shanna

My band slipped, Kara, and was not able to be replaced because of adhesions. I may be rebanded later on down the road because I don't regret having the band and I miss it every day.

I started NutriSystem last Friday - so far I have lost 6 lbs and have been 100% on program, but it's soooooo hard! I'm just taking it 1 day at a time. Actually, 1 meal at a time. I worry all the time about the weight coming back. I miss food. At least with the band I could eat whatever, just in small amounts and not every day. It wasn't a constant no-no. For me, when I am on a diet program I can not make even 1 mistake because that will put me in "binge mode". So far so good - we'll see how long it lasts.....this time.

((((((hugs)))))) to you, Lisa. I sure hope you get things under control and start feeling better soon. You can do it - you have a STRONG mind!

Good news! I'm 34.1 and my "RealAge" is 31.1. I just need to eat fish (eeewwwww!), begin a weight loss program (duh), floss (I really TRY to remember), and get a therapist :confused: . Thanks, Paula, that was fun!

Wow, Trish! I dime sized infection is HUGE! I'm so sorry you're going through this and hope you're able to get this cleared up very quickly. Take care of yourself and go see your band doc. Just sit yourself down on his doorstep 'til you get some answers. I'll be thinking about you,

I just started Nutrisystem on Friday and I did perfectly all weekend. If I had had my band, I would have endulged a bit. But without my band, I can not even eat 1 bite - I would go into "binge" mode. So, I'm pretty pleased with myself.

How was your first day?? I hope it wasn't too overwhelming and you had fun!

You know you're desperate when being too nauseated to eat sounds "good". Maybe someday they'll start using it for weight loss. It sounds like it could be helpful. Pati-o, I've heard that for some, it just takes time and for others they have to stop taking it because their bodies just can't tolerate it. I hope your mom starts feeling better soon 'cause it sounds like it's working well for her.

Wow! Pretty common problem. No red streak or warmth - yea! There's only about an inch of my vein that is affected so I think it'll get better with time, like everyone else. If it gets worse or if I see a red streak, I'll call my doc. Thanks so much - I feel much better about the whole thing!

Did any of you get a swollen, bruised, pain leading to the wrist vein after your IV? My band removal was 1 week and 4 days ago. My vein was sore for a few days, then I noticed some swelling. But today there's a bruise over the swollen area and pain is starting to go up my wrist. Anyone experience this?

:Bunny:BunnyHIPPITY, HOPPITY - HAPPY EASTER! :Bunny :Bunny We usually go to MIL's house for a BIG lunch after church BUT she's got "shingles" this year - poor thing. I guess it's stay at home for lunch this year. That's ok. I'm a kindergarten teacher and I need to finish my report cards today - conferences start tomorrow:eek:

Thanks guys for your feedback! It was actually put in on the top of my hand - sorry that wasn't clear. The pain is traveling toward my wrist, up the vein. La Madam, that's so ironic that you've had the same problem. Let me know what your doc says, ok.Leatha G - Thanks for giving it a name, thrombophlebits. The warm compresses are helping and when I looked it up "they" also say to take Ibuprofen, for the swelling.No change today. At least it's not getting worse. My hand is kind of achy, though. Oh, well - this, too shall pass...Have a great day,

They're starting to look like real bunnies now. I wasn't so sure they were bunnies from those first pics. Boy, are they the cutest things. I had 2 rabbits when I was a teenager and they were so fun! Ok, where's the nearest pet store????

No, I don't go back and forth - I DEFINITELY want a bikini bod. Size 6 or 8 would be wonderful! I take that back - I want to be a 6. Now getting there could prove a little tricky, especially without the help of my little "friend"...

Eating shouldn't be painful unless you're eating too much or too fast, but it doesn't sound like you're doing that at all. It sounds like you're being very careful. I don't know - maybe try mushies for your next meal - see how it goes and try solids later today, if it's feeling good. I sure wish I could be more helpful. Everyone is so different. I'm glad you're feeling better and I hope you have a great rest of your day!

