BandedTam

I have been banded for almost 2 years now and I haven't had a fill in over a year. Over the weekend, I woke up feeling sick to my stomach and in pain. Each day during the day it subsided, so I didn't make too much of it. The last two nights I've awakened from sleep and had pain in my chest. As it nears closer to the morning hours, it feels more like reflux, but when I first wake up, it really hurts. I was afraid it was my heart, but after doing some reading on here, I'm pretty sure it's my band. I don't know if it's slippage, dialation, or what. I called the docs office and they want to see me today, but they are over 2 hours away and it's not possible for me to leave work. Since I can't do that, they recommend I drive up to their ER after work today. They won't even wait until tomorrow to schedule an appointment for me. Does anyone have any ideas what this can be, and what I should do about it? I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Hello! I need some advice with my band. I was banded in April of 2008 and was doing great until October. I have a 14 cc band and was filled to 5.5 cc's. My doc then upped me to 7 cc's and I was overfilled. I had to go back the next day and have some taken out. By that point I was so irritated he had to do a complete unfill and start again. In the meantime I ended up in the hospital with kidney stones. My doc wouldn't refill me until the kidney stone issues were handled. He started the refills in December and I'm currently only 5 cc's in a 14 cc band, and I hardly have any restriction. Why does it seem like I had more restriction before than I do now? Since April (because of the unfill) I've only lost 55 pounds to date. My doctor is over 2 hours away (I live in a very small town) and cannot attend support groups because the distance is just too far. Late last week I went to a new doc who is closer to my home and he basically told me I was too fat for that band - that if I had walked into his office last year asking for the band, he would have sent me elsewhere. He has agreed to manage my fills now, but I don't think that's the type of doc I want to go to - talk about discouraging!! Can anyone offer advice? Do I just need to be filled more in order to feel more restriction? Please give me some hope and inspiration, because I'm running dry! Thank you!!!

Thank you for your responses! I don't know if having kidney stones made me any tighter or not. I can put up with driving 2 hours if I need to, it's just such an inconvenience. I think my problem is that I do still need to hit that sweet spot. I've not hit it yet and it's been almost a year since my surgery. I'm really anxious to start seeing the pounds drop off again, and I'm determined to show the other doctor that he was wrong about the band.

Help! I had my 4th fill at 2:30 today. I now have 7 1/2 cc's in a 14 cc band a I keep foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog! I assume this isn't the way I'm supposed to be feeling. I have had nothing to eat or drink since the 3 sips I had at my fill. And oh - the chest pain. NOT pretty! My doctor is not back in until Thursday, today is Tuesday. What do I do? Will this get better in time? Any comments are appreciated.

Thanks for everyone's reply/opinion. I called my doctor and they had me go back for an emergency unfill under fluoroscopy. I was so swollen that they had to take me back to only 3 cc's. Before this last fill I was only 6 out of 14, so we thought 1 1/2 would be fine as I'd had little restriction. I'm disappointed now as it will take me awhile to build back up to the 7, but it's what has to be done. I was worried that I'd never hit my sweet spot, but at least I know I can :tongue_smilie:. Thanks again everyone for your words of advice.

I'm glad to hear my system may adjust to this. I haven't felt much restriction until now so this is a huge surprise.

Hi Melissa! Congratulations on your weight loss You've done an excellent job. I got my band on April 16 and so far I've lost 50 pounds. I have a 10 cc band and I only have 5 cc's in. I do feel restriction, but I can eat whatever I want. I haven't lost anything since my last fill (have only had 2). I'm hoping my doc will put in 2 more cc's - to up me to 7 cc's next week. He seems to be pretty conservative with his fills. Do you notice a big difference now that you have 7 cc's? I'm hoping to jump start my weight loss back up again. Thanks for your support!!!

I think it's completely normal to question and wonder if we're doing the right thing. I have my surgery in 6 days, but I'm completely ready. I know I need this tool to lead a healthier, more active, life. If I could do this on my own, I would have already. I just wish today was the surgery day! I want to do this, I need to do this, for me, for my husband, and mostly, for my kids. I want them to have a healthy mom around and I'm toally convinced this is the answer for me. I didn't have peace with my decision until about 2 months ago. You will get there. I wish you success in your surgery!

Thanks for the info, Heather! I started my pre-op diet Sunday and I weighed myself this morning, I'm down 7 pounds already! Woohoo:biggrin2: Only 6 more days to go!

I haven't cheated on my pre-op diet at all, but I've only been on it since Sunday. What I don't understand is, I'm supposed to be on all liquids, so why does the sheet I received from the doc's office say I can have cottage cheese, sugar free pudding/jello, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and grits? Those don't seem like liquids to me! What I have been doing is a sugar free jello/pudding for breakfast, 2 packets of plain cream of wheat for lunch (splenda to sweeten it), a sugar free popsicle for an afternoon snack, low fat cottage cheese and sugar free applesauce for dinner, and a scoop of sugar free ice cream for an evening snack. Is this OK? Will my liver shrink eating these things? Everything I mentioned is on the approved list. - Tam

Marissa, thanks for the suggestion for the Protein drinks. I will have to give them a try. This morning, a friend of mine gave me a packet of wildberry passion from SmartForme.com. I'll let you know if it's any good once I try it. I think because it's fruit flavored I might like it better. I can't stand the thick consistency of Isopure. -Tam

I started my pre-op liquid diet today. I have 10 days of this, but I'm allowed tomato soup, cream soups, low-fat cottage cheese, sugar free applesauce, sugar free puddings and jello's, and cream of wheat and oatmeal. My only worry is, how much of this stuff can I have? I could easily eat until I'm full with oatmeal, but I'm sure that's not what they intend for me to do. I'm trying to be really strict and for breakfast had an Isopure shake - that stuff is nasty! I don't know how I will ever find a protein drink that I can stomach. Does anyone have a suggestion? I hate milk, so mixing it with milk doesn't help at all.

Congratulations on receiving your approval! I received mine back in March and it took almost 4 weeks before they could get my surgery scheduled because they were backed up. You might want to give them a call to set up the surgery yourself, that's what I did. It does move things along a little quicker. Have you already been to the support group at DBC? I feel the same as you, I'm sooo looking forward to feeling and looking better :smile:

Hello! This is my first time posting :biggrin2: I've been lingering around here for a long time. I love this site!! I was also at the 02/14/08 slide presentation at Grandview in Dayton. I'm being banded on 04/16 by Dr. Bruce. I have everything complete, just waiting for the day. I start my pre-op diet on Sunday, and believe it or not, I can't wait! I'm so ready to get this show on the road!!!