bloom

I have had the band since 2008. I ok first 6 months and lost 80lbs. However I did have some complications. I have dealt with practicaly every complication in the book, including a slip. More or less when I would some restriction, I would be fine for about 3 month then start suffering from acid reflux, severe change is restriction, a lot of vomiting or pbing, pain, coughing at night, etc. I could go from eating normally (pre-band) to not even begin able to get Water down. I had to have all my fluids taken out, then I gained all the weight back. I have been in for fills, unfills, fills, unfills so many times I couldn't count. I switched Dr's because I felt that I wasn't geting any support with the issues. Previous Dr. never did fills under floro. New Dr. does. However, I still continued with the issues. About 8 months ago, I had a slip. Unfill and then started filling again. I was at the max the Dr. felt I needed. 1st 3 months I could eat just about anything, then month 3, little by little (within a couple weeks) Bam, can't eat anything. About a month ago, I was living on Soups and even having a hard time with getting that down. More or less from the time I woke up til about 6pm I was trying to get something down: morning not even water, noonish sometimes I could do soups, than in the evening I could just about eat anything. Now, I feel this is how the band should been. What changed, why are my complications gone? I feel 3 key things have helped me. 1. (Solved my issues 80% of the time) I started taking Pantoprazole (perscription) for acid reflux. I was told before band by my dentistis that I had acid reflex, but I never felt it. Then I always read that after band you should haven't reflux unless you were too tight. I kept saying how can I be too tight if I sometimes I can eat a full meal? I talk it right before bed becuase that is when the reflux was the worse. I can go about 2 days until I see the complications coming back. Now I'm no Dr, however, I believe my stomach (or pouch) was full of acid that there was no were the food could go OR, the acid would make the band tighter. To me this explains why I was the tightest during the morning and then little by little the acid go down and then I was find. 2. All of the following I think helped with the acid refuls also. I have cut sodas (anything with fiz), artifical sweeteners, sugars out of my diet as much as possible. I know we shouldn't have sodas anyway, but I couldn't (and haven't 100%) cut it out. I still have a (diet) soda here and there, but usally a can and I could take all day to drink it. But I could say I've cut out 80% of it. 3. Get active. I sit from 8:00am to 6:00pm. I noticed that a lot of the time, my symptoms were worse during the week and almost non during th weekend. Why??, maybe because I don't sit all day during the weekend??? So I began trying to get up a litter earlier in the morning to go for a walk. I am working out a lot more now. However, I feel 1/2 hour brisk walk in the morning would help a lot. My goal right now is 40min cardio a minimim 5 days a week (However, I'm trying to fit in a dress for a wedding right after Christmas) 4. Water, water, water. When you done with that, more water. Honestly I'm really tired of drinking water. I will add some lime to it. I will break it up by the forbidden soda here and there. However, I get over the recomended amount. 5. (Maybe the hardest and still struggle with) I read some where that really changed how I look at the band. I was always tell the doctor but I can eat this amount. Its not how much I can eat, its how much you can eat and be satisfied. I know I continued to over eat with the band and still do to this day. It almost seems its worse with the band because its almost a challenge to see how much I can eat. However, when I started paying attention to calorie intake and trying to limit the amount that I eat, it has helped a lot. Now I don't measure my food (thought I probably should) I'm just trying to limit as much as I can. I still can say that I don't feel I'm in the green zone. However, at this point, I feel I'm getting things under control. I was so ready a month ago to have this thing taken out. However, I've keept on trucking because I don't want to be fat. I got down within 10lbs of my ideal weight and I liked it and I'm not going to give up just yet. Anyway, hopefully this will help someone. Again I would like to stress that I think the one thing that helped me the most was the Pantoprazole. I feel that acid reflux was the cause of my complications. Even though I didn't have reflux symptons when I was loose or recently filled, I think it the reflux just got worse and worse until I couldn't eat.

I had the lap bad back in September. Since my 1st fill, I have had a lot of issues. I have been to the Dr office several times and seen both the Dr and the NP, but I don't feel like they are taking me serious. I have an appointment at the beginning of June with my Surgeon to try to get things under control. If I don't get somewhere in the appointment, I am going to go somewhere else. Therefore, I am looking for a someone that has complications and feel that their Dr really listened to them and gave more than just suggestions on ways to correct the complications. Thanks.

I just found out that I'm pregnant. I'm guessing that I'm around 5 weeks. I was banded last September. I'm soo excited and I know I need to do some reading on how do manage the band and the pregnancy. Currently I only have 2cc's in my band because I was having problems and they did a complete unfill and I just got 2 cc's in a few weeks back. My next appointment is July 1st and I'm trying to decide either to cancel it, schedule it a little later, or just going and talk to the Dr. I want more put in because I have no restriction an don't want to gain a lot more back. Those that are pregnant, or were pregnant with the band, did you have to have unfill, you stayed where you were at?

