nycm00

Hi, My band slipped last fall and after it was emptied I quickly gained 20 pounds. I had the band removed with a revision to bypass Feb 21 2012. It is totally and completely different than the band. I have hit a plateau and now have to work to get off my last 20 pounds. I had problems with the band from about 6 months post op. I wish you both the best with your procedures and keeping the weight off. Christine.

I had my band out due to a slip and revised to RNY on Feb 21. I am now down to 205 which is 3 pounds higher than I was when I was at my lowest post lap band. I miss being able to eat sugar ( I dump on even tiny amounts of sugar). My tastes have changed tremendously since the RNY. I used to love Protein shakes and now choke them down. I have difficulty with hard Proteins still even with the band out, so it was not the band causing my delayed gastric emptying. I no longer throw up on a daily basis but other than that I really feel the band was a better life for me. It's a learning process and I'm scared about malabsorption of Vitamins and minerals. I have to say that I am rarely hungry which is different than my experience with the band. My last two years with the band I could not really fill enough because of the delayed gastric emptying so I was hungry but when I ate anything besides slider foods I had to make it come back up after a few hours because it would not go down. So I just wanted to post an update. It's good to see familiar names around here. Hang in there and keep with it. I wish I had chosen Greek yogurt over Hagen Das and soft cooked veggies over Ben and Jerry but alas I did not, so now I chose RNY. For better or worse. Good luck to everyone. Keep using the tool. Christine

Hi everyone, Well I did it I had my revision to RNY on Feb 21st. The recovery was so much worse than my lap-band surgery. Now at 4 weeks out I feel better finally. Loved my lap-band and not really digging my RNY so far. Too many issues, hopefully will get a better perspective in a few months. I so wish my band and I could have worked things out. It helped me get rid of high blood pressure and diabetes. I wish everyone the best of luck! Christine

Hi everyone It's time to have my band removed. After being unfilled in October due to band slipping gaining almost 30 pounds back and much research, I have decided to have bypass surgery. I really wish the band and I could have gotten along better. I asked about switching to VSG but my surgeon is concerned that with my delayed gastric emptying (which may or may not resolve when the band is removed) she would not want to take the chance that I would lose ll motility due to the portion of the stomach that is removed. So I've been doing a ton of soul searching and Internet exploring to try to prepare myself for the journey ahead. I am scared, very scared, but I'm also scared of doing nothing and being 300 pounds again with high blood pressure and diabetes. I wish you all the best of luck and am so grateful for all the support you have given me over the years! Christine

Hi Stella, Welcome back. It's great that you are getting a fill and will begin losing again. Use the tool. I am completely empty right now and my band has slipped. I hae already gained 6 pounds in the 3 weeks since I was unfilled. It's horrible. i am trying to make the right choices and simply not doing the right thing. So hard to admit that the head stuff has not changed. Kathy hope you are doing well post surgery. Special K and Fenton...sounds like you guys are doing well with staying on track. It's amazing the journey we all have been on. Christine

Kathy, I am glad that your surgery went well. I hope and pray that your esophagus returns to normal and that you are able to keep the weight that you have worked so hard on losing, off. Keep in touch. Christine

Good luck to you Kathy with your surgery on Monday. Do you have esohagitis? Why do you have to wait so long before moving on to another surgery? WHay can't they do it at the time of removal? My MD is sure she can either just move this band or put a new one...I just have questions about the VSG since I have had so may complications with my band and supposed delayed gastric emptying. I have to wait a month to meet with the surgeon again and then on to surgery. Since my band has slipped down instead of up it is easier for me to eat more than I have been able to before. I have to be careful not to gain a ton of weight. So I am right there with you. DId you have to do a restriced pre-op diet before the removal? I forgot to ask about this. Good luck on Monday. I'll be thinking of you. Christine

My band has slipped. I went for an esphogram yesterday and it shows that the majority of my stomach has slipped up through the band. I have to go for another surgery. I need to meet with my surgeon on Nov 10th. I am unsure as to what my options are insurence wise. I am thinking about switching to the VSG, but I'm not sure. Doing my research about it. I think my surgeon is going to direct me to just getting a new band, or just moving the one that is in there already. Not sure what to do. For now I have an open band and hope for very little weight gain during this time. Sorry I have not been on the boards often at all. Good to see some familiar names around. Congrats to all that made it to goal and keep up the good work to all who keep using their band...the tool we chose. Christine

