StephM

What area are the protein bullets in at Wal-Mart?

Former user name: Losin' It OK, I am as guilty as everyone else for not checking in more often. The last two years have definitely been an experience, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have had my ups and downs, complications, etc., but I still believe getting my band was the BEST thing I have ever done in my life. I have lost a little less than 100 pounds and only want to lose another 25-30. If I didn't lose an additional pound after today, I would still consider myself a success story. This past Thursday I was back in the operating room for Lap-Band revision surgery, yes my band slipped due to vomiting (just don’t do it), and to have adhesions removed. My docs were able to save my band and re-seat it while they were in there, so I have a second chance. I have the BEST doctors anyone could ever ask for and have been nothing but supportive with everything, even the slip. Some information regarding my slip: I just want to advise everyone that if you, at any time, feel like you can’t swallow more than a sip of water, go get an unfill (even a slight one) immediately. I wish I would have learned this earlier. I would go for months with no problems and then one morning I would wake up and couldn’t drink even a sip. I would try to live with it a few days (vomiting every time I tried to drink) and eventually take myself in for an unfill. Not going in for unfills is just as nonproductive to your success as not going in for fills. It looks like everyone is doing wonderful. Congrats to all. Thanks for being there the few weeks before and the months after surgery. Each and every one of you has been and continues to be an inspiration.

21 months and 92 pounds later...

Mike and all - Thank you for this thread. I wish EVERY lap band patient would read it. I know when I started having my syptoms: reflux, not loosing weight, PBing, etc, I thought I was just stressed and/or underfilled. Well guess what I WAS OVERFILLED! I lived with the symptons for over a month and finally called my doc a week and a half ago. When he looked at my band under fluero he found that I had an actue slip, probably caused from the PBing, which was caused by the overfill. Prior to my docs discovery I was able to eat with no problems, then started having severe reflux, and then couldn't keep anything down including water, then the next day could eat fine, then the reflux returned, and then one day the sucker just tightened up like a snake and wasn't letting go no matter what!!! Although I have had my band over a year, I have to remember it is a very fickle piece of equipment and requires constant learning on my part, even when you think you know it all! Anyway, just to reiterate...if you have reflux...and haven't eaten spicy food...call the doctor immediately so you won't have a slip like me. Just an FYI so you are not concerned about my band...I was told to stay on liquids for three weeks and will then be looked at again under fluero. The doc beleives the slip is "small" and will "repair itself" with the unfill. I will let you know what the doc says when I go in on 9/11.

Nina: Did you get a hold of your doc on Friday? I had the same symptoms and had to be completely unfilled as it looked like I had a slip on fluero. I am going back in a week and a half to look at my band and make sure everything is in the correct place. DON'T LET THIS GO ON TOO LONG...I did and was in pain for 2 weeks before seeing the doc. Good Luck! Steph

Lauraj23 - I know you are anxious to be "filled up", but take it from me, going slow is the best way to go. I have been over filled several times and the vomiting and numerous trips back to the clinic for unfills are a pain. BUT, on the other hand, if you doctor is not filling you more than what your last fill was, it might be time to find a new doctor. Your doctor should listen to you since you are the one that is living with the band each and every day. Although he can put an MD behind his name because of a piece of paper on the wall that says he "knows what he is doing", you are the one that KNOWS what your body is doing. I am lucky enough to see docs in a practice that one of the docs is banded himself so he KNOWS what the band is truely doing on the inside. Like I said before, take it slow as being overfilled is just as frustrating as being underfilled, but find a doctor that will listen to YOU. Good Luck!

Hi guys! I haven't been around much lately as work is keeping me very occupied. I wanted to drop in and wish everyone a very happy first Bandiversary. We made it and we have all done a terrific job! Keep up the good work!

Hi everyone! I haven't been around for a while, but really need to come here more often for support. I have continued to gain since my fill (a month ago), about a pound a week, but nothing like I did when I was completely unfilled. I go in Wednesday for another fill, which will hopefully do the trick. In the beginning, when I was at my current fill, I gained a pound in a month, so I guess four pounds in a month isn't too bad. I am having trouble breaking the drinking while eating habit. I was really good about this until I was unfilled in April and since then I just can't seem to stop. Any suggestions? Exercizing is also missing right now. I have a membership to Curves, and I love Curves, but getting out of work with enough energy left to go is difficult. I guess I should just bit the bullet and go. I always feel so much better when I work out, but just have to remind myself of this everyday. Well that's my confession and sob story. Congrats to everyone on your weight loss. You are a true inspiration to me right now!!! Steph

Well guys, I am finally back! About 19 pounds heavier, but feeling "normal" again. As I reported the end of April they had to completely unfill me due to pouch dialation and constant PBing. After resting my band for 3 weeks, they filled me back up. I gained 19 pounds while unfilled, which my doctor said was normal (18 pounds a month is average). I have been filled 6 days now and have not lost a thing, but I also haven't gained. I have not PBed since being filled last week so I guess that is a victory in itself as well. I am having to relearn to eat slower, take small bites and chew like it is my job, but I feel great. I don't think I will lose much this month as I don't feel much restriction, but that is fine with me as long as I don't gain anything.