Thanks guys for your advice. My appointment is tomorrow. I wil talk to the dr. I just hope he doesn't refuse to fill me because I don't want to gain 100lbs with this pregnancy and I could possibly on the track to that. And just so I don't get yelled at, I don't want to starve myself either. I am in my 7th week and I have gained almost 20lbs since my last fill which was 2 months ago.

I have been having a lot of problems since really I began getting filled. I had surgery Sept 4 08. First fill a month later and was over filled. Since then, I was yo-yoing back and forth fill, unfill, fill etc. I was having a problem with very large changes in restriction (of course without being filled or unfilled). I was able to from eating a regular size restaurant meal one day not not even able to get down water/soup/broth a few days later. I have problems with constipation, heart burn, a lot of pb'ing, side pains, shoulder pains. In the last 2 months I had went through 3 episodes of almost flu like symptoms: Vomiting, stomach pains when I ate, chest hurt, felt like I could n't breath. This last round started last Thursday and I wasn't able to eat anything, thurs through sat. Sunday, Monday I was fine and then Tuesday it started in again. The times tha I went in before, they kept telling me that I am full of gas. The gas is what is causing my problems. I have tried every type gas of medicine possible. I've tried taking Fiber and it would make the gas worse. I've stayed away from foods that cause gas. I would take beano before I ate. They kept telling me that I just need to find something to control the gas. So, I went to the Dr yesterday and saw one of the nurse. She took a look of the band under fluro and it was fine no slip. The nurse told me that the flap that they fold over to hold the band in place so it doesn't slip. Sometimes you can get gas up into that flap and it almost impossible to get that gas out with medications. I guess the more gas that gets up into that flap, that will push on the band and make it tighter. So anyway the nurse said what happend a lot of time when people have complications that we baby step them back by unfilling a little at a time and sometimes that doesn't work. We have to completly unfil the band and give you a rest from it, let you digestive system get back to normal and them start filling about little by little. Anyway, just wanted to share. Now I have to be really careful not to gain a lot of weight this next month.

I would like to hear others comments on what the nurse said. Do you think that makes sense??

I am going to start eating pineapple. I will try anything. I am completely unfilled right now, but I go back next week to be filled. But I know my problems are from gas and I will try anything. I posted this in another post, but the nurse that unfilled me said what is happening with the gas that it get up into the stomach flat that they use to hold the band in place and it pushes on the band and can change the restriction. Also, since its in that flap its really hard to get rid of.

To keep it short. I really don't want to get into a discussion about my problems because I have been reading a lot in the complications area and have posted issues that I have. I have around 6 cc's in my band. I have went for several unfills during the 3/4 months. I go from one day being able to eat a whole restaurant meal to not even getting down Soup and Water the next day. Chest pains, shoulder pains, a pain in my lower left side, lot of pb'ing, constipation, excessive gas and bloating, heart burn, etc. This has been going on since November. I have only seen my Dr once since the problems started and he was kind of like well lets just see how it goes. I've only seen the NP and really don't feel that she is taking it seriously. I'm almost to point that I want this band to be taken out but I don't want to give up because I don't want to gain back the weight that I have lost. I have an appointment with my sugeron the 1st part of June and if I don't get anywhere than I am going to see someone else. I actually just called the office to see if I can come in today and I thinki I am going to ask for a complete unfill.

I have been trying to get pregnant since the begining of this year. I am really starting to get frustrated becuase I didn't think that it would be this hard. I have a 4 year old and I swear I got pregnant the 1st time we tried. Just wondering if anyone had a harder time getting pregnant after having the band. I haven't been on any type of birth conrtol for over 5 years. Any suggestions?? I think I am going to bo buy one of those ovulation kits to see if that helps.

I lost track with how much I have in it, but I would say I am aroun 6cc in a 10cc band. Lately I have had a burning sensation at the bottom of my throat. It is usually when I am taking some meds. The only medication I took before the band was prolosect. I've started taking that again, I take constant gas medications, I'm staking stool softeners/laxatives. I've tried to take Fiber pills but can't get them down. Uggg. I get a side ache when the gas is bad. But I dont' sit around and fart or burp a lot. So I guess that is my problem, that the gas is not passing. I've read up on the gas medicine and it doesn't relieve the gas, I guess it make all the little tiny gas bubbles into one big gas bubble so it is to make it easier to pass it. I don't think that works for me though. I don't know. I don't want to have a complete unfil, but I'm thinking I need it. I was hoping that it would get better. I actually have been doing better since my last until which I believe it was alost 2 months ago, but this last week has been bad.