Hi all. Good to see some familiar faces appearing on the board. I have not been around lately. I've been in a bit of a depression and just started on some meds that seem to be really helping. I am starting to see the light again, clean my house again, put the kids clothes away...all those things I just could not get myself to do on top of trying to seem healthy and happy for my kids and job. Not having my friend food to turn to as in the old days of depression has been a struggle. I kept having thoughts of cutting myself. Not to end my life, just to ease the pain. I found this VERY disturbing, The MD thinks it was my reaction to not being able to eat the way I used to, when I would self medicate with food. Being fat was not much better than being all cut up, just more accepted by the public at large. I still have the same 40 pounds I have been struggling with and my hemaglobin A1C is rising again and is now a 6. MD says I should cut out the carbs by 30% and see if it goes down. Not sure how much I am going to focus on it right now. Just wanted to drop in and see how everyone was doing 3 yrs out. It's amazing to me how well many of you are doing. Keep up the good work! Christine

Hi There. I had a half cc removed from my band two weeks ago and feel I have good restriction now, but need to make better choices. I have not had pain in a while, but have been sticking to soft foods in fear that all that pain and stuff I had dealt with most of the time I have had the band will resurface. I am giving my self a challange. After Christmas is over I am committed to having healthy foods, trying to re-introduce more solid foods and see how it goes. My meds have been pretty well balanced at this point to help with the gastritis and the delayed gastric emptying. I am hopeful that I can get another 30 pounds off by my birthday in June. I think it's realistic and attainable. I found a new Spin type class between my job and home and I am going to try i out on Sunday morning. I am excited. It's called Evolution Cycle. It's a spin class, but the stationary bikes move, so it's a good core work out and calorie burner without being too hard on the joints. I will let you know ho it goes. Happy Holidays everyone! Christine

Hi Special K.....Sorry to hear about your issues with your Mom. Sounds like she may not be the best person to go to for support. One thing I learned very early on is that I cannot depend on family. I am blessed with wonderful friends and they are my support at every turn. I hope you have some special friend in your life you can share with. I am sorry you are stuck. It sounds like you are doing better, but not pleased with the speed of the weight loss. I too have about the same 40 pounds to lose. I got a fill a few weeks ago and it is too tight. I can only do liquids. I can't take the time off from work to get is loosened, so I have been muddeling through. I have started losing again, but this is not the way it should to be done. My husband is still in Afghanistan, so I totally understand stress and being alone. Wish I could help out on that front. Take care and I pray you find someone special to share the Holidays with. Christine

Congratulations on the NSV's! Special K you have done such a good job. You must have felt awesome getting on those rides. When was the last time you were able to do that? Fenton....WOOOHOOOOOOOO 24 pounds! Wow. when you focus you really can get the weight off. Awesome job! I have to move my appointment. I have to work tomorrow, so I can't make it. I will reschedule for next month after DH leaves for Afghanistan again. I know it's going to slow my loss AGAIN, but it will be OK. Amanda....How are you doing? Chica how goes it? Any date yet? Christine

I love Fenton's shake recipie too. It has helped me through many days where I have only been able to get liquids down. I do it with skim milk and a soop of Vanilla or chocolate unjury Protein. Love it! I am on the Reglan now and between that and the Carafate and the Omeprazole I have been having little trouble. Last night I got REALLY adventurous and ate a small ( about the size of a half dollar) eggplant meatball. Two hours later I HAD to bring it up. It just would not move. (This is with my band open...it's my delayed gastric emptying thing). So, even though I feel better I do have a issue with my tummy. I have been truely hungry again and feel like I could use a small fill. I have an appointment scheduled for Friday, but I'm thinking about re-scheduling for August. DH is coming home from Afghanistan for two weeks arriving Aug 2nd. It would be nice to be able to eat more while he's around, but on the other hand I think that's just and excuse. I really want to get the weight off sooner rather than later. We will see what I decide. Take care and keep up the good work! Christine