After my 1st surgery it took about 3 weeks to comfortable sleep on my left side & stomach. I had surgery again last week and it's definitely my biggest complaint right now. I was just telling DH last night that I wanted to sleep on my tummy sooooo bad. Just 2 positions are comfortable for a couple of weeks after surgery: your back and your right side (if your port is on your left side a couple of inches from your belly button). Also, another sucky thing is the fact that I have to wake up completely in order to move from 1 position to the other (because it hurts). Hopefully you'll have it easier than me - a lot of people do! I think I'm just a big baby. In my defense, I DO have very sensitive skin so maybe that's why.

Unfortunately Dr. Kuri was unable to fix my slip because of adhesions on my stomach. I really hope you're able to get yours fixed because. let me tell you, it is VERY difficult without the band. Even though I only had my band 6 months I had forgotten how difficult it really is. I'm scared to death of regaining the 50 lbs I lost so I'm taking Metabolife (until I'm able to get back to exercising) and Zetacap and I'm starting Nutrisystem today or tomorrow (depending on when my shipment arrives today). My slip was a gradual one, too, I think. I really hope they can fix you up - it would definitely be in your best interest. If my dr had been able to fix my slip the only thing I would do differently is keep my restriction on the loose side because I tend to swell. I think the constant fill/unfill/unfill/fill/unfill/unfill/unfill was just too much for my band - it couldn't take it. Good luck to you,

Do you HAVE to have type 2 diabetes to get it?

How are you doing? Did the food move on down? Maybe stick with liquids today - you may be a little swollen from the irritation. Also, you may need to stick with mushies a little longer (a couple of days-then try solids again). Feel better! I'm thinkin' about ya.

It took me about 3 weeks post op for the swelling to go down. I even had to go out and buy some elastic banded pants because none of my work pants fit. Don't worry, the swelling WILL go down. It'll just take a little while. I don't know about you, but my normal stomach position is sucked in all day and when you have surgery you just can't suck it in - which makes it seem that much more huge! Good luck!

Off days WILL happen. If this has been your only off day since being banded then :clap2: . You haven't even had your first fill yet, have you? It will get much easier with those fills. Just dust yourself off and have a great rest of your day and a healthy tomorrow...

Thanks, Rica! Yep! Constant struggle. I gained 10 pounds last week. I guess my body was replinishing what it lost during the time I was so sick. Even though I understand why - it's so hard to see the scale going up so quickly. The last few days has been better - maintaining. It is SO much harder without the band - I had forgotten... Thanks for the support - it's much appreciated. Have a great day,

It IS an amazing site! A lot of great info and very helpful. Thanks, Vines!

We don't know why it slipped. I personally think it happened gradually - during the last month or so. I kept going back and getting unfills and the fluoroscopy showed the fluid going down, but when I got back home I would continue to not be able to eat. I also kept having a lot of pain in the area of my band - on the inside. Hard to explain, but hindsight now tells me it was my band moving back and forth rubbing causing the pain. That pain got MUCH worse when my stomach slipped into the band, completely blocking any food or liquids. Dr. Kuri tried for over an hour in the operating room to try to fix it - but there were too many adhesions. That's why I think it's been rubbing in there for some time now - not just an all of a sudden thing, at least not for me. I don't know if I'll do it again. Dr. Kuri said he would reband me later, if I wanted but I've heard other doctors say they would never reband a slipped or eroded patient. The cost of all these surgeries is getting quite expensive - $9,000 for original surgery and $3,500 for removal. I couldn't take out another loan at this point any way and I want to give my body time to heal. I'm just kind of floundering at this point. All I can seem to think about during the day is what I'm going to eat next. I'm taking diet pills and my NutriSystem program should be here tomorrow. We'll see how it goes...

I was banded - then unbanded 6 months later due to slippage - by Dr. Kuri in TJ. The hospital he works out of now (Hospital Angeles) is amazing. Much better than ANY US hospital I've ever seen. I had a private room with recliner & couch for my husband so he could stay with me. An unfill is just the opposite of a fill. I would be fine for a few weeks after a fill and then suddenly be too tight and need to go back for some fluid to be taken out of the band. Each of the unfills listed were because I was unable to eat and get very little fluids in and some of the times it was causing acid reflux. Be careful on your fills - you DON'T want to be too tight. I think it's far better to be a little loose. Most people do just fine - don't let my experience scare you. I'm still glad that I had the band and I miss it constantly.