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Scorpyian1

LAP-BAND Patients
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Everything posted by Scorpyian1

  1. Well. I had an interesting week. My surgeon, who is supposed to be a pioneer/genius of Bariatric Surgery, pioneering the one-incision technique, called me a band failure and is recommending the gastric bypass. Long story short: The night of my surgery I was feeling a little odd and asked to see the dr. He shows up and says to me: What? Complaining already? two months later he gives me a 5cc fill in a 14cc band. I feel as if I have no restriction. I lose about 3lbs and then stay. He's not going to fill me b/c I "should have enough restriction." He tells me at the next visit that he can't access my port...it has flipped, but I'm subjected to two radiology visits before it's decided that I need to have another surgery to fix it. Now it's fixed, but I can't get a fill. We wait another month, then I go back to radiology and am told I have a prolapse. I'm unfilled and am told to have liquids for 1 months. Hooray. I go back after two weeks - I'm unfilled and throwing up! Never did when the band was filled. So, I go back...guess what? REFLUX. No evidence of prolapse. so now he's looking at me and says it's my fault. That it is "rare" for the band to cause reflux. I didn't have reflux at all before the band. We discussed my options and it was "decided" that he was not going to fill me until I could show him I could lose weight on my own. (um...Hello? we might not have been acquainted at all if I could have managed to do that AND keep it off!...) So now I feel like I"m being punished. I"m 42 and my dr. is talking to me like I'm a disobedient and willful child.:smile: So, now I am unfilled and being extremely careful with my diet. I haven't gotten on a scale b/c I just really don't want to see "no change." I feel like I'm barely eating. I don't want to even think about food. I'm living on nectar, and foods that I know are not going to sustain me in the long haul -- I'm terrified of the gastric bypass, I have a young son and am not willing to risk the possibility of death to be thinner, so for me, this is my last shot. I do have an appt. with another Dr. later this month. Even though Genius-Boy is a great doctor (for everyone else) I think our rapport ended once he added me to his roster of patients. I have lost confidence in him and he,in saying, "you are the very definition of band failure" obviously has lost confidence in me. I guess I need to speak with people who have had similar experiences 7 months out, or problems with reflux and the band, but managed to get on track and lose weight. I'm pretty discouraged.
  2. Scorpyian1

    Reallyneed encouragement/to vent

    hey! congratulations to you! Follow all your instructions and make sure you have a good rapport with your doctor -- so important. And go with your gut feeling. I'm so happy I came back to the forum, it has helped strenghthen me and feel motivated to find out about my health and to spend less and less time feeling like I failed my band! :wub:
  3. Scorpyian1

    Reallyneed encouragement/to vent

    I had my surgery done at St. Luke's Roosevelt in Manhattan, NY with Dr. Julio Teixeira.
  4. Scorpyian1

    Reallyneed encouragement/to vent

    Thanks -- I'm right on top of it. On June 16th I have an appt. with someone referred to me by a dearly loved Dr. I actually should have gone with him in the first place! Yeah..On 10/16/08 (my surgery date) I pretty much figured he was an AH.
  5. Scorpyian1

    Reallyneed encouragement/to vent

    Thank you so much for all your replies. Each of you has said something that I'd been thinking. I have a friend (we have the same dr.) who has lost 100lbs and has not yet had ONE fill -- these are the patients that he showcases, so yes, I do feel like the successful patients get all the attention and benefit of the doubt. As for the band having slipped? I'm not even sure anymore. After the port was fixed and then I found out about the prolapse, I was thinking that it was improperly placed initially. He's REALLY not going to tell me that - besides, have you tried to get a dr. to say, "prolapse?" it's like the camel through the eye of the needle -- it ain't happenin'! I really got the idea that he just wants me gone....I should have left after the post-op comment! As I mentioned, at my last appt. he showed me the radiologists report stating that there was no prolapse -- just reflux. From my research, it could be b/c he put in too many cc's at first. Ironically, I feel like I'm having more issues now that it is unfilled, so I'm looking forward to my appt. with the new surgeon. I'm hoping it doesn't have to be replaced or repositioned. I'm so sick of surgery with this thing. I have gone back to square one and am measuring everything, drinking when I'm supposed to, exercising (which I love, ironically). I guess I might have gotten away away from doing what I was supposed to do at some point b/c of feeling like I had no restriciton and my dr. was not being supportive or helpful. (btw, My first fill was 3 or 4 months out.) So, I'm trying now to make sure that I cross all my T's -- I want to give him no reason, but if we look at it...if I lose weight, it will only confirm for him, that I'm at fault and if I don' t lose weight, it's b/c I'm the failure. Where's the wiggle room for me? This is a big sign that I need to get away from him, pronto -- I used to look forward to my appts. Now I just dread going, but they are necessary evils for me at this point, and I should NOT feel this way! Know what's really funny? After all this trouble, does he REALLY think I'd consider the GB with him? I told his PA that I didn't consider it b/c it was more risk than I was willing to take and that with all the problems, we don't know that the band won't work with me. How quick to move to the GB!
  6. Scorpyian1

    Reallyneed encouragement/to vent

    I"m sorry. I know how you feel. The only thing that "sort" of helps me is knowing that each of us has his/her own journey and what works for some/many may not work for us. Not always comforting, but it helps me realize that my path is my own and I have to find my way to my goal.
  7. Hi! I'm so sorry I didn't see this until today. If you are still around, please drop by again. Im doing okay...

  8. Scorpyian1

    Protein shakes - Yuck!

    Go to the Vitamin Shoppe and try nectar -- they have several delicious flavors and you can mix them with Water or milk. We were told to use skim plus milk b/c it has 4 more grams of Protein than regular milk. My personal favorite is Caribbean Cooler -- it's a pineapple, coconut, banana flavor. I also tried Kiwi strawberry and the Fuzzy Navel, but I wound up back at Caribbean Cooler. You have to try several to find what you can tolerate, b/c you may be supplementing with a Protein shake, or just not feel like eating, yet need to feed your body as you move on to solids. You can also try Vitalady.com -- there, you can buy samples to see what you like. Also, go to unjury.com -- they have a chicken Soup that is to die for! I mixed it with Chcken broth and it was like HEAVEN! Hope that helps you :thumbup:) PS: don't worry about having big tubs of stuff you aren't using--shake it off...and move on! ) Trust me, if you are dreading your drink now...when it's all you'll be able to have post op, you WILL be miserable. I've got two tubs of stuff I can't stand...Trial and Error--it costs $$$ but you will be happy when you find something you like.
  9. Scorpyian1

    Omg!

    I was banded on 10/16/08, and am really suffering in bandster hell -- I want to eat, but am trying REALLY hard not to go off my plan. I was just andvanced to mushies yesterday, so I"m a little nervous. But! Today, I weighed myself: I'm down over 20lbs! This is amazing to me after not being able to lose and gain more than 5lbs for years. Thanks for letting me have my excited rant!
  10. Scorpyian1

    Belly Button Question

    Yes...don't put ANY kind of oil on the wound until it scabs over...then you can start putting on the emollient.
  11. Scorpyian1

    Omg!

    Congratulations! Follow your doctor's orders and you will do great!:thumbup:
  12. Scorpyian1

    Belly Button Question

    No problem! If your other scars healed well, this one will too! Congrats on the tummy tuck!
  13. Scorpyian1

    Omg!

    Thanks everyone, for replying! yes, the 20lbs has been since I was banded, Brownskin-- isn't that Amazing? :biggrin: No need to apologize for the graphics, either...the hunger is subsiding now that I'm on mushies. I find that I am full on a LOT less. I actually stop eating before I feel pain or anything b/c I'm so afriad of doing something wrong to jeapordize my band/health. I've got lots of sugar free jello (mmmmm) and ice pops. Those two things are helping me to not feel deprived. As for keeping busy, I think I'm up to going back to the gym. With just the 20lb loss, I have gotten rid of my knee and ankle pain which really was the motivating factor for me having the WLS in the first place. I love this band!:thumbup:
  14. Scorpyian1

