Mvpo8961

Well folks tomorrow is the day. I go in for a barium swallow and hopefully my slip will have corrected. The literature that my fill center gave me states "It is believed that vomiting is the biggest cause of a slip". :phanvan I did have a moment of enlightment:faint: the other night at 2:00 in the morning when I remembered having an episode of dry heaves one night. I remembered thinking to myself I hope I don't get a slip from this. That was the same weekend I went on the soft foods for my dental work. So we shall see what the next step is in this journey. But I have lost a few pounds in the last couple of weeks since I have been on liquids again.:nervous Congrats to all those who made their turkey goals.:clap2: For the rest of us we'll just keep plugging.

My 20% of the surgeon's fee was 1000.00 My 20% of anesthesia was 360.00 My hospital charge was a 50.00 copay. I was on a different insurance when I had my pretesting done. Myra

Well my daughter flew through surgery like it was a minor procedure. She has taken one pain pill but that was because it was late at night and I made her take it. I just didn't want her to start hurting and not want to wake me up for one. Sunsett she was a 42DDD now she is a B cup and couldn't be happier. The surgeon said he pulls the skin real tight initially but it will relax over the next couple of weeks. Also her nipple went from about 4 - 5 inches across to 2 inches. She looked like she had tube socks with a pool ball dropped into them. Now she can be a "pointer" not a "sitter". Her doctor is using a technique where all the incisions are around the nipple and right under the breast in the crease. So the scarring should be minimal. He doesn't do the old traditional wedge shape incisions. I will keep you updated on how things go in the next week or two. Myra

Drewslou can you tell me a little more about your surgery? My 16 y/o is have reduction surgery in two days. I have her pain meds filled and she is out of school the following week. How long did your recovery take? Did you have any weight lift restrictions or such? What can I do as a mother that might make her recovery better? I plan on stocking up on movies and snack stuff for her to have while she is in bed. Thanks for any insight. Myra

Dr. C I have a question. But first let me give you a little of my history. I am a 45 y/o diabetic. I was banded mid May this year with a VanGuard band.. I had my first fill of four cc early July of 2006. I had an additional fill of two cc late August. For the first couple of weeks I had some difficulty eating *hard* foods. After that when I ate the first few bites would be painful and I could feel them pass through the band. Then in October I had dental work that made it necessary for me to eat only soft foods for the past month. In the last week I have been eating more of a regular type diet. Fish fillet and sphagetti with meat sauce type foods in small amounts. Today I went for fill #3 as I have not lost anymore weight. After the fill my fill center always does a barium swallow. It showed that I had slipped.We unfilled my band and I am on liquids for one week and then mushies for one week. Then I go back for another barium swallow. I did not experience any "normal" signs of slippage such as vomiting, PBing or reflux. If the slip has not resolved then I need to go back to surgery. This is my question. In your experience what is the incidence of reoccurence of slippage? I guess I am realistically trying to figure out if I need to be ready in two weeks to have another kind of WLS rather than rebanding. That is should the unfortunate occur and slip not correct. Thanks ever so kindly for your thoughts. Myra

Thank you Dr. C. I believe at this time it is the pouch dilation. You can see on the xray picture that the pouch was not "hanging" over the side of the band. If it was prolapsed wouldn't I have had some signs of a problem? So I think we caught this fairly early. Again thanks for you help. Myra

Thanks for the words of encouragement DrewsLou. I am not going to let this get me down. I view it as a pothole in the road of life. Now I just have to figure out how to drive around or through that pothole. Which ever comes first.:biggrin1: Myra

