I'm still here

I can't believe Dr. Spivak moved . . . I had an issue and went to see the docs who took over his patients in early July, and honestly was not impressed at all. Dr. Spivak's shoes will be hard to fill. I am wondering if any of you have seen the new docs, or if you are going to go somewhere else for your lap-band care / issues??

I am seeking information about a very strange feeling I have been having the past few days, that I fear is related to my band. I was banded in February 2007, and have for the most part had a pretty uneventful experience. I recently started feeling alot of pressure (fullness) in my abdomen, specifically on the left side and behind my belly button - it almost feels like my stomach is folding over the top of my pants when I sit down, and I am wondering if I did something to damage my band? I have gained some of my weight back, but can't imagine that would cause this feeling. I have not had an adjustment recently, and do not think this feeling is related to the level of restriction that I have. I am still able to eat about the same amount, but am absolutely miserable and scared with this feeling. If anyone else has had a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate hearing about it. Thank you, mommi-hammi

Thank you all so much for your responses . . . everything that was said, I needed to hear again, even though in my heart I know that is what I need to / have to, do. What I need to hear, is that I CAN do this!! I apologize if it sounded like I was whining, I didn't mean to be having a 'pity party,' just felt like I should put it all 'out there' since it has been so long since I've checked in here. Jacqui - I think you were active on this site when I was actively working on this. I remember reading your posts then, and always appreciated your advice, and words of wisdom. You ladies all seem to have had remarkable success with this little 'tool' . . . I hope I can join you again soon!! Cheri - thank you so much for the information on the doctor in Bryan. While I am not expecting to ever find another Dr. Spivak, I am a person who prefers a little repore with my doctor, as opposed to the 'just the facts jack' kind of doctor. As far as the money goes - the package I had with Dr. Spivak included fills and office visits. It's not a matter of not being able to pay the fee, it is just different, and the information out there now, by his replacement doc says his practice will honor Dr. Spivak's arrangements. That just turned out not to be the case . . . no biggee, unless I need to go in often. Again, thank you all so much for your comments - I am going to make checking in here a priority, maybe that in and of itself will add another element of accountability. :-) Good night, Lynn

Hello other bandsters, I am so happy to be able to return to this site after so long away, and know that when I post something on here, I am going to get responses from people who actually KNOW how I feel, and what I am dealing with. I have so many people in my life that THINK they know . . . sad really, that they are totally oblivious to what a banded-person lives with on a day to day, meal to meal really, basis. Here's my story: I was banded in February 2007 by the most wonderful, Dr. Hadar Spivak in Houston, and was very pleased with the aftercare he provided. I had several fills, both up and down, determined to get 'there' . . . I am certain I could have tried much harder to make my initial experience successful - straight talk: I still drink sweet tea, milk and dr. pepper (not diet) . . . I know crazy, and yes . . . I was a cash pay patient, so even the knowledge of how much money I spent, didn't really change anything. I eventually dropped about 50 pounds and should have been THRILLED. But, being the over-achiever I am, it was never good enough. I even had a tummy tuck after about 50 pounds lost, but was never happy with the results of what I felt like was a pretty drastic surgery. Post TT, I maintained my weight for several months, and as I said before - should have been extatic with my results, but deep down, I wasn't. Fast forward a few months, and imagine the worst stomach virus you can . . . YEP! I got it . . . because of the insane amount of vomiting, I had to have an un-fill. That was in April 2008, and I have never had another successful day. Gaining weight at a pretty steady rate, I became ashamed to go back and let Dr. Spivak see me - I was so embarrassed. And when I finally decided, 'Okay!! This is insane . . . I have the tool, but am OBVIOUSLY not using it correctly, I called to make an appt to go in, face him, and deal with the mess I had made. Never have I been more shocked than when the receptionist said, 'Dr. Spivak retired.' I hung up in absolute disbelief, and went immediately to his website, and sure enough, this doctor who I trusted so much, was no longer available to me. Tears and frustration, all directed at myself. A few days later, I was able to get in with a bariatric surgeon, who had apparently worked out an agreement with Dr. Spivak to see his patients. VERY long story: in a nutshell, he told me that there is no such thing as a 'thicker' solution to fill the band with, as Dr. Spivak had always said he was using, is this guy calling Dr. Spivak a 'liar' ?? Pretty sure, that'd be a 'yes.' Ummm, okay . . . so he inserts the needle into my port (I had forgotten how badly I hated THAT), withdrew all of the Fluid, made me drink that stuff, and decided I could have .1 more cc than I already had. So, he said he filled me to 1.9 with the regular saline soution, and said that should do the trick. Now, 4 days later . . . I do not think I have any restriction at ALL. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Going back and forth like I did with Dr. Spivak is not possible for two reasons: 1. No relationship with this doc, and he does not appear to want to be in the room longer than he has to. I have a feeling more than a couple of questions would irritate him. 2. This guy charges $150 every stinkin' time you see him. So, if I call tomorrow and say that: 'I have no restriction' . . . Oh, they'll see me alright, for $150. All of that is just my background. I got back on this site tonight because I want to DO IT this time, but I know I can't do it alone. I would love to hear from any fellow bandsters, and could sure use some encouragement and advice about how to . . . for lack of a better way to say it, 'start over.' Thanks in advance for all of your input and suggestions, I look forward to them. Gosh, I am so sorry this ended up so long!! I just wanted to put it all out there the first time. Thanks if you took the time to read all of that!! :-) Signed, Mommi-Hammi in Houston