    Belly Button Question

    It depends on how well you heal. There will be slight scarring around the edge, but it fades with time. How quickly that happens depends on what sort of healer you are. I had a tummy tuck in early June and the scar is invisible. My LB surgeon just went in to place the LB through my belly button on 10/16, and that is almost unnoticeable. What works for me is to keep the area hydrated. I use mostly shea butter body buffers and vitamin e oil, or vitamin e oil containing product like baby oil. I've also had a breast reduction and breast surgery and even my surgeons are amazed at the lack of scarring. I hope this helps.
  15. Scorpyian1

    Thought everybody would need to see this

    I'm so sorry about your difficulties, Johnnyreno, and thank God your wife is alive. Life is precious! I thank you for posting the information about Betancourt et. al. Even though it might scare people who have had their procedures at one of the clinics, the valid links you have provided, should give anyone pause. It isn't a comfortable feeling to second guess onesself, especially when you have already had a procedure at the offending medical facility, but isn't it better to err on the side of too much information so that you can at least seek additional medical care to find out if you are okay and your procedure went well?
  16. Scorpyian1

    Toodles!

    hey, Ebony! I've been kind of busy this week with a breast cancer awarness book sale! I just noticed we are about the same age and the same starting weight! I was 264.5 right before surgery. I'm 249, now. Traditionally, belly dancers HAD meat on their bones. It's supposed to be a seductive dance...lol..not one, my husband says, "that shows off the vertabrae." I am now doing Tribal Bellydance and moving into dark fusion BD. I have to send you some links -- you'll love them. I took ballet for 9 years and stopped when I got to HS. It was apparent that I did not the body for it. I didn't start to gain weight until I was 23, but going on-point was very, VERY painful for me, and in order to compete, I'd have had to be a rail. I was 5'4" and 125lbs -- gasp...way too fat! LOL... But I love dance. I haven't gone to the gym again since the day I tired out, but I'm hoping to get back when I go to work next week. I can start swimming, but if youREALLY want to knock of pounds? Use the elliptical girl -- doesn't get any better than that. The tirck is consistency. If you can't go every day? Go the 2 or 3 you can, and then when you get into it, see if you can add a day somewhere. Build up to it. :thumbup: You are being banded a few days before my birthday! I will send you a private message if you have it enabled...
  17. Scorpyian1

    Toodles!

    Hi, Ladies. Just ambled in here and thought I'd introduce myself! :rolleyes2: I was banded on 10/16. I'm on liquids and will be until Halloween. I'm in bandster hell b/c...really....can someone get me sumthin' ta' eat?! :thumbs_up: Oh Man, I'm hungry. :blushing: It is time for a Protein shake and maybe some Jello later, but I'm already starting to salivate over the thought of mushies!:scared2: Just wanted to give everyone a hello and a :sad_smile:!
  18. Scorpyian1

    Toodles!

    Thanks, EbonyRose! I bellydance, so that's what the avatar is: A full-figured bellydancer. I'm beat today. I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill at a 1.0 incline and did 40 minutes at 2.0 speed, and then did 10 minutes on the recumbent bike. Not smart. :thumbup: I have been BEAT ever since. I feel like a piece of chewed string! So, I'm down for the count today..:smile: just lying around resting. I will take it easy from now on -- 20 mintues...then off to the sauna. :cool2: I have my one week post-op appt. tmw, so I'm excited about that. Another week of liquids...OH JOY! I can't wait for mushies! Just thought I'd check in before truning in for the night.
  19. Scorpyian1

    Queens, NY Bandsters?

    Are there any Bandsters in Queens, NY in the area in and around the Queens Center Mall? would love to go walking and or to area gyms and just have a buddy to share all this *fun* with and, of course, go shopping for smaller sizes!
  20. Scorpyian1

