Linda Hamsing Rosen

Hi, I haven't been on this site for a while. I was banded in 2/2008, starting at 220, 5'3". My lowest weight was 180 and then I started having problems. specifically, acid reflx, very frequent vomiting and not being able to drink requiring emergency unfills two times and this happened a long time after a fill. The doctor unfilled my band completely, then several months later partially filled (because I was so hungry) and then he recommended gastric sleeve. I ended up at 210 where I have been siting for a couple of years. Well to make a long story short, I made preparations for the sleeve but I was not comfortable with the surgery so I did not go through with it at the last minute. During the pre-op diet, I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks and I lost weight. I thought "I can lose 30-40 pounds on my own, I know it" and I would be satisfied with that. So here I am starting my new journey toward healthy eating and exercise habits that will be permanent and result in a moderate long term weight loss of (I'm hoping) about 30 pounds. I would rather do this than have the gastric sleeve. The other thing I noticed is that the preop liquid diet completely "reset" my band or something. My stomach must have been swollen or something because I have not vomitted at all since I canceled the surgery. Of course, I am chopping and cuttime my food up in very tiny pieces which is probably why I failed the first time and that might be the reason. My questions are: (1) has anyone "started over" with the band; and (2) do you think I should leave things alone or get a fill. I notice I can eat a fairly large meal. After that I am still "hungry" but if I just wait, it usually goes away and then I am not hungry for quite a while. (3) what is a normal "portion" size wtih the band. Mine are pretty large but like I said I am not hungry between meals. Thoughts? PS: My preop barium showed no problems with the band and no reflux either.

Dear YiseIV, I'm sorry you had to go through all that but congratulations on your weight loss. I think you can maintain it too if you exercise and eat properly. I would also recommend some diet supplements to reduce your appetite. Google "Dr oz weight loss supplements" and you can see what he recommends. I started taking Rasberry Ketones and L-Carnitine. Good luck to you !

Thank you; that was very helpful especially about the low carbs. Can you tell me how many calories you were eating when you were trying to lose and did you ever have problems with regurgitation (and if not, how did you avoid). It sounds like you were not hungry either? Congratuations on your remarkable success.

You will have to cut your food into the little pieces possible to get it down. If I were you, check the complications site or struggling bandsters as some people struggle with the restriction.

Marci, Are they going to do anything about your band slip? can they keep it in or does it have to come out?

Hi, Welcome, I am back on line after being banded for 4 years, running into some problems (vomitting, couldn't drink), being unfilled, then very small fill. I am currently on a very small fill and want to "start over." What do you successful people actually eat? do you have problems with the Pbing or whatever? how does one avoid that. If I pb, I don't feel full, just stuck and everything gets out of whack I think.

I LOVE the bariatric advantage meal replacement powder (google it). It is actually a meal replacement rather than a protein shake but I am very satisfied after I drink it. Love it.

Annette, I am obviously no expert, but I have noticed that food goes down if I chop it up really fine first and then put it in my mouth (and chew some more). I think before I got into the habit of chewing alot without pre-cutting it. Also, to avoid slider foods is a decision we all have to make if we want to be healthy. Good luck to you !

Hi Liz, I feel a lot of compassion for you because I have had similar problems with the band. The band does not work for everyone according to my surgeon and that is a fact. I feel like some of you are really coming down hard on Liz. We just need to accept that it doesn't work for everyone for a variety of reasons. End of story.

Hi, I have had the band since 2008. It was filled quite a bit and then unfilled slightly due to the vomting issues, etc. It never slipped or eroded. So I am having revision surgery on Tuesday and I'm wondering whether the doctor should have unfilled the band so the stomach could heal (after reading the other posts). I am very concerned. He never mentioned a higher risk with a revision or anything like that. I can't have a gastric bypasss due to a giant piece of mesh over my intestines due to a herna repair. I'm scared. what if he can't do the sleeve, partially cuts my stomach and then can't do the bypass--all this under anestheia. I am very afraid. Has anyone had a successful revision with the band filled? I have not vomited since I started the pre-op diet.

Hi, I am 4 weeks post op and per the doctor's diet, I have been on "regular" foor for a week now. I feel very little restriction and I can eat almost the amount I ate before (not quite). Also, I can basically eat everything, even the foods that are supposed to be problematic like bread. Further, although I try listening to my body in terms of evaluating hunger, it has been difficult because it seems to take a lot of food to stop the hunger. I have never thrown up or gotten food stuck. I have lost 15 pounds but it was all in the first 2 weeks. Now I'm just struggling to maintain it. I haven't lost anything in 2 weeks. Is this normal? Is this simply because I haven't gotten a fill? (I am due 4/7) Will I feel more restricted and not be able to eat as much after the fill? I liked the feeling after surgery where I felt like I couldn't eat anything. I have since heard that is from swelling. I would like to get somewhere close to that point again. I hate feeling hungry. It's the worst feeling ever. Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated !!!

oh, I didn't realize you had just had surgery. I had all kinds of pains after surgery, left shoulder pain in particular. I don't think you can judge anything until several weeks after everthing has healed. You have a one week check up don't you? I would mention it to your doctor and see what he/she says just to be sure and don't deviate from the post op diet.