I have a friend who had her gallbladder removed at the same time her band was placed. I was banded for almost 2 years before I started having problems with my gallbladder. And yes, when I started having the attacks, I was terrifed that whatever the problem was, was related to my band. I was thrilled it was my gallbladder! I had my gallbladder removed 2 months ago and don't miss it at all! Good luck to you . . .

I am curious to hear from other bandsters who have had a tummy tuck and then gained some weight back. How does your stomach 'feel' now? I was banded on 1-12-07 and had a tummy tuck on 2-19-08 after losing about 50 pounds. Since that time, I have had to start taking a couple of different medications for almost daily migraines, and have gained back around 15 pounds. I am so disappointed and just feel miserable about it. I am going to work really hard to get the weight off again so that I don't feel like a COMPLETE failure, but am having a hard time ending my pity-party . . . I need one more fill to hopefully get me back to my 'sweet spot' (life was good when I was at my sweet spot!) and I have that appt. scheduled for next Tuesday morning. I know that not having enough fill for the past 6 months has allowed me too much room for error in my eating. I have got to get the structure back and then figure out how to deal with the medications. I am concerned too, because before I had the TT, my stomach felt 'normal' other than being able to feel the port. Now I often have discomfort in my abdomen that feels like it is sometimes going to pop. It feels so tight and uncomfortable and my upper abdomen looks like a watermelon. I didn't start this thread to whine, I just wanted to see if there were others out there who either had, or are experencing the same things I am. I would love to hear from you if you don't mind sharing. Thanks in advance for your input.

Hi everyone, I am sorry I haven't been able to post on here for the last few days, I had unexpected company and my routine was completely disrupted. I am thrilled to be able to share that the results from my biopsy were benign! Tonya, I am so thankful that yours was benign too! Now that all of that is behind me, I really need and want to focus on getting these last 20 pounds off . . . I am curious if any of you have this little issue . . . I can go all day and not eat and be fine, but then as soon as I eat, I feel hungry about 30 minutes after I am done - ? What in the world is that about? I am just curious if anyone else has this feeling.

Tonya, Please keep us posted about your biopsy . . . that is so nerve-racking. They told me that they hoped to have the results by the end of the day on Wednesday. I am just ready to know, one way or the other so I'll know what I'm up against. Could the tumor in your esophogus in any way be causing you problems with the band - ??? If you do have a small leak in the tubing, I suspect the Omnipaque would correct it immediately and you wouldn't continue to lose your fills . . . I am certainly no doctor, I just know that I have heard it referred to as 'fix-a-flat' since I first learned about it. It works for me - there is always the exact amount in there that they think should be when they remove it. I am going to make a committment to exercise this week, even if it is just for a short walk each day. That is more than I am doing regularly right now, so it has to be a start - right? Speaking of exercise - Have any of you heard of the Kettle Bell program? A friend was telling me about it and she really likes it. She got the DVD and her 'bell' at Target and really feels she gets a decent work-out at home in about 45 minutes. I haven't looked into it yet, but I am going to. I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and that we have a great week ahead!