I believe I have a similar problem. That started about the same time. I suffer from constipation and excessive gas that leads to times where I can eat like a pig to time that I can't even get down soup or water. They say its gas because they did a fluro a couple times and can see the lower stomach full with gas. Right now I am pretty loose, but I still have problems. I'm very frustrated. I haven't lost any weight since my last fill that was back in late february (I believe). My doctor's office just keeps telling me to take over the counter gas medicine to control it, but it doesn't control it. I've tried every type there is. I don't know what to do. I've also asked if I should go and see my regular doctor to see if there is anything, and they said not, they can't help. Its just gas.

Ok, I have posted this concern before. I just read through the older comments and I am really lost for ideas. I am really suffering here and I don't know what to do. Since my surgery in September I have had a problem with excessive gas. Not that I am going around farting and burping all the time. I do burp a lot, but I can handle that. Twice since October, during my visits, they did a fluro on my and the bottom stomach was full of a huge gas bubble. This does come and goes, but is a problem more than its not. When I am "full of gas" I have a lot of problems including a side ache and problems getting down food. My nurse practitioner said what is happening is that gas is pushing up on the the band which makes it tighter and even at times blocks food/liquids from passing. Ok, I've taken the suggesting from the NP and have tried a lot of different gas medicine and sometimes it helps, but others times it doesn't. I take take mainly gas x because its has the most gas medicine that I've found. I have tried mylanta, beno, and other gas medcines and not one works better than another. I take more than the recommended dosage of gas. I try to take 1 about 15 minutes before I eat and still sometimes that doesn't help. I also was having problems with constipation. I have been able to control that by eating Yoplait plus digestive yogurt with Probiotics and that has made me regular. I have searched this forum and other forums and even the internet and have tried a lot of different suggestions and nothing is working. I've asked my NP if I should go see a regualar Dr for this problems and she said there's nothing that they can do. I've asked about doing a cleansing diet or something and she didn't seem to exicted about that idea. I did do a 2 day solid liquid "cleansing diet" and it did help for a few days and then the gas came back. The only foods that I eat that would cause a lot of gas is onions. I've had fills, unfill, fills and unfills so many times trying to get some releif. I've been dealing with this since October, but its been worse since the end of December. When I can eat, I do feel that I am at a good spot for restriction. I should have just a tad bit under 7cc in a 10cc band. Previous to my last .2cc fill, I could tell that I was too loose. I am loosing weight. I am down 64lbs in 6 months. However, I don't feel that the way I am loosing it is very healthy. I would say during a normal week, I pb atleast 3/4 times. In addition, I would say atleast once monthly there is an evening that I can't even get down Water. Mornings and evenings are the worst. I usually do good during the day. I feel that I am in the banster hell and I have tried everything to get out of it and can't. I will have a week were I'm doing good and then all excited and think I've got it under control, then the next week back at pure hell. I really want this to work. I read stories of others that are haveing a great time with the band, with no problems, and I ask, why can't I have that too. Sometimes I really second guess getting the surgery, but when I get a complement on how I well I look or step on the scale, I think to my self that its worth it. But in my head, I know it can't be a very healty way of loosing. Any suggestions, or if there is anyone out there that I having the same problem, please let me know that I'm not alone.

I'm not sure how much was put in when I had the surgery. I may be a bit off on my fills and unfills. My 1st fill, he put in 3cc and I couldn't even swallow my spit. So I had to go back the next day.

Before this last time, the Dr did an unfill. He was walking out the door and I asked him how much he took out, and he said just a smidgen. I was thinking, ok how much is a smidgen. Last time he told me he took out .5 cc's so that must be more than a smidgen, so maybe .2 or .3 cc's. Nope, I find out by the NP that he took out .5 cc's. Not because I ask, she said well last time dr. took out .5cc's. Let see how much is in there.

I honestly have no clue how much they put in at surgery. I may be a bit off on my fills and unfills, I was doing it from memory. I had no clue how much I had in the band until last visit because the NP took it all out and it measured 7cc, then (I believe) she took out .5 cc. My doctor is kind of weird about telling how much he puts in and takes out.

I am one that has a lot of problem with gas. When I am very gassy I have a pain in my left side right below my ribs. When I am gassy, I have a hard time getting down foods and some times even Water. I take gas medicine every day. The tighter I get, the worse it gets. I had .5 cc's taken out. Right now its bad enough that my shoulder is hurting. I am still really gassy, but at least I can get food down. However, everyone in my family has had the flu, so I hoping that has not helped the gas. I do get constipated really bad. I am going to start eating more Fiber, and eating the activa yogert to see if that helps at all. I see you are at 7cc. That is were I was at before my last unfil. Maybe you need to have .5cc taken out.