Well I went for fill #3 today and I have a slip. This explains a lot of weird things that have happened to me. First let me say that I had none of the typical signs. I never vomited, PB'd had acid reflux or anything along those lines. What I had was a sensation of pain as food passed through my band. I attributed it the first couple of weeks to swelling after the fill. Then I had the dental work that had me on a soft diet for a while. I still can't eat anything crunchy. This has probably saved me from having worse symptoms and slip. After the barium swallow today (this is standard for all fills at the fill center I use) you could see a definite dilation of the pouch. Fortunately the sides of the stomach have not extended past and over the band. So right now I am unfilled and on liquids for seven days and then mushies for seven days. Then I go back for another barium swallow. If I remain slipped then it is back to surgery. So that's where I am right now. Eight pounds lighter than in May and a slipped band since probably the end of August. Myra

marz88 I have swelling from the manipulation/filling for a week or two after fills. Kinda like post surgery swelling but not as severe:eek: . Now my question is why do we second guess ourselves? I am scheduled for another fill today. This weekend I ate a filet of fish sandwich with the bun and half order of french fries. Yeah for the new temporary teeth!!!!! Now I know I shouldn't be able to eat that much:guess and especially not the bread. Yes it was well chewed and slowly done. But still it is too much. Yet there is a niggling little voice in the back of my mind asking myself do I really need another fill right now. Well I'm getting one no matter what the little voice says:heh: !!!!!!!!! Myra

Angelburch congrats on your life altering decision. I used Dr. Fox and I just love him to the end of time. I know he has done several members bands and I have never heard a negative thing. He has an office in the hospital where my husband works. My husband knew him from working with him before I had banding and liked him. Click on the link in my signature for his website. I went to a seminar for Dr. Veninga but at the time he wasn't doing banding yet. So that has been a while back but I did like his seminar and he seemed like a very nice competent doc. Dr. Jay did my sister-in-law's niece's band and she had a really good experience. So you have got three really good recommendations here. Toodles, Myra

How's everybody doing? I just wanted to update and let ya'll know what I'm up to. I had an appointment with my neurologist Tuesday and he upped my neurontin to 600mg twice a day. I was able to walk for 20 minutes on my treadmill this morning. That is something I haven't been able to do in a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG time. We will see how my feet are at the end of the day. But I am hopeful about this. I am adjusting to my *plastic temporary teeth* and so I am able to diversify my eating. I am, at this point, able to tolerate cold and warm food and drink. I haven't drank anything at colder than room temperature in about five years!!!!!!!!!!!! I will get my *real* teeth in 2 - 4 weeks. They are in a lab being made. So although my weightloss is currently at a standstill I have hope to get things going in the right direction real soon.

LapBandit I have had that sensation also but to me the smell smelled like cigarette smoke/ammonia. I had it happen pretty frequently about a year ago. I mean I was standing in the middle of Kohl's and started looking around for someone smoking in the store. It happened quite a bit over about three months and then faded to rarely now. Matter of fact I can't remember the last time it happened.:clap2: M

Diane send us an update. How are things going with you? Hope recovery has been quick. Myra

Paladin tell 3loves she is in my thoughts and prayers. Glad her father is doing better now. Words seem so trite in a situation like this. Myra

MsButterKup 23 Why haven't you seen another doctor? I would think a second opinion would be warranted in your situation. Myra

WOW looks like folks are doing great. I finally feel like a real person. I haven't had any pain meds today!!!!!! I will update a little more later I have some MAJOR HOUSEWORK to get done. Toodles, Myra

Mine is on the right but I requested it be on the right since I am a left sided sleeper. M

Hey folks had the teeth worked on yesterday. I am on Vicoden(big dose) pretty regular at the moment. Go back this morning to fix the rough spots. I was in the dentist chair for seven hours with my mouth open. I really thought I would have sore TM joints today but I don't. Wish I could say that about the rest of my mouth. Anyway I will fill ya'll in later when I am not quite so loopy. Myra

Productive Burp. Here is a thread with a lot of our *slang* abbreviations listed. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=7959 M

I initially was approved through Capital One for banding but my insurance came through and paid for it. However, I just yesterday used Capital One for extensive dental work. They seem to be really easy to work with. My dentist had not used Capital One before I applied but now they accept Capital One financing. I told the Capital One folks I ought to get a referral credit. M

