone on this earth to cherish is their own humility. Ya know, by the grace of God, there go I? It really is grievious to read your posts, which on most matters, especially abortion, show the exact opposite of a humble spirit. It's gunna be hard work for any entity, dare I say God, to bring your spirit to a place of brokenness and humility. The higher and more uppity one stands, the harder they fall. This thread really is a thinker. Abortion is a pretty intense subject and I have enjoyed getting to read so many points of view. I have more thoughts on all of this, but it is late. In reading (or ducking so I wouldn't be slapped through the computer) the saddest part is, Patty seems to be missing out on one of humanity's greatest callings ~ loving each other. What I am seeing regarding her abortion stance, is no where near coming from the spirit of love or peace, something she well knows is tatemount (ok, the spellcheck isn't working here ~please don't cringe to death if I missed a few!) to her faith.

Holli ~ I have been reading as much as I can on this thread and have, thus, read about your son. I went to your myspace page, and he is BEAUTIFUL! You will be in my thoughts, and keep the hope ~ it sounds like he has good doctors and treatment! Hang in there, girl! also, the "green" that passed away, was her name on here "Green" only or something with green in it? man, that is so sad. BJean, I LOVE reading your posts ~ articulate and thoughtful, wise and intelligent keep em coming this thread has my mind going 90 miles an hour. For now, I am not going to put in my 2 cents...just yet. I need to form the words that go with the thoughts!

If you are in Western Colorado, Dr. Steven Sawyer in Montrose is wonderful! If you are in the Denver area, Dr. Kirshenbaum hands down!

anyone from Western Colorado?

welcome!! where in Western Colorado are you from? Have you been banded or looking into it?

Someone, PLEASE, describe what your sweet spot is like.... I had my 4th fill, and magically, no longer felt like I was getting stuck every time I ate and feeling like there was food in my throat after a couple of bites. Suddenly, I could eat maybe a 4 oz hamburger patty and be full, but not feel like I was choking...it was MARVELOUS. Heaven. But, I had intermittent reflux. I had a .2 or so unfill, and back to choking, but no reflux. do you think I was at the sweet spot? the next thing will to try a .1 cc fill, hopefully to have the full, not stuck, experience, without reflux. could you please give me your thoughts and experiences? thanks!

I had my fourth fill last week. The first two fills were in the first 2 months post op, then no fill until 8 months post op. Until these last two fills, I had lost only 10 lbs in the last 4 months. Hope that makes sense!:smile2: So..fill 4, last week. I have been restricted well, to the point that it feels like getting the band all over again. I have lost about 2 lbs in the last week. I get very full on 4 or so bites of food. But.......I am having intermittent, random reflux. I had reflux often before my band. I have never felt anything come up and burn, just a random, fiery burn in my throat. It went away after banding, until this last fill. All else feels fine, and I am re adjusting to being disciplined again :redface: I havent called my fill doc yet, I have been waiting to see if it eases up. Should I call him ASAP? give it another week? not worry about it at all? I am really liking this level of restriction. Do any of you know what can even cause this reflux to start? I am pretty worried, only because I don't want to do damage. I have no idea if this is a real problem. The reflux doesn't wake me up, it doesn't seem to get better or worse if I eat or not,...it's just...completely random. Please, someone give me some ideas! thank you so much!

I chewed Tums like candy before I was banded. I had random (didn't matter if I was sleeping, standing, eating, hungry, etc) burning in my throat, but never felt anything "come up" into my throat. After banding, the reflux completely went away...bada bing...gone! Fast forward...I just had my 4th fill with .5 cc in a 10 cc band. I now have a total of 5.5 cc's. The fill was on Tuesday. Restriction feels fine, not too much. I don't have any trouble with liquids or mushies, and the stuff I struggled with before (namely meats), I still struggle with. I just notice I have to be even more careful with bite sizes, etc...the usually bandster stuff. BUT....I started having reflux yesterday. Nothing coming up into my throat or mouth, just the random burning in my throat. Tums takes care of it. But, why in the world do I have reflux NOW???? What in the world happened? Someone, please help! thanks a bunch! :thumbup:

