Nanook

gagetlady, that was funny:smile:

Since I was in the hospital this weekend and am now having acid/esophagus issues the doctor there said "no sodas". So even though it's rare that I drink one the fact is it may due damage to your esophagus if you have those issues or make it worse.

Mumoftwoboys, I'm really glad you're doing so much better and working on your marriage. I don't know if I could have lasted as long as you did without contacting him sooner to be honest especially since she was such a beeeach! Stay strong, Nancy.:biggrin:

Mizzo...., Like all the others have said you're not crazy but getting some therapy to help you build yourself up again would really help. He just doesn't sound like a healthy partner for you and you're finally getting some clarity. Being married should give you a good feeling not leave you with a sick feeling in the middle of your chest. Good luck to you and get more support!! Nancy

It is that one I'm not a computer geek, married to one so sorry if you couldn't open it. I find the unicorn to be the best part and so did my daughters. We're a mixed family when it comes to politics so it's nice to lighten it up once in a while.

I find it to be an equal party offender! Nancy

I've had restriction so I know what it feels like and I think you know whether or not you're restricted or eating around the band. I never was able to lose weight banded and am a year post-op and now am having problems associated with the band and have been unfilled for a few weeks but still feel "filled". I would see your doctor. I believe we all are a bit different on the band and no one situation can dictate what another's situation should be on the band. If this doctor is not helping you and you are being as proactive with your health as you possible can then I definitely would seek out another! Good luck to you Nancy.

Vote Here After Some Campaigning

Vote Here After Some Campaigning

RNY patients sometimes get strictures which can make it difficult to get food in but endoscopies tend to remedy the situation.

Yay for well water!!!:redface:

It took me a while before I decided not to trust my fill tech and see my surgeon instead. She under filled me twice, as she did not look at my chart to see I had the 10cc band and over filled me once because she had previously written down the wrong amount. I found out this information after seeing surgeons because of the complications these three fills caused. I don't know anything about fills evaporating but if it's possible find someone who you can trust like one of the surgeons at the group that is doing your fills. I know you went to Mexico to have it done and appear to be self pay but from my experience if there's someone incompetent, and you seem to know in your gut that this person could be, then find someone who is competent and good luck to you, Nancy.

Thanks Tara, that was very sweet, ditto with you!! Nancy:smile:

http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm Sorry but my computer geeks aren't home so I don't know how to post it so that you can just click on it but it's a new jib jab that is called "It's time for some campaigning" Geeks came home and fixed the link for me this is cute Nancy:thumbup:

Froggi, I got my results the same week I had surgery, it may have been a couple days prior to surgery and the only reason was that they needed to know if I'd need the machine in the hospital in recovery. They will give you oxygen also. I don't think at this point you need it to get approval for surgery, as far as I know, so I don't think you should be overly concerned but you can always call and bug them if they don't have the info sent to the people that need it. Good luck Nancy.

Mumoftwoboys, I think a lot of us have followed your story and I was a bit shock to learn you actually contacted the husband, I suppose I didn't think you were. I'm not judging you but it sounds like to me it helped give you some closure and a way to move on which is good. I think in some ways I followed your story because I'm an ex-Montgomery Countyite and so move from MD in 1986. Also I'm someone who has been married for 26 but living with for 28 years and so we all have our ups and downs and feel the pain when another woman has pain like you've experience. But it impresses me that you've had the courage and your husband didn't wuss out like a lot do also to make it work. So kudos for you and your great attitude and good luck your marriage can work and Happy bday too! Nancy.

I am completely unfilled and on my period you would think I still had a regular fill. Don't know why, and wonder what it must be like to be pregnant and be banded. Not that I intend to but just curious, Nancy.

Because I had it done a year ago and gained back most of my pre-op diet weight and it was never the right procedure for me. I got all the fills I needed and unfills but it just was never working for me. I suppose I didn't have enough info in the beginning and thought it was to restrict all my food intake and found out later it doesn't work that way. I went in thinking this would work for me but it was the wrong "tool". Weight wise I'm doing better now that the saline is out but there's still a bit of restriction which is normal. I can eat healthier foods now which I couldn't before. I don't know why some people can always eat the healthier foods and get in enough but I never could it was always difficult. I did spend a time where I was too tight and when I gained weight the tech would just put more in, that was the thing, gaining=more fill. It was totally wrong for me. The weird thing is now that I'm getting it removed I'm also having physical problems with the band which I didn't have before. My surgeon unfilled me a couple weeks ago on my bandiversary and we're discussing the removal but now I'm having possible esophagus issues and so may have a reason to remove it sooner. I ended up in the hospital over the weekend due to chest pains and instead of seeing if it was band related they had to concentrate on my heart to rule that out. It was not my bariatric hospital but one close to my home. My primary told me to go to the ER and then they admitted me. The hospital PA thinks it's something to do with my esophagus or a hiatal hernia or something in that area but the pains are consistent and I don't have what I think of as acid reflux where you feel it come up and never have. I start working on figuring out if it is the lap band this Wednesday and do not know what tests they will do as I've never had any in the year I've had the band but hopefully things will move quickly and I can find it out. The pain isn't that bad where I can't tolerate it but when you have them you know they shouldn't be there if you know what I mean. And for me I'm about 235 lbs now and started at around 253 and I really never wanted to get down to a low bmi just wanted to be healthier and lose enough for that so I don't have the drive that a lot of people do anyway to lose it fast and I have other conditions that make losing weight more difficult anyway. Good luck to you Nancy:thumbup:

I didn't shower there either but just realize you'll be going home with lots of crap in your hair and it's not that attractive. Make sure you bring whatever you think will help you sleep like your own pillow or blanket or even two pillows. Mine didn't have a TV in the room as they didn't want people to fall asleep to a TV but had one in a special area. Also don't know if you'll be driving yourself but due to the fact that I barely slept at all if I had driven myself home I would have definitely crashed! Also mine wouldn't allow me to take any sleep aids that I normally would have if I were home. I suppose it depends on the clinic etc... They told me loose comfortable clothing so I wore shorts and a t-shirt and socks and they have to be able to get to all the places on you to put their little sticky tabs, sorry don't know what they're called. I don't think I could wear a bra but at this point you're not very self conscience anyway. They had a bathroom down the hall so any time I had to go I had to call them to get unhooked and carry everything with me. Maybe you could bring an Ipod or a lap top or books, mags etc... I have a little cooler for Water etc... but don't think they had food but Snacks are a good idea too especially if it helps you fall asleep. Oh and if you sleep with a fan you might want to bring a little one or ask if they supply them, mine did! Have fun, it's kind of like being in a hotel, Nancy.

I wish I could give you advice on why etc...but as one who didn't lose either and am now in an un-filled state and having some complications due to the band and will eventually have it removed I can understand your frustrations. Good luck and hopefully you can resolve your issues Nancy.

Jack, I don't know if it matters but I was unfilled 2 weeks ago, completely. This has been going on straight for 4 days. I really haven't eaten in about 2 days and still am getting the pain right in the center of my breast bone and they come every 2 minutes and leave It's been that consistent for 4 days, maybe 5. I had this same pain over a month ago but it seemed to stop and wasn't as constant. They put me on a nitroglycerin patch (3) in the hospital which gave me a bad headache and so I ate two frozen yogurts and that was it other than Water or tea because I felt like crap due to the headache. That's why I haven't eaten. I've had the pain before where I was tight and didn't chew enough or ate too much and vomited so I know that pain and this is not that pain. Its more of a darting that comes and goes fairly quickly. Even though it's not the typical heart attack pain they still had to go through all the tests to make sure as I'm a woman who could have one but didn't and it's been ruled out by all the testing. It's not my bariatric hospital and this PA knew a bit about these surgeries and also the esophagus and he seemed to think it had to do with that somehow but of course I'm going to call the bariatric group I see tomorrow and see what they'll do. They've never offered any type of fluoroscope before and I even asked once but somehow I have to be proactive this time and demand what I need to have done. They are affiliated with a hospital but I basically am not sure what I should expect them to do and want to make sure that I get what I need done. I've been consistent with meeting with my surgeons prior to this unfill and getting fills or unfills due to the issue at the time. I see a tech most of the time but when I've had issues I've asked to meet with my surgeon. So basically what I need to know is what tests would they be doing because the PA at the hospital mentioned acid in my esophagus, hiatal hernia and stomach ulcers possibly. My primary had me on a baby aspirin for my heart and the PA was concerned also the aspirin may have done some damage but it's coated, but I don't know. Sorry to be such a wordy birdy but I was trying to get out the info the best I could. I don't have typical acid reflux and never have so I never considered it an issue for me and was surprised that it's a possibility and what could causing the pain. Also I've read about spasms but I'm not eating so I don't know if you still have them if you're not eating. Anyway thanks again and hope I made some sense, Nancy. This is the first time I've ever been scared since I was banded because I don't know what's going on inside me!

Well had fun last night due to chest pains I'd been having for the past few days and was told by my primary to go to the ER. This one was close to me and not where my bariatric surgeon is. Anyway because of what I've read here etc... I kind of had the feeling it might be my esophagus but hospitals always make sure it's not your heart. So after a night of what you can imagine they check for when they rule out the heart my heart was healthy and was sent home today. Now I have to call my bariatric surgeon to see if it's my esophagus and/or lap band related. The PA at the hospital told me that just because I didn't get the acid up to my throat didn't mean I wasn't having acid reflux or some type of issue like that or a hiatal hernia. Anyone go through a similar situation trying to figure out what is wrong and if so what do they do first? It's been a year since surgery and as I've stated many, too many times, I never did well so maybe this could be why. I've also never had any x-ray etc... of my stomach/esophagus since my surgery. Any help would be appreciated Nancy.

In my view that is not a bad loss. Not everyone loses that quickly on the band and you haven't started gaining back, as far as I know. Is that what you're afraid of? In my case I never lost the weight except prior to banding so it's not like I was a slow loser. Some people here get so tight they're basically on a crash diet of sorts and that's not what the band is supposed to do for them but that's how they prefer to use it and lose quickly. So talk to your doctor about your issues you're having now. I'd hate to see you go to such extreme measures if it's not necessary, good luck to you Nancy.:lovechoc:

Good luck Tina, I'm going to get mine removed but it's not that I didn't give it a try! I wish everyone luck who has it and it's working for it's just not the right tool for me! Take care and hope the chaos clears up, Nancy.:lovechoc:

I think that there are a lot of people that have issues with sticking to a "diet". When you limit the amount of food you eat your body will want to make up for lack of food in some way. It could be a deficiency of some kind and even if you assume it is only "head hunger" it might be a little more complicated than that. I wish there was a magical formula for people prior to getting the lap band to make sure they will be successful but as far as I know now there is not. I chose the lap band over the RNY like a lot of people do because of fear even though in the back of my head I knew I probably would have been more successful. Now, that's me, not everyone has this issue but they can't be discounted either. After months of researching "why" I seemed to be the only one screwing up on the band I realized I wasn't the only one, just the only one still here, lol. But there is something to it. I mean everyone gets the band because they had issues with dieting in their past but with some it solves that problem and others it does not. Somehow there has to be a better screening method prior to lap banding and I believe it's the responsibility of the doctors/surgeons to come up with something as they are the ones making the money off of us as they continue to do the surgeries. They have the means to do this type of research. Nancy:smile: