cathmo

I was just wondering if there was anyone who is banded located in the Northwest Arkansas area. I am getting banded on May 17 and would like to start a local group if there isn't one already. Thanks ---- Cathy

Hello Dr. Hekier, Yes, Washington Regional only does Gastric bypass, but the support group includes anyone who wants support in losing weight, not only weight loss surgery patients. Cathy

Just to let everyone know that I went down to Monterrey, MX this week, and Dr. Rodriguez ended up having to remove my band. After only having it for 2 1/2 months! I had no slipped band, no hiatal hernia. My problem was with the sphinctor at the base of the esophagus. It was really swollen and wouldn't work correctly. It wouldn't let hardly anything pass, although when he did the fluoroscopy on Tues night, the barium went through, then when I drank Water, it just closed off completely. No wonder I had such a hard time drinking water! Tues night, he couldn't figure out where the restriction was, so he had to do an endoscopy the next morning. That's when he found the swelling, but still didn't know the reason. So he went in with the laproscope and made the decision to take out the band, because he said the swelling might go down with medication, but it could always come back later, and I might get an eroded stomach. He said that my body just might produce too much acid and that may have been causing the problem but he really wasn't sure. He just didn't want to take the chance with my esophagus and stomach. He put me on steroids for a couple of days after the surgery and I was able to drink water and other liquids with no problem. I have to stay on liquids and mushies for about 2 to 3 more weeks. I'm just relieved to not have the reflux or the pain in my back or chest anymore and to be able to guzzle water again!! :scared: I am more sore than when I was first banded, but I kind of expected that. And I can't wait to be able to eat regular food again! But..... I have figured out a plan and will stick to it. Cathy

I'm not even thinking of putting anything on my stomach again. Even Dr. Rodriguez wouldn't bring that subject up while I was in Monterrey. I know, because someone asked him about it, and he said he wasn't going there right now! :Banane27: At the moment, I just want to heal up my esophagus and stomach. As soon as I'm feeling better, I'm going to start walking, and when I'm able to eat solid food again, I'll start measuring it out. I can do this! Cathy

Sunsett, Yes, you are sooooooo right! Eating slower and measuring out what we eat.......all the things we were taught before to lose weight.....those and drinking loads of Water, are the keys to keeping the weight down. :Banane27: Cathy

Hi Cynthia, I hope that you don't have to lose your band, but the way I think of it is that it isn't the end of the world to lose the band. I was not born with it and it was just a tool to help me lose the weight. Yes, I lost a lot of money on the procedure but hey, it's just money, but it's not my health. I just want to be healthy........ not sick everyday, or God forbid, for the rest of my life! You just have to look at it in perspective. I'm also happy that I didn't have the gastric bypass, because if I had the same problems with that procedure, I wouldn't have anywhere to turn except for medications! That's why I didn't want anything cut out of me or re-routed. At least the band CAN be removed and you're back to where you started. And yes, this board is a great support. :Banane27: Keep posting. I hope and pray that everything will work out best for you. By the way, I've lost 6 lbs back (since Sunday) from the 11 that I gained back during the week of the surgery. It IS possible to lose without the band..... I just have to watch the amount of food I'm eating. The good thing is, my stomach shrank during the period when I could hardly eat anything so I now can't eat as much. I have to make sure not to stretch it out again! That's one good thing that came out of this. Cathy

I'm am disappointed that I lost my band, but I really had no choice. I was in pain and could barely drink anything. I either have to be positive that I can lose this weight on my own or not be positive, and I'm not having the pains that I was having while banded, so I'm happy about that! I've lived with hypothyroidism basically all my life, since age 7 and losing weight has always been a struggle for me as well as being discouraged.... CONSTANTLY! I've tried for over 20 years...... losing some weight and gaining more, and I felt like the band was my last option. Well, I figure that if I could lose weight with the band, then I can do it without. I just have to reconfigure how I will do it. I know now that I was eating too much food prior to banding, so now I will make sure that I eat less AND start walking. I'll just keep trying like I have before! :scared: That's all I can do. It's always a new day tomorrow.... there's always hope. Cathy in Arkansas