    Your Decision

    I chose the lap band simply because I was scared of the GB. I didn't see how mutilating myself to lose weight and opening myself up to a lot of future complications which was sure to include malnutrition was going to help me become healthier. I also witnessed my mother die from pancreatic cancer. I'm sure Dr. Brina can vouch for me when I say that you really, Really, REALLY DO NOT want to start fishing around with the human digetive system more than you need to. I did research and found that here in America the gold standard is the GB. I went to several seminars and can honestly tell you I felt "steered" towards one of the more radical procedures. In other countries, England/Australia the gold standard is the lap band. I think that our culture wants the quick fix, and I'm sure some of us are old enough to have learned that...simply? They ain't no such thing! I also have a son I want to be around for. My husband and I also want to have another child, and I thought that this would be the best way to set an example for my son -- I had other health conditions that prevented me from really losing weight as I got older, but I like that I will be able to prepare meals and eat the same meals as my family while showing my son that healthful eating and exercise is the best way to maintain your health. As an aside? I've also seen people close to me that have had the GB. They do not look healthy at all. The circles under the eyes, the ashen looking skin, and - some of them are REALLY worried about what they've done to themselves. Many will not admit it, but at least 3 of the 7 I know, have told me they wished they'd had more patience and did a little more research. You also need to know YOURSELF. Do you have a personality which will allow you to be happy about the decision you made and not worry, or as Dr. Brina put it, HOPE. There's a lot of HOPING in GB. Hoping you won't be the one with constant nausea, hoping you won' t be the one with teh brittle bones, hoping you won't have dumping syndrome. Hoping you will be able to have all the plastic surgery you will need. I don't have that kind of personality. I'd be worried every day of my life about "what if?" The people I know just "wanted the weight off," and were so psyched about losing and going down sizes that they ddin't stop to consider that the vomitting, the PB'ing and the weakness, and the "oh I just forgot my Vitamin today," could last forever. Well. Now they are "skinny" and fearful. In addition I have spoken to doctors not in the WLS business who aren't pro GB either. My therapist says he has a pt. who is depressed b/c he is so miserable about having had GB even though he's been at goal. He "feels" unhealthy. I know I went on for awhile, but I just wanted to give you an idea of soome things you should consider before deciding on which WLS to have. As you may have guessed -- I'm anti-GB UNLESS your health issues are such that either you do it and have a shot at life, or you don't do it, and certainly have your road paved to the grave. Thank you, Dr. Brina for your insight. I always appreciate an outside medical opinion b/c you will be hard pressed to find a dr. who will be entirely (I feel) honest with you about all the things that could happen and which are likely to happen to you once you have GB. I'm not saying they aren't ethical, :sad_smile: but I think we can all see how it may be against their best interest to scare you out of a surgery that they are presenting at the best for losing weight quickly.
  21. Scorpyian1

    Queens, NY Bandsters?

    That's okay-- I forigive you! I actually work in LI @ Northshore! I'm on LI all the time and I love shopping out there -- PARKING! I was reading your tag...bummer about Cigna! Have you been banded yet?
  22. Scorpyian1

    Anyone from Queens

    Hey Alfie -- I actually work with the spouse of Dr. Vohra! I live in Rego Park! I'm near the QC mall!
  23. Scorpyian1

    Starving!!!!

    yes...thanks for posting. I am hungry as well. I went to the market yesterday to buy MORE jello and MORE popsicles and I went by the bakery department. I envisioned myself going over and picking up the fresh, hot, soft semolina and just smelling it. I could feel the butter on my tongue! But...I'm pretty sure bread is not liquid and I've got the rest of this week, and another full week of liquid, so, I'll muddle through. As I've said before, one day at a time. No one is perfect, so just adhere as best you can to your nutritionist's/doctor's plan for you. I also don't like when people tell you it's head hunger. I got my head hunger under control years ago...so I know the difference. Sipping water is great or popsicles. Make sure you get enough protein in -- that may help, and keep busy! Find something you like and can carry with you b/w protein shakes and sip on that while doing something outside if you can. Distract yourself, read--when the hunger comes back...take a little sip of something. It's annoying, I know. TRUST ME, I know, but I look at it as a little game..sort of like swatting an annoying fly -- Ooops..there's that hunger again, *sip* -- otherwise, you'd all be hearing about some madwoman running into the Jackson Hole and licking people's hamburgers!
  24. Try Syntrax's "Nectar" they have so many flavors! There is no protein smell and they are not thick and sweet! I have Caribbean Cooler which is like a pina colada taste and strawberry kiwi, which is good. they can both be mixed with water or milk. Also, I have the Unjury Chicken soup flavor which is delicious in chicken broth...let me know...

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