NaNa

When did I say NOT follow this? If you really listen to my post, I think we'd be on the same page. My ENTIRE POST WAS ABOUT eating, waiting a minute and then taking a drink of something, which IS THE SAME THING AS DRINKING WHILE EATING. You are busy trying to mix up what I was saying until you are confusing me as well. I am the one that posted the original study? Remember? Also O'Brien indicates in his video';s that he NO LONGER recommends to wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating to drink liquids since he has seen this can cause esophageal dilation in many lap band patients...This is what my POST IS ABOUT DRINKING AND NOT WAITING 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AFTER EATING...REMEMBER? Because in many patients the food tend to stick and stay in the esophagus and sometimes can create a new stomach ..aka esophageal dilation...long term Good grief.

Right after fill adjustments these are the things to look for: 1. Dry consistent cough not associated with a cold. 2. Refux spitting up in your sleep 3. Obviously not able to get any solids down without throwing up. 4. Throat irritation 5. Constant burping up dry air

If you listen to O'Brien's video he does suggest drinking while eating ...SO does Dr Simpson who follows Dr O'Brien... Please take the time and listen to his video when he talks about this... http://www.lapbandau...lden-rules.html Please please research BEFORE you post.

LOL...that was funny ...I guess it appears that I am criticizing because I am backing up everything I say with facts...and studies directly from O'brien. Trust me, I followed the no drinking rule for a long time with my first band, I followed my first surgeons protocol, until I learned better, and learned the hard way that some US surgeons, don't have the experience....and my old surgeon is very popular here and a part of the center of excellence....

Sorry to hear this happened to you, I don't know if I'd want my band taken out through my mouth though! Sounds horrible. I'd get a second opinion from another surgeon. I am glad I did when I developed a hiatal hernia in my 7th year and I got my old band removed and new band replaced at the same time. My orginial surgeon was not skilled enough to help me, so SOME surgeons are not skilled as others, I've leared the hard way. I've also heard and knew of a few banded people to get rebanded again after an erosion, but it takes time after about 1 year for your body to heal and patients stay away from things that can irritate the stomach such as NSAIDS and other stomach irritants. But some people are more prone to infection in the body such as diabetics and they may have more problems with the band. Wishing you much better health.

In reality we SHOULD follow our own doctors advice, in fact O'Brien said to do this too, until they learned that it causes esophageal dilation long term. We all were taught this in the beginning until we learned the long term consequences. I know MANY friends from Obesity help over 8 years ago with dilated esophagus this is not a myth, hence the band has a very high long term complication rate. The longer the food sits in the esophagus, it can create a second stomach inside the esophagus -- I guess a real pouch, which patients complain long term about vomiting and losing the sensation of satiety and the band has to be removed....I guess some surgeons don't care they can then revise you to the Bypass..LOL

I am not saying to DISREGARD what your surgeon says, but you SHOULD always question your surgeon. Believe it or not THERE ARE MANY BAD LAP BAND SURGEONS IN THE US, could yours be one of them, I don't know, but you should be aware of your body....long term many US surgeons shy away from their patients WITH problems so be careful in believing that every word your surgeon says is gospel. Remember -- THIS IS NOT FROM ME, this is from the most respected lap band surgeon in the world -- that ALL US surgeons respect and follow. I am just the messenger -- don't shoot the messenger ..LOL YANNO THE GREEN ZONE EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT? -- THIS INFORMATION IS COMING FROM HIM O'Brien-- NOT ME-- I don't write lap band literature - its not my profession.

He does say this in depth when you listen to his videos --- that he no longer recommend waiting to eat, because of the long term complications it can cause. http://www.lapbandaustralia.com.au/eight-golden-rules.html

Debbie, Not to argue with you, but I just like to STATE FACTS here: This is from the O'Brien literature THE LAP BAND DOES NOT HAVE A POUCH SEE PICTURE ATTACHED AND LINK https://www.google.c...surgery;660;447 If you read the writing in red in the below picture The lap band is placed over the cardia of the stomach within 1cm of the oesophago-gastric junction. In the picture below IT STATES there is "NO POUCH" of the stomach above, just a small cuff of the proximal cardia.

