Done

I haven't posted here in quite a while. It's been a struggle to say the least since I had the Realize band implanted in me back in December of 2007. Surgery date weight was 282, lowest I got to was 248, I now sit close to 290. I have had so many fills and unfills they are too numerous to count. The basic problem is that, with this band, I cannot stand the sensation of food being in my throat, or pouch. I CRAVE the sensation again of having that FULL feeling in my stomach. I haven't had that in years, except when I have Soup. I have vomited, numerous times on a daily basis, for almost FIVE years now. Don't tell me I need to chew, chew, chew, or take smaller bites, or not eat certain foods, I have DONE IT ALL, and the fact is, this surgery made me bulimic. I can't even eat what I want to, like a salad. I had one yesterday and wretched for a half hour getting it all out. I am a 280+ lbs bulimic. Unbelievable. Now it's gotten to the point that I have pain when I eat. I can feel the pain of the food moving down my throat, and it hurts like hell when it passes through the band. The _ONLY_ time I lost weight with this band is when I basically ate a liquid diet of shakes. Can't live like that for long, who wants to eat shakes all the time? I see my doctor in a week for an unfill. Have to drive two hours to see him. The original doctor who I saw in Surrey was a horrible, horrible surgeon who would scold me and chastise me for not losing weight. I'm done with him. I don't know who I can see to get this thing taken out, there aren't many doctors in the metro Vancouver BC area that do this surgery. I wish I had initially taken responsibility for my obesity and started eating healthier. Instead I took the easy way out. $14,000 later, what a huge mistake. I'm not writing for sympathy, rather a warning to others who think this is a great idea - the long-term data is starting to come out on this procedure and it isn't too rosy. Watch out for forums like this one as you'll see a lot of success stories - some of them are real, I believe a lot of them are made up by posters hired by surgeons offices, and a lot of them are in the initial 'wonderful' phase of their band, and haven't maintained their loss over the years.

Had it completely unfilled Friday. Have not vomited ONCE since the unfill. Happily eating low-carb, lots of salads, nuts, fish, things I couldn't eat before. Dr. said that I have Esophagitis and Dysphagia (sp?), I've been put on Nexium and will be following up with a scope. I won't comment to the negative posts, pointing fingers at me for 'failing' at this - that somehow it is my fault, a weakness on my part; all I can say is that you are all so bloody self-righteous when you succeed at weight loss and others don't..... take a moment to remember that you are still a compulsive over-eater, it's just that you have a band around your stomach preventing you from acting like the fat person you still are, deep down inside. That's it for me on these forums, done like dinner. (And I get **** on for posting in a forum for those who suffer COMPLICATIONS?!??? What gives you the right to crap all over my post? A little compassion goes a long way.)

OMG, Dr. Arseneau was AWESOME! He is sooo nice and very helpful! What a difference a doctor makes!

Thank you for posting this information! I was banded by Leung but dread going back to him, so I will make sure to get a referral to Dr. A.

Hi there, I'm in MR....would consider going to a meeting. :confused: Robby

I'm trying to decide on what vibrator to use. I want one that is small and has a really strong vibration to it. Do you gals have any good suggestions? I used to use a plug-in back massager which worked GREAT but it was just too heavy and loud and hubby couldn't lay on top of me while I was using it. My friend told me that you can put the bullet inside of yourself so your husband can get stimulation during intercourse....that sounds so cool! She also said it had a strong vibration to it but I need a really, really strong vibrator to get me off. Thanks gals!!!

I'm so very sorry you have had to go through this. I don't want to sound too harsh, but I have to say, personally, I would not want to be married to somebody who questions his commitment to me every few weeks. I don't think there was another woman, unless she's particularly attracted to unemployed men who cheat on their wives. YOU are beautiful. YOU are a loving, caring, affectionate, passionate woman who deserves more out of a relationship. You may not feel it right now because of your weight, you have to see it and believe it, make it real for yourself. Admire all of the positive qualities and strengths that you have. Now compare them to him..do they match? Like two puzzle pieces, do you both fit together? Because it seems to me you are two completely different people...you are successfully employed, he can't seem to keep a job...you are in touch with your emotions, however he is completely tuned off in that area. He has put you through HELL. You don't deserve that! You will always have that nagging thought in the back of your head - will this be a good day or a bad day ? What to expect next from him? Will he love me and want me today or not? Then you might start over-obsessing about making your self overly perfect just so that he will love you back. Browbeating yourself when you don't lose the expected amount of weight, etc. I know all about that sweetie, because my husband has done some horrible things to me, and I found my self-esteem plummeting and my self-hatred increasing because of it...I'm not good enough...what did I do wrong to make him do that? etc. etc. You have all of the tools to lead a successful independent life. You have friends that support you. If you had a friend like that, who one week claimed they didn't want to be friends anymore, then a few weeks later decide they DID want to be friends with you, would you stay in that relationship? You also worry about him not having a place to stay - WHO CARES? Maybe he needs to get a swift kick in the arse where reality kicks in and he's living in a shelter and you put all of his stuff in storage and give him the bill once he finds a job and moves elsewhere. I know you love him to death, but honestly that type of love should be reserved for your future children, not a spouse that treats you like dirt. I really wish you the best of luck in this whole ordeal and I hope that he keeps it together and doesn't put you in any more turmoil. :smile2: Robby