I am very frustrated and wonder if anyone else has had this problem. Several months after my last fill, I gradually got really really tight over a 2 day period. I was so tight, I couldn't swallow my own saliva and couldn't drink anything and was up all night. Physician's assistant took out a bunch of fluid (2 cc) and ordered an upper GI. No band slippage (thank God-this tells me it must not be that easy to slip). A few days after the unfill, I can eat everything in sight and I do for two weeks. Gained 10 pounds !!! Today went in for a fill and he put in 1.5 cc of the 2 cc that was taken out. So now I'm tight again but not too tight. I asked the doctor why the tightness and he said it was probably swollen from throwing up too much. The band is very frustrating and it's so scary to think of what would happen if I ever needed it removed. I live in fear of that almost daily. Any advice, thoughts?

It may be acid reflux. Does it happen usually a few hours after eating? That's a sign of reflux. I had something similar. The band was too tight.

Hi, Has anyone encountered this situation: My doctor's office called me in december 2007 (before my surgery) stating that I was pre-approved (they had written to the insurance company). Then I had the surgery in February 2008 and the insurance company took forever to respond and then once they did, they said they needed more information. I called to find out what and they said "medical records." I called the Dr.'s office and they said that Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employees Plan doesn't really "pre-approve" and they never go an actual "pre-approval" just a letter stating that the procedure was covered. I already knew that ! I just about freaked out. The doctors office sent them my "physical" and pre-operative assessment. Now I'm wondering if the insurance is going to pay. I had a BMI of 38 with high cholesterol and a fatty liver. Are these considered official "co-morbidities?" Do you think the insurance will pay? Is this a stall tactic?

I'm sharing my experiences for those who have Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP so you don't encounter the same horrific experience I am now going through. I had my surgery "pre-approved" which was actually simply a letter staing that it was an approved procedure assuming I met medical necessity (this is all the insurance would provide). Well, after the surgery, the insurance determined that they didn't think I met medical necessity. To make a long story short, I have hired Obesitylaw.com to help with my appeal and they say I have a really good chance. In my discussions with Kelley Lindstrom she explained that the doctor's office screwed up by not designating the procedures as inpatient. If they have designated the procedure as hospital inpatient (more than 24 hours in the hospital) as opposed to outpatient (24 hours or less in the hospital), the insurance would have HAD to have made a decision as to whether to prior authorize the hospital stay. I'm assuming they would have made that authorization and I wouldn't be having these troubles now. But since I was only scheduled for 24 hours, the insurance told my doctor's office that I didn't need prior authorization. This opened the door for the insurance company to disapprove my surgery after the fact. Again, this only applies to Blue Cross FEP. I hope this helps someone.

Hi, I see the doctor thursday and would appreciate your opinion prior to seeing him. I was banded 2/27 and have lost 35 pounds. very slow but steady. I have had 3 fills. Since the last 2 I have been losing about 3/4 to 1 pound per week. However, I vomit a lot ! I thought it was because I was eating too fast, too big of bites but even though I try every time to eat better, it happens a couple of times a day. Sometimes I throw up the whole meal and other times, just part of it (like the excess that I shouldn't have eaten). Do others experience this? Once I vomit (or regurgitate), the pain goes away and things are fine. Sometimes, I can eat a lot more with no problems and so there is also little consistency with the restriction. Is this normal and why? I have no problem with liquids. I was on vacation last week and I noticed I ate more ice cream than normal--maybe because it went down easily? Also, I have noticed a left shoulder pain, a pain in my left arm and a lot of gas--is this normal? No acid refux though. I'm tempted to ask for an unfill but he hardly filled it last time and what if I start eating a lot again? I'm also really afraid that I have done permanent damage to my system and will need my band removed. I'm wondering if I made the right decision getting the band. Thoughts?

Explain your situation. Tell them you are going to call every day in the morning to check on cancellations. They should be able to fit you in !