Thank you all! This forum has been a great support to me. :scared: Cathy

Just to let everyone know that I went down to Monterrey, MX this week, and Dr. Rodriguez ended up having to remove my band. After only having it for 2 1/2 months! I had no slipped band, no hiatal hernia. My problem was with the sphinctor at the base of the esophagus. It was really swollen and wouldn't work correctly. It wouldn't let hardly anything pass, although when he did the fluoroscopy on Tues night, the barium went through, then when I drank Water, it just closed off completely. No wonder I had such a hard time drinking water! Tues night, he couldn't figure out where the restriction was, so he had to do an endoscopy the next morning. That's when he found the swelling, but still didn't know the reason. So he went in with the laproscope and made the decision to take out the band, because he said the swelling might go down with medication, but it could always come back later, and I might get an eroded stomach. He said that my body just might produce too much acid and that may have been causing the problem but he really wasn't sure. He just didn't want to take the chance with my esophagus and stomach. He put me on steroids for a couple of days after the surgery and I was able to drink water and other liquids with no problem. I have to stay on liquids and mushies for about 2 to 3 more weeks. I'm just relieved to not have the reflux or the pain in my back or chest anymore and to be able to guzzle water again!! :scared: I am more sore than when I was first banded, but I kind of expected that. And I can't wait to be able to eat regular food again! But..... I have figured out a plan and will stick to it. Cathy

Just to let everyone know that I went down to Monterrey, MX this week, and Dr. Rodriguez ended up having to remove my band. After only having it for 2 1/2 months! I had no slipped band, no hiatal hernia. My problem was with the sphincture at the base of the esophagus. It was really swollen and wouldn't work correctly. It wouldn't let hardly anything pass, although when he did the fluoroscopy on Tues night, the barium went through, then when I drank Water, it just closed off completely. No wonder I had such a hard time drinking water! Tues night, he couldn't figure out where the restriction was, so he had to do an endoscopy the next morning. That's when he found the swelling, but still didn't know the reason. So he went in with the laproscope and made the decision to take out the band, because he said the swelling might go down with medication, but it could always come back later, and I might get an eroded stomach. He said that my body just might produce too much acid and that may have been causing the problem but he really wasn't sure. He just didn't want to take the chance with my esophagus and stomach. He put me on steroids for a couple of days after the surgery and I was able to drink water and other liquids with no problem. I have to stay on liquids and mushies for about 2 to 3 more weeks. I'm just relieved to not have the reflux or the pain in my back or chest anymore and to be able to guzzle water again!! :scared: I am more sore than when I was first banded, but I kind of expected that. And I can't wait to be able to eat regular food again! Cathy

I'm a Virgo..... Sep 4.

Thank you so much, health1st! Even after my NP said that she didn't think it was a slip, there really wasn't a way for her to be sure because she was only looking at an X-ray. I will be glad to get down to Monterrey and get this checked in a proper way. If it needs to be and can be fixed, Dr. Rodriguez will do it Wednesday afternoon, after my test. I am just hoping that he doesn't say that the band needs to be removed, but I am prepared for that also. Anything to take this pain and vomiting away! Yes, you are right about the dehydration. This past week I got steadily weaker during the week, and had to take off from work on Thursday. I got more Protein in that day as well as more Fluid. I felt much better on Friday. I will let you know how it goes this week. Cathy

