Nanook

Kytanna, Sorry you had so many problems with your band and hope you're healing and feeling better soon. I asked you a question on another post but now I know the answer. Mine is coming out this Friday and thanks for the info you gave me about the removal and good luck and health to you Nancy.

Kytanna, That's sounds pretty smooth. How are you feeling now and do you mind me asking why your band was removed? Thanks Nancy:smile:

Iate..... Glad to see you're feeling better and made that appointment. You've been through a lot and it's good to be able to talk it out with someone, take care Nancy:smile:.

This random stuff reminds me of an episode of "House" I once saw, weird......:thumbup:

I can vouch for Sue RN she's been very helpful to me when I've had problems in the past. Let's not try to jump on people just because they aren't people we're familiar with at LBT, a lot of us go to other WLS forums. Nancy:smile:

From my perspective Carnie has put back some but not nearly the amount she lost. I don't think that Al ever got to be as small as Carney did and Carney was probably too small and couldn't maintain that size forever. Like the other poster said she did have at least one baby and Al being a male probably has it a bit easier. With every WLS there's a chance you'll put back the weight or in my case never even lose it in the first place. I think RNY takes a lot of willpower also just like the band. I've seen it recently with my own daughter who is only 20 years old but has a lot of discipline and has lost 120 lbs since last April. partly due to a stricture but also due to her discipline and determination. I never had the willpower going in as this was my last resort and so without the willpower the lap band did nothing for me. Even though RNY does have malabsorption on it's side for a while it doesn't last for ever and the pouch will stretch. There are people who are better at keeping it off than others and those that don't either will gain some back or revise, many go on diet meds also. I've been in forums where I've seen people go to their third revision which to me seems a bit extreme but I shouldn't be surprised and I suppose shouldn't judge either. So basically from my pov WLS can be like a crap shoot sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

Good luck Fanny and hope you get better soon, Nancy:smile:

Tanderson, the most important thing right now is your health. I'm having mine out on Friday and am happy. I was one who actually never lost weight with the band so having it removed shouldn't make much of a difference either way but knowing it's finally gone I can proceed again with life! I know that sounds weird but it's true. Put the focus on something more important like the love of your family and your health and be glad for both. We all tend to obsess so much on our weight that it takes over our whole world at times and it's really not that important in the grand scheme of things. You're lucky you didn't lose your stomach imagine how life would have been then. Hope you're feeing better soon, Nanook!

Wasa, that really sucks, I didn't know how much hell you were going through, hope you're doing better now. Nancy.

themis, I don't think that's true what was said about restriction. I've been without any fill for over a month and I still have plenty of restriction. Everyone is different.

Sorry not familiar with your area but I'm having mine out this Friday with the same surgeon and the same insurance and it took no time at all to get approved. Hope things go as smoothly for you, Nancy.:biggrin:

I think you'll know in due time whether or not the band will be the right thing for you. I waited over a year and found that to be plenty of time before other comps started happening and my surgeon decided it was a good time to take it out sooner than later. My father also died right around my band time and losing a parent is a significant loss no matter what age you are. Give youself some time to adjust to all the new changes in your life now. My band really never worked from the beginning and as you can see here most peoples' do so the odds are that yours will also. Don't pressure yourself too soon and see if the band works for you. Take care Nancy.:teeth_smile:

You need an unfill if you can't keep down liquids. I was at that point at one time and had too much fill and couldn't swallow my own spit. You're not supposed to go too long with such a condition. Can you call your surgeon on call? Mine was able to meet me at the office to take out the excess after midnight. Hope you're doing better, Nancy.

