Audie

I would also agree you might want to have your gallbladder checked. I JUST had mine out like 2 weeks ago. I kept getting these weird (and might I add, very excruciating) pains under my rib cage. It totally felt like someone was kicking in my ribs. And mine radiated around to my back. I didn't really know I was having gallbladder attacks (I'm a dumbie and thought maybe something was stuck in my band!). It had been happening off and on since August until I was in miserable pain for 2 weeks straight and was afraid to eat anything. I was also having nausea and vomiting. lol, and get this, a stone got stuck in my duct between my the gallbladder and liver and I jaundiced. Thank god for that, though, because then they yanked the damn thing out right away!! An ultrasound confirmed I had many stones and was attributed to the very rapid weight loss. So I hope you don't suffer as long as I did .... and get it taken care of! Good luck!!

I also had a fear of this, but my daughter's pediatrician was very informative about it. He explained there have been no studies to date confirming the direct correlation between vaccinations and autism. He said it is more coincidental because at the age of MMR is when parents and providers really start to notice the signs of autism. I don't know ... but I decided I'd rather get my child vaccinated than risk her getting exposed to some of those not so nice diseases out there.

I had to reply! I'm currently awaiting my gallbladder surgery. I've been having major attacks. I think the attacks are completely different for everyone. My family members that had it removed told me "nah, it can't be. That's not how it felt for me." But my back would be a dull ache and then the middle of my stomach (underneath my breasts) would be in excruciating pain and tender to the touch. My back would hurt all over (left and right shoulder blades) ... the latest attack that sent me to the E.R. lasted over 10 1/2 hours. It's definitely worth looking into the gallbladder thing. I think the symptoms are little bit different for everyone. Has the pain been causing you to be nauseated? The pain for me was so awful I was throwing up regularly. The pain meds aren't much better and make me throw-up too ... blah. Good luck!!!!!! =( You poor thing, I feel for ya.

Wow, it's so interesting to see how different everyone's bodies are. I began losing weight right after surgery (may 2, 2007). I went in for my one-week post-op check up and I was down 19 lbs. I consistently lost 15 lbs a month until September, when things slowed down. I got a third fill in November and am back to the 15 lbs a month. I just recently hit the 100-lb mark and hoping the weight loss continues it's rapid journey off my body! I've also been so ill with the gallbladder attacks that I haven't eaten much of anything and have just dropped off almost 10 lbs within the week. I'm so scared to eat anything that might set it off. I've finally braved drinking gatorade (i'm really really dehydrated) and some non-fat cottage cheese. But that's the most I've eaten in a week! =( Congratulations to everyone and their phenomenal weight loss. Keep it up!!!

Hey you, Congrats on making the big decision! I am sooooo glad that I decided to do this! I had gained so much weight from having a child and other traumatic events that happened and didn't have the motivation to get it off. This seemed like my last resort. So here I am 8 months later and 100 lbs lighter. It has been a dream come true. I would do it again, too. I really haven't had any problems, except my gallbladder going bad now. I'm awaiting surgery for that. =) Good luck to you and I think you'll love your band once you get it!!!!!!!

Hi there, I was also self-pay. I found there were no "hidden" costs in the price my doctor gave me. The cost covered the surgery, anesthesia (sp), the same-day surgery clinic fees, and office visits for two months and one fill (every doctor is different on the office visits and fills). Although, all testing required to get the insurance is not covered in the surgery price. My doctor told us how to get around those costs. My primary care provider (pcp) was on board with the surgery so I took lap band doc's orders to my pcp and my insurance paid for them all. The only thing my insurance would not pay for regardless of who prescribed was the psych evaluation. My co-worker also did it around the same time as I did. She was barely overweight and since she was self-pay and passed her psych eval. they did it. She's been really happy with it. So it's just finding a doctor that is a good fit for you. Good luck to you and your husband!