Susie, it sounds like we are in the exact same boat! I am either too tight or too loose and spend most of my energy wondering if I am too tight or too loose . . . Let's all hang in there, we're bound to get there one day! I noticed a link for Phentermine at the bottom of your post. I am curious if you are taking Phentermine, and if so - how do you think it works? It is crazy to me that after having the band I am thinking about trying an appetite suppressant, but HEY! I would really like to get some of this weight off . . .

Hi Ladies, I hope everyone is doing well tonight . . . Thank you all for your thoughts and posts - I ended up going in on Wednesday and getting a very small fill. I would have liked to have had a little more, but my doctor thought it would be too much, too soon and that I'd be back the next day needing some taken out if he put too much in. So, he put in .2 and will add another .2 in a couple of weeks if I still think I need it. I am certain that I will. I am like Tonya, in that - a tiny amount can make a huge difference with me, my problem is that apparently - it is not supposed to make that much difference, so my doctor doesn't think it does or will. But - It DOES! It DOES! I am at 2.2 right now and know that 2.3 1/ 2 is (or at least, has been) a good fit for me in the past. I had my breast biopsy on Thursday and am anxious to get the results from that so that I can get on with 'it' , whatever 'it' is . . . I am finding it hard to really focus or commit for fear that my plan will get de-railed when the results come in. I know it sounds like an excuse, and I think it just comes from the reality of losing my sister to breast cancer 2 years ago. I have been eating less since the fill on Wednesday, but haven't been good about exercising this week. Tonya - it really sounds to me like you might have a little leak somewhere. Did you ever talk to your doctor about filling you with the Omnipaque? That might solve your problem of losing your fill if you do in fact have a leak.

Thank you for responding Sula, I know you are right, I am just soooooo frustrated with myself! Maybe if we all check-in and support each other through this rough time, we'll come out on the other side. I know we can all be successful, it is just 'harder' than I thought it'd be . . . dang it! I too need to make exercise a priority and hopefully when I do, coupled with a good fill, I'll get the scales moving the right way again. This is just such a HEAD thing for me . . . WHY is that??? Does anyone else feel that way? Turns out, I am a stress eater . . . ha Who knew? :biggrin: Thanks again for the support -

Hi Ladies, I am so glad I got on here today, I needed to read all of your recent posts. I feel like the biggest LOSER, but not in a good way . . . Like some of you, I am STRUGGLING to get what should have been those last pounds off, but since I have gained about 10 back, I have to lose those 10 before I can start on the last 15-20. I am so frustrated with myself. I have had some medical issues that prompted a need for a couple of different medications, both that list 'weigh gain' as a possible side effect. Well YAY ME! I took them both and gained. I am so disguested with myself. Some of you may remember that I had a tummy tuck on February 19th of this year. At that time, I was at a weight that I could live with, but for some reason - (unrealistic expectations on my part I think) I wasn't happy with the result from day one. Sadly, that hasn't change and I am not sure that unhappiness is not factoring into my crappy attitude. I have been eating like I did pre-band and not exercising at all. What I need is a swift kick in the rear! I have some medical testing early this week (breast biopsy) and then I plan to get back in as soon as possible and get another fill, since much of mine had to be removed a couple of months ago because I had a 'foreign object (huge pill)' lodged . . . I didn't think I had any restriction so I took the pill and as it turned out - I did . . . Grrrr. I plan to check in here everyday again and hope that you ladies will continue to also. I believe that other people have good intentions, but until you have walked down this road, it is hard to understand what this feels like. I really think we can motivate each other in a way no one else can. I struggle with the thought of 'why can't you just eat less and exercise more you big doof-us?' but then I remember if I could do that, I wouldn't need the band . . . I hope to hear from you all again soon. We truly are all in this together and can still be the best form of motivation for each other ~ :teeth_smile:

I am curious how that scenario would be handled? I was self-pay for my band, so I am wondering if I had a problem like Karey's and the band had to be removed, would my insurance company ever get involved or am I 'on my own' with this little sucker from now on? When you feel up to it Karey, would you mind providing the details of your ordeal? Thanks so much and I hope you are feeling better everyday. Lynn

80s chick ~ I am so glad to hear that this worked out. It is scary enough when you are going through something like that, but to be treated with disrespect by the people whose job it is to help you is just wrong. I hope you continue to feel better each day and am so glad you found a new doctor who you feel good about.