I was told by this by my first surgeon's office too, I've had my band long enough to question some of these US surgeons, they did not have clinical experience when I got my band over 8 years ago....NOW we KNOW the long term effects of doing things wrong --- which long term MOST US surgeons patient either develop esophageal dilation or pouch dilation, two different complications. Thank god I do my own research outside of my surgeons office, it's good that you are doing well, and hopefully will continue to do well long term and KEEP good tight restriction long term.

Debbie, FOR YOUR INFORMATION -- I had a hiatal hernia was the reason I got rebanded, NOT because of esophageal dilation, in fact if your esophagus gets dilated YOU CAN NO LONGER GET A LAP BAND AT ALL. The lap band "Pouch" is just made by the Band placed around the UPPER stomach, it is NOT technically a pouch like a Gastric Bypass pouch. O'Brien mentions this in his article, don't preach to me, preach to OBrien, he has seen the consequences long term of waiting to eat and not washing the food from the esophagus that can dilate it long term. So I guess, O'Brien is stupid and we should not FOLLOW GREEN ZONE protocols right? Because that's what you are saying....

This is nothing out of my mouth, but by the surgeon who created the green zone...just wanted to let you know that. The article is attached in my first post, please read though it. Many US surgeons follow the Green zone chart and fill protocols to prevent lap band complications, sure some US surgeons don't follow this, but I can't argue that the US has a very high complication rate.

Debbie,, That area just above the band is called the lower esophagus, which if food sits there all the time can damage and stretch your esophagus, THE AREA ABOVE THE BAND IS NOT THE STOMACH, but the esophagus -- THERE IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF PROPER BAND INSTALLATION. This photo is curiosity of the surgeon who created the Green zone, and depicts the esophagus being stretched with food sitting there for long periods of time -- which many US surgeons follow to prevent long term band complications. Edited to add: Many BAD lap band surgeons follow gastric bypass rules, of the Pouch which WE DO NOT HAVE, and have the patient follow Bypass rules of not eating and drinking at the same time. You can still lose weight with a proper adjusted band with drinking and eating, if your band is adjusted properly. Here is a link to the dilated esophagus http://bariatrictime...ads/obrien4.jpg

My first surgeon's office told me that too over 8 years ago -- and THAT WAS WRONG INFORMATION FOR ME -- HENCE why I have a brand new lap band and new surgeon today.

I think breaking your surgeons rules ARE THE RIGHT THING TO DO -- IF YOU DON'T WANT LONG TERM COMPLICATIONS. I think a lot lap banders ARE MISLEAD --- I've come to realize that WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DRINK WITH OUR MEALS to push the food through from the esophagus into the stomach...I THINK MOST US SURGEONS ARE MISLEADING THEIR PATIENTS -- into a dilated esophagus.

I know the band is placed in "different" positions on each person and everyone will have different experiences based on how their surgeons placed their band. SOME SURGEONS DO PLACE THE BAND WRONG -- I've known many that say they can't eat most solid food and vomit daily, however I've had 2 lap bands and I've always been able to eat solid food WITHOUT vomiting with both bands as long as I was in the green zone, and my older 4cc band was "high pressured" and very tight out of the gate. So there IS EVIDENCE of many people having esophageal dilation from letting the food sit in the esophagus too long and in fact if done over many years it can actually cause a "second stomach" in the lower esophagus. So please DON'T confuse others by saying "there is actually a pouch" when IT IS NOT. AND LAP BANDERS SHOULD NOT HAVE A POUCH-- THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOUR SURGEON SAYS.