I don't know what to answer. I would probably still get the band because of the weight loss, but I have had a lot of problems. I think about that a lot. Knowing what I know now would I still do it? When people give me complements on my weight loss, I'm saying yes, but when I am having problems eating, I'm saying now. I think once I can get to my sweet spot, I think I will be more optimistic. I'm just having a really hard time getting there.

I am just starting to loose weight at a good rate. I want to do my best to prevent the excess skin after weight loss. Is there any lotions that will help or any other ideas. Yesterday I did buy bio-oil to help with the scars and I was thinking it also could help with the skin, however, its expensive and I don't want to waist it.

Ok, I was just getting ready to post about gas. I have been having a lot of problems with my eating due to the gas. I've posted before regarding this and more or less was told that its not gas that is causing my problems. My last dr apointment was right before thanksgiving, and the dr took out .5 cc. I was doing really good and amost no pb'ing for about a month. Then all of a suddent I was pb'ing almost daily. It got soo bad. This last Saturday I couldn't even get down Water. I was scard that the band had slipped. During this week, I lost 1 pound each day. Almost all of my symptoms were similar to a band slip. So Monday, I went to the Dr. They looked at my band under flouro and it was fine, then she moved the flouro down a bit and you could see the HUGE gas bubble filling up my entire lower stomach. This is the 2nd time we've see this under flouro (last time was 2 months ago). I do burp a lot when I eat, but I can't tell when gasy. I have been taking extra strength gas-x about 6 pills a day and it would help for a couple hours and then I would start having the same problems again. The doctor took some of my fill out. I was at 7cc in a 10cc band, which I think is pretty close to my sweet spot. But since I have had soo much problems with the gas, we took out .5 so I have time to recover and get rid of teh gas. Now I can eat almost like I did before being banded. My doctor says when I have that much gas, the gas is pushing up on the band and the food has no place to go, that's why I can't eat or even get water down. So now I have to figure out how to control the gas. I have been reading what types of food causes gas and I really don't eat any of thoes foods. I did find a dietary supplement that is to help stop gas before it starts that I have started taking daily. Also I switched from gas x to mylanta to see if that helps.

Gas Does anyone have a lot of problem with gas? I had my surgery Sept 4th. At one of my fill's they had the fluoroscope and the nurse said that I had a huge gas bubble in the lower stomach. Anyway, since i had the surgery I have had a lot of gas. I take gas x all the time. However it gets bad enough that I can't hardly get down Water when its at the worse. What can I do to help the gas? Spicy food I can not eat any spicy food. Just a little spice gives me really bad heart burn and it makes my gas worse. The problem is that I really like spicy food and I am married to a Mexican that does most of the cooking. I just 2 weeks in Mexico and had a hard time eating a lot of the food. Not because it would get stuck, because it gave me really bad heartburn. I never had this problem before. Does anyone else have this problem and if so what do you do? Sweet Spot I can't decide if I am at my sweet spot or if I need to have a a little more taken out. I don't know if the gas and spicy foods are from being too tight. On average I am loosing about 10 pounds a month. I can eat about a cup or little more of food at each sitting. I am satisfied for a long period after I eat. I went from Pb's a lot (almost every other day) to only doing it 1 a week or two weeks. Previously they had put in .05. Before the .05, it wasn't enough, but when they put in the last .05 it was too much. Since the .05 fill, they took out a smidgen (that is exactly what the doctor said). So if I take out another smidgen, I worried it will be too much.

I know what it feels like when you are stuck. Plus how can I be stuck when I haven't ate anything yet? The nurse practitioner told me that gas can cause you to have problems getting food down because the gas is pushing up on the band. Also, like I said, if I take gas x then the Water will go down. I don't know why I am soo gassy. I don't drink from a straw, I don't drink carbonated drinks and I don't chew gum. I'm gassy now and I had chicken Soup for lunch. The nurse said to go to liquids when I am having gas problems.

I don't eat a lot of veggies. I can't handle a lot of them. I can't eat lettuce, corn, tomato (because of the skin), broccoli, peas, celery. I do eat cucumbers, potatoes, onions. I can eat Beans, but that does not help with the gas. Like I said the pb's is a lot better than before. I usually go a couple weeks without pb'ing. Honestly I think the pb's now is coming from the gas. See the problem is I can't tell when the gas is bad. I do burp a lot, but I do that all the time. I can only tell when I am really gassy is because I can't eat or drink hardly anything. The other day I couldn't hardly get down Water. I hadn't ate anything yet. When I drank water I could feel it in my throat and then i would start burping. I could tell the water wasn't going down. I would take some gas x and then was able to drink for a couple hours and then the water wouldn't go down again. I have the gas x strips and on average I take about 6 a day. I don't like taking medications, so I was hoping there was something else I can do. I have my next appointment next week, and I will talk to the doctor regarding all of this. I wanted to try other things to see if the gas gets better.