Hi there, I don't have a 4.0 band but I just wanted to suggest asking your doctor for an appetite suppressant. I was feeling hungry all the time and my doctor gave me phentermine. He toyed with the dosage for a couple months to see where I wasn't getting hungry and could sleep at night. I don't know if this is an option for you but it's worth checking into. I started at 326 and am now down to 224 less than a year after banding because the phentermine was such a HUGE help. I'm now filled so tight that I couldn't eat half the things I wanted to anyway ... but it took until November to get there (was banded in May '07) so I haven't taken any phentermine since then. I think it just takes a while to find the right fill place and get some appetite suppressants in you. Don't get discouraged. Keep at it!!!!!!!

Had an ultrasound done today. She couldn't "tell" me the results but told me a surgeon would be in contact with me and to NOT eat any fatty foods. So thank you, thank you, for all the responses. So now I have to find something to eat until they can yank this damn thing out of me. I'm really dehydrated and every time I take the percocet they gave me from the E.R. I throw up like a mad woman. I've gotten some gatorade down and some non-fat yogurt and jell-o is hit and miss. I'm not really sure what I can eat. Guess I'll have to roam the grocery stores for non-fat stuff! Thanks again. I'm glad to know what's wrong with me and I'm not going crazy! Audie

Oh this is so interesting ... I never even thought about gall stones. I just assumed it was band-related. I will be calling first thing in the morning to get into the doctor. Thanks for the reply. Audie

That's worth checking into! I'll ask my regular doctor about it. Thanks for the reply!!

Hello all, I have been experiencing some painful stuff going on with my band. I had my 3rd fill in November and I really think I am too tight. But I've been dealing and have now lost 100 lbs since being banded in May 2007. Lately, though, I've been experiencing this intense pain where I suppose my band is (right underneath my breasts) and it feels like a lot of pressure and like something is pushing on my top ribs. Last night the pain endured for over 10 hours and I couldn't handle it anymore (I have a high pain threshold, so it was really bad) and went to the E.R. The doctor did an x-ray and said everything looked fine ... and sent me home with some pain meds (thank God because it started happening again this evening). I thought it was gas, because previously Gas-X would get rid of it. I was just wondering if anyone had experienced something similar and what in the world it might be. I'm miserable. I don't want to get an unfill because I want to keep losing weight. But I also don't want this to keep happening. Any insight/comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Audie

Hi, I'm fairly new to this whole forum, but your rant caught my eye. The situation sounds fairly similar to my own. I hope you don't take offense, but your sister does not sound like a nice person. I would boycott the situation at your sister's house. She's inevitably going to ruin your holiday and why put yourself in that position? You deserve to have just as Merry of a Christmas as her! I'd call Mom and Dad and explain why you won't be there and arrange another time to exchange gifts and just spend the holiday with your husband's family. You might be less stressed and a little more relaxed. My parents were also married for 35 years -- the only difference, my mom actually thought things were getting better before he left. She ended up taking her life and my dad has since remarried. But my mom's side of the family now hates my dad and we do separate holidays. I used to walk on egg shells trying to please everyone, but after a while I said, fuck it, this is my life and these are the people in my life and if you can't deal with it, that's not my problem. So my dad and I have a good relationship again and he visits my daughter regularly. My mom's family, who lives very close by, choose to avoid my house when my dad is around. That's fine, that's their choice. But everyone and everything is fine because I have made my position very clear. I think you need to have a long talk with your sister and let her know you do not appreciate her behavior and attitude toward you. Draw some boundaries. Is your sister's house the only place everyone can get together for holidays? If not, arrange elsewhere. =) I hope you're able to have a Merry Christmas without so much turmoil. It sounds like your sister enjoys cutting you and other people down to make herself feel better ... and that's not healthy for anyone around her. Family really sucks sometimes, huh? Merry Christmas! Audie

Oh I had no idea the band could slip from that! Duh, makes sense though! Well, I've discovered if I eat and drink standing up ... it goes down and stays down. I still have to do in moderation. So if that's what I need to do, I'm doin' it! Better than bein' in the bathroom after every bite! =) Thank you for the reply. If it continues to be a problem, I will definitely be in on Tuesday. Appreciate the awareness!! Have a wonderful day!!!!!