I don't know if anyone else has had the same problems as I have had, but I have looked through the messages and found some complications similar but not exactly the same. Here's my story: I was banded on May 17, 2006, and 4 days after I was banded, I started coughing. I ended up with bronchitis. It was some virus that I must have picked up before my surgery. I had bronchitis for about 5 weeks. I was on antibiotics for about a week after my surgery, and then I went to my PCP to get treated for the bronchitis after the antibiotics ran out. He put me on another antibiotic for the cough. My question is..... can antibiotics irritate the stomach? After I started eating solid foods, I ate too much, too fast and didn't chew enough..... and started sliming and PB'd a couple of times. For about a month now, I've been having a lot of restriction, even with Water. I still have to belch a lot to get even water down. I first had pain in my back and radiating up to my collar bone, but that's gone now. I still have a little dull pain when I wake up in the morning and try to drink water. That pretty much goes away after I've had something warm to drink. But I'm having some stomach pain also. My biggest problem is not being able to eat solid food. I can only take in liquids and very soft mushies. I went to my fill nurse practitioner (I haven't had a fill yet) and she said that my band and port look like they are in the correct place, so I don't have a slipped band. She thinks I might have an ulcer and lots of swelling at the stoma. I'm taking Previcid and another med for healing the stomach. Has anyone else had a problem like this so soon after being banded? And my earlier question, can antibiotics cause irritation in the stomach? Just wondering. The only good thing that came out of this is that I finally got through my weightloss stall and started going down again. I've now lost 28 lbs since my surgery! I'm happy about that. :clap2: Thanks, Cathy in Arkansas

The reason I asked is that I'm having MAJOR restriction with NO fills at all, and I was banded on May 17. I'm having pain in my back, on the left side, inside my shoulder blade, and I can't eat any solid food, only liquids and very mushy foods. Some days are better than others, such as I was able to eat watery scrambled eggs yesterday just fine, but today I ended up throwing them up. I was having lots of pain when I ate anything and especially drinking Water.... and belching a gazillion times to get it down! I'm not having that kind of pain much now, but I still have to belch a lot... WAY too much. I think that I irritated my esophagus, and that's where the pain was coming from. I started having this restriction around mid June, about a month after I was banded, AND towards the end of a bout of bronchitis (which I had for about 5 weeks). I started coughing 4 days after my surgery. I had just started eating solids and ate too much on a couple of occasions and too big of bites, and I PB'd and haven't been the same since. I keep wondering if my band has slipped, due to the coughing. Well, I'm going to Mexico next Tuesday to see my surgeon again to find out what has happened. I have been on liquids for almost 6 weeks now. I can't live like this. Do you think this sounds like a slip, from what you know of the symptoms that you have had? Thanks! ........... Cathy

Hi Health1st, So you had a slip within the 1st 3 days after you were banded? How odd! Do you know what caused this? Thanks, Cathy

Hi Bullit143, I am having these problems.......can't eat solids, acid reflux at night, coughing and loss of sleep at night because of the reflux, LOTS of burping, but I'm having way too much restriction (swelling of the esophagus?). I'm not sure if it's a slip or not... it may be a hiatal hernia. I'm going to see my surgeon in Mexico next week. I'm tired of this..... have been on liquids for about 5 1/2 weeks now (just got banded on May 17) and sometimes can't get liquids down. I may end up losing my band, I sure hope not, but I can't live like this. I'll let you know what happens. Cathy

Thanks for your response, Karen! Actually, I haven't even had a fill yet! There's nothing in the band. That's what puzzling me the most. Anyway, I've decided to go see my surgeon in Mexico next week. I couldn't wait on the doctors here anymore! It's like always having to jump through hoops to get any tests run. I'm so disillusioned right now. My fill NP ordered a gall bladder test for me, and I faxed it to the hospital so that I could make an appointment. Then the scheduler told me that I would have to get an ultrasound before I could get the test that my NP (Meggin) ordered. Meggin specifically told me that I didn't need the ultrasound, and I told the scheduler, but she said that they determine from the ultrasound if I actually need the other test. ARGH!!!! Blasted....... the other test is the one she ordered SPECIFICALLY. I'm sitting here hurting and getting weaker by the day, and they are telling me that I need another order for the ultrasound!??? Then also, I couldn't get in to see a gastroenterologist until Aug 10! I finally said "enough of this"! I'm tired of suffering. I'm off to Mexico so that I can get the care that I need. Sorry for my rant. Cathy