At the time of banding no, but now yes. It's been a long journey of figuring out why it was not the right procedure for me and a lot of it had to do with information, or lack there of I had prior to banding. I've been banded for over a year and on this site (originally) since March of 08 as brandyII before closing shop and coming back with a new screen name because I couldn't get on with my old one. I came here trying to get info on why it wasn't working for me etc... To this day I'm still being PM'd by people because they to are having issues with the band similar to what I had and obviously are afraid (still) to bring it out in the open forum. My only hope is, as mine is finally being removed this Friday, that people actually share the hard core information with people prior to banding. I suppose we can't always depend on actual "surgeons" to do it for them. People tend to use the same old same old phrases "it's just a tool" or "it's not magic" which is fine but go into more detail. Tell them it isn't going to keep you from eating a box of chocolate after you just PB'd a piece of chicken. And that Cookies and chips and crackers, foods you may have struggled with prior to the band will still go through that band quite easily. You still need that old "willpower" that disappointed you on the many diets you've been on over a lifetime. Calling it "head hunger" when your body is normally going to crave "food" when it's going into starvation mode when you only eat a couple bites of Protein or veg or just drink Protein drinks is not necessarily an accurate assessment of the situation. Your body will want food when it thinks it's starving itself and will do much to get that food! So even though you may scare a few away from getting the band it's best to be as honest and upfront as possible. It's OK to cheer people on through the hard times but to let them know as much info as possible beforehand might avoid a lot of costly mistakes, thanks Nancy.:thumbup:

Thanks for your responses guys. Mrshobo, I'm assuming you had some comps. Was yours done by scheduling or by emergency removal? I'm having preop testing just like I did prior to getting banded and am hoping for no surprises when they get in there. I wonder who they all practice on before they become certified to do bandings and removals. Are they people or animals? I don't know why that bothers me but it does. Anyway hope you're both doing better, Nancy.

Does anyone know where you can watch lap band removal surgeries other than that Dr. Rutledge video on youtube? That one is trying to sell his mini- bypass or something and it looks like the band eroded into the stomach yuck! PS: there is some funky sh**t on youtube and I should never have watched it!!!!

I just wanted an idea of how they removed the bands but most of those had major comps or a revision was done soon after. I ended up watching the actual band surgery by someone in Kansas City and figure it would be similar but backwards to some degree, lol and a lot less scary!

I live in a very PC world, good and bad. I think too many people have sued and companies are trying to protect their asses basically. If you don't care that's all that matters, it gave you the lift you needed so "you go girl"!:smile2:

It might be different if you work for the Fed government, they usually have seminars on what not to do and what not to say to another employee.

I suppose since it was the client it was ok but if it had been an associate they probably could have been sued. I know a lot of places in the northeast are like that. In my day (when I was a cute young thang) it would have felt uncomfortable so maybe it's the part of the country you're from. Sorry don't mean to start a war of sorts Nancy!

I know that's corny but I'm not a newbie getting "excited" about getting the band so as an oldbie I suppose I can be excited about getting rid of my band. It's amazing how long it seems we wait for approval and to get the surgery and then when it's time for removal it can take a matter of days! At least that's how it feels as mine is finally coming out on Friday the 3rd. Of course it's a mixed blessing as I went into banding with possibly not enough knowledge of what it would be like to be banded but still had the hope that it would work out at the same time and sadly it did not. So hopefully all you newbies read up as much as you can and make sure you have the right expectations of the band because it isn't for everyone as I well know, Nanook:smile:

Thanks luluc I appreciate it, I think it's my surgeon's first de-banding also, lol. Hopefully there won't be any "oops" moments, you take care too, Nancy.

Puffytwo, Mine were/are sharp pains that last for a second right in the center of my chest and were coming about every 2 minutes when I was in the hospital. I don't feel pressure. It should be ruled out with an upper GI and if not then, then I suppose they might have to do some other test, maybe an endoscopy or something. I've heard who people complain of hiatal hernias feeling like pressure in the chest. Mine were definitely sharp pains that came and went. What did your bariatric surgeon tell you it was? You've ruled out your heart so that's a good thing and hopefully an upper GI will help you figure out what it is. Nancy:smile:

I went through this about two weeks ago and they made me spend the night in the hospital to rule out the heart, which is fine. The PA at the hospital thought it might be my esophagus and reflux or a hiatal hernia. I called my surgeon's office and met with them and they had me get an upper GI. They saw reflux, I'm a year post-op too and I have no fill in my band and it was still happening. They put me on a medicine to help with the acid production. I forgot what it's called but I'm sure your doctor will probably put you on something similar. So far it's gotten better but even with no fill I'm still pretty restricted but because I never lost weight with the band and am now having this issue I'm having it removed soon. Don't worry that doesn't mean you need to, it's my choice. Hope you feel better soon, Nancy.:rolleyes2:

Turns out there is no hiatal hernia but reflux is going on and the band is completely open. I guess I have to wait and see if my insurance company approves it or not. Thanks Nancy