Well there is a LOT of misinformation going on now about not drinking and eating at the same time. When I got my band over 8 years ago, we were given the 30/30 rule to drink up to 30 minutes before a meal and not drink until after 30 minutes after we ate. NOW -- based on new evidence that MANY lap band surgeons and nutritionist are not aware of is waiting to drink IS NOT ADVISABLE - BUT CAN IN FACT CAUSE LAP BAND COMPLICATIONS. Could this be why the lap band complication rate in the US is so high? Could be, there is evidence by the most skilled lap band surgeon who created the green zone that waiting to drink will actually CAUSE esophageal dilation because the food must be washed through each time we eat and NOT sit in the esophagus causing to stretch, FOOD should always pass through the band and not sit for hours or days inside esophagus. Also I do find that if I eat and drink with my new band, I still get satisfied. Please read this article on this subject in its entirely, I also gave this article to my own surgeon for him to review it because MANY US surgeons follow the Green zone chart to prevent complications with the band. One of the key lessons learned from Burton’s studies was that each bite of food should pass across the band completely before another bite is swallowed. There is no pouch or small stomach above the band and there should never be food sitting there waiting. http://bariatrictime...1/#comment-2133 Gastric Banding and the Fine Art of Eating

You mentioned: There is nothing wrong with debate by any means between the different types of surgeries. It's all about keeping it civil and constructive, not destructive. Unfortunately, that is the problem, members NOT keeping the debates "civil" I have seen on Obesity Help where people were actually sent to JAIL, members were harassed OUTSIDE of the forums, bullied etc, so this type of behavior is very concerning to members who want a SUPPORT system in place where they can come to post in "peace". Ideally, in a "civil" debate you post "facts" about each surgical type backed up by studies, but unfortunately in a lot of cases, that does not work. Yes, the online bullying can get real and scary, when it should never get that out of hand, but I've seen it band bashing and bulling get real ugly and out of hand, that's all I am saying.

You mentioned: Do not stoop to the band bashing level... That's wishful thinking I think what should happen to AVOID conflict where we can ALL GET ALONG PEACEFUL IS.. For Alex, to BAN -- POSTS like "Band vs Bypass", "Band vs Sleeve" and "Why did you pick the Band over Bypass or Sleeve" I think these types of posts are triggered to CAUSE CONFLICT, I think those who are truly here to HELP others with their own type of surgical type, and truly here for "support" SHOULD STAY AWAY from these posts and Alex SHOULD BAN THEM, and direct those who are researching a surgery type to research this outside of this forum or have Alex to PIN Pros and Cons to each type of surgery and point these newbies to these types of posts......then this NEW forum should work out great.

Congrats! Reaching goal is a good feeling.

Please read this article in its entirety before you add more saline in your band, please learn how the band WORKS before you add any more saline. Getting food stuck OFTEN should be a warning to you and the LAST thing you need is to add more saline, if you can't or is not willing to chew your food well. Sometimes, when you come to a plateau, you should examine your eating and exercise habits, your calories should be low, Water should be over 8 glasses per day and exercise should be at least 1 hour per day, instead of adding more saline, MORE SALINE Is not always better especially if you are already in the green zone, also if you are getting food stuck often you maybe already in the red zone and may need to get a little saline removed. And lastly -- the band will NEVER stop you from eating, it helps you stop, if you are dealing with head hunger the band can't stop that, many people seek counseling for that, the bands job is help reduce hunger NOT stop you from eating. Last thing...the lap band has a VERY high complication rate from people getting food stuck often and staying in the red zone too long and vomiting frequently, so please remember that. http://bariatrictime...1/#comment-2133 Gastric Banding and the Fine Art of Eating Good luck

