Cocoabean

Are you having symptoms?

Christiemr on here did a bypass after band removal. And there are plenty of others. You might check the link in my signature, there are different forums there, not just bands.

At 5 1/2 years out I still feel pulling, tugging, and pinching at my port. Rarely I even get a searing pain that takes my breath away.

It doesn't matter how much is in your band, what matters is how you feel. Keep working your way to the green zone.

Do NOT rely on soft/slider foods. It is a band trap we can fall into. If taking small bites and eating slowly does not allow you to eat, you are too tight. As you think about it, just think of you are eating sliders because you cannot eat solids. When we rely on sliders, they often have more calories, and we get hungry more often. Getting a slight unfill is not defeat.

Best wishes Ell Best wishes Ellie! Not to hijack the thread (what i am doing ) but anyone can dump. I have done it for years. Not related to the band at all. One time it was too many cheetos, and I was on the floor in the bathroom with the sweats, nausea, and the runs. Sometimes my digestive system just moves too quickly.

5 1/2 years out. No problems. At goal for about 3 years or so.

Sorry you had to go through that! I've had Fluid removed twice now. My band is "Bandit" because it steaks my meals! Edit...STEALS my meals.. ha! steaks....

I eat if I am hungry. If not, I don't. Isn't that what we are supposed to do?

The only question going through my mind is, with all the exercise you do, what is your caloric intake? I am asking this rhetorically. You seem very in tune with your diet. So, if you are looking for help with portion control, this will help. Unless you are bound and determined to "eat around the band." Please don't think of it as easily removeable when you are done. That is not what it was designed to do. Upon removal there is usally scar tissue involved, and the stomach will not return to its original state. This IS a major surgery. It is touted as mimimally invasive, but it has the same number of cuts to your body as gastric bypass, plus one for the port. They don't cut your stomach or reroute your intestines, but poking five holes, pumping air inside you, moving your liver out of the way, and leaving an access port under your skin is pretty darned invasive. Living a banded life is not always easy. food gets stuck. Small portions can cause questions if you choose to keep your band a private matter. My surgeon told me no anti-inflammatories long-term. I am now having big problems with arthritis in my neck causing nerve damage in my arm and hand. I can't take the drugs to bring down the inflammation. I can take pain killers, they help, they don't fix it. I don't say these things to change your mind. I'd have given it serious consideration at a BMI of 30, most likely. Because at 30, I was on my way to 36, and at 36, I was on my way to 40. Only you know your habits and where you are heading in the future. I just want to give a perspective of someone who has been banded for a while. I wish you all the best in your personal journey!

motrin is ibuprophen. A liquid anti-inflammatory was suggested. I am often tighter when stressed and dehydrated. Sept 7 is a ways away. I hope you can find some tricks to help. I'd be sticking with liquids to help get through. Feel better!!

It's important to stay in touch with your doctor. Mine likes to see me yearly to have an Upper GI and check my restriction. That is the first place to start. Make sure everything is OK with the band and get back to eating by band rules.

I don't understand the connection of sugar and slime? Slime doesn't usually come up unless you have something stuck. Congrats on your loss so far!

Here is the link to recall info: http://www.ethicon.com/newsinfo/corporate/1066 It was for Realize bands in use before 2010.

I wish you all the best with your decision!! Keep us posted as to how your journey progresses.

I am so sorry to hear this. I believe the first step is to unfill for a couple of months to let the esophagus go back to normal. My sureon does an Upper GI yearly to watch for it. In fact, he won't give me a fill without one at this point. I understand the fear of the unfill. Last year when my band was too tight, we were negotiating the amount to remove.. I wanted less removed than my surgeon wanted to take, of course. He said "you were to tight for so long, I think it should be 0.5cc, had you had any dilation, we'd be talking 3-4cc. You can come back and have more put back, but for now, let things calm down and get feeling better." So, he took 0.5cc.

It really doesn't matter how much is in your band. All that matters is what you are experiencing with control of your eating. I am glad you are back in control!! Yay for you!!

By the way, I was banded in Feb of 2008, also. We have to stick together!! :-)

Looks as thought your post got doubled...here is my response from the other: Thank you for having the courage to post here. It must have been hard to do so. YOU are not a failure. You have been through some things. It is time to make yourself a priority again. You did NOT gain all the weight back, that is GREAT. I am sorry to read of the loss of your baby. Depression is a horrible disease, but there is help for it. Seek out medical attention for it. That can help you with your band jorney as well. Then get to your band surgeon and get it all checked out. Get a fill if needed. Go back to band rules eating. Best wishes to you.

Well, dang..that was my thought for the day.. lol Otherwise, maybe you are getting a little bit of food stuck, is it in the center?

The first 6 months I lost 5 lbs. After my 3rd fill the weight loss started. I kept losing for another two years.

Thank you for having the courage to post here. It must have been hard to do so. YOU are not a failure. You have been through some things. It is time to make yourself a priority again. You did NOT gain all the weight back, that is GREAT. I am sorry to read of the loss of your baby. Depression is a horrible disease, but there is help for it. Seek out medical attention for it. That can help you with your band jorney as well. Then get to your band surgeon and get it all checked out. Get a fill if needed. Go back to band rules eating. Best wishes to you.

If your surgeon said OK, then it's OK. But if you are on CLEAR liquids, adding vanilla creamer makes it not a clear liquid. Just something to think about.

Do you still have your gall-bladder?

Broccoli and chicken.... the two foods that almost always mean stuck for me The broccoli must be overcooked or cut into the tiniest of pieces. Even when cut up it is still questionable. Chicken, I can only do dark meat. Breast meat is just tooo dry.