Hi Karen, So your doc said that if you have reflux and/or your can't eat, that you might have a slip? Hmmmmm, I have been having both of those for a few weeks now. I'm confused a little. You said that you didn't have any restriction, is that correct? And now the restriction is coming back? I am having WAY too much restriction. My fill doc doesn't think it's a slip, but I have been thinking otherwise. I have not been able to eat solid food, and having pain when liquids or soft foods go through the band (or what I perceive as the band). I'm also having pain in my back, inside my left shoulder blade. I have to sleep on a heating pad at night most of the time now. I'm going in for some tests soon. Thanks for your post! Cathy in Arkansas

Me name is ..........Cabinlass Maggie Arrrrrrrrrrghhhh!

Hi Elizabeth, I feel for you! I know what you're going through. I have been hypothyroid almost all my life..... diagnosed when I was 7 and I'm 47 now. I KNOW about slow metabolisms! My question for you is.... when you were banded, how many calories were you taking in? If you were getting in less calories than you are taking in now, it might be that your body is used to the lower number of calories and doesn't burn those "extra" calories as efficiently. Just a guess on my part. I think that you will have to give your body time to get used to having more calories. I know it's tough, but be patient with yourself. Keep exercising, and try changing your workouts periodically, like do aerobics for a month, then change to bicycling or walking or something else for a month, etc. It makes you work different muscles and changes the way your body reacts. Just some suggestions. Cathy in Arkansas

I have a Magic Bullet and it is one of the best investments that I have made! To grind without liquifying, you have to do short bursts and shake it around or stir it. And don't put too much in the cup at one time. Cathy

Hi Karel, I'm sorry to hear that you had to have your band taken out, but I totally understand. May I ask when you were banded? When did you start having problems. I'm having problems even just a couple months after banding, and I'm considering having my band removed. I'm in pain everyday and I just can't live on mushed up or liquid food the rest of my life. This is no life to live. Cathy in Arkansas

Thanks, Paula! Cathy

Hi Marc, As for the loneliness and feelings of rejection, I can totally understand how you're feeling. I am married now for 6 years, but before that I didn't have a relationship for probably 13 years. I built walls up around me by burying myself in my class work, music or work. During this time, my weight just kept going up in between bouts of regular exercise and dieting. I felt rejected by society, men and some of my friends. But I think I mainly felt rejected by myself. I'm like the previous person who responded..... I just got banded on May 17, so I don't have a lot of history to tell you how the band has changed my life. I have lost 28 lbs so far, but it's only been enough to show that my clothes are starting to get loose on me. People I know are finally starting to notice the changes. Yes, you are right...... the way we feel about ourselves must come from within, but it does help to make you feel good when someone tells you how great you look! I'm still waiting for that. You know, I decided on this surgery because I had tried and tried to lose this excess weight for about 20 years, with no long-term success. I am hypothyroid so my metabolism is slow anyway, and I felt like I was always looking at everyone else having a life but life was passing me by. My health was getting worse each passing year, and I decided that I had to take a stand on my health. My insurance wouldn't pay for this surgery, so it was up to me. My PCP sure wasn't helping me find a solution to my weight problem. You have to be proactive if you want something to change in your life. Believe it or not, that's how I met my husband. That's another story that I won't go into here. You know the saying "If it's gonna be, it's up to me". This is SO true! If you want your life to be different, you have to do something different to move in a new direction. Good luck with your decision! Cathy in Arkansas

Hello Dr. Hekier, I just found out that there is a weight loss surgery support group at Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville. We were discussing it in ObesityHelp.com, in the Arkansas forum. The lady who runs it (can't remember her name off-hand) said that anyone who was trying to lose weight is welcome (so a person doesn't have to be a RNY patient). I know that they do RNY at Wash Reg, so that may be why that group was established. I think it meets on Wed evenings. They won't be meeting in Aug though, but will start up again in Sep. We are also trying to get some weight loss surgery patients together informally, so have your patient email me, if she/he would like. Thanks, Cathy in Fayetteville