Texgirly

I have been watching for a few weeks and it does not seem that there are any, but I had to check. I am in Victoria but our 2LP surgeons serve CC as well.

Howdy all! I was banded 3/08, so this March will be 3 years. I have lost a total of 50 lbs and kept off 35 of that - the gain had more to do with having to stop running - completely unrelated. I have an ultra sensitive band. In 3 years, I have never had more than 2cc in my band. And there has been drama finding that out. No hospitalizations, but one trip to the ER because what was we thought I had some sort of stomach flu and dehydrated, not realizing until I was pumped full of anti-nausea drugs that it was a band problem. Yesterday (after no fills for almost a year now), I went to see my surgeon because I had to have some taken out after two weeks of only being able to eat liquid foods - smoothies, Soups, etc. For the first time, he talked about switching to either bypass or sleeve. Sleeve definitely has my interest to say the least. I think is more frustrated with my band (not me) than I am. So, as I investigate, I may have a question from time to time. Looks like there are already plenty of topics to surf through to find what I am looking for. See you guys around the boards! Texgirly I am Sparkpeople under the same name, and LapBandTalk as well, but not active.

Thanks for the welcome. I made the call to my surgeon's office to start finding out what is and is not covered. I was blessed to have the band completely insurance covered. We will see what they think about revision. Thankfully, I have been a very good patient and all of my ups, downs, struggles, and success has been doctor documented. All in all, I have been a model patient. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks again for the feedback.

Howdy all! I was banded 3/08 and I have maintained a 35 lb. weight loss. I am proud of what I have managed to do with this tool - but the LB has some serious limitations. And in my case, some very, un-fun issues that go with my band that I won't go into. Needless to say, my surgeon is the one who started this revision conversation. And no - he is a honest, nice man and is not looking to line his wallet further. I should also say that I am not a negative person, but these questions may make it seem that way. I just want the truth (picture Tom Cruise here if you like). So, on to my questions: Do you LOVE your sleeve? I liked my band until recently when I learned NOT everyone who has had WLS suffers like me and my sister (also banded and living with the same darned issues) do. Do you ever "throw up" with your sleeve? What is eating out like for you now? Are there any foods you cannot eat in moderation? How long did it take you to re-introduce most foods? I appreciate your candid answers.

Hello all - anyone else have Government Employees Health Assoc. Insurance (Federal employees?) Just wondering how it has worked with them for anyone else. I called before I even went to see a doc 6 months ago to make sure the procedure is covered - it is. My doc submitted on 1/14/08. Office already told me to make some calls starting next week - that I will have more success than they would. Thankfully, my docs office is proving to be really helpful. I was a little worried with some of the stories some of you have endured. I will keep everyone posted on my status.

What is the scoop on caffeine? I know they want us to leave it in the past, but it is my favorite vice. Since making the decision to go for the lap band, I have stopped a six-pack a day Diet Coke habit. I get why the need to stop carbonation, but the lack of caffeine nearly killed me (and everyone around me for that matter.) Now I have a daily a small non-fat latte with 1 Equal. I just don't know how I am going to give up the caffeine. So: 1. Why do we have to give it up? 2. If you did it - what is your advice?

Any one else have a doc with this new (very cool) machine? He puts the needle in your port for the fill then you stand inside this digital x-ray machine. As you drink a barium solution, he can see how things are working. After a year, I have great restriction at 1.3 cc in a 10cc band. I kept getting too tight with my fills - I am very sensitive. With the new machine, he got to be very precise with my fill. LOVIN' the new machine.

Living in a small Texas town there is Mexican and then there are some other restaurants. For Chains: Chili's Baked Potato Soup - after a fill - yummo! Golden Corral - I know, lots of people hate these buffet places but I find their green Beans very easy to eat and you can also find a good Protein to go with it. Baked chicken or chopped steak. be warned - you have to control your own portions here. If you don't have a good eye for what a 1/2 cup looks like stay away. Olive Garden - Give me their Caesar salad any day of the week Texas Roadhouse - Salmon and a Caesar Salad again. Now if you are asking about fast food - can't help you. I have found nothing at any of these places I can eat. I keep trying Chick-fil-a Nuggets but they don't seem to work for me. They do have yummy chicken soup. Soup is always a good choice when it is available.

I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary but clearly remember that feeling. WALK, WALK, and WALK. By day three I started making trips to my gym and would walk, very slowly, for 15 minutes on one day, then 20 minutes, the 25. Within 1 week I was walking a little faster and by week 6 I was able to start running again. All of that said - WALK! It helps move the gas out, gets your blood flowing which also helps the healing process. Nothing fast - you are not in a race. Just move. I talked to my doc pre-op and discussed my plan and he approved. Call your docs office, talk to the PA or head nurse whatever and talk about a plan.

Completely unscientific opinion here - but I think it is the food sitting at the opening of your new smaller pouch, meaning it is still in your esophagus. Does it end up coming back or PB'ed as it is referred to here? Some suggestions: 1. take smaller bites. 2. Chew and chew and chew. I count my bites - try for 40! 3. Accept there may be stuff we can no longer eat. For me it is break and Pasta. Hope that helps.