Thanks for all the support. I did see the doctor today and he was incredibly compassionate. He said that there is a learning curve with the band in that you want to eat more than what you should. He told me to measure my food (4-6 ounces) and try to not regurgitate. But he didn't seem overly concerned about it because he said this is part of the learning curve. He would not fill me but he would not unfill me either. I have to check back in 4-6 weeks. Like some of you said to do, he recommended something really soft in the morning due to the tightness. His said my weight loss is good. So today I really tried listening to my body and I stopped when I felt I had enough. lunch went down well. Hopefully, I can eliminate this problem.

The requirements are BMI of 40 or above with nothing wrong or BMI of 35-39 with co-morbidities. They say that what was submitted doesn't show two co-morbidities which is ridiculous with a cholesterol of more than 300 and a fatty liver. I have not appealed yet. That's why I got obesitylaw.com involved. I noticed your BMI was 37 so you must have had co-morbidities to get approved? What were they and what evidience did you submit? Also, I didn't know they paid for surgery in Mexico

Hi, I received my third fill yesterday. I was a little disappointed that he only gave me 0.4. He said because I still had regurgitation episodes and a little reflux and my weight loss was 8 pounds in 10 weeks (okay, not great). Anyway, My total now is 4.9 in a 15 cc band. I have lost a total of 30 pounds (started 218). My question is why the liquids/mushies for so long and do you guys follow this? Yesteday, I was on Clear liquids although I sneaked a little Peanut Butter when making my kid a sandwich. Today I'm supposed to be on full liquids. I haven't cheated yet but I'm hungry !!! Tomorrow is blended foods, next day mushies and finally on the 5th day, regular foods. Do others find this hard to follow? Why is this necessary? Will something bad happen if I don't follow. I got only a small fill.

I hope some of you can lend me a compassionate ear and maybe even some advice. I'm feeling really down in the dumps today. I was banded 2/27/08. I started at 220 and today weigh 195 (not bad). I have had two fills. I had been down to 192, however. It all started last Friday. I went to a play group with my kids and there was chips and dip and all kinds of snack foods. Then some of our friends came over that night and brought Cookies. After they left, I ate like 5 cookies !!! The weekend was a blurr ending with the holiday of course where we had a cookout and I was able to eat steak, potato, dessert, maybe not as much as I used to but PLENTY, believe me. I guess some of this is psychological? I feel hungry for whatever reason and I can't stand that feeling. I have been on diets my whole life and the feeling of deprivation is torture for me. I had no pbing or pain or anything like that either. The week before I had felt extremely well restricted. Why would that go away suddenly? How much of this is that I might need another fill (not due until June 17; however) and how much is psychological. If it's phychological, how come I didn't feel so restricted by the band. I mean we all have psychological issues. I guess I'm confused and wondering if I made the right decision. Maybe I should have picked something more hard core, like the bypass. I'm worried I won't succeed with the band. I feel weak. :frown:Thoughts?

Hi, I have the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Federal Employees Plan. The center I am going with submitted all my paperwork documenting my BMI (38) and health history (high cholesterol) for insurance approval. After 4 weeks, the insurance wrote back and didn't approve or disapprove but asked for a psychological evaluation to be submitted. Why would they do this? Is this a good sign that once I "pass" this, they will approve? Has anyone else had this situation? What are they looking for exactly? Thanks so much ! I'm excited but scared

Hi, I was banded on 2/27/08. I had a question about band size. Why is there such a difference in band sizes (4 cc, 10cc ?). I looked at my doctors notes recently and I believe it said I had a 15 cc band? Have you ever heard of that? Why do some people get a small one and others a large one. I started at 218 and now weigh 188.

Hi, I wish you the best in your decision making process. I was banded 2/27/08 and have lost 30 pounds (218 to 188). I feel great. The beginning was very tough before you get the necessary fills to feel restricted and even now I know I get a lot more hungry than my bypass friends. In my opinion, you have to work harder with the band. I'm pretty happy with my choice considering that I didn't have that much to lose (relatively speaking) and I have two little kids so I wanted NO death risk. If I was anywhere near 300 pounds, however (and I don't know if you are), I would most definitely do the bypass. Don't even waste your time on the band !!! The bypass is the way to go for large amounts of weight loss. This is just my opinion. My sister in law had the bypass and went from 275 to 115 then up to 140 where she has stayed permanent for the last 4 years. She never exercises but she is good about staying away from sweets. All in all, I think she has had to suffer less than what I am going through to lose less weight. If I had to do it all over again, I might have had the bypass if I hadn't been so do gone scared of it. Also, I don't know if this is true but I have heard that people who regain their weight on the bypass can have it done again. I think they can go back in there an tighten everything up (but ask your doctor). Remember with the band something can go wrong and you may need to have it taken out (my doctor says rare but it DOES happen). Good luck to ya