moonbeam

Hi, I am 8 years out from initial surgery. 2 years ago I had my band emptied as I got very ill. I had developed an aspiration pneumonia. It was a terrifying experience and everybody including my pulmonoligist and oncologist thought it was lung cancer. The CT scan done in the ER Showed my lungs full of ground glass masses (not entirely sure of term). Thankfully a young resident put two and two together and we figured out it was the band causing this. I had been coughing and vomiting at night and gone to the ER twice already thinking it was an asthma attack. Long story short the band was emptied an has been sitting idle. Have since changed my lifestyle and am fit and slim without the band. Now however the port of the band is very visible and looks like a golf ball on my torso. I hate it. Want it gone. When I called last year to see about removal I was strongly discouraged from doing that. Now I just want it out. I live in manitoba, CANADA. Has anyone been through this? Any idea on costs? Was it a hassle to arrange? Thanks!

I would say YES you can. I still have my band, but it's been empty for 2 years. I am trying to get my band removed, getting a huge run around in manitoba. They keep trying to talk me out of it. I had it emptied of all fluids almost 2 years ago due to massive complications. Since then I joined a great gym and have turned my health around. I am healthy fit and slim and it has nothing to do with the band. I want the band gone. Since I am now slim with a strong core the port is super obvious and can easily be seen. It looks like a golf ball sized Tumor.

Hi Everyone! Wow haven't posted here in ages. How is everyone doing? I'm 2 years out this April. I've lost 70 pounds and am gaining and losing the same 10 pounds over and over again now. I have 20 more to go until goal. Guess I should buckle down and do it. I'm hoping that with summer and more activity things go a bit better. I feel older and wiser with the band, and agree that it's not a solution but only a tool. Those 10 pounds that keep coming on and off are due to slider foods that I can't seem to say no to. I would do it all again because I'm a slimmer happier more confident person, but there sure were more hurdles than I thought there would be. One really good thing about the band is it's ability to be un filled. I had surgery and radiation treatment in the fall for cancer (all seems to be well now) and having the option to become unrestricted with a godsend as I recovered. The cancer was in the lymph nodes in my neck and throwing up would have really hurt. Anyways, all is well, hope to see lots of posting on this thread!

I've found it depends on the skill of the person doing the fills. At my Dr's there is a NP that does it occasionally and she hurts me every time. She makes lots of excuses about the port being surrounded by scar tissue, it being tilted, me being to skinny (what?!! I don't get that one) etc. When the Dr's at the office do it, it's pretty much painless and fast. There is a numbing cream called amla (sorry don't know how to spell it) that you can get from the pharmacy. It's not cheap though and has to be applied about an hour prior to procedure. When the NP does my fill, I invest in it. Last time she did it, it took many pokes and I almost passed out.

With regards to flying, it shouldn't affect your band. I fly often and have not noticed a difference.

I know exactly how you feel. I am with you on the food addict part. That's just my personality I've found. I'm a recovering alcoholic (7 yrs sober) an ex smoker and now an ex binger (although those darn slider foods like chips still go down!) I too wondered what I would replace this addiction to. I have found though that I am now forced to deal with my feelings and thoughts rather than avoid feeling by using an addiction. The band, well I would do it again, but I have to agree, some days I just don't want it. I looked at a great juicy burger on tv last night and was just whistful. I think the hardest part is that some days things go down, and some days they don't. It's not consistent. I've had this thing 2 years now and I've maintained my weight within 5 pounds, so I'm happy with the functionality of it. It is however not as I thought it would be. It's not as simple as feeling full faster longer.

When did this band together support group start?? First of I've heard of it, I would definitely have gone to the corn maze thing in Sept! It's been a rough go of it for me, had to have all the fluid taken out of band over a month ago in anticipation of surgery of a different kind. I've gained 7 pounds. AACKK!! Have a fill next week and looking forward to getting back on the wagon. I hope I can convince them to go up faster than 1cc at a time! More info about the support group needed please!

Yes, there is a bump where my port is. You get used to it. lol

Hi All, I'm hoping there are others on here who have gone through this and can give me support/insight. I had thyroid cancer 9 years ago and had my entire thyroid removed and have been on hormones since. Now that I'm almost at goal weight with the band, I've just found out my cancer is back and although I don't have a thyroid anymore it's classified as thyroid cancer and in the lymph nodes in my neck The surgeons are saying I need a total neck dissection and from what I've been reading the side effects of that are nasty. Has anyone here has any experience with that? :thumbup:

Thanks Beach. Originally my doctor found a lump on my neck during a routine physical. No other symptoms.

heat could do it. I've had months now playing with restriction going up and down by .25 of a cc. Feels too tight, too lose, and it changes in-between. Sometimes ice cream won't go down and sometimes a doughnut does. There doesn't seem to be a magic number for me. Going to buckle down hard in the next little while and break this darn plateau! 9 pounds away from goal, geez! I have to do this already!