This is meant to help and inform - it certainly is not meant to scare anyone. I would still have the band. At 170ish (I lost about 10 lbs through this) I feel so much better, I run faster, I am much healthier, etc. To see the start of this thread see this thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f178/major-distress-dont-know-if-band-related-87649/ I thought I would post this under a more descriptive title. IF you get a GI bug and you are banded. There are a few things to think about: 1. In and of itself, a GI bug may do nothing more than make you miserable for a few days. You may not see any issues with your band. We are all so different from band to band. 2. If you notice a change in "the bug" from when it starts to the later stages, like if you get to where you can't hold down anything , Water included, call you LB doc. Or if the bug seems to be lasting a really long time, something else may be at work. I did not seek my LB doc until day 6. On day 6 I learned that the GI bug irritated my stomach enough that it swelled. With the restriction I already had, this essentially closed off my stomach completely. 3. By seeking advice from your LB doc sooner than later you can save yourself some potentials headaches. I read in one thread that someone else had band slippage. But again - we must all remember that every band is different. From what we can eat to when we feel restriction to how a GI bug affects us - we are all unique. ( and beautiful and kind and sweet and...) Above all - be informed and thoughtful about your new life or the one you are investigating.

It started last Friday. I had lunch with some friendsbut I had already eaten as had one of my friends,so we split a Butterscotch malt. IT was pretty sweet. As soon as I hot back to my office I had diarrhea. Came home, a few more bathroom runs and went straight to bed. Saturday morning I still had some rumblings and did not keep my standard bowl of Cereal down. Since then, nothing, not even Water, is staying down. It felt like more than just being stuck - I thought maybe I had a stomach bug. I went to my GP, not very band savvy, and based on my symptoms, he too thought bug. He gave me a scrip for phenagrin. I could not take it as it would not stay down. Yesterday was worse. DH and I decided it was time for the ER. I am dehydrated and such, so they started IV fluids and intravenious meds for nausea. I am still throwing up. They let me come home with phenagrin suppositories and an oral med of the same variety that melts on the tounge. Still vomited. Does this sound more band to anyone else now???

Update #2 I live in a small, awesome, little town in TX. The ER doc I saw called my LB doc - small town or not I realize this probably happens all over but I am really grateful for ER doc's attention. LB doc did not mess around and we unfilled my band completely to let my stomach heal and get back to normal. Said I could come back next week or on my next appt (March 5) to put the fills back in. (I don't have to start over with smaller fills, I can go right back to were I was.) Both docs as well as my GP feel that it started as a GI bug that irritated my stomach and made it swell - hence the too tight feeling I was experiencing. As soon as the unfill was done I was able to sip some Water. I am on Clear liquids for a few days then graduating as I can. Everything from my stomach up is so sore I can't do much more than that anyway. So - for all those reading - if the nasty GI bug hits you like it did me and a few others on this thread - think about the band as you go through the GI bug. If it suddenly starts to act differently that it did in the beginning call your LB doc. I likely could have saved the trip to the ER (but I needed the IV fluids at that point so it is OK) if I had clued in sooner on the band side of all of this. And if you go onto anti-nausea meds and they don't work - take the hint - it could be your stoamach/band. Also - my band is A-OK. No slippage. So seeking LB doc in a timely manner was important as well. And finally - this board is so helpful - make sure and post stuff like this - the good and the bad is always help for others.

UPDATE I went to my LB doc's office first thing this morning and the ER doc called me and they both think it started as a GI bug that caused my stomach to get irritated. LP doc is working me in to do an unfill for a while. I will keep you updated. Thanks for the advise and suggestions.

Yes, I have had 4 fills and 1 unfill. I am very sensitive. The last fill was on Jan. 15 and it was a 1/2 redo of what we took out the time before sometime before Christmas. I have no idea how full or unfull my band is.

Congrats on having the surgery and good luck. We will be here for you.

Howdy all. I had my 3rd fill on 11/20 but don't ask my how much we have in there. My doc is conservative and it has worked for 9 months now. Since my 3rd fill, I cannot eat any kind of Breakfast and I seem to have re-ignited my wicked heart burn. It is with me when I wake up mostly but occasionally after a meal (which is way small as well.) Since this fill, I have had varying success with eating. Some days nothing seems to work and others I can eat almost anything (bread is a big never but it doesn't matter anymore.) Any thoughts? Should I just get back on an anti-reflux med? An I maybe over restricted right now?

I would think someone trying to pass guard could be uncomfortable depending on how they go about it. And if you are in side control on the port side there might some pretty decent pressure there. Now, if you are more into MMA and facing a ground and pound you better tap out - just the idea of someone sitting on my stomach makes me cringe.

I take a different route. I used to over eat every meal. So, to start to figure out what "normal" portions look and feel like I weighed everything on a scale. I am 9 months post-op (today actually) and I now know about 1/2 cup of something looks like. I don't measure everything all the time. I have the scale on the counter and weigh stuff when I think I need to. Most of the time I can eye ball it and be comfy with what I ate. I fully agree with their eating slowing conversation. I count bites to help with that. I hope that as I get further and further into life banded I will get more use to the slow eating, the full feeling and manage to stop the counting.

Same as most of the others. I can eat steak - about 2 oz and I love it rare - yummo! Ground beef is a tough one for me. DH came equipped as a great cook - here is how I can get some GB in: He has this thing called loose meat sandwiches. He browns the ground beef then simmers it in chicken broth. We eat it on a romaine leaf. Cooked as "loose meat" I can eat the ground beef. It had great flavor, too. We also don't buy anything less tha 85% lean - too lean and for me it is too dry.

Same story new poster - the slower I eat, the less distractions, and if I count my chews I am all good. I also have to listen to my full meter which has a very faint ringer still. Someday I hope it sounds off like a fire alarm but not yet. And yes - I literally count to at least 30 before I swallow. It has helped me tremendously. Since I started counting, I have only PB'ed 1 time.