I had a breast reduction in 1992 when I was 18...went from a DD to a C cup. The recovery was quite painful and I was in the hospital for six days and resting for about 3 weeks. It was extremely painful to have the drainage tubes removed. That was NOT a fun part. My breasts were rock hard for a year or two then they started to lower and soften up. I would frequently have stabbing pains in my breasts...from what i understand that's just the nerves regenerating. My nipples are still sensitive; however the sides and undersides of my breasts are completely numb. In 2002 I had my first daughter, and she was a preemie, in the NICU for 3 weeks. That made it extremely difficult to exclusively breastfeed her as I had to keep battling the nurses not to give her formula, I also didn't live in town and I pumped and pumped and pumped but I could barely get anything out. She was very sleepy and had a poor latch. So basically when I got her home I breastfed her but supplemented with formula. I nursed her for 3.5 years. My one breast did not work that well, so I didn't get much milk out of it, but the other worked great, so I had hugely insanely lopsided breasts while lactating. My second daughter was born in 2004, no complications, and I exclusively breastfed her for almost a year and a half - no formula! I was so proud of myself!! I even tandem breastfed both daughters. So now, 11 or so years after my reduction and a 100 lb weight gain, they are a bit saggy but still perky. My scars are pretty bad, you can see the scars in my cleavage, and i have keloid scars underneath them. It was one of the best decisions I made in my life to have the reduction. They used to hang straight down and my nipples pointed to the floor. Now they are perky and round and with the weight gain they are back at a DD but I'm OK with that. Hope this helps!!! Robby

Oh yeah I forgot....my boyfriend (now dh) and I were having anal sex, I was on top, and he goes and tells me, for the very first time, that he LOVES ME!! I was flabbergasted! I replied, you had to tell me THAT at this particular moment???!!!

There's a couple of things you have to do to make it at least partially enjoyable (or bearable): 1. always have your partner use a condom. 2. use a lot, a LOT of lubricant. 3. have him go in extreeeeemely slow. Tell him that he has to listen to your commands, and if he doesn't listen and act accordingly it is OVER. YOU are in control. 4. it helps to breathe out. while he slowly millimeters himself in your body will get used to being stretched. when he finally inserts himself the entire way in then you can have him slowly (by your commands) start moving in and out a little bit, but not alllll the way out and back in again. once you get used to the feeling of his penis inside of you and the slow movements it isn't too bad. the longer you do it the faster he can thrust and that makes a happy dh! However, at the end you are stuck with the feeling you can't control your bowels and that lasts for a good day or two - NOT fun!! Hope this helps :smile2: (I've done EVERYTHING!)

Congratulations on your weight loss! You look fabulous. I am especially proud of your decision to give your ex the boot. My husband has cheated on me online and I was completely devastated...still am... I feel this is because of my weight and I just don't understand why he didn't just leave if he wasn't happy with me. We are working things out because of the kids but I am terrified he will do it again, or even worse actually meet and have a relationship with some woman. What I didn't understand was the fact that the two women I found he was corresponding with were much, much older than me and not that attractive whatsoever. They may have been 'thin' but still, I didn't get it.... I think if I am thin he will love me more.. but will he?

Hi all, can I join too? I was banded in Dec 07 and had many fills and defills and many problems. Got down to 258 from 286 but that was as far as I got. Was completely defilled for a few months and just went back today for a fill. I now sit at 268 and have over 100 lbs to lose. I feel I was not ready for the eating lifestyle before, plus my chronic depression and the medications I take for it contributed to my poor eating habits. I feel I am ready now to do this...my knees are so painful every day, all I want to do is sleep, I am exhausted, etc. My self-esteem is at an all-time low. I have two small children to take care of and I find myself just completely exhausted dealing with them. I am 36 and feel like I am 70. I need to do this for myself to get my life back. I need to fully understand that I am worthy, that food is not the answer to making me feel better, that there is a life to live out there and I cannot allow chronic major depression to ruin my life. Sorry for rambling on..... :w00t: Roberta

