lspeeler1

Well - after 5 years with the band. It has to come out. Everything was great for first 2 1/2 yrs. then a horrible stomach flu (we think) caused a prolapse above my band. January 2012 was rebanded with a more flexible band, hoping the prolapse would recede. Here I am over a year later and it's worse, and even though I'm Unfilled. I never know what will get stuck in the prolapse and make me sick. I'm so sad/mad!! I don't blame the band. I believe that it was a combination of things tat caused my issues. The problem is that banding, like dieting, takes self discipline. Something I'm really not very good at. I'm hoping that I will be able to maintain my weight and possibly even add to it after the band is gone. I have learned a lot about how to live on smaller portions I just need to keep it up.

Yes this def is a sign of being too tight. I started with the night coughs and it turned out that I had slipped and gotten a prolapse so please don't mess around with it. Get in and get an upper gi to make sure everything is ok.

Hi - I agree with all of the info in the previous posts. Also, please try not to drink anything while eating or it will flush things right through and prevent you from feeling full. Anything that just crumbles up will go through also. You really need to focus on protein items. I know yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. isn't exciting but it stays with you longer. After awhile when you are eating regular foods you will notice that regular food items like potatoes, meats, breads, pasta will def fill you up and possibly get stuck so make sure that you don't forget and take big bites and not chew. The problem is that when you get these items stuck in there drinking will not flush them through, it will make them come back up. It is a learning game and it really takes awhile to learn all of the dos and don'ts. Don't give up!!!

After being banded for 3+ years and now going through a rebanding surgery I can tell you that many of your concerns are very valid. So many people and things happen that are beyond your control but all you can do is take it all in and use the information to help yourself or completely throw some of it out and move on. I was surprised to find that the people who have always been thinner than me were worried that I would somehow be thinner than them and it bothered them - That's there problem not ours. THe ups and downs of the weight will happen and you will work through it. Your Fibro will get better and more manageble. Breast size doesn't really go down but back size does. Slippage and rebanding happens to some but it is easily dealt with and you move on. Worries and concerns are part of being an intelligent person and you seem very intelligent and thoughtful about things so you have to address your concerns and feel as comfortable about things as you can. I hope this is helpful and not hurtful. You can always message me if you want to talk. Good luck I'm sure you'll do great and just take one obsticle at a time. Lisa

Found wonder Butternut squash soup from Healthy choice. No chunks but very tasty and low sodium. Yummy

Wooo Hoo - great to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work!!

Good Luck - I've always found it better to tell about my band within the first date because that way if you get stuck or have to explain why you can't eat certain things is easier. Just please be careful with bowling it's an odd movement and I worry that if things aren't completely healed in there that there may be slippage. I'm a worry wort and it may not be a problem but thought I would bring it up anyway. I read a post buy someone who was pulled up into a boat after being banded for years and the pulling up by the arm motion made her slip badly. I'm sorry to be weird but that's just my overactive worry gene.

Jennifer - The band is a very sensitive tool. It responds to stress, bloating, etc. Try to make sure that you drink something before eating, even if its just a bit because when completely dry it's harder to process food. If you are stressed it will be tight and if you had anything even a little bit stuck the day before the swelling will make it worse. You will learn how to read the signs and know when and what to eat.

Remember that the scale isn't the only place where you see results. I was very surprised when I was going down in sizes but the scale was staying the same. I guess that's called NSV (non scale victories). Your body just readjusts the weight and its wonderful.

Those are good problems but problems all the same It was hard for me to be able to go out and get clothes that fit. It was also hard for me to get rid of the old ones that didn't fit anymore. Keep up the good work!

Doesn't really hurt. Usually get a numbing shot first (which pinches) but it doesn't hurt just uncomfortable. Kind of cool when you hear the popping sound when they get the needle into the port. Maybe take a tylenol or something stronger before you go. Just try to relax that's the best thing to do.

Since I have an allergy to Splenda and maltodextrin I have a real problem finding protein drinks and diet items in general. I have found that Bolthouse Farms Protein Plus (chocolate) is an incredible protein supplement as well as Naked juice protein (chocolate). I don't know why the other flavors don't taste good to me but these are smooth and not chalky at all. They are generally in the produce section of the grocery store.