I need some input I have been going back and forth wondering if I need a fill. Right when I think I do, I have this happen: Last night, I ate some pulled BBQ pork. It went down fine, almost too easily. Today, I had a few bites, and about 45 min. later I started having pretty bad stomach pain. I would describe it as the kind of pain and burning one might get from stress or even an ulcer. This has happened maybe 3 times in the last few weeks, always randomly, always from eating something that I had easily eaten before. This time it is going on about 6 hours, and although the pain is better, it's still pretty painful. Tums aren't doing a thing. I tried a creamy yogurt, thinking that might coat my stomach or something. No relief. Here are my questions: -Do bandsters sometimes just have random, nonsensical pain like this? -If it doesn't happen regularly, should I worry? I have no reflux, btw -Could this be erosion or pouch dilation, ? Being self pay, it is extremely difficult for me to just get an upper GI or a procedure like that. I called my doctor's office and asked about fluoro to check for dilation and was told the doc only uses fluoro if he can't find a port, NEVER to check for dilation. I want to respect my band, but I don't want to be paranoid. Can you all please give me some thoughts? thank you so much~

I have been trying to figure this out and have gotten nowhere...I am able to eat more than before. When I read about pouch dilation, it talks about being able to eat more volume. Then, when I read about needing a fill, one of the symptoms seem to be being able to eat more. Can someone clarify this in practical terms for me? I have other questions, but we'll start there! thanks:smile:

can someone tell me the symptoms of pouch dilation?

does anyone else experience this?: When I am eating a meal, if the food is more solid like meats, some veggies, etc, I will take a couple of small swallows. Then, often it will almost feel stuck. I will get up, walk, take deep breaths, etc. Suddenly, I will feel a ker-plunk, the food goes through, and i am fine. Is this normal? I thought the food was supposed to sit on TOP of the stoma and slowly digest. And, I don't drink Water with my food, so water isn't pushing it down. I wonder...could I need a fill? or, plainly, what the heck is going on in there?

7 1/2 months post-op, minus 50 lbs Still have a ways to go, but tickled pink with my band!

Even though I was banded by Dr. Kirshenbaum, I wanted everyone to know that we have a surgeon in Western Colorado who will begin banding soon. He is an EXCELLENT surgeon (has done surgeries for my mom and step dad and my colonoscopy !) and has been training non stop in order to begin banding. In spite of the fact that he wasn't a banding surgeon when I had mine done, I would recommend him hands down. I just thought I would let everyone know! His web page is: Black Canyon Surgeons - Montrose, CO 81401 On the left, click on "Click here for more details.." and it will take you to another page. Then click on "staff". Email Lois for more info. I attended their first orientation and hope to help with a support group in our area.:tt1:

I wanted to let fellow Coloradoans know that we have a doctor who will begin banding this summer. He is a phenomenal surgeon (has done surgeries for my mom and step dad and my colonoscopy !) and has a great bedside manner as well as a great staff. I was banded by Dr. Kirshenbaum in Denver (who is wonderful), but now that we have a doc here, I thought people should know. I will put his web page below, and you can email Lois for info. I believe her link is under "staff" Black Canyon Surgeons - Montrose, CO 81401

A new Dr. K thread is being born! Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and join in! The current thread is great, but I have heard from a few people who have been intimidated from the length and tightness of it. I have never been able to read every page myself, but have learned a lot from being there! This new thread has NOTHING to do with undermining the current thread, but it seems if the car feels too small, get a bigger one....so, I am going to put my head on the chopping block and try it out...I just hope that no one reaches for the cleaver. It would be great to discuss how you found out about Dr. K, what your experiences have been, when you were, or are, banded, where you're from, fears and excitements you've had, etc. I am hoping that if this thread is meant to survive, it will. If you are more comfortable jumping into this new place, please post. Without input, this ain't going nowhere! Please, don't anyone grab the meat cleaver, this is not an attack, for I have found support on the other thread. There is more than enough room for all of us! I am just hoping to meet needs that might not be getting met. C'mon folks, post!