You mention: My own research has led me to believe that Gastric seems to result in more weight loss than LapBand You are correct, overall the Gastric Bypass is DESIGNED for quick weight loss due to the malabsorption, and overall MORE Bypass people lose quicker and more weight loss than Lap band patients. So you SHOULD NOT COMPARE the Lap band and Bypass in terms of weight loss because they are VERY DIFFERENT PROCEDURES. However, Many lap band patients DO lose as quicker and as MUCH as any Bypass patient IF they go into this focused, exercise daily and eat a very low calorie, low carb diet. So in other words, you have to WORK YOUR BAND HARD to get the same results as a Bypass patient in the first year, some people have stronger metabolisms than others so each banded person results will differ, also if you start off very heavy, you will lose quicker with the band anyway, the smaller you are with ANY weight loss surgery the slower your weight loss will be. Also many don't choose the Lap band over the Bypass because of "FAST" weight loss, many choose the Lap band because they DO NOT want to deal with life time problems of malabsoprtion, dumping syndrome and hypoglycemia long term. Also, after about 2-3 years after the Bypass the malabsorption of calories STOP and MANY bypass people gain back weight, and MANY NEED the Lap band over their bypass LONG TERM to maintain that weight loss, you can google or research that, and even tho they can easily gain back weight due to a stretched pouch, they STILL HAVE TO TAKE Vitamins and can have Vitamin deficiencies for the rest of their life.

Exactly -- she flat out knew she was abusing her band and came clean, "many don't come clean" they just say the band "liked to killed them" without a explanation "why". Honestly, I respect those who abuse their bands and tell the truth, I had a friend a few years ago abused her band and she did not lie about it, she kept it way too tight and vomited many times per day, she got very skinny, but sadly she lost her band, she is not upset about, it was just "her method" to get thin, however, you can't do this with the band and expect to keep it forever.

From personal experience and studying the lap band carefully and seeing others report pouch dilation -- NO you CANNOT dilate your pouch on a loose band. However, if you vomit a LOT before your band heals in the first 6 weeks to a few months post op, YOU can slip your band, even with hardly no saline, there are different types of slips, the sutures can come loose, or the stomach can prolapse over the band, very large pouch dilation. Also surgeons technique can greater your chances of pouch dilation, if the surgeon installs the band incorrectly, this can also cause pouch dilation. Because when the band is loose there is NO TIGHT PRESSURE there to dilate, inflame and irritate the stomach. However, this is the tricky part, 'some' people have very tight bands with little to no saline, hence it could be a bit too small for their anatomy. I will put it this way, if your band is loose -- NO you cannot stretch your pouch, pouch dilation ONLY happens when your band gets tighten either too tight or to the Green Zone. Pouch dilation usually occurs when the band is TIGHTLY RESTRICTED, and you eat TOO MUCH FOOD CONSTANTLY ON A TOO TIGHT BAND, and when too much food is forced upon a VERY tight created pouch above the band, it has no where else to go but either expand your esophagus (which is called esophageal dilation, or expand your pouch, which is called mild slippage, pouch dilation). This is why many people who WANT TO EAT MORE FOOD, get saline removed to prevent from stretching their pouch, however if you get an adjustment that is in the RED zone(too tight), this will greater your chances of pouch dilation quicker than in the Green zone even if you don't eat much food. You also can dilate your pouch in the Green zone if you constantly eat too much food and vomit daily, which leads to reflux, heartburn, frequent vomiting and slippage. You have to be EXTRA careful with chewing your food and not over eating once you get into the Green zone to prevent pouch dilation.

Yes, you have to use the band as a tool and not a bulimic device. SkyMoon's lap band probably had slipped for YEARS and she probably lived with a mild slip band for years before it got severe. She was pretty much at the END of her lap band when she suffered horrible complications. Many THINK they can PB and vomit often with NO consequences, I am sure SkyMoon's band had slipped WAY before she had all this horrible vomiting, she only reported the horrible END OF IT, not necessarily what lead up to the horrific vomiting that she was doing (which I am sure keeping her band too tight and vomiting frequently) IT TAKES A WHILE BEFORE HORRIBLE SLIPPAGE TO HAPPEN -- it just does not happen overnight. I've heard worse, the only thing is I thought it was only possible to vomit 50 times a day based on others who've abused their bands admitted doing, and MANY DO, SkyMoon is not a rare case...I AM SURE MANY ON THIS VERY FORUM DO THE EXACT SAME THING IN PRIVATE. I guess SkyMoon broke a record with vomiting 60 times a day , her video is just a PRIME example of Lap band abuse revealed in your face and the consequences of it.