Congrats to you! How is everyone else doing? I've hit a plateau and haven't moved past a 2 pd up and 2 pd down stage in almost 2 months!

I can definitely relate! I marvel at how nice it is to sit outside in comfort and not be the one begging NOT to sit on the patio.

Hi K, thanks for that info! I have noticed myself that if I don't eat protein, I don't lose. Weird huh? Would have figured it would be a calories in vs calories out thing. Can you down these protein shots in one gulp? I hate dragging it out. lol

Yikes Diva, that really sucks. I know the shear willpower thing, that's what didn't work in the first place! I would call Jenn asap and ask for an appointment, they would probably fit you in considering the circumstances.

Hi Trying. Sorry to hear about your frustrations. I know how it feels, you've made the decision, done what you were told to do and now you wait. I remember just wanting to get it done as soon as possible once I made up my mind to do it. A year has gone by and I chuckle a bit at my eagerness and my rush to make it all happen. The band experience is one of patience. Patience at the clinic, patience for getting the right fill level and patience to see the weight start to come off. My advise to you is to sit back and give it another week or so before you make any decisions. 5 hours is a long way to drive if the fill you've had suddenly acts up and you can't swallow your own spit. That's just my thoughts on it. I do know where you are coming from though. I hope everything works out for you!

Hi Trying. Way to go, getting that surgery date booked is exciting! To answer some of your questions.. I can still eat bread, but tiny bites and just a bit, there's no way I would attempt a hamburger or sandwich. Toast is still ok but again not in huge amounts and carefully. I have a couple of foods that cause me problems and they baffle me because I would think they would be sliders. But potatoes are difficult, mashed, boiled whatever.. and ice cream! I can eat it, but very slowly. I think the coldness causes my stomach to contract or something.. shrinkage maybe? lol Truthfully it took about 4-5 months before the band started to work for me. The fills were so small and spaced so far apart I was starting to wonder if I had wasted my money. But as you can see from my ticker, it's been a year and just over 60 pds down. I go in spurts, one week I'll lose 3, the next nothing, but it averages out overall. The best advise I can give anyone is HAVE PATIENCE. Good luck!

Happy Valentines day everyone! Hope everyone is having a great day and treating the special people in their lives with kindness and love!

I am not sure if I am where I should be with my restriction. I can eat way more than half a cup of food. More like 2 cups, depending on what it is. I can't drink after a meal though because it feels like there is no room to put anything else in and it will come back on me. Things do get stuck and if I eat too quickly or don't chew enough I will bp slime or vomit. Could it be my pouch is stretched?

I can't drink after a meal! If I have any liquid on top of a meal it just sits in my throat and I bp or throw up. I didn't get to this stage though until my last fill. Must mean I'm close to my sweet spot.

I get almost giddy going through my stuff and bagging up the things to give away. I like to make room for the new stuff. I have given myself permission to shop! It's so much fun buying new things and not feeling guilt for spending the money because I really do need things! After the last cleanse of big clothes my closet was empty. I'm not buying lots of stuff in my current size because I hope to be down another size in a month of two. I guess I just feel like I've accomplished something when I give them up. I never used to give my stuff away because I knew I would do the usual and go back up.. this time however I am dusting off my hands and saying I'm finished with being fat, I'm going to give these things away!

What is first bite syndrom?

Love this tread. I was shopping the other day and trying on clothes. I tried on what I thought was a 16 expecting them to be lose, (a 14 mostly fits now) I was so disappointed when they were tight! As I was going to put them back on the rack I decided to take a peek at the tag in case the hanger was wrong. IT WAS! They were a size 12! I bought those pants and will wear them soon!

Hi SK, I've found teaching myself how to eat difficult as well. One would think the negative consequences of eating badly would quickly change our behaviors wouldn't you? LOL I have had many many moment where I'm about to vomit, or slime or feel very uncomfortable and I ask myself "why won't I learn!!!??" I think its a combination of learning a new habit and overcoming years and years of mindless eating. I was sitting with a skinny friend of mine, she watched me eat the new way, and the new portion size. Her comment was "that's how I've always eaten" So now we use our new tool, the band and try to eat right more often than wrong or suffer the consequences. We'll get there!

I can't it hurts! But it didn't until I got to my sweet spot.