Hello I have been reading through over 100 pages of the other Dr. K thread and the posts are wonderful. Since forums produce friendships, a lot of the posts weren't directly about being banded by Dr. K., but about general topics that friends discuss ~ which is totally great, but I was having a hard time reading all the pages! I was wondering if those who have been banded by him could tell me about the experience..the pros, the cons. I had been told to not even consider a surgeon who has performed less than 500 procedures, and I think he's at a tad over 150. Since I am self pay, and live in Colorado about a 6 hr. drive away, it seems like he could be a great doc for me. But, I worry about how many bands he has placed. Should I worry? How did your surgery and after care go? What does he charge for fills? Please just give me any thoughts you have! I am getting ready to apply for a loan, but I have to have a doctor! My other consideration is a great surgeon in Mexico....

Nicnaknut... how've ya been?? Been thinking about you! How 'bout all the other Aug/Sept/Oct '07 bandsters? Peace :crying:

Hi everyone! it has been a long time since I have been on here and was just checking in to see how everyone is doing. Let's get some updates and keep our comfy thread alive. I am sorry that I haven't been on much...lots going on here, but I wanted to say hello!

Hi everyone! I haven't been on here forever with so much going on at home...but I feel guilty for going AWOL and miss everyone! Dee~ how have you been feeling? I continue to love my band, and have now reached the point where weight loss is becoming harder, I assume because the "less" we have to lose, the harder it is for our bodies to let it go. I recently went to a business meeting and heard non-stop how good I looked. It was so strange and so encouraging at the same time! I know I WOULD NOT have lost the weight without my little appliance! I have tried to get more creative when I eat, to avoid PBing all the time. My restriction is fierce, but I can have all liquids, mushies and other stuff if I remember to cut it into little bites. My chicken looks like toddler food by the time I am done cutting, but tastes soooo good! Fatboyslim~ when is your wife's surgery? Smsmith~ do you have leads on help while you are here? Dee has been such a godsend, and sounds like she might be able to help. I agree, you DON'T want to be totally alone. You will be sleeping and resting after the surgery, but there will be stuff that you have to have help with. Keep us posted on how the plans are going. Hi Nik, Brandy, Viri, LA, munchkin, peaches, linz,living, tar, shelbi! Hope all is well in bandland!

SHELBI ~ HOLY SMOKES.....50 pounds lost?????????? WAY TO GO, GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's quiet here! How is everyone doing?????

Welcome, Linz!!!!!

I told my SO when I decided to get banded, which is really hard because at that time our weight difference was over 80 lbs...yuk... I would NEVER have voluntarily gave out the info... My mom had NO idea until I had lost some weight then told her, she was floored that I was a good chunk over 200. She weighs about 130 and always has. They have both been incredibly supportive and excited for this journey I am on. I know it is just a number, but in my lifetime I wouldn't have believed it if someone told me I would some day weigh over 200 lbs....so when I went there and beyond, it did a number on my head and I couldn't even tell anyone. Once I hit onederland...it all came out, and I don't regret talking about it one bit!

Hey Munchkin...glad the cast will be coming off! Man, my new gym is about 1/2 mile from my house...dammit, if it were across the river, I WOULD have an excuse! I am trying to enjoy exercising,...it is the first time in my life I have actually joined a gym. Funny thing, once I am there, I really love it. I get bored really, really easy and the treadmills have TVs :whoo: woo hoo...so, although I have only gone a few times so far, I plan to make it work and to be committed. Have you ever looked on Buy Discount Vitamins, supplements, Low Carb and More at www.Vitacost.com ? they have tons of different Protein powders...I wonder if they all smell like tube feeding to you (yuk) ?? I gag on Isopure...funny how we all handle different things. Two things I heard about hair loss (and there are a miriad of ideas)..Head and Shoulders shampoo and taking a Biotin supplement. You may be already, but thought I'd share those two Brandy Keep us posted on your fill experience. He was so awesome with my two fills...amazing guy wrkl8 ~ I don't know why it is that getting in and out of the shower and facing the mirror...doesn't look like I have lost anything...what's up with that???? The clothes getting bigger is awesome though! Cheers everyone! Keep posting so we can keep Dr. K's legacy number 2 rolling!