Shirley - youare not the problem. You were just reacting. Funny how the person in question completely missed the point. Oh well - lets go on with positive, informative boards.

Heartburn at night is usually caused by eating too late in the evening, at least for me.

To all of you new bandsters - Good Luck!!! I love my band through the good times and the bad. And yes there are bad times. Don't be surprised or scared just work through it and move on. The first weeks after surgery are no picnic and I was sure that I had made a big mistake at first but after a while it all works out and things are great. You have a new life ahead: always being the person who decides where to eat because everyone will ask "is there anything there that you can eat", knowing every bathroom everywhere you go because you can't seem to know your limits, having people say "oh my god you look terrific" - I never get tired of that one, getting off of bp meds, shopping in the regular sized clothing departments, sitting on the bleachers and your but hurting because you don't have as much cushion anymore, etc. I could go on but you get the hint. Enjoy your journey!!!

I wish you the best of luck. This is a very exciting time and these boards can be very informative and really give you a lot of support.

Misha - this is a surgery like any other. The first week or so is painful and a very hard adjustment. The worst seems to be the incision where the port site is. Remember that it does even out and after a few weeks you will adjust and feel much better. Keep your lines of communication open with your Doc and follow the rules. Don't move onto a phase II diet until you're supposed to. The clear liquids are VERY HARD to do but you can do it and you'll be fine. Please contact me if you have more questions. Good Luck!!

I truly suggest that you get rid of the band and try something else. Nobody should have something like this in their body if they hate it so badly and are so convinced that it doesn't work. It will NEVER work if you think it's a POS.

This is my second band. After slippage and such I needed a new band. This one is softer and they are hoping for the best. Everything that's gone wrong so far has mostly been my fault so I have to be more careful this time around

This is a very effective "tool". If you aren't having any restriction after fills then maybe your band is too big. There are different sizes and after losing weight the current one can become too big for your stomach. It just doesn't make sense that after filling the band to its optimal fill amt. that there can be no restriction. It's either not placed right or has a hole in it which doesn't allow the saline to remain in the pouches. This is completely something that your Dr. must investigate further.

I believe that with anything there are positives and negatives. What is a big problem to someone might not be a big deal to someone else. My negatives are: 1. Esophageal spasms 2. Wanting to eat dinner out but knowing that I will be sorry if Im not really careful 3. Getting food stuck even after I know that I have no business eating that food 4. Explaining to people that even after all of these things I still feel that it was completely worth it. 5. Having my kids say "Mom you're making the face - are you going to throw up"

Hi - I was rebanded on Jan 4th after originally being banded in 2008. I was as nervous the second time as the first. I think the main reason is because we are losing such a dependible friend "food". It's always there for us and always able to help us through our issues. I scares me to have to find other ways of dealing with my anxiety, etc. Maybe I'm way off on this for you but that's my issue. Lisa

Bandsters - I have been banded for about 3 yrs and lately I've noticed that some nights I wake up like I'm choking on something but it's not in my throat it's like it's in my lungs. I cough and cough and it burns like when something goes down the "wrong pipe". Has anyone else ever had this?

Just had my first experience with the stomach flu while being banded. It was not pleasant!! Not the band's fault but an unfortunate side effect. The problem was that just the same as food not being able to pass through quickly to stomach it can't pass the other way either. Well - my stomach wanted something gone and quick!!! The result was hours of heaving with very little results and my body feels like I've been through a prize fight. I love my band but at times like this I would like to be free to let nature take it's course.

I've been banded 1yr 4mos. Recently started having horrible gerd/reflux. I already take Nexium to control this but it was getting worse. I ended up in the hosp last week because pain was so bad I thought it was cardiac chest pain. Turns out band was too tight and esophagus was irritated and having spasms. Please listen to your body. I felt like something wasn't right for awhile due to a lot of PBing and discomfort but I kept putting it off. My band had to be emptied and now I have to start over after everything is calmed down.