Hi all, I was in the hospital for three days this week because I have been having horrible pains in my left and right sides. I had to have a CT to rule out any problems and they so happen to find that my band has slipped. Well I have been discharged from that hospital, my lap band doc works at another hospital, and it's Saturday night. What am I supposed to do? Do I go to that other hospitals emergency department or do I just wait until Monday? I have enough percocet on me to handle the pain. I think maybe the pain I have been experiencing is because of the slippage???? Also do they normally replace the band? Because I have the Realize band which I am NOT happy with and would rather have the Lapband put in me like I was originally led to believe I was going to be given. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Wonder if anybody else is losing their hair already. I started noticing it a few days ago. I thought I had the upper hand in the situation by making sure I was getting enough nutrition post-op.... guess not. I wonder how much I will lose? I'm glad to be down 16 and it isn't even a month yet...I just didn't want this to happen.

I'd like to join you in this ... I was banded ten months ago.... how are you going about doing this?

I thought I was doing so well. I had my surgery in December and got down to 263 lbs. I am up to 266 now and have been up / down for almost a month now. I am MAXXED OUT in my fill. I am manic depressive. Please, nobody make fun of me because it isn't my fault I have this. The meds that I take give me massive sugar cravings. That's how I gained all this weight in the first place. The sugar is the easier item to slip through the band. I do very well during the day, then at night I become almost insane with needing to consume sugar. One med I take occasionally makes me sleepwalk/eat at night. I know that I need to see my doctor and I will on Monday, he's been away on holidays for two weeks now. I feel very distraught over this, I feel like I will never lose the weight. I beat myself over and over again in the head for eating like a pig. The band is great, but if I would have known THEN what I know NOW, I would have opted for gastric bypass because of the dumping syndrome. :thumbup:

saqueen, that's a good idea. I never thought of trying candy.

Aw crap, didn't realize this thread was so old.....

Hi there, just jumping in here... If you are worried about withdrawal, don't take Paxil. It is horrendous for withdrawal. Google the name and you'll probably find a lot of lawyer's websites about paxil lawsuits... Good luck :thumbup:

I am at 9.5 cc in a 9 cc band and I am still hungry. :huh2: Still obsessing about eating large volumes of food. I frequently get food stuck. I wish I had a gastric bypass so I would not be able to eat sugar-laden foods, which is what I crave because of antidepressant side-effects. I'm depressed that I am maxxed out and I lost for a few days then the hunger came back.

I would seriously listen to what he is saying, and rather than getting upset about it, consider how positive this could affect things for the both of you. My personal experience - I love sex. I want my husband to want me more and enjoy it. Men are visual creatures. The last thing I would want is for my husband to stray elsewhere due to not being turned on by me. There's a big difference between love and sex/lust. Can't have just one or the other for a long-term relationship. You say you are happy now...just imagine how fabulous things could get between the two of you if you lose more weight! However if it is him wanting you to be anorexic or unrealistically thin, or harping on you for everything therefore affecting your self esteem, then I think that's a different story.

Rocket Queen - GNR

i am wondering why some patients have to wait so long in between fills... does it mean the doctor is trying to make more money off of them? Just curious. I don't think anybody should have to wait so long to get to the proper fill level. It's is horrible to go through that - most of us were depressed pre-op, and we kind of expect it to go away after surgery as the weight comes off!

Hi there, no I don't have the digital display.

Thought I would start a little diary of my experience of going through surgery. I am seriously contemplating posting a video diary on youtube, but I am worried some weirdo might say something bad (and hurt my feelings, you know, I have to admit it). I have a little over 24 hours now until my surgery. I am really, really excited. I have waited three months now since my consult. This is the first surgery in my life (well, except for my breast reduction) where I am actually glad to go under the knife! What a difference eh? (yup, I'm from Canada, eh?). I think I have all the supplies I need - gas x peppermint tea heat pad sf popsicles broth also I can make homemade turkey broth as well cold packs Did I miss anything? I have so many thoughts going through my head right now.... I spoke with my husband earlier (we have been together for 10 years now, married for five). I told him I was worried how he would react when I start losing weight. We have been together through thick and thin. He recently gave me a huge ring for xmas saying that he loves me and always will. I was about 180 lbs (really fit though) when I met him, so he knows what I look like smaller. I know that he isn't as sexually attracted to me as he used to be, hell if I was a man I wouldn't be attracted to my body either! However, he has never said anything, and before when I was first starting to gain weight, he told me he really hated it when I put myself down, and asked me to stop. Since that time I have never said I hate my body, I look fat, etc. etc. (which is good, as since then we had two children, and I don't want to pass on my body image issues to my girls.) Anyways I have to run and go watch Walk the Line (god I love digital cable, I just paused the movie, it's on a regular TV channel, sooo cool!). I will also post a pic soon. Take care all