I can definately feel my port more easily. A few months ago I thought it had flipped, but it is still in the originial position. When I went in Monday for my unfill the doc said that it had some lumpy stuff (fat cells?) ontop which made it more difficult for him to locate the center of the top side, but he was able to locate it and hit it the first try.

If you are too tight and go in for a slight unfill, I think you will begin to lose weight. This past Monday they removed EVERYTHING from my band as I was still having issues with swelling and frequent PBing and I have actually lost 3 pounds since then and am finally eating solids again. Good Luck!

I was diagnosed today and had a slight unfill. My surgeon said depending on the severity of the dilation most times a slight unfill to a complete unfill will allow the dilation to heal itself. Good Luck!

Well, what a day I had. The past week and a half I haven't been able to eat much and many times PB anything (including water) that I try to get down. It was better over the weekend, but something still wasn’t right. I had been blaming it on the increased stress at work, but this morning, I had had enough and called my surgeon. An hour later I was in his office. After discussing the fact that I thought I was too tight and needed an unfill and that I had been experiencing reflux daily for the past few months, he decided to look at my band under fluoro with barium. Before drinking the barium, the first thing he noticed was that my band was laying flat across my esophagus instead of at the 45˚ degree angle it should have been at. Next I swallowed the yummy barium, at which time he noticed that my pouch was somewhat dilated. And last, but not least, he saw that NOTHING was going through my band. No wonder I felt like crap!!! After having 2.0 cc’s removed I felt soooo much better. I am supposed to return in a month so that he can look ate everything under fluoro again and decide if it is time for a “refill”. This was the first time I had seen my band in my belly. It was pretty cool!!! So, if any of you are PBing on a regular basis get in to see your surgeon immediately (Dah!!!). Thankfully I finally gave in and went to see the doc, because much longer and I would have had a slipped band and been home planning another surgery instead of enjoying my family.

Someone left the ladder down and a girl is coming into the tree house! I love you guys! I wish us women could/would be as open about this whole procedure (and what it does/doesn't do) as ya'll. Anway, I am almost 8 months out and find that NOTHING tastes like it used to, not even ice-cream. There have been many nights that we will go out to dinner and I will order 3 or 4 things before I find one that tastes good enough to eat a cup of. It frustrates the crap out of DH as I will say lets go to X, Y, or Z, and he'll say well pick one I don't care. And my response is, I don't know which one, I'll find something to eat at one of them. I was a big mexican food eater before banding, and now I don't even like mexican food anymore. This band does some weird things! Good luck guys, and keep up the great work! I just dream of losing the weight as quick as you!!!

Kutia - You look great!!! Robin (and all) - I think you are correct about how well we are all doing. I think we are all doing A LOT better than a lot of other bandsters on LBT due to the support we have from one another. I have read other posts and some of the jabs they take at one another are absolutely rediculous. I don't think any of us joined LBT to read negative things from others regarding ourselves or others. It is so nice to know I can always come to the ABC Chat and get support for ANYTHING (Lap Band or not). Thanks for all the continued support, laughs, concerns, and friendship!!! Keep up the good work.

I have difinately hit a plateau. I continue to loose inches, but only the same 2-3 pounds over and over again. Oh well, at least the clothing sizes are going down. I'm not setting any number goals for April, only that I continue to loose inches.

Clarityseeker - GREAT JOB!!! Keep up the great work!

I would suggest a slight unfill. When I was too tight I fell back on the 'easy' foods. I stayed too tight for over a month. I finally went in for a small unfill and felt so much better, but now two and a half weeks after my unfill I am still leaning towards the 'easy' foods as I am scared of feeling the same way I did while overfilled. Don't get into the habits I did to feel comfortable while overfilled! Good Luck!

Spydr: I was private pay for my band surgery and have a feeling I will be private pay for my TT and BL too. Did insurance cover yours or were you private pay? Either way, if you don't mind answering, what did it cost? Thanks, Steph

I think I have become the Queen of PBing. It's almost second nature anymore. Anyway, I prefer a very quiet bathroom, and HATE it when I don't have the entire room to myself. My poor husband is realizing too that if he has to pull over for me to PB after dinner, he better find a quiet road 'cuz I like the entire road to myself too. I like the toilet flush thing (if there isn't a loud farter around). I never thought about that! I keep telling my friends how weird it is to go from a fat person to a bulimic. Although I still don't think a PB is as bad as a "full" vomit epidose as we don't have the stomach acid. Oh well, I'll close for now and stop babbling.

Thanks for posting! I can't wait to see more as you heal.

Here's Jessica (clarityseeker)...... *********1 week before Surgery - July 2006**********************January 2007************ Great job! Lookin' good!