Wow Chica...so excited for you. I hope you will continue to post here a bit so I can see how you are doing. I am really contemplating making the switch. Can I ask how much the revision is costing you? I went to the GI guy yesterday and will start Reglan tonight. We are starting with a really small dose just at beditime. I am hoping to not feel any of the neurological effects since I will be sleeping. I have been eating more than I have in months since my unfil, but to be honest it feels good. This past weekend I did a few things I could never have done at 292 pounds.... I went river rafting in PA with my three kids (9,6 and 4 yrs) I went on a 10 mile bike ride with the kids along the Lehigh river. (I was able to get in and out of the raft in the river I was so nervous I would get out and not be able to get back in.) I went bumper boating (the weight limit on the boats was 275 pounds and my 4 yr old, 38 pound daughter was in the boat with me.) It was an awesome weekend and I really appreciated my new size for the first time in a LONG time. Amanda how are you? Is everything OK? Christine

Specil K...sounds like you are doing well with your time off. I'll be praying for you to find a good job soon. Fenton and Amanda....how are things going? I just scheduled an appt with my GI guy for next Thursday. I will be starting on the Reglan to help with the delayed gastric emptying. I am supposed to go to the surgeon again on the 16th, but I think I will put it off for a month. My husband returns for a two week visit home on August first and I know if I start getting fills, again I'll be having a harder time with eating. He's been gone since February and it would be nice to spend time with him without having to do only liquids and other strange stuff that I resort to when I have my quirky band inflated. We Skyped the other day for the first time in a couple of months and he was really surprised at how much weight I have lost....It's really only 20 pounds since he left, but it really hit him. Chica...glad tos ee you checking in more often. Means you must be really putting in an effort. Keep it up! Christine

Hi guys....Fenton, Amanda and Chica good to see you guys back here. Chica I too have big issues with my band. I've been labeled band intolerant and am contemplating the sleeve procedure, but not sure how I'll afford it. In the mean time, I get fills and do what I can. I recently ended up in the ER and had to get an unfill, so now I have no restriction. I have started having esophageal spasms which cause me to aspirate on my own spit...apparently not band related. I need to see my GI guy again. Trying to fit that in to my schedule. Chica...sorry to hear about your job situation and your mother passing and your band situation. Amanda and Fenton you guys need restriction. If you can eat like you describe you are not restricted enough. Use the tool. It's your doctor's job to help you use the tool. If we could do this on our own we never would have gone through the surgery in the first place. Special K sorry to hear about your job loss. I think with all the new confidence you have found since losing weight you will have a much easier time finding a job. Best of luck to you. Christine

Harley....Congratulations on making it to goal! You have done an amazing job! Special K....glad you are feeling better post surgery. I can't beleive you are jogging just a few weeks post breast surgery. You have made an amazing commitment to yourself and it's been wonderful to see the progress you have made. I have another appointment with the surgeon today. I was given a new medication. One that has really helped with the pain. It's called carafate. Christine

Special K you look great in your Easter picture! So beautiful! Christine

Glad to hear you are doing well since your BR surgery. You have done so well with your weight loss! What made you decide to have the BR? Does that lift them at the same time? Mine look like deflated tube socks at this point, but I am afraid of surgery. Congrats to you and a speedy recovery! Christine

Finally set an appointment to discuss my revision. I hope it gives me some hope. Fenton and BNL, glad to see you back here. Kept thinking of you guys. Special, Harley and Scrappy....you guys truly inspire. Thank you! Chrisitne

Ahrley...Freddy is soooo cute! Des...congratulations on losing weight on your waist. I love when that happens....have you been focusing on abs? I need to get back on track. I think I'm going to try a small fill. At that time I will discuss possibly switching to the VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy). I will only do it if it will get rid of the issues I now have. If I will have the same issues after surgery, there is no point in doing it. I am up early to get on the treadmill and that's what I'm going to do. Christine

Hey Harley...Good to see you checking in! Congrats on the 3 pound loss. Be careful to follow the rules and if something get's stuck go back to liquids. When you are at that borderline restriction point,the littlest irritation to your stomach can cause swelling which would put you where you don't want to be. But, I say kudos to you for using your tool! Congrats on the puppy. I can't wait till my little guy arrives, just nervous about the training. Guess I'll deal with that when the time comes. Christine