I am going to try this with my daughter. 1 large banana cut in half. Insert popsicle stick. Spread Peanut Butter on banana and roll in raisins for us bandsters (or an oreo crushed or whatever comes to mind for the kidsters ). Trying to think outside the box. M

Wow DrewsLou isn't it nice to finally have an answer. Even if it's not the best answer it's still a validation of your problems. LindaV WOOZER girl you are looking good. Tell me what a clack is. I am sure it has something to do with snow skiing but living in Texas I have no idea what it is. OUSOONER sorry about the game this weekend. But congrats on the weightloss. That is a-w-e-s-o-m-e. kim2bhealthy slow and steady wins the race. Congrats on your new *category*. LapBandit1 was your eldest the coach for your grandson? We love FOOTBALL!!!!!! I only have a girl so I missed out on the football end of parenthood. But I see the little ones playing at the football field next to the elementary school by my house. OMG they are so cute I could take them all home with me. justduckie hang in there hopefully things will get better soon. Well the neurontin the neurologist put me on has REALLY helped my feet. I am not taking the full dosage yet so I hope I will have an even better outcome when I am at max dosage. I actually can get to sleep at night without feel like I am standing in a bed of FIREANTS. So off to the dentist Wednesday for new temporary choppers. I think I will have everything semi fixed then. Myra

Hey MarcyD I hear you about the neuropathy. I went to a Neurologist today. I am kinda hard headed and have put it off for about ten years. Well I got an EMG and of course I have no sensory nerves from mid-shin down but my motor nerves are all intact. But I do have early neuropathy in my left ulnar nerve. How weird is that. I noticed in the past two years the my ring and pinkie fingers will get all tingly if I put pressure on my arm like hanging it on the window of my car. So tonight I started on Neurontin and will see how that does. Have you tried the Infrared light therapy for your feet? I may try that in a couple of months. Wow you have my utmost admiration to keep working and be on your feet like I know healthcare providers are. I worked ICU for many many years and walked lots of miles on those hard concrete hospital floors. So far my eyes and kidneys are okay. No high blood pressure either. Just the neuropathy that just drives me crazy!!!!!!!!!!! Also the teeth. Can't walk or chew. HA HA HA. Well I'm am going on vacation until Sunday so ya'll take it easy. Myra

Ibuprofen was the drug of choice for my doc. I usually take the liquid so it absorbs faster and doesn't just sit in my pouch. Myra

Marcy do you have any neuropathy with your diabetes? I have it in my legs from my knees down and I am seeing a neurologist in the afternoon tomorrow. Hopefully I will get some meds that will help. My PCP gave me Vicoden last week for when the tingles get real bad which they do when I walk alot. I tried doing a shallow Water workout at the local pool and it put me in the bed for a week. I could barely hobble to the bathroom. DrewsLou it sounds like ya'll have had a lot of stressors from yours husbands health virtually from the beginning of your marriage. Things like that are tough but can make you stronger. My husband and I dated two weeks and got married. I immediately got pregnant. I mean I had the corny honeymoon baby who came nine months and four days after we got married. Three months after we married he got the chicken pox of all things. The day before we had our six month anniversary our house caught fire and burned. My mother was in the hospital on TEN different occasions the first year we were married. As a matter of fact she was in ICU in one hospital in my hometown while I was delivering in the other hospital. She wouldn't let them do ANYTHING to her till she knew we were okay. She passed away 54 weeks after we married. I was in the hospital twice. We moved three time because of the house burning. I delivered my daughter two weeks after the third move. I has to quit working because I developed gestational diabetes and worked nights. I was the major breadwinner and it liked to have ruined us financially. I used to say to my husband if we didn't crack under that stress then we are meant to be together. We have our seventeen year anniversary October 13. But for you to have gotten this far makes you one tough lady. Sticking it out through the tough times makes the good time so much more meaningful. You've got a good heart. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Myra