GuyMontag

This is not uncommon. I've heard good things from band over bypass patients. I wish your mom luck!

I do feel bad for the woman. I remember when I was still 325lbs and we would go and visit my kids' classroom for parent/teacher conferences and I would have to sit with my legs under me supporting all of my weight for fear or actually sitting on one of the kids chairs all the way and crushing the dang thing. I was so embarrassed yet I couldn't really say anything about it. I'm glad you're no longer like that and I too am thankful that I can live a more 'normal' life.

You're probably still swollen from surgery. As the swelling goes down you should be able to eat some more. I don't see why it would be a big deal for them to take a cc out to help you though. You might also try taking some liquid motrin to help with the swelling. I know how hard it can be when we have the ability to eat taken away from us. It's more than just a physical hunger, it can affect us mentally and emotionally as well. You'll make it through this. Just keep drinking liquids and maybe try different protein shakes that you like better to help. The last thing you want to do is dehydrate because that can make you even tighter! Good luck!

I believe there are many reasons for port revisions but fortunately the surgery isn't usually that bad. A port revision can be required if the port shifts or if there's a problem where it's poking through the abdomen wall. The port tubing can also get a kink in it. It's normal for the port site to be uncomfortable for a week or so after surgery. I'd recommend holding the area with your hand and applying pressure when you get up or down or if you cough. After two weeks your port area should be relatively pain free although some people still have discomfort after this time period. I wouldn't worry too much this early but definitely keep in contact with your doc's office and make them aware of your concerns. Good luck!

You might be on the loose side but you're weight loss is great. I too was worried I had a leak because with 14cc in my 14cc band I could still eat a whopper with the bun some days. I had them pull my fluid out and check it and sure enough it was all there. Unfortunately, what I didn't realize was that pulling out the fluid and just putting it right back can cause the band to shift a little and make you swell. What happened to me was the checking of the fluid along with a a slight addition of fluid caused me to be way too tight. I wish I would have just had them check the fluid and not gotten a fill at the same time because of how close to the green zone I was but live and learn. It's easy for them to check your fluid amount and they should know how much is supposed to be in there. You may have a leak or you may just have a very lean stomach. Good luck and keep us posted!

I found a fortune cookie that said, 'You are fat. Get Lap Band', so I did.

I would definitely have my band checked ASAP.

There was this girl once that was really worried about getting her first fill and we kept encouraging her over and over telling her it wouldn't be a big deal. After the fill she came into the room and told us we wouldn't believe what happened to her. She's super scared of needles and when the doctor went to put the needle in a big ole squirt of blood came out and she nearly passed out. Turns out she had a hematoma and the doc punctured it. It wasn't a big deal but it scared the crap out of her. Lol. She laughed about it later but at the time it was quite frightening for her. Just thought you'd like to hear another fill story!

Okay, five minutes in timeout and don't do it again! Lol. Happens to the best of us and at least it wasn't a dozen!

They can do plication without banding but I think they do commonly put the two together now for better results. I know my doc's office has started doing the plication with good results but it's still fairly new.

All I can say is the band has worked for me. Is one surgery better than the other? I honestly can't say. It has to be what surgery is best for you. I don't think the sleeve is a bed or roses either. WLS is tough and still requires work from the person getting it to be successful. The band is a tool and like any tool it can be abused. The main advantage of the band in my opinion is that it's adjustable. Currently I am a little on the loose side and last night I was able to eat a french dip sandwich so I can't say I NEVER eat bread or buns. Now I can't eat like that every day but it really depends on how tight I keep my band. There are definite downsides to the band such as chewing a bunch, getting stuck if you don't chew good enough, etc. but they are worth it for the weight loss in my opinion. I would definitely recommend spending time in some sleeve forums and get a feeling for what people b***h about in there to see what you might have to deal with. If I lost my band I can't say for 100% certainty that I would choose it again over the sleeve but I would still lean towards the band because I've had success with it. Anyone that says one surgery over another is better is blowing smoke up your ass. Each one has pros and cons and none of them are perfect. Keep researching and good luck!

Guess it's a good thing this guy retired.

If it came back up you're probably not still stuck but rather just swollen. Try taking some liquid motrin and stick to liquids for a day or two. The next meal you have, take a bite...chew like crazy...swallow...then wait a few minutes before your next bite.

Put your utensil down between each bite while you chew. I would say a good size bite is about the size of an acorn if you're tight to about the size of a walnut if you're loose. If you can gulp and it doesn't come back up then gulp away.

That happened to me after 3 years and it was caused by dehydration, stress, and over exertion during a long jog on a hot day.

I put my utensil down in between each bite to help me take my time.

My wife made a homemade cheesecake not long after I was banded and kept trying to shove it in my face...finally I had to put my foot down and tell her if she tried to get me to eat it one more time I'd throw it in the trash. Lol. Keep drinking lots of fluids...it'll help keep your mouth busy. I found that warm drinks like tea or coffee helped me a lot.

When you're on the mushie stage the best thing I found was 'mushie' lasagna. It's low fat ricotta cheese, spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, and some shredded mozzarella on top. Just microwave for a minute or so and eat! It really helps with the italian food cravings that come from not eating pizza or pasta.

Just push as fast your doctor will allow for a revision and you should be fine. You've done a great job with the weight loss and I'm sure you'll continue to do so. Just remember, a different band may affect you differently than before. I know this sounds odd but I've heard of people going from one band to another and say it's a completely different experience. Just something to keep in mind!

It's definitely helpful to think about the area above your band as your pouch and the area below it as your 'stomach' even though they are all really your stomach. The pouch can be stretched as lellow discussed. As you lose weight your stomach also begins to get smaller as it becomes used to smaller portions. I have a feeling if I had all of my fluid removed I wouldn't be able to eat nearly the amount of food I could pre-band. However, the stomach is resilient and I'm sure I'd have it stretched out and ready to eat large meals all over again in no time. In other words, it's easier to stretch your pouch than it is your 'stomach' after banding.

Keep up the good work!

I wonder if her taking some of the fill out and then putting it back in didn't help redistribute the saline in your band. I've heard of that happening and helping in other cases as well.

For me fruit goes down VERY slowly because of the consistency. It's filled with so much water that it's almost like eating and drinking at the same time depending on the fruit. Something that is heavy like meat, cheese, eggs, etc. all tend to drop right through the stoma stretching it just enough. Fruit however, can sometimes almost 'float' slowly down and even be uncomfortable at times.

I would definitely sit down and evaluate that I was following the rules to a 't' and as the others said, be careful you are not too tight. Without specifics it's kind of hard to offer constructive help. It is a positive thing that you are 60lbs down and while we do sympathize with your frustration we are also willing to help if you give us some more information on why you've not lost as much weight as you'd like.

You might try a little liquid motrin before the flight and it sounds like you have the right idea with lots of water. Watch out for airplane peanuts...salt! Lol.