Sunshine057

Here's the short version: I had the band on May 31, 2006. I lost over 140 lbs and was VERY successful and happy. I maintained the same great weight for years. All of a sudden in December of 2009, something happened and things were never the same. But, nothing "happened", I just didn't have restriction anymore. After months of trying to get this fix, get in to get the fills, many tests etc I finally made the dr's office understand that I have had this thing long enough to know when something isn't right. In November of 2010, they replaced my port saying that it had to be leaking. Since then I struggled trying to get it adjusted right and never really did have restriction. After months of this, I again explained how I needed to go under an x-ray and SEE what is going on. FINALLY, in September of this year, they did put me under the x-ray and wouldn't you know my stomach kept prolapsing up through the band. It is like when you squeeze a balloon. The band was so tight, it was pushing my stomach up. So, they removed all of the Fluid and took pictures and again, no restriction. (btw I asked what would happen if we tried filling it again, the dr filled it and I watched with my own eyes and the stomach went right back up through the band, crazy!) So, after weeks of being totally unfilled and speaking with my surgeon he recommended getting GASTRIC PLICATION on top of my band to keep the stomach in place. So, of course my insurance will not cover any of the costs and I have to pay over $11,000 cash up front. Fine, scheduled for Nov 4th. Then the dr had a personal emergency and it got pushed off. THEN, we he came back, the hospital said that all revisional surgeries have to go in front of the hospital board. The meeting was last night. Fine. TODAY, they call me and the hospital put a new policy in place that you have to be nicotine free for 30 days before surgery. SERIOUSLY!?!?? I am a smoker and this is getting pretty damn frustrating at this point. So, now I have to take a urine nicotine test and was told that I cant even schedule the surgery for sure until then. UGH!!! So, anyone who has any experience with any of this....thoughts, advice, suggestions are welcome. I need some feedback from people who have experience. I do not know anyone that understands what this is like from personal experience. Thanks!

I also met with Dr Minkin before I met with the Dr.'s at De Paul. I grew up in Des Peres and I used to work at that hospital acutally. Dr. Minkin had a lot of in my opinion really strange rules. He told me I COULDN'T (not might not be able to) but COULDN'T do a bunch of things that I do do. ( I had lap band put on June 06 and have lost 72 lbs) He also told me that I could never drink alcohol again!!! Put it this way----I was really excited to do the lap band, after I met with Dr. Minkin I didn't want to do it- AT ALL!!! He basically talked me out of it. I then went to De Paul hospital and totally changed my mind. I still wonder about some of that stuff that Minkin told me....doesn't seem right. I hope you have better luck, because I am so glad that I did it!

I am also in St. Louis, Maryland Heights to be exact. I had the band done at De Paul also May 2006 and I have lost about 60 lbs. I however do not feel like part of a family at DePaul. They NEVER answer the phone and everytime I have an appt. it takes up at LEAST 1/2 a day if not my whole day. When I go to the dr, I don't expect to have to wait for 3 hours and then talk to the for 3 minutes. I think that the customer service or whatever you want to call it is horrible! I don't understand why because the ladies are so nice. They need to get it together over there, especially on fill days.

I make taliapa all the time!!! I make a little holder out of foil. Put the fish in it with some butter. Sprinkle it with cajun seasoning and throw some diced garlic in it. It is good everytime! Sometimes I put alfredo sauce over the top of it and it is yummy!

I had my surgery in May of 2006 and have a 10cc band. It is now filled with 6 cc. I feel like I can eat almost anything I want and almost how much I want. I do get full, but eat a whole meal (steak or whatever) The first day that I got my second fill, I ate rice and it got stuck!!! OUCH! Ok, since then, I have been able to eat whatever I want!! This is not how this is suppossed to work. Isn't 6 cc a lot????

OK that is much better than the words we were coming up with haha! I haven't got my first fill yet, so I guess I'm yet to experience this. YUCK! Thanks that was really bugging me!

How do I get in on this or is it too late?

What does PB stand for? Seriously. :help:

Ok I am a newbie- banded 5/24/06 What in the world does pb mean???

It just worries me that I have had no problem eating. Nothing makes me sick, nothing gets caught, it all goes down well. I don't have my first fill until June 13th. Is this normal?? Normal...meaning to be able to eat more than 2-4 oz of food. I have that same problem. I was banded on May 24 and I lost 16lbs in the first week. Since then I have been stuck at -20 lbs. I can eat everything that I've tried so far. I had been eating Lo Mein noodles from the Chinese place since they will make it the way I want and I ate an egg roll. I am not suppossed to have that according to my dr but I feel fine. I feel like I can eat almost as much as I used to, but of corse I'm not because I am eating mostly what I have in the house which is all healthy insted of fast food everyday. BUT- I remember when I was in the hospital 2 nurses came by and told me that after 2 weeks and before I had my first fill that I would all of a sudden be able to eat more. They said don't freak out that it happens to everyone and just be careful what you're eating. She said even eat a few crackers with a meal to become full faster. Even though she said this , it still freaked me out. I went to a support group meeting at my hospital last week and I got to talk to people in person that have lived through this. This lady I met said just wait until I get the first fill. She said I won't be able to eat or drink they way I am now. Hope this helps you feel a little better. I am freaked out until I get my fill also.

I am considering the surgery still, but one thing holding me back is that the surgeon I met with told me that I can't drink. He said that I can't drink for a year and after that maybe one drink once a month. I am so confused. Drinks don't run my life, but I am young and I do live with my boyfriend who also likes to drink. I can't imagine never going to the local pub and having a few drinks or drinking at christmas, weddings, etc. This is something that is really putting me on the fence. Does anyone know that facts about it? This dr. told me that it can erode the band.

I am still trying to decide if this surgery is for me. I finally got to meet with a surgeon today and ask a million questions. He told me that smoking needs to stop, but he didn't say what would happen if I don't. Also, I didn't ask him about the green stuff, but does anyone happen to know?? I can't imagine how that could effect my stomach, but you never know??? Also, I'm not an alocholic or anything, but this guy told me that I wouldn't be able to drink for a year!!! A YEAR!?!?!?!? I'd rather stay fat. Are you kidding me?? So I starting looking around and I found this site and it's awesome! It's weird though, so far I don't see anyone addressing this issue. Is it false?? Can I get drunk sometimes? He said after a year I could have a beer or glass of wine once a month. WTF?? Anyways, not that drinking controls my life, but when we meet with clients or friends, it's usually for drinks or eats. Can anyone out there help me?? I told my mom that I saw other stuff on the internet that say alochol is ok in moderation, and she got mad at me and said did I think the dr. was making it up or what? That he had to have a reason to say that. He said it can cause erosion!! I just don't get why no one else on here has said anything about it, or i just can't find it! HELP!! Thanks!!